Chapter Sixty-Seven: A Cousin More Beastly Than Beasts

Wumu stood above them, his massive form as imposing as a mountain.

Tan Song had always believed he could handle opponents several weight classes above his own with ease. But faced with Wumu, he couldn't shake the feeling that he might be strangled to death at any moment.

What kind of monster was this?

"What do you think you're doing? How dare you hit my boyfriend?"

"Aren't you also from the Jiang family? How can you just stand by and let someone beat up your own kin? My boyfriend was only joking just now!"

Jiang Yao rushed over, though fear of Wumu made her shrink against the wall as she helped Tan Song up.

Qin Mu gave a light laugh and said, "Oh, now you remember I'm part of the Jiang family? You seemed pretty happy to call me names just a moment ago."

Jiang Yao's expression froze.

She had just been calling Qin Mu a bastard at the top of her voice, relishing every syllable. Now, to suddenly claim they're family sounded utterly false.

"Whatever the case, hitting someone is wrong! I will tell Grandfather about this—you won't be allowed into the house this year, you bastard!"

The guilty party was accusing the innocent. Just moments ago, Tan Song's fist had swung at Qin Mu, intent on maiming him, and now she had the gall to say it was Qin Mu's fault for hitting someone.

Qin Mu couldn't be bothered to argue with this shrew.

"If you dare covet anything of Grandmother's again, whichever hand you use, I'll break it."

"Get out."

His command thundered through the air like a great bell. Jiang Yao, recalling the time ten years ago when Qin Mu had pinned her to the ground and beaten her mercilessly, didn't dare linger in the ancestral house a moment longer. She grabbed Tan Song and hurried out.

Watching her leave, Qin Mu glanced at the cloth bag in his hand and then remembered something.

"I've never given Grandmother a gift before."

As a child, Grandma Jiang had once secretly handed him a drumstick, a kindness he'd never forgotten.

He put the bag back in its place and dialed a number.

"Xia Yuan, help me order a piece of jewelry suitable for the elderly..."

...

Jiang Yao returned to her car, seething.

In terms of family background, Jiang Yao's side had long been in business, far more prosperous than Jiang Haishan, that lowly civil servant; she should have been able to lord it over Qin Mu. Besides, Qin Mu's origins were dubious—he was probably a stray her father picked up from some trash heap, a worthless mongrel destined never to amount to anything. How could he possibly compete with her, who was destined to soar to greatness?

And yet, she had just been trampled underfoot and taught a harsh lesson by that wretched mutt, Qin Mu.

"Aren't you supposed to be a provincial sanda champion? Why did you freeze up against that big brute?"

With nowhere else to vent her anger, Jiang Yao glared at her disappointing boyfriend.

She'd hoped Tan Song would give Qin Mu a thorough beating and avenge her humiliation. Instead, he ended up getting thrashed himself. Had Qin Mu not been in a merciful mood, Tan Song might not have walked out of the ancestral house in one piece.

"That man isn't ordinary—he's probably a specially trained bodyguard," Tan Song said, rubbing his bruised side, still in genuine pain.

Even in the boxing gym, he'd never taken a hit like that.

"My guess is, Qin Mu knows he can't afford to offend the rest of the Jiang family, so out of fear, he spent a fortune to hire some muscle."

"That's possible," Jiang Yao grudgingly conceded.

After all, ten years had passed and none of them were children anymore. Especially with their connections and their powerful factions, any of which could crush Qin Mu with a wave of the hand.

"He'll be alone sooner or later. When the time comes, I'll have some guys jump him and get even for today."

"Don't let this bother you. Isn't your second cousin waiting for you? Let's go," Tan Song quickly changed the subject.

He, a provincial champion, had been beaten to a pulp today—if word got out, he'd be a laughingstock.

"You're right, let's go."

With the year-end approaching, not only had Jiang Haishan's family returned to Wanglong Village, but the patriarch's other three sons had come back as well.

The ancestral house had been empty for a year, gathering dust, and would take a day or two to clean. Used to city comforts, none of them could stand it; they all chose to stay at nearby inns instead.

Before the New Year, the younger generation, eager for excitement, had already arranged to meet up as soon as they returned to the village.

At this moment, in a spotless tea shop, a table was surrounded by young men and women.

Except for the eldest brother's family, who were too busy to return, the other three branches' children filled the table. Only Jiang Zheng, and the late-arriving Jiang Yao, were missing.

The last person present was Jiang Tao, son of the second uncle.

Jiang Tao was a little overweight, with a pale, puffy face, and staggered as he walked, clear signs that he'd spent the previous night in some lady's company, indulging in pleasures and perhaps taking something to enhance the mood—he still looked half-dazed.

He was a good-for-nothing, dabbling in every vice—food, drink, gambling, and women—always hanging out with rich playboys, the very picture of a wastrel heir.

By rights, his branch of the family should have been the most down-and-out. But Jiang Tao's father, the second uncle, had struck it rich in business, elevating their status so much that not even Jiang Yao's branch could compare.

Only the eldest brother, who had gone into politics, could surpass them.

"My dear cousins, it's been too long," Jiang Tao said, massaging his temples, still recovering from last night's excesses.

His gaze swept over the table and a sly, lecherous smile crept across his face.

One couldn't deny that the Jiang family genes were strong—the two girls among the younger generation were both stunningly beautiful, especially Jiang Zheng, who had grown ever more lovely and refined, exuding an ethereal charm.

Jiang Tao found it almost impossible to tear his eyes away from her.

"Little Zheng, you're getting prettier every day," he remarked, reaching out to take her hand, his other hand moving to caress her delicate fingers.

Jiang Zheng, alarmed, quickly pulled away, even shifting her chair further from him.

Jiang Tao chuckled, unfazed.

"Let's find somewhere to have some fun. Sitting in this tea shop all day is worse than going back to the hotel," Jiang Yao said irritably, still fuming over the earlier incident with Qin Mu.

"Aren't you the self-styled prince of Jiangcheng's nightclubs, Cousin Tao? Got any ideas?" Tan Song asked, spreading his hands.

Jiang Tao hesitated, racking his brain for any entertainment in this backwater village. After a moment, his eyes lit up as he glanced slyly at his two cousins.

"There's that hot spring nearby. It was just completed, wasn't it? Why don't we check it out?"

"Hot spring?" Jiang Zheng was surprised, but remembered—the area was being developed into a tourist spot because of that very spring, with plans for demolition and investment.

"Perfect. Nothing better than a hot soak in this winter weather," Jiang Tao said, his eyes lingering on the two beauties, already imagining their figures in tight swimsuits, those graceful lines...

Sensing the predatory look in Jiang Tao's eyes, Jiang Zheng shivered.

"Let my brother come too," she blurted out.

"What? That mongrel Qin isn't dead yet?" Jiang Tao's eyes bulged as if he'd heard the most ridiculous joke.

"What did you just say?" Jiang Zheng snapped, her pretty face darkening.