Apology

"Senior, what do you want!"

Yi Youzi answered decisively. Over the years, with the Patrol and Security Division backing him, he had built up quite a fortune. He had also collected some things rumored to aid cultivation, which should hopefully satisfy the person before him.

"What can you offer!"

After hearing the response, distorted by static, from the computer, Gu Sheng asked again. Lin Qinghe’s current position was probably rather awkward, and he could barely make out the sounds in the room through the phone.

He had only been willing to talk with them because he sensed Lin Qinghe nearby through Zheng Shaohua’s soul. Otherwise, he would not have been able to hear them at all. He would have simply controlled this walking corpse and slaughtered everyone. They had brought it upon themselves by provoking him.

"Ten-Thousand-Year Tai Sui, Thousand-Year Night Sand, Hundred-Year Red Toad Molt…"

Yi Youzi took out the Heavenly Treasures, all of them precious items he had collected over the years. Unfortunately, his abilities were insufficient to use them. Besides, most of these treasures were supplementary ingredients for precious medicines. Now that spirit-power-containing medicines had vanished, these things were no longer very useful.

Gu Sheng did not know much about the Heavenly Treasures of the modern world. The knowledge Yue Qiluo had taught him all came from the Wu Xin: The Monster Killer World. Who knew what some of these treasures were actually called in this world?

Still, this old Daoist seemed to have some ability, so these things should be valuable as well. Gu Sheng did not mind collecting them. They would enrich his database, and at least keep System Sprite Little Jade from having nothing to do and flying around him all day.

"Not enough!"

The moment Gu Sheng finished speaking, Yi Youzi’s old face fell. This was most of his fortune. To show his sincerity, he had revealed the treasure vault he valued most, and the items inside accounted for eighty percent of his entire fortune!

"May I ask what else Senior wants?"

Although his heart was bleeding, Yi Youzi still respectfully kowtowed toward Zheng Shaohua’s corpse and asked. Quite apart from anything else, this walking corpse was not someone he could afford to provoke. If that expert became dissatisfied, Yi Youzi would become Dead Youzi.

"All your cultivation manuals and spell inheritances. Hand them over, and I’ll allow you to keep copies."

Gu Sheng’s words made Yi Youzi’s heart tighten. This was China, where master-disciple inheritance was regarded as weightier than heaven itself. Although master-disciple relationships were not as close as they had once been in recent years, the rules of certain ancient professions could not be changed. The master was paramount, and the inheritance could not be lost.

"Please wait a moment, Senior."

Yi Youzi spoke, then took a printed white book from his robes. "Senior, this is a copy of our sect’s classics."

"You’re actually this straightforward!"

Gu Sheng’s voice paused. He found it hard to believe. This was a cultivation method, yet Yi Youzi had handed it over so easily.

Yi Youzi sighed. "Senior, to be honest, the world was without qi in recent years, and cultivation was exceptionally difficult. This old Daoist spent most of his life struggling before finally nurturing a single breath of primordial qi. These cultivation methods had long since reached the point where no one could learn them. It’s an honor that Senior would take an interest in them."

Gu Sheng was silent for a moment before speaking again. "But you should have already discovered that cultivation is faster now than it used to be. A great era is about to arrive. When that happens, cultivation methods will become extraordinarily valuable."

"But one’s life is more important, is it not?"

Yi Youzi gave a bitter smile. "If this old Daoist cannot preserve his life today, what use is an important cultivation method?"

"Smart."

Gu Sheng praised him, then controlled Zheng Shaohua’s corpse to walk before Yi Youzi and take the white book. He then said, "I’ve memorized your aura. Prepare the things you mentioned for me. I’ll come collect them whenever I want."

"This humble one understands. I definitely won’t disappoint Senior."

Yi Youzi nodded and bowed obsequiously. Yet the object he was fawning over was a corpse, making the whole scene look extremely strange.

"Who are the other people in the room?"

Gu Sheng controlled Zheng Shaohua’s corpse to look around the room, as though doing so would allow it to see them.

"Hello, sir. I’m Han Qingwu, Director of the Hangcheng Patrol and Security Division under the Patrol and Security Department. May I ask how I should address you?"

Director Han mustered his courage and walked over to Yi Youzi. He carefully examined the walking corpse, then mouthed a question toward Yi Youzi, gesturing to ask what exactly was going on.

"Patrol and Security? And who are the others?"

After eavesdropping through the phone, Gu Sheng turned toward Director Han. He then controlled Zheng Shaohua to point at Director Qi, Director Zhang, and the others.

"Ah, them? Lao Qi, come over and meet this gentleman!"

A sly look flashed through Director Han’s eyes as he called out to Director Qi. "The muscular man over there is Qi Tongwei, Director of the Zhejiang Province Criminal Investigation Division. And that one is Zhang Donglai, Director of the Hangcheng City Police Department."

"Director Qi, if I remember correctly, you’re a deputy provincial official who also serves as director. You’re quite a prominent figure in Zhejiang Province, especially in judicial affairs. You should be responsible for those matters, right?"

There was a hint of pleasure in Gu Sheng’s voice. This had worked out perfectly—he did not need to go looking for anyone himself. "You should already know about the notice I issued and the materials I submitted. Can you tell me why, after a month, everything is still calm, without even a ripple?

"Don’t you know that every moment you delay may mean another victim? You’ll also bear another share of karmic debt. Knowing about it but failing to act is wrong—and it’s an even greater wrong!"

Director Qi explained, "Well, sir, we’ve already begun taking action on this matter. We established a Special Criminal Investigation Team, with me personally serving as its leader and directing the investigation.

"Inspector Le and Inspector Lin came today to investigate. It’s just that, to avoid alerting the enemy, we didn’t reveal anything."

He did not really want to explain everything to this unknown figure. It made him feel as if his authority had been trampled. However, Director Han’s meaningful winks made him understand that this was a big shot, one they could not afford to offend. It was best not to anger him.

"Criminal Investigation Team!"

Gu Sheng looked toward Liu Daimei. Liu Daimei had already possessed a strong foundation in computers. After becoming a vampire, every aspect of her abilities, including her mental faculties, had improved. Her computer skills had risen rapidly, and she was even capable of infiltrating some hidden networks.

"That’s right. It exists."

Liu Daimei searched through Qi Tongwei’s schedule for the past two days and the information on some people he had contacted. She eventually found records of the Criminal Investigation Team in a corner of the internet. They matched Qi Tongwei’s account. It seemed that Zhejiang Province was prepared to make a drastic move and cut off the diseased limb.

"Very good~"

After confirming the information, Gu Sheng continued, "You should also know about my warning to them. I’m a rather lazy person. I really don’t want to run around over such trivial matters. After I release the list, I hope you’ll take responsibility and execute them with the harshest punishment as soon as possible, killing the chicken to warn the monkeys and restoring order.

"I’m doing this for your own good. The matter involving Tang Lie probably isn’t an isolated case, not even across the entire province or the whole country. People like this have extremely volatile emotions. During this period, those extreme emotions may grant them strength. When that time comes, I won’t be the one having to deal with the trouble."