Chapter Fifty-One: Lin Qi’s Astonishing Entrance

Adjusting his bow tie, Lin Qi parted his lips slightly, revealing eight gleaming white teeth in a perfectly measured smile. Yet under the dim glow of the streetlamp, the unnaturally pale teeth cast a cold, chilling light. Inside the door, Jin and the servant standing behind him both turned pale; Jin instinctively clutched the door, as if to shut it against the intruder.

But Lin Qi pressed his right elbow against the door, and one leg had already stepped inside. No matter how desperately Jin pushed, the door would not budge. Compared to Lin Qi—whose body had been forged from childhood under the relentless discipline of Hammer, Cleaver, and the others, granting him monstrous strength—Jin was a greenhouse sprout, while Lin Qi was the fiercest man-eating shark from the depths of the Northern Sea.

“My dear Jin, I’ve missed you so much!” Lin Qi smiled warmly at Jin, slowly applying pressure with his right arm. The heavy, solid gold door creaked open bit by bit, Jin’s hands straining futilely against it, veins bulging and cold sweat breaking out on his forehead.

“Heavens, does Golden Rose actually refuse a guest who comes to spend in earnest?” Lin Qi remarked in surprise, eyeing Jin’s trembling hands. Still smiling, he continued to push the door open inch by inch, then reached into his breast pocket and produced the gold note Blackbeard had given him, leisurely waving it before Jin’s eyes.

“Look, look, see here, I’m truly here for a good time at Golden Rose. One hundred thousand gold coins, dear Jin, one hundred thousand—not one hundred, not one thousand, but one hundred thousand! One hundred thousand gleaming, adorable coins!” Lin Qi squinted with delight, well aware of Jin and his clan’s Achilles’ heel, their greatest weakness.

Born into a banker’s family, Jin caught a fleeting glimpse of the gold note under the faint light, but he unmistakably saw its denomination and all its secret markings. One hundred thousand gold coins, drawn from the Empire’s famed Silver Fir Elephant Bank—such a note could be used as cash anywhere on the continent!

Jin, who had just been pale as death, let go of the door. A rush of hot blood surged to his face, transforming it with a miraculous flush. With rare affection, he grasped Lin Qi’s hand and eagerly pulled him deeper into the lounge. Jubilant, he laughed and gestured wildly: “Oh, dear Lin Qi, you haven’t come to Golden Rose in three years! These three years have left Dunerk dull and lifeless—I’ve missed you so much, truly, I’ve missed you!”

Lin Qi burst out laughing, warmly slinging his arm around Jin’s shoulders—like embracing a statue of pure gold—and walked into the hall with a grin so wide it barely closed.

Enzo followed in amusement. When it came to obsession with gold coins, perhaps Lin Qi had finally met his match? This unfortunate Jin, who moments ago had feared Lin Qi as a tiger, now willingly led him into Golden Rose!

“Gold coins, lovely gold coins—they truly possess a divine power that can eclipse even the gods!” Enzo sighed, touching his empty purse. Yet he couldn’t help but wonder: where had Lin Qi gotten that hundred-thousand-coin gold note? One hundred thousand coins! Enzo secretly counted on his fingers for a long time, but still couldn’t grasp just how much that sum was worth.

Flushed and thoroughly swept up in frenzy, Jin strode into the lounge with Lin Qi, ignoring the astonished and peculiar gazes of the young gentlemen and ladies. Applauding vigorously, he laughed, “Ladies and gentlemen, please allow me to introduce our distinguished guest—Lin Qi, our very own Mr. Lin Qi, has returned!”

Tilting his head, Jin’s lips curled into a proud smile as he clapped and laughed, “Lin Qi, darling Lin Qi, the beloved Lin Qi—he’s brought a gleaming gold note worth one hundred thousand coins! He’s here for a grand night, isn’t he? Dear Lin Qi, what would you like to play tonight?”

The crowd in the hall suddenly understood, then stared in amazement.

Their realization was clear: they understood at last why Jin’s attitude had changed so dramatically. For Jin and his clan, as long as a pile of shining gold coins was placed before them, even if the devil himself appeared, they would dare to draw their swords and launch a suicidal attack. Compared to the devil, what was Lin Qi, this notorious scoundrel?

Jin hailed from the ‘Golden Lettuce’ family—a name not well regarded in Dunerk. Their family creed was well known: with enough profit, they’d sell their own flesh and blood, even their souls!

Lin Qi had brought one hundred thousand gold coins, so Jin’s transformation was only to be expected.

The crowd was more shocked by something else: Lin Qi, the scoundrel, had actually brought his own money to Golden Rose?

Was this really Lin Qi? Was this the same villain who, three years ago, struck fear into everyone’s hearts? In the past, whenever Lin Qi was short of cash, he would come to Golden Rose for a risk-free deal to pocket some spending money. He’d leave with a full purse, but never once set foot in Golden Rose carrying a coin.

Now he had come to Golden Rose with one hundred thousand coins for a night of pleasure. Had the gods themselves descended?

The lounge fell into an uncanny silence. No one spoke; all eyes stared dully at Lin Qi’s honest, cheerful smile.

After a brief pause, Lin Qi made an elegant, dignified bow to those present. “Honored ladies, distinguished gentlemen, do you not recognize me? I am Lin Qi, your dearest Lin Qi! Now, shouldn’t this be our time for amusement? Why are you all sitting here in a daze? Isn’t this our time for merriment?”

Those present exchanged odd glances. How could a person so courteous, so refined and gentle, truly be the Lin Qi they remembered? Had the imperial capital’s magic transformed him? Had Lin Qi really changed from a villain into a noble? Although not a true noble, Lin Qi’s every gesture was flawless—he truly seemed like one.

Jin was already clapping and laughing heartily, “Yes, why are we all sitting here? Let’s enjoy ourselves!”

Drawing a deep breath, Jin laughed aloud, “Tonight’s first event is the bloodthirsty, thrilling beast-fight finals! Tonight’s contenders are a green-striped golden-eyed python from the Black Jungle of the Dark Spirit Continent, and an ice-armored white bear from the far northern Odin Glacier!”

Slapping Lin Qi’s shoulder happily, Jin opened his mouth in laughter, “Minimum bet is five hundred coins, dear ladies and gentlemen, minimum bet five hundred coins!”

Lin Qi raised his eyebrows, smiling. “May I have a look at the two beasts first? So, who’s willing to wager against me?”

Jin’s smile grew even brighter.