C9 Lan Family's Shadow Guard

Watching Lan Yan bow deeply to her pre-mortem photograph, Lin Qingwan nodded contentedly. She then turned to Gu Mingfeng and suggested, "Second brother, it's dreadfully dull here. Let's take our leave, shall we?"

Gu Mingfeng's brow furrowed slightly. At times, he felt Lin Qingwan had changed; at other times, she seemed to remain the mischievous tomboy who loved to stir up trouble. Regardless, he had no desire to linger here any longer. He had learned that Lan Shouye was the Lan Family's new Patriarch, fulfilling his purpose for attending the funeral.

Regarding the proposed marriage to Lan Yan, he had initially held no reservations. His priorities were the family's honor and standing. Yet, it was evident that Lan Yan, repulsed by the scars he bore, was averse to the union.

He instinctively caressed the marred half of his face, his eyes betraying a trace of sarcasm.

Lan Chengye summoned the old butler and commanded with an air of authority, "Prepare accommodations for the Gu family's second young master and the Ninth Lady. I shall host a dinner in their honor this evening."

The estate was now under Lan Chengye's control. Lin Qingwan could no longer return to her former master bedroom, and the household staff had been entirely replaced. With her parents long deceased, she harbored no attachments in this world other than her thirst for vengeance.

Gu Mingfeng and Lin Qingwan each retired to their separate guest rooms. Once the outside noises had ceased, Lin Qingwan opened the window and leapt from the second story. Her legs tingled upon landing, causing her to grimace. The body she inhabited was frail, and regaining her former strength would take considerable time.

With the majority of the Lan Family occupied with the funeral in the main hall, the manor's patrols were sparse. Lin Qingwan tread lightly, deftly avoiding the guards and evading surveillance until she reached a rockery in the garden. There, she extracted her phone and dialed a peculiar sequence of numbers, then stood by the rockery, waiting in silence.

Within minutes, a man in a black suit materialized behind her as if conjured from thin air. He eyed the stranger before him with caution.

Only Lan Wu, the Lan Family Patriarch, had the power to summon him. But with the Patriarch gone, he and his Shadow Guard had been left to dwell in obscurity, never expecting to be called upon again.

Lin Qingwan, hands clasped behind her back, felt the newcomer's presence without needing to look. In an icy tone, she addressed him, "You're Aofeng of the Shadow Guard, aren't you?"

The Shadow Guard was a private militia covertly organized by Lin Qingwan during her lifetime. They took orders only from her, and only specific signals could rouse them from their cover. Otherwise, they might blend in as ordinary servants within the Lan Family, or assume various identities throughout the empire.

"How do you know my name?" Aofeng's eyes narrowed with increased wariness. He was a muscular young man in his twenties, with dark skin, strong facial features, and eyes as piercing as a hawk's.

"It was your former Patriarch, Lan Wu, who told me. She sent me to find you," Lin Qingwan replied, turning to face Aofeng, her gaze flickering. "Lan Wu confided in me all about the Shadow Guard. She wanted me to wield the Patriarch's authority on her behalf, to help you seek vengeance for her."

Despite the Shadow Guard's absolute loyalty, Lin Qingwan's position was precarious; she couldn't prove she was the former Patriarch Lan Wu, having inhabited a new body.

"Our Patriarch is still alive?" Aofeng asked, astonished.

Lin Qingwan shook her head, a note of sadness in her voice. "No, she has passed away, but her death was unjust. She deserves the truth."

Aofeng squinted skeptically, trying to discern the true intentions of the woman before him. "How can I believe you?"

Lin Qingwan produced a letter. "This was written by your Patriarch before her death. You should recognize her handwriting."

Upon examining the letter, Aofeng found not only detailed accounts of past Shadow Guard missions but also the unique codes assigned to each member—information that was highly classified and known only to the Patriarch.

Lin Qingwan had recently penned the letter herself, aiming to secure the Shadow Guard's trust and enlist their formidable power for her cause. Each member possessed extraordinary skills and were strategically positioned throughout the Lan Family's enterprises. The Shadow Guard also had infiltrated other families, providing a network of intelligence. With their allegiance, Lin Qingwan could access any information she desired.

The letter instructed the Shadow Guard to investigate the cause of her supposed plane crash and to pledge their loyalty to Lin Qingwan. The authenticity of the handwriting and the nuances within the text left no room for doubt in Aofeng's mind; this was indeed a communication from their leader, laden with secrets unknown to outsiders.

After Aofeng had finished reading the letter, he abruptly dropped to one knee and clenched his fists in a salute, "Miss Lin, the Shadow Guard will heed the Patriarch's dying wish and follow your command!"

Lin Qingwan nodded, a chilling aura suddenly radiating from her. Her voice was icy as she spoke, "Now, share the findings of your investigation with me. Who is the prime suspect in your Patriarch's murder?"

"The current Patriarch, Lan Chengye!" Aofeng's eyes flashed with a ruthless glint. "He had someone tamper with the plane before the crash. It had to be him."

Lin Qingwan had suspected as much, but with Lan Chengye now at the helm of the Lan Family, wielding considerable power, challenging him seemed nearly impossible. Her only recourse was to quickly gain strength to reclaim the Lan Family from his grasp.

As the adopted daughter of the Gu family, they were her foundation for a resurgence.

After a moment's thought, Lin Qingwan's lips curved into a smile, "Speaking of which, what has Lan Chengye's daughter, Lan Yan, been up to lately? Still as willful and spoiled as ever, with a penchant for the company of men?"

"Yes, Miss Lin," Aofeng replied, rising to his feet with a steady voice. "Just a few days ago, she was seen on a date by the lake, and one of our brothers managed to capture it on video."

Interest sparked in Lin Qingwan's eyes. "A video, you say? Heh, that's excellent. Send it to me right away."

As Aofeng vanished into the shadows, a cold smirk played on Lin Qingwan's lips. Now that she had a pretext to deal with Lan Yan, she had no intention of letting it slide.

Besides, she wanted Gu Mingfeng to be indebted to her. Lan Yan wanted to call off the engagement because of Gu Mingfeng's disfigured face, didn't she?

The engagement could be broken, but it would not be at Lan Yan's behest; it would be because she was unworthy of Gu Mingfeng!