Seeking Justice

The lid of the small coffin behind the memorial altar had already been nailed shut, so Lin Bin was not worried that anyone would discover the horrific state of Lin Jiajia's body.

Then he heard Jiang Nan say, "How convenient. I was supposed to meet Lin Jiajia today, and she just happened to fall gravely ill last night? Lin the Third, you're not trying to fool me, are you?"

Lin Bin wiped away his tears and put on an angry expression. "What did you say?! Why would I joke about my daughter's life? Isn't this just about paying for your car repairs? Fine, I'll pay! She was my own flesh and blood. How cold-blooded do you have to be to say something like that?"

Tang Fei looked troubled. He, too, thought Jiang Nan was going too far. After all, the dead deserved respect. What father would wish death on his own daughter just to save a little money on car repairs? Besides, Jiang Nan had said yesterday that he could waive the compensation as long as the child apologized to him in person.

Jiang Nan slowly walked over to the coffin and tapped the lid with his fingers. The wood gave a dull thud that sounded perfectly normal.

Lin Bin's heart tightened, but he forced himself to stay calm. He stepped forward and threw himself across the coffin lid, glaring at Jiang Nan like a beast protecting its young. "What exactly are you trying to do? My daughter's body isn't even cold yet. You're not allowed to disturb her! You're not welcome here. Leave! Get out!"

Hu Mei hurried over to persuade them as well. "Gentlemen, why don't you head back for now? Lin the Third has just lost his daughter. I'm afraid he won't be able to calm down anytime soon. Why don't you leave us your number? We'll pay for the repairs later. Would that be all right?"

Tang Fei looked at Jiang Nan and asked, "Brother Nan, why don't we head back? They're holding a funeral. It's a bit unlucky for us to be here."

Ignoring Tang Fei, Jiang Nan said, "I said yesterday that I wanted Lin Jiajia to apologize to me in person. If she's alive, I want to see her. If she's dead, I want to see her body!"

"You bastard! You're inhuman! I'll fight you!" Lin Bin lunged at him, his bluster masking his fear, trying to show a father's determination to protect his daughter.

Jiang Nan paid him no heed. A slight shift of his body sent Lin Bin careening into the wall. He steadied the coffin with one hand, hooked the other beneath its lid, and pulled. The tightly nailed lid came straight off.

Lin Bin's expression changed drastically. He scrambled up and shouted, "Don't!"

Tang Fei turned away, unable to bear watching. What he failed to notice was that Hu Mei, standing beside him, had begun trembling all over.

Jiang Nan looked into the coffin. A small figure dressed in burial clothes did indeed lie inside. A sheet of yellow paper covered her face, hiding it from view.

Judging by her build, it was unmistakably Lin Jiajia!

Hu Mei forced herself to stay calm and managed a smile. "Sir, you've seen her now. Please put the lid back on, or the baleful energy might escape."

Seeing that their secret had not yet been exposed, Lin Bin felt a little more at ease. His confidence returned as well. It was his daughter who had died. Even if Jiang Nan discovered the wounds on her body, what could he do? An outsider like him had no right to interfere.

Jiang Nan glanced up at Hu Mei. Seeing the fine beads of sweat on her forehead, he knew something was amiss. With a cold snort, he reached out and removed the yellow paper covering Lin Jiajia's face.

Hu Mei's heart lurched, and she instinctively stepped back. Lin Bin's face also turned deathly pale.

When none of the three said anything, Tang Fei peered into the coffin out of curiosity. He immediately sucked in a sharp breath.

Lin Jiajia's eyes were surrounded by dark bruises, and a savage bite mark marred her thin little face.

Waiting outside the door, Li Xiaomei noticed the silence inside and could not resist coming in to look. Just as she was about to see Lin Jiajia's body in the coffin, Jiang Nan reached out to stop her.

"A-Fei, take Xiao Mei home first. Close the door on your way out." Jiang Nan's voice betrayed no emotion, but Tang Fei could tell that Brother Nan was about to explode.

Tang Fei took Xiao Mei by the hand and led her out. Seeing this, Lin Bin said in a trembling voice, "Y-you, what are you trying to do? I'm telling you, this is a private family matter. Please leave."

Jiang Nan ignored him. He lowered his head and briefly examined Lin Jiajia's body. Once he saw the full extent of her appalling injuries, he suddenly let out two involuntary chuckles.

"Tell me what happened." Jiang Nan spoke slowly and evenly, but his words sent an icy chill through Hu Mei.

Lin Bin was still trying to dodge the issue. "Why should I explain anything to an outsider? Get out of my home, or I'll call the Federal Police!"

Smack!

Jiang Nan slapped Lin Bin across the face, sending him flying sideways into the wall. Blood sprayed from his mouth, and his chest heaved so violently that he could not utter a word.

"You tell me. My patience is limited!" Jiang Nan turned his gaze to Hu Mei.

Hu Mei was stunned with fear. Steeling herself, she said, "This child's death had nothing to do with us. We only found out this morning."

Then Hu Mei briefly recounted what had happened over the past few days, glossing over her own involvement in a few casual words.

After hearing her account, Jiang Nan walked slowly over to Lin Bin, who lay gasping on the floor. He looked down into Lin Bin's eyes and asked, enunciating every word, "So, to get money for gambling, you sold your own daughter to places like the Nine Heavens Club?"

Lin Bin wanted to argue, but the agonizing pain in his mouth left him unable to speak. All he could do was glare viciously at Jiang Nan.

Jiang Nan raised his foot and stamped on Lin Bin's knee, instantly crushing his kneecap. Lin Bin curled up like a shrimp in agony.

Clutching his leg and gritting his broken teeth, Lin Bin forced out a vicious threat. "You bastard! If I broke the law, the Federal Procuratorate will punish me. It's not your place to teach me a lesson! Just you wait. I'll call the police! I'll have the Federal Police arrest you!"

Without hesitation, Jiang Nan stomped down and broke Lin Bin's other leg. This time, Lin Bin could not even make threats. He could only roll about on the floor, screaming in agony.

Hu Mei's legs shook uncontrollably at the sight, terrified that Jiang Nan would do the same to her.

Lin Bin, that beast, was crippled now, but Jiang Nan had no intention of taking his life. Killing such a despicable creature would be letting him off too easily. He deserved to drag his broken body through a lifetime of suffering.

Jiang Nan returned to the coffin. He straightened Lin Jiajia's clothes and, with pity, replaced the lid. Then he crouched down and lifted it with ease, supporting the coffin in one hand.

"Lead the way to the Jiujiang Club!" Jiang Nan ordered. Hu Mei did not dare refuse. She could only steel herself and lead him downstairs.

As soon as Jiang Nan reached the ground floor, he saw that Tang Fei had driven back. Seeing Brother Nan holding the coffin in one hand, Tang Fei asked, "Brother Nan, where are we going now?"

"To the Jiujiang Club!" Jiang Nan replied.

Tang Fei was baffled. Just a moment ago, Brother Nan had looked furious enough to eat someone alive. Why had he suddenly decided to visit his cousin's club? He asked, "What are we going there for now?"

"To seek justice!"