64: From this day forward, the Meng family ceases to exist.
Chu Yueli followed behind her father with cold, elegant steps.
Her white qipao, adorned with red plum blossoms, looked exceptionally striking under the glare of the car headlights.
Her beautiful eyes were originally filled with anticipation as she searched for the figure that haunted her dreams.
But when her gaze pierced through the crowd and landed on the steps...
Her expression instantly froze.
Standing beside Lin Chuan was a woman in a blue dress, draped in Lin Chuan's trench coat.
Though the woman was pale and her hair was a bit messy, her face was indeed breathtakingly beautiful.
Most importantly, one of Officer Su Qingyi's hands was tightly clutching Lin Chuan's arm, and she was practically leaning halfway behind him.
That posture, that look of reliance in her eyes...
They looked more like a couple than an actual couple!
"Hmph."
A jar of vinegar seemed to tip over in Chu Yueli's heart, leaving a sour, unpleasant taste.
Her delicate willow-leaf brows furrowed slightly, and her grip on her folding fan tightened.
Coincidentally, Meng Guangcai was still standing on the roof of the car, shouting recklessly without a care for his life.
"You brat! You're finished!"
"Master Chu's gun squad is here! They're going to chop you up and feed you to the dogs!"
That raspy, duck-like voice was even more annoying than a crow's.
"Noisy."
Chu Yueli was already feeling irritated, and Meng Guangcai had just walked right into her line of fire.
She didn't waste any words at all.
With a flick of her wrist...
An exquisite, compact silver Browning appeared in her slender palm as if by magic.
Without the slightest hesitation.
And without even needing to aim.
She raised her hand and fired two shots!
Bang! Bang!
Two crisp gunshots broke through the clamor of the night sky.
"AHHH!!!"
Meng Guangcai, standing on the car roof, let out a blood-curdling scream.
The first shot accurately pierced the right wrist that was holding his double-barreled shotgun!
Blood splattered!
The heavy shotgun slipped from his hand and landed on the concrete ground with a loud clang.
Immediately followed by the second shot.
As if it had eyes of its own, it bored ruthlessly into his left kneecap!
Thud!
Meng Guangcai didn't even have time to react before that leg instantly lost all support.
He rolled directly off the car roof.
He slammed hard onto the ground, but it wasn't over yet; because his knee was shattered, he instinctively tried to keep his leg from touching the ground, causing his posture to tilt.
He ended up facing Lin Chuan's direction and fell to his knees with a thud!
"Who?! Who shot me?!"
"This is rebellion! You dare shoot me?!"
Meng Guangcai twitched in pain, clutching his bleeding wrist as he turned back to roar in disbelief.
Seeing their boss get hit, his henchmen subconsciously prepared to raise their homemade scatterguns and hunting rifles.
"Fuck your mother! Who dares touch my big brother?!"
"Get them!!"
However...
Before they could even flick their safeties...
Clack—!!!
Chu Tianbiao, who had been standing to the side, suddenly racked the slide of his Five-round repeater, pointing the dark muzzle at the crowd.
At the same time.
The hundred-plus black-suited bodyguards brought by the Chu family moved in perfect unison.
They all raised their weapons together!
It wasn't just repeaters.
There were even a dozen submachine guns gleaming coldly!
The aura of that overwhelming fire suppression was like dark clouds looming over a city!
"Everyone, stay still!!"
Chu Tianbiao let out a thunderous roar, like a tiger descending from a mountain.
"Anyone who dares move a muscle! I'll turn him into a hornet's nest!!"
"I want to see who dares point a gun at Mr. Lin?!"
Meng Guangcai's henchmen were instantly terrified by this display.
Compared to the equipment of this great society of the underground kingdom, their few broken hunting rifles were nothing more than fire pokers!
Terrified, they quickly pointed their muzzles down, and some even threw their guns on the ground and held their heads in their hands.
Amidst the dead silence of the scene, with only Meng Guangcai's wails remaining...
Chu Xiong.
This underworld tycoon, whose every footstep could make all of Harbin tremble...
Adjusted the collar of his Tang suit, leaned on his dragon-head cane, and walked quickly to the steps.
Under the horrified gazes of everyone present...
He bowed deeply to Lin Chuan, as if a golden mountain were toppling or a jade pillar were falling!
It was a standard ninety-degree bow!
His attitude was so respectful it even carried a hint of trepidation.
"Mr. Lin."
Chu Xiong's voice was low and filled with apology.
"I am sorry. We arrived late."
This scene directly shocked everyone present.
Officer Su Qingyi's beautiful eyes widened, and her mouth hung slightly open, unable to believe her eyes.
She even forgot to be afraid.
As the daughter of the Deputy Director of the Municipal Bureau, she knew all too well what the name Chu Xiong meant!
He was one of the three kings of Harbin's underworld!
Even her father, Su Dingbang, would have to show him some respect and politely call him 'Elder Chu' upon meeting!
And now, this tycoon who could summon wind and rain was actually bowing to Lin Chuan?
And even apologizing?
Holy crap!
Lin Chuan... just who exactly is he?!
Could he really be some great immortal descended from the heavens?
As for Meng Guangcai, who was kneeling on the ground, his eyes were practically popping out of their sockets.
Ignoring the searing pain in his hand and leg, he felt as if he had been struck by lightning, his head buzzing.
"Chu! Master Chu?!"
Meng Guangcai's voice trembled, his face full of dullness and confusion.
"You! What are you doing?!"
"This is just some poor kid from Red Mangrove Village!"
"He's just a country bumpkin! His family still has to farm for a living!"
"Did you get the wrong person?!"
"I'm the Meng Guangcai who wants to cooperate with you! We even met a while ago!"
"Shut up!!!"
Chu Xiong suddenly straightened up, turned around, and swung his cane.
Smack!
The blow landed squarely on Meng Guangcai's face, sending teeth flying from his mouth.
"Blind fool!!"
"That is Mr. Lin! He is a benefactor to my Chu family! He is the most distinguished guest in this world!"
"Is he someone a piece of trash like you can insult?!"
Chu Xiong's beard trembled with rage; he was truly afraid that Lin Chuan would direct his anger toward him.
He turned back to face Lin Chuan, bending his waist slightly, and asked cautiously:
"Sir."
"These Meng father and son are blind and have offended a true dragon."
"How do you think they should be dealt with?"
Lin Chuan stood on the steps.
He looked down at the Meng father and son kneeling in a pool of blood.
There was no warmth in his gaze.
It was as if he were looking at two corpses.
"Dealt with?"
Lin Chuan smiled faintly, but the chill radiating from that smile made the surrounding temperature seem to drop several degrees.
"Just now."
"This Boss Meng said..."
"He was going to burn my house down."
"And kill both my parents."
Lin Chuan's voice was very soft, yet every word was like a blade.
"Elder Chu."
"If it were you, what would you do?"
Chu Xiong's heart skipped a beat.
He looked up at Lin Chuan.
In the depths of that young man's eyes, he saw something familiar—something that even made him feel fear.
It was killing intent.
Pure, unadulterated killing intent.
Chu Xiong had spent his whole life in the underworld; he understood that look all too well.
Misfortunes don't extend to families?
That only applies when everyone follows the rules.
Once someone breaks that bottom line and uses family as a threat...
It becomes a fight to the death!
On his way here, Chu Xiong had been calculating.
Although Meng Guangcai was a crude man, his connections in the Sand Country were indeed quite extensive. If he could be saved, a lot of money could be made from trading cars and timber in the future.
He had wondered if he could offer Lin Chuan an apology and some compensation—even if Meng Guangcai ended up crippled, as long as he lived, the business could continue.
But now...
Looking at Lin Chuan's cold gaze.
And then looking at Long Wu, who stood behind Lin Chuan like a god of slaughter...
Chu Xiong instantly snapped to his senses.
Money?
Compared to someone like Lin Chuan, it was just waste paper!
If he dared to utter a single word of plea today...
Even without Lin Chuan lifting a finger, Long Wu would likely wipe out everyone in the Meng family!
Furthermore, his Chu family would lose the great tree that was Lin Chuan!
The loss would outweigh the gain!
Besides, threatening someone's family was a major taboo in the underworld!
"Whew..."
Chu Xiong took a deep breath, the hesitation in his eyes vanishing instantly, replaced by the ruthlessness unique to a powerful hegemon.
He nodded heavily toward Lin Chuan.
"Sir."
"I understand."
Chu Xiong turned around and looked at Meng Guangcai, his voice as cold as a judge pronouncing a death sentence.
"From this day on."
"In Harbin."
"There shall be no more Meng family."
As soon as these words were spoken...
Meng Guangcai, kneeling on the ground, completely broke down.
"No!!! Master Chu!! You can't do this!!"
"We still have business!! I can make money for you!!"
"Mercy!! Master Lin! Ancestor Lin!! I was wrong!! I was just bragging!!"
"How would I ever dare touch your family!! I just have a foul mouth!!"
Meng Guangcai kowtowed frantically, his head thumping against the concrete ground.
But Chu Xiong didn't even spare him a glance.
He simply gave a light wave of his hand.
"Take them away."
"Both the old and the young—cripple their hands and feet, put them in sacks, and throw them into the river to feed the fish."
"Yes!!"
Chu Tianbiao responded, his expression filled with excitement.
With a wave of his hand, several burly men pounced like wolves and tigers.
Like dragging dead pigs, they hauled the still-screaming and pleading Meng father and son toward the dark cargo bed of a truck.
Officer Su Qingyi stood by, watching this scene.
She did not stop them; she knew very well that if people like Meng Guangcai lived, they would only harm more people.