As Zuo Lizhou yielded, everyone was shaken.
"Father?"
Zuo Tiance trembled with anger. With his intelligence, he could tell that after this incident, the Zuo family's prestige would plummet to the bottom. The leader of the Heroic Alliance's standing in the martial arts world would surely be greatly diminished in the eyes of his peers. The momentum gathered through the Heroic Assembly also crumbled at this moment. And all of this was brought about by Chen Fan, whom he hated to the bone.
"I'll be back soon!" Zuo Lizhou's expression turned calm instead. He certainly hated Chen Fan and saw how much damage today's situation inflicted on the Zuo family and the Heroic Alliance. But after all, he was a powerful figure, a overlord of the martial arts world. With Chen Fan now on his list of must-kill targets, he calmed down. In another setting, he would have undoubtedly taken action without hesitation, regardless of whether Master Huixing and others behind Chen Fan were also martial arts masters, and he would have pursued Chen Fan until his death. But here, under the deterrence of seven armed helicopters and three squadrons of iron-blooded soldiers, he had to restrain himself.
"No need to worry about me. What kind of situation haven't I, Zuo Lizhou, seen?" He strode forward and said coldly, "Let's go!"
Chen Fan smiled, cupped his hands towards Master Huixing, Chongxuzi, and everyone else, and said, "Thank you, everyone." Then he also stepped forward, following behind Zuo Lizhou. Zuo Lizhou's cultivation was not comparable to ordinary martial arts masters, so Chen Fan naturally had to walk behind. As for whether Zuo Lizhou would try to escape, Chen Fan did not care. Escaping in this situation would be an even greater blow to his reputation and prestige.
They soon descended the mountain. Qin Tianyou had already arranged several military vehicles to wait by the roadside. Opening a car door, Chen Fan smiled and said, "Please, Alliance Leader Zuo!" Zuo Lizhou looked at the long convoy and the armed helicopter squadron flying overhead with a cold expression, saying, "Quite a display!"
"For Alliance Leader Zuo, how can the display not be grand?" Chen Fan replied. Zuo Lizhou sneered and got into the military jeep. Chen Fan did not get into that car but went to the one behind it. He said into the intercom, "Return to Iron Blood Camp!" The convoy consisted of thirteen military vehicles. Although there were no heavy equipment like armored vehicles or tanks, several vehicles were equipped with heavy machine guns, which were quite conspicuous. Coupled with the armed helicopters escorting overhead, this convoy was truly awe-inspiring. Fortunately, the Iron Blood Camp was not in the city but in the eastern suburbs. Although it passed through some crowded areas, it did not go through the city center. Even so, the convoy's passage caused a sensation and drew crowds.
Forty minutes later, the convoy drove into the Iron Blood Camp. The convoy stopped outside the barracks in the northeast corner of the camp. Chen Fan got out of the car and signaled the soldiers to open the door of the car Zuo Lizhou was in. Zuo Lizhou alighted, his expression indifferent, surveying the surroundings without a word.
"Please escort Alliance Leader Zuo to the detention room. You will be treated with courtesy," Chen Fan said. Zuo Lizhou merely sneered. Watching Zuo Lizhou being led into the barracks cooperatively, Chen Fan took out his phone. His phone had many missed calls. He dialed Jun Ruowang.
"You arrested Zuo Lizhou?" Jun Ruowang asked.
"Yes."
"You've made too big a scene. Escorting him with armed helicopters, such a commotion has displeased many. I'm under a lot of pressure. Many people have complained to my father, expressing their opinions."
"I understand," Chen Fan said. "I won't keep him for too long, and I can't keep him for too long!"
"It's good that you know!" Jun Ruowang said. "Handle it well."
After hanging up, Chen Fan picked up another phone. It had many calls, from Wu Zhaoyang, Du Fumin, and also many landline numbers from important government departments. Just then, a number that he was no longer unfamiliar with rang. After pressing the answer button, he heard a voice he was familiar with:
"Chen Tianjiao, I must say, you did a brilliant job!" Wu Zhao said with a smile.
"Is it exactly what you wanted?" Chen Fan said coldly.
"The situation is indeed better than I expected," Wu Zhao said with a smile. "I really want to clink glasses with you to celebrate."
"Is that so?" Chen Fan said lightly. "If I had communicated friendly with Alliance Leader Zuo and told him that the Brotherhood had betrayed him and was plotting against him, what would have been the outcome?"
"You can try," Wu Zhao said. "I'm also looking forward to the changes in the game. If the opponent is already vulnerable, then the game would be boring." His voice was calm, showing no sign of panic, and he continued, "But I believe the person Alliance Leader Zuo hates the most is you."
"Alliance Leader Zuo values his reputation above all else. You arrested him in front of the entire martial arts world. The person he most wants to kill is you, no matter the cost, no matter the means!"
"Thank you for the reminder," Chen Fan said coldly.
"Instead of thinking about joining forces with Alliance Leader Zuo, Chen Tianjiao, you should cooperate with me." Chen Fan let out a sneer. Wu Zhao no longer tried to persuade him and said, "The curtain has been raised, and the next stage is the turning point. Chen Tianjiao, are you ready?"
"The turning point?" Chen Fan narrowed his eyes.
"The moment Alliance Leader Zuo regains his freedom will be the moment the decisive move is made. You still have a little time to figure out where my next move will land!"
"In this world, only you, Chen Tianjiao, are worthy of me spending so much thought on planning and calculating. It's a pleasure to have a worthy opponent."
"You will lose miserably!" Chen Fan said coldly.
"Haha, Chen Tianjiao, do you know what the most brilliant chess player is like? The one who treats winning and losing the same is the most brilliant chess player. We will see each other again soon!" The call was hung up. Chen Fan frowned slightly. Winning or losing being the same? Such words were clearly absurd. But Wu Zhao was a man of immense intellect and would not speak without reason. Shaking his head, Chen Fan put down his phone and looked behind him. An old figure, escorted by guards, approached him. It was the Dragon Head.
"Zuo Lizhou is inside?" the Dragon Head asked, looking at the barracks ahead. Chen Fan nodded.
"By bringing him here, you've brought back a Bodhisattva." The Dragon Head said. For someone of Zuo Lizhou's identity and status, the authorities also found him troublesome. Generally, they would try to appease him, and capturing him would be a hot potato. If they simply eliminated him, it would be easier to handle. The Dragon Head clearly saw this.
"I know," Chen Fan said. "But if this breath of resentment isn't released, they will always think they are superior and can do anything."
The Dragon Head waved his hand and said, "I'm under immense pressure. Ever since you arrested him, countless calls have come in. I can't tell how many are from their side, or simply people who don't want things to escalate. My time to cover for you is limited. If your objective has been achieved, release him soon." Chen Fan nodded and turned towards the barracks.
Inside the barracks, Zuo Lizhou was arranged to sit at a table. A guard poured him water, and he drank it, his expression calm. When Chen Fan walked in and signaled the guards to leave, Zuo Lizhou looked up at Chen Fan, killing intent flashing in his eyes. Chen Fan was unfazed and said, "Alliance Leader Zuo, you can't kill me. On the contrary, if you attack me, you'll likely be sent out of the Iron Blood Camp horizontally!" Zuo Lizhou's lips twitched, and he said with disdain, "Do you think I'm a waste like Fu Qinglei?"