Book 4: Chapter 12: The one who built the house

Book 4: Chapter 12: The one who built the house

Translators notes:

Realized I skipped Chapter 10 when posting. Its been updated. Sorry for the confusion.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

*****

Wan Li brought the information he dug up on the Everplenty Group to City A.

Everything is laid out in here. Starting from when the company was just a small workshop, how they developed, their current assets, main businesses and competitors, market information. Everyone important in the company and eighteen generations of their ancestors and how many mistresses they have. It even has profile pictures. Its all in this disk.

Wan Li took off his jacket and saw Xiao Xia sitting there beaming at him.

What? Seems like youre very pleased to see me. I dont feel quite as exhausted anymore!

Of course. I do miss you after not seeing you for some time.

Ah, you truly are much more conscientious than that bastard. Wan Li pouted towards Ruan Zhan who was currently looking through the information contained in the disk. He just knows to use me. Im a psychologist from a renowned university who also serves as a guest lecturer. But hes using me as a detective.

More like a private investigator.

Those arent allowed in China. Although Im doing an investigators work, we can only have detectives or local constables here. Which one would you say I am?

Xiao Xia snorted and laughed. She looked at Wan Lis yuppie getup and face and was speechless.

Detective? Local constable? Where did he come up with that!? His appearance didnt resemble anything of the sort! However, she also felt relaxed and cheerful after seeing him. This wasnt the same as being together with Ruan Zhan. When the two were alone together, her heart would beat irregularly. However, she would also feel especially safe and at ease. Additionally there would be a tiny bit of inappropriate thoughts.

Any clues? Wan Li saw that Ruan Zhan had finished skimming over the document and was sitting there silently.

No.

Absolutely nothing?

Absolutely nothing!

Then I spent all that effort for nothing?

Not exactly. Your investigation at least helped us eliminate one possibility.

Process of elimination? Wan Li raised his voice. I worked like a dog and snuck around like a rat, and youre telling me you were just using the process of elimination?!

Its a very important process. Ruan Zhan gave a very annoying response.

Very important, is it!? Wan Li stood up. Xiao Xia, dont hold me back. Im going to give this fortuneteller a beating and eliminate the possibility of him being a good person. He rolled up his sleeves.

You looking to have a taste of a petrification spell!? Ruan Zhan smiled without smiling as he gave Wan Li a glance. Wan Li blinked and didnt continue his actions.

At this time, Xiao Xia hurriedly handed him a cup of tea. Its better if you used that smart brain of yours to help us analyze the recent weird events. Weve hit a dead end and cant think of anything else. Ruan Zhan, you tell him.

Ruan Zhan nodded and laid everything out, including the results of his own investigation and analysis.

He felt that he was stuck and must have overlooked something, but wasnt able to figure it out. He was certain Yang Mu You was messing around behind the scenes. However, even if that were the case, he had to resolve it. Finding Yang Mu You wasnt a good solution. Besides, he didnt want to scare him off. He was hatching a long-term plan for him.

Having Wan Li investigate the Everplenty Group was a move designed to fool Yang Mu You. It was to make him think they were trying to solve the case via regular means. In reality, Ruan Zhan knew clearly that Yang Mu Yous cunning and cautiousness meant he wouldnt directly get involved. The Everplenty Groups involvement was definitely the result of him asking or manipulating someone else.

What are you investigating?

The Qinghong Society, the architect and Sis Wang. Ruan Zhan was concise.

Ill go as well. Xiao Xia subconsciously tugged on his sleeve.

Ruan Zhan grasped her hand. From the coldness, he could tell this situation made her nervous. For an instant, he wasnt willing to let her go, but he still did so in the end. Ill go by myself first. Ill need you when the moment comes.

Xiao Xia didnt speak and watched him leave. On the side, Wan Lis sharp senses picked up that something had changed between the two of them.

Should he intervene? His thought startled him.

***

In a luxurious office building, a middle-aged man was speaking on the phone.

It was an international call!

Im looking for Mr. Matsui Iwane. He spoke in Japanese.

When an aged yet stern voice sounded from the phone, he smiled.

This was the person he was looking for. The voice was so familiar it was clear the speakers personality hadnt changed.

Who is this? The old man on the phone asked haughtily.

Its me. He suddenly switched to Chinese. He believed that Matsui Iwane wouldnt have forgotten his voice.

As expected, Matsui Iwane paused, clearly recognizing him. However, he still used the same tone to ask, What is it?

Nothing much. Im just calling to apologize. The middle-aged man slowly said. He didnt laugh, but his tone held amusement. I failed to protect your disciple properly. Ive let you down.

What?

Hes dead.

Oh. Matsui Iwane was calm, as though they were discussing the weather. How did he die?

He was killed by a Chinese Daoist called Ruan Zhan. He died very tragically, losing badly in both physical and arcane combat.

Thank you for notifying me of his death. The voice was still flat, but the middle-aged man heard the meaning contained within. He sounded like a dog whose bone was snatched.

Also, he continued. Kenji had obtained a rare captured spirit as his shikigami. In the end, due to his loss, his soul was devoured.

Is that all?

That is all!

Thank you. There was no goodbye as the phone was hung up.

The middle-aged man put the phone down and started laughing.

Will he take the bait? He doesnt seem to care much about his disciple! A one-eyed, one-armed girl sat in his arms.

But he will take the killing of his disciple as an insult. Furthermore, he wants that treasure. Its a very good shikigami after all! The middle-aged man had it all planned out.

The person speaking was precisely Moneybags Zhang Qun and his daughter Zhang Xue.