Chapter 127: One Night Of Consecutive Kills
Aisha walked Chen Yang to the door before reluctantly returning to the office.
Chen Yang found it hard to believe that a royal princess could actually be a love-struck fool and a looks-obsessed type.
Logically speaking, a Western princess like Aisha should prefer the muscular Western type, but she didn’t; she just liked Chen Yang’s pretty-boy wolfhound type with red lips and white teeth.
Moreover, Easterners’ skin has always been relatively delicate, and a rich young master like Chen Yang was even more tender.
Every time Aisha saw Chen Yang, it gave him a strange feeling, as if this girl was always ready to pounce and take a bite.
Too terrifying.
Getting into the black sedan, Chen Yang had no intention of returning to the Transportation Department; anyway, in the current situation, going back would just mean sitting there drinking tea.
So, he simply had the driver take him back to the Lin Mansion.
The car drove through the streets of Shanghai, and Chen Yang gazed at the scenery outside while silently calculating in his mind.
Aisha was right; he did have his own development plan, but announcing it now would be too shocking.
Aisha would probably just laugh at him for overreaching after hearing it.
Chen Yang’s goal wasn’t that grand; he just wanted to build a super commercial empire with his own hands in this era.
The Huafu Fund was the foundation of this empire, providing continuous funding support for the commercial empire.
The Life Sunshine Company was the main body, and next, he would develop in different directions depending on the situation.
For now, Chen Yang’s plan was divided into three directions: pharmaceuticals, energy, and finance.
Of course, this was only temporary; as the era developed, there would be more new plans in the future.
For example, biotech, new energy, semiconductors, precision instruments, and so on.
However, one must eat rice one bite at a time, and plans must be implemented step by step.
What Chen Yang cared about now was still the matter of antibiotics.
The sun in the sky was gradually obscured by a cloud that came from nowhere.
More and more clouds gathered in the sky, and the entire Shanghai seemed to darken.
Chen Yang looked out through the glass; pedestrians on the street were hurrying along, as a violent storm was about to arrive.
Chen Yang suddenly sighed: “A stormy gale is indeed good weather for killing.”
Shanghai, French Concession, Yalbei Road, Datong Opium Den.
After Zhang Xiaolin’s death notice was published in the newspaper, Han Chong was the first to sense that something was off.
As one of Zhang Xiaolin’s Eight Vajras, Han Chong might not have the highest combat ability, but he was absolutely the most prudent in handling affairs.
He wasn’t like Tian Darong, who was single-minded and only knew to solve problems with killing.
He also didn’t believe it was as the newspaper said, that Zhang Xiaolin’s death was because the Nanjing Special Affairs Committee accidentally killed him during an operation.
Any normal person knows to seek luck and avoid calamity; how could a big boss like Zhang Xiaolin rush forward recklessly during a firefight and get hit with exactly thirteen shots.
One or two shots could be accidental, but thirteen shots—that’s practically turning him into a sieve; how could that be possible.
So, someone was targeting Zhang Xiaolin; what could the purpose be?
“Boss, your coffee.” A female waiter in the opium den brought in the coffee.
“Who are you? Where’s Sister Liu?” Han Chong looked at the youthful and beautiful girl in front of him and asked puzzledly.
“Liu Lan is my cousin; my cousin’s husband is injured and hospitalized, so she went to take care of him.” The girl said respectfully: “I’m temporarily filling in for her. She knew you like coffee; I’ve been working at the Oak Coffee Shop, and my coffee is no worse than hers.”
“Got it, you can go now.” Han Chong casually commanded, picked up the coffee on the table, and took a sip.
A flash of a triumphant look passed through the girl’s eyes; she bowed and hurriedly retreated.
“This coffee tastes weird.” Han Chong muttered.
Suddenly, an indescribably sharp pain exploded in his lower abdomen.
The sensation wasn’t like a needle prick but more like a red-hot iron awl being hammered into his belly by an invisible force!
The intense pain instantly tore through his nerves, racing wildly along his blood vessels straight to his heart!
“Urgh!” A short, shrill cry that didn’t sound human squeezed out from his throat.
His whole body shot up from the chair as if electrocuted by high voltage, then crashed heavily onto the thick carpet.
In an instant, Han Chong was like a fish out of water; his body arched violently, convulsing, his throat emitting “Gah… gah…” sounds like a rooster being strangled with bloody foam choking its suffocation.
His fingernails dug deeply into the flesh of his neck, pulling out several shocking bloodstains; his other hand clawed desperately in the air, as if trying to grasp the last straw of salvation.
His vision was rapidly swallowed by darkness.
In the final moment before his consciousness fully sank, his dilated pupils fixed on the coffee, the sound from his mouth ultimately turning into two words: “Poison…”
At the moment Han Chong was poisoned to death, bizarre murders occurred at several opium dens in the Shanghai French Concession.
Fei Jiu, the boss of the Jiuji Opium Den on Songjiang Road, was doused with kerosene and burned alive at the entrance of the opium den.
Shang Shiluan, the boss of Yunxia Tower on Xilin South Road, was shot nine times in his car by a group of masked men and killed on the spot.
Shengshi Opium Den, Baiyun Opium Den, Hongguan Opium Den—except for Song Zushan, all of Zhang Xiaolin’s Eight Vajras were killed overnight, not one left.
Before tonight, if someone said they could uproot Shanghai tycoon Zhang Xiaolin’s territory overnight.
Everyone would think it was a joke.
But after tonight, no one would think it was a joke, because someone really did it.
Killing so many people overnight, yet Shanghai didn’t fall into chaos.
Zhang Xiaolin and his seven Vajras’ territories were all taken over by Song Zushan.
Up to now, this faction only had Song Zushan left, so it was only natural for him to take over.
Of course, soon rumors spread among the populace that Song Zushan had rebelled against Zhang Xiaolin and swallowed all his territory.
Such voices weren’t just one; more and more people suspected that the seven Vajras and Zhang Xiaolin’s death were all Song Zushan’s doing.
Helplessly, Song Zushan persuaded Shanghai Green Gang’s Da Zi Generation Zhang Renkui, Cao Youshan, Tong Zi Generation Elder Brother Ji Yunqing, and others to come forward and clarify.
With these people stepping in, Zhang Xiaolin’s death finally came to a perfect conclusion.
Soon, the Zhang Mansion on Xingaolu Road was listed for sale through an agent and bought by a wealthy merchant.
As the signboard of the Zhang Mansion was removed, this Shanghai tycoon’s story finally became a legend eagerly discussed by the people of Shanghai.
Shanghai, Jinling Hotel.
“Come, come, Boss Lin, please take good care of me in the future.”
In the private room on the second floor of Jinling Hotel, Song Zushan was flushed from drinking, and Lin Xueyi beside him was about the same.
There were five or six people in the entire private room: besides Lin Xueyi and Song Zushan, there was the newly promoted Elder Brother Liao Ruyuan, Lin Huaibu who personally killed Zhang Xiaolin, and the protagonist of this reception, Chen Yang.
Lin Xueyi raised his wine cup and downed another big gulp, slurring his words: “Elder Brother Song is joking; you’re a famous figure in Shanghai. When you became famous, I was still managing workers at the wharf.”
“Being able to drink with Elder Brother Song today is truly me climbing socially.”
Song Zushan quickly waved his hand: “What are you saying, Brother Lin? With Boss Chen backing you, Shanghai will surely see more figures like you in the future.”
Lin Xueyi was stunned for a moment, looking at Chen Yang who sat at the head with a calm expression; a complex look flashed across his face.
Half a year ago, he was just an insignificant hooligan at the Sixteen Rows Wharf in Shanghai, but in just half a year, he had become a big brother in others’ mouths.
And all of this was given by Chen Yang.
Lin Xueyi grew up with Chen Yang since childhood, so their friendship was naturally not as deep as Chen Yang’s with Eldest Sister Lin Jing.
But this time when Chen Yang returned from Japan, Lin Xueyi clearly felt he had become a different person.
His methods, schemes, and depth were all terrifying.
Even though he now appeared harmless, Lin Xueyi felt a fear of him from the bottom of his heart.
“Mr. Song, Second Brother, no need for the two of you to be so modest.” Chen Yang raised his wine cup: “Everyone has cooperated very pleasantly during this time.”
“Second Brother, pay more attention to wharf matters from now on.”
“Mr. Song, Boss Zhang’s territory won’t have problems henceforth, right?”
Song Zushan stood up: “Boss Chen, rest assured; all territories that needed settling have been settled, and those that needed cleaning have been cleared out.”
“Now with Brother Liao watching the east side and Brother Lin on the west, with the three of us joining hands in cooperation, no one dares to rebel.”
Chen Yang nodded slightly; both Liao Ruyuan and Lin Huaibu were from the Sixteen Rows Wharf. Before deciding to move against Zhang Xiaolin, Chen Yang had been observing them for months.
These two were to keep Song Zushan in check.
Chen Yang was well aware that he could buy Song Zushan today, but someday in the future, someone else could buy him for a higher price.
Therefore, Song Zushan’s territory couldn’t be too large; it had to stay within his controllable range.
That way, even if Song Zushan really decided to betray him one day, Chen Yang could easily deal with him.
“Mr. Song, I have something I’d like to ask you.” Chen Yang raised his wine cup and clinked it with Song Zushan’s.
Song Zushan hastily said he didn’t dare: “Boss Chen, just command whatever it is.”
Chen Yang said slowly: “I want to open a club; Mr. Song is an expert in this, I wonder if there’s anyone you can recommend.”
“A club?” Song Zushan frowned; wasn’t that just a brothel, put so euphemistically.
“That’s simple; the two best in Shanghai for this business are Fu Qinghua of Night Shanghai,”
“and our Big Sister Xiao A Qiao of the Great World.”
“Fu Qinghua was personally trained by Sister Guisheng,”
“as for our Xiao A Qiao, rest assured, in terms of ability she won’t lose to her; Big Sister’s reputation carries weight in Shanghai.”
“Xiao A Qiao?” For some reason, Chen Yang’s mind inexplicably pictured the image of later-era film star Zhang Li.
This place even had a Xiao A Qiao? Damn, not the Thirteen Taibao crashing in, is it? Maybe even North Lao Jiu and South Xiao Du would show up?
Song Zushan hesitated for a moment, then said slowly: “However, this person will need Boss Chen to invite her personally; she won’t give me face.”
