Ninghai.
The helicopter landed at the outpost camp, and Shangguan Yu'an felt something was missing. To this day, she still couldn't figure out why Chen Jinzhao didn't strike while the iron was hot and go straight for the kill.
This was the best opportunity.
However, Shangguan Yu'an ultimately didn't voice her question, believing Chen Jinzhao might have other plans.
She handed Chen Jinzhao the USB drive containing evidence of Han Shangwen and others' crimes. After Chen Jinzhao plugged it into his computer and carefully reviewed it, his brow furrowed. He then unplugged the USB drive and put it in his pocket.
Seeing this, Shangguan Yu'an had a vague feeling that Chen Jinzhao was preparing for something.
Noticing Chen Jinzhao getting up, she stepped forward and said, "Instructor, are you going to confront Han Shangwen? I want to go with you; I can't let you fight alone."
Chen Jinzhao glanced at Shangguan Yu'an, "Rest well, and by the time you wake up tomorrow morning, everything will be settled."
Shangguan Yu'an refused to budge, always wishing to stay by Chen Jinzhao's side.
"You're disobedient."
A gentle smile appeared on Chen Jinzhao's face.
This startled Shangguan Yu'an. She rarely saw Chen Jinzhao smile at her like this, which made her heart flutter. She lowered her head and said, "Wherever you go, wherever you want to go, I will accompany you."
"This is my duty!"
Chen Jinzhao suddenly barked, "Shangguan Yu'an, heed my order!"
"I command you to remain at the Ninghai outpost, not to go anywhere, understand?"
Shangguan Yu'an clenched her fists and bit her lip, saying, "Report, Instructor, I don't understand!"
She only knew that Chen Jinzhao didn't want to burden her.
"Instructor, please let me follow you! I don't want to see you fighting alone. We are comrades who share life and death; how can we abandon each other?" Shangguan Yu'an's voice choked, almost to the point of sobbing.
Chen Jinzhao took a deep breath.
He knew it wasn't the time for sentimental affairs. He needed to become heartless, because what he was about to do would have far-reaching consequences.
The repercussions of this were something Shangguan Yu'an and Yang Qin Hu and others could not bear.
"Shangguan Yu'an, do you dare disobey my orders?" he retorted.
Shangguan Yu'an said again, "At worst, I'll quit, but I will still follow you!"
Chen Jinzhao paused, then sighed, "You are too willful."
Shangguan Yu'an said nothing more. If she could follow Chen Jinzhao, what was wrong with being a little willful? Moreover, she knew that what Chen Jinzhao was about to do was to uphold justice, and she wanted to be a part of it!
To let Chen Jinzhao know that he was not fighting alone.
"Be good, obey," Chen Jinzhao said.
Shangguan Yu'an remained silent, having made up her mind to follow Chen Jinzhao.
Chen Jinzhao had no other recourse. He raised his hand, ruffled Shangguan Yu'an's black hair, and then knocked her unconscious with a palm strike. He then carried her back to her room to rest. After covering her with a blanket, Chen Jinzhao sighed, "I should bear these burdens alone."
Then.
Chen Jinzhao walked out of the room and drove away from the outpost in a military green jeep.
He rolled down the window, letting the cold wind blow into the car, keeping his mind clear. He was about to do something, which was to capture Su Hao, Han Shangwen, and Fang Mingchao all at once.
Slay gods as he meets gods, slay Buddhas as he meets Buddhas!
It was only an hour's drive from Ninghai to Donghai, not too far.
On the way to Donghai, Chen Jinzhao's phone suddenly rang. To his surprise, it wasn't from Tao Qiyue or Yu Mengzhi, but from Zhuang Xiaoyue, whom he hadn't seen in a long time.
"Why is it her?" Chen Jinzhao murmured.
After a brief moment of thought, Chen Jinzhao answered the call. Zhuang Xiaoyue got straight to the point, "Brother Chen, are you going to kill my master?"
Chen Jinzhao froze, unsure how to answer.
Zhuang Xiaoyue continued, "I haven't told him what I know, so Brother Chen can rest assured."
Chen Jinzhao had complex feelings for this benefactor who had saved his life. Moreover, Zhuang Xiaoyue was indeed a pure-hearted woman, though she had experienced more than most.
"Why are you calling me?" Chen Jinzhao asked, voicing his confusion.
Zhuang Xiaoyue was silent for a moment, then said, "If I say I want to provide you with his evidence of crimes, would you believe me?"
"Believe."
Chen Jinzhao's response was a single word.
Zhuang Xiaoyue let out a bell-like laugh, "Brother Chen is indeed Brother Chen, always so confident. I will send the material to your phone. Brother Chen, please check it later."
"I want to know why?" Chen Jinzhao asked.
In his memory, Zhuang Xiaoyue was completely devoted to Fang Mingchao, willing to do anything for him.
If this wasn't love, what was it?
But since she loved Fang Mingchao so deeply, why did she betray him?
Zhuang Xiaoyue smiled faintly, "Because I want to pull him back from hell, to redeem him. He has committed too many evils; I don't want him to be lost in delusion any longer."
Chen Jinzhao didn't expect Zhuang Xiaoyue's answer to be this. At the same time, he said, "You once asked me a question: if Fang Mingchao fell into my hands, would I let him go."
"You should know my answer."
Zhuang Xiaoyue was silent again for a moment, then said, "Brother Chen, I understand. He is currently at the Han family in Donghai, plotting something big with Su Hao and Han Shangwen. You might still make it if you rush over now."
"Thank you," Chen Jinzhao said.
"You're welcome. This is what I should do. I hope Brother Chen has a smooth journey."
The two hung up the phone.
At this very moment, in Taoyuan Villa, located at the border of Jiangning and Ninghai, Zhuang Xiaoyue put away her phone.
She knew that there were a few elder gentlemen from Donghai currently at Taoyuan Villa. Before Fang Mingchao left, he specifically instructed Zhuang Xiaoyue to arrange entertainment for these elders so that they wouldn't be displeased.
After the phone call.
Zhuang Xiaoyue found an excuse and asked the female artists serving the elders to leave the room.
These female artists gathered at the entrance of Taoyuan Villa, somewhat bewildered, not knowing what had happened. However, they all knew that Zhuang Xiaoyue was Fang Mingchao's woman, so they dared not speak out despite their anger.
Under their watchful eyes, Zhuang Xiaoyue smiled and said to them, "Ladies, from now on, you are free."
Before the women could understand what was happening, they saw Zhuang Xiaoyue turn and return to Taoyuan Villa, then lock the main door from the inside. As they were puzzled, roars and curses from the elders could be heard from inside the house.
Following that.
A burst of fire shot up into the sky, and soon after, it engulfed the entire building.
Zhuang Xiaoyue died.
Because she knew Fang Mingchao would not see the dawn of tomorrow, she chose to follow him in death. As she died, she took with her those elders who had traveled from Donghai.
The fire burned brighter and brighter, illuminating half of the night sky.