Chapter 258 257: Chen Xiaoyou's Crisis

Everyone lingered outside the door, exchanging pleasantries for a short while. Now that Tang Zhi was out of danger, the other matters were much easier to discuss.

It was a good opportunity to socialize during the downtime.

Suddenly, a team member took a call and hurried off. He returned shortly after with a file, which he handed to Wu Henghai.

Wu Henghai's expression flickered the moment he saw the file. He tried to hide it, but not before Mu Lin noticed.

However, Mu Lin wasn't interested in prying, so he continued to chat with the Military Suppression Bureau members, his expression unchanged.

"We've confirmed the details of the arson, right? My point is, don't get bogged down in that. Dig deeper into the people involved..."

Wu Henghai was schooling his subordinate in a low voice when, mid-sentence, his expression suddenly hardened.

"The arsonist is in the Innate Divine Realm?"

His voice was still hushed, and he only slowly began to recover from his shock.

"Someone from the Innate Divine Realm has nothing better to do than burn down mountains for fun? Do you think I'm an idiot?"

The subordinate didn't dare talk back to Wu Henghai and simply lowered his head.

"That's what the evidence indicates. It's not just my personal speculation!" The subordinate, being diligent and responsible, stood by his findings.

Wu Henghai knew he'd been too quick-tempered again. He sighed. "I wasn't targeting you. It's fine, just speak your mind. What other evidence do you have?"

"The fires were started at various locations throughout Songyang, but all the properties belong to the same person: our very own king of construction materials, Chen Xiaoyou."

'All of them were Chen Xiaoyou's?' Mu Lin had a rather good impression of the man.

It would be a real shame if something were to happen to a man like him.

Mu Lin asked, "Chen Xiaoyou? What's happened to him?"

Wu Henghai glanced at Mu Lin. "Nothing's happened to him. It's just that a case is connected to him."

Mu Lin said, "Tell me. King Chen and I have a bit of a connection. I can't just stand by and do nothing about his affairs."

Wu Henghai pursed his lips. "Well, we discovered traces of fire-based True Qi at the scene of the forest fire and suspected a Martial Artist was involved. A detailed investigation revealed the aura of an expert from the Innate Divine Realm..."

"We also just learned that all the fire sites are near each other, which is extremely strange. This was clearly premeditated. Based on my experience, there's definitely a conspiracy at play, but the specifics are still unknown."

Mu Lin nodded slowly. Wu Henghai quickly added, "Mr. Mu, this is information that should only be known by insiders at the Military Suppression Bureau. But since you saved Tang Zhi, I'm making an exception for you. Please, you must keep this confidential!"

Mu Lin smiled. "I will. Don't worry."

Hearing Mu Lin's assurance, Wu Henghai breathed a sigh of relief and started chatting casually with him.

"You know, Chen Xiaoyou's business acumen is incredible. Back when no one thought there was any value in something as common as wood, he leased up all the forest land. Later, when the economy boomed, lumber was needed everywhere, and he became rich overnight."

"So many people are green with envy! I heard he even defied the Ning Family a few days ago by supplying a certain company. The man has guts, but he can afford to, because he owns all this land."

Mu Lin nodded in admiration.

The losses from the destroyed forests would be astronomical. It wasn't just the value of the timber itself, but also the massive penalties for breach of contract from being unable to deliver materials on time. The financial blow would be difficult to withstand.

Mu Lin considered it for a moment. 'This is probably the Ning Family's retaliation.'

If Chen Xiaoyou had obediently cut off supplies to the Li Group, he would never have faced this disaster. But to help the Li Group through its crisis, he had held his ground against the pressure.

Chen Xiaoyou's help had been absolutely crucial. Without his support, the Li Group would have struggled to survive.

Mu Lin thought for a moment, then asked, "How did you know there was an aura of the Divine Realm?"

"Shouldn't this just be handled as a standard arson case?"

Wu Henghai replied, "King Chen's Grandmaster retainer discovered it by accident."

"I see," Mu Lin said. "Sounds like King Chen has been having a tough time lately."

Wu Henghai let out a long sigh. "You can say that again."

Inside his company office, Chen Xiaoyou paced back and forth, his mind in turmoil. He was frantic, absolutely frantic. Those fires weren't just burning trees; they were burning his money!

A middle-aged man at his side tried to placate him. "President Chen, this isn't helping. If the Military Suppression Bureau doesn't get involved, there's nothing we can do!"

Chen Xiaoyou knew this, of course, but he couldn't suppress his anxiety.

'This is too much.'

"How can you tell me not to be anxious!" Chen Xiaoyou sighed heavily. "If I wasn't the type to worry, would my business have ever gotten this big?"

Chen Xiaoyou's words left the middle-aged man speechless. It was true; if Chen Xiaoyou wasn't an anxious, driven man, then the man himself wouldn't be needed here.

A laid-back boss would have no need for a Grandmaster-level bodyguard like him; someone of a lesser caliber would suffice.

Besides, the crisis Chen Xiaoyou was currently facing was likely an unprecedented one.

If he couldn't navigate this crisis, he wouldn't just lose the title 'King of Construction Materials'—he'd be less than a nobody in the industry.

The middle-aged man was Yu Mingyang, a Grandmaster-level bodyguard whom Chen Xiaoyou had hired for a hefty sum.

The two got along well; otherwise, Yu Mingyang wouldn't have been in a position to step in and offer counsel like this.

BANG!

The door was thrown open violently, and several people barged in.

"Chen Xiaoyou, when are you going to get these fires under control? Production at the logging sites is at a complete standstill! Customer deliveries are about to be delayed. Do you have any idea how much money we're losing because of this?"

After the man in the lead finished, another person chimed in, "This company belongs to all of us! We've poured just as much effort into it as you have. You'd better not take this lightly!"

Chen Xiaoyou's face was a stony mask. He fixed the intruders with an authoritative glare and said to the man in front, "Bi Qifeng, you're far too impatient. Your motives are so obvious a blind man could see them! Don't think for a second I don't know what you're up to!"

Chen Xiaoyou was the company's president and largest shareholder. Right below him was Bi Qifeng.

When they first started the company, they were on the best of terms, but as time went on, all that remained between them was a pure conflict of interest.

The friction between them had become palpable.

"What motives could I possibly have? Everything I'm thinking is for the good of the company! When the company does well, we all do well. We can't let one person single-handedly drag the company into the ground."

Bi Qifeng was blunt. "We've had a heatwave for days. I warned you about the fire risk long ago, but you couldn't have cared less."

"And now that the fires have started, instead of getting the lumber yards back in order and reopening for business, you're just dawdling here. Do you have any idea how much revenue the company loses for every day we're shut down? Do you know how much we'll have to pay in penalties for every day the deliveries are late?"

"This is everyone's money you're burning!"

One shareholder spoke up. "I think the most important thing right now is to change leadership. No more dawdling. We need to act fast, get rid of the indecisive one, and put someone in charge who can actually get things done!"

"Exactly! We need a change in leadership! Get a new president so we can start fresh!"

Others chimed in with their agreement, clearly no longer treating Chen Xiaoyou with any respect.

Chen Xiaoyou's expression was grim. "What is the meaning of this? Are you saying my words no longer matter?"

"Frankly, yes. You've had all this time and haven't solved the problem. How are we supposed to trust you? Yes, you're the founder, but this is our money on the line."

Yu Mingyang turned to face Bi Qifeng and his group. An incredibly powerful pressure radiated from him, silencing the room.

Yu Mingyang was, after all, a Grandmaster Powerhouse. The fundamental suppression emanating from him was enough to make the shareholders who had come to stage a coup feel suffocated.

"Gentlemen, I know you're anxious. Extremely anxious. Otherwise, I doubt you would have said such things that damage relationships. President Chen is a magnanimous man and won't hold it against you."

"But I must remind you, this is not a matter that can be resolved so easily."

"The one who set those fires is a Grandmaster Powerhouse. Are you asking President Chen to drag the entire company into a fight against a Grandmaster Powerhouse?"

A shareholder retorted, "Aren't you a Grandmaster Powerhouse? What do you think the company pays you for?"

Yu Mingyang's voice was cold. "I am President Chen's personal bodyguard, not the company's. If you want me to protect the company's assets, then pay me accordingly."