He was born to walk a path riddled with thorns, fated to fight like a warrior and claim his destiny through his own hands. Yet one careless decision by an elder changed everything—he became not only the sole heir of the Lan family but also one of Lin's.

From the day he took up the surname Lin, Lin Yi knew what burden rested on his shoulders. It wasn't just about addressing Grandpa instead of Great-Grandfather anymore; the entire Lin clan now depended on him to carry their legacy forward as if it were an extension of himself. The treacherous road transformed into a seemingly safe path yet grew far more arduous.

His father had once told him that Uncle Lin viewed him merely as a temporary placeholder for the family. But as Lan Lingyan's son, he understood how to maximize his advantage, not just for himself but to protect his mother whose fragility made her seem perpetually in need of his careful preservation.

Since childhood, Lin Yi knew his precarious position within the Lin household. To them, he was an outsider—a potential thief who might strip away all they held dear. Even those elders who feigned affection while secretly wishing him dead regarded him as a thorn in their side yearning to be plucked out.

He understood even his most doting grandfather saw him as mere practice for the younger generation. The moment he faltered under pressure, he would become expendable. With his surname changed to Lin, returning to the Lan family now meant forfeiting any chance of redemption—he could never retreat.

While Uncle Lin used him as a sharpening stone, Lin Yi treated every member of this clan as stepping stones toward his ascent.

His father had taught him long ago: when circumstances are unchangeable, one must leverage current conditions for maximum advantage. Then select the most beneficial path from those options and execute it with precision. Lin Yi knew the Lin family would be his, just as the Lan legacy rightfully belonged to him.

While other children basked in parental affection at home, this so-called "heavenly favored" prodigy spent every waking hour immersed in rigorous academic training. From brain-stimulating games designed for toddlers to memory drills, then progressing to firearms proficiency once he matured—his schedule left no room even for thoughts of his parents.

By the time peers were starting school, Lin Yi had nearly completed junior high curriculum. He received advanced instruction while Uncle Lin doted on him yet remained cautiously watchful. In that household, every step required balancing on eggshells; if he ever let slip a hint of ambition, Uncle Lin would eliminate him before any real threat could emerge.

Lan Lingyan's words echoed in his mind: "Endure and prevail, or be reduced to nothing." Those who inherited privilege also bore the weight of expectations.

This shaped Lin Yi into someone who weighed every decision three times over. Mistakes weren't an option—he knew one misstep might mean death.

At thirteen, his father gave him his first practical assignment—the destruction of the Xie family.

Lan Lingyan provided no explanation, simply handing him the task discreetly without alerting Uncle Lin. It was clear this was meant to bypass potential interference within the clan. Lin Yi recognized it as a test from his father and executed two missions simultaneously—completing Uncle Lin's tasks while systematically eliminating those connected to the woman with the surname Gu.

He discovered why his father had targeted specific families, eradicating them one by one until only this mysterious woman remained. When Lan Lingyan presented him with Duan Jinjun as a gift, it was merely another step in the plan—arranging for him to marry that woman through careful orchestration.

Lin Yi learned early on: tormenting someone isn't always about physical pain. For certain individuals, psychological suffering proves far more devastating.

Indeed, watching his target become an outcast surrounded by men before her husband methodically drove her to suicide brought a quiet smile to his lips.

As years passed and Uncle Lin aged, Lin Yi grew stronger. By virtue of proximity alone, he gradually gained access to the clan's most sensitive affairs through carefully cultivated trust. He became both beloved grandson and indispensable aide—a transition that granted him increasing authority while deepening Uncle Lin's reliance on him.

Under Uncle Lin's nose, Lin Yi navigated a dangerous game. If his father was like an unrelenting wolf, he operated as a cold-blooded serpent. Where Lan Lingyan masked ruthlessness behind refined manners, Lin Yi preferred patience and calculated strikes. While Uncle Lin used him to train the next generation, he manipulated rivalries within the clan until all descendants crumbled under their own incompetence.

He stood quietly by when Uncle Lin died of natural causes amidst familial infighting, maintaining that same deferential attitude as always.

"Such a fine young man you've raised," remarked Uncle Lin at eighty, his once-commanding presence now diminished. The aged patriarch's calculating eyes had dimmed with years, yet he couldn't help but marvel at how composed Lin Yi remained when presented with evidence of his machinations.

The boy retained youthful prettiness in his features but carried an unsettling aura beneath the warm smiles—unlike Lan Lingyan's overtly dangerous demeanor. He seemed almost trustworthy, a quality that had duped even this seasoned fox.

Was it merely old age clouding judgment? Uncle Lin chuckled bitterly as he studied Lin Yi. No matter how desperately he wanted either fear or denial from the youth, he couldn't help but feel pride when faced with such composure and warmth in response to incriminating proof.

"What would you have me say?" asked Lin Yi, his slender fingers smoothing back the old man's blanket with elegant precision. He possessed an exquisite gentleness that made even this cunning elder question his own perceptions—perhaps it was simply time?

"You shouldn't be saying anything at all," sighed Uncle Lin, already dreading the inevitable answer while secretly wishing he could avoid hearing it. "Promise me you'll treat the clan well. When you take over Lin family affairs, choose an heir with the surname Lin to pass it on properly."

The original plan had been to leverage Lan family influence—never anticipating this pawn would cross the river and now threaten to dismantle everything. The Lin dynasty's power subtly eroded under his careful manipulations until no capable heir remained for succession.

With a weary chuckle, Uncle Lin realized decades of scheming had only enriched someone else upon deathbed.

"The Lin legacy will pass into Lin hands—but not necessarily from your own bloodline," replied Lin Yi with a gentle smile. "If I ever have children, they'll carry the surname Lin."

Uncle Lin understood immediately, bitter amusement flickering in his expression. "You intend to consume both families? Ambitious beyond what your digestion can handle?"

"The first lesson you taught me was how to assess situations and claim my rightful rewards," replied Lin Yi. As Lan family's sole male heir, it had always been inevitable that the clan would fall into his grasp with or without external support.

By then, it was too late. That child had already passed through the front gate years ago—now a tiger let loose in the house whose owner was growing old. Reluctantly, Uncle Lin accepted the terms, using his remaining influence to elevate the twenty-seven-year-old to presidential candidate status. This would be all he could do for the clan; with Lin Yi's abilities, future success seemed assured.

He was simply tired now—having enjoyed a glorious life only to stumble at the last hurdle. Yet as long as that boy bore the Lin name, who could deny it brought benefits? It all depended on perspective after all.

When Lin Yi finally assumed the presidency six months after Uncle Lin's death, he quietly attended his sister Lan Ningning's wedding in Hawaii. Watching her opposite life path—so carefree and content as a princess nurtured by both mothers and uncles—it stirred something within him.

He glimpsed a different version of himself in that radiant bride, perhaps one who could have existed had circumstances been kinder. As children, he'd craved possession of his mother's attention just like the boy who wanted to monopolize her affection.

The Lan family's legacy ran deep both father and son shared this obsessive need—to claim what consumed them completely, keeping it exclusive from others as teenage boys might hoard a beloved toy.

Once upon a time, he had even briefly considered eliminating his sister outright—craving to replace her in their mother's affections. Without Lan Lingyan's warning about the uselessness of living without strength or protection abilities, perhaps that cruel streak would have always lingered beneath the surface.

That innocent longing for maternal love transformed into cold calculation through years of struggle. He learned early on how to manipulate even his closest relatives, all in pursuit of something he desperately desired yet could never truly obtain.

Watching his sister coo with Duan Ming while their families argued over marriage arrangements, Lin Yi effortlessly switched from his usual calculating demeanor to genuine warmth. When he spotted his parents approaching, the shadows behind his eyes disappeared entirely, replaced by sunlight as he listened to his mother laugh and his father's anxious negotiations with the dragons.

He understood exactly what his mother meant when she asked about settling down. Sometimes he envied his father—how could someone like him who thrived in darkness ever find true love? Yet there were moments when even he longed for that warmth, though perhaps it was better this way. After all, some destinies were bound to the shadows.

Returning home with a carefully selected bride candidate to satisfy his mother's wishes brought genuine satisfaction. Seeing her pleased smile despite his calculated choice warmed him more than any political victory ever could.

Gazing at the woman who had been mostly a distant figure in photos and videos during his childhood, Lin Yi finally allowed himself a tiny flicker of real joy.

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