Chapter Thirty: Without a Soul the Wiser

After leaving Mount Longhu and returning to Chongqing, Nie Yunyang had originally intended to make a name for himself and forge a successful career, but he found himself embroiled in the turmoil surrounding the Mu family.

Had someone from the Mu family stepped up to turn the tide after Mu Bolin’s death, he would not have meddled in their affairs. Unfortunately, no one dared to take responsibility. To protect Mu Qingyao, Nie Yunyang was forced to bite the bullet and step in, helping her manage the affairs of Xinhai Technology Co., Ltd., ready to face whatever challenges came his way.

Recently, Mu Qingyao had become increasingly busy, putting her work at Shengshi Advertising Design Company on hold to devote all her energy to the bankruptcy reorganization of Xinhai. Fortunately, Miao Xingyu was highly capable and possessed strong connections; with his cooperation, Mu Qingyao had not encountered any major obstacles.

After three days of investigation, Nie Yunyang and his companions finally tracked down the whereabouts of Han Fucheng and Sun Yufan. However, they were divided on whom to eliminate first. Han Fucheng was merely the vice chairman of Xinhai; even with his band of thugs, he was not much of a threat. Sun Yufan, however, was different. Not only was he the CEO of a listed company, but he also had powerful figures backing him. If the operation went wrong, Nie Yunyang would have no choice but to flee.

Thousands of miles away in Tianjin, someone was secretly monitoring Nie Yunyang’s actions in Chongqing, though they remained mere spectators, choosing not to intervene directly.

In a traditional courtyard house in Jizhou District, a middle-aged man dressed in simple attire was practicing his morning exercises. Judging by his movements, his style leaned toward Yang-style Tai Chi—gentle and suitable for cultivating one's character.

"Boss, the Mu family is in a bit of chaos lately. Are we really not going to step in?" a bodyguard in a sharp suit asked after the middle-aged man finished his practice.

The middle-aged man picked up a pristine white towel to wipe the sweat from his forehead and smiled. "If he cannot handle even this small matter, he will never achieve anything great in the future."

"Boss, I'm worried he might get caught up in a lawsuit. If he ends up with a criminal record at such a young age, it won't look good," the bodyguard replied.

The middle-aged man tossed the towel aside and walked into the dining room. Steamed meat buns and black rice porridge were laid out on the table. He ate as he spoke.

"Never mind a small-time player like Sun Yufan; even that old fox, Xue Zhehan, isn't worth my intervention. Let him make his moves. Besides, he has found two helpers from Jiangxi who are more than enough to handle the current situation. To be honest, that Tan Weibo is no ordinary man; in terms of combat ability alone, you might not even be able to beat him. Moreover, do you really think that kid is someone to be trifled with? Regardless, he is a top disciple of the Celestial Master; dealing with street thugs is more than enough for him."

"Since you’ve said so, Boss, then I won't interfere," the bodyguard said.

The middle-aged man took a sip of porridge and chuckled. "Back in the day, I had already founded the Qilin Society by the time I was eighteen, and the old man never helped me once. It was only later, when I ran into some trouble, that I had no choice but to send him to an orphanage before I fled."

He set down his bowl and chopsticks and cautioned, "You must never tell Nie Yun about this. If you do, given her temperament, she’ll probably fly to Chongqing by tomorrow."

"Don't worry, Boss. My lips are sealed," the bodyguard replied. The mere thought of the young mistress made a chill run down his spine.

In a luxury apartment at Dushixuan, a woman woke from her sleep. She picked up her OPPO Find X7 and stared blankly at the screensaver. It was an old photograph: at Beining Park, a girl with a ponytail was happily running while pulling along a fair-skinned, handsome boy. Judging by their clothing, it was a scene from the previous century.

The woman stared at it for a full half-hour until her eyes were red and tears welled up in her sockets before she finally set the phone down. She stood up, walked to the window, and drew the curtains to enjoy the warm sunshine and breathe in the fresh air. It was a beautiful day with no smog; the streets of Changsha Road were bustling with traffic, everyone rushing about to make a living.

The woman sighed and whispered, "Little brother, it’s been so many years. Sister misses you so much. Where on earth did you go?"

She wore only a thin nightgown, which left her curvaceous figure fully exposed. If any other man were present, he would surely have been stimulated to the point of a nosebleed by such an alluring sight.

"Sister will find you. I definitely will." Her whisper was filled with unwavering resolve.

In the bustling mountain city with a permanent population of over thirty million, if a single person went missing, it was like a stone sinking into the sea, leaving no trace behind.

After thorough preparation, Nie Yunyang and Tan Weibo were ready to act. At dusk, after Mu Qingyao finished work, Nie Yunyang saw her home to Longhu Huamanting. He then drove off with Tan Weibo, leaving Chen Jiong behind, as they had decided to take Sun Yufan out directly.

At Palm Springs International Garden, Tan Weibo had familiarized himself with the surroundings over the past few days. Sun Yufan came here every weekend to meet his mistress in private. He had been pursuing a young actress recently, spending significant resources to make her the lead in a major film just to win her heart. Fearing the paparazzi, Sun Yufan always made his driver and bodyguards wait outside whenever he came here, entering alone to meet her.

When Nie Yunyang and Tan Weibo arrived at Palm Springs International Garden, Sun Yufan had already arrived ahead of them. They spotted his BMW X7 outside the compound. Sun Yufan usually traveled in a Rolls-Royce; it was only when he came here for his trysts that he would keep a low profile by switching to the BMW.

Nie Yunyang and Tan Weibo exchanged glances, their anxious hearts finally settling. They had been worried that Sun Yufan wouldn't show up, which would have left them with no opportunity to strike. They crept toward the complex, avoiding surveillance cameras, and scaled the wall at a pre-selected spot.

The two hid in the shrubbery, waiting patiently. They had already confirmed that the actress lived in the building directly opposite them. They waited from ten o'clock at night until two in the morning. Nie Yunyang’s legs had gone numb from squatting, and Tan Weibo smoked cigarettes incessantly. Fortunately, no security guards patrolled this area, or they would have surely been discovered by the smoke.

At two-thirty, Sun Yufan finally appeared. He walked slowly, his steps somewhat unsteady.

"He's here. The son of a bitch has finally shown his face," Tan Weibo said viciously, stubbing out his cigarette.

The two rose quickly and headed toward him. Sun Yufan was indeed taking the path closest to the gate. Nie Yunyang took up a high position to keep watch and prevent anyone from approaching.

Sun Yufan had no idea that danger was closing in. His mind was still replaying the scene of his tryst with the actress; the woman was seductive to the bone. What he liked most was the contrast: on screen, she maintained the image of a pure maiden, but in bed, she was like a famished, resentful woman who nearly drained him dry. Men, after all, simply loved the thrill of conquering beautiful women.

Just as Sun Yufan was lost in his reverie, Tan Weibo suddenly lunged from an angle. Under normal circumstances, Sun Yufan’s vigilance would have been high, and he would have fought back with all his might, but having just finished an exhausting encounter, his body and mind were drained, and his awareness was completely lapsed. He failed to sense the danger at all.

By the time Sun Yufan realized what was happening, Tan Weibo’s hand strike had already landed heavily on the back of his head. He collapsed instantly, unconscious, without making a sound.

Nie Yunyang immediately grabbed a hemp rope, bound Sun Yufan tightly, and stuffed him into a black cloth sack. He and Tan Weibo then carried him away together.

In the Beibei District, Nie Yunyang drove a stolen Mazda all the way to Wucai Riverside Park. In a secluded spot, Tan Weibo ripped the tape off Sun Yufan’s mouth. It was still before dawn, and few people wandered here. The surroundings were silent, and the rustling of the wind through the leaves was clearly audible.

"Who are you? How dare you lay a hand on me? Are you tired of living?" With his eyes covered by a blindfold, Sun Yufan couldn't see his captors and could only shout curses.

Nie Yunyang let out a cold snort. "Of course I know who you are. The famous CEO Sun. You’ve been making such a splash in the mountain city; who doesn't know your name?"

"Spare me, heroes! Spare me! Everything is negotiable. Whether you want money or women, I can satisfy you," Sun Yufan realized the gravity of his situation and immediately begged for mercy.

Tan Weibo laughed. "CEO Sun, do you take us for children? If we let a tiger back into the mountains today, I’m afraid you’d have us killed by tomorrow."

"Then what do you want?" Sun Yufan asked, his voice trembling despite his attempt to sound tough.

Nie Yunyang raised an eyebrow. "Your life!"

"Heroes, murder is against the law! And you can't harm an innocent citizen, right?" Sun Yufan yelled in panic, trying to attract attention, but to no avail.

"An innocent citizen?" Nie Yunyang paused, then continued, "When you had Mu Bolin killed, why didn't you think about what your own end would be? Even worse, in order to swallow up Xinhai Technology, you sent people to Zhen'an to assassinate Mu Qingyao, indirectly causing the deaths of Old Qiu and Chang Zhicheng. I’m the kind of person who always returns a debt of blood. No matter what powerful figures are backing you, you are going to die today."

"Yunyang, why waste your breath on a man like this? Let’s finish the job quickly; I still need to go back and get some sleep," Tan Weibo said, yawning with dark circles under his eyes.

Nie Yunyang nodded. "Alright, CEO Sun, have a safe journey. Remember to be a good person in your next life."

As he finished speaking, Nie Yunyang resealed Sun Yufan’s mouth with tape. Tan Weibo was more direct, kicking him unconscious with a single blow.

The two lifted Sun Yufan and shoved him into a gasoline drum they had prepared in advance. Nie Yunyang drew his dagger, preparing to slit his throat.

Tan Weibo snatched the dagger away and smiled. "Yunyang, let me handle this dirty work. You’re still young; there’s no need for you to carry a murder charge."

Looking at Tan Weibo’s cold, indifferent expression, Nie Yunyang was deeply shaken. There was no doubt that this was not the first time he had done such a thing.