A Good-for-Nothing

80. A Lover Thousands of Miles Away (2)

Translator: Dragon Rider

Naturally, Director Tan knew very well how to take care of these young people’s feelings. She had Jin Qianlai close the door so that there would be no more interruptions. Finally, after that, those staff members stopped showing up.

“I heard that last night you had the matter of the Qingmu Edifice properly handled,” said Director Tan. The Qingmu Edifice was the department building that Zu family had been building. Zu Zhichong had mentioned this to her when he had come here to ask for help.

Zu Zhichong hurriedly gave a bob of his head and replied with a big smile, “Yes. It’s handled. Thank you for asking, Director Tan.”

If it weren’t for the bruises on his face, his words would have been much more infectious.

Director Tan nodded, raised her cup and took a sip of her tea. “Rumor has it that demonic Qi was involved in the incident in the Qingmu Edifice… I’m afraid this matter is not as simple as it seems.”

Zu Zhichong, who was quite observant, took the hint and immediately told the whole story from beginning to end. “… Just like that, demonic Qi and dragon Qi blended, which turned the dragon Qi into evil Qi. The evil Qi was then mixed with ghost Qi. Eliminating those enchanted corpses took a lot of doings. We also dug up that South Pearl contaminated by demonic Qi.”

“Where’s the South Pearl?”

“Oh, I gave it to Jin Qianlai. He took it back.” Zu Zhichong twisted his head aside to look at Jin Qianlai. What he failed to notice was that Director Tan secretly let out a sigh.

Unsurprisingly, Jin Qianlai put on a puzzled face. “That’s not true. I’ve never seen any South Pearls contaminated by demonic Qi! Did you give it to somebody else?” After saying this, Jin Qianlai frowned and continued, “Elder Sect-brother, I know you are my elder sect-brother and I respect you, but even a rabbit will bite when cornered. Don’t pin this on me.”

Zu Zhichong’s heart lurched and he was instantly thrown into shock, feeling his blood freezing. “This can’t be happening. I did give it to you, right at the time when we were on our way back to Zu family and you said you wanted to come back here first.”

Jin Qianlai shook his head repeatedly, an utterly confused look on his face. “You really didn’t, Elder Sect-brother. Please don’t put me in the wrong.”

Zu Zhichong could hardly keep from screaming at the top of his lungs to vent his overwhelming shock and disbelief.

Director Tan’s brow corrugated in a frown. “Jin Qianlai, give it to me.”

“Director, I really didn’t take that South Pearl!” As if someone had just inflicted an unbearable humiliation on him, Jin Qianlai’s lips were quivering with anger. “Director, I’m okay with others’ disbelieving me, but how could you question my honesty as well?!”

His reaction gave Director Tan a headache. In the knowledge that handing over the South Pearl was indeed too difficult a decision for Jin Qianlai to make, she kneaded her brow and inspired, “Jin Qianlai, that pearl belongs to the bureau. Zu Zhichong gave it to you only to let you keep it safe. How could you make it your own? If you don’t hand it over right now, I’m going to give you disciplinary punishment and put this down in the file on you.

Trust yourself. You can do this. You can overcome your nature.”

Jin Qianlai seemed to be in terrible misery, his eyes brimming with tears, his hands clasped tightly together, and the tears even started flowing out of his eyes down his cheeks. It surprised others present that this man had been reduced to tears so easily. “All of you are being unfair to me. Just kill me, Director.”

Director Tan’s headache noticeably went worse.

He Zheng and Zu Zhichong were transfixed with shock. “What the hell is going on?”

At first, Jin Qianlai was just sobbing, but after a few moments, he dissolved into loud wail, as if having him hand over that pearl was as cruel as killing him. All others, except for Zu Zhichong, were somewhat embarrassed by his weep. Seeing this piteous sight, they also felt some sympathy for him.

Zu Zhichong went even more indignant and speechless. ‘What the hell is wrong with this guy?’

Right at the time when Jin Qianlai’s wail threatened to lift the roof, Li Zong said with a bland look on his face, “I know it’s difficult for you to part with the pearl, so I’m going to trade another pearl for it.”

As if by magic, he fished out a high-quality pink pearl about the size of a thumb and put it onto the table.

“The South Pearl contaminated by demonic Qi is too dangerous. It should be handed over to Director Tan and stored in the right place.”

Jin Qianlai blinked, sniffed and stopped shedding tears.

Zu Zhichong and He Zheng were thrown into stunned disbelief.

Nobody saw how Jin Qianlai did it, but the pink pearl instantaneously vanished, leaving only a blackish green South Pearl slowly rolling on the surface of the table.

“Holy shit! It was really you who took it!” Zu Zhichong rolled up his sleeves with the intention to kick his ass.

Jin Qianlai made no response, hiding in a corner staring at the pearl in his hands.

Director Tan tapped at the table and said, “All right, let’s continue. Did you find out who it was that gave Zu Ming that South Pearl?”

“We’re still investigating.”

“It seems that that person is either a demon or a Demon’s Attendant.” Director Tan paused and flicked Li Zong a glance.

Li Zong inclined his head.

“I wonder what their intention was and why they did this to Zu family. Were they by any chance trying to deal a blow to the Supernaturalism Management Bureau of Sui City (SMBSC) through Zu family?”

Li Zong responded, “I think that’s not quite the case. There’s indeed dragon Qi buried underground in that place. It was probably just a coincidence that Zu family got involved in this. They were probably just trying to harness dragon Qi to enhance the power of the Demon King by means of the South Pearl.”

He Zheng, who had been listening all along, didn’t have a clue what they were talking about, but he was a knowing card and knew that in these circumstances nobody would explain it to him even if he asked, so he just kept quiet and listened.

“I heard that Zhang Jingqiu went to the Hang City, that the exorcism circle there was nearly sabotaged as well. It seems that the Demon King is indeed going to revive… Someone needs to report this to Director General Zong as soon as possible.” A worried look appeared on Director Tan’s face. “By the way, I’ve decrypted the divinatory symbols you gave me.”

Li Zong said, “That’s the very reason why I came here.”

Director Tan gave a bob of her head. “Zu Zhichong, I want you to take He Zheng outside. We could use some privacy.”

He Zheng frowned in displeasure. Li Zong lightly pinched his palm and said, “Be good. Wait for me outside.”

In the knowledge that what they were going to talk about was probably confidential, He Zheng subdued his anger, snorted and left the office.

Watching He Zheng’s receding figure, Director Tan gave a brief sight. “It’s indeed not the right time to tell him. After all, He Zheng is not yet a member of SMB. Things will get tricky if he knows.”

Li Zong made no response, his mouth a thin line.

Zu Zhichong, who was worldly-wise, closed the door as he left.

With a very solemn expression on her face, Director Tan extracted a folded note from a notebook beside her hand and handed it to Li Zong.

Li Zong unfolded it and saw that on the paper was the decrypted version of the divinatory symbols found in the cinerary casket containing Zhu Ning’s ashes.

Director Tan tossed a glance at Li Zong and said, “Give it to Zong Xian. He’ll understand.”

As Li Zong put away the note, Director Tan gave a soft sigh, looked out the window and took a sip of her tea, “Trouble is on its way back…”