Lin Mo was somewhat puzzled as he saw an unusually large number of people in the Huo Family Mansion today, and they seemed to have been standing there for quite some time.
A bitter smile appeared on Huo Jiaming's face. This group of people had been standing here for two hours already, but with Lin Mo still inside, who dared to disturb his sleep?
The people of the Huo Family Mansion had almost all witnessed Lin Mo's strength yesterday, as the heavens and earth seemed to change color in the wake of his might, as he leapt into the skies and burrowed into the earth, his punches creating craters in the forest, as though he possessed the power of an Immortal; these were the people who came to pay their respects, hoping to curry some favor with him.
Lin Mo stretched himself, his gaze glancing briefly at the distant Red Leaf Mountain, whose peak had been sliced off a portion, a testament to last night's fierce battle.
"Mr. Lin, the Li Family has been waiting outside all night, hoping to meet with you," Huo Jiaming suddenly spoke.
The Li Family was another super Family in the Ancient Capital, comparable in strength to the Huo Family. However, they had been appealing for pardon since last night because Li Shujie offended Lin Mo, enduring the cold all night. Yet, no one dared to leave.
Seeing this scene, those from the major clans of the Ancient Capital must have felt a shared sense of sorrow and concern, for they too were grand families of the Ancient Capital, wielding colossal wealth and power, but now they had to bow before a youth.
"No need to see them, let them go back," Lin Mo had no intention of calculating any debts with the Li Family.
Huo Jiaming instructed an elderly man beside him with a few words, and the latter nodded, hastily making his way to the mansion gate.
Indeed, at the mansion entrance stood Li Ming, leading Li Shujie, Luo Jiahao, and several others from the Li Family, anxiously awaiting the sight of the Huo Family's butler.
"Uncle Zhang, what about Mr. Lin?" Li Ming took a step forward, asking earnestly.
Uncle Zhang said, "Mr. Li, Mr. Lin has already awakened. However, he won't meet with you. You may leave."
The faces of Li Ming, Li Shujie, and Luo Jiahao instantly turned pale. "Who on earth is this Mr. Lin, to be so prestigious? We've been waiting here all night, almost frozen to death, and he's acting like quite the big shot. Mr. Li, why do you so eagerly seek an audience with him?" Suddenly, from the crowd, a heavily made-up woman with her arms crossed impatiently spoke out.
As her words fell, Li Ming turned his head to glare at her, his eyes filled with anger. With a raised palm, he slapped the woman across the face with a resounding smack.
The woman covered her face, looking at Li Ming with a hint of fear. She had never seen him so enraged before.
This woman was none other than Li Ming's wife, albeit a later marriage. Having been a second-tier celebrity in the entertainment industry, she married into the wealthy Li Family and had grown accustomed to a lofty position, never having experienced such humiliation.
"If I hear you speak like that again, believe me when I say I'll divorce you," Li Ming hissed through gritted teeth. Uncle Zhang then added, "However, from Mr. Lin's attitude, it seems he won't trouble the Li Family. Mr. Li should be at ease."
"Thank you, Uncle Zhang," Li Ming sighed in relief upon hearing those words and immediately took out a bank card and handed it to Uncle Zhang. "This is a small token of my appreciation for Uncle Zhang. If there is any news, please inform me."
Uncle Zhang feigned reluctance before accepting the bank card, assuring, "Rest easy."
After speaking, Uncle Zhang turned and walked back inside the mansion.
Li Ming, Li Shujie, Luo Jiahao, and the others felt as though a great weight had been lifted.
"I hope Mr. Lin views us as mere ants and doesn't bother to hold a grudge," Li Ming said slowly.
The rest of the Li Family looked at Li Ming with puzzled faces.
They had been called together last night to wait and meet this mysterious Mr. Lin, yet they had no idea why he was held in such high regard.
"Uncle, who exactly is Mr. Lin?" a young man asked with a frown, clearly not understanding Li Ming's actions.
"Yeah, just how powerful is Mr. Lin for you to strike me because of him?" the young woman with her face covered looked at Li Ming with a mix of sadness and resentment.
Li Ming frowned, turned his head, and swept his gaze over the faces of his clan members, his expression extremely solemn, "From now on, no one is to provoke those with the surname Lin, and the people of the Huo Family should not be trifled with either."
"Why exactly is that?" someone asked, still not understanding.
At that moment, Luo Jiahao suddenly stepped forward, stretched out his finger, and pointed at Red Leaf Mountain in the distance, "Do you notice anything different about that mountain?"
Everyone looked in the direction of his finger. Red Leaf Mountain was considered a landmark of the Ancient Capital Suburb and something they often saw when passing by, so it didn't seem to hold any peculiarities for them.
But when everyone looked over, someone suddenly exclaimed in surprise, "Why is the peak of Red Leaf Mountain gone? It looks like it's missing a piece."
Upon hearing this, everyone noticed the strange phenomenon.
"I remember when I drove past yesterday, the peak was there," someone said in astonishment.
"How could the peak just disappear in the span of a single day?"
Luo Jiahao sighed, his face revealing a bitter expression, "The peak was flattened by a punch from Mr. Lin."
At his words, the crowd gasped in shock.
A punch that obliterated the mountain peak; was this even humanly possible?
But given Luo Jiahao's status, he would certainly not lie.
"Mr. Luo, you can't be joking, right? How could a person possess such strength?" someone swallowed hard and asked with difficulty.
Luo Jiahao huffed coldly, "Do you think I would lie? I saw it with my own eyes yesterday. Mr. Lin is like a God Demon, not someone us mere mortals can provoke."
Hearing Luo Jiahao's words, a cold silence fell over the group.
They at last believed Luo Jiahao's words. Could it be that Mr. Lin really was an Immortal Master?
"From now on, no one is permitted to utter the three words 'Mr. Lin,'" Li Ming stated sternly.
Including the young wife, everyone from the Li Family showed a look of apprehension. If the other party was truly an Immortal, then their Li Family indeed had no power to contend with him.
Inside the Huo Family Mansion.
Lin Mo shooed away all those who had come to set up; he had no time to deal with these people.
"Mr. Lin, my name is Huo Qiguang," a middle-aged man suddenly stepped forward, revealing a sycophantic smile as he spoke to Lin Mo.
Lin Mo looked at him with a hint of confusion, "And you are?"
"I am Huo Yongshi's father," the middle-aged man said with a grin.
Huo Qiguang quickly added, "I've heard that Little Shi had a bit of a misunderstanding with Mr. Lin. This child has always been spoiled by her mother and me, and I'd like to offer an apology to you."
"It's just a trivial misunderstanding; I haven't taken it to heart," Lin Mo said indifferently. "That's good to hear, that's good," Huo Qiguang rubbed his hands together, continuing with a laugh, "Little Shi might be a bit spoiled, but she has a good nature, she's lovely and empathetic. If she could stay by Mr. Lin's side to take care of some things for you, like cleaning or cooking, that would be possible. My daughter even made a special trip to visit a three-star Michelin chef when she was abroad, and her cooking skills are quite good."
Hearing his words, Lin Mo found himself between laughter and tears; it seemed Huo Qiguang was treating him like a potential buyer for a product.