When Chen Yong and his men arrived at Villa No. 9 in Tianxi Garden, the heavy rain had stopped, and visibility had improved considerably.
Before the cars had even come to a halt, Chen Yong and his team spotted several cars parked at the entrance of Villa No. 9. More than a dozen bodies lay scattered in the rain.
"Clear the bodies quickly."
The cars stopped, and Chen Yong issued instructions via walkie-talkie before alighting.
Su Wu held an umbrella for Chen Yong and accompanied him into the villa's courtyard.
"Director... Director, this person seems to be Liu Yidao from the prestigious Liu family!"
As they walked, Su Wu spotted Liu Yidao's corpse and exclaimed in surprise.
As a member of the Martial Department's Sujiang branch, Su Wu was intimately familiar with the martial artists in Sujiang and even Jiangnan Province, having reviewed Liu Yidao's file.
Although Liu Yidao had been bisected, his face distorted, and his features were barely recognizable, a hint of his former self remained.
There was no response. Chen Yong stared at Liu Yidao's corpse, his pupils contracting slightly.
He, too, recognized Liu Yidao and was astonished by his presence.
This was because Yan Jun had informed him over the phone that the Qiao family father and son were involved in this matter, without mentioning Liu Yidao.
"Liu Yidao became a martial arts grandmaster twenty years ago. In the past two decades, he has killed several grandmasters and was known as invincible beneath the God of War. Now he's been cut in half—this must have been the work of a God of War!"
Just as Chen Yong was surprised by Liu Yidao's corpse, Su Wu murmured again, his face still filled with shock, "When did Sujiang get a God of War??"
"—"
Hearing Su Wu's words again and recalling what Su Wu had said in the car, Chen Yong couldn't help but glance at Su Wu with pity.
Looking for a needle in a haystack.
This was Su Wu's current predicament!
Moreover, Chen Yong felt that Su Wu had somehow turned a broad, sunlit path into a narrow, winding trail, losing the opportunity to align himself with the Dragon Lord of the Zhanlong Hall and the Qin family.
"After you clear the bodies, wait for me in the car."
Upon entering the main building of the villa, Chen Yong saw the corpses of Qiao Tianba and Qiao Lin, the father and son. He wasn't surprised, merely issuing instructions to Su Wu and the others.
Two minutes later, Su Wu and his team carried out the bodies of Qiao Tianba, Qiao Lin, and others.
Chen Yong sat on the sofa, took out a cigarette, lit it, and took a deep drag while organizing his thoughts.
Soon, he stubbed out the half-smoked cigarette, then took out his phone and dialed Yan Jun, the head of the Martial Department's Jiangnan branch: "Director Yan, it's me."
"Reached the location?" Yan Jun asked.
"Yes, I've arrived and cleared the bodies," Chen Yong replied.
"Qiao Tianba, Qiao Lin, and the martial artists around them are all dead, right?"
Yan Jun spoke again, his tone almost certain despite the question.
"They are all dead."
Chen Yong first answered, then added, "In addition, Liu Yidao's body was also found at the scene."
"Liu Yidao?"
Yan Jun's pupils widened instantly, his expression one of great surprise.
This was because he had spoken with Jiang Wuming on the phone a few hours earlier and had boldly inquired who was responsible for attacking Su Shiyun and Qin Xiaozhi. The response he received was Qiao Tianba!
"Yes, Director Yan, Liu Yidao is also dead, cut in half with a single stroke!"
Chen Yong confirmed, then stated his assessment, "Given Qiao Tianba's status, he couldn't have invited Liu Yidao. I suspect there's more to this."
"In Jiangnan, the only entity that could connect Liu Yidao with the Qiao family is the Yuan family!"
Yan Jun regained his composure and instantly grasped the crucial point.
"The Yuan family?"
Chen Yong's face changed, a wave of dread washing over him. "Director Yan, Liu Yidao is dead, and the Yuan family is involved. This matter is far from over."
"It's not over."
Yan Jun sighed softly.
"If the Liu family and the Yuan family seek revenge from the Dragon Lord of the Zhanlong Hall, what should we do?" Chen Yong sought instructions.
"That's not what I'm worried about."
Yan Jun looked concerned. "As of now, very few people know who the Dragon Lord of the Zhanlong Hall is. Neither the Liu family nor the Yuan family can possibly know that it was the Dragon Lord of the Zhanlong Hall who acted tonight. They will most likely mistake it for the Qin family's doing."
"Are you worried that the Dragon Lord of the Zhanlong Hall will go after the Liu and Yuan families?"
Chen Yong's heart stirred, a flicker of disbelief in his voice. "That's impossible, right? Although his Zhanlong Hall is famous, neither the Liu nor the Yuan families are pushovers. Besides, this is Long Country, not overseas..."
"Chen Yong, you know about the Guishan incident, don't you?" Yan Jun interrupted.
"Yes."
"I can tell you definitively that if, on that day, the Martial Department had harbored your predecessor, Jiang Zhengyi, and prevented him from standing up for his sister Su Shiyun, he would have chosen to go to war with the Martial Department!" Yan Jun's tone was complex.
"What... what?!"
Chen Yong's mouth gaped in shock. He stood stunned for a good several seconds before asking, "Then do you think he will come knocking again like last time?"
"I don't know what he'll do next, but one thing is certain: Jiangnan is about to undergo a drastic change!"
Yan Jun said, his expression turning grave.
A single move that affects the entire game.
Reason told him that if Jiangnan were to change drastically, it would trigger a series of chain reactions!
...
Half an hour later.
A Mercedes sedan stopped at the entrance of the Su family's ancient residence.
"Sister, you go in first. I need to talk to Xiaozhi for a moment."
In the back seat of the car, Jiang Wuming turned to Su Shiyun and said.
"Okay, Wuming."
Su Shiyun nodded, then said to Qin Xiaozhi, who was driving, "Xiaozhi, thank you for tonight!"
"Sister Shiyun, there's no need for thanks between my boss and me. You're his sister, and you're my sister too. Don't be polite with me," Qin Xiaozhi grinned sheepishly.
Su Shiyun looked at Jiang Wuming with curiosity, secretly wondering: How did Wuming manage to earn the unwavering loyalty of Qin Xiaozhi, Xing Tian, and others?
Without an answer, Su Shiyun alighted alone, leaving the space for Jiang Wuming and Qin Xiaozhi.
"Xiaozhi, after I met with your father tonight, he brought up your past. I told him the hidden truth."
Only after Su Shiyun entered the Su family's ancient residence did Jiang Wuming speak.
"Understood, boss." Qin Xiaozhi nodded, his smile gradually fading.
"Your father wants to clear your name and have you return to the Qin family. He asked me to convey this to you." Jiang Wuming said.
"Boss, what are you kidding about? How could I possibly return to the Qin family? It's so much more fun following you!" Qin Xiaozhi pouted.
"This is your decision to make."
Jiang Wuming had anticipated this answer and chuckled wryly. "Also, your father really wants to see you. You should go visit him."
"Okay."
This time, Qin Xiaozhi did not refuse.
"Lastly, if your father asks about tonight's events, tell him that the Qin family doesn't need to get involved, and I will handle it personally."
Jiang Wuming paused here, his eyes narrowing. "Use all your connections, and have Tianying cooperate fully as well, to quickly investigate why Yuan Hao instructed the Qiao father and son to target the Su family.
You must clarify whether dealing with the Su family was Yuan Hao's personal act or the Yuan family's will!
If it's the latter, it might be related to the death of my adoptive father, Su Shirong!"
"Yes, boss!"
Qin Xiaozhi immediately acknowledged the order, understanding the distinction clearly.
The former implied executing Yuan Hao alone!
The latter meant annihilating the entire Yuan family!