Ma Fuqing said, "How dare I threaten you? I sincerely repent and beg you to let me go. Look, I don't even want the money or the villa anymore; I just want to live a peaceful and ordinary life for the rest of my days!"
Qingmu said, "What if I don't agree?"
Ma Fuqing said calmly, "You'll agree, you definitely will. Your girlfriend just arrived in her hometown, right? I happen to know some people there, maybe I can help her out!"
Ma Fuqing spoke in a simple, honest, and humble manner, as if he were barefoot on the edge of a field discussing the division of land with his neighbor, Uncle Er.
Qingmu said, "Do you know why Mu Ka died?"
Ma Fuqing said, "Well, I really don't know. I just got the news. Wu Suotun, Mu Ka, and Medicine Granny are all finished."
"Then how do you know that Mu Ka's death is related to me and the book?" Qingmu asked.
"I was just guessing, all guesses. I had a bad feeling when I met you today. I never believe in coincidences; all coincidences have an inherent connection. I went through the events of the past few days, and I guessed that this matter was related to you. That's why I just tricked you with a question, and you didn't deny it, did you!" Ma Fuqing said with a half-smile.
Qingmu then realized that Ma Fuqing was much more cunning than he had imagined; the man's peasant-like simplicity was all a facade.
He said, "Then I'll tell you. Mu Ka didn't have to die; he had already escaped across the border. But when he left, he kidnapped my friend's child. If that hadn't happened, I wouldn't have chased him Mianyue to wipe out his hideout. I hate it when people threaten me with my friend's life, so I think you should die today."
Ma Fuqing froze, clearly not expecting that Qingmu had crossed the border alone to Masuba to raid Wu Suotun's stronghold—it was simply unimaginable. He was even more surprised that Qingmu would so decisively say that he would die tonight.
However, he quickly regained his composure and chuckled, saying, "I know Teacher Qingmu is very powerful, capable of killing Wu Suotun and Mu Ka. Let alone those two big shots, I'm not even as good as the Medicine Granny. So if you want to kill me, it's as easy as stepping on an ant!"
"And I saw you kill that driver! Amazing! Really amazing!" Ma Fuqing said, giving a thumbs up. "I've never seen such a gruesome death, nor such a sophisticated method of murder. I don't want to end up like that guy, stabbing myself in the groin before jumping into the river. I don't even know where the body will be washed away, or if it will even be found. Even if the body is recovered, the forensic examination will definitely determine it was suicide, and the police will never come after you."
"Oh, don't think I'm bluffing you again, this time I really know. Don't believe me? Look at this..." He took out his phone, swiped a few times, and pulled up a video. "I happened to have installed a few cameras in that grove of trees, and by sheer coincidence, I captured your story on camera."
The video on the phone was blurry and dark, with only a vague outline of two figures rolling on the ground. After a while, a car sped by, its headlights illuminating the woods. A man was seen on top of a woman, who was struggling, while the man raised a knife. Suddenly, the car door slammed open, and a person leaped out, nimbly tackling the man and saving the woman.
With the headlights illuminating the scene, it became clear that the man who jumped out of the car was Qingmu.
"Let's not watch the rest, it's too bloody! Absolutely too bloody!" Ma Fuqing took the phone back. "If this video gets into the hands of the police, even though the driver committed the crime first, I think you'll be in big trouble, right? Our laws protect the lives and property of citizens. Even though you killed a bad person, you have no right to kill him before the judge convicts him. Even if the court sentences him to death, you still have no right to kill him. If you kill him, you've committed a crime. Although it looks like that guy committed suicide, anyone with eyes can see that you're involved in his death."
Ma Fuqing analyzed the case and criminal liability like a professional lawyer.
Qingmu narrowed his eyes, a deep killing intent finally flashing within them. "So you arranged that driver!"
Ma Fuqing said, "I never expected that guy to be so heartless as to pull out a knife and kill someone. I just wanted to take some commemorative photos for your girlfriend. That driver wasn't so tough after all. He owed hundreds of thousands in gambling debts and didn't dare utter a sound when his creditors came knocking on his door! If he had been so brave, I wouldn't have hired him to do this kind of thing."
"Oh, right, you can't be thinking of killing me now." He sensed Qingmu's anger and murderous intent, took a few steps back, and said, "I already sent this video to a friend. If I disappear, the video will be uploaded online tomorrow, and even your police friend won't be able to help you then."
"And this, look..." Ma Fuqing turned around and picked up a selfie stick from a pile of scrap steel bars. A black cell phone was clipped to the end of the stick. Because it was dark and well hidden, it was indeed difficult to spot.
"A friend of mine likes taking selfies, so he gave this to me. The video of my meeting with Teacher Qingmu and what we said has probably already reached him. As usual, if something happens to me, this video will be uploaded online tomorrow."
"Also, those brothers of mine who were supposed to help your girlfriend, who knows what they might do if they don't answer my call by dawn!"
After saying all this in one breath, Ma Fuqing let out a long sigh, as if he had completed a heavy task. His body completely relaxed, and his previously hunched back straightened. It was as if he had suddenly transformed from a leader's lackey into a leader's superior, and his aura immediately soared.
He placed one foot on the money box, took out a cigarette, lit it, took a deep drag, and looked at Qingmu with an air of arrogance, saying, "I've finished my repentance. I wonder if, Teacher Qingmu, you can now spare my life and give me a chance to start anew?"
"This is really a difficult matter!"
Qingmu scratched his messy hair and then began pacing on the rooftop of the unfinished building, seemingly pondering how to deal with his current predicament.
Ma Fuqing wasn't in a hurry at all. He thoroughly enjoyed the feeling of strategizing and manipulating people.
What are those Medicine Granny? What about Mu Ka? They're just a bunch of self-righteous fools! Ma Fuqing felt that if he were in their position, he would definitely do a better job.
He had already planned it out. Once this storm had passed, he would make contact with the bigwigs in the Golden Triangle and take over all the domestic business. At least along the route from Southern Yunnan to Three Wu and Shenzhou, he would have a monopoly. After that, he would no longer be a nobody. After so many years of hard work and struggle in this industry, he was finally about to make it big!
In a sense, he should thank the man with the messy hair in front of him for creating this opportunity for him.
It was getting darker and darker, and the stars and moon hid behind the clouds. The evening wind was a bit strong, as if it were about to rain. Summer in Spring City wasn't as hot as other places, but a downpour would come from time to time.
The distant lights gradually dimmed in the heavy, humid air before the impending downpour, and the chaotic city seemed to only begin to drowsily drift off to sleep at this moment.
As darkness deepened, the air seemed to freeze, and everything became silent, except for the clattering sound of Qingmu's slippers on the half-cast floor slabs.