Chapter 137: The Provincial Governor Arrives!

"I am Luo Shui's husband."

Qin Mu's words caused Jiang Qi's heart to skip a beat, his breath hitching instantly. Across the room, countless young heirs felt their hearts bleed with jealousy and hatred. This cold, aloof, and untouchable "celestial flower," hidden away by Elder Luo for over twenty years, had actually been plucked long ago in this tiny city of Jiangcheng? And they were already calling each other husband and wife? They had likely already shared a bed!

Many of the young men stiffly turned their heads toward Luo Shui, hoping to hear a denial from the woman herself. Upon hearing Qin Mu's words, Luo Shui blushed, turning her head away, but she made no attempt to deny it! *This blockhead,* she thought, *it was enough that he knew, but did he have to say it in front of everyone?* Seeing this expression, the crowd felt their hopes wither, their faces etched with lamentation.

Yet, upon reflection, if this young man were indeed Luo Shui's husband, wouldn't Jiang Qi's actions amount to the forceful abduction of a married woman? Being sentenced to death in public... it didn't seem entirely unjust. However, the other party was, after all, the young master of the prestigious Jiang family of Jiangnan. If he were to be punished, it certainly wasn't the place of some nameless nobody to pass judgment, let alone execute him on the spot. None of the people present had the authority to do such a thing!

"Which hand touched Luo Shui?"

"Raise it!"

Qin Mu drew his blade, the cold steel flashing as he gestured toward Jiang Qi. The onlookers swallowed hard. *He’s going to cut off a hand just for touching her? This is too tyrannical!*

Jiang Qi, sensing the danger, panicked. After a quick thought, he turned toward the center of the red carpet and said with a sinister sneer, "Luo Shui, don't forget, your friend's parents are still in my hands!"

Shen Yue trembled violently at these words. Losing her grip on her dress, she grabbed Luo Shui’s hand, her eyes red and swollen with desperate pleading. Luo Shui was torn. She hadn't expected the despicable Jiang Qi to use Shen Yue's parents as leverage. How shameless! How hateful!

Seeing Shen Yue's reaction, Jiang Qi felt he had regained the upper hand. He shouted, "Make this loser get out! Then come up here and marry me! I, Jiang Qi, am magnanimous enough to let bygones be bygones."

"That's right. Since when does a nobody get to barge into a banquet of Jiangnan’s elite? Get out!"

"Getting out so easily is too good for him. Since he’s acting so arrogant, he should kneel, kowtow, and beg for mercy before he leaves!"

Bolstered by Jiang Qi's influence, the gathered socialites stood up to condemn Qin Mu. They were all cut from the same cloth; to them, Qin Mu’s humiliation of Jiang Qi was an insult to them all.

Just then, Qin Mu’s phone rang. He glanced at the caller ID and put it on speakerphone, letting everyone hear the conversation.

"Boss, the people have been rescued!"

"This Jiang bastard is truly vicious. He kept them locked up for days without food or water; they are severely dehydrated. Luckily, we arrived in time. If we had delayed another half-day, they wouldn't have made it."

The room fell deathly silent. Jiang Qi staggered back several steps, his face pale. The hostages had been rescued? When did this happen?

"What a fine display of 'Jiangnan elite' you are," Qin Mu said, looking down at the crowd with a cold sneer. "Not a hint of noble character, but you certainly know how to aid and abet a villain. You’ve truly opened my eyes."

The crowd’s momentum vanished, their faces turning ashen. These wealthy families always had their dark secrets, and though they were dirty, everyone followed the unspoken rule of keeping quiet. Now that Qin Mu had dragged it into the light, their embarrassment was palpable.

"Our Jiangnan families' affairs are none of your—" An heir who was close to Jiang Qi tried to protest, but Qin Mu waved his hand and commanded in a thunderous voice:

"Any family that dares to speak a word for the Jiangs, go to the Jiangcheng potter's field tomorrow—and pick out your own graves!"

The entire room plunged into a deathly silence. The heir who had stood up froze, his mouth hanging open. They wouldn't have believed such wild arrogance, especially from someone younger than them. But Qin Mu's performance since he entered had been too sharp and unquestionable. Even Jiang Qi’s personal butler, Wu Qiang, had been beaten to death in two moves just for grabbing Luo Shui’s wrist and running his mouth. His body was still lying there in the middle of the room!

Qin Mu clasped his left hand behind his back, surveying the room. No one dared to speak. He turned back and pointed his sword at Jiang Qi.

"Raise your hand!"

"I am the descendant of a provincial governor! What right do you have to execute me!" Jiang Qi roared. Seeing his time was running out, he finally played his trump card.

This was exactly what Luo Shui feared most. Without that provincial governor, Jiang Qi—and the entire Jiang family—would be nothing. But with the backing of the legendary Elder Jiang, who had dominated for three generations, the Jiang family could soar to become the top powerhouse of Jiangnan.

"That's right," one of the socialites stood up, trying to sound authoritative. "Jiang Qi is the descendant of a governor. Even if he made a small mistake, a few scoldings are enough. There’s no need to go around chopping off limbs."