Chapter 120: Finalizing the Plan

Just as Ma Zijun and the others had anticipated, the fire at Xishan Taoist Temple successfully made the news headlines.

The Public Security Bureau and the fire department were dispatched urgently, but by the time the fire was extinguished, nothing was left but ashes.

As for the cause of the fire, the official statement was: still under investigation.

The buzz did not last long; compared to the fire, people were more concerned with the gossip of entertainment celebrities.

However, this news exploded like a bomb for the Zhang Family and Du Chuan.

The Zhang Family compound.

Zhang Yimin rushed into Zhang Sheng's study in a frantic hurry, his expression panicked and his breathing ragged as he reported: "Dad, Xishan Taoist Temple caught fire, the entire temple burned to ashes, and the people inside... there's nothing left of them!"

Zhang Sheng did not show much shock; instead, he sat behind his desk with a gloomy face, flipping through a book with an uneven rhythm.

It was clear he had known for a long time, and the way he flipped the pages betrayed his inner turmoil.

"Bang!"

At this moment, the study door was pushed open again, and Zhang Yili rushed in.

"Dad, I heard Xishan Taoist Temple caught fire. What happened?"

He had been at the hospital looking after Zhang Shouhang, and upon suddenly seeing the news of the fire at Xishan Taoist Temple, he was greatly shocked and immediately returned home to confirm it with Zhang Sheng.

Zhang Sheng looked up at his two sons and said: "This matter happened too suddenly; I don't know what happened either."

After pondering for a moment, Zhang Sheng suddenly asked: "Did those few people make any moves last night?"

Zhang Yimin replied: "Yesterday they first went to the Qibao Association, then they each went back, but that Chen Che and the Divine Doctor Li Qingyan went out together again; I don't know where they went."

"Dad, do you suspect Chen Che did it?"

Zhang Yili expressed disbelief: "That's simply impossible. Even the Patrol Division can't do anything about the Martial Arts Alliance; how could Chen Che and Li Qingyan alone wipe out the entire temple?!"

Zhang Yimin, however, hesitated in his heart and said: "Dad, I heard from Qiao Ming that Chen Che only has Eighth Grade strength; the reason he was able to kill Peng Hui was by using a Needle Technique to boost his strength. Li Qingyan knows Medicine, so this is not impossible."

"If he can use such an unorthodox method to significantly boost his strength, it is very possible he could kill Luo Tianxiang."

"That's still impossible!"

Zhang Yili felt it was inconceivable and still did not believe it, "Even if he can boost his strength, Luo Tianxiang has Pills! Could his Needle Technique really be more powerful than Pills?"

"But there is no better explanation right now."

Zhang Sheng's expression was grave as he said: "Last night, Du Chuan and I went to see Luo Tianxiang, and he said he had a personal grudge with Chen Che. If Chen Che really did it, then we are truly in trouble!"

"If that fire really burned everything away, that would be fine, but I'm afraid Chen Che obtained evidence of the collusion between the Zhang Family and Luo Tianxiang."

Zhang Yimin said worriedly.

A fierce, cold glint flashed in Zhang Yili's eyes as he said: "Dad, strike first to gain the advantage! Chen Che hurt Xiaohang, and now he very likely holds evidence that concerns the life and death of the Zhang Family; we must eliminate him!"

"Chen Che must die, but it cannot be us who does it."

Zhang Sheng instructed: "Prepare the car; I am going to see Du Chuan. Everything else can wait until I return."

Zhang Sheng's car pulled up outside the Patrol Division; Zhang Sheng did not let anyone accompany him and went to Du Chuan's office alone.

Inside the office, Du Chuan was sulking by himself.

This morning, when he learned about the incident at Xishan Taoist Temple, he was so shocked he jumped straight up from his chair.

Afterward, he quickly found someone to verify it, and upon confirming that everyone had burned to death, his heart was filled with intense worry on top of the shock.

He had only seen Luo Tianxiang last night, and after waking up from a sleep, the person had burned to death!?

This felt too magical!

The most fatal part was that Luo Tianxiang had evidence of him giving the green light; it wouldn't matter if the person died, and it would be even better if the evidence burned, but he was afraid it had been taken away!

"It seems Chief Du knew before I did. What do you plan to do next?"

Zhang Sheng said this while sitting in the chair opposite Du Chuan, waiting quietly for the follow-up.

Du Chuan stood up, closed the doors and windows, sat back in his seat, and said: "Who do you think did it?"

"Chen Che."

Zhang Sheng said.

"A twenty-five-year-old young man, he has this kind of ability?" Du Chuan frowned, puzzled.

"In Shanghai, he dared to shoot my grandson, Ma Zijun is willing to protect him at all costs, and he has a personal grudge with Luo Tianxiang—what does Chief Du think?"

Zhang Sheng answered the question with a question.

Du Chuan's expression was grave as he said: "I have investigated; Chen Che is the son of the former Jinhai Group chairman, Chen Xin. Ten years ago, it was Luo Tianxiang who killed Chen Xin, but Chen Che disappeared afterward and only returned to Shanghai recently."

Zhang Sheng realized: "No wonder he has a grudge against Luo Tianxiang. In that case, it is even more likely that he did it."

"Not only that, he helped the Cheng Family girl as soon as he returned, so all along, it has been Cheng Kexin using her position to help him hide his identity information. My latest investigation shows that the person behind the Qibao Association and the Qian Family is also him."

Du Chuan's expression was gloomy as he said viciously.

Zhang Sheng was startled and said: "For some time, it has been rumored that Shen Qi swallowed the Qian Family. I was puzzled at the time as to when Shen Qi gained this ability; now it seems it was Chen Che's doing!"

"But if you look at it this way, this Chen Che is truly not simple. It will be very tricky if we want to move against him!"

"The things he has done are indeed not what someone of his age could accomplish. I was also very shocked when I saw the investigation results. And I still can't figure out how he managed it?"

Du Chuan frowned, deep in thought: "At his age, even with high talent, it is impossible to kill Luo Tianxiang and wipe out the entire temple!"

"People around my grandson say that the reason Chen Che's strength is powerful is because he knows a Secret Technique, using a medical Needle Technique to open his own meridians and boost his strength."

After Zhang Sheng finished explaining, he stated his true worry: "The point is, since he burned Xishan Taoist Temple, he likely obtained the evidence of our collusion with Luo Tianxiang. Once he makes the evidence public or hands it over to the higher-ups, then we will truly be facing a catastrophe."

"In that case, he doesn't need to be alive."

Du Chuan's tone was sinister, and he added, "And the Cheng Family and the Qian Family, as well as the Qibao Association—everyone who might know or have obtained the evidence must die."

"What about Ma Zijun?" Zhang Sheng asked.

Ma Zijun was the most special one; the Jinling Ma Family was a great mountain pressing down on them, and even the Patrol Division could not truly do anything to Ma Zijun without a solid reason.

"Don't worry about Ma Zijun for now. Didn't Luo Tianxiang say that the headquarters of the Martial Arts Alliance is in Jinling? If Ma Zijun really dares to cause trouble, someone will deal with him."

Du Chuan said: "We only need to deal with the others, though Ma Zijun is indeed a problem in Shanghai."

"Is there any way to stall him? At least so he can't come out and cause trouble when we make our move."

Zhang Sheng pondered.

"That's simple."

Du Chuan immediately dialed the number of a Branch Manager at an economic management department, spoke a few words, then hung up and said to Zhang Sheng, "I just reported the Yanyu Group's branch in Shanghai; the relevant departments will go to inspect it by tomorrow at the latest, and Ma Zijun will have to be present to accompany the inspection the whole time.

By the time he finishes the inspection over there, we will have already resolved the matter."

"Good, then what's next?" Zhang Sheng had an idea in his mind, but still asked for Du Chuan's plan.

"The current chairman of Jinhai Group is a former brother of Chen Xin, and he has a very good relationship with Chen Che."

Du Chuan tapped his fingers on the tabletop and said, "I will send people to capture Fu Lang's family to coerce Chen Che into not releasing the evidence.

Once he goes to save them, I can turn the tables and frame him for kidnapping and murder, which will allow me to kill him with justification."

Zhang Sheng nodded and said, "Very good. Since that is the case, we shall act separately. It just so happens that tomorrow is my seventieth birthday banquet; I will use my banquet as a pretext to invite the Cheng Family, the Qian Family, and Shen Qi, and we will finish them all off at that time."

"Fine, let's do it that way."

Du Chuan nodded in agreement.

The two finalized their plan and immediately began to take action; however, they could never have imagined that the outcome of this confrontation would greatly exceed their expectations and bring the most unparalleled shock to Shanghai in its entire history!