The Lin's Patriarch is weird.

Chapter 28: 28. Old lady Su Qinglan isn’t joking around.

Lin Zhaohao was in an exceptionally good mood.

One hundred Body Tempering Pills.

Even now, he still felt as though he were dreaming.

The storage pouch hanging from his waist contained more resources than he had ever possessed in his entire life.

With these pills, his cultivation speed would soar and perhaps he could truly change his family’s fate.

The twelve-year-old boy was just about to arrive at him home after leaving the training grounds when a figure appeared before him.

Lin Zhaohao’s footsteps halted.

"Supreme Elder?"

Standing in the middle of the path was Lin Zhenghai.

His hands were clasped behind his back, his expression calm and indifferent.

"Hand it over."

The smile on Lin Zhaohao’s face froze.

"...What?"

"The one hundred Body Tempering Pills," Lin Zhenghai’s tone remained casual, "Hand them over."

The boy’s face immediately paled.

"But... Patriarch gave those to me."

Lin Zhenghai frowned.

"And?"

Lin Zhaohao subconsciously took a step back.

"They’re my reward."

"They belong to the clan."

The old man spoke as though it were the most natural thing in the world.

"You are merely keeping them temporarily."

Lin Zhaohao felt his heart sink.

"Supreme Elder, Patriarch publicly announced—"

"I know what he announced."

Lin Zhenghai interrupted him directly.

"Then..."

"Then you should be obedient and hand them over."

The pressure of a peak qi refinement cultivator descended.

Lin Zhaohao’s face immediately turned white, his legs trembled yet he still did not remove the storage pouch.

This was his future, how could he give it up so easily!

Lin Zhenghai’s expression darkened.

"You refuse?"

The pressure intensified as Lin Zhaohao staggered backward, his face turning pale.

A trace of blood appeared at the corner of his lips.

"Supreme Elder..."

His voice trembled.

"Those are mine."

Boom.

The pressure erupted completely and the twelve-year-old boy was thrown several meters away before crashing heavily into the ground.

Dust scattered into the air.

Lin Zhaohao coughed violently, fresh blood spraying from his mouth.

Before he could even react, a figure appeared before him.

Lin Zhenghai bent down and effortlessly pulled the storage pouch from the boy’s grasp.

The child instinctively reached out.

"N-No..."

Lin Zhenghai ignored him completely and the storage pouch vanished into his sleeve.

Only then did he look down at the boy.

"You brought this upon yourself."

His voice was cold and indifferent.

"If you had learned to respect your elders, none of this would have happened."

A vein bulged on Lin Zhaohao’s forehead.

Despite the pain coursing through his body, he still struggled to rise.

Unfortunately, his injuries were too severe.

Just then—

"Lin Zhenghai!"

A furious voice echoed through the area.

The temperature seemed to drop several degrees.

Lin Zhenghai turned and Su Qinglan landed between him and the boy.

The moment she saw Lin Zhaohao lying in the dirt covered in blood, her expression instantly darkened.

Without hesitation, she crouched down.

"Zhaohao."

Her voice softened considerably.

"Are you alright?"

The boy struggled to sit up.

"I... I’m fine, Elder Su."

Fine?

Su Qinglan’s eyes narrowed.

The child was covered in dirt, blood was hanging from the corner of his mouth, and his spiritual energy was in complete disarray.

Yet he still had the face to say he was fine? What were all the kids in the Lin family made off???

Su Qinglan took out a healing pill and placed it in his hand.

"Eat it."

The boy hesitated. freewebnovel.cσ๓

"This..."

"Eat it."

Her tone left no room for argument.

Lin Zhaohao obediently swallowed the pill.

The medicinal energy immediately spread through his body, easing the pain and stabilizing his injuries.

Only after confirming he was no longer in danger did Su Qinglan slowly stand.

When she turned around, all traces of warmth had vanished.

"Lin Zhenghai."

Her voice was frighteningly calm.

"Would you care to explain why a twelve-year-old child is bleeding on the ground?"

Lin Zhenghai snorted.

"He refused to listen."

The old man clasped his hands behind his back.

"So I taught him a lesson."

A lesson?

The child looked as though he had been struck by a charging spirit beast.

Yet Lin Zhenghai still called it a lesson.

Su Qinglan stared at him.

"So this was a lesson."

"Indeed."

Lin Zhenghai nodded calmly.

"The younger generation has become increasingly unruly. If nobody disciplines them, they will eventually forget respect altogether."

Su Qinglan almost laughed.

A peak Qi Refinement cultivator had beaten a twelve-year-old child until he coughed blood.

Yet somehow this had become a discussion about discipline.

"You seem quite concerned about discipline."

"Naturally."

Lin Zhenghai spoke as though it were obvious.

"The clan cannot function without order."

Su Qinglan nodded thoughtfully.

"I see."

She folded her arms.

"Well, since Supreme Elder believes discipline and obedience are so important, I believe I understand your position."

Lin Zhenghai frowned slightly.

Su Qinglan continued.

"As Treasurer Elder, I shall make a note of it."

"After all," Su Qinglan said calmly, "rules should apply equally to everyone."

Lin Zhenghai’s eyes narrowed.

"What are you implying?"

Su Qinglan smiled faintly.

"Nothing complicated."

She lightly brushed a speck of dust from her sleeve.

"Simply that if Supreme Elder wishes to emphasize discipline, then your own branch should naturally set the example."

The old man suddenly felt an unpleasant premonition.

"Starting tomorrow, all expenditure requests submitted by your branch will require additional treasury review."

Lin Zhenghai’s face darkened.

"What?"

Su Qinglan appeared completely unconcerned.

"Discipline requires sacrifice."

She smiled politely.

"I am certain your descendants will understand."

Su Qinglan continued.

"Naturally, I will also conduct a complete audit of previous allocations."

Her eyes brightened slightly.

"Contribution bonuses. Cultivation subsidies. Special resource distributions. Elder allowances."

She counted them one by one.

"Everything."

Su Qinglan continued as she nodded to herself.

"After all, if we are discussing discipline, we should ensure everyone has followed the rules equally."

The smile on Lin Zhenghai’s face disappeared completely.

Meanwhile, Su Qinglan seemed increasingly enthusiastic.

"Oh."

She suddenly appeared to remember something.

"Since I am merely an outsider who married into the Lin Family, perhaps I should avoid making decisions alone."

Su Qinglan smiled.

"In that case, I will report everything to the Patriarch personally."

Her gaze drifted toward the bloodied Lin Zhaohao.

"I am sure he will be very interested to learn how the Supreme Elder educates twelve-year-old children."