Chapter Six: The Xiao Family Heirloom

Lin Tian had no way of knowing that this would be the last time he would see Old Master Xiao.

At this moment, he sat quietly beside the elder.

“Xiao Tian, you’ve suffered a lot over the years,” Old Master Xiao sighed deeply. “Are you doing alright over there?”

“Not bad. Everyone’s been pretty good to me,” Lin Tian replied, his gaze drifting toward the window as his thoughts wandered far away.

The elder had actually called him up to discuss matters of family lineage and heritage, but the words never quite left his lips. Given Lin Tian’s situation within the Xiao family, it seemed almost impossible.

Years ago, Lin Tian’s father and mother had intended to restore his original surname. However, his uncle, Xiao Siren, interrupted, insisting the time wasn’t right to reveal this to the outside world and that they should wait longer.

In the end, the matter was quietly dropped. Lin Tian never heard his parents mention it again.

He understood it was merely an excuse; the true reason was his background in the orphanage—something deemed shameful and unpresentable.

Moreover, his father was excessively status-conscious and would never allow such an "indelicate" truth to become public.

Back then, when Lin Tian was cast out, he was even threatened by his father: “If you dare claim to be my son and tarnish the Xiao family’s name, I’ll make sure you regret it for the rest of your life!”

“Grandfather, what is it you want to say?” Seeing the elder’s hesitant expression, Lin Tian asked gently.

Old Master Xiao heaved a long sigh. “Grandfather has wronged you. If only I had been firmer back then, things might not have turned out this way.”

He struggled to shift himself, then straightened his back to open a wooden drawer beside him. Holding a small, square iron box tightly, he murmured, “Grandfather has a premonition that his time is near. This was passed down from my great-grandfather, and now I want to entrust it to my true grandson.”

Inside the box lay a exquisitely crafted, translucent ring. Its colors shimmered with a dazzling spectrum, while its scent was as pure and ancient as the fragrance of a thousand-year-old tree.

Lin Tian looked at the trembling hand offering the ring and felt momentarily overwhelmed.

Setting aside everything else, the ring was far too precious for him to accept lightly.

“Xiao Tian, what are you waiting for? Take it. You deserve this. It’s a family heirloom of the Xiao clan. As a bloodline descendant, there’s nothing improper about you wearing it.”

Old Master Xiao seemed urgent, even struggling to breathe.

Fearing something might go wrong, Lin Tian reluctantly agreed, “Grandfather, please take care of your health. I will do as you say.”

He intended to pocket the ring, but Old Master Xiao insisted he wear it, so Lin Tian slipped it onto the middle finger of his left hand.

The elder offered a few more kind words, then handed him a card and urged him to visit the small cottage when he had time. Finally, exhausted, he leaned back in his wheelchair and closed his eyes.

Lin Tian quietly stepped outside, making little noise.

After he left, tears welled up in Old Master Xiao’s eyes, streaming down his cheeks. “Child, you must live strong…”

Just as Lin Tian descended from the second floor, he suddenly noticed a figure darting past on his right—someone who looked like Xiao Chusheng.

“Is he eavesdropping?” The thought triggered a sharp sense of danger within Lin Tian, quickening his pace.

He hurried out of the villa without pause, breaking into a run after some distance.

Yet the unease inside him only grew stronger, like a tide that would not recede.

Suddenly—

A piercing, high-speed whistle sounded as two clearly modified vans deliberately blocked Lin Tian’s path, one in front and one behind.

Soon, over a dozen burly men emerged from the vans, their eyes locked on him with predatory intent.

Faced with such a daunting sight, Lin Tian’s heart trembled violently, but he gritted his teeth and charged forward.

“I’ll fight you all!” he shouted, flailing wildly.

His fists failed to connect with even a sleeve; instead, a large hand struck his face, spinning his head and sending him crashing to the ground, unable to open his eyes.

The thugs sneered contemptuously at his feebleness. “This trash? Taking him out nets us eighty grand. Honestly, I don’t even feel comfortable with that kind of money.”

These men usually took on high-risk jobs, ones that could easily mean death—luck like this was rare.

They mocked him mercilessly, beating him with fists and feet until his head was bloodied and he lay motionless like a lifeless fish.

“This kid’s pretty stubborn, doesn’t even make a sound,” said a tall, fat man as he pulled a baseball bat from the van. His eyes burned fiercely as he licked his lips.

“Let me see just how tough he really is!”

With that, he swung the bat with all his might at Lin Tian’s already battered head.

The force was so great the bat snapped in two.

Lin Tian’s head spilled brain matter, blood pooling around him, looking utterly dead.

The men assumed the same, pulling out their phones to snap pictures of their handiwork before calling their boss to report.

“We’ve taken out the guy you sent. I’ve sent you the photos. The scene’s gruesome, barely bearable to look at. You know what I mean.”

The fat man’s tone carried a veiled threat—to say they could kill Lin Tian meant they could kill anyone.

From the other end came a low voice: “Good. I’ll verify. Also, that kid was wearing a ring. Make sure you bring it to me. No ring, no payment.”

Though displeased, the fat man agreed.

After hanging up, he ordered two of his men to retrieve the ring. “Cut off his finger with the ring and bring it back.”

The two crouched down, one holding Lin Tian’s left hand, the other ready with scissors to snip.

At this critical moment, a drop of Lin Tian’s vital essence slid from his forehead, landing precisely on the ring.

Instantly, an invisible radiance seemed to envelop him.

“Ahhh!”

Both men preparing to cut screamed in agony, then collapsed stiffly to the ground.

This sudden turn startled the fat man and the others, who exchanged wary glances, their celebration abruptly halted.