Courtyard Houses: From Bronze Compasses to Global Reach

Chapter 192 Birthday Gift - Murder

When they returned to Laurel Manor, it was still dark. The warm light in the living room could not dispel the paleness on Li Wenbin's face and the shock in his eyes. They silently returned to their rooms, needing time to process the bloody "ceremony" they had witnessed that night.

Lin Yan walked straight into the study. His face was expressionless, as if he had just gone for a walk. He stood by the window, gazing at the deep night outside. The lights of Los Angeles looked like stars in the distance, but they couldn't illuminate the depths in his eyes.

"Lin Gang," he called softly.

Like a shadow, Lin Gang appeared silently behind him, bowing and waiting for orders. He still faintly carried a trace of lingering blood, but his eyes had regained their usual composure.

"Young Master."

"In California, all those with the surname Brown, as well as collateral relatives and confidants who are closely related to the core members of the Brown family, know the inside story, and may harbor resentment," Lin Yan's voice was calm and composed, yet carried an undeniable determination. "I don't want to see a single one slip through the net. Alexander will be in charge of the parts outside of California."

He paused, then added, "The operation must be quick and clean, leaving no trace and avoiding unnecessary attention."

"Yes, young master!" A sharp glint flashed in Lin Gang's eyes, and he did not hesitate at all.

Lin Yan turned around, took out several array plates, each about the size of a palm, neither gold nor jade, and engraved with complex and mysterious patterns, from his spatial storage, and handed them to Lin Gang.

"This is an isolation array," Lin Yan explained. "Once activated, it can temporarily isolate sound and energy fluctuations within a certain area, and also form a barrier to prevent those inside from escaping. You can adjust the size of the area by injecting true essence as needed. A quick victory is essential."

Lin Gang accepted the array plate with both hands, feeling the cool yet powerful spiritual energy fluctuations emanating from it. "Understood!"

"Go. Take our people from California with you. I want to hear the results before dawn." Lin Yan waved his hand, turned back to the window, and said no more.

Lin Gang bowed respectfully, his figure silently blending into the shadows and disappearing from sight.

The Brown family estate in Los Angeles.

The former symbols of power were now shrouded in a deathly silence and panic. Pat Brown sat slumped in his study, surrounded by torn newspapers and shattered bottles. The telephone line had been pulled, and all communication with the outside world seemed to have been severed. His wife sobbed softly in the next room, while his eldest son, Patrick Jr., paced anxiously in the living room, trying to contact his lawyer and remaining political allies, but mostly receiving busy signals or cold rejections.

Unbeknownst to them, the shadow of death had already loomed over the estate and was simultaneously engulfing all residences across California closely connected to the Brown family by blood.

The operation began.

In Los Angeles, outside a secluded safe house owned by Michael Brown, the second son of the Brown family, Golden Core cultivator Robert Hayes appeared like a ghost. Expressionless, he activated an isolation array, and invisible ripples spread out, enveloping the entire house. Inside, Michael, who was roaring at his subordinates and plotting revenge and escape, along with several of his core henchmen, were instantly trapped. Robert burst through the door, perfectly silencing the brief gasps and gunshots that followed, quickly silencing them completely.

In a luxury apartment in San Francisco, Eduardo Brown (Pat Brown's cousin), who oversaw the family's extensive shady businesses, was preparing to destroy the last batch of crucial documents. The window silently crumbled to dust, and Maguire Donovan, with his signature wicked grin, vaulted in. "Good evening, Mr. Brown. Seems like you've been busy?" An illusion instantly activated; Eduardo's eyes glazed over, and the lighter fell from his hand. William gave him no chance; a single slash of his sword, and it was all over.

In San Jose, at the residence of Judge Barbara Brown Harrison, Marcus Cole, like Death himself, silently infiltrated the compound. An isolation array ensured that her desperate prayers and any possible noise could not reach the outside world. Marcus looked at the judge who had once twisted justice with no pity in his eyes, and swiftly sent her to meet the God she believed in.

Meanwhile, at the main estate in Los Angeles.

Lin Gang personally led the team, joining forces with John Harrison, James McCarthy, and several other Golden Core cultivators. Instead of launching a direct attack, they blended seamlessly into the night, easily avoiding the few and demoralized security personnel.

Outside the main house, Lin Gang activated the largest isolation array plate in his hand. An invisible barrier enveloped the entire core area of ​​the manor.

Inside the study, Pat Brown seemed to sense something, abruptly raising his head, his cloudy eyes filled with terror. He heard the study door being pushed open, but saw no one.

"Who?! Who's there!" he shouted hoarsely, reaching for the letter opener on the desk.

An invisible force gripped his throat, lifting him from the chair. He kicked his legs in vain, watching Lin Gang's cold, resolute face slowly appear before him.

"The Brown family, this is the end." Lin Gang's voice was devoid of emotion.

Pat Brown's eyes were filled with regret, fear, and resentment, but it was all too late. A slight cracking sound echoed within the isolation array, followed by the thud of a heavy object hitting the ground.

In the living room, Patrick seemed to hear something. He had just stood up when a flash of sword light appeared. Before he could even see who it was, his consciousness was plunged into eternal darkness.

The cries, the brief sounds of fighting, and the final, subtle sounds of life fading away were all perfectly contained within the array. This cleansing was efficient, swift, and utterly thorough.

It wasn't just these core members. Scattered throughout California, Brown family members and their staunch confidants who were closely associated with Thomas and his son, involved in numerous shady dealings, or potentially becoming the seeds of future revenge, all experienced similar "accidents" or "silent disappearances" at the same time.

As the first hint of dawn appeared on the eastern horizon, Lin Gang reappeared outside the study at Laurel Manor.

"Young Master, all targets within California have been cleared. The array plate has been retrieved intact." He bowed and reported, his voice calm, as if he had just completed a routine night patrol.

Inside the study, Lin Yan still stood by the window, watching the dawn gradually dispel the darkness.

"Hmm." He responded casually. "You've worked hard. Go and rest."

Los Angeles welcomed a new day, bathed in sunshine, with cars bustling about. News reports began to appear sporadically, such as "Brown family member dies from sudden illness due to excessive stress" and "Multiple Brown family properties suffer unexplained fires," but these, mixed in with the aftershocks of yesterday's political storm, did not cause much of a stir. A political family that had dominated California for many years was uprooted and completely consigned to history on this seemingly peaceful morning.

Lin Yan picked up the hot milk that the maid had brought again and took a sip.

The birthday gifts have now all been delivered.