Chapter Sixty-Two: Does It Matter?

The sound of Qin Mu's punch was so loud that it startled the entire neighborhood. In an instant, a crowd gathered outside the tile-roofed house, whispering among themselves. Some elderly folks with sharp memories immediately recognized Qin Mu.

"Isn’t that Muzi?"

"When did Muzi come back?"

Aside from Qin Mu, their eyes instinctively glanced toward the ground, and their expressions turned anxious as they cried out,

"Isn't that Chen Shun? How did he end up like this?"

"My heavens!"

Liang Yue, noticing the growing crowd, seized the moment. She pointed at Qin Mu, lowering her voice and feigning grievance, shouting,

"Everyone, look! This bastard the Jiang family brought back is causing trouble as soon as he returns to the village!"

"We were entertaining guests, and he started beating people for no reason. You all judge for yourselves!"

Her words stirred up heated discussion, with voices rising all around.

Qin Mu, however, kept his gaze fixed on Luo Cheng, ignoring the gossip swirling nearby.

A decade had passed.

He had left Wanglong Village to become a man of remarkable stature, a dragon among men.

Luo Cheng, once proud and spirited, had remained in the village, enduring countless humiliations—now reduced to nothing.

"Who did this to you? I'll see justice done," Qin Mu said coldly, loosening his wrist.

Luo Cheng hesitated, seeing the resolve in Qin Mu’s eyes, ready to speak—when Chen Shun shouted from the ground,

"Luo Cheng, you useless wretch, dare say another word and see what happens!"

As soon as he finished, he nervously covered his own mouth.

In his eyes, Qin Mu was terrifying, almost inhuman.

One moment, Qin Mu was chatting amiably; the next, he had smashed Chen Shun’s head into the wall.

"Why are you just standing there? Apologize to Brother Shun! You broke our wall—don’t think you can leave without paying at least eighty or a hundred thousand," Liang Yue said, emboldened by the swelling crowd.

No matter how ruthless Qin Mu might be, surely he wouldn’t dare beat anyone again in front of dozens.

"That’s right! If you don’t kneel and apologize, you won’t leave this door!" Chen Shun straightened up, newly confident.

He thought it over: just some young man, and from the villagers’ chatter, it seemed Qin Mu was an orphan brought back by the Jiang family—nothing to fear. Perhaps he was only acting out of youthful impulse.

Afterwards, Chen Shun would have plenty of ways to make Qin Mu beg for mercy.

Just as Chen Shun was plotting his revenge, Qin Mu waved his hand and declared, "I have no intention of leaving until this matter is resolved."

Chen Shun’s face darkened. "Who do you think you are? Acting like a big shot?"

As he warned Qin Mu, a commotion sounded outside the door—a mix of shouts and shoving.

"Make way, please!"

The crowd turned, ready to curse whoever was forcing their way in, but seeing the newcomer’s mountainous frame, they fell silent and parted, clearing a path.

Chen Shun and Liang Yue looked up, feeling the overwhelming pressure and unable to speak, instantly silenced.

"Traffic was bad, I’m late. Sorry," Wu Mu said, coming to stand beside Qin Mu.

"I’ve investigated: Luo Cheng’s mother fell ill years ago. Because of financial strain, they sold off some property. Now, the family survives solely with Liang Yue’s support."

Qin Mu, able to contact Wu Mu at any time via encrypted communication, had the situation investigated immediately after the commotion began.

Qin Mu frowned. "Didn’t I send money? How could there be none?"

While stationed in the frontier, he had written to Luo Cheng, asking after his situation.

He knew of Luo Cheng’s mother’s illness, so he’d sent money several times.

"I never received anything," Luo Cheng replied, bewildered.

Thinking for a moment, realization dawned. He swung around and stared at Liang Yue.

Liang Yue’s heart pounded wildly. Hearing Qin Mu’s words, she began shuffling nervously, trying to slip out.

But Wu Mu stood at the doorway, blocking her escape like a mountain.

"It was you—you stole the money Muzi sent for my mother?" Luo Cheng grabbed Liang Yue’s collar, demanding answers.

"Let go! How dare you speak to me like that?" Liang Yue snapped, still holding on to her bravado.

"I’m asking you: did you take the money meant for my mother’s treatment?" Luo Cheng, shedding his former meekness, roared furiously.

For years he’d lived in poverty, spending every penny on his mother’s medical care.

His eighty-year-old bedridden mother was his greatest concern.

He could bow and grovel for her sake, endure any humiliation.

So long as Liang Yue paid for the treatment, he’d tolerate anything she did, no matter how outrageous.

"I—I thought it was sent by mistake," Liang Yue stammered in panic.

"Thought? Nonsense! You wretch!"

Luo Cheng slapped her across the face.

The money Qin Mu sent surely contained clear information—no one would believe Liang Yue’s excuse.

No wonder she despised Luo Cheng, yet never brought up divorce.

She’d been eyeing the steady stream of money from Qin Mu.

"What’s the state of Luo Cheng’s mother now?" Qin Mu asked, his voice tight.

"She’s in a rundown hospital, given only cheap medication. I’ve already investigated; someone specifically ordered them to save money, use no quality medicine, just keep the old lady alive," Wu Mu read from his report, each word plunging Liang Yue deeper into despair.

How did Wu Mu know what she’d done at the hospital?

And his words reached the ears of all the neighbors outside.