The Death of Lin Jian

The adults were momentarily stunned, not understanding why the child would suddenly say such a thing. Huo Xuan smiled and asked, "Xiaolong, why do you want me as your godfather?"

Xiaolong pouted and said, "All my older cousins have godfathers, but I don't. Daddy said you're really amazing, so I want you to be my godfather."

It turned out that Xiaolong's older cousins all had godfathers—and none of them were ordinary. At the very least, they were high-ranking officials at the departmental level, some even holding ministerial positions.

Everyone laughed upon hearing this, thinking how even children these days compared godfathers. Shang Yang, however, saw an opportunity and said with a smile, "Brother, since Xiaolong said so, why not take him as your godson?"

Huo Xuan quickly waved his hands. "No, no, that wouldn't be appropriate. I'm not even married yet—how could I be someone's godfather?"

Shang Yang replied, "That's easy enough to fix. Let him call you that for now, and once you're married, you can make it official. What do you think?"

Huo Xuan chuckled. "This is too sudden—I don't even have a gift prepared. How about this: when my jewelry store opens, bring Xiaolong along, and I'll pick out a nice piece of jade for him."

Zhuang Wen interjected, "I heard about the jewelry store from Lin Yue. You're making quite the investment—dropping hundreds of millions at once."

Speaking of the jewelry business, Shang Yang smiled. "I know a few jewelry manufacturers, both domestic and international. I'll introduce them to you some other time."

The conversation flowed, and the meal stretched into the afternoon.

At 3 p.m., the Nangang County Party Committee convened a standing committee meeting. Unanimously, they passed a resolution to remove Du Rulong from his positions as Political and Legal Affairs Committee Secretary, Public Security Bureau Chief, and County Party Committee Standing Member.

But that wasn't all. The committee also tasked the Discipline Inspection Commission with investigating the root causes of Nangang's public security chaos—specifically, whether any officials had abused their power for personal gain.

During the meeting, Du Rulong's face turned ashen. He knew it was over—just as Zhao Weimin had warned him: One investigation, and you're done.

Du Rulong had thoroughly alienated the entire County Party Committee. After being berated by the Municipal Committee, they blamed everything on him. Now, every member of the committee despised him.

Moreover, Du Rulong was a protege of Zhao Weimin, the Municipal Party Committee's Organization Department head. Normally, it would have been extremely difficult to touch him. But this time, riding the momentum from the Municipal Committee's intervention, they effortlessly stripped him of all his positions - an outcome many in the County Committee had long desired.

In the afternoon, after settling Zhuang Wen, Shang Yang and others, Huo Xuan returned to the residential area with Zhang Wu to deal with Lin Jian.

Lin Jian had long since regained consciousness. Finding himself bound in an unfamiliar environment with three cold, formidable-looking men guarding him, he realized he'd fallen into someone's trap.

At first he tried to fish for information from his captors, but after receiving several vicious kicks, he became much more compliant.

This was Huo Xuan's first time seeing Lin Jian. He couldn't understand why this complete stranger would target his family.

When Lin Jian saw Huo Xuan appear, he knew the principal party had arrived. He quickly said: "Sir, as long as you don't hurt me, name your demands. My Lin family will satisfy anything."

Huo Xuan squatted down, staring coldly at him: "Do you know who I am?"

Not daring to meet his gaze, Lin Jian lowered his head: "No."

"I'm Huo Xuan - the one you've been searching for." Huo Xuan's tone was sinister.

Lin Jian's expression changed dramatically as he blurted out: "So it's you!"

Huo Xuan grabbed his hair, forcing his face up: "Why target me?"

Now knowing Huo Xuan's identity, Lin Jian actually became less afraid. He snorted coldly: "A toad lusting after swan flesh - how dare you set your sights on Lin Yue! For the family's interests, of course I had to eliminate you. Huo Xuan, if you dare harm even one hair on my head, the Lin family won't let you off, nor your family! You have no idea how powerful the Lin family is - with one word, we can have you torn limb from limb!"

Huo Xuan's expression remained impassive. He knew there was no point asking further: "I don't care how powerful the Lin family is. All I know is right now I can have you torn limb from limb."

Lin Jian's face changed as he shouted: "Don't do anything rash! If you spare me, I can give you money - is ten million enough?"

Huo Xuan burst into loud laughter, ignoring him as he turned to ask Zhang Wu: "Fifth Brother, is everything ready?"

Zhang Wu grinned, revealing a row of white teeth: "Long since prepared."

Huo Xuan nodded: "Let's move out."

Lin Jian seemed to sense impending doom and shrieked, "What are you planning to do?"

One of the men stepped forward, stuffed a foul-smelling sock into his mouth, then bundled him into a burlap sack.

The group drove to the southern outskirts of Nangang County, where Scarface Li and the others remained bound behind a dirt mound, guarded by two associates. When Lin Jian saw the pitiful state of the four men lying on the ground, his body trembled violently, his eyes pleading for mercy—but Huo Xuan didn't even glance his way.

"Untie them," Huo Xuan said coolly.

Black Jackal, Green-Scalp Li, Scarface Yang, and Ma San were released from their ropes. Having barely eaten for two days, they were completely drained of strength, standing up only to shake with terror.

Green-Scalp Li kept his head lowered as he spoke: "Sirs, we admit defeat. Please spare our lives."

Huo Xuan casually tossed a dagger onto the ground, then pointed at Lin Jian. "Each of you will stab him once, until he breathes his last. Do this, and I'll let you go."

The men paled at his words. Lin Jian thrashed wildly, managing to spit out the gag as he screamed, "Don't kill me! Please don't kill me! Huo Xuan, I was wrong—I'm scum! Spare me this once! I'll give you 100 million—will 100 million do?!"

Huo Xuan ignored him, his icy gaze fixed on Scarface and the others. "Either you die, or Lin Jian dies. You have five seconds to choose."

Black Jackal dropped to his knees with a thud. The once-defiant gangster now trembled as he begged, "Master Huo, we truly don't dare! He's a young master of the Lin family—killing him would mean our deaths would go unavenged!"

Zhang Wu snorted. One of his men stepped behind Black Jackal and slit his throat in one smooth motion. Blood sprayed across Scarface and Green-Scalp's faces.

Black Jackal collapsed, twitching a few times before going still—his eyes wide open in death.

Huo Xuan said coldly, "I respect life. It's not easy for anyone to walk this earth. But if anyone dares lay a hand on my family, I'll take their life without hesitation!"

Green-Scalp Li said nothing more. He picked up the dagger, his eyes gleaming with murderous intent as he approached Lin Jian.

Lin Jian screamed, "If you kill me, the Lin family will hunt you down!"

His face was contorted with terror, pupils dilated with fear, his voice hysterical and nearly mad.

"Young Master Lin, my apologies—I want to live." With that, he plunged the dagger into Lin Jian's chest.

Lin Jian's legs kicked wildly as he stared fixedly at Huo Xuan, who watched on impassively.

Scarface Yang and Ma San stepped forward next, each delivering their stab. Ma San's strike was particularly vicious—the blade plunged straight into Lin Jian's neck, piercing his windpipe.

With each exhale, air and blood gushed from the wound. Lin Jian gasped desperately a few times before his breathing ceased, the light in his eyes gradually dimming.

Nearby, one of Zhang Wu's men recorded the entire scene with a video camera. Notably, the footage only captured Scarface Yang and the other two executing Lin Jian—Zhang Wu and Huo Xuan never appeared in frame.

Once Lin Jian was dead, Green-Scalp Li and the other two dropped to their knees before Huo Xuan and Zhang Wu, gritting their teeth as they declared, "Now that things have come to this, we pledge ourselves to you, masters. Just give us a chance to survive!"

Zhang Wu smirked. "I have some business near the border—high-risk, life-on-the-line work. If you've got the guts, you can follow me."

The three immediately kowtowed, swearing allegiance to Zhang Wu from that moment on.

A two-meter-deep pit had been dug earlier. The bodies of Lin Jian and Black Jackal were tossed inside and buried under layers of earth.

From then on, Lin Jian vanished from the world entirely. The Lin family only knew he had disappeared in Nangang County, Yuyang City—nothing more. No body, no trace.

Only Xu Bo vaguely suspected Huo Xuan's involvement. But he kept his suspicions to himself—partly due to lack of evidence, but mostly out of fear. The ruthless methods of Zhang Wu and Huo Xuan made him wary of drawing their wrath.

In Nangang County, Huo Xuan saw off Zhuang Wen and Shang Yang early in the morning. Upon returning, he found county party committee leaders surprisingly making personal visits to Huo Guozhong and Lu Hongmei.

The well-informed Nangang officials, aware of Du Rulong's downfall at Huo Xuan's hands, arrived bearing gifts—a tacit acknowledgment of his powerful connections.

Among the delegation, a burly officer stood out from the group. Standing over 180 cm tall, he greeted Huo warmly after others departed: ​"I'm Xu Feihu, executive deputy director of the county public security bureau."

Huo Xuan eyed the man. ​"Is there something you need, Deputy Director Xu?"

Xu smiled: ​"Former Director Du is under disciplinary committee investigation for gross misconduct. As acting bureau head, consider me your direct liaison."

Huo detected the layered meaning—as highest-ranked deputy, Xu angled for the directorship vacancy.

This overture revealed Xu's awareness of Huo's provincial connections, a strategic play for promotion.

My gratitude, Deputy Xu," Huo replied coolly. ​"I'll meet Provincial Public Security Director Feng in Heyuan soon—perhaps mention your assistance."

Xu Feihu was quick on the uptake. Overjoyed, he excitedly grasped Huo Xuan's hand and said, "Brother Huo... from now on we're friends, haha..."

Huo Xuan smiled faintly. He didn't mind lending this man a hand—if Xu Feihu became the police chief, it would benefit his parents.

After Xu Feihu left, Huo Xuan busied himself with reopening his parents' small shop and cleaning up the mess outside their home. The men Zhang Wu had brought became volunteer laborers, working tirelessly from morning until noon.

That evening, Huo Xuan hosted a dinner at home for Zhang Wu and his five brothers, expressing his gratitude for their help over the past few days.

The group drank heavily, and by the end, Huo Xuan was thoroughly buzzed. Yet, despite his intoxication, he still stubbornly persisted in practicing the Green Emperor Heart Method late into the night.