"Lin Yi, why don't you spar with the brothers Li Weiguo and Li Weidong? I'd like to see whose strength stands out more," Lin Haoran said.
If Li Weiguo and Li Weidong's skills were close to Lin Yi's level, Lin Haoran would already be quite satisfied.
With that level of ability, they'd be more than qualified to serve as his bodyguards.
"Young Master, with all due respect, neither of them are a match for us. I'm not trying to belittle them, but I believe I alone can handle the two of them," Lin Yi said confidently.
Li Weidong was about to object, but Li Weiguo gently tugged his sleeve, signaling him to stay quiet.
He knew he was an outsider here, someone who had been helped by the other party. So he didn't want to come off as arrogant or aggressive in front of these people.
"Words alone prove nothing. I believe both Li Weiguo and Li Weidong are quite capable. How about this—Lin Yi, why don't you have a friendly match with Li Weiguo first? Real strength speaks for itself in action," Lin Haoran said with a smile.
Then he turned to Li Weiguo. "Do you have confidence?"
"Young Master, I'm confident. I won't let you down!" Li Weiguo answered firmly.
"In that case, let the match begin!"
Lin Haoran was clearly looking forward to the duel.
The two men exchanged a respectful nod and walked out to the open space in front of the dorm building, facing each other.
Lin Yi wasted no time, his agile and sleek movements resembling a hunting leopard as he lunged toward Li Weiguo, trying to overpower him with speed and agility.
Yet, despite Lin Yi's fierce attacks, Li Weiguo remained remarkably calm.
He didn't counterattack immediately, standing firm like a rock and watching Lin Yi's every move closely.
Every time Lin Yi closed in, Li Weiguo responded with precise force and angles, making Lin Yi's strikes feel like they were landing on soft cotton—ineffective and powerless.
As time went on, Lin Yi realized his usual advantage in speed and flexibility was nullified against Li Weiguo.
Li Weiguo began to attack gradually. Each of his strikes combined power and technique, forcing Lin Yi to retreat step by step.
Finally, during an intense exchange, Li Weiguo spotted a slight opening in Lin Yi's defense.
He took a swift step forward—like a tiger descending the mountain—and launched a powerful punch at Lin Yi's chest.
The blow was fierce and fast. Lin Yi tried his best to block it, but the sheer force knocked him backward, nearly throwing him off balance.
Seizing the opportunity, Li Weiguo followed up with a flurry of punches and kicks, attacking like a violent storm.
Lin Yi tried to hold his ground, but under such overwhelming pressure, he couldn't keep up. Eventually, a solid punch struck his abdomen, sending him stumbling to the ground.
"I accept your skill," Li Weiguo said, offering a respectful martial arts salute.
Lin Yi, his face dark with pain, clutched his stomach with one hand and propped himself up with the other, slowly getting to his feet.
His eyes revealed a deep sense of frustration—clearly, the match had taken a toll on him.
"I lost," he admitted.
Lin Er, Lin San, and Lin Si, who were watching nearby, were all stunned.
They knew Lin Yi's strength very well—among the four of them, he was widely considered the strongest.
Yet even he had lost to Li Weiguo?
If Lin Yi couldn't win, what chance did any of them have?
Clap! Clap! Clap! Lin Haoran suddenly burst into applause, a wide smile on his face.
"Wonderful! Truly wonderful! Weiguo, your performance was flawless—far beyond my expectations!" he laughed heartily, clearly impressed.
Li Weiguo's showing had exceeded all of Lin Haoran's hopes.
Originally, Lin Haoran had thought it would be great if Li Weiguo was merely on par with Lin Yi.
But during the match, he noticed that Li Weiguo hadn't even been fighting at full strength. He had started out passively, defending rather than attacking.
This wasn't just smart tactics—it also showed consideration for Lin Yi's pride, ensuring he didn't lose too badly.
There was no need for any more matches. Lin Haoran already understood Li Weiguo's capabilities—and since Li Weidong was even stronger, as Li Weiguo had tacitly acknowledged earlier, that left no doubt.
"Lin Yi, looks like you got a bit banged up in that match. Take a few days to rest in the dorm. Lin Er, Lin San, Lin Si—you'll stay here and look after the cement factory. I'm heading back to the city. Keep a close eye on things. If anything goes wrong, I'll hold you personally accountable!" Lin Haoran instructed.
"Young Master, our orders from the Old Master are to protect your safety. How can we let you go without us?" Lin Er said anxiously.
Their real task was to protect Lin Haoran, yes—but also to report back to the eldest young master, Lin Haoning. If they were separated from Lin Haoran, how could they carry out their undercover mission?
"You don't need to worry about that. I'll explain things to my father myself. As for my safety, with Li Weiguo and his brother around, I have nothing to worry about," Lin Haoran replied bluntly.
They wanted to object further, but Lin Haoran didn't give them the chance.
"Get back to work. I'm driving back soon. Remember what I said—if anything goes wrong at Huafeng Cement Factory, you're the ones who'll answer for it!"
With that, he turned and left without looking back.
He needed to pack a few things and then drive back from Yuen Long to the Kowloon city district.
Li Weiguo and Li Weidong followed closely and quietly behind.
Meanwhile, Lin Yi and the others stood there, exchanging glances.
"What now?" Lin Er asked.
"Looks like we'll have to report this to the Old Master, just in case something happens to the Young Master—we can't afford to take the blame. Also, Lin Er, call the Eldest Young Master and tell him everything that's happened the past few days. He needs to be in the loop," Lin Yi said, pressing on his sore stomach and sighing.
Their true mission might not be the most honorable, but they had no choice in their position.
They had chosen to serve the Eldest Young Master. There was no turning back now.
As for the Young Master… they could only apologize. His future just wasn't as promising as his older brother's.
"I guess there's no other way. Honestly, the Young Master has almost no chance in this succession battle. I don't get why the Eldest Young Master is so worried," Lin Si said, shaking his head.
"Exactly! The Eldest Young Master is being way too cautious," Lin San agreed.
"Enough talk—walls have ears. The Eldest Young Master has his reasons. All we need to do now is keep our mouths shut and avoid getting exposed. I'll go call the Old Master. You all get back to your posts," Lin Yi ordered, ending the discussion.