chapter 38 What are the rules

Just as Theo Lu said, the Lin family held a family meeting the next day. The current patriarch of the Lin family, Arthur Lin, directly announced something important to the key members of the family. Now that Alisa Lin has come of age, she should inherit all her father's property and shares! This meant that Alisa Lin would have significant influence and control over the family's finances within the family. Not only was Abbott Lin far from matching her, but even Ethan Lin couldn't suppress her anymore. From then on, in the Lin family, she only needed to answer to the head of the family. Upon hearing his father's decision, Ethan Lin was shocked and hastily said, "Father - Alisa is young and has made minimal contributions to the family, yet she is set to inherit such a vast family business. Isn't this against the rules? It might make other family members feel disheartened, thinking you are too biased towards her!" "Rules?" Although Arthur Lin was over seventy years old, he had still retained most of his imposing aura. After all, he was one of the top nine figures in the national political arena in his prime. "Rules are the foundation of establishing a country and a family. The people of Lin family naturally have to abide by rules! However, rules are for the weak to follow! The strong are those who make the rules!" Looking around at everyone, Arthur Lin continued, "From families to nations, hasn’t it always been like this? When the Eight-Nation Alliance had invaded China, did they follow the rules set by Empress Dowager Cixi of the Qing Dynasty? Without the approval of the United Nations, the U.S. still attacked Iraq. Did they care about the rules? Nowadays, the rules of the international community are set by the strongest - the U.S.! - As for our Lin family, if Alisa can befriend a master of the Stiffening stage, then she is qualified to inherit the family business! Besides, Master Theo has already told me that this young man named Andrew Qi will surely become a great master and can only be described in two words - limitless potential!" Ethan Lin was indeed aware of the status of a master of the Stiffening stage in the martial world, especially for a teenager with such skills. However, he naturally couldn't speak in favour of Alisa Lin at this time. "Father, you are the pillar of our Lin family! Although Master Theo has been in Jiang district for decades, you are the cornerstone of the family. Without you -" "Foolish!" Arthur Lin scolded Ethan Lin, "When I was in power, people from the court and the martial world naturally be afraid of me. But now that I am no longer in the court, though my influence remains, it's impossible to intimidate those powerful families. Without a master to guard us, the Lin family, no matter how strong our foundation, it is bound to decline! Be it once or twice, I can still retaliate using the power of my old subordinates, but what about the third or fourth time? There are limits to asking for favours from others! Besides, Master Theo and I are lifelong friends, and it's thanks to him that he has protected the Lin family for decades! For those decades, he has saved my life several times. You people, who have not been tested by life and death, how would you know the capabilities of a master of the Stiffening stage!" Arthur Lin's insights and experiences naturally couldn't be compared by these descendants. They had no idea how many obstacles and difficulties Theo Lu had solved for him and the Lin family, at times even getting injured in the process! That's why, after talking with Theo Lu, Arthur Lin decided to include Alisa Lin in the family heir assessment. If Alisa Lin could really get a commitment from a young master, then it would not even be a problem by making her the official heir of the Lin family! After being scolded by his father, Ethan Lin dared not retort any longer. At this time, Arthur Lin said to Alisa Lin, "Allie, do you have anything to say?" "I have inherited what belongs to my father, and I will avenge him!" Alisa Lin only said this sentence. Upon hearing this, Arthur Lin's expression became somewhat weird. Ethan Lin, however, couldn't help but be pleased, Alisa Lin wanted to avenge her father, which was a path to death! But, the next moment, Ethan Lin heard an old voice at the door, "Allie, take me to visit that young man, Andrew Qi!" Ethan Lin's expression changed again, Master Theo was clearly going to support Alisa Lin! Ethan Lin looked at the surrounding people, and indeed, the eyes of these Lin family elders were all focused on Alisa Lin. This was a big problem! ＊＊＊ The night breeze was gentle. Theo Lu and Alisa Lin entered Andrew Qi's courtyard together. Feeling the omnipresent spiritual energy of heaven and earth around them, Theo Lu couldn't help but exclaim, "I didn't expect Andrew Qi's understanding of the harmony between heaven and man to be even deeper than mine!" "Because I am a cultivator," Andrew Qi said as he greeted Theo Lu at the door, "Previously, I said that I would resolve your worries. Since you're here, shall we start now?" "No rush," Theo Lu smiled slightly, "I won't be able to let go of this breath for a while, let's first enjoy your courtyard. Although simple, it forms a world of its own, like a blessed land, much better than the bamboo forest I stay in." A blessed land? Andrew Qi thought to himself that Theo Lu probably hadn't seen the real blessed lands and caves in the cultivation world. Those places, gathered with spiritual veins, were so rich in spiritual energy that even ordinary people could live for a century or two without illness if they did nothing. Even a dead body placed there wouldn't decay. "Master Theo, you flatter me. This place merely gathers spiritual energy of heaven and earth through formations. There's nothing too special about it," Andrew Qi said with a smile. "That's right, his place isn't as elegant and quiet as your old green bamboo forest," Alisa Lin said to Theo Lu. "No, Allie, you haven't yet sensed the way of heaven and man, so you don't know the mystery within. But look up there!" Theo Lu pointed upwards. Alisa Lin didn't understand what he meant and looked up. The space above the courtyard was empty, with only bright moonlight and shining stars - wait, Jin Cheng City was always enveloped in fog, and outside the courtyard, there was no sight of stars or moonlight. How could she see a clear night sky here? "How is this possible? What kind of technique was this!" Alisa Lin was shocked. Could it be that someone really could intervene and affect the forces of heaven and earth? "This is the way of heaven and man! The mystery within can only be understood and not conveyed," Theo Lu was even more convinced that this young man, Andrew Qi, was quite extraordinary. His internal cultivation might not be as strong as his, but his understanding of the way of heaven and man might have far surpassed him, which was simply unbelievable. Could this be from the benefit of both martial and mystical cultivation? Not just Alisa Lin, even a master of the Stiffening stage like Theo Lu felt an unpredictable sense about Andrew Qi. "Master Theo, let's talk about how to resolve your worries." Andrew Qi brought the conversation back to the main topic, "Both you and I know that what really stops you from reaching the peak of the Stiffening stage is not just your age. A master of the Stiffening stage, if well-maintained, can fight people even at the age of a hundred, let alone you, who have already reached the threshold of the way of heaven and man, should have advanced further. Unfortunately - who is blocking your path to the way of heaven and man?"