Wu Zhiguo's voice was loud enough for everyone to hear clearly. His statement was unambiguous, directed squarely at Wu Zhiliang, causing many to first glance at Wu Zhiguo in surprise, then shift their gaze to Wu Zhiliang. As the heir apparent, Wu Zhiguo had received an education unlike any other, and was seen by all as the most level-headed among them. Many were aware of his nature; Wu Zhiguo never acted without certainty. Since he spoke this way now, there must be a reason, and the implication in his tone suggested that there were issues surrounding Wu Zhiliang as well.

"Big Brother, I don't understand what you mean!" The muscles in Wu Zhiliang's face twitched, but he managed to reply. Wu Zhiguo's gaze instilled a measure of fear in him. After all, having lived under his elder brother's shadow since childhood, he possessed an innate apprehension toward him. Furthermore, with a guilty conscience, if he could remain calm now, he would be a thousand-year-old demon.

"It’s fine if you don't understand; you will soon enough!" Wu Zhiguo suddenly chuckled, then took another drink of water.

"Zhiguo, if you have something to say, say it plainly. If Zhiliang has done something wrong, you, as his older brother, have the right to speak or mete out punishment. Don't single him out over a careless remark, surely?" Someone seated in the front row suddenly interjected; this was Wu Zhiliang's father. Many present nodded silently. Wu Zhiliang had indeed made a 'careless remark'... precisely that question he posed had denied Wu Zhishuang any chance to act.

"Third Uncle, you will know shortly whether I am singling him out!" Wu Zhiguo fixed his gaze deeply upon his elder, his smile becoming even brighter. As the carefully cultivated heir to the family, Wu Zhiguo was certainly not soft-hearted. Anyone who dared to strike at his life would not be spared. Wu Zhiliang hadn't just aimed for his life; he had ruined his younger brother's future and sought to overthrow his father. This person was no longer merely a cousin, but an enemy in a life-and-death struggle. Towards an enemy, Wu Zhiguo would show no mercy whatsoever.

"Zhiguo, what are you implying with all this?" Wu Sheng also sensed something amiss and immediately asked. Wu Zhiguo had not informed him of his plans, and time had not allowed for it.

Wu Zhiguo looked up and spoke softly, "Dad, what if I told you that Zhishuang was framed? That someone deliberately bribed that minor celebrity he associated with, arranging for the celebrity to lead him into gambling—would you believe me?" Framed? Those few words alone caused an uproar among those present. The muscles in Wu Zhiliang's face tightened again.

"And what if I said that this illness I suffer from isn't just ordinary night sweats, but poison—that someone intends for me to die prematurely in these next few days—would you believe that too?" Wu Zhiguo continued, his voice louder this time. As he spoke the last few words, everyone else fell silent. All eyes turned toward him, filled with disbelief. Having said that, his mouth felt parched again, and he immediately took another large gulp of water. He didn't want to drink; he knew that all of this was the work of the Gu worm within his body, yet abstaining was impossible. And all of this had been brought upon him by his 'dear and lovely' cousin.

"Zhiguo, what did you say? You've been poisoned?" Wu Sheng could no longer hold back, instantly rising to his feet. Not only him, but several elders in the front rows also stood up. Even Wu Zhiyuan, who had come to stand in for his father, stared blankly at Wu Zhiguo.

"Dad, please don't worry. Everything will be revealed shortly. Wu Zhiliang, do you have anything you wish to say?" Wu Zhiguo smiled faintly, softening his tone slightly, and posed the question again to his cousin, who was clearly agitated.

"Big Brother, I don't know what you mean. If I have done anything wrong, you can hit me or scold me, but to speak with such gravity—I truly cannot bear it!" Wu Zhiliang struggled to suppress the unease churning inside him as he spoke slowly. He now realized that Wu Zhiguo knew everything, perhaps even about the poisoning. He didn't know where the leak occurred, but he understood one thing: he could not admit to any of it. Admitting guilt would spell ruin, and his fate would be far more tragic than Wu Zhishuang's.

"So you won't give up until you see the Yellow River?" Wu Zhiguo smiled again, continuing, "That’s fine; you will lose heart soon enough!" As Wu Zhiguo spoke, a man rushed in from outside. Upon entering, the man walked directly toward Wu Zhiguo and whispered a few words in his ear. Wu Zhiguo nodded slightly, then quietly issued two more instructions to him. No one spoke, all eyes fixed on Wu Zhiguo. Everything happening today had exceeded everyone's expectations. Before long, two individuals entered from outside—faces familiar to all present. Everyone had their circle of friends, and Wu Zhiguo was no exception. They were all aware of his social circle and had some understanding of his acquaintances. The two men entering were Huang Hai and Li Ya.

On the other side, someone wheeled in a large television set, two substantial speakers, and a full sound system. Once these items were set up, Li Ya walked over and inserted a disc. The television screen flickered to life, soon displaying a woman’s image. Upon seeing her, the muscles in Wu Zhiliang's face jerked violently. Now he could confirm without a doubt that Wu Zhiguo knew everything, even that the person he hired had been apprehended. However, one thing baffled him: the woman he hired, though female, was exceptionally skilled; she could handle a dozen ordinary men without breaking a sweat. How had Wu Zhiguo managed to capture her? Wu Zhiguo wasn't the only one who recognized the woman. After all, Wu Zhiliang had been seen with her publicly, and many knew she was the new girlfriend Wu Zhiliang had taken up with. Even those who didn't know her could easily discover her identity with a little inquiry.

The woman’s confession began to play on the screen. She revealed everything: Wu Zhiliang's instigation and the purpose behind his poisoning of Wu Zhiguo. After watching only half of it, a cold sweat broke out on Wu Zhiliang’s forehead, more profuse than Wu Zhiguo’s earlier sweats.

"Big Brother, I haven't offended you! Why did you seize Meilan and force her to say these baseless things? Gu possession, Gu poison—this is the age of science! Does anyone actually believe such nonsense?" Wu Zhiliang sprang to his feet, shouting loudly. Many eyes turned toward them, and some people secretly nodded in agreement. Indeed, the existence of Gu poison was hard for many to accept.

Wu Zhiguo watched him, slowly revealing a subtle smile again. He said nothing, simply taking a length of rope from his pocket and binding his own arm tightly. Earlier, he had consulted Zhang Yang on how to force the Gu out of his system. Lacking internal energy (Neijin), expelling it was not easy; his only option was to seal the blood vessels to stop circulation. Over time, the Gu inside him would be forced to manifest. This method of forcing the Gu to appear could succeed, but it carried a degree of inherent harm, unlike Zhang Yang’s use of Neijin, which caused no damage to his body. However, since Zhang Yang was absent now, this was all he could do.

Minutes ticked by. The television screen finally paused. Huang Hai and the others had finished playing the recording. This was evidence proving Wu Zhiliang’s guilt, but to authenticate the woman's statements on screen, a supporting demonstration was necessary. Wu Zhiguo’s complexion grew progressively paler. Restricting blood flow was no trivial matter; it could easily prove fatal.

The assembly watched, perplexed, many focusing on Wu Zhiguo, while Wu Sheng’s face was etched with deep worry.

"What—what is that?" Suddenly, someone pointed at Wu Zhiguo’s arm and cried out, instantly recoiling in fear. On Wu Zhiguo’s arm, a grotesque lump protruded, constantly writhing. From within his arm, a low, muffled sound emanated—one that was deeply unsettling. Seeing the Gu worm being expelled, Wu Zhiguo urgently untied the rope. If he kept it bound so tightly, he wouldn't have to wait for the poison to take effect; his life would be over prematurely.

Witnessing this bizarre spectacle, everyone fell silent again. Seeing was believing. Wu Zhiguo used reality to inform everyone that certain things genuinely existed; that thing just now, anyone who saw it would immediately think of a Gu worm.

"Wu Zhiliang, if this evidence isn't enough, I have more!" Wu Zhiguo smiled faintly and clapped his hands toward the entrance. A person immediately walked in and handed Wu Zhiguo a thick document portfolio.

"This is what I had someone investigate regarding your fund flows. Don't think that just because you used the alias Li Liang, we couldn't trace this manipulation back to you. All your funds originated from the company accounts!" Wu Zhiguo opened the portfolio and began taking out files one by one. Here were the transfer records for the five million he gave to Qu Meilan's master, along with the transaction records for bribing the minor celebrity. Every transaction, every detail, was crystal clear. Many who examined the documents immediately looked up at Wu Zhiliang, their eyes still filled with disbelief. If Wu Zhiliang was behind all this, then this man was terrifyingly formidable. Even Wu Zhiyuan was now glaring at Wu Zhiliang; his actions had clearly crossed everyone’s moral threshold. Wu Zhishuang had merely embezzled a small amount of money, misappropriated public funds—that was an error, at worst. Wu Zhiliang had framed and plotted against a member of his own clan; this was a grave crime, unforgivable.

"Slander! This is all slander! I didn't do it, I never did it!" Sweat poured down Wu Zhiliang’s face as he continued to protest. He could not confess; he knew the consequences of admitting guilt were insurmountable.

Wu Sheng finally took the documents, glancing at them only briefly before setting them down. He then asked, "Zhiliang, I'll ask you: why didn't you mention that Aimei Company already transferred the thirty million subsidy funds? You kept claiming their money hadn't arrived. Do you want me to call them personally right now to confirm?" Wu Sheng had seized upon the critical point: Wu Zhiliang himself possessed little wealth; he had always been using money from the family enterprise. It was precisely this money that funded his schemes. If he couldn't explain the source of these funds, it would effectively confirm everything Wu Zhiguo had laid out.

Third update, the thirtieth chapter added for the hundred-chapter mark.