“Be careful, he may have informants within the police force.”
I reminded him.
Money makes the world go round. With Zeng's wealth and influence, it would be a piece of cake for him to plant a few informants in the police station.
The reason he was so brazen in committing so many crimes was probably because he had already cultivated connections.
"Don't worry, I know what's important."
Zheng Shengli said solemnly, "Then let's keep in touch. Once I get the invitation, I'll have Zhang Qiang deliver it to you. I'll leave it to you."
After the call ended, the living room fell silent.
"With the assistance of the police, things will be much easier."
Li Huai breathed a sigh of relief.
"Hehe, don't think it's that simple. Once Zeng, the richest man, finds out that someone is investigating old cases, it will easily arouse his suspicion. It will be more dangerous for us, so we must speed things up."
Luo Tianhe frowned, pouring cold water on Li Huai's enthusiasm.
"Next Wednesday, today is Monday."
I took out my phone and glanced at the time.
"Let's not be idle these next few days. Let's figure out the general layout of the botanical garden. Also, let's prepare some weapons. We can't be too careful when dealing with those evil spirits."
Luo Tianhe and Li Huai nodded solemnly.
Luo Tianhe had been entangled with me and Zeng the richest man for so long, so he naturally knew how difficult this guy was to deal with.
Although Li Huai had never met him, we have repeatedly emphasized that unless he was stupid, he would not be able to ignore this insidious guy.
Over the next few days, we split up. I used my connections within the esoteric arts circles to inquire whether any sorcerers in gray robes and hats were active in the city.
But we didn't get any useful information. After all, that guy was very cautious; we didn't even know he existed before this incident.
Luo Tianhe tried every means to collect publicly available materials and construction blueprints of the botanical garden, and tried to write them down so that he could lead the way inside. Li Huai prepared some things that might be needed, such as cinnabar, talisman paper, peach wood nails, and some specially made talismans.
In the past few days, I've been getting calls from people using the phone number on the wall of the funeral home, but I've turned them all down, saying I'm busy. After all, I can't focus on anything else until this matter is resolved.
The following afternoon, Zhang Qiang delivered three elegantly designed invitations, along with brief reports on several suspicious old cases that Zheng Shengli had secretly photocopied.
These cases have one thing in common: the biggest beneficiary was once the richest man in China!
Moreover, their deaths were all very bizarre; some were scared to death, their expressions extremely terrified, as if they had seen something.
There were also cases of twisted corpses where the cause of death could not be found, all pointing to unnatural forces.
Wednesday arrived quickly.
The three of us changed into slightly more formal clothes and, under our disguised identities, arrived at Beishan Botanical Garden.
The salon is located in a newly opened area deep within the botanical garden. The environment here is serene, with buildings in the style of ancient architecture, surrounded by bamboo groves, flowing water, and many young and beautiful staff.
"Damn, these rich people really know how to enjoy life!"
Li Huai cursed under his breath, his eyes practically glued to the waiters.
Luo Tianhe couldn't help but reach out and slap him: "Don't forget that we are cultured people. Look at your lecherous appearance. Even those pot-bellied businessmen aren't as exaggerated as you!"
"What's wrong with intellectuals? Don't intellectuals also have a penchant for women?"
Li Huai disagreed and retorted.
I'm truly impressed by Li Huai.
"Even cultured people know how to conceal their true feelings, unlike you. Don't embarrass me, have you had enough fun at the bar yet?!"
These past few days, Luo Tianhe and I have been as busy as ants on a hot plate, but Li Huai's job is quite simple, just preparing things, so he's been spending the last few days in bars.
"Hehe, Brother Chen, that's what you don't understand. The girls in the bar are hot, but compared to these waitresses, they lack a bit of charm."
Li Huai racked his brains for a long time, but couldn't find a way to describe it.
"Still holding a pipa, half-concealing her face?"
Seeing his expression, I tentatively said...
It's no wonder Li Huai was so fascinated by these waitresses. They were all innocent-looking and dressed conservatively, but quite a few men made unwanted advances towards them, and they didn't seem to mind.
It's obvious that their nature is the same as that of the dancers in bars, but they're using the guise of being cultured people.
"Heh, rich people love this kind of thing, it's pointless and pointless."
Luo Tianhe sneered.
"Let's go, let's go, stop wandering around here, let's go take a look over there, the people there seem more cultured."
I said in a low voice.
This place is a mixed bag, with all sorts of people, including many pot-bellied merchants.
In that corner, there were about twenty or thirty people, most of whom looked like well-mannered intellectuals, and a few who looked like corporate executives, dressed in suits and ties.
Putting everything else aside, at least they didn't act like women and didn't try anything with the waitresses.
It's much more upscale than our circle here.
We quietly moved to a relatively quiet corner and found a place to sit down.
Just as I was about to prick up my ears to eavesdrop, a beautiful host dressed in an elegant cheongsam, with a gentle demeanor, walked onto the small platform in the middle and announced the start of the salon.
"Good afternoon, everyone. Welcome to today's plant salon. We are honored to have several distinguished guests who have made significant contributions to botany, psychology, and traditional folk culture to discuss these topics with you."
The hostess had a gentle voice and a polite smile.
But I couldn't help but frown as I listened.
Psychology, botany, and traditional folklore—aren't these three completely unrelated?
Moreover, I always felt something was off about this female host; her smile was too standard, with a hint of barely perceptible stiffness.
Although Li Huai was practically drooling, I couldn't help but feel a pang of heart palpitations.
The first person to come on stage was an elderly man with gray hair and gold-rimmed glasses. He introduced himself as Tan, saying that he studied folk botany.
Luo Tian, Li Huai, and I exchanged glances. I knew that the three of us weren't very educated, but we were often online.
Ethnobotany, what is that?
The old man's story was quite interesting. He mentioned that the ancients believed certain plants could communicate with the spirits and possess souls. Some local chronicles and anecdotal novels even recorded strange tales of using specific orchids to nourish the soul.
"For example, the 'Returning Soul Incense' mentioned in ancient books is said to be made from a variant of the black orchid that grows in extremely yin places, where things like yin hemp also grow."
The old man's words immediately made me realize that he was no ordinary person.
After all, as a second-rate cobbler, the raw material for the hemp thread I use to sew corpses is the kind of hemp that grows in extremely yin places.
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