Chapter 272: Clues in the Wasteland

"My god! The Second Young Master Gu actually... actually apologized?!"

"That is the Gu Family's Second Young Master, someone pinch me, is this real?!"

"What exactly is going on? I'm so confused, who exactly is this Chen Che? He made Young Master Gu Yao kneel, and not only did the Second Young Master Gu not do anything to him, he even took the initiative to apologize?!"

"........."

The onlookers were in an uproar, one after another expressing the shock in their hearts.

Chen Che narrowed his eyes to scrutinize Gu Zhangsheng, his gaze moving silently to the pills scattered on the ground.

He was certain that the change in Gu Zhangsheng's attitude began the moment he saw those pills.

A touch of secret joy appeared at the corners of Chen Che's mouth; he had guessed correctly.

"Today's matter was my son's fault, and my attitude was also poor; I ask for Mr. Chen's forgiveness."

Gu Zhangsheng continued: "I will satisfy all of Mr. Chen's demands. Weilaiju Restaurant will belong to the Scorpion Society from now on, and the thirty million in emotional damages will also be presented. Additionally, I will personally invest fifty million into the Scorpion Society to establish a cooperative relationship."

"What does Mr. Chen think?"

Gu Zhangsheng looked at Chen Che with a fawning smile.

The others were dumbfounded once again; with this attitude, is Gu Zhangsheng still a member of the Gu Family?

When have the Gu Family ever been this humble and ingratiating? What virtue or ability does this Chen Che have to make Gu Zhangsheng treat him like this?

Gu Yao was undoubtedly the most shocked in his heart. He covered his face, watching his father's fawning appearance, and beyond feeling humiliated and ashamed, he felt even more terrified.

He knew Gu Zhangsheng's temper very well; since Gu Zhangsheng could go to such lengths, there were only two reasons.

One is that Chen Che has a background capable of contending with, or even surpassing, the Gu Family.

Two is that today's matter is not as simple as it appears on the surface, and the impact it caused is enough to make the Gu Family feel troubled.

Gu Yao couldn't help but shiver, because no matter which one it was, it meant he had caused trouble.

Chen Che chuckled as he watched Gu Zhangsheng. He knew very well that Gu Zhangsheng was deliberately diverting attention, trying to resolve today's matter as quickly as possible before anyone discovered there was a problem with the pills.

Little did he know, he was facing Chen Che; his excessively forceful reaction was already enough to explain many things.

"Mr. Gu has handled this properly, I am naturally satisfied."

Chen Che nodded and smiled happily.

Gu Zhangsheng was visibly relieved and said: "Good, I will have people implement my promises right now. Once again, I express my apologies for the inconvenience caused to you."

Very quickly, Gu Zhangsheng made a few phone calls, and the matter was settled; the money and the restaurant were all in place.

Finally, Gu Zhangsheng apologized to Chen Che again, then left with Gu Yao and the other two, not forgetting to have his Bodyguards clean up the pills on the ground under the guise of it affecting the guests' dining.

Watching Gu Zhangsheng and the others speed away, they looked quite disheveled, like people fleeing in a panic.

"To be able to make Gu Zhangsheng lower his head and admit his mistakes, you can be considered one of a kind."

Jiang Lan said with a bright smile, then immediately expressed her own worries: "But Gu Zhangsheng's reaction is indeed very strange."

"That's right, I always feel like something isn't right."

Ma Zijun also said.

Chen Che took out the white pill he had poured into his palm earlier, pinched it between his fingers, and said: "It should be because of this thing."

Ma Zijun said: "It's just a regular health supplement; I had people test it, and there's no problem. But this medicine is indeed eerie; after eating it, you feel especially energetic, and it feels like your whole body is filled with power."

Chen Che stuck out his tongue to lick the pill, and a strange sensation spread through his mouth.

"If I haven't guessed wrong, this medicine itself has no problems, but as soon as it enters the human body and mixes with bodily fluids, it will undergo changes to achieve the effect of the Martial Arts Alliance's Pills, which forcibly raise one's cultivation realm."

Chen Che spat out a mouthful of saliva and made his judgment.

Ma Zijun was stunned and said: "Recently, the elite circles in Jinling have been eating this as a health supplement, and it was recommended and promoted by the Gu Family. The Ma Family has it now too."

"Then don't eat it anymore; I always feel like there is a huge conspiracy behind this."

Chen Che gave a warning, and remembering Zhu Que absorbing Fang Jixian's True Qi earlier, he suddenly felt a chill run down his spine.

"What is the Gu Family trying to do?"

Ma Zijun nodded and said resentfully.

"If I haven't guessed wrong, the Gu Family is helping the Martial Arts Alliance raise 'gu' insects."

Chen Che's tone was flat, but it made Ma Zijun, Jiang Lan, and Shen Qi shake, their faces full of astonishment.

"I once saw with my own eyes Zhu Que absorb Fang Shaoyi after he had finished taking the Pill and his cultivation realm had greatly increased; Zhu Que's realm also grew without any side effects."

Chen Che continued to reveal what happened earlier.

Ma Zijun's body trembled, he clenched his fists, and gritted his teeth: "If that's really the case, then this Gu Family is too sinister and too shameless!"

"Should we tell the Inspection Department?"

Jiang Lan asked worriedly.

Chen Che shook his head and said: "Xue Zhangming won't care. He isn't a warrior, but a politician. He wouldn't dare, and he might even leak the news to the Gu Family, and then the Gu Family would only be more covert."

"Then what should we do?"

Shen Qi said indignantly: "This Xue Zhangming is simply aiding the tyrant! He is not fit to be the head of the Inspection Department!"

"If he doesn't want to care, I will find a way to force him to care."

Chen Che changed the subject: "Let's not worry about him for now. How is that piece of land you investigated? Tell me about it."

"That piece of wasteland covering several hundred square meters shows up as wasteland in any searchable data."

Ma Zijun said: "The ownership of that land belongs to the Gu Family, but the usage rights belong to the Ding Family. Although the documents show it as wasteland, the Ding Family has transport vehicles frequently entering and exiting there."

"We went to visit and investigate privately, but..."

Jiang Lan paused and said: "But we were stopped by people from the military."

"The military?!"

Chen Che was startled and nearly shouted it out.

"That's right, it was the military."

Ma Zijun said, "We also find it incredible, but this just happens to confirm that there is a problem with that plot of land."

"Moreover, the military officer who stopped us, I recognize him; he is the fourth young master of the Ouyang Family, Ouyang Long."

Jiang Lan said.

Ma Zijun added, "The Ouyang Family is a military family within Jinling, and the Patriarch Ouyang Guilin is even a big figure in the Jinling Military Department. In the civilian and private sphere, it is said that the Ouyang Family is the direct subordinate force of the Gu Family."

"Only the Gu Family could mobilize the Ouyang Family to guard a piece of wasteland. This is enough to show the degree of importance the Gu Family places on that place."

Jiang Lan analyzed, "I suspect that the secret there is very likely led by the Gu Family, with both the Ding Family and the Ouyang Family participating."

"Has the power of the Martial Arts Alliance grown to this extent? The powerful families of Jinling are actually involved with them? This is not normal!"

Chen Che frowned and pondered.

"If that is truly the case, then Xia will very likely fall into great chaos. Judging from the current information, the Martial Arts Alliance is no longer just a Martial Artist organization."

Ma Zijun said with a worried expression.

"In any case, this lead must not be lost; I will go to that wasteland to take a look right now."

Chen Che instructed, "Shen Qi, keep an eye on the movements of the Fang Family at all times. Once there is news of Fang Shaoyi, take him to the Scorpion Society to wait for me."

"Yes," Shen Qi replied.

Chen Che looked at Ma Zijun again and said, "You have offended the Gu Family today because of me; do not go out for the next few days. Also, please ask your grandfather on my behalf to pay more attention to the affairs of the Gu Family in the government and the public."

"Between friends, there is no need for such formalities."

Ma Zijun smiled.

Chen Che looked at Jiang Lan again, but Jiang Lan spoke first, "Your senior sisters are not here; let Su Xiao accompany you."

"Huh?"

Chen Che was slightly stunned, staring at Jiang Lan.

"She is a Martial Artist; if anything happens, she can still help you."

Jiang Lan gazed into Chen Che's eyes and said in a calm tone, but Chen Che clearly saw unwillingness in her eyes.

Chen Che chuckled and gently took her hand. Jiang Lan's face turned red; she glanced shyly at Ma Zijun and Shen Qi, who were still on the side, and finally looked at Chen Che with tenderness in her eyes.

"Before I return, you stay at the Scorpion Society. Also, take the things you have investigated and write a letter in my name to send to Xue Zhangming."

Chen Che instructed.

Jiang Lan nodded and said softly, "Take care of your safety."