Chapter 353: Disaster Strikes

Chapter 353: Disaster Strikes

Perhaps to blend in with the neighboring houses, this residence was not particularly large. As He Qingxiao led his men to break through the door, several people ran out, their faces filled with fear, shouting, "Intruders!"

By the torchlight, they could see that these people, who had hastily grabbed their outer garments and run out, were indistinguishable from ordinary folk.

He Qingxiao ignored them, instead chasing after a swift figure crouching low and retreating.

That person ran fast, but He Qingxiao was even faster.

He pursued the figure through the rear garden, past a well. Just as the person was about to reach the back gate, they suddenly stopped, turned back to the well, glanced around briefly, and then leapt in without hesitation.

The Jinlin Guard team following closely coordinated perfectly; some went after the person, while others jumped into the well. One person stayed behind, firing a smoke signal into the air.

Though it was called a well, it was bone-dry. As soon as He Qingxiao landed, he knew his judgment was correct. Crawling through the well's underground tunnel, he advanced about seven or eight yards before seeing the exit.

The exit led to a nearby house. Although it only connected to the neighbor's home, in a pinch, it offered a quick escape.

Like now.

The only thing they didn't expect was that He Qingxiao did not knock on the door and inquire as one normally would during an investigation.

After all, this was the residential area of Chief Minister Zhang's relatives. Even if there were suspicions, one should try diplomacy before force. And in just a few moments, it would be enough for someone to silently escape through the tunnel entrance at the well.

But He Qingxiao arrived too quickly. When he leaped out of the tunnel, they had just emerged, and the last person was just getting up.

Seeing that the person who emerged was not their companion, they all struck at once.

Perhaps unlucky in other aspects, He Qingxiao was exceptionally talented in martial arts. Facing the assault of several masters, he held his ground.

After holding out for a while, the Jinlin Guard reinforcements arrived. The first to come were also from the tunnel under the well. These were all He Qingxiao's trusted subordinates, each skilled in combat.

Then, more Jinlin Guard poured in through the courtyard gate.

The fierce battle raged for about fifteen minutes before ending in the face of absolute numerical superiority.

Both residences were thoroughly searched inside and out. Hearing the ruckus, neighbors spilled out of their houses. Some quietly slipped away to inform Zhang Yuchen, while more, unaware of what was happening, came to stop it.

"Who are you? Do you know where this is?" The person who spoke was emotional, unable to believe that the Zhang family could encounter such a thing.

"Jinlin Guard is handling a case. Those who obstruct the case will be treated as accomplices!" Huang Cheng showed his badge.

"Reporting to the sir, a total of twelve people have been captured in both courtyards."

He Qingxiao nodded: "Take them to the Northern Pacification Office."

Zhang Yuchen had just fallen asleep when he was awakened by knocking.

He sat up abruptly, momentarily confused.

Wang was also awakened, her eyes bleary with the same confusion: "Master—"

Zhang Yuchen fully woke up, not bothering to reply to Wang, grabbed his outer garment, and strode out.

"What's going on?"

The messenger spoke nervously: "Uncle Ten's house is surrounded by many officers; they claim it's the Jinlin Guard on a mission."

Zhang Yuchen's eyes widened in shock, and he brushed past the messenger, hurried out.

The Zhang family lived clustered together, and it wasn't far from Zhang Yuchen's residence to the scene. But by the time he got there, He Qingxiao and his men had already left.

Zhang Yuchen entered the residence, walked straight to the backyard well. The stone slab that usually covered the well had been pushed aside, not even having time to cover it back up, indicating how urgent the situation had been.

Zhang Yuchen looked around but found no one, his face ghostly pale as he stepped outside.

Outside stood many people, all familiar faces, most of whom had no idea what had happened, all staring at him, waiting for answers.

Wang, who had followed him from home, saw Zhang Yuchen's face as pale as snow, a look she had never seen on him before, and was extremely worried: "Master, what happened?"

Zhang Yuchen said nothing and hurried to the Zhang residence.

As the elderly leader of the Zhang family, Chief Minister Zhang hadn't heard the news until Zhang Yuchen knocked on his door.

Unlike the small courtyard where the family members lived, the Zhang residence was far more spacious and grand. Zhang Yuchen walked for a while before seeing Chief Minister Zhang standing at the door of the study.

Upon seeing Zhang Yuchen, Chief Minister Zhang, ignoring the late-night chill, quickly approached him.

"Yuchen, what happened?"

"The assassination failed, we've been exposed," Zhang Yuchen managed to say after entering the study.

Chief Minister Zhang's face turned grim in an instant: "How were we exposed?"

"The Jinlin Guard surrounded the residence of our tenth uncle, likely because Shitian was spotted after the failure," Zhang Yuchen's face grew worse as he spoke, already somewhat understanding, "We were the mantis stalking the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind us, we've been tricked!"

Chief Minister Zhang slumped into his chair, suddenly looking years older: "I told you not to act rashly, but you didn't listen."

He did not blame Shitian, who had been chosen to carry out the mission, for leading the Jinlin Guard to them.

Training a loyal, skilled assassin willing to stay hidden isn't easy. Over the years, some of those trained had died, some were injured, with constant losses and replacements. Now, at critical moments, only six were truly reliable.

These six skilled operatives weren't expendable; if captured, suicide was their only choice, but if they could escape, they certainly would.

"I underestimated that girl!" By now, Zhang Yuchen had lost his former vigor, leaving only regret.

If the other side hadn't already set a trap waiting for his men to fall into, Shitian's failure to assassinate and returning to the most familiar place would have been the safest.

"Are you saying the Jinlin Guard and that girl planned this together?"

Zhang Yuchen slammed the table fiercely: "It's that He guy! The Jinlin Guard arrived too quickly. When I went to check, Shitian and the others didn't even have time to replace the stone slab on the well, showing that the Jinlin Guard barged in directly. If there had been time to knock, Shitian and the others could have escaped in time."

This was also why he realized they had been tricked.

"Second Uncle, what do we do now?"

It had been a long time since Zhang Yuchen had spoken to Chief Minister Zhang in such a helpless tone.

Chief Minister Zhang's son had died early, and his only grandson, Zhang Xu, was a hopeless case. As he grew older, Zhang Yuchen, decisive and accustomed to shady dealings, often harbored the illusion that he could already be the decision-maker.

But now, with disaster looming, Zhang Yuchen was shocked to find that his usual authority was like a bubble, easily popped.

"What do we do now?" Chief Minister Zhang repeated Zhang Yuchen's words, closing his eyes, and when he opened them again, they were filled with gloom, "Yuchen, if sacrificing you and me could preserve a bit of the Zhang family's bloodline, would you be willing?"

Zhang Yuchen shuddered, his voice changing tone: "Second Uncle?"

"Either the family is destroyed, or we leave a bit of foundation, what do you choose?" Chief Minister Zhang asked hoarsely.