How could Su Can admit it!
If he opened his mouth now, this unfilial grandson would definitely take the opportunity, either pestering him to become a tenant to guard the house, or simply abandoning that dilapidated house to move into the Old Mansion and enjoy a carefree life.
With the absurd behavior of this bratty grandson in the past, Su Can had no doubt that he would do such things.
He absolutely couldn't relent!
However, before Su Can could deny it, Su Lin suddenly changed the subject, his gaze sweeping across the empty living room:
"Did something happen to Second Uncle?"
He turned the rough porcelain cup in his hand, the tea leaves at the bottom swirling gently with the water.
Old Su's previous words revealed quite a bit of information.
First, Old Su knew he had endured the Level 2 beast tide last night.
Second, Old Su wasn't clear on how he managed it.
The combination of these two key points indicated that Old Su hurriedly came to check after midnight.
At that time, he happened to enter the daily routine mode, sweeping the Shadow Cores piled at the door with Su Tongxi.
Thinking back to the previous two nights, when the beast tide was supposed to be fierce but only four or five Shadow Beasts attacked...
Clearly, it was either Old Su or Second Uncle who was secretly protecting him, silently shielding him from most of the dangers.
Yet last night, they were absent.
The beast tide arrived with its usual strength.
Su Lin originally suspected they might be testing him, probing to see if he had truly changed his ways.
But since Old Su rushed over to check only afterward, it indicated... it wasn't like that, and that Second Uncle indeed had an accident last night!
The severe expression on Su Can's face instantly disappeared, silence hung over the old mansion's living room like a heavy cloud, even the air seemed to stagnate.
Zhao Yaxin lowered her eyes, unconsciously rubbing the smooth body of the purple clay teapot with her slender hand, her lips pressed tightly together.
After a moment, Su Can let out a deep sigh, his voice old and weary: "Your Second Uncle... his old injury flared up again last night."
"Old injury?"
Su Lin's expression tightened, about to ask for more details—
"Old Su!"
A loud call from outside broke the solemn atmosphere inside.
Chang Sanheng stepped into the Su Family's Old Mansion, bringing with him his son and two trusted tenants.
Everyone's attention inside the room instantly focused there.
Su Lin recognized the disheveled figure with thorns on his back from the two who came to collect taxes yesterday; the one pretending to be a mediator.
In an instant, Su Lin understood Chang Sanheng's intention: he was coming to admit his fault with a symbolic gesture.
Chang Sanheng and his son were equally stunned to see Su Lin and Su Tongxi present.
Chang Kun came to his senses, seeing Su Tongxi beside Su Lin looking over at him, filled with shame and anger to the point of death!
For the woman he had been longing for to see him in such a humiliating condition was enough of an embarrassment, let alone being witnessed by Su Lin, whom he usually despised as a "worthless nobody"!
He clenched his fists tightly, his nails almost cutting into his palms, wishing he could find a hole to crawl into, lowering his head even further.
Chang Sanheng's eyes flashed with a sharp glint, quickly masking his unusual expression, and he bowed solemnly, speaking in a loud voice:
"Just right, the main figure, Nephew Su Lin is here as well."
He abruptly turned his head, sternly reprimanding his son who stood motionless on the spot:
"What did I instruct you when we came here? Kneel down! Kowtow!"
Chang Kun's entire body trembled violently, his face turned purplish-red with embarrassment, and the overwhelming sense of shame made his limbs stiff, with his knees seemingly welded to the ground, unable to bend.
To kneel and kowtow in front of Su Lin and Su Tongxi? That would be worse than dying!
A glint of cruelty flashed in Chang Sanheng's eyes, his body moved slightly, and with lightning speed, he accurately kicked Chang Kun in the back of the knees!
Thud!
With a muffled thump, Chang Kun cried out as he was kicked to the ground, his upper body pitching forward from inertia.
He hurriedly supported himself with his arms to avoid falling completely to the ground, his face already crimson with a flush that could drip blood, tightly closing his eyes, not daring to meet anyone's gaze.
Chang Sanheng bowed again, his face full of earnestness and anguish:
"Old Su, Young Master Lin! Today, I bring my wayward son to admit fault with deep remorse! For the foolish deeds he committed, I beseech the Su Family to be lenient and forgive this ignorant fellow!"
His tone was mournful, lowering himself dramatically.
Su Can stood like a rock, unmoving.
He squinted his tiger-like eyes slightly, an imposing aura of menace suddenly rising, making the air feel thick and heavy, pressing down on Chang Kun's back, causing him to open his eyes in terror, meeting a cold gaze.
"Chang Sanheng," Su Can's voice wasn't loud, but it carried immense weight, each word striking the heart, "What exactly did your son do wrong? Make it clear!"
Chang Sanheng quietly tensed every muscle, withstanding that oppressive force, his expression growing even graver:
"He... was blinded by lust and became confused! He dared to abuse his authority, using the excuse of collecting construction materials tax for personal gain! He intended to force Su Lin to renounce Miss Su Tongxi's status as a tenant, intending to conduct dishonorable actions..."
He carefully chose his words, trying to downplay the nature of the offense.
"Nonsense!" Su Can slammed his palm on the Eight Immortals Table!
Clang!
The rough porcelain tea cup jumped, spilling tea all over!
Old Su's hair and beard bristled, his eyes blazing with anger like a provoked lion:
"Stop trying to trivialize it! You call that abusing power for personal gain? That's outright seizing a widow's property! Scheming to prey on what rightfully belongs to our Su Family's eldest son!"
He rose abruptly, his sturdy figure seemingly blocking the light from the roof, an aura of blood and iron spreading overwhelmingly, causing the two tenants behind Chang Sanheng to turn pale, involuntarily stepping back half a step!
"The deputy leader who made contributions to the village and the Hunting Group has only been buried recently, and his blood is barely cold when someone is already eyeing his legacy?!