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"For the Qi family? How laughable. You killed your wife and child for your own destiny, not theirs."

Qi Ru looked at the girl before the wine vat, his spinning jade ring stopping as his eyes narrowed slightly. "Who are you? What gives you the right to interfere in my family affairs?"

"It doesn't matter who I am," Chu Yuening said, studying Qi Ru's face as she tore away his false facade. "But you, with a fate that relies on your wife's support, don't you fear divine retribution for killing her and your daughter?"

At this, Qi Ru's gaze turned cold. "Be silent."

He had long forgotten how many years it had been since someone dared to mention those words about relying on his wife in front of him.

Chu Yuening twirled the peach wood sword in one hand. "A fate born from a wife only lasts twenty-five years at its peak. Twenty-five years ago, you flourished in business thanks to your wife's influence. But there is no eternal fortune, and two years ago, your luck began to wane."

"Your company and stocks have been turbulent, and a single misstep could lead to your financial ruin."

"You refuse to accept defeat, so to regain your fortune, you sought out a feng shui master and learned of the Human Sacrifice Continuation Array. Using your first wife's blood to fuel your rebirth and ensure the Qi family's prosperity."

"Afterward, the Qi family's fortunes did improve, but you found it still insufficient. You've worked hard to reach your current position, how can you allow your glory to be lost again?"

"The feng shui master told you that for the Qi family's fortune to flourish for another hundred years and for future generations to prosper, you would need to sacrifice another person. This person must be closely related by blood, your own flesh and blood, and must have experienced the world's grains for at least eighteen years."

Qi Ru had no illegitimate children. Even if he were to have one immediately, there was no way to wait another eighteen years.

Therefore, the only options available were Qi Tianrui and Qi Tianmei.

Chu Yuening gave a cold smile.

"You chose Qi Tianmei among the two children."

This was also why when she first saw Qi Tianrui, she didn't find anything odd about his fortune.

Because.

Both were nurtured by the blood of the closest kin.

Their fortunes were intertwined, so naturally, any abnormalities wouldn't be apparent.

Chapter 139

Snap.

Rhythmic applause echoed in the silent basement. Qi Ru narrowed his eyes slightly and leisurely raised his hand, adorned with the jade ring his daughter had given him, to applaud. A faint smile graced his face.

This time, he was too lazy to pretend.

"Yes, I killed them for their fortune. So what?"

"I, Qi Ru, was nothing but an illegitimate child in my early life. No matter how hard I tried, I was still met with cold shoulders. Despite being a part of the Qi family, not a single fraction of their wealth was mine."

His gaze turned icy, veiled with anger.

"To survive, I had to work at the docks, carrying goods for a mere twenty dollars that had to last me a week. It took all my wit and effort to reach the position of power I hold today. Do you think a mere stroke of luck can take it all away from me? That's utterly delusional."

QiTianrui's eyes widened in shock as he looked at his towering father, as if seeing him for the first time.

He stared at the two corpses in the wine vat, trembling uncontrollably.

"You killed them just for your fortune?"

"Ai Rui," Qi Ru twirled his ring, speaking calmly, "I had someone look into your destiny long ago. Your star journey in this life was decent, but not enough to reach your current status. It was I who helped push you further."

"You should be grateful that you're my son. Otherwise, it would have been you sealed in that wine jar. As long as you obey and stop dwelling on Ah Rong and Tian Mei's deaths, you'll remain my good son, Qi Ru's."

Qi Tianrui's legs gave out, and he knelt before the wine vat.

He never imagined that all he had achieved today was due to his mother and sister.

His path into the entertainment industry had always been bumpy, despite having connections and capital. Yet, his records never quite lived up to expectations.

But a year ago, he suddenly acquired the rights to a very challenging song. The producer was at the pinnacle of the music industry; logically, such a composition should never have fallen into his hands.

That very song shot him to fame, making him known across Hong Kong. He became known as a young king of pop.

Recalling how all his achievements were built on the blood of his loved ones.

With a pale face, Qi Tianrui suppressed his nausea. "Just for your fortune, you killed them with your own hands. What did Mother do to wrong you?"

Even after death, she was being defamed by her murderer, attempting to tarnish her image before her child.

For a fleeting moment,

Qi Tianrui even despised himself for being a boy.

If not, he would be the one lying in that vat right now.

"Simpleton," Qi Ru descended the steps, twirling his jade ring slowly. "Death is inevitable. Dying for me and you was their noble cause, something they were willing to accept. Even if you told them the truth, they would still have sacrificed themselves for you."

"For me?" Qi Tianrui sneered sarcastically. "Was it truly for me or for you?"

Standing behind Qi Tianrui, Qi Ru gazed at the two corpses in the vat, his expression cold as he spun his ring. "It's the same question, Tianrui. Your body carries my blood."

"What about Tianmei?" Qi Tianrui trembled, shaking his head repeatedly. "Tianmei is also your child! What did she do wrong? Why should she be sacrificed for your destiny, for your wealth?"

Qi Ru spoke softly, "Tianmei is a girl."

A single girl was enough to be Qi Tianmei's undoing.

Qi Tianrui said weakly, "Surrender. If you don't, I'll bring the police to arrest you myself."

"Surrender? Why should I surrender?" Qi Ru spun his jade ring and spoke casually. "The Daoist world believes in the six realms of reincarnation. Ah Rong and Tianmei have already been reborn as humans in this world. Their old bodies saved our family—it's a form of waste recycling."

"Didn't Ah Rong always fear getting old? Now, she can be young again. Tianmei always felt trapped by her family, unable to explore more exciting things. Now, she has found a new one. You should be happy for them. I haven't done anything wrong."