Chapter 135: The Mysterious Tycoon

Following this, Gu Hanliang’s attitude toward Ji Xiaorui became noticeably more deferential than it had been before.

A short while later, after Gu Hanliang and Lin Le finalized their plans to meet the following day, Lin Le and Ji Xiaorui boarded their car and departed. Once they had left, Gu Hanliang and Zhang Tianzong watched the Rolls-Royce disappear into the distance, their expressions lingering in a state of subtle gravity.

"Fourth Master, isn't that Ji Ronghao the younger brother of Ji Rongguo?" Zhang Tianzong’s voice was filled with palpable awe.

The name Ji Rongguo was simply too significant; it was a household name not only in Shangjing but across the entirety of China. Ji Rongguo stood at the very pinnacle of power within the nation. He was no mere local warlord or rough-hewn hero; he was a true titan. Even for men like Gu Hanliang, he was a figure entirely beyond their reach. To have even the slightest connection to such a person left Zhang Tianzong astonished.

Even Gu Hanliang wore an expression of unprecedented shock. No matter how accomplished he was, he could only operate within the civilian sphere. Even at his best, he was merely a phoenix among men, but compared to a true dragon like Ji Rongguo, who occupied the halls of power, there was simply no comparison. Though this realization left Gu Hanliang feeling resentful, he was also helpless to change it.

At this moment, however, his mind was dominated by shock. He had assumed Lin Le was merely an ordinary high school student who possessed exceptional talent and deep cultivation, making him worthy of notice. Now, it seemed he had grossly underestimated the boy. He could never have imagined that Lin Le would have any association with a titan like Ji Rongguo.

Although Lin Le was not acquainted with Ji Rongguo himself, but rather with Ji Ronghao, Ji Ronghao was the man’s own flesh and blood. Not only was his status exceptional, but his own capabilities were formidable—hardly inferior to his brother’s. What Ji Ronghao was most renowned for was his wealth—an inexplicably vast fortune. Outsiders knew he was incredibly wealthy, but no one could say exactly how much he possessed. They could not even pinpoint how he had built his empire or what industries he held. They only knew one thing: Ji Ronghao was rich, and that was all.

Even *Forbes* magazine, when compiling its list of the wealthiest people in China, had conducted rigorous investigations into Ji Ronghao, only to come up empty-handed. They couldn't even grasp the scope of his assets, let alone calculate his net worth, which was why his name never appeared in their pages. For a long time, the public had regarded Ji Ronghao as the most mysterious "invisible billionaire" in China—more enigmatic even than the world-famous Rothschild family.

"To actually know someone from the Ji Mansion... this Lin Le is truly extraordinary!" Gu Hanliang felt that, let alone trying to recruit Lin Le, even establishing a friendly relationship might now be beyond his grasp. A master of the Transformation Realm was, as expected, a figure who would attract a multitude of followers wherever he went.

"But Fourth Master, I only ever heard that Ji Ronghao had one son. When did he have a daughter?" Zhang Tianzong asked, looking puzzled.

"That’s because you only know the surface. Ji Ronghao’s current wife is not his original spouse; he divorced his first wife long ago. This young woman must be his daughter from that marriage," Gu Hanliang explained. Having lived in Shangjing for a long time, he was well-versed in such matters.

Although she was the daughter of his former wife, it seemed Ji Ronghao showed her no less favor. If anything, feeling that he had wronged his ex-wife, he likely doted on this daughter even more.

"I see," Zhang Tianzong nodded, appearing thoughtful.

"Whether it is Ji Ronghao or Ji Rongguo, they are men above men. If Lin Le has climbed such a high branch, I fear that in the future, he will no longer be someone we can casually associate with," Gu Hanliang sighed. Zhang Tianzong agreed completely. With the wealth of a nation in one hand and supreme power in the other, coupled with the strength of a Transformation Realm master, such a person was practically invincible.

"Fourth Master, what should we do now?" Zhang Tianzong asked.

"I heard Mr. Lin say he came to Shangjing in search of aged medicinal herbs. Go and make inquiries tonight to see where we might be able to procure such things," Gu Hanliang instructed.

"Understood, I will go inquire at once."

Meanwhile, the Rolls-Royce carrying Lin Le and his companions had entered the heart of Shangjing. If he hadn't seen it with his own eyes, Lin Le would never have believed that such a serene and peaceful place could exist in the center of the city, where every inch of land was worth its weight in gold. Just one block away, the main thoroughfares were choked with crowds and heavy traffic, yet this area was lush with greenery and shaded by towering trees, effectively isolating all the noise and chaos of the surroundings. It felt completely out of place in the bustling metropolis of Shangjing, as if it were a separate world carved out of the city. Lin Le knew well that in Shangjing, achieving this required far more than just money.

The Rolls-Royce slowly traveled down a secluded, tree-lined path before finally arriving at its destination: the Ji Mansion in Shangjing.

Before him stood a massive estate. The architecture was reminiscent of the Republican era, as the compound had indeed been built during that period and passed down through the Ji family generations. As the car pulled up to the front, the archaic black iron gates swung open automatically, and the vehicle glided into the courtyard.

"Master, we're home," Ji Xiaorui said, beaming with joy.

Lin Le exited the car alongside Ji Xiaorui and Ji Xiaohai. Seeing the grand, antique architecture of the Republican era, he could not help but feel a slight surge of awe.

"Xiaorui, you're finally back! Let your old man have a look at you." As soon as they arrived, a slightly plump middle-aged man walked out of the main house, his face glowing with delight as he looked at his daughter. This man was Ji Ronghao, her father.

"Dad, it's only been a few months! How have you managed to get even fatter? Didn't I tell you that fat men don't look good at all?" Ji Xiaorui approached her father and patted his stomach, showing no sign of restraint.

"Alright, alright, I hear you. I'll start losing weight tomorrow!" Ji Ronghao clearly doted on his daughter.

"Eh, and who is this?" Ji Ronghao’s gaze shifted to Lin Le.

"His name is Lin Le, a friend of mine from Haizhou," Ji Xiaorui said. In front of her father, she didn't dare call Lin Le "husband."

"A friend?" Ji Ronghao looked Lin Le up and down.

"Hello, Uncle Ji," Lin Le said with a faint, polite smile.

Ji Ronghao nodded. "Neither servile nor overbearing. Not bad. He’s already miles better than that good-for-nothing Zhang Yang."

Ji Ronghao was likely more aware of Zhang Yang’s attempts to court his daughter than Xiaorui was, but he had never held a high opinion of the young man. Ji Ronghao’s greatest talent was his ability to read people. Although Zhang Yang always treated him with outward respect, Ji Ronghao had seen through his hypocrisy instantly, having more than once advised his daughter to stay away from such people. When he looked at Lin Le, however, his first impression was quite positive. The young man possessed a sense of humility without losing his backbone—a rare trait among his peers.

"Dad, if nothing goes wrong, you might never have to see that Zhang Yang ever again," Ji Xiaohai chimed in, gloating. Recalling how Lin Le had dealt with Zhang Yang and Ding Jun at Zijin, he couldn't help but feel a rush of excitement.

"Oh? And why is that?" Ji Ronghao asked, curious.

"Well, that's a long story. When we have time later, I'll explain it to you in detail. It’ll be sure to shock you!" Ji Xiaohai said, acting quite lively in front of his father.

"Is that so? Then I really must hear it. Alright, don't just stand outside. Let's go in first."

The interior of the mansion matched its exterior style, maintaining the aesthetic of the Republican era. While it appeared antique, a closer look revealed that the interior was not merely luxurious—it was opulent. Lin Le, having been born into a prominent family and accustomed to the finer things in life, could tell at a glance that the level of luxury here was far beyond that of ordinary wealthy families.

Lin Le could not help but marvel to himself; it seemed his little apprentice’s family was truly extraordinary.