Chapter Ten: The Young Are Fearless

With a single kick, Wu Mu sent Zhou Ming flying through the air, crashing into the wall with a thunderous noise. The other young scions instinctively retreated, desperately avoiding Wu Mu, who radiated murderous intent. They had never witnessed such violence before, and were instantly cowed. None of them could fathom what possessed this man to dare lay hands on Zhou Ming.

Su Zhi, having swallowed some alcohol and feeling dazed, glanced toward the door and saw Qin Mu standing there, his face contorted in anger as he strode in, unzipped his tracksuit jacket, and draped it gently over her shoulders. For reasons she couldn't explain, the lingering warmth of the jacket soothed her unsettled heart.

"Damn it, is that you?" Zhou Ming spat blood as he struggled to his feet, his expression twisting with rage upon seeing Qin Mu. "Where are the security guards? Are they all useless? How did someone get in?"

No sooner had he finished cursing than he glimpsed the corridor outside the door—dozens of security guards lay sprawled on the ground, clutching their bodies and writhing in pain.

The sight of Wu Mu's hulking figure made it easy to deduce what had happened. Yet what baffled him most was how Qin Mu had managed to break the door lock—a lock he'd paid handsomely for, one that couldn't be opened even with a welding torch in short order.

"I told you, we would meet again," Qin Mu said, picking up a glass and nonchalantly pouring himself a drink, as if he were the true master of the room.

"Su Zhi, you'd better talk to your friend. Tell him to think twice about provoking me!" Zhou Ming sneered.

Hearing this, Su Zhi tugged gently at Qin Mu's sleeve, trying to persuade him. "Thank you for helping me, but you should leave now. Zhou Ming is not someone you can afford to offend."

She knew all too well how terrifying Zhou Ming's background was—his family ran a casino, monopolizing the business in River City. Even among the upper echelons, many big shots had to show him respect.

"Su Zhi, crawl over here!" Zhou Ming commanded, asserting his dominance.

Su Zhi was torn, but for Qin Mu's sake, she began to sit up slowly. Yet before she could move further, Qin Mu pressed her back down.

"You don't have to go," he said.

"Stop pretending to be a big shot. You're courting death!" someone jeered. "Apologize to Young Master Zhou, then get out and kneel at the door. Maybe he'll spare your life!"

"Make him kneel there! Let him watch us play with Su Zhi!" another shouted, as the young scions tried to reclaim their authority, threatening Qin Mu fiercely. Each of them held prominent status, enough to stir the city—how could they fear a stranger?

Qin Mu remained unfazed, accepting a dossier from Wu Mu.

"Chen Song—three generations in textile manufacturing, supplying uniforms to over half the companies in River City."

"Li Zhanpeng—family took heavy loans to monopolize the port's exit points, specializing in imported seafood."

"Wu Feng—father owns a construction materials company..."

Qin Mu recited their names and backgrounds as if reading from a familiar list.

"What are you trying to do?" several of the young men stammered, stunned that Qin Mu had uncovered their personal histories so thoroughly.

Before Qin Mu could respond, their phones rang simultaneously.

"Dammit! Why are so many companies suddenly canceling orders? The suppliers are demanding payment!"

"You ungrateful bastard! Who did you offend? All our port operations have been shut down!"

One call after another left the previously arrogant group collapsed on the floor, drained of color, faces ashen and despairing.

Zhou Ming watched as his friends fell like dominoes, suddenly sensing that something was very wrong.

"You need to understand—this is my turf! Here, I am the sky, I am the earth!" Zhou Ming gasped, clinging to his authority.

"Is that so?" Qin Mu replied, not even sparing him a glance.

For reasons unknown, Zhou Ming found himself growing nervous in the face of Qin Mu's calm demeanor, his confidence wavering.

He grabbed his phone and hastily dialed a number. "Yang Jian, get up here—now!"

Within a minute, the nightclub manager, Yang Jian, rushed in.

"Young Master Zhou, what are your orders?" Yang Jian asked, glancing nervously at the battered security guards outside and Zhou Ming sprawled in the suite.

"Go confirm, then come back and show him whose turf this is!" Zhou Ming barked.

Yang Jian nodded and stepped out to make some calls in the corridor. Before long, he returned, face sagging with hesitation.

Zhou Ming saw his dejected expression and felt an ominous chill.

"I'm sorry, Young Master Zhou. Ten minutes ago, the ownership of this nightclub was formally transferred... It no longer belongs to your father."

"What? With profits this high, my father would never sell!" Zhou Ming protested in disbelief. "Who did he sell it to?"

"They said it was transferred to someone named Qin Mu."

At these words, Zhou Ming froze, his neck stiff as he turned toward Qin Mu, who sat on the sofa, calm from start to finish.

"Call the police. Have them deal with this man," Qin Mu said, tired of the environment and preparing to leave.

But Zhou Ming gleaned something from Qin Mu's remark. The fact that Qin Mu only dared to call the police and not take further action implied a fear of Zhou Ming's background.

"Hahaha, I thought you had some miraculous ability," Zhou Ming said, his nerves easing. "Believe me, if I go inside, in less than three minutes they'll be smiling and letting me out!"

"And then I'll have my way with that bitch Su Zhi! I'll record it and put it online for all of River City to see!"

His words finally struck a nerve in Qin Mu. Having served in the military, Qin Mu valued loyalty above all else. Anyone who hurt his friends was as good as touching his reverse scale.

He turned slightly.

"Break his hand," Qin Mu said lightly, as if crushing an ant.

"What?! You can't do this! My father is—" Zhou Ming barely finished before Wu Mu lunged and stomped, snapping his left hand.

"Ah!!" Zhou Ming rolled on the floor, howling in agony.

"You bastard! I'll kill—" he screamed, but Wu Mu, equally enraged, raised his foot high and shattered Zhou Ming's right hand.

Yang Jian, witnessing the carnage, dared not linger, fleeing to call the police.

...

Soon, a police car stopped outside the Oriental Pearl Nightclub.

A man and a woman stepped out—the man, in his thirties, looked seasoned; the woman was young, clearly a rookie.

"Boss, I'm ready! Let's go up and cuff them!" the woman said eagerly.

Her name was Huang Qian, fresh from police academy, and thrilled at the chance to prove herself.

Beside her, Zhang Feng remained cautious. Their orders were explicit: protect Zhou Ming, the son of Zhou Dongchen. It was obvious Zhou Dongchen had leveraged all his connections.

Yet Zhou Dongchen was a major player in River City, operating on both sides of the law. Anyone capable of forcing him into such measures was not to be underestimated.

"I'll say it again: don't speak unnecessarily. Follow my lead," Zhang Feng cautioned.

"Alright, boss, you've said it so many times my ears are calloused!" Huang Qian waved him off, her attention elsewhere.

As they reached the suite at the top floor, Zhang Feng intended to have Huang Qian stand by. Instead, she rushed ahead, kicking open the door and shouting at Qin Mu, "Everyone to the side! Hands on your head! Don't move!"

Qin Mu turned, intrigued, and smiled at the two officers.

Zhang Feng, steeling himself, quickly pulled Huang Qian back and produced his credentials.

"Hello, I'm Zhang Feng, squad commander from River City Central Bureau."

Wu Mu nodded and stepped forward, "General, you should leave. I'll handle things here."

Zhang Feng, experienced, immediately caught the key word—General!

He was secretly relieved for his own caution.

"He can't leave!" came a clear, youthful voice.

Huang Qian blocked Qin Mu's path, arms spread, her expression stern.

"You are suspected of intentional injury, unlawful entry, and other charges. You must come with us for investigation!"

At these words, Zhang Feng's face turned rigid, inwardly lamenting his luck. He blamed himself for indulging Huang Qian—she had just entered society and didn't know that some people are simply untouchable.

"Huang Qian!" Zhang Feng tried to explain to Qin Mu, but Qin Mu surprised him by calmly offering his hands for the cuffs.

"I will cooperate with the investigation."

"Boss, why are you so nervous? See, he's guilty and scared!" Huang Qian said proudly, certain she would be commended.

As Huang Qian was lost in her thoughts, Qin Mu pointed to Su Zhi on the sofa.

"But," he said, "she is my classmate and may be affected by some drugs. Please protect her."

"If anything happens to her," Qin Mu paused, his star-like eyes locking onto Huang Qian, "I will take your life."