Chapter 53: The Results of the Song Family's Investigation

Translator: Tim Editor: Tehrn/Carolin

The Song family of Beijing was one of the most powerful families in China, ranking among the five greatest. However, the atmosphere at the Song family compound was tense. Song Qiming's only son, Song Shaowen, had died in a car crash, allegedly caused by speeding.

But the Song family knew Shaowen's death was no accident. Even if he had been speeding, he wouldn't have driven to the desolate Qinong Cliff; nor would he have been on the Feng Jin Highway at midnight. Shaowen was known to be averse to trouble; if he needed to travel the Feng Jin Highway, he would have done so during the day, certainly not between 3 and 4 a.m.

“What are the investigation’s results?” Song Qiming demanded. As the family elder was absent, his word carried the family's authority. Though outwardly calm, his clenched fists betrayed his fury. His son had been assassinated! Who dared touch a member of the Song family?

A middle-aged man stood. “Leader, Shaowen visited He Feng a week ago, staying only one day. He then left for Ning Hai with Ah Fa and Wang Chuan. However, there's no video footage of his car on the Ning Feng Highway—all traffic cameras were disabled during his presumed entry and exit from Ning Hai. My investigation in Ning Hai confirmed Shaowen had arranged for the cameras to be shut down. His reason for going to Ning Hai was likely Ning Qingxue. She left for Yu state two days later, the same night Ye Mo, her husband, disappeared without a trace.”

“I examined the car wreckage; Ye Mo’s body wasn’t there. He may have left the car, or he may never have been in it. The Qinong Cliff Highway cameras show Shaowen’s BMW driving normally before veering off the road and plunging over the cliff.”

“Could he have been drugged?” a man in his fifties asked. The middle-aged man shook his head. “No. Roadside cameras show normal driving everywhere except Ning Hai, where the cameras were off. There were no anomalies until the crash at Qinong Cliff.”

“Where is Ye Mo?” Song Qiming asked. The middle-aged man shook his head. “Unknown. But we found a surveillance system in Ye Mo and Ning Qingxue’s house. The content was deleted, but we’re recovering it.”

A young man, around twenty, rushed in with a USB drive. “Uncle Hai, the data’s recovered.”

“Check it immediately!” Song Qiming commanded. The USB was plugged in, and the large screen displayed Ye Mo's life and footage of Song Shaowen and his men leaving with Ye Mo.

“So he’s involved!” the fifty-year-old man exclaimed, furious. He was angry that Shaowen died after leaving Ye Mo's house.

“That Ning family bitch probably didn’t know then and deleted the footage later,” a thin man muttered.

“Regardless, this implicates her. The Song family won’t let this go,” Uncle Hai, the investigator, said. Song Qiming’s face was grim. “We won't let the Ning family off easily, but it's not just Ning Qingxue; I will destroy the entire Ning family! Don't touch the Ning family yet. Capture Ye Mo. Bring him back to Beijing secretly. He’ll learn it's not so easy to kill a Song family member.”

He paused. “Song Hai, find Ye Mo. Bring him back to Beijing immediately, or bring his head as a sacrifice to Shaowen. Investigate how Ye Mo caused the crash.”

“Yes, Leader!” Song Hai replied.

The fifty-year-old man frowned. “Ye Mo is strange. He married a Ning family girl, yet he always sits under a tree. Could he cultivate Qi? Many ancient martial arts families practice Qi cultivation. If he has a master… this could be troublesome.”

Song Hai disagreed. “Uncle Shen, that's unlikely. Ye Mo is disabled; even his own family rejected him. Would a legendary cultivator see potential in him? Besides, there’s no sign of a master in the recovered footage. You’re overthinking.”

Uncle Shen nodded. “Let’s hope so. If he has a powerful master, even for us, revenge will be difficult.”

…

When the Song family seized the Ning Hai footage, Ning Qingxue felt a burning dread, regretting not destroying the disk. She hadn't expected an investigation, nor that the Song family could recover the data. She needed to contact Ye Mo immediately, but she had no way to reach him.

She confided in her mother, surprising her. Her mother understood the gravity of the situation.

“Qingxue, it's not about finding Ye Mo now, but about dealing with the Song family’s revenge. Song Qiming won’t let this pass, especially because of you.”

Ning Qingxue shook her head. “I owe Ye Mo, and I've dragged you into this. I'm sorry, Mother.”

Her mother sighed. “Though we’re estranged from the Ning family, the Song family won't easily attack us. Tell me everything that happened between you and Ye Mo.”