Tycoon War God

”Who is it?”

The phone rang several times before it was answered. An authoritative voice came from the other end.

”This is Lin Mu. I’m calling about your company’s attempt to acquire the formulas from Boheng Pharma. I need an explanation.”

”Explanation? To hell with your explanation! If you don’t hand over those formulas, believe me, I can make your pathetic company disappear!”

”Very well. I’ll pay you a personal visit tomorrow.”

”Fuck! Who the hell do you think you are? Do you think Miraculous Company is a place any stray dog can just walk into? If you want an audience with me, you’d better burn some incense, take a bath, and perform the nine kowtows first!”

The line went dead.

But the expressions of everyone present changed drastically.

Someone dared to curse Mr. Lin? And told him to kowtow? Isn’t that courting death?

Others might not have known, but Liu Zijian, Hua Meiniang, and the others knew perfectly well what this meant. When Lin Mu said he would pay a personal visit, it meant more than just one or two people were going to die.

Even the secretary was so startled her face turned white as a sheet, and she almost couldn’t stay on her feet.

”Go back and tell your chairman that I’m bringing people over tomorrow. He should prepare himself.”

Lin Mu looked at the secretary and added, ”And remember to tell him to bring more men. Otherwise, there won’t be enough for me to kill.”

With that, Lin Mu stood up and headed for the door. ”Clean this place up,” he commanded over his shoulder.

As Lin Mu left, Liu Zijian hurriedly chased after him.

Back in the president’s office, Liu Zijian asked nervously, ”Elder Brother Mu, are you really going to Yue Province? Miraculous Company isn’t like other companies.” He knew he hadn’t handled the situation well and felt anxious.

Lin Mu sat in a chair, looking over some of the company’s recent development projects and nodding slightly from time to time. The accounts were clear, the projects were progressing in an orderly fashion, and there were even some annotations on the side. Clearly, Liu Zijian was very dedicated to managing the company.

”Zijian, do you really think someone with my status and power needs to worry about some shady, back-alley organization?” Lin Mu asked, putting down the documents and looking at Liu Zijian intently.

It had to be said that Liu Zijian’s mindset had changed recently. He’d grown inflated, overconfident even. At the same time, a part of his old timidity remained. He was still afraid to offend anyone he perceived as too powerful.

”Zijian, remember this,” Lin Mu said seriously. ”If you are weak, you are just fish on a chopping block for others to carve up. But if you are strong enough, who would dare to bully you?”

This incident also served as a wake-up call for Lin Mu. He realized it had been a long time since he and Liu Zijian had a real heart-to-heart.

”Zijian, you are now the general manager of the company,” Lin Mu said. ”Technically, I shouldn’t interfere with its affairs. But you must remember, you don’t just represent yourself. You represent your mother, Xiao Lin, and the countless people who depend on you, myself included.

”If you give them an inch today, they’ll take a mile and push you into a corner! Do you want to be a spineless coward that anyone can push around? Or do you want to see the tragedies of your past repeat themselves?”

Liu Zijian clenched his fists tightly, his face flushing red.

The past... abandoned by a woman, his mother gravely ill, his son intellectually disabled. He himself was a cripple, someone anyone could mock and bully!

Back then, Liu Zijian had considered suicide countless times, wanting to end his brief, painful life. But in the end, Lin Mu’s appearance had saved his despairing heart.

”Elder Brother Mu, I truly know I was wrong!” Liu Zijian said earnestly, bowing to Lin Mu. ”I was wrong to trust others so easily, wrong to be blindly overconfident, wrong to let the wolf in the door, and worst of all, wrong to doubt your strength.”

This was what Liu Zijian truly believed. No matter how strong Lin Mu was, he couldn’t be invincible. Liu Zijian understood the principle that there was always a higher mountain. As the company grew, Liu Zijian had started learning the ways of a businessman, thinking money could solve everything. The power of an individual no longer seemed as important.

That was why he had become vulnerable, allowing Miraculous Company to back him into a corner where he nearly gave up the formulas. If he hadn’t made that final call to Lin Mu, he might have already signed the contract.

Liu Zijian knew that Lin Mu’s earlier words were also meant as a reminder for him: one must never forget where they came from.

”It’s good that you understand,” Lin Mu nodded. ”But remember one more thing: we are brothers.”

In truth, even if Liu Zijian hadn’t called him, Lin Mu would have still stepped in. He would have solved Boheng Pharma’s problems and ensured Liu Zijian a life of wealth. But had that happened, their bond as brothers would have ended then and there.

After their heart-to-heart, Liu Zijian felt a great weight lift from his shoulders. But he still asked nervously, ”Elder Brother Mu, are you really going to Yue Province?”

”What? You think I’m joking?” Lin Mu smiled faintly.

”Of course not. It’s just... Miraculous Company seems to have a very powerful backer,” Liu Zijian said, passing Lin Mu a cigarette.

Although Lin Mu didn’t smoke, he would occasionally accept one from Liu Zijian. The two men sat in the office, puffing out clouds of smoke.

Lin Mu’s gaze pierced through the haze. ”No matter how powerful their backer is,” he said slowly, ”are they more powerful than your Elder Brother Mu?”

Liu Zijian was taken aback for a moment, then burst out laughing. ”I’d almost forgotten what a monster you are.”

”If you want, I can teach you,” Lin Mu said suddenly.

The cigarette in his hand trembled. Liu Zijian shook his head. ”No, thanks. I don’t want any part of that world of yours. It’s enough for me to look after this business for you, Elder Brother Mu.”

”It’s not mine,” Lin Mu corrected him. ”It belongs to us brothers.”

”Right. To us brothers.”

The atmosphere grew warmer, and the two talked for hours, with cheerful laughter echoing from the office from time to time.

That evening, Liu Zijian called Liu Xiaolin and Chen Jie over, and the four of them had dinner together. Liu Zijian drank until he passed out.

***

「Meanwhile, in Yue Province.」

Inside the chairman’s office at Miraculous Company.

CRASH!

A priceless porcelain cup shattered against the floor. Zhang Youguang, the chairman of Miraculous Company, was enraged. ”Damn it all! Who does he think he is? Daring to kill my nephew and then threaten me!”

Zhang Youguang stared at his trembling secretary and sneered, ”He really said he’s coming to Yue Province tomorrow?”

”Yes.”

Zhang Youguang’s sneer widened. ”Good. I’d like to see just how some pissant chairman has the guts to be so arrogant.”

”Da Wu, call your brother and have him bring some men over!”

Murderous intent gleamed in Zhang Youguang’s eyes. ”A personal visit? I’ll make sure it’s a one-way trip!”

***

「That night.」

After leaving Liu Zijian’s house, Lin Mu gave a slight shake, and the smell of alcohol instantly dissipated from his body.

He took out his phone and dialed a number.

”Get ready. Tomorrow, I’m taking you to kill.”