Best Young Master
Chapter 422 - 375 Southwest Storm XI

Chapter 422: Chapter 375 Southwest Storm XI

The next morning, a light rain fell over Nanming, the sky overcast with clouds.

At 8:20 AM, three cars bearing special license plates arrived consecutively at the Yanhuang Organization in a light drizzle.

The three vehicles belonged to Ma Chaoyang, the head of the Southwest Police, and the directors of the Security and Armed Police departments.

After getting out of the cars, the accompanying drivers simultaneously offered to hold umbrellas for them, but all three men refused. They exchanged greetings and then walked shoulder to shoulder into the Yanhuang Organization Southwest Office building.

In a small meeting room on the top floor, Zhou Wu, the head of the Yanhuang Organization in the Southwest Region, sat at the head of the table, his face extremely grim as he reviewed the report titled "On the failed capture of the brothers Li Kui and Li Wei."

Last night, he had deployed two men to assist the Nan Li Police with the Martial Police in capturing Li Kui. Li Kui had managed to escape using the stratagem "Golden Cicada Shelling," and during the early hours, news came that Li Kui, while fleeing with Li Wei, had driven their car into a valley, causing an explosion. The car was destroyed and both were reported dead, leaving not even whole bodies, let alone intact parts behind.

Upon receiving this news, Zhou Wu felt even more strongly that there was something fishy about the whole affair. Thus, in his capacity as Deputy Head of the Leadership Group and Head of the Special Task Force, he organized a meeting with heads from the Yanhuang Organization, the police, the Security Department, and the Armed Police to report back to the leadership.

Three minutes later, the office director of the Yanhuang Organization Southwest Office brought Ma Chaoyang and his party to the meeting room door, gestured for them to enter, then turned around to instruct his staff to prepare tea.

He then wisely chose to leave.

Because... he could tell that Zhou Wu’s mood and expression were even darker than today’s sky, and barging in uninvited would have been asking for trouble.

"Director Zhou."

Upon entering the meeting room, Ma Chaoyang and his partners greeted Zhou Wu. Their attitude was not polite, merely perfunctory.

Although Zhou Wu had grown accustomed to this, his mood today was exceptionally poor, and he did not respond, not even bothering to nod curtly, but instead looked coldly at Ma Chaoyang.

"Director Ma, I need an explanation."

Shortly after Ma Chaoyang and his party took their seats, Zhou Wu picked up the report from the table and questioned coldly.

"Director Zhou, what kind of explanation do you want?" Ma Chaoyang played dumb.

"Yanhuang Organization collaborated with the Armed Police to assist your police force in capturing Nanqinghong’s core member, Li Kui, yet due to your subordinates’ command error, Li Kui escaped—Are your subordinates all incompetent? How was the capture plan devised?"

Zhou Wu had been convinced since last night that there was a foul play involved in the capture, and seeing Ma Chaoyang feign ignorance, the anger he had suppressed for days suddenly erupted, his tone quite hostile.

"Director Zhou, watch your language."

Facing Zhou Wu’s fury, Ma Chaoyang, who was of lower rank, was not frightened but instead chose to confront him head on. "What do you mean by ’Are your subordinates all incompetent’? You are well aware that last night’s operation was devised after a meeting between three departments, and it was only commanded by our police. Li Kui strategically allowed his men to fall into our trap to distract us, enabling him to escape with his brother Li Wei. This wasn’t a command error, but a flaw in the capture plan. If responsibility must be assigned, none of our three departments can escape blame! So please, do not push all the responsibility onto the police!"

"You..."

Perhaps it was because Ma Chaoyang was speaking frankly, Zhou Wu found himself choked and unable to respond.

"Director Zhou, Director Ma, it’s best for everyone to stay calm when we meet for a conference."

"That’s right, we should focus on facts and there’s no need to get heated."

Seeing that Zhou Wu and Ma Chaoyang were immediately confrontational upon meeting, the heads of the military police and the security department naturally tried to mediate and play peacemakers.

"Fine, fine, fine, let’s just say the capture operation last night failed because there was a problem with the plan!"

Zhou Wu coldly spoke, his face still full of anger as he stared straight at Ma Chaoyang and said, word by word, "Then tell me, why, after discovering that the brothers Li Kui and Li Wei had an accident, did your police not inform the rest of the departments and proceeded to handle it on your own?"

"Director Zhou, traffic accidents have always been handled by the traffic police department, haven’t they? Since when did handling traffic accidents require reporting to the Yanhuang Organization?" Ma Chaoyang’s tone was equally cold.

"It’s true that traffic accidents are handled by your police, but... don’t forget, the person who was in the accident was Li Kui! He was a Postnatal Perfect Martial Artist who died in a traffic accident, do you think that’s possible?" Zhou Wu was poised as if he was determined to get to the bottom of it.

"Director Zhou, I need to remind you, after last night’s traffic accident, nobody knew that the deceased were the brothers Li Kui and Li Wei. After their car went off the cliff and exploded, there was nothing left of the bodies."

Ma Chaoyang said each word deliberately, "We took photos at the scene to preserve evidence of the accident and then had the bodies sent to the crematorium. Just before cremation, we discovered some items related to Martial Artists on the bodies, and from there we traced and confirmed the identities of Li Kui and his brother Li Wei."

"If Director Zhou has any doubts, you can send someone to ask the duty staff at the Nanli Crematorium; they’ll know the truth."

At the end, seeing Zhou Wu’s expression grow even more sullen, Ma Chaoyang added nonchalantly.

"Again, do you think a Postnatal Perfect Martial Artist would drive himself off a cliff?" Zhou Wu laughed bitterly in extreme anger, "I’m telling you, this is impossible! Even if there had been an accident, with Li Kui’s Martial Artist prowess, he could have definitely escaped during the car’s descent!"

"Director Zhou, our police handle cases based on evidence, not conjecture," Ma Chaoyang rebutted once again.

"Ma Chaoyang!"

Continuously rebuffed by Ma Chaoyang, Zhou Wu became thoroughly enraged. He slammed the conference table hard and said in a stern voice, "Don’t play word games with me here! You think I’m unaware of the tricks behind this? Are you trying to force me to expose some unknown secrets at the leadership team meeting?"

"That’s within your rights, Director Zhou. I have no authority to interfere or stop you," Ma Chaoyang said with a smile as he spread his hands.

"Fine, fine, fine, I want to see if you, Ma Chaoyang, can really fool everyone!" Zhou Wu said furiously, his face turning steely blue.

Unfazed, Ma Chaoyang, looking calm, took out a cigarette, ignited it, and gently inhaled.

The heads of the military police and the security department glanced at each other, no longer playing peacemakers, but chose wisely to remain silent.

With their status, although they were far from the top echelon, it did not mean they could not discern the power struggles among the top from various signs.

"Considering Comrade Ma Chaoyang’s attitude, I suggest we end this meeting here and discuss everything at the leadership group meeting!" Zhou Wu gritted his teeth, making a decision.

"Beep~"

This time.

Without waiting for Ma Chaoyang and the others to speak, a special communicator on Zhou Wu’s wrist rang.

Upon hearing the sound, Zhou Wu lifted his wrist and was shocked to discover it was a call from the headquarters of the Yanhuang Organization.

This discovery drastically changed his expression, and without greeting Ma Chaoyang and his group, he got up and headed for the door of the conference room.

Hmm?

Seeing this scene, the heads of the police and security departments were somewhat curious about who could be calling to make Zhou Wu so nervous.

Did Little Fan make a move against Zhou Wu?

At the same time, Ma Chaoyang’s mind stirred, thinking of something.

"Hello, Elder Teng."

Seconds later, Zhou Wu stepped out of the small conference room, took the call with utmost respect, yet felt a sense of unease.

All this because the Elder Teng he mentioned was in charge of personnel at the Yanhuang Organization, holding all power over the appointment and dismissal of members, just like Xing Feng of the Punishment Hall, wielding great authority and being a figure all middle and lower-level members sought to please.

"Zhou Wu, considering your service at the Southwest Office, your ineffective administration over the local Jianghu, leading to the ’Tiger Roar Manor explosion incident’ and ’Wudang Martial Arts Hall shooting incident,’ has caused a huge uproar and a very bad influence. Based on the Elder Council’s decision, you are hereby removed from your position as the Director of the Yanhuang Organization Southwest Office, and you must report back to headquarters within 24 hours!"

As Zhou Wu’s voice fell, a deep and authoritative voice came through the receiver, sounding like a devilish chant from Hell, assaulting Zhou Wu’s consciousness and turning his face pale instantly!

"Elder... Elder Teng..."

Recovering from the shock, Zhou Wu tightened his lips, trying to say something.

"Zhou Wu, did you not hear me clearly, or did you not understand?" Elder Teng coldly interrupted him.

"No... no..."

Zhou Wu’s Adam’s apple bobbed, and he ultimately swallowed the words he wanted to say.

"Now that you understand, how should you respond?" Elder Teng asked in a cold voice.

"Yes, Elder Teng, I will return to the headquarters within the prescribed time..." This time, without letting Zhou Wu finish his words, Elder Teng ended the call.

"Beep... beep..."

Listening to the busy signal from the receiver, Zhou Wu stood frozen in place as if an immobilization spell had been cast on him.

"Director Zhou, will we continue the meeting? If not, we’ll leave."

A minute later, Ma Chaoyang, along with two other department heads, walked out of the conference room, seeing the ghostly pale Zhou Wu and they almost confirmed their suspicion, intentionally provoking him.

Without responding, Zhou Wu turned his head and glanced at Ma Chaoyang.

At this moment, there was no trace of anger on his face, just desolation and bewilderment.

It seemed... even now, he couldn’t believe he had been dismissed!

"Oh, right, I just remembered, Director Zhou, you just said the meeting is canceled and everything should be discussed at the leadership team meeting, right?" Seeing his expression, Ma Chaoyang deliberately slapped his forehead as if he had just realized something.

"Ma Chaoyang!" Zhou Wu gritted his teeth.

"Zhou Wu, there’s a difference in people’s worth, and one should also know one’s place—you act like a chariot, horse, and cannon, pushing forward when you’re no more than a pawn. Isn’t that asking for humiliation?"

Seeing that the timing was just right, Ma Chaoyang stopped pretending to be foolish, his face a mix of scorn and mockery.

Swish!

As Ma Chaoyang’s words rang in his ears, Zhou Wu’s initially gloomy face turned crimson and then instantly paled to an ashen hue, like a chameleon.

Watching this, Ma Chaoyang felt the anger in his heart subside, and without further provocation, he left with a smile.

The other two department heads, guessing what might have happened, sighed secretly at Ma Chaoyang’s ruthlessness but pretended to be oblivious, not even greeting Zhou Wu as they followed Ma Chaoyang out.

Not even a pawn?

Watching the three men retreat, Zhou Wu silently questioned himself.

Yes!

The answer emerged, and Zhou Wu’s face was stricken with tragedy!

...

...(To be continued. If you like this work, welcome to Qidian (qidian.com) to cast your recommendation votes and monthly tickets. Your support is my biggest motivation. Mobile users please visit m.qidian.com to read.)