CHAPTER 192: CHAPTER 192 BREAKTHROUGH (1)_1

It was a pitch-black night, utterly dark.

The Lin Family’s mansion on the mountainside, usually ablaze with lights, suddenly went dark, plunging the estate into blackness. Shangguan Zhi and Liu Ruoling rushed to the Lin Family estate.

When they arrived at the villa’s entrance, they found it completely dark. Just moments before, on their way, they had seen it brightly lit. Why were all the lights out now? Even the surrounding streetlights were extinguished.

Shangguan Zhi snorted inwardly. That old man Lin is obviously doing this on purpose, trying to make me back down. He’s dreaming!

"Go and press the doorbell. That old Lin thinks he can lock me out and make me leave? He’s dreaming!" Shangguan Zhi cursed. With a SNAP, he opened the car door and fiercely jabbed the doorbell. The shrill ring was exceptionally piercing in the dark night.

"Dad, perhaps we should come back tomorrow? They might all be asleep, and it wouldn’t be right to disturb them," Liu Ruoling said softly, her brows furrowing slightly as she tried to persuade him. If Mengjie returned safely, that would be one thing. But if anything happened to her, both the Lin and Shangguan families would be finished. Even her good relationship with Lin Mengjie wouldn’t change a thing.

The fact that they were now shut out made it evident how furious the Lin Family was about Shangguan You.

"No, we can’t wait until tomorrow," Shangguan Zhi said in a deep voice, still pressing the doorbell. If they waited until tomorrow, Shangguan You would definitely be renamed Lin Wenyu, and he would lose his granddaughter. That’s why they had to clear things up tonight, to prevent old man Lin from blaming them.

Old man Lin had harbored a grudge for sixteen years. A year ago, his resentment deepened, and today’s incident had only fueled his fury. They had to appease his anger tonight. Otherwise, even if Shangguan You returned safely, everything would change, and the efforts of the past sixteen years would be in vain.

"But Dad, if Uncle Lin doesn’t want to see us, perhaps we should wait for Mengjie to return safely before we come again," Liu Ruoling said, her voice strained with worry and sorrow. Being shut out in the middle of the night like this... she felt an indescribable discomfort.

Thinking of Lin Mengjie, and then of how Shangguan You had been kidnapped trying to save her, made her heart ache even more.

"Whether he wants to or not, we *must* see him today," Shangguan Zhi declared sternly. The sharp ring of the bell tore through the silence of the mountainside.

He rang the bell for a full ten minutes, but the villa remained silent, save for the occasional bark of a dog. There was no sign of human presence.

"Old Lin, what are you hiding for? Open up! I have something to discuss with you!" Shangguan Zhi was losing his temper now. If that old coot can’t hear this racket, he’s definitely doing it on purpose, trying to make me leave. Dream on!

"I’m telling you, Shangguan You is a Shangguan! No matter what, she will never take the Lin surname! So even if you don’t open the door, it’s pointless!"

"Old Lin, open up! Are you scared? If you admit you’re afraid of me, then go on, keep hiding!"

Shangguan Zhi bellowed at the gate, his voice incredibly loud. The two bodyguards who had driven him there frowned. Is this our composed superior? He’s acting like a shameless old codger, nothing like his usual dignified self!

Inside the villa, Lin Wenbo sat in his study, watching Shangguan Zhi’s face on a video feed, his hands clenched tightly. With a SLAP, he slammed his hand on the table. A vein throbbed on his forehead as he listened to Shangguan Zhi’s shouting. If I don’t teach that old man Shangguan a lesson, he won’t know who he’s dealing with! Afraid of him? Me, afraid of that old fool? What a joke!

If it weren’t for Shangguan You, he would never have let the Shangguan Family off so easily all these years. No one harbored a deeper hatred for the Shangguan Family than he did. Yet, he couldn’t destroy them, nor could he personally strike against them.

"Lock the gates and release the hounds!" Lin Wenbo snarled, glaring at Shangguan Zhi on the screen. "Let them bite that old bastard to death! He harmed my daughter, and now he wants to harm my granddaughter? And he has the audacity to show up at my door? He’s overestimating himself! Tonight, he’ll learn a harsh lesson!"

"Yes, Master," the butler acknowledged and immediately went to carry out Lin Wenbo’s orders. The Lin Family and the Shangguan Family were generational enemies; thus, everyone in the Lin household despised the Shangguans.

Shangguan Zhi continued to press the doorbell and shout, determined to force Lin Wenbo to show himself. He knew Lin Wenbo would be reluctant to see him, just as he himself wasn’t keen on this meeting. But circumstances left him no choice; he had to see him tonight.

But after all the trouble of coming here, he was now locked out. He had been ringing the doorbell for ten solid minutes and shouting for just as long, but old man Lin still gave no sign of response.

"Lin Wenbo, get out here!"

Shangguan Zhi roared. Suddenly, the firmly closed main gate gave a loud CREAK and swung open automatically. Three large figures leaped out from the villa, their eyes gleaming green as they stared fiercely at Shangguan Zhi and Liu Ruoling.

Both of them jumped back, retreating several steps in alarm. When they saw clearly what the figures were, they both gasped. Such huge dogs!

WOOF! WOOF! WOOF! Sharp barks erupted. The three massive wolfhounds, snarling and baring their fangs, lunged towards them. The two turned and fled towards their car; getting bitten was not an option.

With another CREAK, the villa’s main gate swung shut again, as the three wolfhounds chased after Shangguan Zhi and Liu Ruoling. Their frenzied barking echoed sharply in the pitch-black night.

"Chief!" exclaimed the two men in the car. One guard jumped out while the other switched the car’s headlights to full beam. The blinding light hit the wolfhounds’ eyes, momentarily slowing their advance. Dogs, being sensitive to bright light, naturally hesitated.

The guard quickly positioned himself to shield Shangguan Zhi and Liu Ruoling, escorting them step by step towards the car. The three menacing wolfhounds stalked them, their advance slowed but still relentless, pressing closer with each step the humans took.