Chapter 277: Fermentation (Part 1)

"What did you say? Say it again?!"

"Dad, everything I said is true. Gu Zhangsheng really apologized to Chen Che; I saw it with my own eyes!"

After hearing Huang Shengming's words, Huang Shili was exceptionally shocked, unable to calm down for a long time.

"But... how is this possible?!"

Huang Shili still could not believe it. That was Gu Zhangsheng, a member of the Gu Family, and furthermore, Gu Yao had been beaten by Chen Che, and Ding Xu had also had a leg broken. Under such circumstances, how could Gu Zhangsheng possibly apologize to Chen Che?

Even if it weren't these circumstances, Gu Zhangsheng wouldn't apologize to Chen Che!

This was too inconceivable!

Huang Shili slumped in his chair, his chest heaving, eventually turning into a sigh: "Chen Che... Chen Che... I really underestimated him. This kid actually makes even Gu Zhangsheng afraid to provoke him; I'm afraid our grudge cannot be avenged."

"Dad, I don't think so."

Huang Shengming said.

"How so?"

Huang Shili looked at Huang Shengming.

"I always feel it's very strange; Gu Zhangsheng's attitude changed suddenly."

Huang Shengming analyzed: "I think the Gu Family must have something more important going on. Gu Zhangsheng didn't want to create extra complications, which is why he yielded to resolve the matter as quickly as possible."

"If that's really the case, that would be good. At least it can prove that Gu Zhangsheng isn't truly afraid of Chen Che."

Huang Shili's mood eased quite a bit.

"Ding—"

At this moment, Huang Shili's phone rang; it was a call from his secretary.

Huang Shili took a few deep breaths, and after answering, his expression suddenly stiffened once more.

"Dad, what's wrong?"

Seeing Huang Shili's distracted state after hanging up the phone, Huang Shengming couldn't help but ask.

Huang Shili looked at Huang Shengming, wanting to speak but hesitating, as if he hadn't yet recovered from what he had just heard, unable to believe it was true.

"Dad, don't scare me, what exactly happened?"

Huang Shengming grew anxious and asked again.

Huang Shili said with a look of astonishment: "Something happened in the government. Xue Zhangming... he arrested people from the Ouyang Family, and it was Ouyang Long's entire fully armed team."

"What?!"

Huang Shengming widened his eyes, his face full of disbelief, nearly thinking he had misheard.

"Why would Xue Zhangming arrest people from the Ouyang Family for no reason?! Besides, Ouyang Long is from the Military Department; they aren't in the same system. Xue Zhangming has no reason or authority to arrest him!"

Huang Shengming suddenly paused, his shocked gaze meeting Huang Shili's equally stunned eyes. "No! Whenever it involves a Martial Artist, the Inspection Bureau has the authority to arrest anyone.

But arresting Ouyang Long alone might be justifiable; to disarm and arrest Ouyang Long along with his subordinates—if you think deeply about this, it's a massive deal!"

Huang Shili continued: "It's not just Ouyang Long; Ding Yuan of the Ding Family is dead. Shot in the head."

Huang Shengming paused again, frozen in place, his whole body trembling uncontrollably, and even his voice sounded like a different person: "Shot... in the... head..."

Huang Shili took a few deep breaths, forcibly calming his mood, his brows locked tight as he asked: "Tell me about what happened at the restaurant tonight again. Tell me the sequence of events you know, every single detail."

"Dad, what's wrong? What does the restaurant matter have to do with this?"

Huang Shengming's body trembled, thinking of a possibility that made even him feel horrified: "Dad, are you suspecting that Xue Zhangming's arrests have something to do with Chen Che?"

Huang Shili remained silent.

Huang Shengming couldn't accept it, shouting hysterically: "But this is impossible! How could Xue Zhangming be in league with Chen Che? Besides, that's the Ouyang Family and the Ding Family. No matter how arrogant Xue Zhangming is, he has no reason and no right to just arrest people!"

"But what if he had a reason he couldn't refuse for arresting them?"

Huang Shili asked back impatiently.

Huang Shengming was stunned; he stared at Huang Shili, dumbfounded: "Dad... you..."

Huang Shili sighed, his tone softening: "I also hope I'm overthinking it, but this matter is too big; we must be cautious. Tell me again now, and remember, there cannot be a single slip-up."

"Understood."

Huang Shengming couldn't help but shudder, and he told the story in full detail.

…………

"Dad, Ding Xu has been beaten into such a state; we absolutely cannot let that Chen Che go! And the Scorpion Society, I want to have it erased from Jinling!"

Ding Mingchang retreated from the hospital room and roared in uncontrollable rage.

The Ding Family Patriarch, Ding Zhen, glanced at the unconscious Ding Xu in the room, closed the door, and rebuked: "Didn't you hear what the Gu Family member said just now? Gu Zhangsheng said this matter is over, that it ends here, and that we are not to trouble Chen Che again."

"It wasn't Gu Yao who was injured, it wasn't Gu Zhangsheng's son, so of course he doesn't feel the pain. I must kill that Chen Che!"

Ding Mingchang had long since been blinded by rage, shouting recklessly.

Ding Zhen glared with a stern face: "Calm yourself. I sent people to investigate tonight's events. Gu Zhangsheng apologized to Chen Che and even offered excessive compensation. How many people in Jinling do you think could make Gu Zhangsheng do that?"

Ding Mingchang calmed down in an instant. He knew Gu Zhangsheng's temper all too well, and there was no need to mention the weight of the Gu Family behind him. Gu Zhangsheng's attitude toward this matter was baffling, but it invisibly explained many things.

"But... but why would Gu Zhangsheng do that?"

Ding Mingchang asked with a frown.

Ding Zhen shook his head: "I don't know, but this matter ends here. Do not create extra complications."

"But..."

Ding Mingchang was still unwilling, but facing Ding Zhen's unquestionable gaze, he had to resign himself to fate.

At this moment, Ding Mo, the eldest of the Ding Family who also served in the government, ran over in a rush, panting: "Dad, something happened!"

"What is it? Why so panicked!"

Ding Zhen said with an unhappy expression: "No matter what happens, you cannot lose your composure, do you understand?!"

Ding Mo couldn't spare the time to listen to the old man's teachings and hurriedly said: "My cousin Ding Yuan is dead. The Inspection Bureau... Xue Zhangming personally led a team to arrest Ouyang Long and his subordinates, confiscated all their weapons, and the Botanical Garden and the Welfare Institute have both been sealed!"

"What?!"

Ding Zhen and Ding Mingchang cried out in shock simultaneously; their minds went blank, as if struck by a thunderbolt, and they swayed unsteadily.

"Dad!"

Ding Mo hurriedly supported Ding Zhen and helped him sit down on a chair.

After a moment, Ding Zhen caught his breath and asked, "When did this happen?"

"Just now. The Justice Inspection Department issued an announcement within the government, but it hasn't been released to the public yet," Ding Mo said.

Ding Mo said.

"Has Xue Zhangming gone mad? The true owners behind the Botanical Garden and the Welfare Institute are the Gu Family. He clearly doesn't want to stay in Jinling anymore!"

Ding Mingchang leaned against the wall, still unable to recover from this explosive news.

"Something big has happened, something big has happened!"

Ding Zhen shouted a few times, his voice trembling.

Ding Mo patted Ding Zhen's back and stammered, "Dad, before I came, Gu Zhengying told me that the Old Master wants to see you and invites you to go to the Gu Family for a talk right now."

With Ding Mo's support, Ding Zhen stood up on trembling legs, his voice filled with nervousness and panic: "Let's go now."

………

Gu Zhangsheng and Gu Yao walked into the Gu Family courtyard one after the other, heading along the bluestone path toward the inner courtyard.

Gu Yao touched the red slap mark on his face, feeling extremely aggrieved. He took two quick steps to catch up with Gu Zhangsheng and asked, "Dad, why did you apologize to Chen Che and give him so much money as compensation? And why did you tell the Ding Family not to seek revenge? Who exactly is that Chen Che? Why are you so afraid of him?"

Gu Zhangsheng stopped in his tracks and asked instead of answering, "Which one of you three took out that pill?"

"Ding Xu took it out, why?"

Gu Yao looked puzzled. "You know, that thing can strengthen the body when taken, and it can even allow an ordinary person to possess True Qi for a short time. Ding Xu was beaten and couldn't swallow his anger, so he wanted to use that thing to regain some face."

Gu Zhangsheng was furious: "Do you have any idea that you almost got the Gu Family killed?!"

Gu Yao looked bewildered: "Wha... what happened?"

Gu Zhangsheng took a deep breath and continued walking inside: "In any case, just treat today as a lesson. Don't think about revenge anymore; this matter ends here."

Gu Yao still didn't understand, but he didn't dare to ask any more questions.

The two walked into the inner courtyard, only to find Gu Zhengying already waiting at the courtyard gate.

"Big Brother."

"Uncle."

The father and son called out in turn. Gu Zhangsheng was just about to speak about tonight's events, but unexpectedly, Gu Zhengying spoke first.

"Father wants to see you both. Come with me."

Gu Zhengying looked solemn. After speaking, he turned to lead the way. Gu Zhangsheng and Gu Yao exchanged glances, both full of questions, and followed quickly.