Chapter Sixteen: A Grave Situation

Page (1/3)

While Mu Bolin was still alive, Nie Yunyang had promised him that he would do everything in his power to protect Mu Qingyao.

Now, Mu Qingyao was utterly alone and in dire need of someone by her side. Even a man as hard-hearted as Nie Yunyang would not leave her at a time like this.

A gentleman’s word is his bond. Nie Yunyang was a man who kept his promises.

Therefore, he was determined to wade into these troubled waters. No matter how violent the storm became, nothing could shake his resolve.

“Uncle Cao, I appreciate your concern,” Nie Yunyang said with a smile, then his tone shifted. “But Yao Yao is my employer. Anyone who wants to lay a hand on her will pay a terrible price!”

“Yunyang, you really are the sort who won’t turn back even after crashing through a brick wall,” Cao Weihua said.

Nie Yunyang shrugged. “I’m alone and have no ties, so what danger do I have to fear? Those powerful men may indeed be far stronger than I am, but if it comes down to a fight to the death, I refuse to believe they’re invulnerable immortals.”

“You stubborn mule. Ten men couldn’t drag you back,” Cao Weihua said.

“Uncle Cao, I’ve made up my mind. Don’t try to persuade me. I’m sorry for troubling you this time.”

Nie Yunyang bowed to Cao Weihua, then turned and walked away.

Watching his retreating figure, Cao Weihua felt a jumble of emotions. He had done everything he could, yet Nie Yunyang was determined to walk straight into a dead end.

Still, Cao Weihua also understood that if Nie Yunyang chose to stand aside, he would no longer be the man Cao knew.

With no other choice, Cao Weihua contacted a friend in Shaanxi, preparing to lend his brother a hand at the critical moment.

Once everything was arranged, Cao Weihua sent Nie Yunyang a text message containing a phone number, instructing him to call it in an emergency.

“Damn it, what kind of sin have I committed to deserve this?”

After sending the message, Cao Weihua let out a long sigh.

Perhaps he had done too many vile things in his life. The fact that he had survived this long was probably already a blessing from his ancestors.

Nie Yunyang did not return directly to Jinke Jiuqu River. Instead, he called Yuan Wei and asked what he was doing.

Yuan Wei said he was at home, so Nie Yunyang drove straight to Dongyuan Lakeside.

As soon as he arrived at the entrance to the residential compound, he ran into Yuan Wei, who had an attractive woman with him.

The woman was dressed in a black gown with a plunging neckline. Her fair, jade-like skin was faintly visible, giving her a distinctly alluring appearance.

After seeing the woman off, Yuan Wei looked at Nie Yunyang and asked, “Boss, what’s wrong? You don’t look so good.”

“You sing and carouse every night. Aren’t you afraid your body will give out?” Nie Yunyang countered.

Yuan Wei awkwardly scratched the back of his head and smiled. “We were in the villa, tasting red wine and discussing the important matters of life. That’s perfectly normal.”

“Believe that if you want,” Nie Yunyang said.

Yuan Wei did not take offense. He put an arm around Nie Yunyang’s shoulders and led him into the compound. Once inside, Nie Yunyang sat on the balcony while Yuan Wei brought over two glasses of red wine. The two of them ate peanuts and admired the dazzling lights of the mountain city.

Nie Yunyang remembered that when he had first returned to Chongqing, he had stood beside the Jialing River, gazing at the distant towers and skyscrapers with a heart full of awe.

Now, that awe was slowly fading, replaced by a vision of rising to prominence.

“Boss, what are you thinking about?”

Seeing Nie Yunyang looking so troubled, Yuan Wei could not help asking.

After a moment’s thought, Nie Yunyang said, “Second, I have to make a trip to Shaanxi tomorrow. I’ll be back the day after tomorrow at the earliest, though I may be delayed for several days. This journey may not go smoothly.”

“Boss, why are you acting so strangely today?” Yuan Wei asked.

Nie Yunyang downed the wine in his glass and said, “Second, if I don’t make it back, I need you to do a few things for me.”

“First, I have a younger sister named Yin Min. She’s currently studying at Chongqing University. Look after her for me from now on.”

Nie Yunyang’s brows were tightly drawn and his lips pressed together, as though he were making arrangements for his own funeral.

“Second, I’ll give you a phone number. Find the woman who answers and tell her thank you for keeping me company.”

“Third, find an old man named Tian Chenghao. He lives in Guiyang. My master once told me that if I could find him, the truth about my family would finally come to light.”

After saying this, Nie Yunyang continued eating peanuts.

Yuan Wei sat stunned for a long while before finally coming to his senses. “Damn, Boss, what on earth happened? If you’re in trouble, just tell me. Whether we have to climb a mountain of blades or descend into a sea of fire, we’ll face it together.”

“Face what? Wait until I return from Shaanxi, and then I’ll explain,” Nie Yunyang said.

Yuan Wei refused to let the matter go and kept pressing him for answers. When Nie Yunyang stubbornly refused to say anything, Yuan Wei finally gave up and could only pray silently that his boss would return safely.

After leaving the residential compound where Yuan Wei lived, Nie Yunyang drove back to Jinke Jiuqu River.

Outside the Mu residence, bodyguards arranged by Chang Zhicheng had sealed off the area. Every one of them was a carefully selected confidant, and all were formidable fighters.

Inside the villa, Mu Qingyao could not sleep. She sat clutching a panda plush toy, staring blankly into space.

When Nie Yunyang entered the living room, he asked directly, “What are the arrangements for returning home?”

“You’re back?”

Mu Qingyao came to herself, her face lighting up with delight.

Nie Yunyang smiled. “You’re my employer. Of course I had to come back.”

“Tomorrow we’ll take a private plane to Xianyang. Someone will drive us from there to Zhen’an. The day after tomorrow, we’ll bury my parents in our hometown in the morning. We’ll stay for half a day, then return to Chongqing,” Mu Qingyao said.

Page (2/3)

Nie Yunyang frowned. “We’re staying in Zhen’an for two days?”

“Yes. Is there a problem?” Mu Qingyao asked.

Nie Yunyang drew a deep breath. “No. I was just asking.”

“Oh, I’m getting tired. I’ll go rest first. You should go to bed early too.”

Mu Qingyao rose and walked toward the bedroom upstairs.

Nie Yunyang was just about to stand when he noticed that Old Master Qiu had already taken a seat opposite him. The old man’s hair was white, his back bent, yet he remained vigorous, and there was a sharpness in his eyes that was difficult to withstand.

“Young man, there’s still time for you to leave,” Old Master Qiu said.

Nie Yunyang narrowed his eyes and carefully studied the old man before him. He had always felt that this man was far from ordinary.

“Uncle Mu treated me well. A drop of kindness should be repaid with a spring,” Nie Yunyang said.

Old Master Qiu rubbed the Buddhist beads around his wrist. “There’s a very good chance that you won’t return from this trip to Zhen’an.”

“When soldiers come, we’ll block them; when the flood comes, we’ll dam it.”

Nie Yunyang answered without hesitation.

He knew very well that when dealing with an old fox like this, beating around the bush was useless. It would only bring humiliation upon himself.

A gratified smile appeared on Old Master Qiu’s face. “Young man, you’re truly impressive. Master Mu has always had an excellent eye for people.”

“Old sir, in this life, a person either lives boldly and magnificently or remains trapped in the endless concerns of daily necessities. I prefer the former,” Nie Yunyang said.

Old Master Qiu rose and said earnestly, “Young man, as long as you’re alive, there is hope. Once a person dies, everything turns to dust.”

After Old Master Qiu left, Nie Yunyang went straight to a guest room to rest.

At dawn, when sunlight awakened Nie Yunyang, Mu Qingyao was still fast asleep, while Chang Zhicheng accompanied Old Master Qiu in exercising in the courtyard.

Nie Yunyang finished breakfast before Mu Qingyao finally awoke. Her face was haggard and her eyes swollen; clearly, she had slept poorly the night before.

At nine o’clock, the Mu family’s bodyguards escorted Nie Yunyang, Chang Zhicheng, and the others to Jiangbei Airport. Mu Qingyao held her parents’ ashes tightly in her arms.

When the Mu family’s Gulfstream G700 took off, Nie Yunyang gazed out the window at Chongqing below, his heart filled with emotion. When Mu Bolin had come here years ago, he could never have imagined that he would one day leave in such a manner.

What is destined to be will come in its own time; what is not destined must not be forced...

Page (3/3)