Silence.
Dead silence.
It wasn't until the black sedans carrying the men in black disappeared into the night that Yu Tianxiang's legs finally gave out, and he collapsed to the ground.
If the person being drowned in the river had just been a stranger, he wouldn’t have been this terrified. But from the clothing and the details of the corpse, it looked unmistakably like Deng Liang.
No wonder Deng Liang hadn’t been responding to his messages. Just moments ago, Yu Tianxiang had still clung to a sliver of hope, secretly dialing Deng Liang’s number. The call had gone through—but no one answered. And as the body was ruthlessly tossed into the river, the call status soon switched to "powered off."
This confirmed it. The man in the river was Deng Liang.
Yu Tianxiang could never have imagined that his seemingly harmless, meek nephew was actually the most ruthless person in the family.
Especially since Yu Mo had gotten involved with the Wanlong Society, things had spiraled into the worst possible scenario.
Though he couldn’t make out their faces from this distance, those men in black suits—wasn’t that the Wanlong Society’s signature style?
Of course, he was too far away to see if they bore the Society’s unique insignia.
But that didn’t matter. Because aside from the Wanlong Society, no one else would help Yu Mo.
It had to be them. No doubt about it.
This world—it was truly lawless.
Meanwhile, Yu Mo’s heart was pounding wildly.
At first, he had been genuinely afraid. But somehow, as he gradually calmed down, an inexplicable thrill surged through him.
He suddenly realized he had been too soft. Too lenient with those who defied him.
Look at Yu Xin. Look at Miss Liu. These women knew how to get things done.
They embodied the principle: "Oppose me, and you die."
For those who didn’t know their place, you had to be ruthless—make them understand the consequences. Otherwise, they’d end up like Deng Liang, sinking to the bottom of the river.
Once this realization fully settled in, Yu Mo’s gaze toward his uncle Yu Tianxiang sharpened, like a beast baring its fangs after lying in wait for too long.
"Uncle, did you really think I wouldn’t find out about your little schemes behind my back? Let me make this clear—your pathetic tricks can’t fool me. And they definitely can’t fool the Wanlong Society!"
"I’ll give you one chance. Obey me, cooperate fully, and I might consider sparing you. Otherwise…"
Yu Tianxiang’s face turned even paler. He dropped to his knees, voice trembling. "I’ll cooperate! I’ll do whatever you say!"
In all his years, he had never been this terrified.
Especially when he later saw Yu Mo, bold as brass, strolling near the crime scene—even though the police had already surrounded Deng Liang’s office. The sheer audacity was staggering.
Just moments after arranging Deng Liang’s drowning, Yu Mo had the nerve to casually wander near the scene.
This wasn’t just boldness—it was outright arrogance.
But to Yu Mo, this was nothing unusual. The Wanlong Society had pulled off similar stunts before. It wasn’t even their first time.
Last time, they’d been even more brazen—throwing a man off a building right in front of the police.
Compared to that, tonight was child’s play.
Of course, Yu Mo didn’t know that those officers were actually part of Yu Xin’s carefully prepared "gift" for Yu Tianxiang.
The Wanlong Society had already gathered evidence linking Deng Liang to Yu Tianxiang’s smuggling operations. And when Sun Bo reported that Deng Liang was planning to teach Yu Mo a lesson, they decided to strike first—raiding Deng Liang’s hideout right under Yu Tianxiang’s nose.
It was a warning: You’re next.
But Yu Xin and the others never expected the police to arrive too late—because Deng Liang had already "disappeared."
......
When Yu Xin received word that Deng Liang had gone missing, her first thought was that the plan had failed.
Just as she was brainstorming damage control, Yu Mo burst in, brimming with excitement.
"Xin-jie, it worked! My uncle swore he’ll support me unconditionally from now on. What’s our next move?"
Yu Xin: "......?"
Before she could ask, Yu Mo rambled on, "Xin-jie, that ‘gift’ you prepared was... perfect. Just next time, maybe give me a heads-up? I nearly lost it seeing my uncle’s face—he was so scared he almost cried. Glorious!"
Yu Xin: "......?"
Wait, was her uncle really that much of a coward?
Her plan had been simple: use Deng Liang’s arrest to pressure Yu Tianxiang. Once Deng Liang was in custody, Yu Tianxiang would know their smuggling channels were compromised.
The choice would’ve been obvious.
But instead, the operation failed, Deng Liang vanished—and yet Yu Tianxiang had folded like a house of cards?
Pathetic. If this was how he acted under pressure, he might as well sit at the kids' table from now on.
Yu Xin didn’t press for details. The goal was achieved. Once Yu Tianxiang signed the documents, the shopping center deal would be secured.
"You have two options now. Maintain the status quo—or... take over completely. Which will it be?"
Yu Mo stiffened, instantly grasping the implication. She was telling him to overthrow even his own father.
This was a golden opportunity. His father still didn’t know what had happened. If he struck now, he might actually succeed.
But betraying his father came with risks. If he failed, he’d face brutal retaliation—maybe even disownment.
Then again... hadn’t he been "discarded" for years already?
His expression darkened. Gritting his teeth, he said, "Xin-jie, I choose the second option."
Truthfully, Yu Mo had never liked calling Yu Xin "jie." They shared the same surname, and he was older than her. Privately, he’d always thought "meimei" would feel more intimate.
But after witnessing tonight’s blood-chilling spectacle, he understood—women in the Wanlong Society were forces of nature.
Miss Liu Yutong. Yu Xin, architect of tonight’s "gift." Even that purple-haired brat Li Xiaohui—none of them were pushovers.
So, he’d swallow his pride and stay the obedient little brother.
Yu Mo expected Yu Xin to guide him through the next steps, as she always had. But this time, she showed no interest.
"Since you’ve made your decision, whatever comes next has nothing to do with the Wanlong Society."
Yu Mo panicked. "Xin-jie—"
Yu Xin cut him off, voice cool. "We’ve done our part. The deal is complete. You uncovered the company’s hidden accounts. You neutralized your uncle. The transaction between the Yu family and the Wanlong Society is over."
"What you do next has nothing to do with us. However, if you still want our help, let’s talk business. The Wanlong Society has many brothers and sisters to support—we don’t work for free."
After hearing Yu Xin’s words, Yu Mo felt a slight relief. As long as they were willing to keep helping him, even if it came at a cost, he was ready to accept it.
As long as he could secure full control of the group, none of this mattered.
"Xin-jie, even though we’ve dealt with my uncle, there are barely any supporters for me within the group right now. Whether it’s the executives, shareholders, or the management teams of the subsidiaries—almost all of them are loyal to my father and stepmother. Without their backing, controlling the group will be nearly impossible. Even if I reclaim my rightful shares, it won’t make much difference."
"So, what’s your plan?" Yu Xin arched a brow, watching him with keen interest.
"Cut through the knot with a sharp blade! Eliminate all opposition!" Yu Mo said firmly. "Xin-jie, you taught me that."
Yu Xin’s red lips curled into a faint smile. "A lot can change in three days. Yu Mo, you haven’t disappointed me."
"I’ll request two hundred people from Tong-jie. Make it count."
