Chapter 37

Chapter 37

Young Master Wang, sitting there with a stern face, was fuming with anger, ignoring Duan Yue's pleading look. The bet was initiated by them, and they set the terms. What Young Master Wang didn't expect was that the opponents were not to be trifled with, they were simply not on the same level.

Duan Yue was disheartened, looking at Young Master Wang unwillingly. Being already less favored in his family, he had only gained importance by leveraging Young Master Wang's influence. Now, he was being taken away right under Young Master Wang's watch.

The Duan family surely wouldn’t come to his rescue. He would just become a disposable pawn.

Young Master Wang didn’t even glance at him, clearly not intending to offend Deputy Chief Ai for someone replaceable like Duan Yue. They all knew about the special department’s authority to override normal jurisdictions.

Young Master Wang was favored in his family, but even he had limits. As long as he didn’t cause too much trouble, his grandfather would clean up after him. But crossing the line would mean even his grandfather couldn’t save him.

Deputy Chief Ai, observing the exchange, spoke eagerly: “This case involves serious charges. It could mean a decade or more in prison. Even with a reduced sentence, offending so many powerful families... survival would be questionable. But revealing the mastermind could reduce the sentence and avoid targeted revenge…”

His words were a direct provocation in the presence of the mastermind.

Young Master Wang’s face turned ashen, glaring at Deputy Chief Ai: Was this guy trying to use this as leverage to dismantle his entire circle, including him?

Young Master Wang didn’t look at Duan Yue, but his implications were clear: “If someone causes trouble for me, my father won’t spare them.”

These words sent shivers down the spines of Duan Yue and Daoist Hu. Even if they implicated Young Master Wang, they might escape the Duan and Miao families' wrath, but angering Wang’s father would be equally perilous.

Thus, even if they weren’t the masterminds, they had to take the fall.

Deputy Chief Ai, unable to apprehend Young Master Wang as well, was slightly disappointed. But the operation had already exceeded expectations. He signaled his subordinates to take the two away and surprisingly joined Chairman Miao in his car.

Chairman Miao was planning to take Master Xie and his companions back to the hotel. If it wasn’t so late, he would have arranged a banquet to express his gratitude, as a single toast wouldn’t suffice.

Without Master Xie’s help, they wouldn’t have managed to handle this group, let alone Young Master Wang and Daoist Hu.

Their respect for Master Xie’s abilities increased significantly that night. Previously aware of his skills, they were astounded to see him outmatch the formidable Daoist Hu effortlessly.

This fact was clear to Chairman Miao, Daoist Bai, and Deputy Chief Ai.

As Deputy Chief Ai sat down in the car, changing his previously aloof demeanor and facing Master Xie, he smiled broadly: “Master Xie, are you interested in joining us? I assure you, we can arrange the highest level of treatment!”

"Xie Qingfeng remained silent, while Jing Xiu, looking at the smile on Ai's deputy's face, felt an urge to wipe it off. However, having mastered the art of concealing his emotions over the years, he showed no discontent as Xie Qingfeng had not spoken."

"Xie Qingfeng hadn't expected Ai's deputy to have such a thought and dismissed it without consideration: 'I'm not interested.'"

"After finally freeing himself from being an internal member under the National Teacher and no longer subject to others, why would he want to shackle himself with rules again so soon after gaining freedom?"

"Ai's deputy let out a sound of disappointment: 'Really? Our department is quite reliable.' It was a rare opportunity to have someone so capable, and his assistance could significantly boost their achievements. However, he also understood the importance of not forcing someone against their will and couldn't help but make one last attempt."

"Miao, the chairman, pressed down on Ai's deputy: 'Haha, have you drunk too much? Always joking. Master Xie is about to start school soon; where would he find the time?' He then glared at Ai's deputy."

"He had just managed to make a good impression in front of Master Xie, and this fellow comes up asking him to work? While the offer was tempting, it depended on whether Master Xie was willing. With his cultivation, how could he be willing to be controlled by others?"

"Otherwise, he might even refuse the tasks from his own side, which would be a real problem…"

"Jing Xiu's eyes narrowed slightly, finally seeing someone with discernment."

"Miao, the chairman, escorted Xie Qingfeng and his party to their hotel. Before leaving, Xie Qingfeng looked back at Ai's deputy: 'I'm not interested in being recruited, but since we've met, it must be fate. If you wish to capture Wang Liu, perhaps investigate his birth mother.'"

"Ai's deputy was taken aback: 'Master, what do you mean by that?'"

"Xie Qingfeng spoke meaningfully: 'Elder Wang is not young anymore, and it's not certain that he actually has a biological son.'"

"Having said this, he entered the hotel with Jing Xiu, whose eyes were deeply contemplative, and Hao Jixin."

"Once the car door closed, Ai's deputy, who realized late, eyes shining brightly, suddenly turned to look at Chairman Miao and the others: 'Does Master Xie mean... that Wang Liu might not actually be Elder Wang's biological son? If Wang Liu is illegitimate, and investigating his mother implies someone else might actually be his real father, hidden behind the scenes?'"

"If Wang Liu isn't truly Elder Wang's son, how could Elder Wang possibly protect him then?"

"Chairman Miao and the others exchanged glances, nodding in agreement with this speculation. Clearly, the master's hint was too obvious."

"Excited, Ai's deputy made a call to his subordinates to investigate and, hanging up, couldn't help but remark: 'If only a talent like Master Xie could work for us.'"

"Chairman Miao couldn't help but give him a disdainful look: 'First, consider the myriad rules of your department. Even our association members can't tolerate them, let alone expecting Master Xie to join. What are you thinking? Besides, do you know how much I paid Master Xie to resolve the issue with my building?'"

"Ai's deputy's emotions simmered down a bit, and he ventured a guess: 'Two hundred thousand?' They could probably afford that, being a special department and facing dangerous missions with subsidies."

"Chairman Miao gave him a smile, then became serious: 'Twenty million.'"

"Ai's deputy's eyes widened in shock: 'What, how much?'"

"Daoist Bai added fuel to the fire: 'Elder Zhang's case last time was also twenty million, but saving Qi Wen's life only cost a hundred thousand.'"

"From this, it's evident that Master Xie helps or saves people depending on the situation and clearly isn't short of money. With his cultivation, Master Xie couldn't possibly be controlled by others."

"Seeing Ai's deputy deflated, Chairman Miao, playing with his fingers, asked: 'What are you calculating?'"

"Ai's deputy looked up with a sheepish grin, no longer the composed figure from before: 'Just thinking if we encounter a tricky situation next time, we could try hard to invite Master Xie for help.' After all, if he agrees, he might easily solve even the most difficult problems, which would be a win-win."

"He had been wrong before, trying to recruit talents immediately. Clearly, Master Xie was not someone their small department could command. In that case, it's better to make some advance preparations."

"Meanwhile, Xie Qingfeng and his companions were heading to their hotel rooms on the same floor, first stopping at Hao Jixin's room."

"Hao Jixin felt no physical effects that night, but after the Meng Po talisman and its removal, he was somewhat drained and sleepy. After greeting the others, he yawned and entered his room."

"Jing Xiu followed Xie Qingfeng, and when they reached Xie Qingfeng's room, he looked at him entering without saying a word."

"Xie Qingfeng raised an eyebrow: 'What's wrong?' He had felt that the young emperor had been acting strangely ever since they got off the car."

"Jing Xiu remarked, 'You seem quite considerate of that Deputy Ai, even taking the initiative to remind him.' After all, as the National Teacher, you're not one to meddle unnecessarily. Previously, you would avoid trouble whenever possible, but this time, you took the initiative to save Deputy Ai a lot of trouble. From what I know of you, you don’t usually show such enthusiasm."

"After all, reminding someone equals inviting trouble."

"And trouble is what the National Teacher dislikes the most."

"Xie Qingfeng raised an eyebrow, surprised by the young emperor's growing curiosity. Considering he was the only familiar person left by the young emperor’s side, a bit of dependency was understandable: 'It's not about taking care of him, but because of you.'"

"'Me?' Jing Xiu was taken aback. How was this related to him? He didn’t even know this Deputy Ai."

"Xie Qingfeng seriously explained, 'There’s nothing about special departments in the original memories, and I was unaware of their existence too. Although you look exactly like Jing Mianfeng, it’s always good to build connections, just in case.'"

Master Xie knew that understanding a completely unknown department was crucial for strategic advantage. After several interactions with Deputy Chief Ai, he had a fair idea of the department's capabilities and aimed to prevent any unforeseen control over them.

He didn't mind being overly cautious for Jing Xi's sake, even if it meant offering extra words of caution.

Jing Xi, realizing Master Xie's actions were for his benefit, felt touched. Lost in thought in his room, he couldn't help but smile warmly towards Master Xie's room.

This good mood continued into breakfast next day, prompting Hao Jixin to curiously observe Jing Xi, who was eating expressionlessly next to him.

Jing Xi continued his meal, undisturbed by the attention.

Having finished his meal, Master Xie was checking messages from his adoptive parents, asking about his return to City C. He looked at Hao Jixin, "What's up?"

Hao Jixin whispered, curious about Jing Xi's unusually good mood today.

Master Xie noticed Jing Xi pause mid-meal before resuming nonchalantly. "Really?" Perhaps Jing Xi was excited about leaving his manipulative agent and company to return home.

After all, leaving such an exploitative environment would naturally bring happiness.

Knowing Jing Xi would be accompanying them to City C, Hao Jixin was anxious about possible recognition, fearing a public commotion or unwanted media attention.

Hao Jixin even prepared himself for potential fame. However, throughout their journey, apart from a slight double-take from an identity-check staff member, Jing Xi remained undetected.

The staff member, after a brief scrutiny, accepted the coincidence of a look-alike with the same name, not realizing the true identity of Jing Xi.

Master Xie remained unfazed, accustomed to high-profile events from his previous life as a national master.

Whether recognized or not, Master Xie was indifferent; unrecognized meant easier travel back to City B. He planned to deal with agent Liang upon return and ensure Jing Xi wasn't exploited further.

The thought of Jing Xi transitioning from royalty to a pitiable state, then being further exploited, was distressing for Master Xie.

Master Xie was determined to protect Jing Xi from such an unfortunate fate.

The thought was too idealistic to even consider.

As they boarded the flight, agent Liang Chenglei stood hesitantly outside the CEO's office at Minghuan Entertainment, nervously preparing to enter.

The assistant noticed Liang's apprehension and softly cautioned him about CEO Zhu's recent mood swings, offering to inform Zhu of Liang's arrival.

Liang Chenglei hesitated, unsure how to break the unbelievable news to his boss without revealing the two huge boxes of gold. He knew he had to fabricate a plausible story.

To turn those gold boxes into cash, he had exhausted countless connections in the industry. The sudden influx of gold from Jing Xi nearly overwhelmed him.

But, Liang had to admit, Jing Xi seemed to possess some luck.

Was this the proverbial 'rising from the ashes'? Just when Jing Xi seemed on the brink of giving up on life, he survived, forgetting his primary personality but adopting a completely different, more rebellious second one, and never mentioning suicide again.

Liang now suspected Jing Xi's 'second personality' was all an act, a way to adopt a new character and lifestyle.

Why else would Jing Xi forget everything except the location of the ancestral gold left by the Jing family?

Liang felt he had no choice but to play along with Jing Xi's act, as long as it kept him away from suicidal thoughts.

But how to explain this to the boss? Should he say his artist no longer wanted to come back but instead wanted to invest and be on equal footing with the boss?

The assistant soon called Liang into the CEO's office. As the door closed, CEO Zhu, with dark circles under his eyes from lack of sleep, spun his chair around, staring at Liang: "How many days has it been? Haven’t you persuaded Jing Xi yet? Look at me, I'm on the edge! I’ve been good to him these four years, haven’t I? I gave him time off when he was down. And now this prolonged break! Do you think any other boss would be so understanding? I wouldn’t ask him to come back if it weren’t for this financial crisis. Bad luck that I invested poorly, bad luck that he got me as a boss…”

Liang sighed, knowing the boss wasn’t a bad person. That’s why he tried to persuade Jing Xi. "Boss, Jing Xi wants to live differently now... so he doesn't want to come back."

He might even have left City B by now.

"What? He doesn’t want to come back?" CEO Zhu nearly slipped from his chair in shock. "Without him, I have no chance of recovery! How will I pay off this debt? Declare bankruptcy?"

Liang quickly added, "But he mentioned that before his parents died, they mentioned some family inheritance. He can invest that in the company to help you out of this crisis. However, he wants to buy some shares in the company."

His voice grew quieter as he spoke, essentially saying that Jing Xi wouldn't be returning to the limelight, but instead, turning the tables to become a boss from being a mere employee.

CEO Zhu laughed incredulously, "Has he lost his mind? How much could his ancestors possibly have left him to buy shares? He can’t afford anything significant!"

Liang Chenglei replied, "Actually… it’s quite a substantial amount."

CEO Zhu wiped his face harshly, "Substantial? How much exactly? If he helps me through this crisis, I'll hail him as my ancestor!"

Liang Chenglei carefully slid a card across the table, saying timidly under CEO Zhu's furious gaze, "Originally, it was three billion, but after taxes, it's a bit over two billion… should be enough to get through the crisis…" He had sold so much gold and paid hefty taxes, so he couldn't afford the jade Jing Xi wanted, that discussion would have to wait.

CEO Zhu’s aggressive grab for the card suddenly froze, he turned slowly to stare at Liang, "How… how much?"

Liang reiterated, "Over two billion."

CEO Zhu looked down at the card intently, "Are you sure you’re not lying to me?"

Liang gave a wry smile, "No, I'm not." He was just unsure how to explain to Jing Xi that he hadn't managed to purchase the jade, but there were priorities, and he’d just tried calling Jing Xi only to find his phone off. He had to make a decision on his own.

CEO Zhu alternated between looking at the card and Liang, then suddenly gave him a chillingly twisted yet gentle smile, eyes gleaming with excitement, "So… where is my ancestor Jing?"

CEO Zhu, a man who could bend and stretch, was absolutely sincere in calling Jing Xi his ancestor!

Liang was speechless, wondering if this man was really the same authoritative boss he knew, who would confront anyone and anything fiercely.

Meanwhile, after landing, the group split up; Hao Jixin hadn't been home in days and needed to assure his family.

Xie Qingfeng, accompanied by Jing Xi, took a car towards his foster parents' home.

"Jing Xiu hadn’t asked much initially, trusting Xie Qingfeng completely. Following him was all that mattered, regardless of the destination, until they neared their location and he saw the increasingly common streets: 'Where are we going?'"

"Xie Qingfeng, busy replying to a message, remembered he hadn’t told him: 'To my foster parents’ house for dinner, then to see a house.'"

"Jing Xiu, who was curiously looking out the window, stiffened, then slowly turned: 'Foster parents’... house?' That would mean the parents who raised the original body, now the foster parents of the National Teacher. Wasn’t that like... meeting the parents?"