Then, Let Them Offer Their Loyalty!

Chapter 50: Burning the Qin Family

Chapter 50: Burning the Qin Family

Time ticked by, second by second.

At 7:25, five minutes earlier than Qiu Tu had anticipated, Qin Heng, the head of the Qin family, left the Qin residence, escorted by a convoy, heading towards Yan Chen's villa in the city center.

Through his spiritual vision, Qiu Tu watched Qin Heng depart from afar. He took out his communicator and called Fourth Master Qin.

When the call connected, Fourth Master Qin's deliberately lowered voice came through the other end, "Hello? What's going on?"

"Director Qin has left. You can proceed," Qiu Tu said calmly.

Hearing Qiu Tu's words, Fourth Master Qin felt a jolt. Reflexively, he glanced at the clock on the wall. It was 7:26, four minutes earlier than Qiu Tu had originally planned. Though it was only a short four minutes, it symbolized something significant: Qiu Tu had been closely monitoring Qin Heng's movements the entire time!?

Realizing this, Fourth Master Qin felt a pang of regret—he had severely underestimated Qiu Tu before, not realizing how formidable Qiu Tu's methods were. Immediately after, he felt a sense of relief—after all, the stronger Qiu Tu's methods, the safer he would be.

With this thought, he calmed himself and asked, "So we start the plan now? What do you need me to do?"

Qiu Tu, in the gentlest tone possible, said, "Fourth Master Qin, the first thing you need to do is call your wife and two children. Have them pack their essentials and be ready to leave at any moment."

"Oh, and make sure they take all the portable deeds and valuables with them. Anything they can't take, they should hide."

Fourth Master Qin's heart skipped a beat upon hearing this. Having been in the underworld for many years, he immediately sensed something was off.

"Qiu Tu, why are you arranging this? Wouldn't it be easier for my wife and children to stay at the Qin residence?" he asked tentatively.

"Fourth Master Qin, breaking away from the Qin family and joining the military faction means going head-to-head with Director Qin and the Investigation Department. This is a life-or-death struggle, not a dinner party," Qiu Tu replied sincerely.

"If your wife and children stay at the Qin residence and things go south, they could be used against you. How would you deal with that?" he continued.

Fourth Master Qin instinctively opened his mouth to argue, but Qiu Tu, as if anticipating his thoughts, said, "Even if your brothers wouldn't use your wife and children against you, what about the Investigation Department? The Political Division? They have no familial ties with you. Why would they consider your feelings?"

"Fourth Master Qin, remember what I told you yesterday: there are never any false accusations in the Political Division."

"Are you really willing to gamble your wife and children's lives?" Qiu Tu asked coldly.

Fourth Master Qin's face changed rapidly. After a moment, he said in a low voice, "I understand. I'll have them pack right away."

Hanging up the call, Qiu Tu stood quietly by the window, looking into the distance. He wasn't concerned about Fourth Master Qin's distrust or suspicion. After all, he had no good intentions to begin with.

To truly control someone, merely offering them benefits isn't enough. In matters of life and death, the best leverage is their weak spot—their family. Hostages and the families of death warriors have always been used as leverage throughout history.

Therefore, Qiu Tu's first step was to grasp Fourth Master Qin's weak spot. Given their current relationship, Fourth Master Qin would not willingly hand over this weak spot, so Qiu Tu needed to make him see reality and then guide him step by step.

With patience, Qiu Tu waited for half an hour.

At 8:00 PM, when Qin Heng stepped into the city garden and began talking with Yan Chen, Qiu Tu picked up his communicator and gave Fourth Master Qin the second instruction.

"Next, please arrange for a few trusted aides to escort your wife and children out of the Qin residence to a safe place and wait for you there."

Fishing never involves brute force; only with a mix of tension and release can you successfully reel in a hooked fish. Qiu Tu had just made Fourth Master Qin worry about his family's safety, planting the psychological seed that his weak spot was in Qiu Tu's hands.

Now, Qiu Tu aimed to dispel that notion, releasing the leverage. By allowing Fourth Master Qin to have his trusted aides escort his family and letting him choose the safe house without interference, Qiu Tu was "showing" Fourth Master Qin that he had no ulterior motives.

This contrast would not only make Fourth Master Qin overly joyous but also ensure he didn't have time to think too much about any potential ulterior motives during this critical moment.

Fourth Master Qin readily agreed and arranged everything within ten minutes.

As for Qiu Tu, he left the room and called Eagle, handing him his gun.

Eagle took the gun and went downstairs. Waiting below were the temporary agents who had come to rescue Qiu Tu earlier, as well as Ah Tai, who had officially joined the Special Operations Division and now wore a formal agent uniform. Standing over six feet tall, with a broad back and strong build, he looked like a giant.

At 8:15, Fourth Master Qin's wife and children, escorted by six bodyguards, quietly left the Qin residence and headed to one of Fourth Master Qin's safe houses.

Before they could enter, Ah Tai and his team intercepted them. Faced with two guns, a Special Operations Division agent, and a dozen temporary agents armed with police batons, the six bodyguards had no chance to resist. They were disarmed, and none of them escaped.

Meanwhile, Qiu Tu issued the third instruction to Fourth Master Qin: Arrange for a maid to bring Qin Shuman to the main house garden for a walk, and have a team of trusted aides guard the area.

At 8:35, Qin Shuman arrived at the main house garden as planned and started walking around the pond where she and Qiu Tu had once fished.

Fourth Master Qin’s trusted aides quietly took their positions.

At 8:45, while Qin Heng and Yan Chen were deep in conversation, Qiu Tu finally dropped his facade and gave Fourth Master Qin the fourth instruction: he told him to have his trusted aides gather as much firewood, gasoline, and other flammable materials as possible within twenty minutes.

This time, Fourth Master Qin immediately sensed that something was off. With a cold tone, he asked Qiu Tu what exactly he planned to do.

Qiu Tu simply replied, “Fourth Master Qin, just do as I say.”

Hanging up the call, Fourth Master Qin’s face turned grim. Firewood, gasoline, and other flammable materials gathered together—Qiu Tu’s intentions were clear: he was planning to start a fire. But where the fire would be set and what it would burn had very different implications.

Fourth Master Qin wanted to question everything, but Qiu Tu had already hung up. With so much already done and the twenty-minute time limit, Fourth Master Qin bit the bullet and made a few calls, hoping for the best.

Qiu Tu wasn’t surprised by Fourth Master Qin’s choice. He hadn’t disclosed the entire plan to avoid leaks and to leave Fourth Master Qin no room for refusal. If he had revealed the whole plan, Fourth Master Qin might have rejected it due to its boldness or disliked certain parts.

But with Qiu Tu guiding him step-by-step, Fourth Master Qin didn’t have a chance to see the full picture. By the time he realized something was wrong, it was too late. Could he call back his trusted aides? Bring his wife and children back to the Qin residence? Retrieve the money and deeds?

No, the immense sunk cost would compel him to continue.

So, twenty minutes later, when Qiu Tu called Fourth Master Qin, though his tone was unfriendly, everything was ready.

Qiu Tu then revealed his ultimate plan. He gave Fourth Master Qin the final instruction: set the main house of the Qin residence on fire, kill the patrolling agents and maids around Qin Shuman in the chaos, and escape with her.

Upon hearing Qiu Tu’s ultimate plan, Fourth Master Qin went mad. He thought he had been extreme, but Qiu Tu was even crazier! He shouted into the communicator, “Do you know what you’re doing? Setting fire to the main house of one of New Realm City’s major clans! Killing officially sanctioned agents!”

“Do you want me to rebel?! If I do this, who can protect me?!”

“If you want to play, I’m not playing with you anymore!”

Hearing Fourth Master Qin’s hysterical roar, Qiu Tu laughed. Then, he calmly said, “Fourth Master Qin, you might want to call your wife and son. They must really want to see you.”

Fourth Master Qin’s mind went blank. He suddenly realized what he had overlooked! Qiu Tu had seemed so pure-hearted that he forgot this was a manipulative schemer who enjoyed betraying others!

Qiu Tu had painted a grand vision for him, leading him step by step into his plans, constantly setting a “countdown” to push him to execute the plan, leaving him no time to think about Qiu Tu’s hidden motives.

Now, as he calmed down, he realized he had been tricked: if Qiu Tu could monitor Qin Heng, he could also monitor him and his family! Even if he had sent trusted aides to protect them, Qiu Tu, working from the shadows, could easily summon more people to hold them hostage!

So, had he just handed half his fortune and his family to Qiu Tu on a silver platter?!

Sensing Fourth Master Qin’s anger and disbelief, Qiu Tu added slowly, “Fourth Master Qin, don’t misunderstand. I sent people to protect your wife and son because the military only coordinates with me and doesn’t allow others to interfere.”

“So, as long as you complete your mission, you’ll reunite with your wife and son at the military safe house.”

“As for setting the Qin residence on fire and killing agents—well, it’s just a mess to be sorted out. If we win, we can hand over a few scapegoats and have the military mediate. What can’t be resolved?”

Hearing Qiu Tu’s words, Fourth Master Qin’s eyes nearly popped out of their sockets. He didn’t believe a word Qiu Tu said anymore! But he had no other choice—half his fortune, his wife, and his children were in Qiu Tu’s hands. His trusted aides were out, and the flammable materials were ready. What could he do? Give up?

With this thought, Fourth Master Qin said darkly, “You better keep your word. If you dare to deceive me, I’ll use my last breath to kill you!”

Qiu Tu chuckled, “Master Qin, you jest. We are dear friends, like family. How could I deceive you?”

Fourth Master Qin snorted and hung up.

Ten minutes later, at 9:20, flames roared to life at the Qin residence’s main house! The fire raged like a furious beast, devouring one room after another.

Meanwhile, at the city villa, Qin Heng and Yan Chen finally agreed on their cooperation. The two men stood up, shook hands, and smiled, completely unaware of the dramatic upheaval occurring at the Qin residence…

Author's Note