Chapter 36 Night Banquet ⑩·Night Banquet Inquiry Letter This item will be temporarily stored in Ni Chang…

Wearing the plain white mask handed to her by the waiter, Lan Shuyin got up and followed him outside.

The mask covered only the upper half of her face, revealing only her tightly pursed lips and jawline.

Her vision narrowed, and she could hear her own breathing clearly. The waiter led her through another winding corridor, stopping in front of a heavy, carved door. The door slid open silently, revealing a spacious indoor courtyard.

The high, expansive dome mimics the soft light of day. Bamboo groves grow along the walls, their varying density enhancing the tranquility and ethereal quality of the space. The air is filled with the fresh scent of bamboo leaves and the subtle aroma of incense, a truly soothing and refreshing fragrance.

In the center of the courtyard, six single tea tables are scattered about, neither too close nor too far apart.

The five people were already seated.

The group consisted entirely of men, all wearing the same plain white masks, but their physiques revealed distinct differences—some were as broad and stout as mountains, others as lean and wiry as bamboo, and still others as upright and sturdy as pine trees… They sipped their tea in silence, as if adhering to some kind of rule.

Lan Shuyin glanced at it silently.

Including her, there are exactly six people.

The waiter led her to the only empty seat and then quietly left.

In the celadon teacup before her, the clear tea soup was steaming with warm white vapor. Lan Shuyin picked it up and took two sips; the tea was refreshingly sweet and indeed quite good.

But she didn't dare drink too much, afraid of having to go to the toilet.

Time slipped away quietly amidst the soft rustling of bamboo leaves.

At first, the five men who arrived first were like meditating monks, as steady as could be.

But gradually, the stout man on the left began to tap his index finger unconsciously on the armrest. The rhythm was slow, but it revealed an impatience that he couldn't hide.

The lean, bamboo-like man diagonally opposite leaned back in his chair, staring intently at the simulated skylight on the dome. Meanwhile, the man to his right, sitting upright, began frequently glancing at his watch.

No one spoke, but a sense of unease had begun to spread silently through the air.

Lan Shuyin also glanced at her phone.

6:10.

The banquet was scheduled to start at six o'clock, so why is Boss Wei late?

Just as I was thinking this, the heavy, carved door suddenly slid open silently.

Boss Wei finally showed up.

He was unusually dressed in a dark gray Zhongshan suit, which should have accentuated his tall and imposing figure, but today it made him appear somewhat thinner. His face was still covered by his signature silver mask, revealing his well-defined jawline and slightly pale lips.

He strode toward the head of the table, his steps seemingly as unhurried as ever, but Lan Shuyin keenly sensed that his steps lacked a bit of lightness and agility, and had a slightly imperceptible hesitation, as if each step he took consumed more energy than usual.

He took his seat at the head of the table, his gaze slowly sweeping over the six people present, a faint smile habitually curving his lips beneath the mask.

"Your presence is an honor to grace our humble abode."

His voice was as gentle and calm as ever, but upon closer inspection, it lacked a bit of vigor.

Without any further pleasantries, Boss Wei took the two stacks of plain white envelopes from the waiter and said in an unquestionable tone, "The usual procedure: start with an 'inquiry letter,' and pay the 'fundraising' only if you are satisfied. You can judge for yourself whether they are genuine or not, and you will bear the consequences yourself."

Despite the distance and the mask, Lan Shuyin couldn't see his exact expression, but for some reason, she felt that Boss Wei's upright posture conveyed a sense of forced strength, as if he were... weak?

Is Boss Wei sick?

The thought had barely crossed Lan Shuyin's mind when her attention was drawn to the first question he had posted.

His slender fingers held the letter, and his thin lips parted slightly as he clearly uttered four words:

"The real killer."

As soon as he finished speaking, the stout man immediately raised his hand, his voice filled with barely suppressed urgency, "Ten years ago, in the Golden Triangle, at the Black Pearl Casino. My partner, who is also my cousin Liu Feng, lost control of the brakes on his way home after winning a crucial game, and plunged off a cliff with his car."

He glanced around at everyone present, and seeing that no one responded, he continued, "I know the rules of the banquet, and I believe that Boss Wei would not have invited me without a reason. Since I am sitting here today, then among you, there must be someone who knows the truth of what happened back then."

Mr. Wei smiled slightly, "Of course, but whether he is willing to speak is up to him."

Upon hearing this, the burly man stood up excitedly.

“That accident allowed me to take over all his power and channels without any problem! But now, the person who orchestrated this whole thing has come after me again!” His voice suddenly rose, tinged with ruthlessness. “I need to know who did it to determine whether they can be used by me, or… must be eliminated!”

So direct?

Lan Shuyin waited patiently for what would happen next.

“I’ve heard about it.” Suddenly, a hoarse voice came from behind the mask of the lean, bamboo-like man. “That night, Liu Feng had no intention of going to the casino. He had received a tip that someone was going to tamper with his car, aiming to make him disappear unexpectedly so they could take over the jade trade he had just finalized. He originally intended to turn the tables and expose the mastermind…”

He paused deliberately, his cloudy gaze piercing through the mask and landing on the broad, fat man.

"Unfortunately, he didn't expect that there were more than one group wanting him dead. His naive plan, which he thought was a clever scheme, gave the real target the opportunity—the one who actually carried out the attack wasn't the person who organized the scheme back then, but his most trusted bodyguard. That bodyguard is now working for you; go back and investigate him thoroughly, there might be a pleasant surprise." He finished with a low, enigmatic laugh.

The stout man clenched his fists tightly and gave the lean, bamboo-like man a deep look.

The questioning of the "real murderer" had just ended when Boss Wei began writing a new letter.

"Second question." He looked up, his voice still gentle, "Wanjin Bio's performance over the next three weeks."

Sitting not far to Lan Shuyin's right, a young-looking man with consistently straight shoulders leaned forward slightly and spoke quickly and clearly, "Code C2041, Wanjin Bio. Over the past five trading days, the average daily turnover rate has abnormally increased to 18%, but the Tianlong List data shows that the main buyers are all regional brokerage firms, with no institutional investors in sight. After breaking through the historical high of 87.4 yuan, the stock price has been consolidating sideways with reduced volume for three consecutive days, and the order book shows obvious signs of being sandwiched between different price levels."

He paused for a moment, "I want to know, is this a high-level consolidation by major funds to shake out weak hands and build momentum for a subsequent rise, or is it using positive news to unload shares and create a bull trap?"

A brief silence followed.

Across from him stood a slender man, his fingers twirling prayer beads. He spoke slowly and in a low voice, “This isn’t a shakeout, nor is it simply distribution. It’s a change of hands. After the third wave of price increases, regardless of the price level, you must clear your positions and leave the market before 10 a.m. that day. That’s not profit-taking; it’s the final euphoria. Afterward, what awaits you is an indefinite suspension of trading and a notice of investigation from the China Securities Regulatory Commission.”

The young man's hands, resting on his knees, tightened unconsciously as he asked in a low voice, "How reliable is the source of this information?"

The slender man merely glanced at him indifferently, the prayer beads he was slowly turning making a soft tapping sound. "If you don't believe me, then listen to a story."

Mr. Wei nodded and spoke at the opportune moment, "The question has been answered. You will be responsible for the payment later. You can decide for yourself whether it is true or false and what the consequences are."

The three subsequent inquiries were as follows: one concerned a far-reaching cross-border merger and acquisition scheme; another sought the whereabouts of a long-lost piece of salvaged porcelain; and the third subtly inquired about the health of a political figure and the future direction of his faction.

Lan Shuyin listened intently until Boss Wei's gentle yet subtly weary voice clearly repeated:

"The sixth question, 'Feng Zhi Zhao Yin'."

Lan Shuyin's heart skipped a beat, and she realized they were calling her. She quickly composed herself, mimicking the tone of the others, and spoke in a steady voice:

“About a year ago, I started receiving notes with these four words on them.” She paused, feeling several gazes fall on her through her mask. “I want to know, what do these four words mean? Why did they come after me?”

As Lan Shuyin finished speaking, a subtle silence fell over the bamboo grove courtyard. Two men who had been sitting relaxed seemed to subtly adjust their posture because of the name "Feng Zhi".

After a brief silence, the slender man who had previously revealed the inside story of the stock market and was fiddling with his prayer beads slowly raised his eyes.

His gaze was fixed on Lan Shuyin's mask.

“Feng Zhi…” His deep voice carried a distant, reminiscent quality, “The Feng Zhi family in Qiangquan who practiced necromancy?”

He nodded slightly, as if confirming his memory. "Many years ago, by chance, I saw something—a few fragments of the Fengzhi family genealogy that someone photographed before it was lost."

"If I remember correctly, the name 'Zhaoyin' is indeed recorded on the last page of the family genealogy. Judging by the generational ranking, she lived about a hundred years ago. Moreover..."

"The record notes that this generation consists of twins. 'Zhaoyin' is one of them. As for more specifics... you can go to the current head of the Jiang family, Jiang Wuyuan. After the decline of the Fengzhi family, the Jiang family is the most knowledgeable about many old matters."

One of the twins from a hundred years ago? Jiang Wuyuan, the head of the Jiang family?

As Lan Shuyin was pondering how to continue her question, she suddenly heard Boss Wei say, "Everyone, this is the payment for number one."

At his signal, a waiter carrying an ebony tray slowly walked around the room, making sure everyone present could see the open wooden box on the tray—containing a few specks of shimmering white powder that glowed mysteriously in the dim light.

"What is this thing?" The burly man squinted and muttered in a rough voice.

However, the slender man who had been calmly fiddling with his prayer beads suddenly stood up the moment his eyes fell on the powder, his chair scraping back with a screeching sound.

His composure vanished completely, replaced by an almost manic state of ecstasy. "The minuscule spirit?! This is actually... the minuscule spirit?!"

These words immediately stirred up a huge wave of discussion.

Except for the fat man who still looked bewildered, the others almost simultaneously stood up in shock, their eyes fixed on the wooden box in the waiter's hand, trying to see it more clearly.

The waiter had already finished the presentation and retreated behind Boss Wei.

Seeing everyone's flushed faces and their almost distorted expressions of excitement, Lan Shuyin's heart skipped a beat, and she subconsciously looked at Boss Wei.

Mr. Wei said calmly, "The payment has been verified, and the goods are genuine."

"Regarding the inquiry about 'Feng Zhi Zhao Yin,' the Rainbow Night will be open for seven days. Within seven days—"

His voice wasn't loud, but every word was clearly audible to everyone:

"Anyone who can provide definite clues, regardless of their identity or background, can come here to exchange their information for a reward."

He slightly raised his hand in a gesture, and the waiter gently closed the wooden box.

"This item will be temporarily stored at Neon Night, awaiting its destined owner."