Jiangzhou boasted two famous mountains.
One was Cloud Mist Mountain, a secluded enclave for the powerful and wealthy elite.
The other was South Mountain, a desolate, uninhabited wilderness.
At this moment, on the peak of South Mountain, several of Zhao Yun's men were digging a pit furiously with shovels.
Lei Hu, bound tightly in ropes, knelt before Ye Qiu and begged for mercy.
"Mr. Ye, please spare my life! I was only following Young Master Guo's orders! He promised me a million yuan if I killed you and your mother!"
For all his burly build and menacing facial scar, Lei Hu was trembling with terror.
"If he told you to kill, you kill. If he told you to eat shit, would you do that too?" Ye Qiu said icily.
"Mr. Ye, I'll be your servant for life if you let me go! I'll even be your dog! Woof! Woof! Woof!"
Lei Hu actually started barking like a dog.
"You're not worthy to be my dog."
Ye Qiu had already decided to eliminate them root and branch, leaving no future trouble.
"Mr. Ye, you and your mother depend on each other. She loves you more than anything. Have you thought about her? If you kill me, you'll break the law and face punishment. If you go to prison, your mother will be left all alone and helpless. Can you bear that?"
Lei Hu clung to his last hope, knowing Ye Qiu's only weakness was his mother, and tried to sway him.
Unfortunately, he had underestimated Ye Qiu's resolve to kill.
"No matter the consequences, neither of you is leaving here alive today."
As he spoke, Ye Qiu glanced at Guo Shaocong in his wheelchair.
Lin Jingzhi's words echoed in his mind:
A man must be ruthless to stand tall in this world.
If he showed mercy now, Guo Shaocong and Lei Hu would surely seek revenge later.
Only by killing them both could he end the threat for good.
"You'll go to jail for murdering me!" Lei Hu shouted. "My life is worthless, Mr. Ye. Is it worth sacrificing yours?"
Ye Qiu sneered. "When did I say I'd do it myself?"
Lei Hu froze.
"Brother Zhao, I'll leave this to you," Ye Qiu said to Zhao Yun.
Zhao Yun smiled. "A trivial matter. Don't mention it."
Lei Hu finally realized Ye Qiu intended for Zhao Yun to kill him.
If that happened, his death would go completely unnoticed, and Ye Qiu would bear no responsibility at all.
With Zhao Yun's skills, he could erase every trace of the crime.
Yet he refused to die like this.
Lei Hu turned to Zhao Yun, begging desperately.
"Mr. Zhao, please! We both served the Dragon King once! Speak to Mr. Ye for me, spare my life! I swear I'll live honestly from now on!"
"A future? A monster like you doesn't deserve one," Zhao Yun said.
"The truth is, the Dragon King has wanted to deal with you for years. He knows every vile thing you've done these past two years."
"Let's start with this year alone.
In March, you strong-armed residents out of their homes for a construction firm. An elderly couple refused to leave, so you had your men run them over with an excavator."
"In May, you raped a young female teacher near the university, blackmailed her with explicit videos, and harassed her until she had a breakdown and was committed to a psychiatric hospital."
"A month later, you ran up a huge bill at a nightclub for expensive liquor. When you couldn't pay, you trashed the place and extorted 100,000 yuan from the owner."
"And the list goes on…"
Zhao Yun listed over a dozen of Lei Hu's crimes in one breath.
"Underlings have reported everything to the Dragon King. If he weren't in poor health and too occupied to deal with you, you would've been dead long ago."
"We in the underworld live by rules, loyalty, and honor.
You've sown too much evil to escape justice.
Lei Hu, be a better man in your next life."
Lei Hu's blood ran cold.
Zhao Yun's words made one thing crystal clear: he was going to die today.
"Brother Zhao, the pit's ready!" one of his men called out.
"Lei Hu, any last words?" Zhao Yun asked.
Lei Hu laughed bitterly. "I brought this on myself. Mr. Zhao, can you make it quick? I don't want to be buried alive."
Zhao Yun glanced at Ye Qiu. Seeing no objection, he nodded. "Very well. I promise."
"Thank you."
Lei Hu closed his eyes, ready to meet his end.
Zhao Yun pulled out a dagger and sliced it across Lei Hu's throat.
Splat!
Lei Hu died instantly.
"Bury him," Zhao Yun said flatly.
"Yes, sir!"
His men tossed Lei Hu's body into the pit and quickly covered it with dirt.
Guo Shaocong sat nearby, pretending to stay calm.
He'd thought Ye Qiu was only bluffing — but the sight of Lei Hu's murder terrified him.
"Help! Help me!" Guo Shaocong screamed at the top of his lungs.
Slap!
Zhao Yun backhanded him across the face, snapping impatiently.
"Quit yelling! You're in the middle of nowhere. No one's coming to save you, no matter how loud you scream."
Guo Shaocong finally broke down and begged Ye Qiu.
"Ye Qiu, I'm sorry! Don't kill me! I'll give Zhang Lili back to you! I'll have my father give you a permanent hospital position! I'll give you anything you want, just spare me!"
"Bury him."
Ye Qiu ordered coldly, not wasting another word.
Moments later, Guo Shaocong was thrown into the pit along with his wheelchair.
"Ye Qiu, don't kill me! I'm sorry! I'll never cross you again! Please, I beg you!"
Guo Shaocong wailed, tears and snot streaming down his face, utterly humiliated.
"Goodbye, Guo Shaocong."
Ye Qiu waved mockingly, then told Zhao Yun's men:
"Fill the pit slowly. Let him taste the fear of death."
"Understood."
The men slowed their shoveling.
Guo Shaocong struggled to climb out, but his unhealed injuries left him completely powerless.
Dirt quickly rose to his neck, leaving only his head exposed.
"Ye Qiu, spare me! I don't want to die! I haven't married, I haven't had a son — you bastard! I'll haunt you to the ends of the earth!"
Guo Shaocong's face twisted into a snarl as he shrieked with hatred.
"Come haunt me as a ghost.
I'll send you straight to oblivion."