After eating about a plate of dumplings and seeing that Lin Changzheng had drunk enough, Lin Feng said casually, "Grandpa, I actually have a question for you today."
"Ask away, we're family, there's nothing you can't ask."
Lin Changzheng laughed heartily.
Lin Feng got straight to the point. "Grandpa, it's like this. You should know a thing or two about the downfall of the Xu family back then, right? Xu Guanglin and Ye Qingyao were killed in a staged car accident, and the Xu family was torn apart overnight."
Lin Changzheng was surprised that Lin Feng would ask about this old affair. He nodded. "That incident caused quite a stir at the time, so of course I know about it."
"Grandpa, does the Lin family have anything to do with this matter? The Xu family was competing with the Lin family for the position of the Four Great Families. As competitors, the Lin family is highly suspect!"
As soon as Lin Feng said this, the smile on Lin Changzheng's face vanished.
After a long pause, Lin Changzheng couldn't help but laugh. "You sure have the nerve to ask! As a member of the Lin family, you suspect your own family of breaking the law? What are you thinking, boy?"
"Yes, Xiao Feng. No matter how bad the Lin family might be, they wouldn't do something so wicked. You can completely trust your grandfather's character. As long as your grandfather is alive, he will never allow anyone in the Lin family to act without a bottom line."
Song Zhi also said with a wry smile.
"I was just asking casually, you two don't need to get so agitated."
"Just pretend I never said anything."
Lin Feng said awkwardly.
Lin Changzheng pondered for a moment, then said slowly, "Actually, I also feel regret for the tragedy that befell the Xu family back then."
"At the time, I also suspected if my Lin family had done it privately, but after my investigation, your grandfather, I, found the Lin family to be truly innocent in this matter."
"As for who the real culprit is, I advise you not to investigate further. This is not something you can meddle with."
Lin Changzheng seemed to know something and warned Lin Feng very seriously.
"Grandpa, what do you mean by that? Are you saying you know some clues?"
Lin Feng sensed that his grandfather was hiding something, which made him even more curious about the truth behind it.
Qing Niao also immediately became interested. She also felt that Lin Changzheng knew some unknown hidden details.
"I don't know what clues you're talking about, but I know that the destruction of the Xu family was not something that ordinary families or ordinary forces could accomplish."
"Think about it yourselves. Back then, the Xu family was filled with experts, and their strength was no less than that of the Lin family."
"Even if the other three great families wanted to annihilate the Xu family, it would have been impossible."
"Since the other party could tear the Xu family apart overnight, their strength must have surpassed the Four Great Families."
"In my opinion, it might have been done by those reclusive families. The Xu family did something that displeased the reclusive families, hence their tragic demise."
Lin Changzheng shared his thoughts.
His words surprised Lin Feng and Qing Niao.
They had indeed overlooked forces other than the Four Great Families, and had never even considered the existence of reclusive families.
"Grandpa, what kind of forces are these reclusive families? Are they more powerful than the Four Great Families of the capital?"
Lin Feng asked curiously.
"You mischievous boy, you seem smart usually and have gone through a lot of storms, don't you understand the saying that there's always someone better and there are heavens beyond heavens?"
"The world is full of wonders. What we see are just the superficial aspects; there are many existences behind the scenes that we are unaware of."
"As for reclusive families, I only heard your great-grandfather mention them once."
"According to your great-grandfather, the Ji family is supported by a reclusive family. They are not in this plane, and the Ji family is merely their spokesperson in this plane."
"In the eyes of the reclusive families, we so-called prominent families are like ants. They can control our life and death with a single thought."
"It's like the difference between humans and gods. Gods are above mortals, unseen and untouchable, yet every move we make is monitored by them."
"Do you understand now?"
Lin Changzheng said earnestly.
Lin Feng roughly understood what Lin Changzheng meant. Reclusive families were like the Kunlun Sect, possessing their own independent small worlds unknown to outsiders.
"Elder Lin, I've also heard about these reclusive families. It seems that reclusive families select outstanding family disciples from time to time and cultivate them into core members of the family. Like Ji Zhengchun of the Ji family, right?"
Qing Niao mused.
Lin Changzheng nodded. "That's right. Ji Zhengchun was sickly from a young age and not favored by the Ji family. But after disappearing for a period, he became incredibly powerful, soaring to fifth place on the Heavenly Rankings."
"This is no coincidence, it's clearly someone supporting him."
"And this person is likely the reclusive family behind the Ji family."
Lin Changzheng said with a slight smile.
"Then I understand. Thank you for your guidance, Elder Lin."
Qing Niao said with a sudden realization and a smile.
Lin Changzheng didn't say anything more, but looked at Lin Feng with profound meaning. "Kid, Qing Niao is a good girl. You must treat her well. She might become your capable helper in the future."
"Elder Lin, you've really misunderstood. I have no relation to your grandson."
Qing Niao quickly explained. She would never become Lin Feng's capable helper; the old man was a bit too eager to matchmake.
Lin Changzheng smiled but said nothing, ignoring Qing Niao's explanation.
He knew Lin Feng's nature too well. A beautiful girl like Qing Niao, how could Lin Feng let her go? It was only a matter of time.
After the meal, Lin Feng didn't linger. He bid farewell to Lin Changzheng and Song Zhi, and decisively left with Qing Niao.
"Hey, what's with you? Grandpa Lin and Grandma Song misunderstood, why didn't you explain?"
After leaving Lin Changzheng's house, Qing Niao questioned Lin Feng with displeasure.
"Even if I explain, no one will believe it. Besides, following me is better than following Ye Chen. Perhaps you'll fall for me in the future."
Lin Feng looked at the cute little Qing Niao and teased her with a smile.
"You're too narcissistic! You're seriously ill."
Qing Niao couldn't describe Lin Feng's psychology.
She disliked Lin Feng immensely now. To fall for Lin Feng would only happen if her head had been kicked by a donkey.
"Little Bird, the clues have run dry for now. I think we should put the Xu family case aside for a while. I need to find new leads."
"If there's anything I need your cooperation with, I'll contact you. Add me on WeChat."
Lin Feng took out his phone and asked Qing Niao to add him as a friend.
Qing Niao reluctantly added Lin Feng to her contact list.
"Alright, I'm leaving now."
After adding her as a friend, Lin Feng was too lazy to bicker with Qing Niao. He used his Feizhu Jisu (Flying Pig Speed) and instantly vanished from his spot.
Seeing Lin Feng disappear with a whoosh, Qing Niao looked around in a daze.
"Is this guy a superpowered individual? He just vanished. What kind of ability is this? Teleportation?"
Qing Niao was very shocked.
At this moment, Lin Feng had already appeared at the hotel where Xu Lin was staying.
Although he hadn't found any useful clues, it was still necessary to visit Xu Lin.
He went to Xu Lin's room and knocked on the door.
The door opened, and it was Xu Zhe who answered.
"Brother-in-law, why are you here?"
Xu Zhe asked in surprise upon seeing Lin Feng.
"Where's your sister?"
Lin Feng ignored Xu Zhe and asked about Xu Lin.
"My sister is taking a bath. She takes a long time to bathe, so you can come in and wait. I have something to attend to."
Xu Zhe gestured towards the bathroom, then picked up his clothes and left, intentionally trying to create an opportunity for Lin Feng and Xu Lin to be alone.