Tycoon War God

”The River City Qin Family is just a branch of the Demon City Qin Family.”

After a long silence, the Old Madam got straight to the point. ”More than eighty years ago, I fled the Qin Family with Luoli’s grandfather and came here, to River City.”

The Old Madam spoke in a placid tone, ”At that time, I was about little Luoli’s age, and I was already carrying a child who was just a few years old.”

A faint smile appeared on the Old Madam’s face as if she were recalling the past, but it quickly vanished. Her tone grew somber. ”I just never imagined that after more than sixty years, they still haven’t thought of letting me go.”

Lin Mu spoke up, ”Old Madam, did you leave Demon City for some unspeakable reason?”

The Old Madam gave a wry laugh. ”What unspeakable reason? It was simply because I became pregnant before marriage and gave birth to Luoli’s grandfather. That’s all.”

”The Qin Family, being a prominent clan in Demon City, would naturally never allow such a thing to happen. Moreover, the Qin Family was at a critical juncture back then. A woman’s fate was to be nothing more than a bargaining chip used for personal gain!”

The Old Madam suddenly became agitated. ”That was then, and I could let it go. But today, they’re even using my Luoli as a bargaining chip! I...”

She began to cough violently, and Lin Mu quickly used his Spiritual Energy to help her suppress it.

”If it weren’t for the fact that my days are numbered, I would go and fight the Qin Family myself! What right do they have to harm my Luoli!”

The Old Madam’s voice was filled with anger and decades of accumulated resentment.

”Old Madam, why did Luoli have to go to Demon City?” Lin Mu remained very calm. Before going to Demon City to retrieve Qin Luoli, he needed to understand the full situation.

”Because...” the Old Madam said, her tone complex, ”Luoli’s parents are in Demon City.”

”Luoli’s parents?”

Lin Mu was somewhat surprised. I never expected that to be the reason.

”That’s right. Luoli has never mentioned her parents to you because they disappeared right after she came of age. She never speaks of it, but she has been searching for them in secret all this time.”

The Old Madam continued, ”That is, until a little over a month ago, when news came from Demon City that Luoli’s parents had appeared there and had been captured by the Qin Family!”

”This is a trap!” Lin Mu immediately grasped the key point.

”Exactly!” The Old Madam nodded. ”It’s a trap, and their goal is to get their hands on Luoli!”

”Old Madam, forgive my bluntness, but the Qin Family’s motive for controlling Luoli and her parents can’t be that simple, can it?” Lin Mu said with a frown.

”Sigh. At this point, there’s no reason to hide it from you any longer.”

The Old Madam took out an ancient-looking ring. ”Their true goal is actually this.”

”I don’t know what this thing is for, but back in the day, many people in Demon City were looking for it. The Qin Family even killed my husband for it!”

The Old Madam pressed the ring into Lin Mu’s hand. ”Young Lin, I’m entrusting this to you. However, I have one condition.”

”You must bring Luoli back!”

Holding the ring, Lin Mu’s heart skipped a beat. Because he’d felt a slight tremor from the Mountain and River Cauldron within him the moment he saw the ring.

This ring is clearly no ordinary item.

”This ring has an extraordinary origin. Although I don’t know its purpose, it is definitely not some common object,” the Old Madam said. ”I’ve lived this long only thanks to this ring.”

Lin Mu nodded. He could already feel a powerful surge of spiritual energy emanating from the ring.

”Young Lin, I know you’re no ordinary man, and you have the power to protect Luoli. From now on, the Qin Family will have to rely on you.”

The Old Madam spoke with a hint of reluctance. ”I’ve lived a long life, and yet I still have some regrets. The greatest is not living to see the birth of your and Luoli’s child.”

She smiled faintly, her expression tinged with bitterness.

”Old Madam, rest assured, I will bring Luoli back safe and sound,” Lin Mu said, squeezing her hand. ”And you will be fine, too.”

”Don’t try to comfort me,” the Old Madam said. ”I’ve lived a long life. I’m content.” She was over a hundred years old, after all, and had indeed lived longer than most people.

”Luoli isn’t back yet, and you still need to be here to meet our children one day. You have so much left unfinished. Are you really willing to leave just like this?” Lin Mu smiled faintly. ”As for all those unfinished things, just leave them to me.”

From the Old Madam’s tone, Lin Mu knew she harbored many regrets. She wanted to obtain justice for herself, to vent her fury, and to return to Demon City to personally confront the members of the Qin Family.

”Your sentiment is enough,” the Old Madam said. ”Besides, I believe you can protect Luoli well.”

As she spoke, she began coughing again, but this time she coughed up blood. Her complexion grew even paler.

”Young Lin, I... I can’t hold on,” the Old Madam rasped, gripping Lin Mu’s hand tightly. She spoke in a pleading tone, ”Please... stay and talk with this old great-grandmother just a little longer...”

Her hand slowly went limp, and the warmth began to fade from her body.

A brilliant light flashed in Lin Mu’s eyes as he gripped the Old Madam’s hand. ”I told you, as long as I’m here, you will be fine!”

A dazzling divine light burst forth as powerful Mana was infused into the Old Madam’s body. At the same time, Lin Mu placed an Elixir in her mouth, using his Mana to help her digest it.

Gradually, the Old Madam’s body temperature began to rise, and her breathing stabilized. As Lin Mu’s Mana continued to flow into her, the white hair at her temples even showed signs of turning black.

Innate Spirit Wood Energy was filled with a dense life force. Furthermore, with Lin Mu’s current Cultivation Level, restoring the Old Madam to her youth would be difficult, but helping her live for several more decades was no problem at all.

The Old Madam slowly opened her eyes, her gaze vacant. When she felt the abundant life force coursing through her body, she was stunned.

”This is...”

Lin Mu smiled. ”Old Madam, please get some rest. The next time I come to see you, it will be with Luoli.”

”Young Lin, you... you are truly a good child.”

With that, Lin Mu departed.

But aside from a few key members of the Qin Family, no one else knew what had happened to the Old Madam.

At this moment, Lin Mu was seated in a private room at the River City Grand Hotel.

Cheng Bugui, Qiao Tianhao, the heads of the Song and Cheng Families, and the other magnates of River City were all kneeling before him, their expressions fraught with anxiety.

”All of you, rise. I didn’t summon you here to hold you accountable, but to give you a task,” Lin Mu said slowly after glancing over the group.

”Thank you, Venerable Master!” they all exclaimed, a wave of relief washing over them, but none dared to actually stand up.

”I will be leaving in two days. You will all watch over River City for me,” Lin Mu said coolly. ”But if something like this happens again, the fate of the Yan Family will be your own!”

His words sent a shiver down everyone’s spine.

”Please rest assured, Venerable Master! It will never happen again!” the crowd hastily promised.

Lin Mu didn’t pursue the matter. After all, it was Qin Luoli who had told them to keep it a secret, so he couldn’t very well blame them.

”Venerable Master, many unfamiliar faces have appeared in River City recently. Our investigation suggests they are here for you,” Cheng Bugui said hesitantly.

”Mm, I will handle it,” Lin Mu replied. ”I have another task for you. Send your people to Demon City and find your matriarch’s whereabouts.

”I’ll give you three days. If you can’t find her, then don’t bother showing your faces to me again!”

The moment he finished speaking, Lin Mu vanished from the room.

Staring at the empty space where he had just been, everyone was left in a state of shock.