Mad Dragon gets out of prison and marries a beautiful CEO.

Chapter 98

On the way back, Chen Li contacted Song Qingtong and asked her to collect the body.

After all, Master Guigu was a master of supernatural abilities. His actions of causing destruction in the city crossed the line. Even if he brought the corpse back, it would still be considered a great achievement for Song Qingtong.

As the car entered the gate of Bihu Longting, Chen Li's phone vibrated.

The screen displayed Song Qingtong's number. When the call connected, her voice was noticeably more tense than usual.

"Guigu's body has been recovered, and a Vermilion Bird Hall bronze token was found on his body."

"In addition, someone reported the commotion on the mountain road. Lu Changgeng sent a car up ten minutes ago, but my sentry stopped them outside the mountain pass and prevented them from getting close to the scene."

Chen Li showed no surprise and asked:

Did you ask him what the people he sent were doing?

Song Qingtong replied:

"They said they were patrolling the mountain, and they brought two iron shovels and a roll of waterproof cloth."

"Chen Li, this old man reacted faster than I thought. He must have gone to test the waters to see if Master Guigu was really dead."

"Once he was certain that Master Guigu was dead, he no longer had any fear of Ye Zong. Nobody knows what will happen next."

It's not that she couldn't explain it clearly, but that she couldn't say that Lu Changgeng wanted to take power back from Ye Zong, and was even willing to kill him.

After all, she's a member of the special operations team. If her words come true and she gets questioned about them, how will she explain herself?

Chen Li understood that she naturally understood what Lu Changgeng meant, as did Lu Changgeng.

Lu Changgeng wanted to use him to deal with Ye Zong, complete the generational change of the Juxian Chamber of Commerce's management, inject fresh blood into the chamber, and ensure its long-term development.

It would be easier and more thorough for Chen Li to kill the Ghost Valley Master whom Chen Changgeng feared, causing them to fight amongst themselves, and then deal with the Juxian Chamber of Commerce, this cancerous tumor.

Chen Li asked:

"Do you want to leave any traces at the scene for him?"

"It's best to leave some behind, saying it's just trees broken by a landslide and insect corpses on the road, natural phenomena, so he'll think we didn't find anything on Guigu."

"Yes, I understand."

Song Qingtong replied.

We arrived at Villa No. 28.

Chen Li had Lu Changgeng's plan in mind: invite him to dinner, sow discord, sit back and watch, and then reach out and pull in at the crucial moment.

Every step was meticulously calculated, leaving no room for error.

But he overlooked one thing: Chen Li wouldn't wait for him to set up his plan before making a move.

After entering the house, Chen Jia went to the kitchen to boil water, while Chen Li sat on the sofa and dialed Ah Kun's number.

Chen Li commanded:

"Keep an eye on the main gate and back gate of Emerald Manor. If Ye Zong goes out in the middle of the night, follow him. Don't make a move, just keep an eye on him."

"Yes, Mr. Chen!"

Ah Kun respectfully accepted the order.

Chen Jia brought out two glasses of water, handed one to him, sat down next to him, and asked;

"Ye Zong fled overnight?"

Chen Li replied:

"It would be strange if he didn't run away. Guigu was his biggest card. Now that he's played his card, he's the only one left at the table. He'll either have to go and negotiate with Lu Changgeng tonight, or he'll pack his things and leave."

at the same time.

Ye Zong didn't run away. He locked himself in his study and made phone calls all night, but no one answered Lu Changgeng's call.

The people at Mingyuan said that the old chairman had retired and the phone was forwarded to the secretary's desk.

Ye Zong finally slammed his phone on the table, and the tea in his cup went cold without anyone refilling it.

When Ye Qinglian came in, he was sitting behind his desk, his elbows propped up on the edge of the desk, his hands covering his face.

The light from the table lamp made his exposed neck appear grayish-white, the skin on the back of his neck drooping slightly, making him look as if he had shrunk overnight.

"Godfather".

Ye Qinglian stood by the door for a while before speaking, her voice low.

Ye Zong lowered his hand and raised his head.

His eyes were red-rimmed, and the weariness in them was as deep as silt that had accumulated over many years, but the sharp light in his eyes had not been completely extinguished; it was just suppressed by something.

"Master Guigu is dead..."

He sighed as he spoke:

"According to inside information, the body was taken by the special operations team. Lu Changgeng wanted to send people to clean up the mess, but they were stopped outside. He's refusing to answer my calls now."

Ye Qinglian walked over and sat down in the chair opposite the desk.

She didn't respond immediately, but placed the thermos on the corner of the table, waiting for her godfather to finish speaking.

"Seventy percent of the foundation of the Vermilion Bird Hall is supported by the Gu poison of the Ghost Valley."

Ye Zong's voice was low and hoarse, his fingers tapping unconsciously on the table as he spoke:

"The thugs on the periphery can only guard the gate; the core covert operations are all handled by his Gu."

"With him dead, all the knives in my hand have gone dull. As for Lu Changgeng..."

He paused, letting out a short, bitter laugh:

"We both know how long he's been waiting for this opportunity. When he abdicated in favor of his son, I knew this day would come sooner or later."

"The son charges ahead, the father picks from behind."

"He wants to use me as a sacrifice to show those below what happens to those who disobey."

Ye Qinglian listened quietly to him finish speaking, then reached out, unscrewed the lid of the thermos, pushed it in front of him, and said:

"My godfather saved the old chairman's life back then, doesn't he feel even a shred of gratitude?"

Ye Zong gave a wry smile and said:

"I did save Chairman Lu Changgeng's life, but over the years, with interests intertwined, many frictions have arisen, and I've long since exhausted all my favors."

"He only remembers that I was disobedient. After Tiger fell, he was afraid that I would follow Tiger's example and try to benefit from both sides."

He picked up the thermos and took a sip. The scalding hot tea made him frown, but he didn't put the cup down.

After a long while, he whispered:

"Qinglian, what do you suggest we do?"

Ye Qinglian placed her hands on the table, pondered for a moment, and then offered her suggestion:

"Godfather, let me go talk to Chen Li."

Ye Zong paused, holding the thermos in his hand.

He slowly raised his head, a layer of alertness masking the weariness in his eyes:

"What do you want to do?"

Ye Qinglian said in a steady voice:

"Cooperate with him."

"He and Lu Changgeng are now allies on the surface, but in reality they each have their own agendas."

"Lu Changgeng wanted to use him as a knife, and then take him away after the knife was dulled. Chen Li wouldn't be unable to see through it."

"If we take the initiative to talk to him and present him with a balance of power among the three parties, as long as the Vermilion Bird Hall doesn't fall, he'll have an extra card in his hand, and Lu Changgeng won't be able to act against him with impunity."

Ye Zong stared at her for a long time before finally breaking the silence;

How can you guarantee he won't burn the olive branch you offered him?

Ye Qinglian replied:

"I can't guarantee that."

"But the fact that he didn't come directly to Emerald Manor after killing Guigu tonight shows that he doesn't want to push things too far. He's left us a loophole."

The study was quiet for a while.

Ye Zong leaned back in his chair, closed his eyes, and after a long while, said in a hoarse voice:

"Go ahead. But don't let Lu Changgeng's men know."

Ye Qinglian stood up, paused at the door without turning around, and said:

"Don't worry, Godfather, I will protect the Vermilion Bird Hall."

Ye Qinglian did not go to sleep immediately after returning to her room.

She sat on the edge of the bed, her phone screen lit up, displaying a message that had been edited but not yet sent, addressed to Chen Li's number.

The content is very simple, it reads:

"Tomorrow at 3 PM, at the teahouse behind Yuncheng University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. I'll come alone to discuss cooperation with you."

She hovered her thumb over the send button for a few seconds before pressing it.

When the notification that the message had been sent appeared on the screen, she placed her phone face down next to her pillow, turned off the light, and lay down in the dark.

Moonlight streamed in through the gaps in the curtains, casting a thin, silvery band of light on the ceiling.

She stared at the band of light for a while, then closed her eyes. The dull pain in her chest from the backlash was still there, but it was less severe than earlier that evening.

She was a little uneasy. Would Chen Li keep the appointment?