Chapter Twelve

“Brother-in-law, my sister…” Qin Xiaomeng’s eyes were misted with tears, unable to tear her gaze away from Chu Tianhe for even a moment. Her voice grew choked with emotion.

“I already know.” Chu Tianhe’s eyes rested gently on Qin Xiaomeng as he comforted her softly, “I’m sorry I returned so late. Yaoyao has been rescued by me. She’s safe now.”

Upon hearing that Yaoyao was unharmed, Qin Xiaomeng’s anxious heart finally settled, but her tears flowed even more fiercely, cascading down her cheeks like a breached dam.

“Brother-in-law, am I useless? I failed to take care of Yaoyao…” Qin Xiaomeng was consumed by guilt, sobbing uncontrollably.

“I will settle every score with Xiaorou,” Chu Tianhe declared, his gaze turning to Han Chuanwu, eyes brimming with icy murderous intent.

“Tianjiu, take Xiaomeng away first. Today, I must have a reckoning with my dear brother,” Chu Tianhe said coldly. He did not wish Qin Xiaomeng to witness what was about to unfold.

“Brother-in-law, he…” Qin Xiaomeng tried to warn Chu Tianhe. Han Chuanwu was no longer the poor boy he once was—his influence was vast and not to be provoked.

But before she could finish, Tianjiu respectfully approached her and made a gesture, “Miss Qin, this way please.”

“But…” Qin Xiaomeng furrowed her brows, worried for her brother-in-law’s safety.

“Miss Qin, rest assured, our Lord knows what he’s doing. Please leave with me.” Tianjiu spoke with deference, and despite Qin Xiaomeng’s lingering gaze, he led her out of Han Chuanwu’s office.

“Chu Tianhe, I never imagined you’d dare to come back!”

Seeing Tianjiu escort Qin Xiaomeng away, Han Chuanwu did not stop them. Instead, he fixed Chu Tianhe with a grim glare, his voice low and cold.

Over the years, Han Chuanwu’s rise in Jiangzhou had depended entirely on the money Chu Tianhe sent him. Yet Han Chuanwu never knew Chu Tianhe’s true identity; he always assumed Chu Tianhe was involved in shady business overseas, which explained the wealth.

Chu Tianhe never showed his face, only wired money privately and asked Han Chuanwu to care for Qin Xiaorou. This only confirmed Han Chuanwu’s suspicions.

He was convinced Chu Tianhe would eventually get into trouble abroad, perhaps already a wanted man worldwide, doomed never to return to Jiangzhou. Maybe one day he’d be caught and executed overseas. That’s why Han Chuanwu acted so brazenly.

Even now, Han Chuanwu believed Chu Tianhe had sneaked back, nothing more than a fugitive hiding from the light.

“Why shouldn’t I dare return?” Chu Tianhe’s expression darkened, his tone icy as he questioned Han Chuanwu.

“You know very well what you’ve done!” Han Chuanwu replied sharply, with conviction. “Overseas, you’re either an arms dealer or dealing in powder, otherwise you couldn’t have sent me so much money every month!”

“And do you remember what I sent you money for?” Chu Tianhe’s eyes flashed coldly, sharp and filled with murderous intent as he swept his gaze at Han Chuanwu.

“You sent it willingly—I never forced you. As for what I do with the money, that’s my business!” Han Chuanwu, blinded by greed, felt no guilt and had long forsaken any brotherly bond.

He no longer remembered the days when the two of them shared a single bun in poverty.

He no longer remembered how, when he was about to faint from hunger, sister-in-law Qin Xiaorou cooked him a bowl of hot porridge.

Those memories were long forgotten.

“Money is a demon’s mirror and a measure of the heart—how true those words are!” Chu Tianhe shook his head with a sigh. “Han Chuanwu, if I recall correctly, we’ve known each other for thirteen years.”

Han Chuanwu did not answer; such things he could no longer recall. He only cast Chu Tianhe a cold glance and said, “Chu Tianhe, for old times’ sake, I’ll pretend I never saw you today. Leave now while you still can, or I’ll call the police and you’ll rot in prison.”

Han Chuanwu was a traitor to friendship, but Chu Tianhe was not. His mind wandered to memories of their shared struggles, filled with poignant emotion.

Yet all those sentiments were shattered by Han Chuanwu’s words, dissipating like ashes.

“Thirteen years—I’ve always regarded you as a brother, but you are treacherous and faithless, less than a beast. Today, we settle every debt between us!”

As his words fell, a surge of murderous intent burst forth, chilling the air in Han Chuanwu’s office.

Though June’s heat scorched outside, inside the room felt like the depths of winter, making Han Chuanwu shiver instinctively.

Boom!

A muffled sound—before Han Chuanwu could react, Chu Tianhe kicked him hard in the knee.

Crack!

Han Chuanwu’s kneecap shattered; he collapsed to the floor with a thud, cold sweat pouring from the searing pain. He screamed, glaring venomously at Chu Tianhe and snarled, “Chu Tianhe, you… are courting death!”