Chapter 34 Farewell, Master Qin

If Qin Guosheng had thought he was still in control before, he now finally realized just how perilous his situation had become. Lin Li was certainly not joking with him anymore.

Previously, Qin Guosheng had naively believed that meeting Lin Li meant he was safe. He even thought that Lin Li was still the gullible young man he could easily manipulate. But to his surprise, after all his arguments, Lin Li remained steadfast in his resolve.

Qin Guosheng had not taken Lin Li seriously because he believed he could still sway his thoughts. Now, he understood that opportunity was gone.

"If you kill me now, it will only arouse suspicion. How will you explain all this when the time comes? Whatever misunderstandings we had before, as long as you let me go now, I will let bygones be bygones. Lin Li, you know my temperament."

Qin Guosheng gazed pleadingly at Lin Li. But when he saw the man unmoved, all that remained in his heart was endless terror.

"Boss Qin," Lin Li said, "you and I have known each other for some time now. Did you really take me for a fool?"

Seeing Qin Guosheng so desperate to explain, Lin Li didn’t get angry; instead, he let out a cold laugh. The once lofty Boss Qin had vanished. Now, before Lin Li stood only an aging villain teetering on the edge of death.

Qin Guosheng knew he had committed many misdeeds, and that Lin Li might very well be here to claim his life.

At that moment, Su Lan stepped forward. At first, Qin Guosheng failed to grasp the situation. When he saw Su Lan, a surge of excitement lit up his face.

"Lanlan, I knew it! I knew you wouldn’t abandon me. This is your surprise for me, isn’t it?"

Watching Qin Guosheng’s manic expression, Su Lan felt only disgust. "Save your words; do you really think I’m a child?"

This time, Su Lan made no effort to hide his emotions. The revulsion in his eyes snapped Qin Guosheng abruptly back to reality.

"So, this was all premeditated by you two," Qin Guosheng’s voice turned cold.

In that instant, he reverted to the domineering Boss Qin of old. Perhaps he also realized that Su Lan’s presence here meant there was no turning back.

Su Lan took a seat beside Lin Li and looked steadily at Qin Guosheng.

"Ask yourself, have I ever wronged you all these years? Though Qin Lang has always been troublesome, I’ve done everything I could to help you resolve his messes."

By now, Su Lan’s eyes had grown red.

"I have only one younger brother; for years, he was my only hope for living. I never thought you would be so cruel as to kill him."

His voice trembled as he spoke. Lin Li stepped forward and gently placed a hand on his shoulder, lending silent support. Su Lan’s composure steadied, while Qin Guosheng’s eyes nearly bulged with fury.

"You bastards! The two of you! You’ve already gotten together, and you still claim you never betrayed me?"

Su Lan, hearing this, merely sneered. "Old man, are you even capable of anything now?"

No man could tolerate such humiliation from a woman, and despite his age, Qin Guosheng was no exception. He tried to struggle to his feet, but Lin Li strode forward and struck him hard across the face. Blood seeped from the corner of Qin Guosheng’s mouth.

[Ding, villainous behavior detected; villain points increased by 5000.]

Lin Li looked at Qin Guosheng coldly.

"You’ve certainly enjoyed yourself all these years in the provincial capital, Boss Qin. Dumping your troublesome son on Sister Lan, living it up outside, and whenever there was trouble, you relied on your connections to clean it up. You old scoundrel, you really have the nerve to accuse others of betrayal."

Lin Li had seen shamelessness before, but never quite like this. Qin Guosheng’s face was etched with despair—he, who prided himself on his cunning, had never foreseen such an end.

He looked to Su Lan, his tone now much softened.

"Su Lan, you must believe me. Your brother is still alive. Don’t listen to Lin Li’s nonsense. I know I’ve made plenty of mistakes over the years, but you know I have never once deceived you."

He thought he could still sway Su Lan, but her resolve was firmer than he had anticipated.

"Qin Guosheng, I will never believe another word you say. You’d do well to abandon such thoughts."

Su Lan shook his head, his gaze icy and voice calm. "I came here today for one reason only: to avenge my brother."

Lin Li had already found Su Zeming’s corpse. Their purpose here today was simple.

Qin Guosheng had hoped for another way out, but now, hearing Su Lan, he grew anxious, for her eyes left no doubt she meant every word.

"No. You can’t just kill me like this. You know I am the core of the Qin family."

Even now, Qin Guosheng believed he remained the linchpin of the Qin family—a conviction he found reasonable enough, given his past. But Lin Li and Su Lan had long since prepared for this. Whatever certainties Qin Guosheng clung to were nothing but illusions.

Lin Li laughed mockingly at the side. "Worthy of Boss Qin—you always manage to find a reason to survive, no matter the circumstances. Unfortunately, we anticipated this long ago."

He stepped up to Qin Guosheng. "I’ve been preparing for this day a long time. Don’t forget, even if you die, your son is still alive."

"Oh, I almost forgot," he continued. "That wretch has done so much evil—he may be alive, but he’ll be confined to his bed for the rest of his life."

At these words, Qin Guosheng instantly grasped what the two intended. He glared, shouting in rage, "Lin Li, if you dare harm me, my people won’t let you go. Even if you flee to the ends of the earth, they’ll hunt you down."

Such threats only proved how desperate he had become.