Chapter 49: Yuan Shaolin's Choice

Thinking of the Ji family, a fierce glint flashed through Yuan Shaolin’s eyes. Anyone daring to touch the one he wished to protect—this time, whatever the Crown Prince intended, Yuan Shaolin would not tolerate it.

Long Yin, for once, fell into rare silence. The Ji family—why did His Highness become so dark and moody the moment anything related to them was mentioned? He wondered how Uncle’s investigation was progressing.

Yuan Shaolin carried his sword and strode outside. Long Yin, startled, asked, "Where are you going?"

Yuan Shaolin paused, then shook his head. "This is none of your concern."

Long Yin frowned, grabbing Yuan Shaolin’s arm. Looking at him, Long Yin found his answer. "The Crown Prince?"

Yuan Shaolin’s face was ice-cold, standing silent and unmoving. Long Yin sighed. "What will you say to him? Ask him not to hurt me? Do you think he’ll listen? Or threaten him? If the Crown Prince could be handled in a few words, he wouldn’t be at odds with Director Duolin. If your uncle can’t solve it, do you really have a way?"

"Going now will only make things worse, and alert them."

"Alert them?" Yuan Shaolin’s gaze chilled as he looked at Long Yin, a mocking smile at the corner of his lips. "Do you think me so foolish?"

Long Yin laughed in turn, his smile edged with challenge. "Yes. The moment the Ji family is involved, your entire expression changes. Have you ever looked in the mirror?"

Yuan Shaolin’s phoenix eyes narrowed, his voice sharp as a blade. "What are you trying to say?"

Long Yin let his hands drop, standing straight, seemingly confronted by something inevitable. Yet, as he tilted his head, a lazy smile played across his lips. "Will you tell me yourself, or will I have to learn about your connection to the Ji family from Uncle?"

"You’re investigating me?" Yuan Shaolin’s tone carried a dangerous undertone, his lips tight with anger. The eyes beneath his silver fringe became piercing, cold.

Long Yin lowered his head, the edge of a helpless smile on his lips. He understood Yuan Shaolin’s feelings—this was intrusion, betrayal. For the proud Yuan Shaolin, it was utterly unacceptable. Mishandled, their fragile bond would shatter beyond repair.

Long Yin drew a deep breath. "Yes, I investigated you." Facing Yuan Shaolin’s wounded gaze, Long Yin’s own did not waver. Yet Yuan Shaolin’s look was now laced with distant rejection. A bitter smile touched Long Yin’s lips. "If I tell you there was no calculation behind it, might that ease your mind?"

Yuan Shaolin slammed the door shut, but as he passed Long Yin, Long Yin caught his arm. In that instant, Long Yin felt anew the icy detachment that kept others at bay. It was cold, but he gripped Yuan Shaolin’s hand tightly. After a moment of silence, a chill equal to Yuan Shaolin’s erupted from Long Yin. Sensing Yuan Shaolin stiffen, Long Yin laughed quietly, his voice drifting, "The first time we met, you didn’t harm me. Then I knew your heart was softer than mine."

"For those I acknowledge, I would give anything. But once doubt enters my heart, even knowing it will hurt the other, I pursue the truth to the end. That’s who I am. You’ll never reach my level—so I say your heart is softer. Yet don’t forget, in temperament we are strikingly similar, so much so I fully understand your feelings and your pain. But we are different: I don’t feel guilty, while you suffer from the hurt—even if you feign indifference. Your eyes, your pale knuckles, the vein throbbing on your brow—all betray your inner turmoil. You’re angry, wounded, distressed. Trying once more to accept someone, yet unsure of their thoughts, leaves you panicked, doesn’t it?"

Yuan Shaolin’s fingers, clutching his sword, turned white. Long Yin’s words stirred a tempest within him.

"This is truly me; I don’t intend to hide anything from you. Perhaps you don’t understand—toward you, I already trust with all my heart. Believe it or not, I won’t repeat myself. You detest relying on others; I equally despise placing all my trust in someone. In our relationship, we both take risks. My investigation won’t cease. Tonight, I’ll go online. Whether you choose to tell me yourself or let Uncle do so, that will shape our future."

Yuan Shaolin remained shrouded in cold frost. He strode forward, something breaking with each step. Long Yin closed his eyes, biting his lip. "I won’t change my resolve. If you choose the latter, our relationship ends here—henceforth, you walk your path, I mine, life and death no longer concern each other." The words were so absolute, so cold, erasing everything before, yet this was Long Yin’s last gamble. He was betting whether Yuan Shaolin’s heart held even the slightest place for him. If so, he would fight to win him back.

Yuan Shaolin entered the room and slammed the door, sealing himself off from the world. Long Yin collapsed onto the sofa, staring blankly into space. He wiped his face, longing for Xiao Chui—his honest appearance, cunning heart, broad shoulders, soft fur. Lost in thought, Long Yin remembered many people, yet felt an ache for Yuan Shaolin behind that closed door. Plainly he had hurt Yuan Shaolin, so why was there not only guilt but pain? Was this the price of giving someone your whole trust? Not being accepted was agony.

Enough. If Yuan Shaolin couldn’t accept him, so be it. Otherwise, staying would only bring more hurt, contrary to his original hope for Yuan Shaolin’s well-being. Only by accepting him could Yuan Shaolin avoid breaking down when some future truth emerged—being partners with someone like Yuan Shaolin was exhausting. Long Yin wiped his face; yet at this point, giving up would be even harder.

He and Yuan Shaolin shared a complicated bond, impossible to treat casually. Some things could be compromised, others required relentless pursuit. In Sasaki’s eyes, Long Yin seemed to indulge Yuan Shaolin too much, but Sasaki didn’t know that in certain matters, Long Yin was equally unyielding.

Long Yin’s mind was a tangled mess; unable to sleep, he could only log in. As soon as he did, he was transported to the ninety-ninth floor conference room. He stared at Yuan Shaolin’s seat to his left, then donned his cloak and headed to the Cardmaker Guild in the Texas web domain. The moment he entered, the roaring crowd made him frown. He found the most secluded spot, opened the Cardmaker Guild’s bounty board, and began answering questions at an unusually rapid pace, his heart burning with anger.

The Cardmaker Guild, full of clamor, suddenly fell silent for a moment, then erupted with even greater fervor. Long Yin listened coldly to their discussions about himself.

"My god, the master is answering questions again..."

"Is the master bored today?"

"Wow, the master’s speed seems even faster today..."

"What level is the master anyway? Why won’t the informant sell any information about him..."

"Master, master... so happy, I finally got a chance to ask a question!"

"Hey, do you still have gold coins? Lend me some, I’ll pay you back tomorrow!"

"Master..."

Master, master—the constant buzzing in his ears did nothing to slow Long Yin’s pace. The fire in his heart did not abate, and the steady stream of coins brought him no joy.

Long Yin sat there, seething, from morning till night. By the time he rose, he’d answered enough questions for a bounty of only one hundred million gold coins. This unusual, uninterrupted day of answering questions had made the federal net cardmakers more rational; they no longer threw coins with reckless abandon. Still, this extended, swift session swept up billions upon billions of coins—more than yesterday, not less. The shocking reality once again proved that the federal network was a gold mine, and cardmakers were a wild, extravagant crowd.

On the Federal Network’s Gossip Celebrity Forum, the highlighted, pinned thread remained about Long Yin; only the title had changed: "The Mad Federal Network Cardmaker: The Mysterious Cardmaker Again Sweeps Up Billions, Toppling the Wealth Leader in Hours!!!" Even with three exclamation marks, this lengthy title failed to capture the forum moderator’s chaotic feelings. Speculation threads appeared one after another, all seeking evidence. The fame of the Federal Wu Ning master instantly eclipsed the previously sensational thread about Ze the Great—Where did they go!

Bai Ze was browsing the threads. Regarding the Federal Wu Ning, he’d immediately sent his men to investigate, yet no matter the channel, the person seemed to have appeared from thin air—no information at all. Even the informant, who usually sold anything for a price, refused to sell any details about this person. Who was he? The informant never hesitated to sell news about guild leaders, but now refused to sell information on Wu Ning—what did this mean? Bai Ze didn’t need to think deeply; this person would surely reign over the federal network. He just wondered what identity Wu Ning held in the real world. As Bai Ze pondered, the subject of his latest scandal appeared in the corner of the room.

The connection began. Long Yin was unusually silent, complying with whatever Bai Ze said, never once glancing at him. Bai Ze noticed it all, even the fact that after an hour, Long Yin disappeared without so much as a greeting, and Bai Ze didn’t pursue it. Yet being ignored so thoroughly, Bai Ze’s lips curled in a wicked smile. If he couldn’t uncover the mysterious cardmaker, he could still find the cause of Long Yin’s mood. With a single command, Bai Ze’s agents in Texas moved.

Long Yin entered the ninety-ninth floor conference room, sitting quietly at the head seat, staring at Yuan Shaolin’s spot, lost in thought. What if he didn’t come? The moment his mind stopped, thoughts spun wildly, growing ever more silent, until Sasaki arrived.

"Boss!" Sasaki called hesitantly. The boss was fine in the morning, yet after just one night, he’d become so despondent. The moment Sasaki logged in, he heard the explosive news about Federal Wu Ning again sweeping up billions, shaking the entire network. But the creator of this sensation showed not a hint of joy, only deep silence. Sasaki thought of someone—the boss’s emotions always ran strong when it came to him. This time...

"Uncle." The accidental vulnerability in his voice made Sasaki’s heart ache, a look of concern and worry clouding his face as he gazed at Long Yin. Seeing Sasaki’s expression, Long Yin’s own face seemed tired, a trace of helplessness flickering in his eyes.

"What time is it?" Long Yin asked softly.

"Midnight."

A quiet laugh escaped Long Yin as he glanced at the still-empty seat, a complex emotion flickering in his eyes. He had lost his bet.

"About the Ji family..." Long Yin sighed. "Go ahead and tell me."