Chapter 33: Time for Reckoning

Thus, Qin Guosheng was locked up here and left to stew for a while. During this time, even Qin Guosheng himself questioned whether he had made some mistake that led to his current predicament.

But soon, Qin Guosheng completely abandoned that idea. It wasn’t he who had erred; these people had betrayed him. He had never made a wrong decision. As one in power, he often had to make compromises, but these people were simply insatiable, using such means to threaten him.

Could Qin Guosheng compromise? Of course not. In fact, at that moment, he was already plotting that once he escaped safely, he would slaughter every last one of those reckless fools.

Just then, a familiar figure appeared before him. The instant he saw Lin Li, Qin Guosheng’s expression changed dramatically.

“Haha, Lin, I knew you’d come to rescue me. Quickly, untie me!” he exclaimed. “You didn’t kill all those traitors, did you? They dared to betray me—I won’t let them off so easily. I’ll skin them alive, I’ll have my revenge!”

Qin Guosheng spoke with a look of triumph. But Lin Li had no intention of responding; instead, he sat calmly across from Qin Guosheng, leaving him bewildered.

“I understand—you want money, don’t you?” Qin Guosheng said. “No problem. You’ve followed me for so many years; I can give you a lot. Just name your price.”

Lin Li crossed his legs, smiling as he looked at Qin Guosheng. “Boss Qin,” he said, “how long have I followed you?”

Qin Guosheng paused, evidently surprised by the sudden question. After a brief moment of thought, he replied, “Four years?”

Lin Li smiled. He had started running with the gangs at a young age due to poor grades. Back then, he was often bullied, and it was Su Lan who saved him.

If not for Su Lan, would Qin Guosheng have cared about him?

Later, Qin Guosheng realized Lin Li was easy to control and began grooming him as a trusted subordinate. Ostensibly, Lin Li was there to protect Su Lan, but in truth, he served as a tool for Qin Guosheng to exert control over her. The methods Qin Guosheng used were all forms of deep psychological manipulation.

That was why, in the original story, Lin Li died so easily. Even at the very end, he never dared to defy Su Lan and regarded Qin Guosheng as a supreme being in his life. He was willing to sacrifice his life for Qin Guosheng without hesitation.

If Lin Li hadn’t suddenly taken control of this body and begun to resist, he would likely have died just moments ago.

Seeing that Lin Li made no move, Qin Guosheng began to grow anxious. “Lin Li, I don’t know what you’re doing,” he said. “Before those others return, hurry and untie me. I’ll make sure you’re rewarded.”

“You’ve followed me so many years—you know what kind of man I am.”

Qin Guosheng still assumed Lin Li was the obedient child he had manipulated for years, incapable of rebellion.

But Lin Li remained motionless, simply staring at Qin Guosheng and shaking his head. “I’ve followed you for eight years. You really are getting senile.”

Lin Li sighed and slowly stood, recognizing that the original Lin Li was a tragic figure through and through. Even now, he likely didn’t realize that, in Qin Guosheng’s eyes, he was merely a convenient tool.

“What do you mean by all this, brat? Are you planning to betray me?” Qin Guosheng snarled. “You’re an orphan—if it weren’t for me, how would you ever have reached your current position? Look at the clothes on your back. Which piece wasn’t bought with my money?”

Suddenly, Lin Li strode forward and seized Qin Guosheng by the collar, lifting him effortlessly.

“Old bastard, you dare say that to me?” he growled. “Do you really believe everything we’ve done was justified? Yes, I’ve benefited from you, but don’t forget how many times I risked my neck and got my hands dirty for your sake. Without me, you wouldn’t be where you are today.”

Lin Li’s expression grew more ferocious. Though he was merely a substitute, since he had taken the original Lin Li’s place, he felt compelled to help resolve the current crisis.

His attitude toward Qin Guosheng was simple: whatever this man planned, the critical thing now was to destroy him.

Qin Guosheng was genuinely frightened by Lin Li. “You think I don’t know all the tricks you used on me?” Lin Li said. “You used psychological manipulation to keep me as your lapdog, never allowing me even a thought of resistance. But even so, at the slightest sign of change, you began to suspect me. This time, you even tried to get rid of Ye Aotian and have me die alongside him on the battlefield. Is that your plan?”

Qin Guosheng’s face turned ashen; he hadn’t anticipated Lin Li’s transformation. The boy he once knew was gone.

Now, Qin Guosheng had no options left.

“I never intended to harm you, Lin Li. You should know I’ve always trusted you—there’s no need for such words between us,” he pleaded, still searching for excuses.

But Lin Li’s resolve was unwavering; he was not about to listen to such nonsense.

Gradually, Qin Guosheng realized something was different. “How did you know about all this?” he asked anxiously. Suddenly, his eyes widened in shock. “Zhang Fengwei didn’t die at Ye Aotian’s hands—it was you… you killed him?”

He could scarcely believe that the boy he had trusted had changed so drastically in such a short time.

“He knew too much,” Lin Li replied. “And he was planning to help you get rid of me. No matter his reasons, I could not allow that to happen.”

Lin Li narrowed his eyes, staring at Qin Guosheng.

Qin Guosheng’s face was drained of hope; only now did he realize Lin Li had not come to rescue him.

He was here to settle accounts.

At that thought, Qin Guosheng’s expression twisted into a snarl. “You ungrateful wretch! After all these years I’ve spent raising you, this is how you repay me?”