Chapter 3: I Am Your Husband

"Get lost. I'm in no mood to argue with you."
Lin Yuan pulled out a fine needle, flicked his wrist, and with a sharp whistle, the needle shot through the air, piercing straight into the security guard’s knee.
"Ow!" The guard cried out in pain, his leg buckling as he dropped to one knee.
"You little punk!" the guard spat, face flushed with anger. He yanked out the needle, struggled to his feet, and charged at Lin Yuan, baton raised.
At that moment, a Rolls-Royce glided up, its horn gently sounding.
The guard immediately scurried back to open the gate, bowing slightly in deference.
"What’s going on here?" A middle-aged man rolled down the window and asked the guard.
"This kid wanted in, but he looks like a beggar, so I turned him away. Who knew he’d stab me with a needle…" the guard complained, looking aggrieved.
"Who is he looking for?" the man asked, glancing at Lin Yuan with a puzzled look.
"I'm here to see Lin Ruhai," Lin Yuan replied.
"Hmm?" The man was taken aback. "You know our chairman?"
"I don't, but he's my father-in-law," Lin Yuan said.
A clear, melodious voice came from the car. "Ah, could he be my sister’s boyfriend?"
The window lowered to reveal a delicate, pretty face. Eyes as bright as stars studied Lin Yuan, then quickly filled with disdain.
"I'm sure he's definitely not my sister’s boyfriend!"
"Are you the second Miss of the Lin family?" Lin Yuan asked.
"You know me? Well, of course—you'd be hard pressed to find anyone in Haicheng who hasn't heard of me, the campus belle of Haicheng University," Lin Shanshan preened, quite pleased that even a roadside beggar recognized her.
Alas, beauty is a troublesome thing, she thought.
"Oh, I’m not your sister’s boyfriend. I’m your husband," Lin Yuan stated with certainty.
"Oh, that’s good... What?!"
Lin Shanshan’s eyes widened, her voice leaping several octaves as her face flushed with anger.
"Say that again if you dare!"
"It’s true. Here’s the marriage contract. I am your husband."
Lin Yuan produced a yellowed piece of paper and waved it before her.
The steward realized things were more complicated than they seemed and quickly called Chairman Lin Ruhai.
The phone connected swiftly.
"Chairman, here’s the situation..." The steward gave a rapid explanation.
Lin Ruhai was silent for a moment before replying in a low voice, "Yes, there is such an agreement. But I never thought he’d show up. My daughter would never marry a bumpkin from the countryside."
"So what should we do?" the steward asked.
"According to Master Wuya’s wishes, if Shanshan refuses, his disciple must protect the Lin family for half a year before leaving."
The Lin family did indeed have a marriage contract, written in Master Dao Wuya’s own hand, but with an added clause.
After giving instructions, Lin Ruhai hung up.
The steward was about to repeat the message when Lin Yuan waved him off. "No need. I heard everything."
The steward was surprised, but remembering Lin Yuan was a disciple of a master, he accepted it.
"Lin Yuan, your master’s arrangement is for you to stay with the Lin family for six months. Once you’ve found your footing, you’re free to seek another path," the steward explained, lest Lin Yuan misunderstand.
"I know. Master was worried I’d starve after leaving the mountain, knowing nothing of the world," Lin Yuan replied with a light laugh.
"Uncle Cai, you mean he’s going to live with us?" Lin Shanshan was dumbfounded.
"Yes, the chairman wants him to serve as your bodyguard for six months, at a salary of ten thousand a month," Lin Yucai nodded.
"What a joke! With that scrawny frame as my bodyguard? I don’t even know if he could handle our family’s Golden Lion."
Lin Shanshan rolled her eyes. If they were going to take care of this country bumpkin, this was hardly the way. He was in no way fit for the job—he’d be better off cleaning toilets for an easy meal.
"Golden Lion?" Lin Yuan looked surprised. "You have a lion at home?"
"It’s a dog!" Lin Shanshan corrected, though she didn’t mention it was a vicious Tibetan Mastiff.
"Dog or lion, I can make it lie down with just a look," Lin Yuan said dismissively. He had mastered this skill long ago under his master’s tutelage.
"Brag all you want!" Lin Shanshan scoffed. "When we get home, you can run behind the car. Once we arrive, hide behind me if you’re scared."
"But the security guard won’t let me in," Lin Yuan remarked, glancing at the guard, who now stood respectfully aside.
The guard forced a smile and bowed to Lin Yuan.
"Sir, please forgive me. I’m just a guard—let me off the hook, please..."
His forced smile looked worse than crying, and he dropped to his knees with a thud. Security pay in these wealthy communities was generous—he couldn’t bear to lose the job.
"Enough with the theatrics. Steward Lin, I don’t want to see such incompetent guards again," Lin Yuan said.
"Understood. I’ll handle it," Lin Yucai nodded.
Hearing this, the guard’s face turned ashen.
With no further obstacles, Lin Yuan entered the villa district and arrived at Villa No. 13.
"Hey, country bumpkin, come here and enter with me. Let the Golden Lion get used to your scent," Lin Shanshan called from the doorway.
"I told you, I can make it lie down with just a look," Lin Yuan said calmly, strolling over.
"Yeah, right. All talk," Lin Shanshan frowned, growing more and more annoyed.
"And if I do?" Lin Yuan glanced at her.
"If you manage it, I... I’ll grant you a request—nothing outrageous! If you can’t, then get out of my villa. Deal?" Lin Shanshan loathed braggarts.
"Deal," Lin Yuan agreed without hesitation.
"Fine, then you go in first," Lin Shanshan folded her arms and watched with schadenfreude.
Lin Yuan led the way and stepped through the door.
A massive dog charged out, baring its teeth with an intimidating presence.
"If you’re scared, just call for Miss Shanshan to help, and I’ll stop the Golden Lion," Lin Shanshan said smugly.
Lin Yuan stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze steady and calm as he fixed his eyes on the Tibetan Mastiff, as serene as a deity gazing indifferently at the mortal world, without joy or sorrow.
In that moment, his aura was unfathomable, as if a bottomless abyss concealed his thoughts.
The Tibetan Mastiff whimpered, slunk to the ground, and rolled over, exposing its belly in submission.
"What...?" Lin Shanshan was dumbstruck.
"How did he do that?" the steward wondered, deeply shaken.
He knew butchers exuded a murderous air that could cow fierce dogs, but this young man was no butcher.
"Still as a deep pool, unfathomable as an abyss—who can say whether a dragon or a demon lurks beneath? Ordinary people cannot see through us cultivators, let alone an animal," Lin Yuan mused, squatting to give the mastiff a playful rub before standing up.
"Miss Shanshan, it seems you’ve lost."