Chapter 142
It turns out that it wasn't Luo Futu who arranged for Lü Jiu to bribe the servants of the Gu family, but rather that a steward had already colluded with Luo Futu before Lü Jiu entered the Gu family.
Luo Futu went out and met with the steward, and Xie Xubai followed him in to eavesdrop on their conspiracy.
The two sat down and repeatedly discussed how to cut off the Gu family's supply channels, cash flow, and accounting loopholes—they were indeed discussing how to deal with the Gu family.
This scene was blatant evidence of guilt. Xie Xubai immediately used his mental power to cover up Lü Jiu's whereabouts and awaken Gu Nan, who was sleeping in his sea of consciousness.
Gu Nancai woke up, still a little dazed.
Until he saw his steward talking intimately with Luofutu, and heard them treating the Gu family like fish on a chopping board, figuring out how to cut them, it was as if a string called reason suddenly snapped in his mind!
Gu Nan's resentment surged, his eyes turned bloodshot, and he wished he could rush up and tear them to pieces and devour their flesh.
Xie Xubai stopped him and used his mental power to soothe Gu Nan's rapidly fluctuating emotions. It was not just comforting, but also a promise: "They will receive the punishment they deserve."
The reason for bringing Gu Nan out was not for any other reason than to make it clear that Lü Jiu had not bribed the servants of the Gu family.
During this time, Luo Futu and the steward also referred to him as "that lord" or "my patron," indicating that there was indeed a wicked mastermind behind them, and perhaps more than one.
It didn't matter to Xie Xubai; for him, catching those people was just a matter of time.
After calming Gu Nan down, Xie Xubai removed the mental barrier, allowing the young master to see Lü Jiu, who was hiding across the street watching.
Upon encountering his enemy from his memories, Gu Nan instantly reacted as if he had just seen Luofutu. His chest heaved violently, his eyes burned with hatred, and his skin was covered in black scorch marks, revealing a hideous and terrifying appearance.
But perhaps because Xie Xubai was standing beside him, or perhaps because the actual situation did not match his expectations, Gu Nan quickly took two breaths and suppressed his hatred.
Xie Xubai stayed with him and waited with Lü Jiu until the steward and Luo Futu finished their conversation.
Not long after the manager left, the inn where Luo Futu was staying went dark. Lü Jiu stood in the shadows, touching the bloody gash on his finger, his expression somber and indistinct.
As night deepened and the dew grew heavy, the moonlight became clear, and the streets were deathly silent.
After a long while, Lü Jiu exhaled and said softly, "Whatever, what does it have to do with me?"
He almost lost half his life just to escape this time. He was too busy hiding from Luofu Temple to care about anyone else.
Lu Jiu shook his stiff, numb legs, swallowed the bloody saliva in his mouth, put his hands behind his back, and strode away.
As he walked, he suddenly reached into his pocket, took out the pocket watch that Xie Xubai had given him, and opened the watch cover.
The silvery pointer ticked away, and the outer glass slide shimmered like fish scales in the moonlight.
Lu Jiu stared at it until his eyes ached. He rubbed his bloodshot eyes, took a deep breath, and rudely stuffed the pocket watch back into his pocket.
Early the next morning, Lü Jiu went to the bookstore, rented a pen and bought paper, and wrote down in a crooked hand the story of the Gu family steward meeting with Luo Futu the night before, mentioning that they might have ulterior motives and requesting a thorough investigation.
He took out another piece of paper, starting with "Luofutu," intending to specifically reveal the person's identity, but he got stuck halfway through writing, frowning as if he didn't know much either.
Given the limited space inside the pocket watch, which could only hold a small piece of paper, Lü Jiu had no choice but to give up.
Having made these preparations, Lü Jiu, carrying the pocket watch containing the note, arrived at the Gu family compound and beckoned to a beggar: "Do you know the owners of this house?"
The beggar glanced at him and nodded.
Lu Jiu gave him a few copper coins and whispered, "If the master, madam, or young master comes out in a little while, you must give this to them for me, understand?"
The beggar explained it clearly.
Lü Jiu then handed the pocket watch to the other party.
He breathed a sigh of relief as the pocket watch slipped from his hand, but before he could even straighten up, a dark shadow flashed past him—the beggar had run off with the pocket watch!
Lü Jiu was immediately stunned.
Xie Xubai guessed that Lü Jiu must have encountered many swindlers and con artists along the way, but no one had ever successfully tricked him. Yesterday, when facing the flower seller, Lü Jiu was beaming and talking animatedly, appearing quite smug and arrogant. Now that something had been easily taken from him by a beggar, he must be furious.
As expected, Lu Jiu watched the beggar's fleeing figure, and instantly his anger flared. Luckily, he was fast and quick-witted, and soon caught the beggar, yelling and kicking him, "You little thief, how dare you steal my stuff?! Give it back to me!"
Their commotion was so loud that it alerted the local police patrol. The captain walked over, gave them a cold look, forcefully separated the two men who were fighting, and demanded, "What are you doing?"
When the police officers surrounded him, the beggar realized he was in serious trouble. He stubbornly refused to admit it and hastily retorted, "You were the one who gave me the things! Everyone around saw it! Why are you trying to take them back?"
Lu Jiu was so angry that his veins were throbbing. He met the scrutinizing gaze of the disciplinary captain and racked his brains for a way to cover it up.
But it was too late. The head of the police squad saw the pocket watch in the beggar's hand, frowned, took the watch, and looked at Lü Jiu suspiciously: "Where did you get this watch?"
The watch was expensive, anyone could tell, but the head of the police squad also recognized the Gu Family Treasure Pavilion's mark on the dial. This was not something an ordinary person could obtain; he strongly suspected Lü Jiu was a thief.
Lu Jiu was in a terrible predicament. He didn't want to go to jail and be beaten, and no one could bail him out once he was in there. So he had no choice but to tell them what had happened yesterday afternoon.
Seeing that the captain of the disciplinary team was still skeptical, Lü Jiu said helplessly, "If you don't believe me, the Gu family mansion is right in front of us. You can arrange for someone to come in with me. Once you've met the young master of the Gu family, you'll know that I wasn't lying."
Perhaps it was because Lü Jiu behaved neither servilely nor arrogantly, and despite his young age, he spoke eloquently. The captain of the disciplinary team was also a good person, so in the end, he did not detain Lü Jiu and instead personally brought him to visit the captain.
Forced to the gate of the Gu family mansion, Lü Jiu looked up at the magnificent mansion and villa, then looked down at the disciplinary captain's sidearm at his waist, and finally couldn't laugh anymore.
The head of the disciplinary team asked the doorman to inform the host of their visit. Coincidentally, Madam Gu and "Gu Nan" were having breakfast in the hall.
Yesterday, Gu Nan caused quite a scene in the market in his attempt to find Lü Jiu. Madam Gu was startled by her son's resentful and crazed expression and naturally kept this matter in mind.
Upon hearing that the head of the disciplinary team had brought Lü Jiu to the door, Madam Gu raised an eyebrow and, without thinking, instructed the servants to invite them in.
Upon seeing Madam Gu, the head of the patrol team smiled and handed over the pocket watch: "Madam, this young man was squatting at the door early this morning, saying that the item was too valuable and he felt uneasy holding it. Helping people and saving lives is what he should do, and he doesn't expect anything in return. He came here specifically to return the item."
Lu Jiu kept his head down, subtly glancing at Madam Gu out of the corner of his eye. Seeing that the other party only held the pocket watch in her hand and did not open it in public, his heart, which had been hanging in his throat, finally relaxed.
Madam Gu knew that the young man in front of her was named Lü Jiu. Lü Jiu, whom Gu Nan had threatened to tear to pieces yesterday, turned his head suspiciously while holding the pocket watch.
Xie Xubai, disguised as Gu Nan, was drinking porridge, his movements slow and deliberate, gentle and refined, showing no signs of going mad. Seeing Madam Gu looking at him, he immediately smiled and said, "Mother, the chef made chicken spring rolls today, they taste really good, you should try them too."
Madam Gu had a strange feeling, but in front of outsiders, she could only suppress her doubts for the time being. She playfully smacked Xie Xubai on the head: "This child, you've found Xiaobai's benefactor visiting, and all you care about is eating? You have no manners at all!"
To cover up the lie, Xie Xubai used his mental power to alter the memories of the Gu family, making them truly believe that he had taken in a child named Gu Bai.
Upon hearing the word "Little White," Lü Jiu finally deigned to look up.
The family was having breakfast when they looked around but couldn't see the child. His expression changed slightly, and he was about to ask when a strong male voice came from behind him.
"Haha, Captain Chen, it's rare that you have time to come here."
Everyone looked in the direction of the voice and saw that the person who came was the head of the Gu family. He was over forty years old, with regular features, a dignified appearance, and bright, piercing eyes. His authority was tempered with a touch of kindness.
There was another person following behind the Gu family head. When that person showed his face, Lü Jiu's mind went blank, his pupils narrowed sharply, as if he had suddenly fallen into an ice cave, and the chill seeped from his bones and rushed into the back of his brain.
The visitor noticed Lü Jiu's gaze, smiled at him with his hawk-like eyes.
Those eyes seemed to whisper: I've found you.
The head of the Gu family smiled and introduced, "Madam, Captain Chen, this is Mr. Luo, who has come from afar. His shop's brocades and silks are renowned throughout the country."
He then introduced Xie Xubai: "This is my son, Gu Nan."
"No, no, it's just a small business. Master Gu, you flatter me." The guest quickly waved his hand modestly, shook hands with each person, and smiled politely, "Hello, Captain Chen, hello, Madam, Young Master Gu, I am Luo Futu."
Xie Xubai suddenly sensed a violent emotional fluctuation.
Fear, panic, hatred, anger...
Uncontrollable negative emotions exploded like firecrackers, so intense it was breathtaking, and finally converged, vying to shout out a single word.
--run.
Lu Jiu's mind went blank, with only this one thought remaining.
He felt he had escaped; he was able to resist his fear and follow Luo Futu, and even turn around to try and trick this man.
But when the name of Luofutu appeared, and when he met the gaze of the bearded man with a smile that concealed a knife, the deep-seated fear finally turned into a shadow and enveloped him once again.
Run... He wants to run! Run...!
Snap.
Luo Futu came to Lü Jiu's side and gently placed his hand on Lü Jiu's shoulder.
Lu Jiu's heart skipped a beat, and his pupils dilated inch by inch.
From an angle unseen by others, Luo Futu's thumbnail suddenly dug into Lü Jiu's flesh, and he whispered close to Lü Jiu's ear, his laughter like a viper's hiss: "I saw you from the doorway, but I didn't know who this young brother was."
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