The young driver's beautiful boss

When Tang Bei returned to his dormitory, Qi Yue floated out from behind him, stopped by the window, and turned her back to him.

"Master," her voice was softer than usual, "that Taoist's aura has been nearby ever since I entered that neighborhood."

Tang Bei took off his coat and draped it over the back of his chair, then picked up a bottle of water from the table, unscrewed it, and took a couple of gulps. "Is he spying on Zhao Jiang?"

"Perhaps he's spying on me." Qi Yue turned around, a hint of unease in her dark eyes. "He can sense me, and he can also sense the spiritual energy in you. A person like him wouldn't appear in Ancheng for no reason. Qi Jing invited him here, and it's not just about exorcising ghosts."

Tang Bei leaned against the headboard, placing the water bottle on his lap. The smiling face of the Flower Daoist flashed through his mind—slippery and chilling, like snake skin. "You're right, what Qi Jing wants is my Longevity Pill and your Ghost Contract. The Flower Daoist wants to profit from this."

Qi Yue floated closer, her fingertips lightly touching his shoulder, the cool sensation seeping through his clothes. "Master, I have a plan. He's a Taoist priest, I'm a ghost, but he doesn't know my background. I can feign weakness, making him think he has an opportunity. When he gets close, you can strike and take care of him too."

Tang Bei thought for a moment and shook his head. "Too risky. That kind of person has who knows how many random talismans and magical artifacts he has. If he really hurts you, who am I going to ask for compensation?"

Qi Yue remained silent, hovering there quietly. Tang Bei could see she was much more detached than before; since the day Qi Tian died, she had been like a wisp of mist slowly dissipating in the wind. He had a thought he hadn't voiced—Qi Yue's time was running out. She remained in the mortal realm because of the resentment she hadn't swallowed. Qi Tian was dead, and Qi Jing would soon be gone too; once all revenge was taken, she would probably be gone as well.

Tang Bei closed his eyes and leaned against the headboard to rest. He knew he needed to be well-rested tonight, as he had a lot to deal with tomorrow.

The next morning, Tang Bei went to Yang Tiejun's place first. Zhao Jiang was being held in a makeshift room converted from a warehouse on the outskirts of the city, his hands and feet cuffed, and his mouth gagged with a rag. Yang Tiejun was sitting on a folding chair by the door, holding a bowl of porridge. When he saw Tang Bei arrive, he gestured with his lip towards the room: "They've been up all night, and it only calmed down at dawn."

Tang Bei pushed open the door and entered. Zhao Jiang was sitting against the wall, a scabbed wound on his cheekbone, from when he was forced to bang his head against the metal frame yesterday. His eyes were half-open, and when he saw Tang Bei enter, he forced a dry smile.

"Tang Bei." He pushed the gag out of his mouth with his tongue, his voice hoarse, "You've got guts. I, Zhao Jiang, have been in this business for thirty years, and this is the first time I've been taken down so easily."

Tang Bei squatted down opposite him, looking him in the eye. "Zhao Jiang, I have a few questions for you. If you answer them well, I won't make things difficult for you."

"Go ahead and ask."

"Did you kill Qi Tian?"

Zhao Jiang stared at him for two seconds, then laughed. The laugh was cold and stifling, like fire suppressed under a rock. "That brat Qi Tian, ​​I had him killed. He took my money and promised to do three things for me. He failed to do the first one and even gave my name to someone else. There's no point in keeping such a piece of trash around."

Tang Bei's heart skipped a beat. "What was the first thing he promised to do for you?"

"Lure Gu Yifei out of the Gu family." Zhao Jiang licked his dry lips. "Qi Tian said he could do it, but he couldn't even get inside the Gu family compound. Later, he said he found Gu Qiushui's whereabouts and offered to trade that with me for money. I gave him the money, and he immediately tried to use my information to exchange for benefits with the Gu family. Trying to have his cake and eat it too, then don't blame me for making the first move."

Tang Bei stood up and looked down at him. "Is there anything else you haven't said?"

Zhao Jiang leaned back, resting his head against the wall, and looked up at Tang Bei. "What exactly do you want to ask?"

"Why were you arrested back then? Why did Gu Qiushui's mother remarry into the Gu family with her?"

Zhao Jiang's smile faded. He turned his head away, looking at the pile of old planks in the corner of the warehouse, and remained silent for a long time. So long that Tang Bei thought he didn't want to talk anymore, he finally spoke, his voice slightly softer than before: "I took the blame for someone. That person's surname is Gu, and he's now the patriarch of the Gu family. He slept with my wife, put me in jail, and then married her. When I got out, my wife was already dead, and Qiu Shui didn't recognize me anymore."

He turned to look at Tang Bei, his eyes cold and hard. "Tell me, should I kill the Gu family?"

Tang Bei didn't answer the question. He stood up and walked out, glancing back at Zhao Jiang as he reached the door. "I have no right to judge your affairs. But you crossed the line by touching Gu Yifei. You stay here."

He left the warehouse, and Yang Tiejun closed the door behind him. Sunlight streamed in through the cracks in the warehouse, cutting strips of light across the floor. Tang Bei stood in the light, replaying Zhao Jiang's words in his mind. The old patriarch of the Gu family had slept with his subordinate's wife, sent the subordinate to jail, and then married the woman. Such a thing would be utterly despicable in any era.

He took out his phone and sent a message to Gu Qingqing: "Check Gu's family patriarch's background back then. Zhao Jiang's matter is related to him."

Gu Qingqing replied instantly: Received. By the way, Wen Boyuan sent a message saying that the bidding process for the land in the south of the city has been restarted. After Qi Tian's death, Dasheng Group's qualifications were revoked, so we can officially enter the market now.

Tang Bei stared at the screen, a slight twitch at the corner of his mouth. Qi Tian was dead, Yang Fu was in jail, and Zhao Jiang had been arrested. Once Gu Qiushui's situation was investigated, it wouldn't cause any more trouble. The game in Ancheng was essentially won.

But there's one more person. Qi Jing. And that Flower Taoist.

Just as he was about to turn back, his phone rang again. It was Gu Tian calling.

"Tang Bei, my dad asked me to tell you—Qi Jing went to the Gu family this morning, wanting to reconcile with you. He said he's willing to give something in exchange."

"What is it?"

He said he knew the whereabouts of your master.

Tang Bei stopped in his tracks.

His master. The person Tang Bei had never given up searching for all these years. The one who taught him the method of cultivating spiritual power, who disappeared after leaving when Tang Bei was twelve. He had investigated many leads over the years, but all had gone cold. Did Qi Jing have any information about his master?

"Where is he?" Tang Bei asked.

"They're waiting in the Gu family's living room. My dad asked me to ask you if you want to see them."

Tang Bei stood in the sun at the warehouse entrance, his fingers gripping his phone tightly.

When he arrived at the Gu family's house, Qi Jing had already been sitting in the living room for almost an hour.

Gu Tian was waiting for him at the door. When he saw him arrive, he leaned over and whispered, "That kid brought a Taoist priest with him, the one you called Hua Daoren. My dad didn't let them in the house; he made them wait in the side hall."

"What was the flower arranger's reaction?"

"He was all smiles, sitting there drinking tea, acting like nothing was wrong." Gu Tian paused, "But my dad said that person had a menacing aura about him, and told me to warn you to be careful."

Tang Bei nodded and followed Gu Tian into the side hall.