Warning from "Salted Fish"
Since the metaphysics cram school started, Yu Jinli has felt that her life has been filled with an unprecedented anxiety about knowledge.
During the day, she spends her time in the office receiving a double baptism from two great masters: "quantum mechanics and the I Ching."
When I get home at night, I still have to carry around a pile of ancient books that seem like gibberish, to preview and review them, and strive to improve my professional skills.
That feeling was just like the eve of her college entrance exam preparation back then.
However, back then it was all for the purpose of getting into a good university.
Now, it's all about saving my own life.
That afternoon, Gu Yanzhi suddenly called and said that he had some personal matters to attend to and that the tutoring would be suspended for a day.
In the office, unusually, only Yu Jinli and Feng Jinxuan were present.
Without Gu Yanzhi as an academic benchmark, Feng Jinxuan seemed to have lost interest in finding fault.
He quietly processed the documents, no longer asking those philosophical questions that could drive a person crazy.
The office was peaceful and serene.
Taking advantage of the opportunity, Yu Jinli opened the backend of his "Koi is Here" APP.
Since becoming Feng Jinxuan's partner and receiving a 100 million yuan angel investment, her app has temporarily stopped accepting orders and entered a comprehensive upgrade and transformation phase led by Feng's Group's technology department.
In the words of Assistant Wang, this is called a "business quiet period".
Although there was no income for the time being, Yu Jinli felt happy every day as she looked at the development progress bar of the 2.0 version, which was personally designed by Feng Jinxuan and full of futuristic technology.
She could almost see herself becoming a CEO, marrying a rich and handsome man, and reaching the pinnacle of her life.
Although, the rich and handsome man is currently just her boss.
She was grinning at the progress bar when her personal phone on the table suddenly vibrated.
It was a text message from an unknown number.
[Little Koi, this is Chu Xiu. I've made some progress regarding that broken stone. Please call back immediately.]
Chu Xiu?
Yu Jinli paused for a moment before remembering the "lazy" consultant in the metaphysics association who wore flip-flops, looked sleepy, but could see through her constitution at a glance.
Why would this guy suddenly contact me?
She glanced at the inner office.
Feng Jinxuan was wearing blue light blocking glasses and staring intently at the computer screen, seemingly in the middle of an important video conference.
After thinking for a moment, she took her phone and quietly slipped into the break room.
She dialed the number back.
The phone rang once and was answered.
A lazy, nasal voice came through the receiver, as if the other person had just woken up from hibernation.
"Hello? Who is this?"
"...Mr. Chu, it's me, Yu Jinli."
"Oh...it's you. I remember now." Chu Xiu's voice still sounded listless. "We've figured out what that broken stone is."
Yu Jinli's heart jumped into her throat.
"So? Any leads?"
"There are some clues, but not many," Chu Xiu yawned and said slowly. "The method used is very ancient and insidious. It's a kind of 'mother-and-child nail' specifically used to 'attract evil spirits'. We sensed the aura of the other 'mother nail' on the 'child nail' you sent."
"The mother nail?"
“Yes. In other words, there must be another tampered item next to your unlucky boss.” Chu Xiu explained, “This item should not have been obtained by him later, but has been with him for a long time. Otherwise, it would not be able to form such a stable ‘resonance field’.”
Yu Jinli's expression gradually became serious.
What could it be that has been by his side for so long...?
The image of that simple, antique peace buckle unconsciously came to mind.
“We also found out,” Chu Xiu’s voice became slightly more serious, “that this ‘mother-and-child nail’ technique is a unique skill of an elder of the Shadow Devouring Sect. That elder, nicknamed ‘Ghost Hand,’ is said to have disappeared thirty years ago during an siege by the orthodox sects. Unexpectedly, he has reappeared.”
“Ghost Hand…” Yu Jinli murmured the name, feeling a chill rise from the bottom of her heart.
“Little Koi,” Chu Xiu’s tone suddenly became earnest, “Listen to my advice, this mess is not for little guys like you to wade through. That ‘Ghost Hand’ is ruthless and vindictive. Now that he’s made his move, he won’t let it go easily. You’re already being watched by him.”
"I advise you to pack your bags and run away as soon as possible. No matter how much money you have, you need to be alive to spend it, right?"
His words sounded like he was trying to dissuade people from listening, but they also revealed a knowing "I know you won't listen" attitude.
"Thank you for reminding me." Yu Jinli took a deep breath, but her voice was unusually firm. "But I can't run away. He and I are in the same boat now."
There was a moment of silence on the other end of the phone.
Then, a soft laugh was heard.
"Fine, I knew it." Chu Xiu's tone returned to its lazy manner. "Since you insist on going down this dark path, then I can't just stand by and watch you die."
Yu Jinli was overjoyed: "You're willing to help us?"
“I can help,” Chu Xiu said, then changed the subject, “but my consultation fee is very expensive.”
Yu Jinli: "..."
She knew that there was no such thing as a free lunch.
"How much?" she asked with a death wish.
"Find out the elder's whereabouts, one price: 500,000." Chu Xiu's quoted price caused Yu Jinli's heart to clench painfully.
Five hundred thousand! That's enough to pay off almost half of her debts!
The evil monopoly of metaphysics!
"It's too expensive! Can you give me a discount?" She subconsciously started to bargain.
"No." Chu Xiu refused decisively. "I'm risking being hunted down by the Shadow Devouring Sect to provide you with this information. Five hundred thousand is already a friendly price of 20% off, just because we're in the same boat."
He yawned again.
"Alright, that's enough. I need to go catch up on some sleep. You can transfer the money when you've figured it out. Remember, I'll only start working once the money is in my account."
After saying that, he was about to hang up the phone.
"Wait!" Yu Jinli quickly called out to him, "That... Elder 'Ghost Hand,' what are his characteristics? Or, what are his weaknesses?"
Chu Xiu's languid voice came from the other end of the phone.
"This question falls under the category of supplementary consultation. The price is fixed at ten thousand."
Yu Jinli: "..."
She felt as if her heart had been stabbed again.
This guy is a complete opportunist!
She gritted her teeth and squeezed out two words: "Deal!"
Ten thousand yuan, consider it peace of mind.
"Alright, since you're so straightforward, I'll tell you." Chu Xiu's voice sounded a little more cheerful. "That old guy doesn't have any other hobbies, he just likes to collect all sorts of strange magical artifacts that contain enormous energy. Especially those, naturally formed, uncarved jade."
A rough jade?
In an instant, Yu Jinli's mind flashed the priceless imperial green jade from the auction.
"Alright, that's all for now." Chu Xiu seemed genuinely sleepy. "Remember to transfer the money to the account on my business card. Oh, by the way..."
He seemed to suddenly remember something and added another sentence.
"Since you've been so generous today, I'll give you another piece of news for free."
His tone suddenly became somewhat playful.
"Watch out for that guy surnamed Gu next to you."
Yu Jinli was taken aback: "Mr. Gu? What happened to him?"
"I can't quite put my finger on it." Chu Xiu's voice carried a hint of confusion. "I've met that guy. The 'righteousness' he exudes is too pure, so pure it's almost... fake."
"It's like someone who has been eating coarse food for years suddenly putting on a top-notch Armani suit. Although they may look respectable, the aura they exude from within is undeniable."
In short, you should be careful.
After saying that, he hung up the phone decisively.
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