Collusion

"What does Captain Zhu want?"

Kou Yuansheng was half-believing, half-doubting Jiang Che's words. He always felt the other party might try to extort more money. In any case, after the previous lesson, he wouldn't completely trust Jiang Che.

But did that matter?

Of course not. As long as his own objective could be achieved.

"Captain Zhu is currently in urgent need of a high-quality Corpse Blood Mushroom and an excellent Yin Sha Land. As long as Gang Leader Kou can provide these, I believe some minor misunderstandings can be resolved."

Jiang Che's expression was sincere, as if he wasn't lying.

"Corpse Blood Mushroom... Yin Sha Land..." Kou Yuansheng muttered a few times, staring at Jiang Che. "These are good things for those who practice unorthodox arts, but they're useless to Captain Zhu, aren't they?"

"I don't know about that. I only know Captain Zhu is in urgent need and specifically sent me to find these things." Jiang Che decided not to explain further, believing that saying too much would only lead to more trouble.

"I'll go back and think of a way. I'll notify you if I have any news."

Kou Yuansheng stood up, his expression returning to its usual calm. It was impossible to tell if he believed Jiang Che's fabricated story or not.

"Please go slowly, Gang Leader Kou."

Jiang Che cupped his hands slightly. Only after Kou Yuansheng left did the smile on his face gradually fade.

His strength was ultimately still too weak. Facing Kou Yuansheng's sudden intrusion, he could only use such methods to temporarily resolve the situation.

The "Three Absolutes of Sacrifice and Astonishment" was an urgent matter!

Returning to the Cao Gang headquarters, Kou Yuansheng's suspicion remained undiminished. He frowned as he pushed open the door to his room, feeling that the items Jiang Che had asked for didn't seem like something Zhu Sheng would like.

Could it be that Zhu Sheng was secretly practicing demonic cultivation techniques?

That shouldn't be the case.

Based on his judgment from various sources, Zhu Sheng should be a cautious person who preferred to plan before acting.

"Gang Leader... you're back?"

From the bed, a beautiful woman in a revealing red dress sat up, revealing legs as fair as white jade. Her face was like a goose egg, and her charming peach blossom eyes were like water. Even though she was over thirty, she had not lost her allure.

"Why isn't Madam still resting?"

The worry on Kou Yuansheng's face gradually turned into a smile. He very considerately poured his wife a cup of tea and brought it to the bedside. This was his most beloved wife over the years.

"I couldn't sleep without you here. I saw you looking worried just now, did something happen?" Madam Yu asked softly.

Kou Yuansheng nodded. He and his wife had supported each other for many years, and there were rarely any secrets between them. He immediately revealed everything about Jiang Che and Zhu Sheng.

Upon hearing this, Madam Yu sighed softly, her face showing shame.

"Gang Leader, this matter actually... it's because of me."

"Because of you?"

Kou Yuansheng was a bit confused. How did this involve his wife?

"Everything Jiang Che is doing is directed at me," Madam Yu said, looking up with tears welling in her eyes.

Today, Yu Zongping's wife, Wang Xiuqing, had approached her, revealing everything about Wang Chengen's death and Jiang Che, and begging her to help her younger brother avenge his blood feud.

Madam Yu was shocked at the time, her face turning pale on the spot.

She never imagined that Jiang Che, who had fallen to the Auxiliary Barracks, was not only not dead but had transformed into the Deputy Commander of the West City, and had directly targeted Wang Chengen.

If that was the case, he would eventually investigate her too.

After much consideration, Madam Yu realized that to eliminate Jiang Che, she could only rely on Kou Yuansheng. She could not let Jiang Che repeat the path of his father and die, as she had done before.

Letting a tiger grow into a threat.

Jiang Che had already become a force to be reckoned with. It would not be easy for her to deal with Jiang Che using her own means. She could only inform Kou Yuansheng of the matter, so that there would be no uncontrollable accidents.

"What's going on?"

Kou Yuansheng's expression darkened.

"Twenty years ago..."

Madam Yu recounted all the grievances between herself and Jiang Che. The Jiang and Yu families were both considered wealthy households in Yanggu County twenty years ago. They weren't the absolute top families, but they were quite reputable.

Later, the two families fell out over a business deal.

Eventually, the Yu family was brought down by the Jiang family, leading to their ruin. Because of this, she had to go undercover and sell herself in a brothel, while her father and grandfather were used by Jiang Che's grandfather and sent to the Auxiliary Barracks through connections with the county.

Later, they died at the border, and there was no further news.

She harbored hatred and endured it all, thinking of revenge one day. However, by the time she followed Kou Yuansheng and finally had the means to take revenge, the Jiang family had already declined.

Only Jiang Che, a young man, was left in the entire family, making a living by fishing.

She transferred her resentment to Jiang Che, recreating the events of the past. Because of this, Jiang Che, under Wang Chengen's arrangement, took someone else's place in military service and was sent to the Auxiliary Barracks. However, she was also afraid that Jiang Che would not die at the border.

After that, she arranged for people to use their connections and prepare for Jiang Che to not survive until the camp was broken up.

Unexpectedly, after only a few months, the situation took a huge turn.

"So that's how it is..."

Only then did Kou Yuansheng finally understand. Jiang Che's target had always been the Cao Gang, and the items he had given him were completely useless.

He took his belongings and wanted to kill himself!

Even if he found a way to give Jiang Che the Corpse Blood Mushroom and the Yin Sha Land, it probably wouldn't reach Zhu Sheng's hands.

Scoundrel!

Kou Yuansheng cursed inwardly.

Jiang Che was treating him like a fool.

"Madam, please rest assured. Since Jiang Che has a blood feud with the Yu family, I will definitely find a way to help you get revenge later." Kou Yuansheng really wanted to kill Jiang Che right now, but the timing was wrong.

Jiang Che was a favored subordinate of Zhu Sheng. If he killed Jiang Che right after Zhu Sheng took office, it would be a direct slap in the face to Zhu Sheng, and the consequences would be considerable.

Kou Yuansheng guessed that Jiang Che knew this very well, which was why he was so brazen.

"I understand the gang leader's concerns, but it's not necessary to go through Jiang Che to get in touch with Zhu Sheng." Madam Yu, seeing that her goal was achieved, immediately began to 'help' Kou Yuansheng strategize.

"Madam means Liu Zhi and Gou Buren?"

"Liu Zhi cannot be approached for now, but Gou Buren is different. He has followed Zhu Sheng for many years and is far more trusted than Jiang Che. Furthermore, he has a blood feud with Jiang Che, so we can use him to stabilize Zhu Sheng." Madam Yu's gaze sharpened slightly.

"Alright, I'll send someone to contact the person surnamed Gou." Kou Yuansheng had indeed investigated the enmity between Jiang Che and the Gou brothers. However, at the time, he thought it would be simpler to win over Jiang Che, so he had bribed him with those items.

"There's no need for that. The Gou family had some connections with my Yu family in the past, and I am confident I can win him over." Madam Yu said in a deep voice.

It was precisely because of those connections that she had used money to re-establish relations with Gou Buren back then. Unfortunately, Gou Buyi had intercepted her midway, and her efforts had failed.

She had already met Gou Buren in secret today, and they had conversed very pleasantly.

"Is that true?"

Kou Yuansheng's face lit up with joy. Gou Buren's authority was even greater than Liu Zhi's. Not only was he the commander of the city, but he also managed the county's Auxiliary Barracks. His power ranked within the top five in the county.

"However, he has one condition."

"What condition?"

"To use Jiang Che's death to appease his deceased brother's spirit!"