Chu Lintian sat inside a van.
The people around her were all her trusted subordinates.
Their eyes were fixed on the comings and goings of vehicles at the factory.
No one spoke; they simply waited in silence for Chu Lintian’s orders.
Gazing out the window at the factory, Chu Lintian remembered how her older brother used to bring her here to play when they were younger.
Back then, her brother had already begun handling factory matters, helping their ailing father with many responsibilities.
Later, her brother’s close friend invited him to start a business together.
Her brother mortgaged the factory to raise capital for the venture.
Thus, Dajiang Company was born.
Eventually, it grew into the Dajiang Group.
But then, her brother and sister-in-law died in a car accident, leaving only her and Miaomiao to rely on each other.
Miaomiao inherited her brother’s shares, while Chu Lintian acted as her guardian, managing the shares on her behalf.
All these years, Chu Lintian had never stopped investigating the truth behind her brother and sister-in-law’s deaths.
Yet the deeper she dug, the more horrified she became—because the trail led straight to her brother’s old friend, Jiang Beihe.
There was no concrete evidence, only circumstantial signs.
But those signs strongly suggested that Jiang Beihe was the one responsible for their deaths.
Though he hadn’t done the deed himself.
Among the pile of anonymous evidence was information about this very factory.
Originally, the factory produced clothing, leather bags, and shoes.
After her brother mortgaged it, he never managed to reclaim ownership.
Now, the factory belonged to Jiang Beihe.
And what was being produced here? Counterfeit goods—some of which bore the branding of Dajiang Group’s products.
“Have you made contact?” Chu Lintian asked from inside the van.
“Yes, they’re on their way.”
Just then, her phone rang.
She glanced down—the caller ID read “Jiang Beihe.”
Taking a deep breath, she answered.
“Hello, Brother Jiang. What’s the matter?”
Playing along had been how she’d survived in the Dajiang Group for so long.
But this time, Jiang Beihe’s tone lacked its usual warmth. Instead, it carried a venomous edge.
“Chu Lintian, I know you’ve been digging into me. If you keep investigating, I can’t guarantee what might happen to Miaomiao.”
The call ended abruptly.
A second later, a photo arrived on her phone.
It showed her home—and in the corner, a pair of feet.
Chu Lintian recognized them instantly. They were Miaomiao’s.
She immediately called back. The moment the line connected, she screamed, “Jiang Beihe, if anything happens to Miaomiao, I swear I’ll make you pay!”
“Leave Guancheng. Sell me your shares. Take Miaomiao and get out of Guangdong. I wouldn’t want my old friend’s bloodline to end, after all.”
Jiang Beihe’s voice was calm, almost magnanimous. He was confident he held all the cards.
After a long pause, Chu Lintian spoke again.
“Fine. But I need proof that Miaomiao is safe.”
“Of course. Once the paperwork is done, she’ll be returned to you.”
The call ended.
Chu Lintian slumped to the floor.
Had she been discovered?
Would it have been simpler to just hire someone to kill Jiang Beihe outright?
She had always intended to bring him down within the rules.
But Jiang Beihe didn’t play by the rules. He had crossed the line—targeting her, and now Miaomiao.
Her fists clenched.
Calling the police now would only put Miaomiao in greater danger.
---
Miaomiao and Xie Yuling were tied up—but not at Miaomiao’s home.
Jiang Beihe had prepared another apartment in the same building. He had planned this kidnapping meticulously.
Their phones had already been confiscated.
The man who had taken them, Wei, had locked them inside and was now waiting for further instructions.
If the police showed up, he would kill both girls and flee.
After all, he was just a hired hand.
The TV displayed surveillance footage. Wei had tapped into the building’s cameras long ago, giving him full visibility to coordinate his moves.
His phone vibrated silently.
He answered but said nothing.
“Wei, good work. Once that woman signs the contract, release the girls.”
Wei frowned.
“Release them?”
“Yes. The share transfer will take months. We can’t keep them that long. But before you let them go, take some photos. Once the transfer is complete, we’ll deal with them.”
Jiang Beihe’s tone was unshakable.
He knew he had Chu Lintian cornered.
She played by the rules—he didn’t.
After hanging up, Wei stood from the couch.
The photos were for leverage, so he strode into the room where the girls were held.
He knew which one was the real target.
Holding a homemade pistol, he untied Miaomiao’s hands.
“Take off your clothes.”
Miaomiao’s eyes welled with tears behind the gag. Xie Yuling immediately threw herself in front of her.
Wei’s expression darkened. “I’d rather not get rough. Do it yourself, or I won’t be gentle.”
But Xie Yuling refused to move.
With a snarl, Wei raised the pistol and brought it down hard—
A faint glow erupted from the amulet around Xie Yuling’s neck.
The force sent Wei flying backward.
He landed hard, stunned. “What the hell was that?!”
The power behind it terrified him. Without hesitation, he aimed the gun at Xie Yuling.
Xie Yuling squeezed her eyes shut. Miaomiao yanked her aside, shielding her instead.
Just as Wei pulled the trigger—
A searing pain lanced through his skull, dizzying him.
The door burst open.
A figure appeared.
Wei tried to shoot, but a fist smashed into his face, sending him crashing to the floor.
Despite the blow, Wei was tougher than Su Mingzhao. He tried to rise—
Lin Mo’s next punch shattered his shoulder.
“Aaaagh!” Wei howled.
Hearing the commotion, Xie Yuling and Miaomiao opened their eyes.
They saw Lin Mo systematically breaking Wei’s limbs, bone by bone.
The cracks were sickeningly crisp.
Lin Mo’s expression was ice-cold.
Jiang Beihe… Since you’ve gone this far, you’ll pay the price.
He turned to the two girls.
“Don’t worry. It’ll be over soon.”
With a flick of his fingers, a surge of spiritual energy washed over them, easing their fear and tension.
Both girls slumped into unconsciousness.
Only after the young girl had fallen asleep did Lin Mo lift his foot and crush the man's throat with a single step.