Xiao Shixiong suddenly stopped in his tracks, and the group of subordinates following him came to a quick stop as well.

He turned around swiftly. When he saw Lin Xiao, his expression changed in surprise, and he couldn't help but shiver.

To be frank, Xiao Shixiong hadn't actually seen Lin Xiao at first, as he was surrounded by Qiu Jianping and the others. However, he did see Su Qingning. With just a glance from the corner of his eye, he had recognized her instantly.

No kidding. This is Lin Xiao's wife. Of course, I recognize her.

He turned around, intending to greet Su Qingning. Even though she doesn't know about my relationship with Lin Xiao, she's still his wife. I have to address her with the utmost respect.

He just hadn't expected that upon turning, he would see Lin Xiao himself, sitting on a chair.

Instinctively, Xiao Shixiong wanted to call out, "Sir."

But Lin Xiao shot him a look first.

Xiao Shixiong was an incredibly sharp man and understood Lin Xiao's meaning in an instant.

"Lin Xiao, what are you doing here?" Xiao Shixiong asked with a smile.

Yes, that look from Lin Xiao was meant to stop Xiao Shixiong from calling him "Sir." After all, if he did, the people here would be scared to death. The others didn't matter, but Lin Xiao couldn't bear to frighten Su Qingning.

But even Xiao Shixiong's simple greeting was enough to leave everyone present instantly and utterly shocked. Their minds buzzed and their scalps tingled.

The King of the Southern Town actually knows Lin Xiao? And judging by their interaction, they seem to be on good terms? But how is that possible? That's the King of the Southern Town, a figure at the very apex of power throughout the Nine Provinces. And Lin Xiao… he's just a beggar.

This unprecedented shock left everyone completely dumbfounded.

What on earth was going on?

Su Qingning's gaze fell on Lin Xiao. She wasn't the only one; Su's mother and the Qius also turned to look at him instantly. They desperately wanted an answer, to understand what was happening.

Lin Xiao smiled. "My wife's grandfather was hospitalized, so we came to visit. What brings you here?"

"Oh, I'm also here to visit an elder!" Xiao Shixiong replied with a smile.

"Alright, don't let me keep you."

Xiao Shixiong nodded. "Okay! Let's grab a drink sometime!"

Lin Xiao acknowledged him with a sound of agreement.

Xiao Shixiong left, taking his dozen or so menacing subordinates with him.

Yet, the others, especially Su Qingning, still hadn't recovered from their shock. She remained stunned by what had just happened.

Qiu Jianping was the first to recover. Having navigated the business world for years, he was far more composed than the others. "Lin… Lin Xiao, you… you know the King of the Southern Town?" he asked, his voice trembling.

At some point, his gaze toward Lin Xiao had filled with the utmost respect, even laced with a hint of fear.

"Yes, I know him," Lin Xiao said with a smile. "I happened to help him with a small matter once. I'm surprised he still remembers it."

I was tempted to say we're on good terms, Lin Xiao thought, but that would just lead to endless questions. Better to keep things simple for some peace and quiet. Besides, what I said should be enough to intimidate the Qius and Su's mother.

Hearing Lin Xiao's explanation, Su Qingning breathed a sigh of relief.

So he hasn't gotten involved with shady characters after all, she thought. That Xiao Shixiong is the underground king of the six southern provinces, and most of his business is illicit. It's not that I look down on him… I'm just scared. I was afraid Lin Xiao was mixed up with people like that.

Lin Xiao had spoken nonchalantly, but Su Qingning's aunt seized on his words like a lifeline. She pleaded humbly, "Lin Xiao, does that mean the King of the Southern Town owes you a favor? In that case, could you… could you please ask him to save Feng'er?"

"Alright, I'll give it a try."

Qiu Jianping and his wife instantly looked at Lin Xiao with gratitude, especially Su Qingning's aunt, who looked like she wanted to kneel and kowtow to him then and there.

"Lin Xiao, please, be careful," Su Qingning urged, her face full of worry. "It would be best if he agrees to help, but if he's unwilling, don't say anything impulsive and offend him!"

Qiu Jianping quickly chimed in, "Yes, that's right! Lin Xiao, be careful!"

"Okay, I know," Lin Xiao said with a smile.

With that, he rose and walked toward the hospital room at the end of the corridor. Xiao Shixiong had just entered that very room.

His men filled the entrance to the ward, each one looking solemn and radiating a menacing aura. These truly are the men of the King of the Southern Town, on a completely different level than the thugs in Jinling City, Lin Xiao mused.

These men had been with Xiao Shixiong the longest, and they had all seen Lin Xiao before. They knew that although the young man before them was dressed plainly, his background was deeply mysterious. After all, even their own master treated him with immense respect.

So when Lin Xiao reached the ward, the men not only parted to make way for him without a word but also hurriedly opened the door.

Lin Xiao smiled as he stepped inside.

Inside the private VIP ward, a white-haired elderly man lay on the hospital bed, connected to all sorts of tubes. Xiao Shixiong was sitting beside him, his expression somber.

Seeing Lin Xiao enter, Xiao Shixiong quickly stood up. "Sir, what brings you here?" he asked respectfully.

Lin Xiao smiled. "I just came to take a look. Who is this?"

"Oh, my benefactor," Xiao Shixiong said reverently.

Benefactor? Lin Xiao was puzzled, as he had never heard Xiao Shixiong mention such a person.

Xiao Shixiong nodded. "He was the previous leader of Jinling City's underworld, so he is indeed my benefactor. I've been an orphan since I was a child, and he was the one who raised me. He taught me many things and later handed his position over to me. It was also he who recommended me to the Heavenly Machine Pavilion. You could say that everything I have today is inextricably linked to him."

"I see. What's wrong with him now? Why is he hooked up to all these tubes?" Lin Xiao asked.

"He's old, over eighty now. His bodily functions have severely deteriorated, and he's completely reliant on machines to stay alive. The doctors said he probably only has a few months left."

After staring at the old man on the bed for a few moments, Lin Xiao suddenly turned to Xiao Shixiong and asked, "Do you want him to live a few more years?"

Xiao Shixiong trembled. "Sir, of course I do!" he exclaimed, his voice filled with emotion. "It's all I dream of. To be honest, my greatest wish is for him to live so I can properly repay him."

Lin Xiao nodded. "Alright. I'll help you extend his life then."

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