"Elder Tang, what brings you here?"
"Didn't your Tang family say you'd cut all ties with our Flying Eagle Gang?"
Ling Si looked at Tang Hu, his tone dripping with mockery.
Tang Hu laughed and explained, "Eagle Head, don't be mad!"
"Last time, it was my eldest brother who came."
"You know my status in the Tang family. I don't get any say in that kind of decision."
"But with all our years of friendship—how could we just snap it off like that?"
Ling Si was still annoyed, but the Flying Eagle Gang didn't need any more enemies right now.
And the fact that Tang Hu brought this young man with him… he was clearly here with an agenda.
"Tang Hu, let's not beat around the bush."
"Why did you come to my Flying Eagle Gang? And this young master here—he must not be just anybody."
As he spoke, Ling Si shifted his gaze to the youth.
The reason he said the young man had a big background…
Was because of that disdain in the young man's eyes.
That disdain wasn't just toward the Flying Eagle Gang—it was also toward Tang Hu.
Which meant...
This young man's origins were probably even higher than Tang Hu's.
Seeing Ling Si bring up the young man beside him, Tang Hu instantly put on a fawning expression.
"Ling Si, this is Young Master Jin."
"He came specifically to help you solve the problems your Flying Eagle Gang is facing."
The moment he mentioned Young Master Jin, Tang Hu even changed how he addressed Ling Si—from the casual "Eagle Head" to his full name.
That tiny shift alone showed how seriously Tang Hu regarded this Jin Yu.
The message hidden in Tang Hu's words was obvious:
In front of me, you can call yourself Eagle Head.
In front of this young master—you don't have that qualification.
Naturally, Ling Si heard the implication. His tone immediately shifted.
"May I ask which young master you are?"
Whether Tang Hu was lying or not—right now, this youth might be the Flying Eagle Gang's last hope.
The young man smiled faintly. "Capital City. The Jin family."
"Jin Yu."
Capital City? The Jin family?
Ling Si searched his memory frantically. Which Jin family from the capital is famous enough?
Tang Hu leaned over and reminded him, "Ling Si, don't forget that one."
"The one the internet agrees is the next Champion candidate—the Dragon-type Elite Four, Jin Peng."
At those words—Ling Si shot to his feet in shock, his heart almost leaping out of his chest.
"What—that Jin family?!"
He had considered the possibility earlier, but dismissed it immediately.
After all, how could someone from a high-and-mighty Elite Four family come to Shanghai… and even take an interest in his Flying Eagle Gang?
But looking at the way Tang Hu was acting, all respectful and deferential—it didn't seem fake.
So Ling Si hurriedly said, "So it's Young Master Jin gracing us—please, have a seat!"
He immediately vacated his chair.
Jin Yu sat down completely naturally, as if this were only proper.
"Young Master Jin, you should've sent word before coming so we could prepare something."
Ling Si smiled.
But Jin Yu casually waved him off.
"I've seen everything there is to see in the capital. What could your Flying Eagle Gang possibly prepare?"
The contempt in Jin Yu's tone was unmistakable.
Ironically, that very disdain made Ling Si believe his identity even more.
"Young Master Jin is absolutely right!"
"My mere Flying Eagle Gang isn't worth your attention!"
Maybe because Jin Yu was now their last lifeline, Ling Si abandoned his usual mannerisms.
His speech became utterly ingratiating.
Jin Yu tasted the tea Ling Si brewed, chuckled, and said, "I preferred you more when you were all stiff and aloof earlier."
Heh heh heh…
Ling Si gave an awkward laugh.
For a moment he didn't know how to respond.
"All right, enough joking around."
Jin Yu dropped his smile and finally got to the point.
"As you said, a two-bit Flying Eagle Gang can't even enter my eyes."
"If I didn't need a loyal and obedient dog during my first days in Shanghai, you wouldn't even be on the list."
Hearing Jin Yu call him a dog, Ling Si certainly felt displeased.
But none of that showed on his face.
Instead—he followed along immediately: "Young Master Jin is right. Our Flying Eagle Gang can absolutely become your most loyal dog."
"Except…"
His words trailed off.
Jin Yu raised a brow. "Except what?"
"Except this dog has run into a huge problem. We might not be able to do anything for Young Master Jin right now."
A man like Ling Si, who climbed up from the bottom, had no illusions about "pride."
What he cared about was whether Jin Yu could help the Flying Eagle Gang survive its crisis.
His meaning was clear:
They could be a loyal dog—but only if Jin Yu first solved the trouble they were facing.
Otherwise, everything was just empty talk.
And Jin Yu clearly understood the implication. He smiled.
"I've heard about your Flying Eagle Gang's little issue."
"Isn't it just that 'Bug Master' guy's disciple? That Guo Yi? He's nothing."
Judging by his tone...
Young Master Jin didn't put Guo Yi in his eyes at all.
But—Ling Yun, standing off to the side, couldn't bear it. Seeing Jin Yu brag so shamelessly while his own father bowed and scraped, he couldn't help muttering:
"My teacher ran away. Are you saying you're stronger than my teacher?"
In his eyes, Jin Yu was just some puffed‑up rich kid running his mouth.
"Xiao Yun! What are you saying?!"
"Hurry and apologize to Young Master Jin!"
Ling Si panicked the moment he heard his son.
He urged Ling Yun to apologize—while secretly watching Jin Yu's expression out of the corner of his eye.
He wanted to see how Jin Yu would react.
His son's words were rude, yes.
But—those crude words, were logical.
Ling Si also wanted to know what backing Jin Yu really had.
And if there were consequences later...
Well, he could always blame it on childish ignorance.
Tch!
Jin Yu heard Ling Yun's comment and curled his lip in disdain.
"Lie Ke?"
"That washed‑up, long-retired Elite Four? How could he be compared to me?"
"Let me tell you—my cousin is that famous Dragon-type Elite Four, Jin Peng."
"As long as I make a move, you think that Guo Yi kid would dare resist?"
The reason Jin Yu was so arrogant—was entirely because he relied on his cousin Jin Peng's status.
Lie Ke?
A mere retired Elite Four?
How could he compare to a current one?
But Jin Yu had no idea...
Those words alone had already made Ling Si label him as nothing more than a spoiled young master.
He originally thought Young Master Jin was some heavyweight of the Jin family.
Turns out he was only related to an Elite Four.
And with that little background, you think you can compare to Guo Yi?
Your cousin is an Elite Four.
But Guo Yi's teacher is someone even stronger than an Elite Four.
You think one speech from you will make Guo Yi back down?
You're dreaming!
Ling Si inwardly scoffed.
But none of that showed on his face.
"Young Master Jin is right. With your status, how could Guo Yi possibly compare!"
"From now on, this loyal dog of the Flying Eagle Gang will depend entirely on your protection."
"Hahaha!"
"Of course, of course."
Hearing that, Jin Yu cheerfully patted Ling Si on the shoulder.
Signaling him to rest easy.
Subsequently, Ling Si spoke again: "Young Master Jin, it's still early. Would you like to go out and…enjoy yourself a bit?"
"The nightlife in Shanghai is every bit as lively as the Capital!"
Jin Yu nodded approvingly. "Ling Si, you're very thoughtful."
Ling Si's behavior made Jin Yu feel like this trip wasn't wasted.
"Someone come in!"
Ling Si shouted toward the door.
A gang member rushed in immediately.
"Eagle Head, your orders?"
"Take Young Master Jin and Elder Tang to Heaven on Earth for a rest."
After saying this—Ling Si cupped his fists respectfully toward Jin Yu: "Young Master Jin, please go with Elder Tang and enjoy yourself at Heaven on Earth first."
"I still have some matters to handle here."
"Once I'm finished, I'll join you."
"The Flying Eagle Gang's recent situation hasn't been optimistic."
Jin Yu naturally had no objections to this.
"Then we'll head out first."
"Lead the way!"
Jin Yu waved his hand, and the gang member quickly led them out.
Once Jin Yu and Tang Hu had left, the smile on Ling Si's face instantly disappeared.
At this time—Ling Yun furrowed his brows and spoke up: "Dad, that Jin Yu's clearly just a spoiled brat. There's no way he can deal with Guo Yi."
In his eyes, Jin Yu was nothing more than a fancy shell.
He clearly had no real ability.
However, Ling Si's reply stunned Ling Yun.
"I know. A mere Jin Yu isn't someone Guo Yi would even glance at."
"If Guo Yi cared about status, the conflict with Lie Ke would never have happened."
Back then—Guo Yi clearly knew the Pokémon he took was reserved for a retired Elite Four—
Yet he still went ahead and took it anyway.
From that alone—status was meaningless to Guo Yi.
To make him back down, you needed real, overwhelming power.
Ling Yun paused for a moment, then asked back, "Then why were you fawning over Jin Yu like some bootlicker?"
Bootlicker?!
Ling Si rolled his eyes at his son's bluntness.
What kind of son describes his father that way?
But he didn't pay it much mind.
Instead, Ling Si patiently explained: "It's not Jin Yu I care about—it's the Jin family behind him."
"Son, let me ask you something."
"If Jin Yu goes to negotiate with Guo Yi, will Guo Yi give in?"
"Absolutely impossible!" Ling Yun answered without hesitation.
Wasn't that obvious?
If Guo Yi was the type to yield, none of this would've happened in the first place.
"And if Guo Yi refuses, what do you think Jin Yu will do?"
"Given his arrogant attitude, he won't take that lying down. He'll definitely seek revenge."
"Wait a minute…Dad, are you planning to shift trouble onto someone else?"
Ling Yun had suddenly figured it out.
Regardless of whether Jin Yu was a spoiled brat, the Jin family backing him was his source of arrogance.
Once Jin Yu and Guo Yi clashed...
The Jin family naturally wouldn't sit idly by!
Ling Si was precisely aiming for the Jin family behind Jin Yu.
Ling Si nodded and said to Ling Yun: "Later, you head to Heaven on Earth and stay with Jin Yu."
"Say some nice things. Better yet, flatter him until he can't find north from south."
"That way, when Guo Yi rejects Jin Yu, the blow to his ego will hit even harder."
Ling Yun nodded.
"Got it, Dad!"
As soon as he finished speaking—Ling Yun turned and left the reception hall.
Ling Si, of course, didn't stay idle either.
Whether Jin Yu could attract Guo Yi's attention or not, he still needed to prepare a backup plan for himself.
"Jin Yu…Jin family…"
"You'd better not disappoint me!"
If he could use them to survive, it would naturally be best for everyone.
But if not...
He still had to ensure his son's future.