Hidden moth

Chapter 63 Outsourcing
From last night till now, Gu Yunteng has not rested at all.

Gu Yunteng could guess that Zhao Huanzhen was about to make some move, intending to use Zhou Du's son He Kao to set up a trap. He had also heard about the recent uproar over the Yin Mo incident, including Lin Hualei's death and Liang Kai's disappearance.

But he had no idea when Zhao Zhenzhen would make his move or where he would take the person. It wasn't that he was incapable, but that he simply didn't want to know and deliberately didn't ask.

As a second-tier broker, he was very good at business. With his current wealth and status, he no longer needed to do many things himself; all he needed was a result.

As for the risks and costs involved in achieving this result, it is best left to others.

Nowadays there is a professional term called "outsourcing".

Zhao Huanzhen came to him some time ago and said that he wanted to deal with some matters in Qiyuan City and hoped that he could help a little. Gu Yunteng agreed enthusiastically.

His status as a disciple of a martial arts sect helped him a lot in making his fortune more than thirty years ago. When he had more wealth and a higher status, he was able to exchange it for more things.

Over the years, whenever someone from the sect approached him and asked, he would do his best to help. After all, how could one only take without giving? Give and take is the right thing to do.

He could guess what Zhao Huanzhen wanted to do, but said that he was simply providing help and would not interfere in Zhao Huanzhen's affairs.

He just told Zhao Huanzhen Lao Hong's contact information, asked Zhao Huanzhen to find Lao Hong himself, and told Lao Hong to follow the rules.

The so-called following the rules means listening to Zhao Huanzhen and taking whatever remuneration you deserve, but being careful with your words and doing things reliably. Don't say what you shouldn't say and don't ask what you shouldn't ask.

But on the surface, it sounds like it may also be a warning to them to abide by the law.

Lao Hong has been with Gu Yunteng for almost twenty years, helping him handle all kinds of dirty work. At the beginning, almost no one knew about his relationship with Lao Hong, and few people still know about it now.

Lao Hong was originally a member of the police force, and Gu Yunteng had been "training" him since then. Later, Lao Hong got into trouble and was not only stripped of his police uniform but also nearly went to jail. It was Gu Yunteng who did his best to save him.

Old Hong is completely devoted to Gu Yunteng.

After leaving the police force, Lao Hong worked as a security manager in Happy Valley, and then went to work for a subsidiary company of the Bada Group. He followed formal recruitment procedures and on the surface had nothing to do with Gu Yunteng himself.

Back then, Gu Yunteng had a lot of people under him who could do the dirty work. Some of them were trained by him, and some were external teams that specialized in handling those things that were difficult to handle openly. But now, only Lao Hong's group is left.

If the remaining people are difficult to place, they will be placed under Lao Hong and given a job and a salary.

The reason is simply that the era of wild growth and huge profits for some businesses has ended.

Times have changed. There is no need to keep so many gangsters and thugs anymore, and it is even more difficult to do so openly. More things can be left to the legal team to handle.

From hiring gangsters and thugs to raising a legal team, this is the common progress of the times and Gu Yunteng.

Since Gu Yunteng had provided Zhao Huanzhen with a convenient service, he also asked Zhao Huanzhen for a small favor. He had recently heard that He Kao's father had left a safe deposit box and wanted to know what was inside, especially if there was any document.

If there is, it would be best to get the original back and control the spread.

Of course, he did not ask Zhao Huanzhen to do anything illegal. As for how to achieve the goal, it depends on Zhao Huanzhen himself, just like a food delivery platform would not explicitly ask deliverymen to violate traffic regulations.

He also asked Qian Gu Ran to help with this, but Qian Gu Ran insisted that there was only the property deed and a pair of gold paperweights in the safe, and no other materials at all.

Perhaps it was because Qian Guran spoke so confidently that Gu Yunteng didn't believe him. Qian Guran wasn't there when He Kao opened the safe deposit box at the bank, so his certainty made it seem like he was trying to hide something.

Furthermore, Qian Guran claimed to be in Pingjing, and his phone call about the incident seemed rather deliberate, likely an attempt to avoid a face-to-face discussion. They were both Qi-Guan masters, and while Qian Guran's cultivation was higher, he was still relatively inexperienced.

Gu Yunteng was furious, believing it to be a betrayal. He had done Qian Guran many small favors before, and now he was only asking Qian Guran to do him a small favor. Since Qian Guran had agreed, he shouldn't have lied to him.

Amidst his anger, he felt a tinge of worry and caution. If Qian hadn't been telling the truth, it simply proved that the document had indeed appeared. What was this junior fellow student trying to do by concealing this information?
This concern is also one of the reasons why he chose to cooperate with Zhao Huanzhen.

But last night, Qian Guran suddenly came to ask for someone because He Kao had disappeared, and so had one of his colleagues.

Gu Yunteng had no impression of Gao Xue'e. Since she was a female colleague, she must have been having an affair with He Kao at the time and was taken away by Zhao Huanzhen... It turned out that Zhao Huanzhen chose to take action today.

How could such a serious crime be related to him, Gu Yunteng? It wasn't him who asked Zhao Zhenzhen to do it! So he told Qian Guran very clearly that he had no idea what was going on.

Then Gu Yunteng asked again, "Xiao Qian, is there really no information in that bank safe deposit box?"

Qian Guran: “Of course not!”

Gu Yunteng waved his hand expressionlessly and said, "Then go."

They are all masters of the Qi-Watching Gate. Even though Gu Yunteng is not a third-level strategist, he can still see the mysterious changes in the aura between people.

It was these last few sentences that made Gu Yunteng finally confirm that Qian Guran was lying to him, and he was really disappointed.

After Qian Guran left, Gu Yunteng informed Zhao Huanzhen. He did not ask Zhao Huanzhen where he was or what he was doing, but only told him that Qian Guran had just come to see him and why.

Let Zhao Huanzhen do the dirty work. He doesn't need to know what happened to He Kao. He just needs to wait for the result.

He usually wouldn't take the initiative to contact someone for things like this, but he waited until dawn and there was still no news from Zhao Huanzhen.

There was an activity for the new social class in the province that morning. He could have found an excuse not to attend, but he went anyway. He appeared in public looking normal, as if nothing was wrong, but in fact he was becoming more and more uneasy.

He returned to the office in the afternoon and told no one not to disturb him. He kept waiting for news. Later, he finally couldn't help but contact Zhao Huanzhen, but found that he couldn't get through to him no matter what. He then tried to contact Lao Hong, but the result was the same.

It was not until dinner time that Gu Yunteng confirmed a terrible thing. Not only had Zhao Huanzhen and Lao Hong lost contact, but Zhao Huanzhen's group and Lao Hong's men were all missing!
I don't know what happened last night, it's as if a magical hand wiped them out of this world...

The greatest anxiety of human beings lies in the unknown of their fate. The more uncertain they are, the more worried they feel. At this moment, he received another call from Lin Qingshuang.

Lin Qingshuang said that there was something important and she had to meet him immediately, and his feeling of uneasiness became stronger.

Times have changed, and identities have also changed. Although there are many employees in the Bada Group, there are very few people like Lao Hong. He disappeared along with Zhao Huanzhen yesterday.

Even if these people still existed, they could not be used to deal with Lin Qingshuang. As for the security and legal teams... they were of no use at the moment, so he had to receive this old lady himself.

First figure out what's going on. If the situation is really bad, I hope that the connections I have built up and the favors I have given over the years can play their due role.

While he was sitting in the office shaking his legs and waiting, he was still trying to find Lao Hong and Zhao Huanzhen in different ways, but of course he still couldn't get in touch with them... At this moment, he suddenly received a document sent by Lin Qingshuang.

Like He Kao, Lin Qingshuang had already sent the electronic version of the materials while still on the road. Gu Yunteng was shocked and quickly opened the file to examine it carefully. At first, his brow furrowed, but as he read... he gradually relaxed.

He had known about the existence of this material for a long time, otherwise he wouldn't have been so nervous. Now that he finally saw the real thing, his biggest question was how did the material fall into Lin Qingshuang's hands?
It seems that Lin Qingshuang is either trying to curry favor with him or trying to use this opportunity to blackmail him into doing something good. But no matter what, as long as there are conditions to negotiate, it is not the worst case scenario.

Why did Gu Yunteng relax? Because the truth had come. Only by knowing the specific content of the material would he know whether it was fake or not. If it was leaked, how would he deal with it?

This material will indeed cause him trouble, but if you look closely, most of the information is outdated and difficult to verify. If someone wants to use this thing to hit him, he might bleed heavily, but there is no way to really nail him.

He did it all himself, so how could he not know the inside story? It's been twenty years, and many of the people involved have long been incarcerated or even deceased. Many records are impossible to verify, and the statute of limitations has expired.

So when he actually saw the material, he felt relieved.

Lin Qingshuang did not drive here by herself. She brought a driver with her. After arriving at Yunteng Building, she asked the driver to drive away first and come back to pick her up when she was called.

She took Gu Yunteng's private elevator directly to the top floor. Gu Yunteng was waiting at the elevator entrance. The entire floor was ablaze with lights, but he was the only one there. As soon as Lin Qingshuang stepped out of the elevator, Gu Yunteng quickly stepped forward, bent down and held out his hands, and said with a smile: "Sister Lin, I am so grateful to you! You took the trouble to come all the way here for me."

Lin Qingshuang was a little stunned and asked, "What are you thanking me for?"

Gu Yunteng: "That document, twenty years have passed, I never thought I'd still see it. Thank you, sister, you really care about me and sent it to me specially... Don't stand here and talk, come in and sit down!"

He welcomed Lin Qingshuang into a small reception room and personally made her some tea. Lin Qingshuang looked around and said, "It's such a big floor, and you're all alone. Isn't that creepy?"

Gu Yunteng smiled and said, "You sent me that document and said you had something to discuss. I couldn't have anyone else present, so I had to personally serve you tea... May I ask how that document came to be in your possession?"

Lin Qingshuang got straight to the point: "Of course the money was given to me, but I came here today to ask for your person. He just gave me the dirty laundry on you and then he disappeared. I can't help but suspect you!"

Gu Yunteng was shocked: "What? The money was given to you, and then he disappeared? You actually came to me to ask for him!"

Lin Qingshuang: "First, let me ask you a question. From what you just said, you should have known about the existence of this material for a long time. How did you know?"

Gu Yunteng: "Alas, this was done by Jia Laoliu!"

Lin Qingshuang wondered, "Jia Laoliu...? I seem to have some impression of this name."

Gu Yunteng: "Of course you may have an impression of him. He was a famous gangster in this area back then!

He was once my business competitor. More than 20 years ago, he and I both had our eyes on a piece of land. Seeing that he could not compete with me, he sent me a message saying that he had collected some negative information about me.

It is said that the material can destroy my family and the families of those who come after me.

He negotiated with me, saying that he had someone deposit the materials in a bank safe deposit box. If I could give him the land, not only would the materials not be issued, but they would also be handed over to me personally for processing.

Later, this person did not have a good ending. He got into trouble and fled overseas. He first hid in Red Harbor, and then died in the Black Wasteland Continent..."

Lin Qingshuang: "Did you do this?"

Gu Yunteng: "It's not me, and there's no need for me to deal with him. He said this, and he's not just threatening me. He's different from me. I've always been doing legitimate business, but he makes money from everything.

From the official to the public, everyone knows that Jia Laoliu is a gangster boss, and people in higher positions have long wanted to get rid of him.

But I had never seen the document in person, and I thought he was just trying to scare me. In fact, he didn't have anything in his hand... Until just now, you sent it to me.

This might have been a big deal 20 years ago, but it's useless today. It's just fabricated, groundless rumors."

Lin Qingshuang: "You were relieved after seeing it, right? It's been such a long time, why are you looking for this material again recently?"

Gu Yunteng: "I'm sure you all know about what happened in Qiyuan recently. Many people have come looking for Yin Mo. It is said that there was a man named Zhou Du who was Yin Mo twenty years ago.

I happened to have a vague recollection of this man; he worked on a construction team and also ran a renovation company. Back then, he had a close relationship with Jia Laoliu. I recently heard he had a safe deposit box at the bank, which brought back memories.

Zhou Du had a son named He Kao, and the safe fell into his hands.

Qian was definitely after Yin E, and he had sneaked into He Kao's workplace... I asked Xiao Qian to help me check if there was any information in that safe deposit box. But this guy actually cheated me!"

Lin Qingshuang: "How did he lie to you?"

Gu Yunteng: "He told me there was nothing in the safe deposit box, but then he gave it to you. Isn't that a lie?"

Lin Qingshuang: "After he saw what it was, he probably got scared. I just went to him recently for something, so he just handed the materials to me.

I have something to ask him today, but I can't get in touch with him, so I came to you. Is the money in your hands? If so, hand him over!

Otherwise, if something happens to him, it won’t be me who will come to you to ask, but the Sect Master’s Hall.”

Gu Yunteng said flatly, "I swear to God, I didn't do anything that was detrimental to the money. If you hadn't told me, I wouldn't have known he had the materials, and he's gone missing!"

Lin Qingshuang stared at him for a long time, feeling that Gu Yunteng's reaction was not fake, and asked again with some doubt: "When was the last time you saw Qian Guran?"

Gu Yunteng thought about it and decided to tell the truth: "It was last night. You can check the surveillance footage of him entering and leaving Yunteng Building at the exact time."

Lin Qingshuang was surprised: "Last night! Why did he come to see you?"

Gu Yunteng: "He just came to tell me that there was nothing in the safe deposit box, and then inexplicably told me to let go of the child named He Kao and not to cause trouble for him.

I've never bothered that kid before, I don't even know him.

"Why did he come to see me at any other time? Why did he have to disturb my rest in the middle of the night? I was not very happy at the time and sent him away without saying a word. Now that I think about it, he was indeed a little off yesterday."

Lin Qingshuang frowned and said, "What you said is true. You really didn't do anything to Qian Guran?"

Gu Yunteng: "Sister Lin, we have been friends for many years, do I really need to lie to you about this?

"Everything I just said is true. Even if the clan law hall questioned me, I would still say so. Could I lie to the elders of the clan law hall? Could I deceive a sixth-level master of the gate of vision?"

Lin Qingshuang said helplessly, "In that case, you'd better hope that the money is fine, otherwise the clan law hall will come to investigate. Because I have already informed the clan law hall about this material."

Gu Yunteng became anxious upon hearing this: "Sister Lin, I'm also very sad about what happened to Hua Lei. But you can't take your anger out on me just because Hua Lei got into trouble on Qiyuan's territory. I really didn't know..."

Lin Qingshuang stood up suddenly and waved her hand, saying, "The matter of transforming into thunder was done by Liang Kai of Danding Sect. It has nothing to do with you. Don't mention it again!

But there is one more thing I must remind you of. Just as Qian Guran said, don't bother He Kao again. I've been to Qiyuan regarding the matter of Hualei and have met He Kao. I've confirmed that he's not Yin E.

But I unexpectedly discovered that this person was a promising talent. I wanted to take him in as a disciple, but was stopped by a divine thought. This means that an elder of the sect has been secretly watching him and may be planning to take him in personally.

Qian was certainly present at the time, and his advice to you must have been well-intentioned... That's all I have to say today. From now on, you should take care of yourself."

Gu Yunteng flatly denied that he had ever done anything bad to Qian Gu. Lin Qingshuang could not do anything to him except warn him, so she had to say goodbye and leave.

Gu Yunteng has a lot of connections in the martial arts world. His network of contacts has become very complex over the years, and no one can easily make things difficult for him. If there is no solid evidence, it is not so easy to touch him.

Even the commercial building that Lin Qingshuang bought to open a pharmacy in Hengzhou was developed by the Bada Group. She didn't go to Gu Yunteng, but Gu Yunteng somehow heard about it and personally contacted her, giving her a very favorable internal discount.

Lin Qingshuang still doesn't want to take advantage. It is really hard to say how much benefit many high-level people in the Shu sect, especially those in the Wangqi sect, have received from Gu Yunteng over the years and what kind of cooperative relationship they have.

However, after Lin Qingshuang left, Gu Yunteng was even more confused, because Qian Guran had lost contact, and even he didn't know what was going on! Although he didn't tell Lin Qingshuang many things, he told the truth about this matter.

How come Zhao Huanzhen, Lao Hong, and Qian Guran all lost contact? If they were all in trouble, who could have such great ability? Considering Lin Qingshuang's previous warning, could it be that one of the sect elders had taken action?
When he thought of this, Gu Yunteng silently said that he had nothing to do with this matter, not at all... absolutely nothing to do with it!
What he has to worry about now is the possible impact if this material is leaked.

He Kao, who had already finished a relaxing massage, never expected that Gu Yunteng would have such a misunderstanding.

The matter of finding Lao Qian has been handed over to Lin Qingshuang. Everything that can be done has been done, and Lin Qingshuang asked him not to interfere anymore, so there is no point in him being anxious.

What he has to worry about now is how to become a real hidden moth.

**
PS: I tried my best to write a long article today, please vote!
(End of this chapter)