Chapter 287 - 286: Just Asking for a Smackdown

Chapter 287: Chapter 286: Just Asking for a Smackdown

Gu Qingyin didn’t rush to summon the soul. Instead, she followed the scent of blood to find the soul’s location. Once she pinpointed its exact position, she went straight for the Divine Artifact.

For a moment, the Soul Mirror burst with brilliant light, so dazzling that no one could open their eyes.

Huo Yunjing discreetly took two steps back, avoiding the light radiating from the Soul Mirror. Although he had cultivated to look human, he was, at his core, still a ghost. The Soul Mirror was practically his natural nemesis.

In just two or three minutes, the Soul Mirror’s light subsided, and it reverted to an ordinary-looking mirror, except for the dazed female soul now trapped within it.

Gu Qingyin glanced at it and sighed. "Another new ghost. Even if we take her back, we won’t be able to get anything out of her."

"She’ll come to her senses eventually," Miao Yan said. "Leave her to me. I’ll go back and look into her identity."

The Soul Mirror spat out the soul. Miao Yan collected it and started to walk out. "You keep an eye on things here with Brother Liu. I’m heading back to the association."

Liu Ergou grunted in acknowledgment, then suddenly took out his phone and started taking pictures of the curse marks on the wall.

Gu Qingyin watched him, finding it odd. "What are you doing?"

Liu Ergou said with disgust, "It’s a new rule from the association. We have to record key information while handling cases to make it easier to review them afterward."

Gu Qingyin blinked. "Is it to prevent people from breaking the rules?"

"Hah! The association’s rules are so ridiculous, I bet there isn’t a single Heavenly Master who hasn’t broken them at least once. They don’t even understand that ’if the water is too clear, there will be no fish.’" Liu Ergou shook his head, thoroughly displeased. "They just have too much time on their hands."

Gu Qingyin was shocked. "Do affiliated members have to take pictures too? People like me?"

There are two types of Heavenly Masters in the association. The first type is fully supported by the association; they are completely beholden to it and go wherever it commands. The second type consists of affiliated members like Gu Qingyin, whom the association must properly incentivize if it wants them to do any work.

The association has always had a hands-off approach toward its affiliated Heavenly Masters, generally leaving them alone as long as they didn’t break the law.

But this time...

Liu Ergou shook his head. "All Heavenly Masters are being treated the same."

Gu Qingyin’s vision went dark. She had never handled a case *without* breaking the rules, including but not limited to: turning a blind eye to let ghosts seek revenge, violently exorcising Evil Ghosts, entrapment, and so on.

’She was used to it. How was she supposed to change all of a sudden?’

Gu Qingyin said, frustrated, "Don’t come to me for any more ghost-hunting cases from now on."

Liu Ergou was taken aback for a moment. "Then what else can you do?"

Right, what else could she do?

Gu Qingyin’s eyes glazed over. "Maybe I’ll buy a shop on Antique Street and just sell talismans and Magic Artifacts from now on."

Liu Ergou: "...Stop joking. You could never sit still."

Huo Yunjing walked over and took her hand. "Why not just leave the association entirely and start your own practice?"

Gu Qingyin’s eyes lit up. "That could work!"

Liu Ergou looked like he wanted to say something but held back. To be honest, he was a little tempted too, but even if he left his affiliated position with the association, he couldn’t just go join Gu Qingyin. He was, after all, a man of Wudang Mountain.

After clearing the curse from the wall, the three of them chatted as they walked out. Just as they stepped through the villa’s gate, they ran into a hurried Manager Wang.

"Ma’am! We’ve contacted the Song Family. The earliest they can arrive is midnight."

Gu Qingyin nodded. "How are the people who saw the crime scene?"

"We’ve spoken with all of them, and most are understanding," Manager Wang said. "This was an unforeseen disaster, and they all accepted the resort’s offer of a gift as compensation."

Gu Qingyin raised an eyebrow. "And the minority?"

Manager Wang pursed his lips. "It’s Miss Bai and the man she brought with her. They’re adamantly demanding emotional distress compensation."

"What kind of compensation? The Bai Family isn’t short on money, are they?" Gu Qingyin scoffed. "Where are they? Take me to them." After speaking, she turned to Liu Ergou. "There’s nothing else for now. Go get a room and rest up. We’ve got a busy night ahead."

Liu Ergou agreed and was about to leave.

Manager Wang chimed in, "A room has already been reserved. If you just give your name at the front desk, someone will show you the way."

Liu Ergou smiled and thanked him.

Gu Qingyin, on the other hand, gave Manager Wang an appreciative look. ’Perceptive. A real talent.’

Manager Wang gave a modest smile. Then, as they walked, he began to tell her about Miss Bai.

"The Bai Family’s second daughter is named Bai Rong, as in ’soft down.’ She has an older brother who has already inherited the company. Bai Rong has nothing to do with the family business. Her days are spent either dining with her girlfriends or going on shopping sprees at the mall. She doesn’t have any particular hobbies."

"The man with her is He Wenjie. She met him at a nightclub while out with her friends. I hear it was love at first sight, and she’s kept him by her side ever since."

"Everyone in the Bai Family knows, but no one has said anything." Manager Wang sneered. "To put it bluntly, they don’t take him seriously. Bai Rong is free to play around however she wants before she’s engaged. Once she has a fiancé, he’ll take care of that man himself, without the Bai Family even having to lift a finger."

Thinking of He Wenjie’s earlier attitude, Manager Wang scoffed. ’He really thinks he can marry into a rich family. Nothing’s even set in stone, but he’s already putting on airs.’

Gu Qingyin had a pretty strong impression of He Wenjie. He had been so blatant about demanding money in public, assuming everyone was just like him. In reality, the one thing the invited guests didn’t lack was money.

Bai Rong’s villa wasn’t far from Song Chengyun’s, both located in the standard VIP area. They took a sightseeing cart and arrived in about ten minutes.

Manager Wang stepped forward and rang the doorbell, but the gate didn’t open. No one answered the video intercom either.

"Did they go out?" Gu Qingyin asked in a strange tone. "They can’t be ignoring us on purpose, can they? That would be too childish."

A cold sweat broke out on Manager Wang’s forehead. He quickly dialed Bai Rong’s number. The phone rang for a long time until it automatically disconnected, unanswered.

From across the courtyard, Gu Qingyin faintly heard a phone ringing. She raised an eyebrow, pulled Manager Wang back with one hand, and then planted her foot on the gate.

With a loud BANG, the gate flew open, slammed against the wall, and wobbled back.

"Let’s go in," Gu Qingyin said calmly, taking the lead and walking inside.

Huo Yunjing followed at an unhurried pace.

The two of them were already several steps ahead before the stunned Manager Wang snapped back to his senses. He gave a wry smile and hurried to catch up. ’This is the difference between a boss and an employee,’ he couldn’t help but think.

No matter how angry he got, he always remembered not to offend the clients. But the boss didn’t care about any of that. If someone made her unhappy, she’d make them even unhappier. Her guiding principle was to not put up with anyone’s nonsense.

At that moment, the two people inside the small villa came out, having heard the commotion. Bai Rong’s face was a little pale, but she looked relatively calm. He Wenjie was another story; he came out fuming, but was cut off before he could even speak.

"Oh, so you’re still alive!" Gu Qingyin said, feigning relief as she cut in first. "We were just ringing the doorbell and calling, but no one answered. We thought something terrible might have happened to you." She paused, then her tone shifted. "But since you’re both here and reacted so quickly, why didn’t you open the gate just now?"

Seeing the expressions on their faces look as foul as if they’d eaten shit, Manager Wang felt a smile creep into his eyes. He finally felt a bit of satisfaction.

’These two clueless idiots really had it coming.’