CH 17.2

For ghost exorcists, fingerprints, footprints and other traces were not difficult to eliminate with talisman paper, let alone Lu Yingjiu’s, if he wanted to hide his traces, it was simply too easy. Only such things like ashes of talisman paper were a conclusive evidence.

“Okay.” Chen Zheng nodded, “Urge them. I hope he didn’t erase any key evidence in that private room.” He waved his hand, “You all go, Xiao Chu, you stay.”

All the ghost exorcists were relieved, and rushed out scrambling.

In the huge office, only Chu Banyang and Chen Zheng were left.

The evening wind blew, and the dark curtains swayed slightly.

Chen Zheng sighed deeply, took off his glasses and wiped them, “Xiao Chu, I know this matter will be a bit difficult for you, after all, you and Lu Yingjiu both joined the association at the same period, I remember that you both were members of No. 132nd batch……Although you haven’t done many commissions together, but you frequently meet each other, there must be somewhat of a mutual affection.”

Chu Banyang said, “I’m sorry, but actually, Lu Yingjiu and I are not familiar with each other at all.”

The corner of Chen Zheng’s mouth twitched, and the smile quickly disappeared, replaced by something heavy, “In short, what I mean is, if anyone in this world can catch his flaws, it must be you. This time he escaped by chance, but the fox will always show its tail. What we have to do is to not miss the next opportunity.”

He sighed again, “I’ll tell you about this privately–I thought at the beginning that there was something strange about the extermination case. Although our Chen family is big and has many people, blood is thicker than water. There is also an inseparable blood relationship within the family, not to mention that Chen Minlan is the head of the family and our backbone, and I have always admired her……”

“You and Xiao Lu, I have watched you both walk up step by step. You both are equally important and I can’t imagine giving even one of you up. Do you think it’s easy for me to doubt Xiao Lu? But it’s our duty to find the truth and give justice to the dead.”

“Thinking about it now, fortunately we still have you in the Green Lantern Association, if, if there is really something wrong with Xiao Lu, then the number one on the Tian Dao will really only be you.”

[Number One]

Everyone knew that this word had been on Chu Banyang’s mind for many years.

He nodded slightly, “I know. I will definitely try my best.”

“Ah, then go ahead, I won’t talk much any more.” Chen Zheng said, “I just made some tea, do you want to have a cup before leaving?”

“No.” Chu Banyang shook his head, “I don’t like scented tea very much.”

Chen Zheng was stunned for half a second, then remembered that it was Lu Yingjiu who actually liked scented tea.

Lu Yingjiu has been the chief executive for 7 years, the two of them didn’t have much contact in private, but they know each other well, and even drank small wine together once or twice. If he knew that Lu Yingjiu was coming, most of the time, what Chen Zheng prepared would be scented tea. Today, smelling the light fragrance of jasmine tea, he was confused for a moment.

However, this momentary stupor was quickly covered up by him.

Before Chu Banyang left, Chen Zheng added, “Also, I suspect that someone has tipped off Xiao Lu. If you have a chance, pay more attention to it as well.”

Chu Banyang responded, opened the door and went out, then gently closed it.

At the same time, Chen Zheng murmured “Don’t let your father down” as the door closed behind him.

****

The wind was very strong in the middle of the night, and Chu Banyang walked out of the building of the Two-faced Buddha.

The golden green in his eyes slowly faded, he tidied up his clothes, and walked straight towards the main road. Beside the main road, the family driver driving a Bugatti, was silently waiting for him.

Instead of getting into the car directly, he turned to a corner where no one could see and took out his mobile phone.

The phone was brand new, thin and delicate, not the one he often uses.

Unlocking the screen, there were clearly several text messages that had just been sent.

[Are you at the Lane East Bar]

[Come out quickly] 

[The Green Lantern Association is coming]

[Go quickly]

Chu Banyang remained expressionless, and deleted all the text messages one by one. Then he formatted the phone, pulled out the calling card, broke it, and threw it into the sewer without hesitation, along with the brand new phone that had just been unpacked for 3 hours.

****

Early the next morning.

Lu Yingjiu just woke up. His sleep was still not very good last night, and chaotic thoughts haunted him. In a daze, he could distinguish the aroma of fried eggs and sausages in the air.

………Is Jing Xian making breakfast?

His eyelids were heavy, and he was too lazy to open them, until a few minutes later, there was a light knock on the door, and Jiang Xian’s voice came, “Are you awake?”

“Mnn.” Lu Yingjiu replied, still without opening his eyes.

“I’ve made breakfast, and it’s best eaten hot.”

After Jing Xian had said that, Lu Yingjiu endured the sleepiness and washed up briefly.

On the table in the living room, there were freshly fried eggs and sausages, as well as a few slices of bread. Jing Xian’s cooking skills were really good, such simple dishes were cooked with incomparable fragrance.

He was washing pots in the kitchen, and sprayed the sink and countertops to remove stagnant water.

Lu Yingjiu suddenly felt sorry, after all, Jing Xian was the guest who came from afar. How could he let the guest do the cooking and washing the dishes at the same time? He walked over and said, “Let me do the washing.”

“No need.” Jing Xian said, but Lu Yingjiu had already picked up a bowl.

The two stood side by side without saying a word.

For a moment the only sound in the room was the clatter of dishes.

There were actually not many things to wash. After the two bowls in hand were finished, Lu Yingjiu rolled up the sleeves of his home clothes, revealing a white arm, picked up the rag and wiped the sink with Jing Xian—he rarely uses the kitchen thus it  had not been cleaned for a long time.

After the cleaning was almost done, Jing Xian turned on the faucet and flushed the entire sink. When he did this, he was extremely serious.

Lu Yingjiu rarely saw a man like Jing Xian who was so patient and meticulous about housework. 

Maybe because he just woke up, and his mind was not clear, the first word that came to mind was “virtuous”.

It’s clearly not a word for a man who was half a head taller than him and didn’t even gasp when carrying him up……although that seemed to be the case.

When everything was done, they sat down at the table and had breakfast.

Lu Yingjiu took a mouthful of fried eggs, thought for a while, and said, “Until I figure out that extermination case, I won’t accept other commissions. I don’t want you to get involved with this matter either.”

Jing Xian suddenly raised his head: “Am I being fired?”

Lu Yingjiu:”…..Not really, it’s just that the nature of this matter is quite special.”

He didn’t understand the situation himself, and he really didn’t want to drag Jing Xian into the water as well.

“That won’t do.” Jing Xian raised his eyebrows and smiled, “I’m most interested in this kind of situation. Besides, as you can see, I’m not completely useless. If I hadn’t been quick-witted last night, wouldn’t the two of us be in danger?”

It’s good that he didn’t mention what happened last night, but remembering it now, Lu Yingjiu raised his eyes.

If other people from Green Lantern were here, they would immediately recognize his unique aggressive posture. Whenever in a meeting, Lu Yingjiu would suddenly sit up straight and look up, and everyone would then hold their breaths thinking–there must be someone whose argument was about to be attacked by him.

Lu Yingjiu said: “You do know, that I have other ways, right?”

“Huh?” Jing Xian froze for a moment.

“Inviting spirits, concealing talisman, invisibility talisman, and other kinds of tricks.” Lu Yingjiu said, “There are many methods that can be used, and they are better than you stripping both of us and running like terrorists to someone else’s private room.”

Jing Xian coughed, “The situation was urgent. Are you, are you angry?”

“No. I’m not dissatisfied with your method. Judging from the results, it was quite successful. I just think that my white shirt could have been worn for a few more years.” Lu Yingjiu rubbed his browbones, “To be honest, when my negative emotions were the worst last night, it was due to motion sickness because of your car. “

Jing Xian:”……”

He sliced a sausage guiltily.

Hei Wuchang’s driving was really wild, taking a turn could shake people’s brains, and downhill was like a roller coaster. Lu Yingjiu couldn’t hold on anymore, and finally leaned on his shoulder all the way before getting home.

Lu Yingjiu looked at him intently, and said, “What I want to say is that the strength you show is very different from your actual behavior. You can kill ghosts, and you were able to wipe out all the traces of us staying in the bar easily.”

In addition, his reaction speed and strength, it had already surpassed ordinary ghost exorcists by a lot.

He continued, “Jing Xian, I really want to know, do you have any…unique abilities?”

He said this very tactfully, and he didn’t put the suspicion on the surface. Every ghost exorcist had his own hidden card, anything could happen and there was nothing strange about it, maybe there was just something special about Jing Xian.

The two looked at each other for two seconds.

Jing Xian showed a smile, and leaned back in the chair rather relaxedly, “Of course, I have also been a ghost exorcist for a few years. If I didn’t have any ability, I might have died somewhere. If there is a chance, I will tell you.”

Bzztt..

The vibrating sound of the phone interrupted the conversation. Lu Yingjiu looked away, and picked up the phone.

“….Hello?”

Chen Xiaoling’s voice was heard, “Xiao Lu, is it convenient for you to talk now?”

“I’m at home, you can tell.” Lu Yingjiu said.

Opposite him, Jing Xian stood up and began to tidy up the table.

Chen Xiaoling: “I can’t find out why you have something to do with the extermination case. After all, I am not a technical person. ‘Pigeon’ can’t inquire about the data behind the pile of encrypted programs as well. But for your other questions, there are some answers.” 

She continued, “First, why are those 5 people in a gay bar? That’s because Dongcheng Music Bar was just an ordinary bar six years ago. Because of poor management, the boss rented the place up from the second floor to a KTV operator. That day, Chen Minlan’s grandson, Chen Fangzhou, was celebrating his 10th birthday, and they were clamoring to sing karaoke, so the whole family went to a private room, including the always quiet old lady Chen.”

“Secondly, how did the evil ghosts who wanted their lives follow? The Chen family’s statement is that they accidentally provoked a very powerful ghost. The details are not clear.”

“Third, who are the other suspects? I can send you a list, but it’s not complete.”

A few seconds later, the phone vibrated slightly, and a document was sent, which listed the names of three or four people, including their past and present addresses and contact information.

Lu Yingjiu’s name was not among them.

Lu Yingjiu frowned slightly, just as he was looking at it, a glass of fresh soy milk suddenly appeared in front of him.

“Thank you, I don’t need it.” He raised his head and said to Jing Xian.

Chen Xiaoling:?

Chen Xiaoling: “Who are you talking to? Is there anyone else in your family this early in the morning?”

“That’s not the point, we’re talking business here.” Lu Yingjiu said.

Chen Xiaoling was a little suspicious, but continued, “As for why the Green Lantern Association raided the bar last night, it was because they received an anonymous report call, saying that you went there. I still need to find out who made the report, but don’t get your hopes up.”

“And the phone number that sent you a text message should be an anonymous phone card sold at newsstands, and there is no way to reach it through the real-name system. Apart from these, do you have any questions……”

She sighed softly, “You also know that although my surname is Chen, I am not from the same family, and my position is too marginal, and there’s  many things that I cannot touched at all. “

Lu Yingjiu pondered for a moment, “I have another question–are you sure that all five of them are dead?” 

Chen Xiaoling was taken aback, “Why do you ask that?”

“I saw a family of three at the bar, plus Chen Minlan before, only Chen Yanyan did not appear. Generally speaking, the same place, the same way of death, but also a family, the probability of them becoming ghosts together is very high.” Lu Yingjiu raised his head slightly, and half-closed his brown eyes, “Over the years, I have personally taken over or indirectly assisted investigation of 13 cases of family extermination, among which 8 cases involved the victim turning into a ghost, without exception, the whole family turned into ghosts as well.”

“Okay.” Chen Xiaoling replied, “Then I’ll check right away.”

Her voice was tired.

Her informants, known as “pigeons”, were from all various industries, including major ghost exorcism organizations.