Chapter 9: Killing the Body, Destroying the Spirit

Under Zhao Kai’s management, the Zhao family casino was bustling with customers. Though many other casinos had copied Zhao Kai’s business model down to the last detail, it did nothing to diminish the Zhao family’s thriving success.

Zhao Kai understood well that what kept customers coming back was not reputation, but the element of surprise in gameplay. He successively introduced mahjong, a Hero Kill game adapted for ancient times, and even small games like Who Is the Spy. Nearly every game found in modern digital apps was reinvented and reintroduced by Zhao Kai in some form.

New games emerged one after another, dazzling the people of Jinghong County, young and old alike, who became thoroughly absorbed in these diversions. For the skilled, it became a means of gambling; for the merely curious, a way to pass idle hours. Zhao Kai designed countless sets of mahjong tiles and playing cards—almost every household owned a set.

Playing cards swept through the county like a gale, but were soon lost amid the wave of these ordinary yet captivating games. The other casinos, lacking Zhao Kai’s ingenuity, found themselves like the fleeting popularity of playing cards—rising briefly, only to fall back beneath the Zhao family’s dominance.

Watching people throw themselves into the casino for entertainment, Zhao Kai couldn’t help but shake his head and smile. In what way were these people any different from those in modern times glued to their phones, seeking only amusement?

It wouldn’t be long, he thought, before people grew tired of these new pastimes. Before they were replaced, he needed to seek out the next business opportunity. He aimed to establish his own enterprise—casinos were only one of his goals. He wanted all of Jinghong County to be filled with his ventures!

“Husband…”

As he was turning these thoughts over, Lin Fei’er approached, looking troubled.

“What’s wrong?” Zhao Kai could never resist wanting to comfort her when she appeared so delicate.

“Husband, there is something I’m not sure I should say… If I tell you, I fear it may cause you trouble; if I don’t, then…”

Seeing her hesitation, Zhao Kai understood her nature—she would never trouble him unless it was truly difficult.

“Fei’er, we are husband and wife. Your concerns are mine as well. Tell me everything, and let me handle it for you.”

Moved by his words, Lin Fei’er said, “After I left the Lin family, my father, afraid I would suffer, gave me a small pawnshop. But yesterday, the manager told me my brother seized the deed.”

Lin Zhenting again. Clearly, if he wasn’t dealt with firmly, he’d never learn his lesson.

But why would he take the deed? Was his need for money so dire?

Indeed, Lin Zhenting was in desperate straits—utterly so. He had built a casino to compete with Zhao Kai, but lost everything. Even when he tried to come up with new tricks to attract customers, he couldn’t keep up with the endless stream of ideas coming out of Zhao Kai’s mind.

One game with playing cards was bad enough, but when other casinos started copying, Zhao Kai’s profits inevitably shrank. Yet Zhao Kai always had a new surprise—a mahjong game, Hero Kill, Who Is the Spy—each one drew customers back, reversing any losses.

No, it wasn’t just that. All of Jinghong County was now filled with Zhao Kai’s patrons! The entire gambling scene in the county had fallen under his sway; even the Zhao family itself couldn’t control him.

Lin Zhenting watched with envy, and as he fumed, Master Gao’s debt collectors hounded him relentlessly. Though he was a young master of the Lin family, he had signed his name to the debts himself, and Gao’s thugs left him nowhere to hide.

He lost his business, his pride, his dignity—now debt collectors showed up at his door every day. Lin Zhenting couldn’t hold on any longer. He sold his casino to buy some time, but the money still wasn’t enough. He turned his sights on Lin Fei’er, squeezing what he could from her.

But he knew this was not a long-term solution. He needed to topple Zhao Kai, seize all his assets, and then tear him to pieces!

As Lin Zhenting ground his teeth in hatred, Zhao Kai quietly approached, trailed by a crowd.

“Young Master Lin.”

The sudden greeting startled Lin Zhenting. He looked up, and his soul nearly fled his body when he saw who it was.

“Y-you… what are you doing here?”

To take your miserable life—though, of course, Zhao Kai wouldn’t say that out loud.

“We are family, after all. Seeing you in such difficulty, I thought I’d come offer some help.”

“You, so generous?”

Of course not. He had brought such a crowd precisely to watch Lin Zhenting’s humiliation.

Whether Lin Zhenting lived or died was no concern to Zhao Kai. But having bullied his wife Fei’er, Zhao Kai would not let it pass.

“Someone, serve Young Master Lin some tea.”

Though this was Lin Zhenting’s own place, Zhao Kai acted as if he were the host.

Looking down from above, the balance of status between them had been reversed. Zhao Kai wanted this scoundrel to know that all of Jinghong County was now his domain.

“Young Master Lin, since ancient times, it has never been right for a man to live off a woman. Fei’er is your sister. If you are in need, it is only natural to ask her for help. But to seize her property without her consent—now that is wrong. Fei’er is gentle by nature, but if you frighten her, your debt will be more than just money.”

Lin Zhenting cared greatly for his reputation, and in the past had bullied Fei’er in secret. Now, Zhao Kai would teach him a lesson so severe he would never dare lay a finger on Fei’er again.

And he would learn what could and could not be touched!

“What? Young Master Lin actually stole from his own sister?” Zhao Kai’s entourage whispered among themselves.

“Yes, look how angry Young Master Zhao is—he’s clearly standing up for his wife. And this Young Master Lin, the entire Lin family is his, yet he still steals from his sister. Doesn’t he know Miss Lin is now married to Young Master Zhao?”

Listening to these comments, Lin Zhenting’s face burned with shame—he wished he could sink into the ground. In the past, his bullying had been hidden; now, with Zhao Kai exposing him in public, his carefully crafted image was shattered.

That was exactly what Zhao Kai intended. Wasn’t Lin Zhenting so obsessed with appearances? Zhao Kai would see to it that he never had any face left.

To destroy a person’s spirit—what could be more devastating?

“Let’s do this. For the sake of our family ties, apologize to Fei’er and we’ll call this matter settled. Otherwise, your reputation as a brother will be utterly ruined.”

Zhao Kai offered him a way out. All those years of bullying Fei’er—today, an apology would be just punishment. So long as Lin Zhenting bowed his head to Fei’er, he would never again have the courage to stand tall before her.

With all these witnesses, Lin Zhenting was trapped—he couldn’t refuse even if he wanted to.

Zhao Kai folded his arms and watched, amusement playing at the corners of his lips.

“Husband…” Lin Fei’er stepped out from the crowd, still fearful at the sight of her brother.

Zhao Kai patted her hand gently, reassuring her.

Countless eyes were fixed on him, and with Zhao Kai’s oppressive presence, for the first time Lin Zhenting bowed his head.

“Fei’er, I’m sorry…”

Lin Fei’er was stunned. Had she not heard it with her own ears, she would never have believed these words could come from Lin Zhenting.

Zhao Kai was well satisfied; press a dog too hard and it will bite you—better to let up when the time was right.

“Thank you for your trouble today, Young Master Lin. This apology, Fei’er and all present will remember—and they will remember that you are a good brother.”