Starting Cultivation During a Trip

Chapter 452: Chapter 229: Divine Power Association Investigation Team! Are You Zhang Fan?

Jiangnan Province, Jinzhou City.

Maoshan Avenue.

Dawn was just breaking. A black car sped along the straight highway, its taillights carving out a glowing trail as the wind it stirred scattered dry leaves by the roadside.

”Senior brother, are you sure there’s no problem with Old Yu over there? The Daoist Alliance’s investigation team is coming down—they might dig up something about him.”

Jiang Hu drove, glancing in the rearview mirror at Fang Changle, who was sitting in the backseat with his eyes closed, resting.

Old Yu’s hideout—those fish ponds—were right by Maoshan. Before this, Zhang Fan had already tipped off Jiang Hu, asking him to keep an eye out.

After all, if you trace the source of everything, it all came down to Xu Qinglai from Qingcheng Mountain and Lanting Bamboo chasing down Old Yu.

Now, a chain reaction had set off, the turmoil growing larger by the day.

Xu Qinglai was dead, Lanting Bamboo was dead.

Even Meng Qinghuan was dead. If the higher-ups investigate and dig deep, Old Yu might just be uncovered.

”Your boss has a knack for picking places. That fish pond is a feng shui treasure, blessed by Maoshan—who could cause a stir there?”

Fang Changle still sat with his eyes shut, cultivating, but his lazy voice resonated in the car.

”That’s good.” Jiang Hu breathed a sigh of relief, but as another thought struck, a worried look crept onto his face.

”Zhang Fan, honestly... wherever there’s trouble, he’s there... How did Meng Qinghuan end up dying right in front of him? This mess isn’t going away easily.”

Meng Qinghuan was sent by the Daoist Alliance Headquarters as a supervisor—in ancient times, she’d be an imperial envoy. Not to mention, she was originally a disciple of Qi Yun Mountain, a Mahayana Realm expert, Jiang Wansui’s intern...

With ties and backgrounds so tangled, her death couldn’t just be brushed aside. There had to be an explanation.

Zhang Fan, as the sole witness and survivor of it all, was under heavy suspicion.

In fact, you could say it all started because of him.

If he hadn’t gotten into it with the Qingcheng Mountain disciples, they wouldn’t have called in Meng Qinghuan. If Meng Qinghuan hadn’t gotten involved, maybe she wouldn’t have died.

Right now, rumors were already boiling over.

Some said Meng Qinghuan and the Qingcheng Mountain disciples were killed by a top expert from the Wuwei Sect. Some even whispered the killer was none other than the leader of the Thirteen Zodiacs...

Human Xiao!!!

With doubts piling higher, Zhang Fan only drew more attention.

”That’s exactly why I’m rushing you back to Yujing City overnight.” Fang Changle slowly opened his eyes, a grave light deep within them.

”Do you know who’s in the investigation team coming to Yujing City this time?”

”Who?” Jiang Hu asked, glancing sideways.

”I’ve already caught wind—the investigation team is made up of members of the Divine Power Association.”

”Divine Power Association!?” Jiang Hu’s eyebrows shot up in surprise.

Strictly speaking, the Divine Power Association was an independent institution under the Daoist Sect—its status was unique.

This time, with the investigation team led by the Divine Power Association, there was clearly more beneath the surface.

”The old geezers in the Daoist Alliance are all born schemers. Of course, they can see how deep the waters run in Jiangnan Province. Lou Hechuan’s been running things here for years—too big to rein in...” Fang Changle calmly analyzed.

”If the Daoist Alliance Headquarters sent in their law enforcement unit directly, and things got tangled up, it’d blow up into a mess that couldn’t be undone...”

”So they let the subordinate Divine Power Association take the lead—’investigation’ in name only. What it really means is, there’s room to maneuver.”

”Plus, every member of the Divine Power Association has awakened a Divine Technique. They’re all ruthless and proud—first to keep order, second to shake up the Jiangnan Province Daoist Alliance...”

”And besides, Meng Qinghuan was originally a member of the Divine Power Association. Procedurally, there’s nothing wrong or improper. If something happens, they won’t be held responsible.”

As he spoke, Fang Changle slowly closed his eyes again, his bearing as the senior disciple of Maoshan revealed in that moment.

”It’s that complicated?” Jiang Hu listened, feeling his head pound.

”Nothing’s simple inside the system. But if you look through the complexity, it’s actually quite simple.” Fang Changle said coolly.

”Without a hundred schemes, you couldn’t survive a day in official circles.”

”Jiang Hu, your talent isn’t lacking. You grasped Mid-air Talisman Painting at a young age. One day when you return to Maoshan, you’ll definitely have to deal with these people and these kinds of affairs.”

Fang Changle advised.

In his eyes, Qi Ji, Jiang Hu, and even the still-green Jifeng Pavilion were all promising talents with huge potential—his future right-hand men, able to revive Maoshan and contend with other sects within the Daoist Alliance.

”Senior brother, I heard the Divine Power Association stands above the rest. Every member has awakened a Divine Technique—they must be tough to handle, right?” Jiang Hu couldn’t help but ask.

”Of course they’re tough.” Fang Changle said in a low voice.

”Divine Technique, Divine Technique—it takes a godlike power to match a Divine Technique. That kind of strength is a gift from the heavens; each one is unique, a true favored child of fate. That’s why the higher-ups sent the Divine Power Association.” Fang Changle’s voice was solemn.

”Only they can keep Jiangnan Province in check.”

”What about Zhang Fan...” Jiang Hu worried, ”Will they go after Zhang Fan?”

”Of course. He’s the only witness and survivor. Any investigation will start with him...” Fang Changle replied mildly.

”Well...” Jiang Hu looked uncertain.

If Zhang Fan had nothing to do with this from the start, then they could just investigate and be done with it.

But with what Jiang Hu knew about Zhang Fan, he couldn’t guarantee the latter was completely clean in all this.

The truth was, ever since leaving Zhenwu Mountain until today, Zhang Fan had been through god knows how many big and small incidents. Only in this matter could he swear on his life—it really had nothing to do with him, not even half a cent’s worth.