Chapter 13 The Storm Approaches!
River City’s weather was unpredictable. The torrential rain that had stopped earlier had now started to descend upon the earth again.
Qin Zhu Courtyard Villa.
"Bastard! You annoying jerk!"
Qin Luoli gripped her phone tightly, her pretty face frosty and her heart seething with anger.
Lin Mu not only hit someone, but now he wants to divorce me? He’s really gotten too big for his boots. I, Qin Luoli, have never suffered such a great injustice in my entire life!
Now, her uncle’s family was about to cause trouble for her, and she couldn’t even reach Lin Mu by phone. Qin Luoli was so furious she wished she could tear him to shreds.
At that moment, Lin Mu walked into the villa.
"You’re finally back? I thought you weren’t coming back at all!" When she saw it was Lin Mu, her anger flared. She sat on the sofa with her arms crossed, feigning annoyance.
However, when she saw that Lin Mu was soaked to the skin and holding an unconscious person in his arms, she momentarily forgot her anger and hurriedly asked, "What happened? And who is she?"
As she spoke, Qin Luoli quickly cleared a space on the sofa so Lin Mu could lay the person down. She then rushed to get a towel to dry Mother Lin’s hair.
Seeing Mother Lin covered in injuries, Qin Luoli was filled with both anger and distress. "What on earth happened? Why does Auntie have so many injuries? Look at all these bruises on her hands and feet! What kind of heartless monster would do something so cruel?"
Mother Lin was already in poor health. After experiencing such a terrifying ordeal, the sudden release of tension on the way back was too much for her. She couldn’t hold on any longer and fainted.
Seeing Lin Mu just standing there, Qin Luoli snapped, "What are you standing there for? Hurry up and close the door before Auntie catches a cold!"
Lin Mu shot her a look, about to snap back, but his anger instantly vanished when he saw her carefully drying his mother’s hair, her face filled with concern. He could sense her genuine kindness, so he turned and closed the front door.
Seeing Lin Mu standing there like a wooden post after closing the door, Qin Luoli glared and said impatiently, "There’s a first-aid kit under the coffee table. Get it for me, quickly! Can’t you see what needs to be done?"
"I..."
For him, the mighty Emperor Zun, to be chided like this by a mere mortal woman... A terrifying aura suddenly erupted from Lin Mu.
But Qin Luoli didn’t even glance at him. With her back still to him, she said, "Hurry up with the first-aid kit; I need to treat Auntie’s wounds. Also, go get some dry clothes for her to change into. She’ll catch a cold if she stays in these wet clothes."
Qin Luoli turned and glanced at him.
"My apologies for the trouble."
Lin Mu took a deep breath, nodded sincerely at Qin Luoli, and then turned to leave.
Qin Luoli was slightly startled, looking at his retreating figure in bewilderment.
Is this the same overbearing, aggressive, and intimidatingly short-tempered man from before? Why is he speaking to me so gently now?
Qin Luoli found his sudden change in demeanor so strange it felt unsettling. She shook her head slightly, pushing the thoughts from her mind as she began to carefully apply medicine to Mother Lin’s wounds.
After Lin Mu brought the clothes, he opened the door and stepped out. He looked up at the pouring rain, contemplating his next move.
Drink and Enjoy Bar.
Amid the torrential rain, two cars pulled up in front of the bar. More than a dozen men, all dressed in black suits and black pants and holding black umbrellas, stepped out and formed two lines.
A large foot stepped out of the Cayenne in the middle. Before a single drop of rain could touch the man, one of his subordinates rushed forward with an umbrella, completely ignoring the fact that he himself was being drenched. The man stood in the rain, his utterly ordinary face betraying no hint of emotion. However, a light as sharp as a blade’s gleam flashed through his eyes, gone in an instant.
"Brother Dao!" the men shouted in unison, bowing with respectful expressions.
In their eyes, this man was like a god.
He was Dao Baihe, the true owner of the Drink and Enjoy Bar and one of the top figures in River City.
Dao Baihe was one of River City’s most controversial figures. He had started out working the docks as a young man and, in just over twenty years, had built an empire of his own. Now, he was one of the most powerful and influential figures in River City. No one knew what extraordinary opportunities he had encountered. They only knew he was surrounded by numerous masters, with countless others willing to die for him. He owned a multitude of businesses, including hotels, bars, and internet cafes. He left the management of these enterprises to professionals, rarely making an appearance himself.
But today, Dao Baihe had personally appeared at the entrance of the Drink and Enjoy Bar.
The reason was simple. Master Ding’s beloved disciple, Zeng Wen, had run into trouble on his turf. The entire Drink and Enjoy Bar had been destroyed overnight.
Ordinarily, losing a single bar wouldn’t have made Dao Baihe bat an eye. But since the incident involved Master Ding’s disciple, he had to take it seriously.
His feet landed firmly on the ground, splashing through the puddles as he slowly walked into the bar.
Inside, the bar was a complete wreck. Tables and chairs were overturned, and liquor soaked the floor. But none of that was as striking as the crimson bloodstains. A thick layer of white ash covered the entire ground.
"Brother Dao, our initial investigation is complete. Fifty-seven people died in the Drink and Enjoy Bar. One of the victims was Zhang Da, Qiao Zishan’s brother-in-law. We have not yet identified the perpetrator."
Dao Baihe grunted and said coldly, "Investigate! I want you to find the culprit, even if you have to turn River City upside down to do it!"
"Yes!" the man responded reverently.
Dao Baihe turned and walked toward the Cayenne. Just before getting in, he stopped and said, "I don’t care who they are, how many of them there are, or how strong they might be. I have only one demand: I want every single person involved in this incident investigated, thoroughly and completely. I want everything brought to light!"
Everyone standing in the downpour couldn’t help but shiver. It wasn’t from the cold rain, but from the murderous intent radiating from that man.
Everyone realized that a storm was about to break over River City.
Qiao Zishan was incredibly excited. It won’t be long now before River City’s number one beauty belongs to me.
So what if Qin Luoli looks down on me? It doesn’t matter. Once Lin Mu is dead, not only will she come begging, but the entire Qin Family and everything they own will be mine too. Thinking of this made Qiao Zishan even more thrilled.
He said viciously, "I’d like to see how long you can keep up that arrogant act, Qin Luoli!"
Qiao Zishan was filled with resentment. He had thoroughly investigated the man Qin Luoli had found—a complete and utter loser. What right does a piece of trash like that have to compete with me?
But when he thought about how that good-for-nothing was probably in Hell meeting King Yama by now, a dark smile spread across Qiao Zishan’s face.
BANG!
Just then, the door to his hotel room was kicked open, and several burly men stormed inside.
"Young Master Qiao, please come with us!"