Chapter 87: Your Yacht Has Arrived

Dustin had no objections either, especially after hearing Lin Xiao’s introduction that this Blade Warrior was even stronger than himself; he decisively asked to become the man’s disciple.

“In that case, I’ll stay in Hawkins for a while to guard against Lestat’s possible revenge. Later, I’ll take you out for some training and experience. You’ll need to prepare yourself mentally,” Eric explained his plan, to which Dustin agreed without hesitation.

Lin Xiao also felt a wave of relief. Though he tried to appear unconcerned, he had actually been quite worried that Lestat’s revenge would come too swiftly. If Zoe hadn’t returned in time, their situation could have become extremely perilous.

Now, with Eric as a powerful ally, combined with himself and Number Eleven, even if three marquises came at once, he would have nothing to fear—no matter how many came, he’d dispatch them all.

“All right, Dustin, I’ll take you home now. Your mother’s been worried sick,” Lin Xiao said as it was nearing midnight.

Eric added, “I’ll be staying nearby these days, secretly protecting Dustin in case Lestat grows desperate.”

With that reassurance, Lin Xiao took Dustin home, while Eric stayed behind to deal with Damont’s body.

Walking back, they found Joey and the others anxiously waiting at the door. Seeing them safe, the group rushed over to embrace them one by one, tears of joy streaming down their faces.

Lin Xiao gave a brief account of what had happened, leaving it to Chief Hope to explain the details to Joey. He then drove Dustin home.

Dustin’s mother, Mrs. Mataraf, rushed out in tears to hug him, terrified that he might vanish like Will. The recent unrest in town had left everyone on edge.

Back home, Joey’s emotions had calmed under Chief Hope’s soothing words. He didn’t mention Lestat’s looming threat, not wanting to frighten her further.

With Dustin’s situation resolved, and as Saturday dawned, the family discussed preparations for that night’s homecoming party to welcome Michael and Lucas back from the hospital.

It had been a hectic period, and Lin Xiao desperately needed to unwind and relax, so he was determined to make the party as lively as possible.

Ding-dong… ding-dong…

The doorbell interrupted their conversation. Lin Xiao went to open the door, and there stood Mr. and Mrs. Berham, accompanied by their now-recovered young son.

The boy looked entirely normal, his face free from any unsettling expressions, gazing at Lin Xiao with pure curiosity.

The couple thanked him profusely for helping Hani recover and explained their purpose: they had come to deliver the yacht.

Led by the Berhams, Lin Xiao walked to the lake and saw a medium-sized yacht moored a short distance from shore. Mr. Berham introduced it:

“This is the Sundancer 510 series yacht from Shirey Company, valued at fifty-six thousand dollars. It’s 15.2 meters long, 4.48 meters wide, with a freshwater tank of 416 liters, a fuel capacity of 1,514 liters, and a draft of 1.25 meters. Its top speed is 21 knots. This is our carefully chosen gift to thank Mr. Byers for saving Hani. If you ever need help, please don’t hesitate to ask.”

Having witnessed Lin Xiao’s mysterious abilities, the Berhams were thoroughly convinced. Mr. Berham, well-traveled and knowledgeable, had already guessed his identity as someone extraordinary and wished to befriend him.

Whether in China or America, people of influence revered those with mystical powers. The higher the status, the greater the desire to associate with such individuals. Years ago, a certain Master Wang’s snake-handling and acupuncture skills had dazzled celebrities back home, but compared to Lin Xiao, he was merely a street performer to a true Maoshan master.

“No problem, I’ll take a look first,” Lin Xiao replied noncommittally. He wasn’t interested in befriending them, especially since Mrs. Berham had left him with a poor impression.

He strode quickly to the dock, where the yacht was anchored seven or eight meters from shore due to the shallow water. Mr. Berham was about to set up a gangplank, but Lin Xiao simply took a light step and leaped the entire distance, landing steadily on the yacht’s deck, startling the crew on board.

On solid ground, a top athlete might manage a seven- or eight-meter jump with a running start, but this was over water, and Lin Xiao had leaped without any run-up. The explosive power required was daunting—even Powell would find it hard to match.

Contrary to his expectations, the yacht wasn’t the massive, sea-faring luxury vessel he’d imagined, like the one owned by the Jessy family. Instead, it was modest in size, with a deck of only seven or eight square meters, a small cabin, a living room, and perhaps a kitchen and bathroom. It was certainly not one of those opulent yachts.

He couldn’t help but laugh at himself—those grand yachts would cost tens of millions or more. A fifty-thousand-dollar mid-sized yacht naturally wouldn’t compare; he realized he’d been naive.

Overall, though, the yacht was quite nice. It could hold eight or nine people comfortably, perfect for trips to the Great Lakes or a cruise down the Mississippi. As for the open sea, it would be limited to coastal waters.

After exploring the interior, Lin Xiao returned to the deck, leaped back to the dock in a single bound, and nodded. “It’s good. I’m satisfied. Where are the transfer papers?”

Mr. Berham produced two contracts. After signing, the yacht officially belonged to Lin Xiao.

Mr. Berham cordially invited him to dinner, but Lin Xiao declined, citing the evening’s party as an excuse. With the yacht delivered, he saw no need to cultivate further relations.

Back home, he mentioned the yacht, and Joey and the others eagerly followed him to the lake. Lin Xiao repeated his earlier feat, jumping aboard, then set up the plastic gangplank so the others could walk up.

Joey was ecstatic, shrieking with excitement on deck. Number Eleven and Will leaped about, waving their arms in delight, and even Chief Hope wandered around, touching everything, finally settling into the captain’s chair to get a feel for it.

Given their financial means, they’d only ever ridden on yachts as passengers; owning a private yacht had been a distant dream. Now, experiencing it firsthand was thrilling beyond words.

“Let’s get her moving, Jonathan! How about we take her for a spin?” Chief Hope shouted from below.

“No problem,” Lin Xiao replied. Chief Hope fiddled with the controls and slowly guided the yacht toward the center of the lake.

“Oh!” Will and Number Eleven cheered on deck. Lin Xiao watched them, smiling—their hardships had not been in vain. A yacht was a worthy reward.

The only regret was that Zoe wasn’t here to share his joy. He hoped she would return soon.

“By the way, Jonathan, why not hold tonight’s party on the yacht?” Joey suddenly suggested, eager to show off their new acquisition.

“Great idea. I have no objections. What about you, Number Eleven and Will?”

“We both agree!” they shouted in unison, stretching their arms wide to the lake breeze and swaying with the wind.

Lin Xiao gazed into the distance, his heart at ease. This life was good.