<h4>Chapter 1242: Chapter 1242</h4>


    Behind the hotel, the Garden was adorned with many strange rocks.


    Under the illumination of the lights, the various shapes took on a certain artistic ambiance.


    In the middle of the pebble-paved path stood a stone tform.


    Square in shape, with a chessboard carved into the center, it was nked by four stone stools below.


    Lin Yifan was seated on one of the stone stools, listening to the sound of running water under the small bridge.


    It was deep night and there was no one else around.


    "If I were you, I wouldn’t let Miss Shen sit alone in an empty room. Isn’t it said that you should care not for eternity but for the moments you once had?"


    Hei Hu approached from afar and sat opposite Lin Yifan.


    "You really think you have that capability?"


    Lin Yifan tossed the other a cigarette and held one between his own lips.


    The two talked as if they were friends.


    "Things aren’t that simple. A step back will broaden the horizon; the waters of the Shen Family are not easy to wade through."


    Hei Hu lit the cigarette and took a deep breath.


    "Are you involved in this just for the so-called family interests?"


    Lin Yifan looked at Hei Hu.


    "Everyone has their own struggles. When my mother was seriously ill, I sold my house andnd but still couldn’t gather enough for the surgery. When I was out of options, it was the Shen Family who saved her and my broken home. The debt I owe has to be repaid with my life."


    Hei Hu smiled bitterly, exhaling smoke.


    "Alright, it’s honorable to repay kindness. We should have a drink together someday, but right now I have matters to discuss with Li Fengchun, so let’s let our actions speak."


    Flicking away his cigarette butt, Lin Yifan locked eyes with Hei Hu.


    The two got along well, but they couldn’t be friends just yet.


    "Are you a Martial Cultivator? If I heard correctly, you can leave now."


    Hei Hu grasped the smoldering cigarette butt.


    The power in hisrge hands was far beyond that of ordinary people.


    "What do you think?"


    Lin Yifan smiled mysteriously.


    "Ah, indeed you’re not one to show your true strength."


    Hei Hu’s eyes sparkled with excitement.


    Knowing he’d met a worthy adversary made his fighting spirit surge.


    "I am at the Martial Cultivation Third Realm, Seventh Layer – watch closely!"


    Before his words had faded, Hei Hu’s right hand mmed onto the stone table.


    The strong gusts howled, and the sturdy stone table shattered under the blow.


    Such a strike could never be achieved even with an iron hammer.


    Martial cultivation is divided into five realms: Skin Tempering, Muscle Tempering, Bone Tempering, Tendon Tempering, Heart Tempering, each further divided into nineyers.


    Simr to Vajra Shield or Iron Cloth Shirt external training,ter stages can be impervious to des and bullets, and even achieve Heart Tempering and Qi mastery, leading to Dao Cultivation.


    "Child’s Skill horizontal training is certainly not bad. If one is willing to endure hardship, perhaps by age sixty, one could enter Dao Cultivation."


    As Lin Yifan looked at the scattered fragments, his expression remained rxed.


    "With my capabilities, I am merely a nobody in the Shen Family. My presence is but a threshold, and if you can’t pass, it’s not necessarily a bad thing – after all, Shangjing is a ce full of hidden talents, and who knows how many days I have left."


    This assessment left Hei Hu at a loss for words.


    "If you want to survive, you must have an epiphany."


    Raising his hand, Lin Yifan caused a gust to howl.


    Hei Hu, several meters away, instantly felt the surrounding air turn icy cold.


    The invisible killing intent surging from all directionspletely restrained his movements.


    The terrifying, soul-stirring power rooted him to the spot.


    Even knowing he was waiting to die, he couldn’t muster any pointless struggle.


    "Bang!"


    A strange rock over ten meters behind Hei Hu, towering over three meters high, copsed with a crash.


    The several-ton stone exploded into fragments.


    Countless small stones scattered all around.


    The thunderous roar of explosion and copse made Hei Hu break out in cold sweat, his face pallid.


    "Daoist Practitioner!"


    Eyes wide open, he stared incredulously at Lin Yifan.


    His opponent’s realm far exceeded the limits of his imagination.


    "For a misceneous kind to master horizontal training to this extent is truly difficult, but without adaptability, one will remain trapped in Martial Cultivation forever. Strength is finite, but vitality is boundless; the way of strength has the heart as its root."


    Lin Yifan patted Hei Hu on the shoulder, and without further words, he walked towards the hotel.


    Leaving Hei Hu standing like a nail in ce.


    He knew if Lin Yifan wanted to take his life, it was but a thought away.


    "Thank you!"


    After what felt like eternity, Hei Hu finally broke free from the invisible chains.


    With a thud, he knelt on the ground, beads of cold sweat streaming from his forehead.


    But at this moment, his expression was unusually exhrated.


    Lin Yifan’s seemingly inconsequential words had opened a door for him.


    One could say it almost changed his entire Martial Cultivation life.


    ...


    In the office, the two Li Family brothers were discussing recent business matters.


    When Lin Yifan pushed the door open and entered, the room fell into silence once again.


    Li Fengnian stared wide-eyed in disbelief at the unharmed Lin Yifan.


    How had he managed to ovee Hei Hu?


    "Brother, go prepare tomorrow morning’s contract. Remember our promise: meet all his demands, and from now on, our Li Family assets must set aside a portion for Lin Yifan’s use."


    Li Fengchun remainedposed, as if no displeasure had ever urred.


    "Alright, alright... I’ll go prepare."


    Li Fengnian understood his younger brother wanted him to leave.


    He hurriedly circled the sofa, almost fleeing the office.


    "Businessmen are indeed mercenary. Now that you’re satisfied with this answer, it’s time we talk about your matters."


    Lin Yifan sat on the sofa, smiling at Li Fengchun.


    Having defeated Hei Hu, he now had the opportunity to talk face-to-face with this old fox.


    "Regarding some things, it’s best not to know unless you have the ability, or you’ll only invite disaster. This you know better than I, but I can assure you, neither the Li Family nor the Shen Family ever intended to be your enemy."


    Li Fengchun stood up, retrieved a good bottle of wine from the cab.


    Pouring it into a ss, he added ice cubes and personally handed it to Lin Yifan.


    Lin Yifan took the ss and drained it in one gulp.


    "Answer me, what do you wish to obtain from me?"


    Upon learning Shen Shiyao’s identity, Lin Yifan had anticipated that this day woulde.


    Especially since they had just announced they were a couple, and the Shen Family sent people over from afar – it was too strange.


    "We don’t want anything from you, nor do we intend to covet anything rted to ck Bear Valley. Moreover, I can assure you, the Shen Family will only offer you assistance without asking for any returns. Of course, whether you believe it or not is up to you, as even the secrets involved are unknown to me."


    Li Fengchunughed and poured Lin Yifan another ss.


    Just as Lin Yifan was about to ask further, the office door suddenly swung open.


    Shen Shiyao rushed in with a panicked look.


    "Second uncle, you cannot harm him!"