The operator was startled and broke out in a cold sweat, but gritted her teeth and insisted, "I got this information myself. No one reported it."
"I didn't ask who reported it to you. Why are you bringing up the report? And you still say it wasn't?" Fu Jianjun said with a laugh.
"No. It's information I got myself." Having finally gotten a chance to show her face, the operator was determined not to let it go, stubbornly insisting that she had obtained the information.
Fu Jianjun was secretly furious, but he couldn't show it. He deliberately asked, "Where did you get this information from? And what made you think you got it?"
"I just know. I don't need any method; I've had this ability since I was a child. I can foresee certain things, and they all happen in my dreams at night. Many things have happened in my dreams. I also dreamed about this matter before I dared to report it to you." The operator, quick-witted, came up with an extremely strange, yet somewhat plausible, reason for how she discovered this information.
Fu Jianjun was stunned. Holy crap, this news came out of nowhere? Seriously? This is ridiculous! You dare say that again?
Seeing Fu Jianjun's almost murderous gaze, the operator panicked and said, "It's...it's what I dreamed about."
"I'm giving you one last chance, and I promise I won't hold you accountable for embezzling credit and concealing the truth. Just tell me, who exactly told you this?" Fu Jianjun said earnestly and firmly.
"Could that news be true? Is it really true? Looks like I made the right bet. But judging from the chief of staff's expression, he doesn't believe I obtained the information on my own. If I persist, what if he discovers the truth? I'll be in deep trouble. And he promised not to pursue the matter of concealing the truth. Should I tell him now that the news wasn't just a dream, but that someone else reported it to him?" The operator was in a state of turmoil, unsure whether she should bravely admit the truth.
Seeing the operator's shifty and hesitant eyes, Fu Jianjun sneered inwardly.
With a sigh, he became even more certain of his guess; it was indeed information reported by someone, not something he, an ordinary person, had dreamt about. Seriously, it made him seem like a god, able to predict the future in his dreams. Isn't that ridiculous?
"Um, I, I...": The operator stammered, unsure whether to speak or not.
"Speak up, and I won't hold you responsible. But if you continue to hide it and delay important matters, let me tell you, you will be a sinner against the country. You can think about what awaits you then~" Fu Jianjun stood up and looked down at the operator, threatening her from above, launching a powerful psychological offensive.
"I...I'll tell you. Yes, someone reported it to me. I...I was momentarily blinded by greed and took credit for it, saying that I was the one who got the information." The operator finally broke down and admitted to taking credit for someone else's work.
Fu Jianjun nodded in satisfaction, it seemed his imposing aura was still intact, and said, "Speak, who is it?"
"It's Li Yang from Jiangdong City!" the operator said cautiously and urgently.
"Who is it?" Fu Jianjun's eyes widened instantly. Holy crap, such a thing? If it really was Li Yang who reported it, things were going to get much more complicated. An investigation was underway nearby to deal with Li Yang, but Li Yang knew so much about Xishan's inner workings. He dared to make that call because he had something to rely on; he definitely knew more than just this much information, and there was certainly much more he hadn't reported. But if he were recalled to continue investigating Xishan, wouldn't the decision to deal with him become a joke? Wouldn't they become clowns? To be taken down by Li Yang with such a simple trick? That would be too humiliating. Fu Jianjun thought of many things in a short time, his expression shifting between light and dark, revealing nothing of his thoughts. This was a real problem for the operator. He knew all too well the shamelessness and heartlessness of these politicians. Although they had said they wouldn't hold him responsible, once he confessed, they would turn their backs and bite him hard. So, seeing Fu Jianjun's uncertain expression and eyes, and his long silence... He couldn't hold back any longer and knelt down with a thud, crying and pleading, "Chief of Staff, I know I was wrong. Please give me another chance. I shouldn't have taken credit for other people's work. It's all my fault. I know I was wrong. Please forgive me this once."
His crying snapped Fu Jianjun out of his reverie, who had been caught in a dilemma by Li Yang's actions. Fu Jianjun was already furious and extremely annoyed. He waved his arm impatiently and said, "Do I look like someone who goes back on their word? I said I wouldn't pursue the matter, and I won't. Now get out of here!" The operator, feeling like he'd been granted a pardon, scrambled out of Fu Jianjun's office. Back in the corridor, he found his clothes soaked through again. Holy crap, he felt like he'd been reborn. He'd really just been through hell and back; he'd almost died.
Fu Jianjun dismissed the operator and, without much thought, immediately picked up the phone and reported the information to the general. The general, upon hearing this, was also greatly surprised and exclaimed, "How could it be him? How could it be him?"
"I didn't want this either, but this is the result of the interrogation. It's really putting us in a dilemma. Our plan against Li Yang has just begun, and this has happened. It's really not going well," Fu Jianjun said unhappily.
"Hmph! I think this is a situation Li Yang anticipated, right? He must have received the news that we were going to deal with him, which is why he made this call at this time. He's giving us this information so that we'll realize his value and then abandon our measures against him!" the general said with a sneer.
"But General, what exactly is going on with Xishan? If Li Yang really knows about Xishan, wouldn't that be quite beneficial to us?" Fu Jianjun said in a low voice.
"Nonsense, I've long suspected this possibility. Those cultivators from beyond the mortal realm warned me about it before, but I didn't pay attention then. But now it's different. Those cultivators have opened their gates and entered the mortal world, participating in mortal affairs. Naturally, I have much more information. What exactly lies beneath West Mountain? Even the elders and leaders of those prestigious sects are tight-lipped, their faces full of apprehension. How could Li Yang, a cultivator from a humble background, know? How could he deal with it? I initially admired the person who reported this, thinking he had insight and considerable cultivation. He could even discern the essence of the West Mountain's problems. But since this person is that brat Li Yang, I have to be even more determined to deal with him. This guy harbors malicious intentions; he's not a good person. We can't let him grow too powerful. He must be nipped in the bud!" the general said coldly.
Fu Jianjun's horizons broadened, and he finally gained a general understanding of the problems in Xishan. He said decisively, "Understood, General, I know what to do!"
"Yes. We must deal with Li Yang. We absolutely cannot let him get away with this!"
Yes~
...
Jiangdong City.
Undercurrents are swirling, and the situation is far from ideal.
Li Yang received another call from Ye Qing, who said in a heavy tone, "Li Yang, I have bad news for you. I might be transferred!"
"What?" Li Yang could hardly believe his ears. Holy crap, isn't this ridiculous?
"I'm being transferred to the Organization Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China to serve as its vice minister. I think this is a bad omen. You should be careful; it could very well be a prelude to dealing with you. After all, some people see me as your protector, and to get rid of you, they'll first have to transfer me away," Ye Qing said in a heavy tone.
"It's confirmed?" Li Yang's face was terribly grim. If Ye Qing was transferred and replaced by a mayor he didn't even know, Jiangdong City would immediately fall back into the hands of the Cai family. He had just imprisoned Xie Siya, completely offending the Cai family. Now there was the matter of Zuo Tengfei; it was said that Zuo Tengfei had a good relationship with Cai Qingni, and they would definitely collude to deal with him. Holy crap, they're really going to do this!
Chapter 947: The Mass Grave!
"Yes, the source is reliable. I've decided to leave Jiangdong City," Ye Qing said with a somewhat desolate tone. He had poured a lot of effort into Jiangdong, and had just begun to achieve some success, with some of his ideals just beginning to come true. But now, due to internal strife, he was to be transferred, which left him feeling truly bitter.
"Congratulations on your promotion~" Li Yang said in a neutral tone, making it impossible to tell whether he was happy or sad.
"Are you alright?" Ye Qing asked, feeling uneasy about Li Yang's calm demeanor.
"I'm fine. What could possibly be wrong with me?" Li Yang said with a strange smile. But if anyone were beside him at that moment, they would have seen his ferocious eyes and terrifying expression.
"That's good. Be careful. I've joined the Central Propaganda Department, a very complex department. It's extremely restrictive, and the work is mostly about balancing and reconciling conflicts. It doesn't have much practical significance. I don't think I can get much involved in your affairs." Ye Qing's tone was somewhat desolate and advising. You could say he and Li Yang were comrades-in-arms. Back then, Ye Qing came to Jiangdong City alone and was suppressed by Cai Lan's faction without any power to fight back. If it weren't for his alliance with Li Yang, with the two working together seamlessly from the inside and outside, they wouldn't have been able to defeat Cai Lan's faction so thoroughly, making Jiangdong City their domain, developing and advancing entirely according to Ye Qing's ideals.
Li Yang said softly, "I understand your situation. You don't need to worry about me, I'll be fine."
"Okay. That's all for now, I'll contact you later~" Ye Qing hung up the phone, and Li Yang also hung up. Sitting in the car, he closed his eyes and pondered for a long time before dialing Song Tian'er and Su Xiaoxiao's numbers. He told them to keep a low profile, not to do anything illegal, and to sell off any shady businesses they could. He told them to protect themselves first and not to give them any leverage.
Although the two women were quite surprised, they knew that Li Yang must have his reasons for doing this. With the Shadow Group present, they quickly received some bad news and began to feel nervous. They then carried out Li Yang's instructions even more thoroughly and swiftly.
"Without these things, you can only deal with myself at most. As for my other possessions, you're probably powerless to help them, aren't you? Even if the Longteng Group intervenes, do they have the strength of Brilliant Years? They're not necessarily stronger, so they're even less of a match for Oujinliren. Today, Oujinliren is a Fortune Global 500 company, a leading jewelry giant in China, with assets exceeding hundreds of billions. Who would dare to make a move against them easily? Who would dare to displease them?" After muttering to himself for a moment, Li Yang felt much more relaxed, but his killing intent suddenly surged. They dared to try to kill him; if he didn't retaliate, wouldn't he be like a eunuch without testicles?
Li Yang returned to Zhenwei Martial Arts School, gave Chu Hong some instructions, and reminded Hu Meiniang and her sister to be careful and not to cause trouble outside.
Then he decided to travel far away to improve his strength. Only when his strength was high enough that even those major cultivation sects wouldn't dare to provoke him, would the so-called big shot who wanted to deal with him be nothing but a wax figure, a decoration. He posed no threat at all, and crushing him would be as easy as crushing an ant.
As for beating up Zuo Tengfei, well, let them handle that. He didn't even want Su Xiaoxiao to get involved. He figured he could just get the court to issue a summons, but nobody would actually accept it. With that thought, Li Yang called Su Xiaoxiao and told her she didn't need to worry about his affairs; let those idiots like Zuo Tengfei handle it themselves.
Upon hearing this, Su Xiaoxiao had a bad feeling and hurriedly asked, "Li Yang, what are you going to do?"
"Nothing much. Just going out to hide for a while," Li Yang said casually.
"So you're going to run away?" Su Xiaoxiao said.
"Don't put it so harshly. I'm just going out to lay low for a while and improve my strength. When I come back, they'll all be trash," Li Yang said disdainfully.