Shadow Heir II: Dark Glory - Chapter 12
In the past, every battle for the head of the Mu Family lasted at least a year, sometimes three to five.
But now that Su Wuji was involved, was it all going to end today?
Plenty of people in the crowd didn’t agree with how things were going, but not a soul dared speak up.
Su Wuji smiled faintly. “Judging by your silence, everyone’s in agreement?”
Mu Xudong took a deep breath. “If the position is seized by brute force, then even if Mu Qianyu becomes the next heir… she’ll never truly win the people’s support.”
Su Wuji shot him a sidelong glance. “Fifth Uncle Mu, if you people hadn’t pushed Qianyu so hard, would I have had to resort to violence in the first place? If you dare say one more word of objection today, I’ll sell your son to Tyron as a eunuch.”
Mu Xudong’s face turned an ugly shade of blue. He shut his mouth tight.
Mu Qianyu gave a helpless laugh and tugged on Su Wuji’s arm. “Why don’t you let me handle the rest?”
Su Wuji burst into laughter. “Of course. Man and woman, perfect team!”
Mu Qianyu glanced down at her cousin, still pinned beneath her foot, and said softly, “Let’s release Mu Zhihui and return him to them, shall we?”
Her tone held a hint of deference.
After all, the one who’d ordered Zhihui’s capture was Su Wuji. Even if she had her thoughts, she had to check with him first.
Su Wuji didn’t ask why—he didn’t need to. He simply grabbed Mu Zhihui by the arm, spun his body, and flung him like a sack of potatoes!
Splash!
Mu Zhihui flew several meters before crashing into the koi pond. His head cracked against the stone edge, splitting open with blood.
The bodyguards dove into the water to rescue him.
Mu Xudong exhaled a long breath of relief. An ear could be sewn back on… at least his son was alive.
In truth, if Mu Qianyu had kept Mu Zhihui as a hostage, it would’ve greatly strengthened her position in the power struggle. But she chose to release him instead.
Su Wuji watched the scene unfold and nearly clapped aloud—This girl’s got layers. She took a step back on the surface, just to take a giant leap forward.
Mu Xudong looked at his niece and spoke grimly, “Qianyu, you bear the greatest responsibility for the chaos that befell the Mu Family today… but since you let Zhihui go, this farce can end here.”
He stepped back.
To be honest, Mu Xudong wanted nothing more than to grind Su Wuji into meat paste. But he understood—at least today, he’d been utterly crushed by these two young people. If he wanted revenge, he’d have to wait for another day.
Mu Qianyu found it all rather amusing. Her lips curled into a smirk. “But I haven’t agreed to end it.”
When they were attacking her, they’d all been so righteous and indignant, not a trace of guilt in sight.
Now that they’d lost, they wanted it over?
What a joke.
Hearing this, Su Wuji couldn’t help but admire her even more. Her methods suit my taste.
Mu Xudong felt a chill rising in his chest. His voice lacked conviction. “Qianyu, I suggest you stop while you’re ahead.”
Mu Qianyu glanced at her watch and smiled. “Fifth Uncle, unless I’m mistaken, the tax investigation team from the Capital should be arriving at Mu Real Estate headquarters right about now.”
“Tax bureau? You… what are you trying to do?” Mu Xudong’s face changed instantly.
And then his phone rang—it was his secretary.
“Boss! The tax audit team from the Capital just arrived at headquarters without warning. They’ve sealed off the finance department’s entire floor! And they’re not alone—the Economic Crime Investigation Unit is with them too!”
Economic crimes unit?
Mu Xudong went completely pale.
When the real estate market was booming, Mu Real Estate was practically a money printer. Mu Xudong had made a killing and secretly funneled large sums of cash overseas through illegal channels.
But now, the market had cooled. Several of their new developments weren’t selling. The real estate wing had become a mess of debt and bad assets. If exposed, it would devastate the Mu Family’s reputation.
If this had been the local tax office in Linzhou, Mu Real Estate might’ve pulled some strings. But the team came straight from the Capital—too fast, too direct, and with too much authority. Mu Xudong had no leverage.
He flew into a rage. “Qianyu, this is betrayal! You’re selling out your own family!”
“Oh, I wouldn’t say that,” Mu Qianyu replied with an unchanged smile. “At most, I’m just asking you to return a bit of what you took. It’s simple—pay back the stolen money, and it all goes away.”
Mu Xudong clenched his fists. He knew full well: if he truly repaid the back taxes and liabilities, it would cripple him.
Mu Qianyu turned to look at Second Grandfather, Mu Chengchang. “Second Grandfather, are you willing to cover Fifth Uncle’s debt?”
Mu Chengchang’s face turned black. He said nothing.
The real estate hole was a bottomless pit. Anyone who stepped up would fall in with no way out.
As for Third Grandfather Mu Chengsheng, he was still unconscious on the floor.
Not a single Mu elder stepped forward to help Mu Xudong. With just one move, Mu Qianyu had divided their camp.
Seeing Mu Chengchang’s dark expression, Mu Qianyu said lightly, “Second Grandfather, this power struggle has only just begun. I hope you won’t be so openly biased next time—it’s not good for the family.”
Her words were polite, but the warning rang loud and clear.
Mu Chengchang did not doubt that Mu Qianyu was holding something over him, too—she just hadn’t played that card yet.
She and Su Wuji—one sharp as a scalpel, the other wild and reckless—a perfect storm
Mu Qianyu swept her gaze across the room, her voice biting. “These past few years, the Mu Family has been in decline. If our second branch hadn’t been constantly pouring money into the family, do you think you’d still be living in luxury? You’ve been leeching off the foundation like dead weight, with no idea how little you’re worth.”
Her pointed rebuke made the elders look more miserable than if they’d been slapped.
Glancing around at the wreckage, she added smoothly, “As for the renovation costs for the ancestral home, Fifth Uncle can handle that.”
Mu Xudong’s face turned the color of ash.
A third of the ancestral estate had collapsed. Restoring the intricate structures and rare landscaping would cost a fortune.
Then Mu Qianyu added with a casual air, “Oh, and that wasn’t a suggestion.”
The entire hall fell silent.
“With no objections, I’ll consider this meeting adjourned.” Mu Qianyu sighed softly. “My father is still recovering overseas. He would hate to see the Mu Family in such a disgraceful state.”
Just as the crowd started to file out, a voice cut through the silence:
“Hold it. I didn’t say you could leave yet.”
Su Wuji.
Everyone froze instinctively. They all feared he was about to unleash another wave of chaos.
Mu Qianyu’s eyes glimmered with a knowing look. She already had a hunch what Su Wuji was up to.
He stepped into the center of the room, sweeping his gaze over the crowd with a grin. “Which one of you is Mu Ziyang?”
All eyes turned to a young man near the back.
That was Mu Ziyang—the eldest son of Third Uncle Mu Dongsheng. Only a year older than Mu Qianyu.
“What do you want with me?” Mu Ziyang’s expression was dark, a trace of cold malice in his eyes. “I didn’t say a single word against Mu Qianyu during this whole meeting.”
“No need to be so nervous.” Su Wuji stretched out his hand. “Xiao Pang.”
Xiao Pang immediately placed a steel baton in his palm.
Su Wuji didn’t even look at it. “Next one.”
Xiao Pang swapped it for a spring-loaded knife.
“Don’t do anything stupid!” Mu Ziyang’s voice cracked, eyes wide with panic.
Su Wuji flashed a wicked grin. “You dared hire an overseas assassin to go after Qianyu—and now you’re scared of me?”
Before the words had even finished falling from his lips, the blade sprang out with a sharp click!
Then it plunged straight into Mu Ziyang’s thigh.
📝 Translator’s Notes:
[1] “Man and woman, a perfect team” — A Chinese idiom often used playfully. It means “men and women working together don’t tire,” hinting at natural balance or synergy. Used here to tease, with a hint of admiration.
