Chapter Seventy-Seven: Some Choose Not to Be Human, Insisting on Becoming Beasts!

Jiang Yang, much like his brother, had a greedy mouth and a love of food. At only thirteen, he had already grown into a burly figure, his strength not to be underestimated. He brought his palm down with all his might, aiming straight for the back of Luo Shui’s head. Had the blow landed, the consequences would have been unimaginable.

Just as Jiang Yang’s face twisted with malice, certain that he would finally vent his anger, a sharp sound rang out. His hand was suddenly seized in a vice grip. Startled, Jiang Yang looked up to see who had caught him.

Qin Mu, with his other hand, calmly set a finished dish on the table. His gaze was cold as frost as he stared at Jiang Yang.

“I haven’t done anything—why are you grabbing me? Let go of me, now!” Jiang Yang sputtered in panic, spitting as he shouted.

“You know exactly what you were about to do, don’t you?” Qin Mu’s voice was icy.

“I—I just thought she was pretty and wanted to say hello. What’s wrong with that?” Jiang Yang deliberately raised his voice, drawing the attention of everyone at the table.

“That’s right! My precious son is so polite—he just wanted to greet her. Why are you grabbing him? You should apologize to my son immediately!” Han Ying spun around, her face twisted in anger as she shrieked.

The others all stood up, and upon hearing the commotion, began to angrily scold Qin Mu.

“Hurry up and let me go!” Jiang Yang barked, acting as if he could order Qin Mu around.

But Qin Mu didn’t release him. Instead, he tightened his grip, causing Jiang Yang such pain that he cried out.

“I’d like to know what fool taught you that greeting someone means striking them on the head with all your strength?” Qin Mu’s words made the faces of Han Ying and Jiang Hongzhi darken with rage. His words, after all, were calling them out for being ignorant and lacking any upbringing.

“Couldn’t steal a cell phone, so you hold a grudge and try to hit someone in revenge?” With a twist, Qin Mu forced Jiang Yang’s arm back, then flung it, making Jiang Yang slap himself across the face.

A crisp slap sounded out, using precisely the force Jiang Yang had meant for Luo Shui. It wasn’t light—the entire side of Jiang Yang’s face turned red and burned with pain, making him burst into tears on the spot.

“Waaah! Mommy, that bastard actually hit me!” Jiang Yang rolled on the ground, flailing his arms and legs, making a tremendous scene as if he’d suffered the greatest injustice.

Old Master Jiang slammed the table, his brows knotted in fury. “A child makes a mistake—a few words of admonishment are enough. Why must you resort to violence?”

This was his beloved grandson—he usually doted on him endlessly. Now, right before his eyes, Qin Mu had dared to hit the boy.

“You say nothing when he tries to hit someone, but the moment he gets hit back, you start shouting?” Qin Mu sneered, meeting Old Master Jiang’s anger head-on, giving him not an ounce of respect.

“You! You little bastard! How dare you talk back!”

“Outrageous! Is that how you speak to your elders?”

“A bastard is a bastard—he has not a shred of our Jiang family’s respect for elders or care for the young!”

Like a stone thrown into a pond, the words caused an uproar. Jiang Hongzhi and Jiang Zhengde, who had previously kept silent, now joined the old man, unleashing a torrent of abuse on Qin Mu.

“Elders who abuse their position, indulging the younger generation to steal and strike others as they please—is this the morality your Jiang family prides itself on?”

“Such morality, I have no interest in!” Qin Mu swept his arm grandly, unabashed and bold, silencing Old Master Jiang so thoroughly he could not utter a single word.

Jiang Hongzhi and Jiang Zhengde were left red-faced, choking on their indignation.

Who could have imagined that the bastard child they used to insult and beat at will—who never dared answer back—would, after ten years away, return with such unbridled sharpness?

Beside them, Qiu Shuxia and Grandma Jiang hurried to mediate, and in the end, only by making the reluctant Jiang Yang apologize to Luo Shui did the tense atmosphere finally ease.

Qiu Shuxia soon brought out a dozen exquisite dishes, urging everyone to pick up their chopsticks. Yet, after the earlier drama, most sat sullenly, eating in silence.

Only at Qin Mu’s table was there laughter and conversation, the family basking in happiness. The others looked on, gritting their teeth in envy and resentment.

After the meal, Qin Mu helped clear the dishes.

According to the tradition in Wanglong Village, after the New Year’s Eve dinner, everyone would climb the famous Longevity Mountain nearby to pray for good fortune in the coming year.

By the time Qin Mu’s family left the ancestral house, crowds had already begun to gather outside—families setting off on the walk to Longevity Mountain after their meal.

“Though there are steps built up Longevity Mountain, it’s still a long climb. It’ll be tiring,” Qin Mu said to Luo Shui.

He wasn’t worried about Jiang Zheng—the girl was tough and had made the climb every year. His only concern was Luo Shui.

“You underestimate me! I work out all the time—what’s a few steps up a mountain?” Luo Shui retorted, tilting her chin defiantly.

With the whole family ready, they joined the throng, making their way up the crowded stone steps toward the summit.

At first, Luo Shui was full of energy, laughing and playing with Jiang Zheng. But after more than two thousand steps, fatigue began to set in. By the time they’d passed three thousand, her legs went numb, and she leaned heavily against Qin Mu.

“It’s only because I’m just recovering from a serious illness—otherwise I’d be fine,” she quickly explained, searching for an excuse.

“Alright, stop pretending,” Qin Mu said with a smile, tapping her forehead before lifting her onto his back.

Resting against Qin Mu’s broad shoulders, Luo Shui pressed her lips together in a quiet smile. In truth, she wasn’t tired at all—she just wanted an excuse for Qin Mu to carry her.

Looking back, she saw Jiang Zheng close behind, the rest of the older generation not far off. As for Jiang Yao and Jiang Tao, both were panting and stopping every few steps.

Jiang Yang, meanwhile, was wailing and refusing to go on. In a fit of anger, he kicked another child from another family, but Han Ying simply dragged him away without apologizing, disappearing into the crowd as if nothing had happened.

After two or three hours, Qin Mu and his family finally reached the summit. Luo Shui slid down from his back and, hand in hand with Jiang Zheng, wandered off to enjoy the view.

Below, they could see the nightscape of more than half of Jiang City. At their feet lay scattered villages and wild countryside, and beyond that, the bright lights of the city center.

“Muzi, you’re here too,” came a familiar voice from nearby.

Qin Mu turned to see Luo Cheng approaching, with Yaya following close behind.