Chapter Fifty-Nine: He Won't Let Me Sleep in the Bed!

Gunfire rang out, and life was snuffed in an instant.

Qin Mu’s marksmanship was flawless—barely a fraction of a second’s aim, and he had locked onto Xiao Huang’s heart. The next shot pierced the air and ended his life.

Xiao Yue stared in disbelief at his son’s lifeless body, his face a mask of shock.

“You—you really dared to kill him!”

“Killing civilians at will—I’ll report this to the military authorities! I swear, I’ll see you court-martialed!” Xiao Yue roared, unable to accept that Qin Mu had truly dared, in full view of the public, to shoot his beloved son dead.

“If I recall, the head of the Xiao family only returned to River City a week ago? You were abroad for a pharmaceutical conference before that, weren’t you?” At that moment, Wei Dingguo spoke up.

Xiao Yue froze. Indeed, he had only just come back to River City. Upon his return, he’d heard rumors that the Lin family, whom the Xiaos had previously abandoned, was suddenly on the rise. Remembering he still possessed evidence from twenty years ago, when the Lin family had tried to rescue that wretched woman, Xiao Yue sent his son to Lin Group, intending to use it as leverage to seize control of the family in one stroke.

With Lin Group in his grasp, plus the cutting-edge pharmaceuticals he’d acquired abroad, he believed he could break into the upper echelons of the River League, elevating his family to become the fourth pillar.

Never did he imagine that, instead of swallowing Lin Group, he would lose his own son.

Wei Dingguo clasped his hands behind his back, his gaze falling on Qin Mu. “In that case, I suppose the head of the Xiao family is unaware that the Chu family, one of the three leading houses in the River League, recently had a run-in with this very man.”

“And the Chu family’s heir, Chu Lingyun, was buried alive.”

“I buried him myself.”

Wei Dingguo’s words fell like thunder, making Xiao Yue’s mind reel. That Chu Lingyun, whose prestige far exceeded his own son’s, had been buried alive? And it was on Qin Mu’s orders, with a colonel personally carrying it out?

“You—you’re utterly lawless! You have no regard for the law!” Xiao Yue shouted, pointing at Qin Mu, preparing to unleash his fury—when he suddenly recalled a phrase Qin Mu had uttered, almost lost beneath the gunfire.

“Con... conspiracy to murder a superior officer?”

Cold sweat broke out across Xiao Yue’s face as he stared at the young man before him, who could so easily command two senior officers and a three-hundred-strong armed force.

“You... you’re a general?!”

So young! No wonder his actions were so swift and decisive—he possessed the power to act.

Even so, Xiao Yue gritted his teeth, bracing himself against Qin Mu’s imposing presence, desperate to seek justice.

“My son was kind by nature, and my Xiao family has always acted honorably. Where is your evidence of murder?”

Qin Mu rose and strode to Xiao Yue, producing the transfer record from Xiao Huang’s pocket. Xiao Yue’s eyes remained fixed on the document, and when he saw it, he cried out.

“What?! Just this? How can a piece of paper prove murder—”

He was about to protest further when realization struck. He looked up sharply, studying Qin Mu’s age.

“No, impossible! That wretched woman is dead! All her relatives were confirmed killed! How could any threat remain—” Xiao Yue muttered in disbelief, but then he caught himself, covering his mouth in terror, fearing he would share his son’s fate.

Qin Mu turned away, his voice heavy and forlorn, yet tinged with unyielding resentment.

“Yes, all her family were killed—slaughtered mercilessly by your River League.”

“But you never considered, before she leapt from that building in utter despair, that she endured humiliation and suffering for the sake of the unborn child she protected in her womb.”

“You—you—”

Xiao Yue was no fool. Qin Mu made it plain enough. The young man before him, radiant with glory and command over armies, was the very son of the woman they had driven to her death.

“Impossible! That wretched woman was born lowly—how could she have produced a descendant of such extraordinary achievement?!”

Xiao Yue’s mind teetered on the edge of collapse, his words spilling out uncontrollably.

“In three months’ time, I expect you and your entire Xiao family to visit her grave, offer incense and prayers, and bow in repentance.”

“Never! I cannot do that!” Xiao Yue screamed. Yet he knew full well what fate awaited if he refused.

But if he complied, would it not proclaim to all of River City that the River League had joined forces to drive a woman to her death, committing such an unspeakable act?

Xiao Yue collapsed in defeat, unable to plead for his son’s life any longer. Nor did he dare mention any military tribunal.

Conspiracy to murder a superior officer...

That was a crime he could never bear—the entire River League would be crushed beneath its weight.

...

With Xiao Yue dealt with, Qin Mu arranged to meet Lin Qingxue.

“This is one billion. The company’s just starting out; you’ll need working capital,” Qin Mu said, writing a check and handing it to Lin Qingxue.

“This... this is too much,” Lin Qingxue gasped, staring at the check.

“Don’t worry, this is nothing.”

“Nothing?!” Lin Qingxue’s beautiful eyes widened as she listened intently, afraid to miss a single word.

“I’ll have Wei Dingguo assist you. Find a time to go to the Xiao family and take over their entire pharmaceutical business.”

Lin Qingxue fell silent.

Qin Mu slipped his hands into his pockets, his tone relaxed, as if a long-held grudge had finally been resolved.

“The beauty industry has its limits. I hope you’ll gradually shift toward pharmaceuticals, delve into research—there may be great purpose in it someday.”

Unknowingly, Qin Mu had paved a path for her.

“I understand. Thank you for your support, General Qin,” Lin Qingxue replied respectfully.