If you had to choose an identity to go undercover, you'd choose a gynecologist.

Over the next two days, public opinion in Beiping was in complete uproar.

Major newspapers in the city competed to publish sensational reports, exposing the huge shady accounts, smuggling secrets, and corrupt deals between officials and businessmen of the Yangzi Company and its seven related companies. The irrefutable evidence, presented in black and white, filled the pages and spread throughout the streets and alleys of Beiping.

One stone stirs up a thousand waves; the entire city of Beiping is in a state of panic and everyone is on edge.

The officialdom was filled with fear and unease. A massive crackdown was suddenly launched, and hundreds of officials involved in the case fell from power, including Ma Hansan, He Siyuan and other important military and political figures in Beiping. The political scene in Beiping was shaken for a time.

The central government in Nanjing was in a state of panic, sending thirteen urgent telegrams in a single day, ordering all newspapers in Beiping to immediately cease publication and rectify their practices, and prohibiting them from continuing to disclose inside information about the eight companies.

But by this time, public opinion had already boiled over, passionate students were running around, and newspaper reporters were writing their stories, and no one paid any attention to the ban issued by Nanjing.

More and more detailed information about corruption was exposed to the public, spreading from Beiping to the whole country, causing an uproar and tearing the already crumbling party-state's face to shreds.

In the quiet, confined room, Zeng Keda sat alone by the window, holding a newspaper with undried ink in his hand. His gaze swept over the shocking reports, and a bitter smile tugged at the corners of his lips as he muttered to himself.

"Chen Qing, I know your intentions. You want to distance yourself from me and ensure my safe escape. But your ruthless methods have upended the entire officialdom of Beiping... From now on, who can protect you, and who dares to protect you?"

The Nanjing headquarters then called to demand accountability, directly to Fu Zuoyi's headquarters, with stern words demanding that Fu Zuoyi immediately arrest Chen Qing on the spot and escort him to Nanjing for trial.

Fu Zuoyi responded in a deep voice on the other end of the phone, his reply crisp and decisive. However, after hanging up, he remained inactive, ignoring Nanjing's orders and tacitly allowing Chen Qing to unleash this earth-shattering anti-corruption storm in Beiping.

Amidst turmoil, tomorrow marks the final deadline for the established plan.

As dusk fell, Chen Qing summoned Gong Shu to the temporary office, and the atmosphere inside was heavy and oppressive.

He looked up at his trusted confidant who had followed him for many years: "Has Xu Zhongyi made all the arrangements in Shanghai?"

Gong Shu replied in a deep voice: "Reporting to the director, all the industrial assets of the affiliated companies in Shanghai have been transferred to Hong Kong, and Xu Zhongyi himself has also secretly gone to Nanjing to make arrangements in secret."

Chen Qing nodded slightly, his gaze falling on Gong Shu: "Gong Shu, Zhang Li has already set off for Hong Kong. Your mission is now complete. After the conference ends tomorrow, you will immediately leave Beiping, first going to Hong Kong to meet Zhang Li, and then heading to Taiwan."

Upon hearing this, Gong Shu froze, then immediately took half a step forward: "Director! I've shared life and death with you for many years, through thick and thin. I've already given you my life! In times of crisis, I will never leave you alone!"

"Nonsense!" Chen Qing frowned slightly. "I have my own way out. Only if you get out safely can I finish this last thing without any worries."

"Director...!" Gong Shu's eyes reddened, tears welled up, and his throat tightened.

Chen Qing suppressed the complex emotions in his eyes and said calmly, "Why are you crying? We haven't reached the end of the road yet. The overall situation tomorrow is the most important thing."

After speaking, Chen Qing pushed open the door and walked slowly towards the room where Zeng Keda was being held under house arrest.

The room was quiet and still. Zeng Keda was sitting by the window, holding a book. He seemed calm and composed, but there was an unyielding melancholy between his brows.

Hearing footsteps, he looked up.

Chen Qing stepped forward, his tone calm but with a hint of apology: "Commissioner Zeng, I apologize for the trouble you've had to stay here these past few days."

Zeng Keda closed the book, sighed softly, and looked ashamed: "I understand that you had good intentions in protecting me. After sitting quietly and reflecting for the past two days, I have finally realized that I have been dedicated to my duties and loyal to the Party and the country all my life, but I lacked your resolute courage to burn my bridges."

Chen Qing looked at him with clear and frank eyes: "Commissioner Zeng, why don't we take a gamble and see if I, Chen Qing, will live or die after tomorrow?"

Zeng Keda's gaze was heavy as he looked out at the gloomy sky, his eyes filled with sorrow: "I cannot predict whether you will live or die. But I see it clearly: the anti-corruption campaign in Shanghai has failed miserably, a fatal blow to the Party and the nation. Now that we have lost the hearts of the people, even if we forcibly implement the gold yuan reform, no one will believe us anymore... Is this land, this nation, truly beyond saving?"

Chen Qing lowered his eyes and remained silent for a moment. When he looked up again, his eyes were filled with honesty and sincerity: "I have never thought about the rise and fall of a family or a party. All I ask for is to do my best to leave a way for the two million people of Beiping to survive."

Just then, Gong Shu rushed in, looking flustered.

"Director! Something terrible has happened! The Bureau of Investigation and Statistics just called to say that Cui Zhongshi is dead!"

With a loud bang.

These words struck me like a thunderclap.

Chen Qing swayed, staggered half a step, and barely managed to stand by grabbing the edge of the table beside him. His usual calm and composure shattered, and all expression vanished from his eyes.

His voice was strained, hoarse with disbelief: "What happened?!"

"Wang Puchen of the Bureau of Investigation and Statistics said that Cui Zhongshi committed suicide out of fear of punishment, dying by poisoning himself in prison!"

That short reply completely ignited all the resentment in Chen Qing's heart.

In an instant, the temperature in the entire room plummeted to freezing point, and an overwhelming killing intent surged from Chen Qing's body, his aura chilling and intimidating.

He raised his eyes, his gaze icy and piercing, each word as heavy as thunder: "Come with me to the Security Bureau!"

.....................

The Secret Service's prison was dark and damp, with cold and damp air seeping into every inch of the walls.

Cui Zhongshi lay quietly on the dilapidated straw mat, his expression peaceful and serene, showing no signs of pain, as if he had simply fallen into a deep sleep.

But the body had already completely lost its temperature, was ice-cold, and had no life left.

Chen Qing knew that this was the ending Cui Zhongshi had chosen for himself. He used this method to complete his martyrdom for his faith, and it was also his atonement for Cheng Jinyun.

He was powerless to stop it, but at this moment he still felt angry. A person like him should not die at the hands of these despicable people.

All the secret agents around stood with their heads bowed, trembling with fear, not daring to utter a sound. The only sound in the deathly silent prison was their panicked and suppressed breathing.

Chen Qing stepped forward slowly, his gaze sweeping over Cui Zhongshi's cold face. After a long while, he turned to look at Wang Puchen, who stood beside him with a troubled expression, his voice revealing neither joy nor anger: "Did he leave any words before he died?"

Wang Puchen bowed respectfully, his hands clasped at his sides, and said in a humble tone, "Reporting to Director Chen, Cui Zhongshi left only one sentence before his death. He said that he was in the deepest hell, but today he has finally been freed. He only asks to be buried with Jinyun."

"it is good."

Chen Qing slowly uttered a single word, his tone eerily calm, then suddenly raised his eyes, his gaze chillingly cold: "Very well. Wang Puchen, did I warn you before—if Cui Zhongshi dies, many people in Beiping will be buried with him?"

Wang Puchen was startled and hurriedly defended himself: "Director Chen, Cui Zhongshi is a criminal with irrefutable evidence. He is not worth your anger."

"Yeah?"

Chen Qing's gaze was sharp and icy as she stared intently at him, her eyes filled with murderous intent: "Wang Pucheng, very good, you did a very good job. It was an order from Nanjing, wasn't it?"

Wang Puchen stiffened slightly, not daring to meet his gaze, and could only whisper, "Director Chen, I was just following orders, I hope you won't make things difficult for me."

"Get out, all of you."

Chen Qing suddenly spoke in a deep voice, his tone so cold it contained not a trace of warmth.

The agents, feeling as if they had been granted a pardon, hurriedly bowed and took their leave, scrambling to escape the prison.

In the dark prison cell, Chen Qing was finally left alone.

He slowly squatted down and sat quietly in front of Cui Zhongshi's body. The fierce and murderous aura that had just been there had completely faded away, and only endless weariness and grief remained in his eyes.

In a daze, old memories surged, and he dreamt of the past. On New Year's Eve that year, the wind and snow were blowing all over the sky. He, Mingtai, and Guo Qiyun sat around the stove, warming wine and talking late into the night. The fire was burning brightly, and their laughter was gentle. Their hearts were full of openness and sincerity.

The gentle words of yesteryear still echo in my ears, but now my dear friend is separated by life and death.

After a long silence, Chen Qing's throat tightened, his voice low and hoarse as he murmured, "I'm sorry, Mingtai, it's my fault for being incompetent and failing to protect you."

He raised his hand and gently brushed the dust off his old friend's clothes, a fierce ruthlessness returning to his eyes: "Rest in peace. Tomorrow, I will make everyone pay for your death."

The dark prison cell is drawing to a close in the long night.

Chen Qing sat alone in place, silently for a long time, his whole body silent, yet suppressing a resolute determination that was beyond repair.

After calming his emotions, he slowly stood up and ordered in a deep voice, "Send him for cremation. I want to take his ashes with me."

This time, the members of the Security Bureau dared not delay or slack off in the slightest, and their actions were extremely swift.

As dawn broke and the first light of day pierced through the darkness of night, an urn of ashes was placed before Chen Qing.

A sliver of morning light pierced through the iron bars of the prison cell, gently landing on the urn containing ashes and also on Chen Qing's face.

He slowly raised his eyes, all the grief in them vanished, and the silent sorrow transformed into a chilling killing intent.

He's going to unleash a massacre!

Close the door, leave no one alive!

.....................