Chapter 157 Taking You to Kill
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Seeing Zhuang Jingwen so eager to inquire, Deng Gang hesitated for a moment. He looked at Ye Fan with a strange expression on his face.
Ten years ago, in order to eradicate the Gray Zone forces led by Zhuang Yan, he had mobilized a large number of people and ultimately launched a surprise attack during an important meeting called by Zhuang Yan.
As expected, the outcome was perfect. They had successfully killed the boss, Zhuang Yan, and many of their leaders had been killed. Countless others had been arrested.
It was that battle that completely shattered the massive Gray Zone forces led by Zhuang Yan, causing waves of shock throughout Central Plains City.
The incident had been ten years ago, and Deng Gang wondered why anyone would still be asking about it.
Ye Fan pointed at Zhuang Jingwen: "Old Deng, perhaps you're not aware, Sister Jingwen is Zhuang Yan's daughter!"
"What? You are Zhuang Yan's daughter?"
Upon learning Zhuang Jingwen's identity, Deng Gang's expression changed: "Are you here for revenge?"
"Old Deng, don't misunderstand! Sister Jingwen was young at the time and never took part in any Gray Zone activities. However, after her father Zhuang Yan died, the Gang splintered, and many leader's family members suffered persecution. They suspect that it was the boss Zhuang Yan who betrayed them!"
"So over the years, the survivors have continuously tracked Sister Jingwen's whereabouts, seeking to kill her to avenge their family members!" Ye Fan explained the purpose of their visit directly.
Zhuang Jingwen nodded: "Ye Fan is right, Old Deng. My father committed grave sins. Although I am heartbroken that you brought people to kill him, I have nothing to say. But I want to investigate the truth, to vindicate my father and myself!"
"Yes, Old Deng, could you please tell me who provided you with the information back then?" Ye Fan nodded.
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For the past ten years, Zhuang Jingwen had been living under relentless pressure.
Her father, Zhuang Yan, clearly hadn't betrayed the leaders, but they had slandered him as the betrayer, which deeply angered Zhuang Jingwen.
Most importantly, she had been constantly under investigation and tracking, living on the edge many times. If it weren't for Ye Fan, she might have died long ago.
When Deng Gang heard this, he suddenly came to an understanding: "So that's what this is about!"
"Old Deng, you are the only one who knows about this now. I want to clear Sister Jingwen's name!" Ye Fan stated earnestly.
Deng Gang knew that Ye Fan was no ordinary person and could tell that Ye Fan was not a bad guy.
After a pause, Deng Gang sighed softly: "Those who are determined to accuse others will never lack excuses. Since you want to know, then I'll tell you!"
Having lived a lifetime, Deng Gang could see that Zhuang Jingwen wasn't a bad person, and he could understand why she was so angry. Being slandered for ten years was not something anyone could take lightly.
"Old Deng, who exactly was it?" Zhuang Jingwen asked once again.
Deng Gang fell into contemplation, and after a moment, he slowly said: "As for who it was, to tell you the truth, I am not very clear!"
"Old Deng, you're not very clear? That can't be right!" Ye Fan was especially shocked.
Zhuang Jingwen's beautiful eyes widened: "Old Deng, you're not joking, right? Back then, you were the person in charge of the whole operation!"
"It's true!"
Deng Gang looked complex as he fell into his memories: "Ten years ago, the Gray Zone forces led by your father were growing stronger, becoming a major concern for me! I speak quite frankly, so please don't take offense!"
"Old Deng, I understand. I won't blame you, after all, your stance was different from my father's!" Zhuang Jingwen said.
Deng Gang smiled with relief and continued: "Back then, we tried every means to take down the group led by your father, but they were too shrewd. We had no fewer than ten arrest operations, all of which your father and his men managed to evade!"
"Just when we were at a loss, we suddenly received a text message. The message detailed a major meeting convened by your father with numerous leaders, with a very specific location! Not only that, but it even included addresses and contact information for the families of all the major leaders!"
"After receiving the text message, we took it very seriously and verified it," Zhuang Jingwen said. "Once we confirmed it was real, we knew something had happened inside your father's gang. However, these matters are irrelevant to us. But for us, it was an excellent opportunity to eliminate your father and his associates, so I gathered my men for a massive roundup!"
"The operation was very successful. Your father died the day after he fled, and many leaders were also successfully killed by us. Since then, the Gray Zone in Central Plains City has been left without a head, languishing!"
"And then?" Ye Fan pressed.
A look of surprise gradually appeared on Deng Gang's face. "Then we began to investigate the person who provided us with the clue. This person was very cautious. The phone card was newly registered and was discarded after use. We lost the trail from there! However, during my tenure, I have been investigating this matter all along!"
"It wasn't until just before I retired that I found some clues. That phone card was actually registered by Han Teng's wife."
"What? Han Teng, it was him!" Hearing this name, Zhuang Jingwen was visibly agitated.
Ye Fan asked, "Sister Jingwen, who is Han Teng?"
"Han Teng was the gang's financier while my father was alive, and also one of my father's trusted subordinates!" Zhuang Jingwen explained.
Hearing this, Ye Fan's eyes lit up. "Han Teng was in charge of the gang's finances? I understand now! I understand everything!"
With the revelation of Han Teng's identity, Ye Fan had an epiphany.
He had always been curious about the identity of the mole within the gang ten years ago. Now that Han Teng was pinpointed, everything suddenly made sense to Ye Fan.
Ten years ago, Zhuang Jingwen's father, Zhuang Yan, planned to retire and wash his hands of the underworld. If his retirement had been successful, the remaining leaders would definitely have divided the gang's assets.
If at this time Han Teng betrayed Zhuang Yan and the others, once something happened to them, the assets would all fall into Han Teng's hands. Then he would swallow the gang's assets alone, skyrocketing his net worth.
"I can't believe it was him!" Zhuang Jingwen said with a face full of resentment.
Deng Gang's face turned grave as he said, "Before I retired, I investigated Han Teng and I found him to be very clever. "
"Old Deng, what do you mean by that?" Ye Fan inquired.
"First of all," Deng Gang explained, "after providing the intelligence, to avoid suspicion from the leaders, he attended the meeting ten years ago! However, Han Teng had anticipated what would happen and escaped the scene the instant we opened fire."
"Moreover, afterwards, Han Teng distributed the agreed-upon money to each of the surviving leaders, to the last cent! In doing so, nobody suspected him."
"Truly a cunning old fox," Ye Fan remarked with a grim expression.
He knew that Han Teng's actions were meant to clear himself of any suspicion.
Even though he distributed money to the surviving leaders after the incident, the majority had died, including Zhuang Yan, and the bulk of the money had ended up in Han Teng's possession.
From Deng Gang's words, it wasn't hard to see that Han Teng was a cunning fox, deeply hidden.
With a face full of hatred, Zhuang Jingwen said, "My father trusted him so much back then. I never expected Han Teng to be the one who betrayed my father and made us carry the blame for ten years!"
"Sister Jingwen, do you hate him?" Ye Fan asked.
Clenching her fists tightly, Zhuang Jingwen spoke with a cold voice, "Hate, of course I hate, hate to the bone! If it wasn't for him, my father and I would never have ended up in such a plight!"
Because of Han Teng's betrayal, her father Zhuang Yan had not only died but had also been carrying the blame for ten years, while she had been hiding and dodging pursuers for a decade.
To say she didn't hate him would definitely be a lie.
"Sister Jingwen, come with me!" Ye Fan suddenly took hold of Zhuang Jingwen's wrist.
Zhuang Jingwen asked reflexively, "Where to?"
"Let's go, I'm taking you to commit a murder!"