National Guardian's Gone and We're Done

Chapter 159: All Our Family’s Hopes Are on You

Chu He nonchalantly waved a hand across his face.

In the blink of an eye, his features underwent a startling transformation before reverting to his original appearance.

This sudden scene left the bald man, Jia Weicheng, and Jia Sijin utterly astounded.

This face was one they knew all too well.

It was none other than the legendary figure of the Great Xia Empire, Chu He!

Jia Sijin in particular...

He could never have imagined that his girlfriend’s brother was actually Chu He.

Recalling that Chu Jiaqing’s surname was the same as Chu He’s, everything suddenly clicked into place.

"You... You... You..."

All traces of his earlier arrogance and tyranny gone, Bald Brother shot to his feet in terror.

He trembled from head to toe as he stared at Chu He.

Bald Brother was overwhelmed with regret. He couldn’t believe his own rotten luck.

’How could I have run into Chu He of all people?’

He couldn’t help but glare at Jia Weicheng, inwardly cursing the old man for being so damn lucky.

Bald Brother didn’t dare let any of this show on his face, however.

He hurriedly said, "Mr. Chu, this was all my fault today. You’re a bigger man than me. Please, be merciful and let me go. I swear I will never show my face in front of you again."

"Mr. Chu, dealing with the Evil Spirits was all this bald guy’s idea! It has nothing to do with us! We just get paid to do a job, handling security for a fixed monthly salary."

The other Martial Artists, who had been so swaggering just moments before, now scrambled to their knees to beg for mercy.

Regarding the Great Xia Empire’s decree that forbade citizens from any involvement with Evil Spirits...

...they had of course seen it. But who would have thought they’d run straight into Chu He himself...

...the very man who had issued the decree.

Besides, who didn’t know the great name of Chu He? He had charged into the White Elephant Empire single-handedly...

...and effortlessly slaughtered those so-called Deities, who had been hyped up for ages, as easily as crushing a chick.

Even the mighty Vishnu, one of the Trimurti of the White Elephant Empire, had both his arms severed by two slashes of Chu He’s sword.

How could the likes of them ever be a match for Chu He?

They couldn’t even entertain a thought of resistance; they immediately and decisively chose to surrender.

Unperturbed, Chu He took out his phone and dialed Liu Yuzhu’s number.

Soon, Liu Yuzhu arrived with a group of Guards and arrested everyone.

"What were the results of the young master’s interrogation from last time?"

Chu He stood shoulder to shoulder with Liu Yuzhu.

They watched as the Guards took the dejected Bald Brother and the other Martial Artists into custody.

Liu Yuzhu said with a sigh, "Based on our rigorous investigation and by following the leads...

...we’ve already rooted out numerous organizations hidden within the Great Xia Empire that traffic in Evil Spirits and items corrupted by Mysterious Power."

"But these traffickers are extremely cautious with one another."

"Even within the same criminal organization, we’ll catch a subordinate..."

"...but we can’t find any information on their superior’s identity."

"Sometimes we find a superior, but they don’t know the identities of their subordinates either."

"The whole investigation has been incredibly difficult."

"So after all this time, most of the people we’ve arrested are mid- or low-level members."

"But we’re also aware that if we can’t catch the true core leadership, an organization like this is nearly impossible to completely dismantle."

Chu He turned to Jia Weicheng, his gaze sharp. "What exactly did these people want from you?"

This time, Jia Weicheng was extremely deferential in Chu He’s presence. He began, "Our family’s traditional Chinese medicine business has actually been quite large-scale for a long time."

"We deal in not only ordinary medicinal herbs..."

"...but also many new types of herbs that were corrupted by Mysterious Power after the Evil Spirit invasion, causing them to mutate."

"However, some of these herbs not only have negative effects on humans, but they also have enhancing effects on evil people."

"They can even be fed to some Evil Spirits, allowing them to grow strong rapidly."

"But these kinds of items are contraband in our Great Xia Empire."

"So, whenever we produce such a substance, we immediately report it to the relevant authorities..."

"...then we destroy all the contraband ourselves. After it’s all disposed of, we retain evidence of the destruction..."

"...and upload that evidence to the authorities for verification."

"The entire process is extremely strict."

"However, those scoundrels approached me, demanding that I cooperate with them..."

"...and sell all these items to them."

"I, of course, flatly refused. But in business, you try to keep things amicable."

"I didn’t want to make a bitter enemy of them."

"After all, anyone who dares to go after these things must have a powerful backer."

"But I never expected them to just target us relentlessly."

"I also spent a fortune hiring many Martial Artists and bodyguards, including a King-Sealing Realm expert."

"The cost of hiring that King-Sealing Realm expert to protect us was almost equivalent to half a year’s worth of our profits."

"But I never imagined he would be killed in his hotel room right after signing the protection contract with us."

Jia Weicheng said with a sigh, "It was a show of force, a warning for me to compromise."

"It seems the true masterminds behind this group are likely from other Empires."

Liu Yuzhu speculated, "Otherwise, they would never dare to be so brazen within the borders of our Great Xia Empire. This is blatant extortion."

"This time, we might be able to follow the trail and uncover something big."

Chu He said, "Your business must have been affected too."

"Yes, and the impact has been more than just minor. Even if we could resume business immediately, it would take us five or six years of hard work just to make up for the severe losses from this period."

Jia Weicheng sighed. "And that’s the best-case scenario. To make up for the losses in five or six years..."

"...we’d have to immediately return to our previous operational state, which is basically impossible."

"The organization backing them is extremely powerful. Not only do they strong-arm us,"

"...they’ve also launched a campaign to blockade and suppress our business in the legitimate market, essentially besieging us from all sides."

"In that case, do business with our National Road Academy. If your medicinal herbs are of high enough quality, the National Road Academy can buy all of it," Chu He said.

Jia Weicheng was instantly overjoyed.

Chu He, however, walked straight up to Bald Brother and placed a hand directly on the crown of his head.

His Spiritual Power surged tyrannically into Bald Brother’s Sea of Consciousness, ruthlessly beginning to scour all of his memories.

This was a method Chu He was generally reluctant to use.

Using it was certain to leave the target with irreparable mental trauma.

However, for a scoundrel like Bald Brother, Chu He felt no need for mercy.

...

「In the White Elephant Empire.」

"If my child is chosen by one of the Trimurti, doesn’t that mean he’ll become the next Divine Child?"

"You know, our child has a really good chance this time. A lot of the last batch of Divine Children were lost, after all."

"Son, you have to do your absolute best in a little while.

Our whole family’s hopes are riding on you!"

The vast grounds in front of the Divine Hall were packed with rows upon rows of parents from every region of the White Elephant Empire.