Oh no! My grandmother made me shoulder the responsibility for eight households!

Chapter 31 Hiding your strength is so difficult!

"Ding ding ding ding..."

Eight crisp sounds rang out almost simultaneously.

Eight longswords flew out of his hand at the same time and stuck to the rocks in the distance.

The eight guards groaned in unison and flew backward, unable to stand up when they landed.

The whole process took only a moment.

Zhao Heng's pupils contracted sharply, his expression one of disbelief: "You…"

Lin Chen walked slowly to him, his voice calm:

"Third Prince, although my Lin family has declined, we will not be bullied by others."

Seventh Sister-in-law is a member of the Lin family. Anyone who dares to touch her is making an enemy of the entire Lin family.

He took a step closer and lowered his voice:

"Also, please tell the Second Prince that I'll be waiting for him at the Cui family's birthday banquet."

Zhao Heng's face turned deathly pale, his lips trembled, but he couldn't utter a single word.

Lin Chen stopped looking at him and turned to Murong Xue, saying, "Seventh Sister-in-law, let's go."

Murong Xue looked at the guards groaning on the ground, then at Zhao Heng's ashen face, and quickly followed.

As the two descended the mountain path, Murong Xue whispered, "Eighth Brother, you...you hit the Third Prince's men, won't you...?"

"It's alright," Lin Chen said calmly.

"He dared not make a sound, after all, he would be ashamed if word got out that he had forcibly taken the widow of the Duke's mansion."

Murong Xue was silent for a moment, then suddenly asked, "Eighth Brother, you just said... what happened to the Second Prince?"

Lin Chen hesitated for a moment before briefly recounting what had happened the previous night.

Upon hearing this, Murong Xue's face turned pale: "Zhao Yuan... Blood Hand... how could they be so vicious!"

She suddenly grabbed Lin Chen's arm:

"Eighth brother, you must be careful on the day of the birthday banquet! I heard... the Second Prince has secretly recruited a Grandmaster!"

"Grandmaster?" Lin Chen's eyes were playful.

"Yes," Murong Xue said softly.

"This information was relayed by my informant planted in the Second Prince's residence by the Southern Zhao Kingdom. The person's surname is 'Yin,' his origins are unknown, but his strength is unfathomable."

Lin Chen was indifferent, but a hint of worry showed on his face.

"Seventh Sister-in-law, this news is very important," he said solemnly. "Thank you."

Murong Xue shook her head: "I'm the one who should be thanking you. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't be here today..."

She didn't finish speaking, but tears were already welling up in her eyes.

Lin Chen's heart stirred, and he said softly:

"Don't worry, Seventh Sister-in-law, with me here, no one can force you to do anything."

Murong Xue looked up at him, her eyes filled with tears and a smile:

"Eighth brother, you really are... different from before."

When the two returned to the mansion, it was already afternoon.

As soon as I entered the front hall, Wen Ruoxi hurriedly came to greet me:

"Eighth Brother, you're finally back! As for the Heavenly Mystery Institute..."

"Got it." Lin Chen took out the Seven-Leaf Resurrection Grass.

"Fifth Sister-in-law, how's things at Zuiyue Pavilion?"

"The renovation is progressing smoothly, but..." Wen Ruoxi's expression was grave.

"Half an hour ago, the Wang family came to cause trouble and injured two craftsmen. I reported it to the authorities, but the yamen (government office) shirked responsibility, saying it was a 'civil dispute'."

Lin Chen's eyes turned cold: "Wang Sheng?"

"It's not just him," Wen Ruoxi said. "The Cui family also sent people, saying there's a problem with the land deed for Zuiyue Pavilion and it needs to be re-examined. It's obvious that the Second Prince and the Cui family are working together to put pressure on them."

"As expected, they couldn't sit still any longer." Lin Chen sneered.

"It's alright, let them make a scene. Continue the renovation of Zuiyue Pavilion, and provide tenfold compensation for the injured craftsmen."

Furthermore, starting today, a squad of guards will be stationed here permanently. If anyone causes trouble again... break their legs and throw them out.

"But……"

"Don't worry," Lin Chen said, "They won't care about these things after the birthday banquet."

Lin Chen then found Chu Yueyao and gave her the Seven-Leaf Resurrection Grass.

Chu Yueyao was so excited that her hands were trembling:

"Eighth Brother, you really got it! With this, plus the Snow Jade Lingzhi you gave me before, I'm seventy percent confident I can concoct the antidote for the Bone-Corroding Spirit Stone!"

"How long will it take?"

"It should be possible before the birthday banquet."

"Then I'll leave it to you, Second Sister-in-law."

After leaving the pharmacy, Lin Chen went to the West Garden Study.

Yuan Tiangang and Li Chunfeng were already waiting, with a detailed map spread out on the table—a floor plan of the Cui residence.

"My lord, this is the latest intelligence just sent by the Sixth Madam." Yuan Tiangang pointed to the map.

"On the night of the Cui family's birthday banquet, the Cui family will send an additional 300 guards, including 30 first-rank guards and 3 grandmasters."

The back garden where the secret room is located is shrouded in a protective array; unauthorized entry will trigger an alarm.

Li Chunfeng added:

"The locations of the nine key points of the Nine Palaces Spirit Locking Array have been confirmed. I can set up the 'Reverse Nine Palaces Array' to temporarily suppress it, but it can only last for the time it takes for an incense stick to burn. Within that time, we must obtain the evidence and evacuate."

"One incense stick's time..." Lin Chen pondered, "That's enough."

He looked at several markers on the map: "What are these red dots?"

"The headquarters of the Cui family's experts," Yuan Tiangang said.

"Grandpa Cui Xiong was a Grandmaster in the late stage and spent most of his time in seclusion."

His son, Cui Yongnian, was a Grandmaster of Perfection, in charge of family affairs. Three other Grandmasters served as revered figures, each presiding over the front courtyard, central courtyard, and rear residence respectively.

"Where is that 'Mr. Yin'?" Lin Chen's heart stirred.

Yuan Tiangang and Li Chunfeng exchanged a glance, their expressions grave.

"This person is very mysterious," Yuan Tiangang said.

"The Bad Guys only discovered that he lived in the 'Listening to the Rain Pavilion' in the northeast corner of the Second Prince's residence and rarely went out."

His only act was three days ago, when he repelled three Grandmaster commanders of the Imperial City Guard with a single palm strike.

Li Chunfeng calculated with his fingers, his brows furrowed: "My divination of this person's destiny reveals it to be utter chaos."

Either he has a secret treasure protecting him, or... his cultivation has reached the celestial level, or even higher.

God!

Lin Chen's heart sank.

If that's the case, the entire plan will need to be adjusted.

"My lord, should we postpone the operation?" Yuan Tiangang asked.

Lin Chen shook his head: "The arrow is on the string, it has to be released. However... we need to prepare for both possibilities."

He pondered for a moment and said:

"Mr. Li, you are an expert in formations. Could you set up a 'Dragon Trapping Formation' to temporarily trap a Celestial Realm expert?"

Li Chunfeng smiled confidently: "This humble Taoist can set up the 'Small Heavenly Cycle Star Formation,' which can trap a mid-stage Celestial Being for a moment and a late-stage Celestial Being for a hundred breaths."

"That's enough." Lin Chen was overjoyed. "This Mr. Yin couldn't possibly have such high martial arts skills, otherwise why would he have sought refuge with the Second Prince?"

"Indeed." Yuan Tiangang nodded slightly.

"Tonight at midnight, the three of us will first go to the Cui residence to scout out the area and familiarize ourselves with the terrain. Tomorrow's birthday banquet will proceed as planned," Lin Chen decided.

"Yes."

After the two left, Lin Chen's consciousness sank into the system space.

The summoning card of the Thousand-Rider Snow Dragon Rider floated silently, with the summoning cards of the Three Hundred Heavenly Guards beside it.

These two trump cards must be played at the most crucial moment.