Chapter 168 The Storm Is Brewing

The journey back was smooth, and I didn't encounter any trouble from the police stopping my car for inspection.

At this point, people who can afford to drive cars are not people that ordinary police officers can afford to mess with.

"What happens tonight must be kept a secret."

After sending the two fat men back to the Li family, Chen Mo gave them one more word of advice, still feeling a little uneasy.

Otherwise, once this gets out, not only will he have to run away, but the Li family will definitely be implicated as well.

"Do you think I'm stupid?"

The fat man rolled his eyes, pulled a handkerchief from his pocket to wipe the dust off his hands, and said, "My brain may not be good at much else, but it's perfect for survival. Don't worry, this whole thing tonight is a secret. No matter who asks, I'll say I never left the city."

Chen Mo glanced at him but didn't say anything.

Fatty may be a loose tongue, but he's probably quite decisive when it comes to important matters.

Otherwise, he wouldn't have dared to entrust such a critical matter to the fat man.

"Alright, go in." Chen Mo gestured towards the Li family's gate with his lip. "Get some rest early. Do what you need to do tomorrow, and don't give anything away."

"Alright." The fat man pushed open the car door, leaned back, and asked in a low voice, "That thing... when do you plan to use it?"

Chen Mo didn't answer, but simply tapped his fingers lightly twice on the steering wheel.

The fat man immediately understood, chuckled, and shrank back: "Alright, I won't ask. I'll just watch the show."

Li Zhong silently got out of the back seat and nodded slightly to Chen Mo as a greeting.

The two entered the Li family's gate one after the other. Inside the gatehouse, the fat man and the old gatekeeper were joking around, just like usual.

Chen Mo watched them go inside before turning the car around and driving into the night...

------

Inside a private room in the backyard of the Hou family in the Japanese concession.

The paper door was half-closed, and a glass lantern hung under the eaves, its dim light filtering through the carved wooden lattice and spilling onto the tatami mats.

The room was filled with the smoke of burning sandalwood, which, though wisps of smoke curled around, couldn't mask the oppressive, stifling atmosphere.

Hou Zhenyue sat cross-legged in the main seat, with a set of celadon teaware on a small rosewood table in front of him. The tea had long since gone cold, but he hadn't touched it.

Across from me sat a middle-aged man in his forties, dressed in a gray-blue long gown with a black satin jacket over it. His hair was neatly combed, and he looked like a schoolteacher.

However, his eyes were sharp yet restrained, and his gaze always carried a hint of malice, not the look one would expect from a scholar.

Green Gang, Minister Li.

His real name is Li Jinglin. He is a key member of the Qing Gang, belonging to the Jin generation, and he manages many of the gang's businesses in the Chinese-speaking areas.

"Brother Li, you've come all this way so late, surely not just for this cup of herbal tea," Hou Zhenyue said first.

Li Jinglin smiled, picked up his teacup and glanced at it, "Brother Hou, you jest. I wouldn't come here without a reason. I've heard about what's been going on with the Hou family lately."

Hou Zhenyue's expression remained unchanged, only his eyelids twitched slightly: "Brother Li's information network is indeed impressive."

"Jinshi is only so big; how can we hide anything from people if there's even the slightest disturbance?"

Li Jinglin twirled the ring on his index finger and said slowly, "Besides, your second son's mourning hall has been set up for three days. It would be strange if my Green Gang didn't care."

"Moreover, Brother Hou has been doing things for Mr. Yamamoto for so many years. When the Hou family encountered some trouble, Yamamoto also inquired about it."

Upon hearing the name "Mr. Yamamoto," Hou Zhenyue's expression turned slightly solemn.

Yamamoto Ichiro, the counselor at the Japanese consulate in Tianjin, was ostensibly a diplomat, but secretly the head of Japanese intelligence in North China.

The Hou family was able to gain a foothold in the Japanese concession by acting as compradors for Yamamoto, helping the Japanese acquire goods, smooth relations, and plant spies in the Chinese-controlled area.

Over the years, the Hou family's business has grown bigger and bigger, and their relationship with the Japanese has become increasingly intertwined.

"Mr. Yamamoto is very kind." Hou Zhenyue picked up his teacup, took a sip, and tightened his grip on the cup slightly.

Li Jinglin nodded and leaned forward slightly. "Brother Hou, besides offering my condolences, I have something else to tell you about that I came here tonight."

Hou Zhenyue looked up at him.

"I heard there's been a mishap at the Zhenyi Division. The latest chapter is about to explode with plot developments! Keep up with the updates." Li Jinglin's voice was almost inaudible. "That Martial Saint seems to be in some trouble."

Hou Zhenyue paused in his tea-serving hand, causing the tea to slosh and spill a few drops onto the table.

"Is the information reliable?"

"It's from Mr. Yamamoto's side, so it's probably true."

Li Jinglin tapped his fingers lightly on the small table. "The specifics are still unclear, but martial law has been in effect in Beiping these past few days. The only official statement is that the Martial Saint is in seclusion."

"But think about it, why would someone suddenly go into seclusion? At this critical juncture, things might not be going well."

Hou Zhenyue remained silent, his gaze fixed on the few drops of tea stains on the table, his eyes deep and unfathomable.

The Department of Suppressing Evil Spirits is the last line of defense for the Chinese world against evil spirits and supernatural beings.

For twenty years, that martial saint was stationed in Beiping, and evil spirits dared not cross the line. All forces were also wary of him.

If the Martial Saint really does something wrong now...

"So, the Japanese have been making a lot of moves lately?" Hou Zhenyue asked.

Li Jinglin sneered: "It's not just frequent actions. This time, the three Yin-Yang Masters sent to our Jinshi City are ostensibly for cultural exchange, but in reality, they are here to probe our strength."

"If the Martial Saint is truly crippled, the Japanese will have far more appetite than just the area within the concession."

He dipped his finger in tea and drew a line on the table: "Over in the Huajie region, the Inspection Bureau is not worth mentioning. Although the Zhenyi Division is capable of fighting, without the Martial Saint in charge, and with most of their combat power being restrained by those great ghosts, what can they use to stop the Yin-Yang Masters?"

"Mr. Yamamoto's idea is for us to take this opportunity to expand the concession outwards."

Hou Zhenyue frowned: "What about the foreigners?"

"Foreigners aren't stupid either." Li Jinglin dipped his teacup in the water and tapped it a few times on the other side. "The church has been very active lately. They've probably heard the news and want to spread the church's influence into the Chinese-speaking world before the Martial Saint falls."

"A single Zhenyi Division stirs the hearts of so many." Hou Zhenyue picked up his teacup; the tea had already gone cold.

"When the Martial Saint was alive, no one dared to make a move. Now that the Martial Saint has encountered trouble, the fate of this Hua Realm is likely to change."

Li Jinglin looked at him meaningfully, "Brother Hou, you have been working for Mr. Yamamoto for so many years, you should understand that in chaotic times, choosing the right side is more important than anything else."

Hou Zhenyue put down his teacup and remained silent for a long time.

"About that kid..." he began slowly.

"Do as I say." Li Jinglin interrupted him, his tone decisive. "That man killed my brother-in-law, and the Investigation Bureau is protecting him. I've been looking for an opportunity to make my move. Now, taking advantage of this situation, I'll start with him and give the Investigation Bureau a warning."

Hou Zhenyue nodded: "In that case, we won't wait any longer."

"I've arranged eight gunmen, all veterans who have followed me for many years and have seen blood on their hands." Li Jinglin stood up, straightened his clothes, and said, "They'll be there tomorrow. Just give the order, and they'll make their move."

Hou Zhenyue also stood up and bowed to him, saying, "Thank you for your trouble, Brother Li."

Li Jinglin walked to the door, then suddenly stopped and looked back: "Brother Hou, the matter of the Martial Saint is still confidential. Mr. Yamamoto has only told a few people. Just keep it to yourself and don't spread it around."

"I save myself the trouble..."

Before the words were finished, a loud bang suddenly exploded overhead—

"Boom—"

It wasn't thunder.

It was the sound of a heavy object smashing through the roof.

In that instant, the tiles shattered into hundreds of pieces, pouring down with wood chips and dust.

In the blink of an eye, the ceiling of the private room collapsed, creating a huge hole, and torn wallpaper hung on the jagged wooden planks.

Dust rose up like a thick fog.

The collapsed object smashed through the ceiling and then through the second-floor partition, crashing into the tea room with a trail of broken planks and beams.

The ground suddenly shook, the tea set on the rosewood table jumped up and then fell down, and the celadon teacup rolled onto the tatami mat and shattered into several pieces.

Hou Zhenyue instinctively stepped back, his back slamming against the wall.

Li Jinglin was half-squatting on the ground, his right hand already inside his mandarin jacket.

Amidst the billowing dust, they finally made out what had smashed through the roof...