Chapter 402: Resolution

Zhang Ping'an could be certain that these three men were either Public Security or soldiers; the aura on their bodies was too obvious. All three were around forty years old and had ordinary appearances.

Of course, in the eyes of ordinary people, there was nothing unusual about them, but under Zhang Ping'an's Space Perception, they had nowhere to hide.

Zhang Ping'an had a bad premonition in his heart, but he did not act rashly. Instead, he memorized the three men's faces, sketched them out, and prepared to hand them over to the Zhong Family to handle.

Yes, the only one with a death feud against Zhang Ping'an was the Zheng Family, but Zhong Laotou had sworn up and down that Zheng Xiangnan was not like his son Zheng Zhiming, and the three brothers-in-law held the same opinion.

But they—or rather, the person even Zhang Ping'an had overlooked—Zheng's mother, Wu Caixiang, watching her son be tortured to death, could not be guaranteed not to commit some extreme act.

This silence of over a year had finally become unbearable, or perhaps they were wary of alerting the Zhong Family; fortunately, Zhang Ping'an's security was professional enough.

Zhang Ping'an put away the three sketches and then kept using Space Perception. He did not stare at them constantly; these were elites, and one extra look would arouse their suspicion.

They seemed to have sensed the number of security personnel in the shadows and remained still, eventually splitting up and returning to an inconspicuous courtyard.

The day was still early, so Zhang Ping'an did not continue to probe further. Instead, he turned and went to the Zhong Family, handed the three portraits to Zhong Laotou, and explained the situation.

Zhong Laotou's eyes widened instantly, his whole body radiating a dangerous aura, laughing out of extreme anger.

"Good, good, good, a fine lawless Xiong Tianzhi."

Zhong Laotou clearly recognized one of them, staring fixedly at the sketch in his hand.

"Dad, you know him?"

"Hmph, Zheng's former bodyguard. He really doesn't know what's good for him. After Zheng passed away, he retired back to his hometown. I didn't expect him to be back now."

"Zheng, oh Zheng, I really don't understand you anymore."

Zhong Dingbang knew that Wu Caixiang could never have ordered this bodyguard around unless she had some leverage or Zheng Shenghua had left some instructions.

"Ping'an, these people are not simple in their skills. I know you are also very capable, but you still need to be careful. I will resolve this matter as soon as possible. Try not to go out before the New Year." Zhong Dingbang did not want his daughter and granddaughter to suffer any harm.

"Okay."

Zhang Ping'an agreed verbally, but he still decided to go and investigate that night. He did not want to live in fear every time he went out in the future.

At one o'clock in the morning, Zhang Ping'an snuck back to the three men's daytime stronghold. Under a space scan, there was surprisingly no one inside, and there were no traces of anyone having lived there at all.

Finally, he discovered a basement inside the earthen stove, along with some basic supplies, three handguns, and three extra magazines. Zhang Ping'an felt a chill in his heart; he truly hadn't realized that someone was planning to make a move on him right under his nose.

At this moment, for some reason, Zhang Ping'an suddenly thought of the Great Emperor Hongwu, Old Zhu, who would wipe out ten generations at the slightest provocation; sometimes he thought it was actually quite necessary.

Zhang Ping'an did not alert the enemy. After sensing carefully once more and finding that there was indeed nothing else, he wiped away his traces and left quietly.

For several days in a row, Zhang Ping'an went to check that house in the early morning, but unfortunately, he gained nothing.

On the twenty-eighth day of the twelfth lunar month, Zhang Ping'an took Zhong Mingzhu and the children to the Zhong Family again. The three men of the Zhong Family looked grave.

"Ping'an, it is indeed true that Wu Caixiang had it done. She confessed, but Xiong Tianzhi managed to escape."

It turned out that as Wu Caixiang watched her daughter-in-law get better day by day and finally be completely cured, she not only felt no gratitude but instead believed that Zhang Ping'an had refused to save her son, and she grew resentful.

Now that her son was dead, yet Zhang Ping'an was happy and fulfilled, her heart ached whenever she thought of it, which was why she sought out Xiong Tianzhi.

The other two were Public Security; they were reconnaissance experts Wu Caixiang had found by using her husband's status.

What worried Zhong Zhenbei was not that the person had escaped, but what attitude they should take toward Zheng Xiangnan in the future.

No matter how open-minded a person is, if their family members fall one after another, it is hard not to have ripples in their heart. Zhong Zhenbei was wondering whether to take the opportunity to take them down as well.

"Alright, Zhenbei, you must trust in Xiangnan's character. He understands the rights and wrongs of this matter." Zhong Dingbang still thought highly of the younger generation, Zheng Xiangnan.

Zhang Ping'an had never met him and held a reserved attitude toward this, but he had to arrange another team to start monitoring the Zheng Family.

The Public Security had also searched that stronghold, but they hadn't discovered the basement one meter under the earthen stove. Zhang Ping'an didn't mention it either; it seemed he would have to make a trip tonight.

The most dangerous place is often the safest; Xiong Tianzhi was very likely playing this "black under the lamp" trick.

In the early morning, Zhang Ping'an snuck into the courtyard and sure enough, found a slightly disheveled figure in the basement of the earthen stove, who was fast asleep at the time.

Zhang Ping'an went directly along the air vent and lit incense. Ten minutes later, Zhang Ping'an took him into his space, tied him up well, and gave him two needles, after which he slowly woke up.

"Awake?"

"Zhang Ping'an." Xiong Tianzhi was surprisingly calm, as if he had known this day would come.

"It's me. Why give up a stable retirement to put your family in danger?"

"Because of Zheng Zhiming. I basically watched him grow up."

"So you knew everything he did? Do you think this matter is my fault?"

Xiong Tianzhi stopped talking immediately. He was well aware of Zheng Zhiming's actions; it could be said that he brought it entirely upon himself.

"His illness, I couldn't save him. It was dragged out too late. Of course, even if I could save him, I mostly likely wouldn't have."

Xiong Tianzhi remained silent. He could naturally understand Zhang Ping'an's thinking; he wouldn't have saved him either if he were in his shoes.

"Xiong Tianzhi, I just want to ask you one thing: does Zheng Lao know about Zheng Zhiming's actions?"

"The Chief naturally doesn't know." Xiong Tianzhi hurriedly explained, a reaction that made Zhang Ping'an feel strange instead.

"Forget it, it's not important anymore." Zhang Ping'an was extremely disappointed, and his resolve to monitor the Zheng Family grew even firmer.

"Does your family know what you've done? Or rather, does your son in the military know?"

"This matter has nothing to do with him." This time, Xiong Tianzhi was truly anxious.

"It's useless. When you agreed to Wu Caixiang, you should have known what kind of investigation your son would face."

"I..."

Xiong Tianzhi opened his mouth but could not make a sound; clearly, he knew the price.

"Write down your confession and everything you know. I will try my best to protect your son."

"Actually, with this lesson from the Zheng Family, I should have cut the weeds and pulled the roots, but I feel your son is mostly innocent. However, I'm afraid that if he finds out the truth, he might choose to avenge his father, so it would be better to resolve it all at once now."

"I'll write, I'll write everything. This matter has nothing to do with my son; he knows nothing of everything I've done."

Xiong Tianzhi did not doubt Zhang Ping'an's words at all. He had seen Zhang Ping'an's file; he would not show the slightest mercy when killing.

Soon, Xiong Tianzhi began writing furiously. It was all about shielding Zheng Zhiming. He didn't look like a bodyguard; he looked more like a black glove used to clean up messes.

"The Chief mostly didn't know about these things..."

"Hmm."

Zhang Ping'an used another hand-blade strike to knock him unconscious, then waited quietly for daybreak to deliver him to the Zhong Family.

The next morning, the brother-in-law's mouth twitched as he looked at the tightly bound Xiong Tianzhi; he knew this brother-in-law was formidable, but he hadn't expected him to catch the man by the very next day.

"This..."

"Big Brother, I'll leave this person to you. Here is his confession as well. I promised him that if there are no issues with his son, then just follow the standard procedure."

"Very well."