Chapter 192: Paying with One's Life

The Colosseum.

After Tang Ying announced the victory of the Gambling Battle, the members of the Qibao Association instantly erupted; they rushed onto the competition stage, tossed Chen Che into the air, caught him, and repeated this over and over.

Tang Ying, Ma Zijun, Lin Su, and Ma Menghan all watched this scene with smiles on their faces.

Meanwhile, in the spectator stands, the audience, having recovered from the shock of the Gambling Battle's unexpected outcome, became dejected.

"It's over, the Qibao Association won, so the bets I placed are a total loss!"

"The odds rose to forty to one, I just wanted to win a little pocket money, but I ended up losing hundreds of thousands in one go. How am I supposed to go home now?!"

"Sigh, this is all because we were blind before; we didn't expect Boss Chen of the Qibao Association to be so formidable. We kept looking down on him, and now we've been slapped in the face!"

"That's right, although I really don't want to admit it, we definitely brought this on ourselves, woooo..."

Looking at the results on the betting board, the spectators stomped their feet and beat their chests in self-reproach and frustration, then left with their heads hanging low.

"Alright, alright! Put me down!"

Unable to stand the way the Qibao Association members were treating him like a star, Chen Che spoke up to stop them.

Shen Qi leaned in and said excitedly, "Master, I will go take over the Red Leaf Club's venues immediately. Also, I have another piece of good news to report to you."

"What is it?" Chen Che glanced over.

"For this Gambling Battle, I bet all of the Qibao Association's assets. Thanks to your brilliant and mighty leadership, Master, we won the battle! The odds also multiplied by forty, netting us nearly ten billion!"

Shen Qi's expression was agitated; he almost shouted it out.

"Oh wow!"

"Ten billion, our Qibao Association is rich!"

"Joining the Qibao Association is truly the wisest choice I've ever made in my life. Boss Chen, you are my god!"

Hearing that astronomical figure, the other members of the Qibao Association were all shocked and shouted excitedly!

Chen Che looked surprised; he hadn't expected Shen Qi to place a bet. He nodded and smiled, "I actually neglected the matter of the betting board, you did well!"

"It is all thanks to your brilliant and mighty leadership, Master!"

Being praised by Chen Che, Shen Qi was happier than if he had won ten billion himself, and he almost jumped up in excitement.

"Alright, leave the cleanup work to you. Take over the venues under Bai Fengye's name as soon as possible. If you encounter people from the Scorpion Society blocking you or causing trouble, no need for nonsense, just fight."

Chen Che instructed.

"Understood, just watch me, Master!"

Shen Qi took the order and left with his men.

At this moment, Lin Su pushed Ma Menghan to the competition stage.

Ma Menghan was very happy to see Chen Che, and her voice was crisp: "Chen Che, congratulations!"

Lin Su, however, was much more restrained, only nodding at Chen Che: "Mr. Chen, congratulations." Yet, the look in her eyes as she gazed at Chen Che already revealed an excitement and heat that did not lose to Ma Menghan's.

Chen Che nodded in response to Lin Su, his gaze falling on Ma Menghan, feeling slightly surprised, and he turned his head to look at Ma Zijun.

"I brought her here."

Ma Zijun explained: "She said it was too boring in the hospital, but the main thing was that she was worried about you."

Chen Che smiled faintly and said, "I also have to thank you for coming onto the stage to defend me today."

"Don't say that, I should be the one thanking you."

Ma Zijun was all smiles: "If you hadn't won the Gambling Battle, I wouldn't have been able to take this opportunity to make a big profit. This way of making money is much simpler than doing business."

"Alright, then I'll be sure to notify you next time something like this happens," Chen Che also smiled.

"It's a deal!" Ma Zijun laughed heartily.

"Oh, right!"

Ma Zijun remembered something and said, "Before the Gambling Battle, Jiang Lan came to find me to probe for information about you. She said she wanted to use you to deal with Bai Xiangjin. My advice to her was to cooperate with you."

Chen Che was not surprised and nodded, "I taught her own younger brother Jiang Kui a lesson before, and she still wants to cooperate with me? This woman has some substance."

"I've heard some news. Although Jiang Lan is known as the Beauty Scorpion, she hasn't actually done anything heinous. On the contrary, Bai Xiangjin and his son have always been evil and notorious, to the point that she, as the head of the Scorpion Society, has been implicated and has a very bad reputation."

Ma Zijun said, "You killed Bai Fengye today; Bai Xiangjin will definitely come for revenge, and Jiang Lan will also come to find you to win you over."

"That will have to wait until they finish dealing with the investigation from the Justice Department."

Chen Che's smile was very gloating and smug.

Ma Zijun also laughed and said, "Indeed, your scheme is enough to give the Scorpion Society a headache. I'm hosting today to celebrate your victory; we can talk about other things after we eat."

"Let's go!"

Chen Che followed the three of them as they walked out with long strides.

"Wait a moment."

Tang Ying trotted over here, pulled Chen Che aside, and then looked at the three of them.

Ma Zijun understood and said, "We'll wait for you outside."

"Okay."

Chen Che replied, and the three of them left.

"Commander Tang, is there something?"

Chen Che looked at Tang Ying and asked.

Tang Ying tilted her head to look him over, her eyes full of inquiry: "Borrowing the Justice Department's blade to deal with the Scorpion Society, and doing it so legitimately—you really have talent! But I'm curious, when did you start planning this?"

"Guess."

Chen Che said with a smug look.

"Don't get cocky!"

Seeing Chen Che's cheeky face, Tang Ying was not annoyed; instead, her smile grew even wider, "I finally understand why you were able to cause such a huge stir in Shanghai!

As you wished, the Justice Department will immediately launch an investigation into the Scorpion Society. They won't be able to trouble you for a while, so we can start on the matter we discussed before."

Chen Che was taken aback and asked, "Are you going to start investigating the Martial Arts Alliance case?"

"I have been investigating it all along."

Tang Ying said, "Before, it was a matter of casting a long line to catch a big fish, but now it is time to reel in the net. Besides, it is quite a coincidence that Fan Hao is injured, so my original partner for the operation is now vacant. You can act as my informant and work with me when the time comes."

"Alright, I definitely won't hold you back!"

Chen Che nodded heavily and promised with a serious expression.

Tang Ying laughed, "With your abilities, let alone holding me back, I might even need your protection."

Chen Che gave a rare, shy smile.

"Alright, that's it. The operation is expected to be in three days; wait for my call."

Tang Ying turned around and led her team away. Before getting into the car, she looked back and blew a kiss to Chen Che, "I'm really looking forward to your performance then, my prospective boyfriend!"

That night.

Jiang Lan and Jiang Kui, accompanied by their bodyguards Long Jiu and Long Yi, arrived at the funeral home.

Guided by Wen Meng, the personal bodyguard of Bai Xiangjin, they arrived before the coffin.

Bai Xiangjin was dressed in solemn black, keeping watch before the coffin of Bai Fengye, drinking one mouthful of alcohol after another.

"The memorial service has already ended; what is the President still doing here?"

Bai Xiangjin said, not even glancing at the Jiang siblings.

"I was busy dealing with the investigation by the Justice Inspection Department during the day and didn't have time to bid farewell to Little Ye. As soon as the investigation was over, I rushed over here."

Jiang Lan explained with an expressionless face.

Bai Xiangjin sneered, "The President is busy with a thousand tasks; how could I dare to trouble the President with such a trivial matter? It is merely my, Bai Xiangjin's, son who has died."

This time, Jiang Lan did not respond, but instead went to offer incense and pay respects along with Jiang Kui.

After paying respects, Jiang Lan faced Bai Xiangjin and said, "President Bai, please grieve in moderation; do not harm your health."

"Many thanks for the President's concern."

Bai Xiangjin replied casually.

Jiang Lan looked at Jiang Kui. The latter shook his head reluctantly, but after being glared at by Jiang Lan, he obediently went before Bai Xiangjin, bowed, and apologized, "Uncle Bai, Fengye's matter is my fault. If I hadn't gone to provoke the Qibao Association, the Red Leaf Club wouldn't have been smashed, Fengye wouldn't have issued the Gambling Battle, and even less would... In short, the matter was caused by me. I apologize to you, and I also apologize to Fengye."

Bai Xiangjin glanced at Jiang Kui, then stared fixedly at Jiang Lan, though he said to Jiang Kui, "Young Master Jiang is too polite. If that is the case, then pay with your life."

………