Chapter 7: I Have a Bad Temper and a Fondness for Killing

“Grandfather, let’s go inside. I’ll treat your leg injury.”
Old Master Ling’s eyes widened.
“My leg was broken two years ago. The bone has already set. You think you can still heal it?”
Ling Xiao’s lips curled into a faint smile.
“As long as there’s a breath left, there’s no one in this world I can’t save.”
As he spoke, he had already led the old man to a chair in the main hall, using his energy to form needles that penetrated the injured bone.
In less than a minute, Ling Xiao withdrew his hand.
“Grandfather, try moving.”
The old man stood up, half-believing, and stretched his limbs. His whole body trembled.
“Heavens, my leg—it’s really healed! Xiao Xiao, your medical skills surpass even your father’s! Wonderful! If your father knew, he’d be so proud of you.”
The old man dabbed at the corner of his eye with his sleeve.
Ling Xiao smiled warmly.
Just then, a commotion rose outside the door.
The old man was startled.
“Could it be they’ve come to cause trouble?”
Ling Xiao patted his back, comforting him:
“Don’t worry. As long as I’m here.”
With that, he turned and strode out, hands clasped behind his back. The old man hurried to follow.
Outside the Ling family’s gate, a crowd of villagers from Ling Family Village had gathered—if not a hundred, at least eighty strong.
Each held something in their hands: shovels, rolling pins, and some even brandished kitchen knives.
Many had their hands wrapped in cloth, clearly those whose fingers had been broken by Ming Cheng.
“You Ling bastard, how dare you have someone break our fingers? You’ve gone too far!”
“What do you take us for? Do you really think we’re easy to bully?”
Ling Xiao hadn’t spoken yet when Ming Cheng strode up, carrying a bag.
“What are you all yelling about? Have you grown tired of living?”
Ming Cheng’s intimidating presence lingered in their minds; at his words, the crowd shrank back, pointing their ‘weapons’ at him.
He ignored them, walking straight to Ling Xiao.
“Young Master, thirty-seven fingers in total. One brat died last year, so I went to his grave, dug up his corpse, and broke his finger too. Look.”
As he spoke, he proudly pulled a finger bone from the bag.
His grin sent chills through the villagers.
This guy—he’s not even human!
Ling Xiao glanced at Ming Cheng, then turned his gaze upon the crowd, a hint of regret in his eyes.
Once, the Ling family had been illustrious. Whenever they returned to the village to honor their ancestors, they were revered by all, surrounded by crowds.
But times had changed; these people had long forgotten the Ling family’s glory, and now… they even wished to trample it further.
Human nature… how pitiful it is.
He sighed, his expression calm.
“You all know why your fingers were broken. I don’t want to waste words. What’s past is past. From this day forward, Ling Family Village will honor my grandfather above all!”
The crowd immediately protested.
“You wish! Why should we listen to you?”
“Exactly! You broke our fingers and haven’t paid for it!”
“Don’t listen to his nonsense. Let’s all go—beat this brat to death!”
Ling Xiao’s cold gaze swept over them. Ming Cheng chuckled, raised his hand, and flicked a coin that struck a man, who fell instantly, blood slowly seeping out. The crowd’s mouths gradually closed.
These were but petty folk; when their spirits were high, they thought themselves gods.
But… faced with true strength, they were more insignificant than ants.
Ling Xiao turned and entered the old house.
“I dislike idle talk. If you insist on a reason…”
“My temper is bad. I enjoy killing.”
…
Jiangzhou, Yi Ren Group.
Mu Yi Ren had slept barely three hours. At the sound of her alarm, she rose at once, washed her face, and applied a light touch of makeup.
Her face held the confidence unique to a mature woman.
Just as her makeup was finished, a knock sounded at the door.
“The door’s unlocked. Come in.”
A secretary, hair coiled neatly, entered and bowed slightly to Mu Yi Ren.
“President, the board would like you to attend a meeting.”
Mu Yi Ren took a deep breath.
“I understand.”
She strode quickly in high heels toward the boardroom.
Inside, a dozen brightly dressed men and women sat, ages varying.
Mu Yi Ren walked straight to the president’s seat.
“Directors, you called me so early—what’s the matter?”
The board members exchanged glances, their eyes cunning as old foxes.
The man nearest Mu Yi Ren, a middle-aged executive in a suit, adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses and said with a gentle smile,
“President Mu, you should know that since you took over Yi Ren Group, the business has declined day by day. Our turnover has dropped year after year.”
Mu Yi Ren bit her lip, silver teeth clenched.
“Director Wang, what do you mean by this?”
“Heh… What do I mean? President Mu, you know full well. We’re here to make money, not lose it. So, the board privately discussed matters and decided that President Mu is a bit young—perhaps you should first gain experience in lower-level management. I’ll temporarily act as president. Of course, it’s not merely my desire; all directors unanimously nominated me. I had no choice.”
Mu Yi Ren’s expression darkened.
“Yi Ren Group was founded single-handedly by my father. The Mu family holds forty-five percent of the shares. What right do you have to be president?”
“President Mu, don’t overestimate yourself! The old president truly was remarkable, but sadly… he’s passed, and you’re not as capable as he was!”
“So you want to steal the Mu family’s business?”
“No need to put it so bluntly. We’re doing this for your own good. Surely you wouldn’t want your father’s life’s work ruined by your own hands? Here’s the deal—we won’t force you. If you succeed in securing the partnership with Omega Group, we’ll drop this. But if you fail… please step aside and let someone else take the post.”
Mu Yi Ren took a deep breath, fighting back her anger and indignation, then rose and left.
The board watched her departing figure and snickered.
“Does this little girl really think she can cooperate with Omega Group?”
“She actually thinks she’s important? Ridiculous! Our Yi Ren Group isn’t even qualified to work with Omega. They’re an international brand, and what are we?”
“Not even the old president, were he alive, would be fit to carry Omega’s shoes!”
“Let’s congratulate Director Wang in advance on his ascension to president!”
“We should start calling him President Wang now, hahaha…”
Director Wang’s smile was radiant, but he waved his hand repeatedly.
“It’s not official yet. Let’s wait for confirmation.”