LGHTNOVELBOOK Chapter 25:
Chapter 25: Temporarily Avoiding the Spotlight:
Lin Fan listened carefully to Shen Wuxiao’s advice and sank into deep thought.
It was true—he had killed the wrong person.
The man wasn’t his enemy and, from what he’d heard, wasn’t even a bad person. He had acted impulsively, and now there was no way to explain or negotiate his actions.
The entire city—both the criminal underworld and the lawful authorities—would soon be after him.
There was no doubt a department existed to oversee martial artists. Likely, it was the Martial Arts Association.
If he were still the Border Wolf King, he might’ve been taken into custody and tried by a military court. But now, he was just an ex-soldier with no money and no influence. If he got caught, he was finished.
What’s worse, Shen Wuxiao was still alive. Lin Fan’s true enemy had not yet paid the price. His brother’s vengeance remained incomplete.
He couldn’t afford a head-on confrontation—not like this. If he tried, no one would listen to his explanations. They’d just label him a violent killer.
“Alright, Brother Sikong. I’ll do as you say,” Lin Fan finally agreed.
He truly trusted Shen Wuxiao. They had already become sworn brothers. If Shen Wuxiao had meant to betray him, he wouldn’t have invited him to his own home. If Lin Fan were exposed, Sikong would be implicated too.
This was a man worth trusting.
Watching Lin Fan, Shen Wuxiao secretly marveled: This guy really is the Wolf King. So composed even under this kind of pressure.
He nodded in approval. “Good. I’ll arrange for someone to escort you there discreetly. And keep this money—just in case.”
“It would’ve been better if you left Zhonghai, but since you’re staying, this is the next best option.”
Lin Fan patted him on the shoulder. “Brother Sikong, I’m lucky to have met you. I, Lin Fan, will never forget this favor.”
Shen Wuxiao smiled. “Come on now, don’t get sentimental. We’re brothers. I’ll have someone cancel your hotel reservation, so there’s no trail.”
“I’ll also get you a new phone card. Don’t use your old one for now. We’ll keep in contact through one secure line.”
“Got it.” Lin Fan nodded firmly.
He didn’t drag his feet. He accepted the money, walked out of the villa, got into the car Shen Wuxiao arranged for him, and left without hesitation.
After Lin Fan was gone, Shen Wuxiao stood at the doorway, watching the car disappear into the distance.
He looked down at the shoulder Lin Fan had patted, then promptly stripped off his shirt and tossed it into the trash can.
Lin Fan, you’re in the dark now, completely unaware. But what will you do when you finally learn who I really am?
A wicked smile spread across Shen Wuxiao’s face.
I’m not someone who does things halfway.
He poured himself a glass of red wine and stood at the large French window, facing the ocean.
He picked up the phone and dialed a number. Manager Xie from the Longting Hotel answered almost immediately.
“Hello, Master Sikong… why are you calling? Is there anything I can do for you?” Manager Xie spoke cautiously but respectfully.
He was a sharp man. He knew Shen Wuxiao had been using the alias “Sikong” while interacting with Lin Fan, so he played along flawlessly.
“There’s no one around,” Shen Wuxiao said calmly.
Hearing that, Manager Xie’s tone immediately shifted. “Master, what do you need?”
Shen Wuxiao took a sip of wine. “Check Lin Fan out of his room. Do it officially. Record it in your system and close it properly.”
“If a woman comes looking for him, follow protocol and protect the guest’s privacy. But in my name—as his friend—you can tell her where to find him.”
“I have her photo but won’t send it. She’s sharp. We can’t let her get suspicious. You’re smart—you know what to do.”
Manager Xie understood immediately. This wasn’t about secrecy—it was about subtle manipulation.
“You want to guide someone to your villa,” he confirmed. “Is that correct?”
“Yes,” Shen Wuxiao said. “If anyone comes to see me, notify me in advance.”
“Understood. I’ll take care of everything,” Manager Xie replied confidently.
“One more thing,” Shen Wuxiao added. “If anyone from Haisha Society comes looking for Lin Fan, just tell them to scram.”
“No problem.” Manager Xie chuckled. “Even if you gave Haisha Society a hundred lives, they still wouldn’t dare make trouble with you.”
“Very good. Done. Add two million to your bonus this month.”
With that, Shen Wuxiao ended the call.
Now, he just had to wait for Jiang Huaiyue to appear.
He wasn’t in any rush to tip off Haisha Society about Lin Fan’s new location. There was still plenty of time.
Better to let Lin Fan stew for a few days.
Isn’t it amusing to see a once-proud Wolf King reduced to a man hiding from his own mistake?
[Ding! Successfully deceived the protagonist. Points +30,000.]
[Changed a key plot event. Points +50,000.]
Hearing the system notification, Shen Wuxiao laughed to himself.
Originally, I thought I’d just follow Lin Fan’s script, stealing opportunities when the time came.
But reality doesn’t always follow the plan. Lin Fan is too stubborn. He did nothing but chase revenge. He ignored everything else.
Still, things had realigned. Once this incident cooled off, Lin Fan would eventually emerge again—and his fate would bring new opportunities.
That would be the perfect time to swoop in and take what was his.
First the opportunities, then the women… and eventually, even his organs.
Feeling pleased, Shen Wuxiao left the bay villa and headed for the Liu family estate.
A little self-care was important—cooling the fire, relaxing the body.
Liu Ruyan had the perfect combination of beauty, figure, and elegance. More than enough to be used as a “tool.”
Besides, she was still enduring and keeping quiet.
Even if she snapped, it would be no more than a spark—nothing dangerous.
She might be clever in the eyes of ordinary people, but compared to Shen Wuxiao?
She was nothing.
She lacked power. She lacked ruthlessness. After the fall of the Liu family, she didn’t even have the authority to meet a squad leader at the local police station.
In Shen Wuxiao’s eyes, she had long become useless.
Still, when the time came for his true identity to be exposed—when he and Lin Fan stood face to face—Liu Ruyan might be useful.
Especially if the false information came out of her mouth. After all, who would believe that a woman whose entire family had been destroyed would help the very man responsible?
…
Meanwhile, Lin Fan had arrived at the old neighborhood.
The reality was worse than expected.
This wasn’t a residential complex. It was a construction site, or more accurately, a half-demolished war zone.
Just as Brother Sikong described—it was part of a demolition project. Many buildings were already falling apart.
Most people had already left. The ones remaining were those too poor to relocate, or tenants with nowhere else to go.
They weren’t homeowners, so they had no compensation to claim. Living here was free—for now.
Eventually, when demolition started again, they’d be driven out.
But Lin Fan didn’t mind.
Compared to some of the conditions at the border, this wasn’t so bad. At least here, he had freedom.
He found a relatively intact building and moved in.
But when he entered the first room, he was nearly overwhelmed by a horrible stench.
He followed the source of the smell, only to almost vomit.
The place was filled with excrement—Oli Gei, again.
Clearly, the homeless man next door had turned the house into a public toilet.
With no running water or electricity, that was the norm here.
Lin Fan didn’t hesitate. He left and chose another unit.
Luckily, there were many empty ones, and he soon found a relatively clean space.
It had an old, worn-out sofa—but it would do.
He just needed to head out and buy a few daily necessities, and it would be livable.
For now, this would be his home.