Old Chen Tou glanced at the window and sighed with a thousand emotions.
In the short month since returning to the Hidden Clan, his relationship with Meng Jingwei had gone from initial disagreement to complete collapse, with no possibility of returning to the past.
Especially concerning Qing Muye's situation and Shi Ran's injury, these had acted as catalysts, pushing their relationship into an abyss of no return.
Old Chen Tou felt a pang of heartache, but more than anything, a sense of helplessness.
Shouldering his mission, he could not afford to be sentimental or indecisive.
For the sake of the millions suffering, his duty was to oust He Ka Qing Tang, thereby bringing them a glimmer of hope.
He knew that from this day forward, Meng Jingwei would no longer be at his beck and call, especially if Qing Muye's injury was caused by the poisoned needle on the watch. Once Meng Jingwei learned the truth, she would likely join the opposing faction.
All of this placed immense pressure and a heavy burden on Old Chen Tou's mind.
Meanwhile, Meng Jingwei's car was getting closer to the West District. Suddenly, over a dozen cars appeared on the road ahead, blocking her path.
The mountain road here only had one way forward.
With the road now blocked, she had no choice but to get out and negotiate.
Kang Xiaolu and Meng Jingwei alighted from the car. From the dozen sedans opposite them, nearly a hundred people also emerged, directly obstructing their way.
The leader was Mu Chilang Kun, one of the men who had appeared in the living room when Meng Jingwei first woke up and came downstairs on her inaugural day at the Hidden Clan.
"Miss Meng, I have received orders from Elder Bei to escort you back."
Mu Chilang Kun, nearly forty years old, wore the black traditional attire of the Hidden Clan. His dark, healthy complexion and powerful chest muscles gave him a remarkably rugged and handsome appearance.
Meng Jingwei looked at Mu Chilang Kun with cold eyes. "You want me to go back? Only if I die here."
Wearing a translator, she could understand Mu Chilang Kun's words, but Meng Jingwei's own speech required Kang Xiaolu to translate.
After Kang Xiaolu translated Meng Jingwei's words, Mu Chilang Kun placed his hands on his hips and scoffed, "With my brothers here, do you think you can get past us?"
The opposing side had nearly a hundred people, while Meng Jingwei had only brought just over thirty.
Among them were also twenty men from Old Chen Tou.
As Mu Chilang Kun stepped forward, those twenty men immediately switched allegiances, aiming their weapons at Meng Jingwei. "Miss Meng, please accompany us back!"
Meng Jingwei furrowed her delicate brows, tilted her head to look at Kang Xiaolu, then turned back to Mu Chilang Kun. "You have two choices. Either I die, or you let me pass!"
As she spoke, she pulled out a dagger from behind her and pressed it directly against her own throat. "Let me pass."
Seeing the dagger in her hand, Mu Chilang Kun grew anxious. He raised his hand, wanting Meng Jingwei to put the dagger down, but he also feared revealing his weakness and allowing Meng Jingwei to control him.
He decided to turn around and walk aside to call He Xiaolanya.
The instruction He Xiaolanya gave was, "Her safety must be ensured. If absolutely necessary, a tranquilizer gun can be used."
Only sedation was the best option.
After hanging up the phone, He Xiaolanya looked at Old Chen Tou beside her with concern. "Once Meng Jingwei sees Qing Muye, what we've done will surely be exposed. By then, Meng Jingwei will no longer be under our control. If she is sedated, I think..."
Before she could finish her sentence, Old Chen Tou understood her intention.
"At this point, this is the only way."
Old Chen Tou let out a long sigh, turned, and sat down on the sofa, his emotions a jumble. "I watched that girl grow up. Now that we've turned into enemies, and I see her hate me, my heart aches as well."