FI CH92: I’m Out Here Building an Empire…

The disciple was stunned for a moment by the information.

Then he slowly turned sideways. “No need to announce you. I’ll take you…” His gaze shifted. “…all, directly inside.”

Lin Su nodded. “That works too.”

The disciple led them all the way in.

As Lin Su led Xuenima, a voice spoke from below: [17 years have passed, and you have graced the Yi family with the presence of your genius baby.]

He looked straight ahead. Shh.

In the Yi family’s front hall, Yi Daiming was sitting.

The guiding disciple stopped before the hall and hesitated for a moment. “Family Head, Mr. Lin is here.”

Yi Daiming, skimming the tea leaves, looked up. “Hm? Brother S—” His words stopped abruptly, and the lid of his cup clattered with a thud! He stared at the two figures at the entrance, one large and one small like a perfect replica, stunned for a long time. “You…”

Lin Su walked in. “Old Yi, I’ve found an heir for you.”

Xuenima gave a steady nod. “A pleasure to meet you.”

“……” Yi Daiming replied, “A pleasure.”

After that, the entire hall fell silent.

Yi Daiming sized them up for a long time before tentatively asking, “Uh… is this your and Chairman He’s child?”

Lin Su shot him a light glance.

“…Then it must be!” Yi Daiming said quickly.

He examined the child closely again. “Those cool, aloof eyes do resemble Chairman He, while the sarcastic curve of the lips is just like yours.”

Lin Su looked at him gently. “……”

Yi Daiming snapped back to his senses and returned to the main topic. “No, Brother Su, are you serious?”

Setting aside how this child “came to be”… now he was giving him away?

Hot tea had already been served.

Lin Su sat to the side and took a calm sip. “Of course. My cub is being adopted into your family. Is he not qualified?”

Yi Daiming’s features twisted. “He’s qualified enough, but—”

The teacup was set down with a thud. Lin Su sighed softly. There’s no other way.

He spoke, “Xiao… Ma, show your maternal grandfather your true power.”

“Yes.” Xuenima responded coolly.

As he spoke, his flowing outer robe moved without any wind, and a halo of light appeared in his dark, bright eyes. The next moment, the tea sets on the surrounding tables began to tremble with a “clatter, clatter, clatter…”

The powerful spiritual energy pulled at the surrounding magnetic field. A corner of the plaque hanging on the wall came loose and crashed onto the tabletop with a thud!

The entire hall seemed to shake.

Yi Daiming raised a hand in alarm. “Alright, alright…”

Xuenima withdrew his power at the right moment, his small face tense. “Maternal Grandfather, is this level of qualification enough?”

“It’s very, very much enough.”

Lin Su stood up with ease. “Then that settles it.”

“Hey, no!” Yi Daiming also got up and took a few steps closer. “Are you really putting your… uh… noble son, in our family?” he asked quickly. “Does Chairman He know?”

Lin Su thought for a moment. “I’ll inform him in a bit.”

Yi Daiming: ???

A pair of world-weary eyes suddenly widened.

Lin Su just smiled and patted him. “Alright. I’m busy for a while, so I’ll just leave him with you for a bit.”

…So it was just temporary fostering.

Only then did Yi Daiming’s expression relax slightly. “Sigh, alright then.”

Having handed over Xuenima, Lin Su prepared to leave. Before he walked out the door, he turned his head and said in his mind, Ni Ma, perform well. Let the old Yi family experience a one-week “prodigy” speedrun card.

[Ang-da.]

After leaving the Yi estate, Lin Su took out his phone to check it.

He saw several missed calls from He Zhenling, as well as messages on WeiXin.

[Ling]: ……What did you do now?

[Ling]: Why aren’t you answering?

[Ling]: …Forget it, I’m coming to your place now.

Lin Su sighed helplessly. Sigh, Xiao He really has no self-control.

He put his phone away and went home.

When he arrived, He Zhenling was already waiting in the living room.

He hadn’t even taken off his uniform, looking as though he had come directly from the Association. He sat on the sofa, all long legs and arms, with his back to the light from outside the living room. When he looked up, there was a slight sense of pressure.

He Zhenling chuckled lightly. “Heh… what did you do? You go silent as soon as I ask.”

Lin Su calmly walked over and sat down. “I accepted a commission.”

He Zhenling raised an eyebrow. “Mhm.”

Lin Su then told him about Yi Shui’s commission.

He Zhenling was silent for two seconds after hearing it, his fingertips tapping on the edge of the table. “The Yi family’s original intentions were good, but humans cannot become gods. Not to mention Yi Shui is unwilling…” He paused. “And then?”

His gaze turned steady. “What did you do.”

“……” Lin Su couldn’t divert the topic and had no choice but to confess gently, “I left Ni Ma there for now.”

“?”

“He’s eighty percent like me, twenty percent like you…”

A vein throbbed on He Zhenling’s forehead! He pressed his fingers to his brow and remained silent for a long moment.

Lin Su leaned closer. “What, you don’t like sons either?”

He Zhenling paused for a second, then suddenly turned his head.

He knitted his brows, a glint of light in his dark pupils. He stared with a half-smile. “I can tell you really ‘want’ one.”

“……” Lin Su swallowed.

As their eyes met, he felt inexplicably hot.

The sensation of the metal ring rolling over the tip of his tongue unconsciously came to mind. He felt a stir of desire. “…Then will you give me one?”

He Zhenling looked at him for two seconds, then leaned in and pressed him down—

No one was home, not even the spiritual consciousness.

He kissed him right there in the living room without any hesitation. The moment Lin Su’s lips parted, his tongue was captured. His hands clung to the crisp uniform as he was slowly pushed down.

His back hit the sofa cushions. He Zhenling kissed him from above, almost completely enveloping him under his body.

The scorching kiss was both lingering and urgent.

The tightly fastened belt was in the way. The man above let out a stifled groan of frustration, his brows furrowed. Lin Su caught a glimpse of his expression through his blurry vision, and one of his hands moved down. Click.

His hand was then abruptly grabbed!

He Zhenling propped himself up, looking at him deeply.

Lin Su licked his moist lips. “Today… no one is here.”

The words easily plucked at his nerves. In just an instant, the hand holding him down moved lower.

A tide of heat swept over them, a torrent of fire and flood.

……

The sunlight slanted in from the window, bit by bit.

Shadows stretched across the floor. An unknown amount of time passed before it stopped, and the enveloping heat dissipated.

He Zhenling got up, then paused again.

He leaned down and kissed his damp eyelids and parted lips.

He turned to get a tissue and took Lin Su’s hand.

Lin Su felt like he was soaking in warm water, lazily leaning on the sofa, letting He Zhenling meticulously wipe between his jade-like, long fingers. His knuckles were flushed red as they rested in He Zhenling’s hand.

He Zhenling looked down, and his Adam’s apple bobbed again.

He then let go and stood up to straighten his wrinkled uniform.

He stood sideways before him, with broad shoulders and a narrow waist.

Lin Su, curled up on the sofa, watched him for two seconds before his gaze drifted downwards, savoring the memory. “You…”

He Zhenling turned. “Me what?”

Lin Su’s face was bright red, and he said, smugly pleased, “You’re good.”

He Zhenling suddenly laughed at that, his eyelashes lowering. “…You like it?”

Lin Su’s heart suddenly sped up. He turned his head away and didn’t speak. Sigh, He Zhenling is being scorching again.

The man in front of him quickly tidied his clothes and the area around the sofa. “Go take a shower, I’ll call the butler to make dinner.”

“…What has the butler been doing recently?”

He Zhenling frowned, recalling. “At the Association, wandering around.”

Lin Su sat up. “He doesn’t look like he’s being reformed at all… we should let him go back to his old job at the school. It’ll be more convenient for him to cook for us at home too.”

“That’s true.”

He Zhenling’s cool, sharp demeanor returned. “I’ve been too busy recently and forgot about him. I almost let him off the hook.”

After sending Xuenima to the Yi family, Lin Su went to class as usual.

Yi Shui’s constitution was different from ordinary people.

She didn’t live at the school and commuted from home every day, so she naturally met Xuenima.

During a break, there was another knock on Lin Su’s office door.

Knock, knock. Yi Shui expertly slipped in. “Brother Teacher.”

Lin Su pulled out a chair. “Xiao Shui.”

Yi Shui sat down and blinked. “I saw little brother Lin Ma, he’s amazing. He can learn the lessons I teach him in a single day, and he can even lift Grandfather up from across the room.”

“……” Lin Su paused, then said gently, “Is that so.”

“Mhm, as expected of Teacher’s child.”

Lin Su thought for a moment. “Xiao Shui, you seem to have accepted this setup very naturally.”

Yi Shui’s light-colored pupils were like a calm sea. “You and Chairman He both have divinity, and little brother Ma has it too. So, it’s not strange.” She paused, then added, “And some novels also have…”

Lin Su’s heart skipped a beat…!

What kind of novels has Xiao Shui been reading?

He quickly changed the subject. “Is that so? Have you had time to read novels recently?”

Yi Shui pursed her lips. “Because of little brother Ma, the house has been very… busy. So I found some time to secretly read a bit, and I also managed to do some drawing…”

Lin Su was enthusiastic. “Can I see?”

Yi Shui took out her phone and showed him. The screen was brought over, and it showed: (つ0w0)つ—=≡(O口O)/

“A drawing of little brother Ma tossing Grandfather.”

“………”

Lin Su praised, “Figurative yet abstract, vivid yet simple. You have great artistic talent.”

The smoky-blue pupils brightened, then she looked down. “But, will Grandfather agree to let me do this?”

“Don’t worry.”

A hand rested on her head. Lin Su smiled. “Didn’t you dream about it?”

…

Only a week later, the Yi family came to visit.

Yi Daiming personally brought Xuenima over. His weathered face carried a hint of fatigue as he greeted them.

“Brother Su, Chairman He is here too.”

Lin Su sat on the sofa. He Zhenling’s eyebrow twitched again upon seeing “Xuenima.”

Yi Daiming said, “I really can’t raise your genius baby. I’d better return him to you.”

Lin Su raised an eyebrow. “Was Xiao Ma misbehaving?”

“……No.” Yi Daiming hesitated.

Lin Su patted He Zhenling benevolently. “Take the child aside.”

He Zhenling held back a smile and stood up.

He stopped a few steps in front of Xuenima, big eyes staring at small eyes. Xuenima’s face was tense as he reached out a hand. “Wise… wise Father, take me to my room for a story.”

“……” He Zhenling took his hand and led him into the room.

The bedroom door clicked shut.

Lin Su and Yi Daiming both retracted their gazes.

The latter sat down. Lin Su smiled at him. “How does it feel to be at the pinnacle of metaphysics?”

Yi Daiming choked. After a long moment, he sighed in resignation. “It’s… something we cannot handle.”

They had only thought about cultivating a “god,” but only after actually having one did they realize: superhuman power cannot coexist with ordinary people. Besides admiration, there was also fear, distance, loneliness…

Lin Su asked, “What are your thoughts now?”

Yi Daiming said, “Sigh… Brother Su, just say what you want to say. Let’s talk openly.”

Lin Su said, “Xiao Shui’s abilities have already surpassed the ordinary. Her body can’t handle it. It would be best to take back the part you gifted her.”

After he spoke, silence fell in the living room.

The resources and precious abilities poured into her for 14 years, how could they just be taken away? The single-heir Yin-Yang Eyes, could another one be born in the future?

Would the Yi family’s status be shaken?

As the head of the family, Yi Daiming’s one decision concerned the entire clan.

As if seeing his thoughts, Lin Su said, “Old Yi, even if you take away the part of her abilities that belong to a ‘genius,’ Xiao Shui is still a Tianshi with rich experience and knowledge. She is more than qualified to be your heir.”

Yi Daiming’s face fell. “But she wants to draw and write novels!”

Lin Su paused. “…You knew?”

Yi Daiming also paused. “She told you too?”

Lin Su said broadly, “I only found out after you did.”

Yi Daiming was instantly relieved. “Oh, that’s more like it.”

“……”

The topic was inexplicably sidetracked, and the atmosphere relaxed slightly.

Lin Su took a sip of tea and put it down.

The teacup clinked softly, and the steam swirled above the pearwood table. “Old Yi, resources can be regenerated, but there is only one person. As for your concerns about the family’s status—”

“I’ve had an idea for a long time.”

Yi Daiming looked up at him.

Lin Su sat up straight, his hands folded on his lap. “To draft a supreme covenant, led by the four families and abided by all: prominent families must not suppress or plunder each other, and must insist on benign development. At the same time, a new tripartite council will be established to cultivate more Tianshis outside the prominent families. They can specialize in academia or take on specialized commissions.”

“As for the cultivation, I want to entrust it to your Yi family.”

Yi Daiming was stunned. “Entrust it to us?”

Lin Su persuaded him gently, “Yes, Old Yi. Aren’t you happy to cultivate more juniors? Don’t you want to become the scholarly family of the metaphysics world, with students all over the world?”

Yi Daiming’s eyes lit up, and his breathing quickened slightly.

After a moment, he was moved. “But this sounds too massive. The connections, the funding… and will the other three families agree?”

“Leave that to me.”

Lin Su stood up and patted his clothes. “My little wings scattered outside, there are still quite a few…”

He stood up straight, looking down from above, and smiled gently at Yi Daiming. “As long as you nod, we can start at any time.”

Yi Daiming felt his blood boil inexplicably. He held his breath for a long moment, then stood up. “This matter, I still have to go back and discuss with the clan. Give me two days, I’ll give you an answer in two days.”

Lin Su smiled. “Alright.”

Yi Daiming then hurried back.

…

Having successfully cajoled him onto the same side, Lin Su brushed his sleeves, hiding his merits and fame.

He then walked towards the closed bedroom door.

Given the relationship between He Zhenling and Xuenima, the two were probably sitting silently opposite each other in the room, or Ni Ma had already turned back into a ball of light, waiting to return to his consciousness.

With this thought, Lin Su pushed the door open—

The door opened, but he saw one person and one spirit sitting harmoniously on the edge of the bed. He Zhenling was holding up a phone, and Xuenima, still in child form, had half of his hair swept up in a new style.

Lin Su: …?

Hearing the noise, the two figures turned their heads in unison.

Xuenima blinked, and his eyes and brows seemed to have become even more like He Zhenling’s. Lin Su’s thoughts stalled for a moment. He turned hesitantly to He Zhenling.

“…What are you doing?”

He Zhenling calmly put his phone away. “Nothing.”

Author’s note:

Kun (Sleepy) (staring): I’m out here building an empire, and you’re in here creating characters.

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