Chapter 23 The End of the Line

Lei Hong flew into a rage on the spot. “No children or grandchildren? How dare you curse me!”

Ye Tianci looked at his features and spoke with calm indifference. “Your grandfather was a butcher, your father slaughtered pigs and cattle, and your own generation is even more ruthless: you opened a slaughterhouse and kill pigs, cattle, and sheep alike.”

“Your ancestors were once a prominent family, blessed with many sons, but because of the lives taken generation after generation, your three uncles all died in accidents and left no descendants. Only your father married and had children.”

“Your father had three sons in total. You’re the youngest. Your two elder brothers died at birth.”

“As for you, you’ve already married three wives, but each struggled to become pregnant. Even if they did conceive, some accident would cause them to miscarry.”

“You’re now over forty and don’t even have a daughter. Lei Tiger, am I right?”

Lei Hong’s eyes widened in shock as he stared at Ye Tianci. “How… how do you know all this? Did you investigate me?”

Ye Tianci pointed at his face. “Your features say it all.”

“You know how to read faces? And so accurately?” Lei Hong stared at him, half in awe, half suspicious.

Qi Qingming interrupted, “Lei, don’t listen to this kid’s nonsense! Didn’t you just marry your fourth wife? She’s been pregnant for months already!”

Lei Hong nodded, looking at Ye Tianci. “Kid, you’re not accurate at all. I’ve married my fourth wife, she’s six months pregnant. I had it checked—twice—it’s a boy!”

Ye Tianci shook a finger. “You won’t keep him. Your wife will miscarry from hemorrhaging. Your family line is fated to end with you.”

Lei Hong exploded, “How dare you curse me? If I don’t kill you today, my name isn’t Lei Tiger!”

Just as he moved to attack, his phone suddenly rang.

Furious, he hung up, but the phone rang again, more urgently.

“What!” Lei Tiger answered, shouting impatiently.

“Boss Lei, the madam… she’s hemorrhaging—she’s lost the baby! She’s being rushed to the hospital, but… the child couldn’t be saved!” came the panicked voice of a maid.

“What? Impossible!”

“It’s true, Boss Lei. Please… please come to the hospital right away,” the maid sobbed on the other end.

With a clatter, Lei Tiger’s phone fell to the floor. He stood there, stunned, his mouth parted in disbelief, lips parched.

His eyes were filled with both grief and terror.

Ye Tianci had been right about everything. His father’s brothers had all died in accidents, leaving his father as the only surviving son.

Both of his own brothers had died at birth; he was the sole survivor.

He had married three wives before, but not one had borne him a child—not even a daughter. It was only after marrying his fourth wife that she finally became pregnant, and they had confirmed it was a boy, twice!

Lei Hong had been overjoyed—his family would finally have an heir.

Who could have expected his wife would miscarry at six months?

The Lei family’s bloodline was gone again.

What was truly terrifying was that Ye Tianci had even predicted the hemorrhaging and miscarriage!

“You… who are you? Your face-reading is uncanny! Even Master Yong’an from Qingshan Temple isn’t this skilled!” Lei Hong’s gaze toward Ye Tianci changed completely, now tinged with dread.

Ye Tianci didn’t answer, only said calmly, “Lei Hong, though your features foretell the end of your line, there is still a sliver of hope. It depends on whether you can grasp it.”

With a thud, Lei Hong knelt and bowed deeply to Ye Tianci. “Master Ye!”

“I was disrespectful just now. Please forgive me and have mercy—help my family continue our line! Don’t let the Lei family be extinguished!”

Lei Hong wanted nothing more than a son to carry on the family name.

He would give up all his wealth in exchange, without hesitation!

“Boss Lei, why are you kneeling to this guy? He’s just a charlatan—don’t let him fool you!” Qi Qingming shouted. “Teach him a lesson so my grandfather will reward you.”

“Shut up!” Lei Hong glared at Qi Qingming. Compared to the survival of his family line, currying favor with the Qi family meant nothing.

Qi Qingming’s face turned green with embarrassment. He, the young master of the Qi family, had just been scolded in public by Lei Tiger. He’d lost all face for the Qi family.

“Lei Tiger, go home and close all your slaughterhouses. Stop your beef and mutton businesses. Eat vegetarian and pray every day for three days,” Ye Tianci said coolly. “Come find me after three days. I’ll tell you about that last chance.”

Lei Hong nodded repeatedly. “I’ll follow Master Ye’s instructions to the letter.”

Suddenly, Ye Tianci reached out and took a dagger from Lei Hong’s waist without him even noticing.

By the time Lei Hong realized, Ye Tianci was already approaching Qi Qingming with the dagger.

“What terrifying skill! Thank goodness I didn’t try to fight him earlier—I’d never be his match!” Lei Hong thought, horrified and secretly relieved.

As Ye Tianci advanced, Qi Qingming panicked. “What do you want, Ye?”

“I’m going to send your grandfather, Qi Changling, a generous gift.”

“What do you mean?”

The answer was the flash of the dagger in Ye Tianci’s hand!

With a crisp snap, Qi Qingming’s ankles were severed cleanly by Ye Tianci.

Even more horrifying, Ye Tianci didn’t stop there—he extracted a piece of bone from each ankle and ruthlessly cut the tendons in both feet.

Qi Qingming’s screams of agony were so shrill, he fainted from the pain.

Everyone around was stunned by the scene.

“Lei Tiger, pass this on to Qi Changling: every man in the Qi family will have their bones pulled and tendons snapped!”

“In seven days, the Qi family will be wiped out!”

With that, Ye Tianci clasped his hands behind his back and left, leaving Lei Hong and the others in utter confusion.

Over half an hour later, Ye Tianci arrived at the gates of a welfare home.

Qingshan Welfare Home.

Fifteen years ago, Ye Tianci and his mother fled to Shu City and lived on the streets. For one month, Auntie Li from this welfare home had taken them in.

If not for that month of shelter, Ye Tianci and his mother would have died on the streets.

Though fifteen years had passed, Ye Tianci remembered it all vividly. He could even recall Auntie Li’s appearance.

A drop of kindness should be repaid with a spring of gratitude.

Since he had returned to Shu City, he would thank Auntie Li in person.

He tried to enter, but was stopped by the security guard.

He explained his purpose, but the guard replied, “Sorry, Director Li is in the hospital right now.”

“Which hospital?”

The guard looked reluctant to answer. “No idea.”

Ye Tianci had no choice but to leave.

This scene was witnessed by Lin Hao and Lin Weiwei, sitting in their car across the street.

Lin Hao drove up to the security guard and tossed him a premium cigarette. “Buddy, what did that guy say to you just now?”

Seeing the nice car and expensive cigarette, the guard smiled and replied, “The guy’s surname is Ye. He said that over ten years ago, he was homeless and Director Li took him in for a while.”

“He’s got a limp and isn’t dressed well—looks like he’s not doing well at all. I just made up an excuse to send him away.”

Lin Hao and Lin Weiwei both grinned, looking down on Ye Tianci even more.

They couldn’t wait to return to the Lin family and exaggerated everything they’d seen and heard.

The Lin family members all laughed at Ye Tianci.

Lin Changren signaled everyone to quiet down and snorted coldly, “If Lin Qingqian marries well, we’ll all benefit. As her eldest uncle, I will never allow her to marry Ye Tianci!”

Everyone else nodded in agreement.

Lin Hao stepped forward. “Dad, Lin Qingqian’s marriage can wait. The most important thing now is signing the contract with Dongliang Group tomorrow.”

“If you ask me, let Weiwei go.”

Lin Weiwei piped up excitedly, “Yes, Dad, let me go. Liang Xianrong told Grandpa his granddaughter should sign the contract. I’m his granddaughter too!”

Lin Changren smiled and nodded. “Weiwei, you’ll go sign the contract with Dongliang Group tomorrow.”