Chapter 125: A Woman Named Qi Zhu

Chapter 125: A Daughter, Qi Zhu

Two quarter-hours before the Gu family's kill order was issued.

Qinyang District, Shudao Logistics Group.

By now the entire building had been largely restored; outside, projections of steeds galloped through the void, every arrangement identical to days past, yet from the exterior one could scarcely tell that not long ago a band of cross-river dragons had blasted the place beyond recognition.

Eleventh floor, Security Department.

Qi Zhu had just stepped out of the elevator when she saw Qian Zhongxiao striding toward her with menacing intent, trailed by over a dozen burly security staff.

"Qi Zhu, what exactly do you mean by this?"

Facing Qian Zhongxiao's interrogation, Qi Zhu's face betrayed not a flicker of expression; she glanced coolly past him at the men behind.

"Manager Qian, are you sure you want to discuss business with me right here, in front of all these people?"

Though rage boiled in Qian Zhongxiao's heart, anger had not yet addled his wits; he knew this was no place to talk.

So he merely snorted, waving his subordinates to disperse, and strode off toward the Department Head's office.

Qi Zhu smiled coldly at the sight, following unhurriedly in his wake.

Her wrist shook imperceptibly, and a metal cube the size of a palm slid from her sleeve into her hand.

*Click.*

The office door had barely shut before Qian Zhongxiao whipped around, fixing Qi Zhu with a vicious glare.

"You surnamed Qi, you'd better give me an explanation today!"

Qi Zhu countered, "I wonder what kind of explanation Manager Qian is looking for?"

"Don't play the fool with me!" Qian Zhongxiao roared. "I've received word—the money you sent to the underground market has clearly been laundered. Why hasn't it been split yet?"

"So that's what Manager Qian refers to. The money is indeed in my hands. But how it's divided must wait for the Department Head's return."

Qi Zhu's expression was frigid. "Manager Qian, you should understand—I'm merely a lowly secretary; I cannot make decisions on such a major matter."

The words had barely left her mouth when Qian Zhongxiao's eyes bulged, staring at her in utter disbelief.

Every detail of this collaboration had been negotiated by him and Qi Zhu together, reported beforehand to Qian Hai and Li Jun, and affirmed by both.

The core issue of profit division had been settled crystal clear long ago.

There was absolutely no need for Li Jun to have the final say.

Yet this woman now hid behind such an excuse to stall—she was clearly brushing him off!

Qi Zhu was just a secretary; she wouldn't dare withhold this sum. The only possibility was Li Jun pulling strings behind the scenes.

What a venomous heart!

"Good, very good indeed!"

The fury on Qian Zhongxiao's face suddenly shifted, revealing a sinister chill like a venomous snake.

"Insatiable greed—swallowing an elephant like a snake. To think they'd embezzle black money right onto my Qian family's head! Looks like Li Jun doesn't want to be Security Department Head anymore!"

Qi Zhu remained unmoved. "The Department Head never said the money wouldn't be split. Manager Qian, you'd best watch your tongue."

"We're none of us fools. What's the point of saying such things now?"

Qian Zhongxiao spat disdainfully, his tone grim. "Still, I'm curious—just how much did Li Jun promise you, to make a woman like you throw away her life?"

"I said, when the Department Head returns, the money will be split however it should be."

Qi Zhu's gaze was icy. "As for what sort of woman I am, that's not for you, Qian Zhongxiao, to dictate."

"Don't think clinging to Li Jun lets you fox-assume-tiger-might. Forgot what became of you after Gu Jia died?"

"You just got lucky, ran into a piece of trash who'd even swallow damaged goods, and you really think you're somebody?"

Qian Zhongxiao suddenly stepped forward, a pressure belonging to a Bingjiu expert pouring forth.

Qi Zhu's face instantly went pale as paper.

"Since you dare offend even the Old Master, I needn't be polite. Let me make this clear—Li Jun is nothing but a knife in the Gu family's hand!"

"While he's useful, he stays Department Head. Once the recommendation passes, he's a dog waiting for the slaughter!"

"Qi Zhu, if you know what's good for you, hand over every penny now. If I'm in a good mood, maybe I'll grant you a decent death."

Qian Zhongxiao pressed closer step by step; Qi Zhu retreated step by step.

"But if you're hellbent on walking the dark path with Li Jun... I recall you have a younger brother, name's Qi... Qi something?" Qian Zhongxiao feigned thought, then suddenly exclaimed, "Qi Cheng! Right, that's the name!"

"You, as his sister—aren't you worried you'll bring ruin on your own brother?"

By now Qi Zhu's back was pressed tight against the office door, nowhere left to retreat.

"Qian Zhongxiao, I don't understand what you're saying. But don't forget—Li Jun is still the Department Head. Dare you touch me?"

"Me? Not dare? You cheap slut are still too naive."

Qian Zhongxiao shook his head. "The Old Master stands tall in the Gu Consortium; his roots run deeper than you can imagine. Li Jun offends him, and there's only a dead end!"

"But don't worry—I won't kill you that easily."

Qian Zhongxiao's expression turned lecherous, his eyes roaming over Qi Zhu's body without shame.

"I want to see just what remarkable tricks a piece of goods like you has, to have seduced two Department Heads in succession."

Qi Zhu's hand, hidden in her sleeve, clenched the metal block; killing intent surfaced in her eyes.

*Beep!*

At that very moment, a soft sound emitted simultaneously from both Qian Zhongxiao and Qi Zhu.

The comms devices implanted deep in their ear canals automatically converted the message to audio, reverberating in their minds!

"Execute Li Jun immediately!"

Wild joy flashed across Qian Zhongxiao's face; he kicked off the ground, lunging at Qi Zhu.

*Hum.*

Simultaneously, a metal block fell from Qi Zhu's hand, an invisible field spreading out unseen by the naked eye.

Qian Zhongxiao's lunging figure froze abruptly, locked in the bizarre posture of standing on one leg.

Utterly motionless, like an insect sealed in amber.

"Mohist... Prison Device? How can you..."

Under Qian Zhongxiao's horrified gaze, Qi Zhu lifted her skirt, drawing a ceramic short blade white as snow from her inner thigh.

The woman gripped the knife with both hands, advancing step by step, her movements gentle as she unfastened his robes.

The freezing blade sliced through synthetic flesh, aiming for Qian Zhongxiao's mechanical sternum, and plunged down with ruthless force!

*Crack~*

Sparks flew, blade fragments scattering.

Qi Zhu's tiger's mouths tore open, blood soaking her palms.

Yet on that icy face, not a trace of frustration could be seen.

Qi Zhu wiped the fresh blood from her hands clean, then drew another ceramic knife, identical to the first, from beneath her skirt.

Draw, stab, snap the blade, wipe the blood.

Draw again.

The cycle repeated, unending.

Until a sound like tearing silk reached her ears; only then did Qi Zhu halt the motion she had repeated countless times.

In those eyes—once bright and lovely as flowers, now a vast, dead stillness—a trace of relief and joy surfaced.

"Qian Zhongxiao is dead; A-Cheng will be safe now."

With that breath finally released from her heart, Qi Zhu could hold on no longer; her strength drained away, and she collapsed limply to the ground.

Behind her, the sound of a door being rammed boomed like a war drum.