Chapter 356

Chapter 356

◎The Corpse-Scented Gu Worm◎

The black threads Ji Nanxing found on Su Zhe were a type of parasite—resembling living worms, yet able to vanish like smoke in the blink of an eye.

He had previously drawn two strands of these black threads from Su Zhe and sealed them inside a golden talisman bell, hoping that this Grudge-tainted residue might lead him to the mastermind or serve as tangible evidence for identification.

However, when he retrieved the threads at the Supernatural Affairs Bureau, those two wisps—which had initially seemed like mere traces of energy—had transformed into several black particles, resembling the remains of some kind of insect.

But the world of insects was vast. Beyond common species, there were countless varieties of Gu worms. Among documented Gu alone, there were over 30,000+ varieties, not to mention those crossbred by Gu cultivators to create new strains. Identifying the exact origin of those black particles from such an overwhelming diversity was no easy task.

Ji Nanxing handed the insect remains over to the bureau, asking their Gu specialists to analyze them, while he sought a way to meet Ding Ran.

At the moment, Ding Ran was the most suspicious figure. However, Ji Nanxing couldn’t approach him directly. Unlike Grudge, Gu worms could conceal their presence. Unless Ding Ran was inexperienced—using Gu worms without knowing how to mask their traces—there would be no smoking gun to incriminate him.

If Ding Ran was skilled, appearing before him as a Taoist would only prompt him to cover his tracks, making it nearly impossible to catch him afterward.

More importantly, without meeting Ding Ran in person, Ji Nanxing couldn’t confirm whether he was truly the one behind Su Zhe’s condition. If not, the real culprit might be even more deeply hidden. Acting rashly now would only alert them.

A tablet on the desk was connected to a video call, with Xiao Ye unblinkingly glued to the screen on the other end. Meanwhile, Ji Nanxing focused on his laptop, researching while chatting with Xiao Ye about recent events.

Xiao Ye had also seen the news about the assault at the Youth Music Competition’s celebration banquet. Initially, he hadn’t paid much attention, but it turned out this wasn’t just an ordinary case of violence.

Now, hearing Ji Nanxing mention wanting to find a way to approach Ding Ran, Xiao Ye said, “Let me try.”

Ji Nanxing glanced at the face on the screen. “How?”

“I was thinking of asking my stepmom. She knows Mrs. Ding. With Su Zhe’s incident throwing the Ding family into upheaval, it wouldn’t be unusual for her to pay a sympathy visit. But I’ve heard Ding Ran and his mother don’t get along, so I’m not sure if he’d even be home.”

Xiao Ye nodded. “Then we’ll try both approaches. I’ve heard Ding Ran’s a socialite too. You know the crowd I run with—they’re all wild. I’ll ask around to see if any of them have crossed paths with him.”

Seeing Xiao Ye pick up his phone, Ji Nanxing asked, “Are you planning to fly back?”

Caught, Xiao Ye grinned at the camera. “How’d you know? You’re practically a mind reader—like a Gu worm in my gut! You always know what I’m up to.”

Logically, picking up the phone could’ve just meant contacting friends for information. But Ji Nanxing immediately guessed he was checking flights to return. Their tacit understanding was unmatched. The thought that Ji Nanxing understood him so well made Xiao Ye’s heart bubble with joy.

Ji Nanxing sighed. “School’s starting soon. You should stay there and spend time with your grandpa. It’s rare for your brother and sister-in-law to be on leave too.”

Xiao Ye waved it off. “They’re not here. It’s just me. I was planning to come back anyway.”

Ji Nanxing raised an eyebrow. “Just you?”

“My brother and sister-in-law finally got a vacation together, so they’re off on a private getaway. Grandpa got dragged out to sea this morning—offshore fishing. They won’t be back for at least three to five days.”

Ji Nanxing was surprised. “Your grandpa’s in great shape if he can handle offshore fishing at his age.”

Even the sturdiest ships rock on the ocean, and most young people can’t endure days of fishing without getting seasick. For Xiao Ye’s grandfather to manage it at his age—his physique must outmatch many younger people.

Xiao Ye grumbled half-heartedly about his grandpa’s restless wanderlust at his age, but inwardly, he was thrilled. He hoped the old man would still be traveling and enjoying life well into his nineties or beyond. “So, since I’m just idling here anyway, I might as well come back. There’s a flight today. Wait for me—I’ll help you with the paranormal investigation.”

He’d already eyed the tickets but hadn’t booked them, worried Ji Nanxing might be busy with family visits during the New Year. He hadn’t wanted to intrude on his boyfriend’s family time.

But now that Ji Nanxing was handling a supernatural case, Xiao Ye wasn’t going to miss out.

Not only was he returning—he was bringing souvenirs. “This is goji berry wine. A skilled island herbalist brews it. Grandpa reserves a few jars every year. It’s low-alcohol—even your mom can drink it. Good for health.”

Along with the wine were carefully selected dried seafood—abalone, sea cucumber, scallops. The Ji family certainly didn’t lack such luxuries, but these were Xiao Ye’s handpicked selections, sourced from trusted fishermen. At the very least, they were guaranteed authentic, free of chemical additives. Watching Xiao Ye lug two huge sacks out of the airport, Ji Nanxing couldn’t help but laugh. “A little tanner, and you’d pass for a wide-eyed country boy just hitting the city.”

Xiao Ye tossed the non-perishables into the trunk—those were fine to be thrown around—but he had to be careful with the jars of wine. These were treasures he’d swiped right under his grandfather’s nose. If they broke, he’d die of heartbreak.

Once everything was loaded and they were in the car, Xiao Ye reached over and took Ji Nanxing’s hand. “I told you not to come. The wind’ll give you a chill out here.”

Ji Nanxing shrugged. “I was already out. I just came along.”

Xiao Ye asked, “Did you go to the Dings’?”

“Nope,” Ji Nanxing said. “My mom called Mrs. Ding, but they turned us down politely—they’re in chaos right now. Mom didn’t want to show up unannounced either. But I’ve already got someone on Ding Ran’s trail. He might be at Mingxing tonight.”

Mingxing was an upscale private club nearby—members-only. Even if a member brought a guest, that person’s ID and bank account would get checked. With rules that tight, you could imagine the kind of shady stuff going on inside.

Thankfully, national laws kept things in check—money didn’t mean you could do whatever you wanted there—but it was still shady as hell. Ji Nanxing had never been, but he had a membership card.

Xiao Ye didn’t have one—not because he couldn’t afford it, but because he didn’t have the guts. If his grandfather found out he had one, he wouldn’t just get scolded—he’d get skinned alive. Same with his brother.

But getting in wasn’t hard.

Xiao Ye pulled out his phone and threw up a post, then turned to Ji Nanxing. “We can’t just walk in blind. No plan, no cover story—we’d look like we’re there to start shit or snoop around. They’d be watching us from the second we walked in.”

Ji Nanxing thought for a moment. “Then I’ll book a private room and bring Zhang Yuan and the others. I just need to keep an eye on Ding Ran from a distance. Whether he’s dirty or not, I’m not making a move yet.”

Xiao Ye waved his phone in front of him. “No need. Got it handled.”

Ji Nanxing glanced at the screen. It showed a fashion show photo with the caption: *Heard there’s a show tonight?*

That single post had already gotten a bunch of replies, including direct invites. Xiao Ye shot a quick message to one contact, who immediately offered a private room number and even asked if he needed a pickup.

Ji Nanxing looked at Xiao Ye, who quickly raised his hands. “I don’t *do* that kinda stuff, you know that! At most, I say hi if we bump into each other at weddings or birthdays. I don’t fool around!”

Ji Nanxing smirked slightly. “I didn’t say anything.”

Xiao Ye grabbed his hand. “If you *had*, it’d be huge. I had to clear my name first. My record’s spotless—any rumors out there are fake. You know me, right?”

Ji Nanxing tilted his head. “What rumors?”

Xiao Ye shrugged. “Nah, not yet. But who knows what’ll pop up later? Some lovesick loser spreading fake gossip after getting rejected? Or some gold-digger trying to suck up by stirring up false drama? Happens all the time. Our relationship can’t fall apart over stupid misunderstandings!”

Ji Nanxing chuckled. “You’re spiraling.”

Xiao Ye grinned. “It’s called being prepared.”

To win Naonao over—and avoid becoming one of those tone-deaf, romance-illiterate dudes—Xiao Ye had read tons of romance novels. Every time he saw characters break up over dumb miscommunication, he swore he’d never let that happen to them.

Now that he finally had his guy, he’d make damn sure nothing hurt him.

Seeing Ji Naonao stop laughing and ignore him, Xiao Ye held his hand tightly between his palms and whispered, “Naonao, I missed you so much.”

After they officially became a couple, they hadn’t had much time together before parting ways. Those few days had nearly killed him—like something was clawing at his chest, restless and aching. Now that he was with Ji Nanxing again, he finally felt at peace.

Ji Nanxing replied, “We video-called every day.”

Xiao Ye rolled his eyes playfully. “Yeah, moaning about how much I missed you, passing out mid-call every night. And it wasn’t even that long ago!”

Ji Nanxing smirked. “Well, try harder to get a grip.”

The bodyguard driving up front busted out laughing at their whispering. Hearing it, Xiao Ye snapped, “Brother Mo!”

Brother Mo burst out laughing again: "Alright, alright, I won't laugh. You two carry on."

Xiao Ye scoffed and whispered in Ji Nanxing's ear again, "Next time, let's get a car with a divider."

The two didn’t linger too long in the car before arriving at their destination. Xiao Ye sent a message to his friend, and soon a young man came out from inside. Spotting Xiao Ye, who had just gotten out of the car, he quickly approached: "What brings you here, Xiao Shao? I thought someone hacked your account. What’s with the sudden interest in the show?"

Xiao Ye immediately took Ji Nanxing's hand: "My boyfriend wanted to check it out, so we came."

Then, turning to Ji Nanxing, he said, "This is Luo Xin. His family owns Xingbang Tech."

Luo Xin instantly understood. Bringing a boyfriend along meant they weren’t here for the usual party scene. He had initially thought it was a rare chance for Xiao Ye to come out and play, so he wanted to make sure everything was perfect. Now, it seemed most of the usual arrangements wouldn’t be needed—just keeping things low-key and private would suffice.

But there was a more pressing issue: whether this person could be brought in.

He had already informed the staff about Xiao Ye’s identity, so naturally, they wouldn’t stop him at the door for verification. It was a rare opportunity to get closer to the Xiao family, so the courtesy had to be extended.

At this age, guys care about saving face. Giving them the VIP treatment might not win favor, but at least it wouldn’t offend.

But Luo Xin hadn’t expected Xiao Ye to bring his boyfriend. He didn’t recognize this guy and hadn’t given any prior notice. If they got stopped at the door, he didn’t want to imagine the embarrassment—especially in front of his boyfriend. Instead of currying favor, this could turn into a grudge.

As he scrambled for a solution, Xiao Ye and the young man had already reached the entrance. Luo Xin hurried over and said to the staff, "These are VIP guests for my private room. I already spoke to your manager."

The staff at the door had received the message, but the manager had only mentioned one guest—a Mr. Xiao. Now there was more than one.

Just as Luo Xin was about to say something, Ji Nanxing pulled out a card and handed it over: "The one behind me is my bodyguard. He needs to come in with me."

Xiao Ye added beside him, "I’m his boyfriend. My surname is Xiao."

The staff verified the membership card and, seeing it was from the Ji family, returned it: "Please, come in."

Xiao Ye glanced back at Luo Xin: "What’s taking you so long at the door?"

Luo Xin quickly caught up: "Coming, coming." His eyes couldn’t help but drift toward Ji Nanxing: "How should I address you?"

Xiao Ye: "My boyfriend’s surname is Ji."

Brother Mo exhausted all his professional restraint to keep from rolling his eyes. *Yeah, yeah, we get it. We know your boyfriend is the young master of the Ji family. No need to keep hammering it in like we’re oblivious.*

Luo Xin put on an expression of sudden realization: "Ah, Young Master Ji! You rarely make public appearances, so I didn’t recognize you at first. My bad—I’ll have three drinks on me later!"

Ji Nanxing, noting his familiarity with the place, asked, "Do you know Ding Ran?"

Luo Xin: "The one from the Ding family? I know of him, but we’re not close. We run in the same circles, but that’s about it. Are you looking for him?"

Ji Nanxing nodded. Xiao Ye pulled Luo Xin aside and whispered, "Where’s he hanging out today?"

Luo Xin: "I’ll have to ask around. Here’s what we’ll do—you two chill in the VIP lounge for now, and I’ll let you know once I find out."

Xiao Ye patted his shoulder twice: "Thanks, bro. Keep it on the down-low."

Luo Xin nodded: "I got you."

With that, he escorted Ji Nanxing, Xiao Ye, and their bodyguard to the private room, assigned a couple of discreet staff to assist, then left to gather information.

The private room was spacious and filled with people, but it wasn’t rowdy. Some sat in groups of three or five, dressed in suits and shirts, all business-like—like a business meeting. Others lounged in dimly lit corners, surrounded by good-looking company, chatting and flirting.

The entire space was enormous, even featuring a miniature landscape feature. On one side of the room were floor-to-ceiling glass doors. When opened, they revealed the club’s central stage. The headline act hadn’t started yet, but performers were already singing and dancing.

Xiao Ye leaned close to Ji Nanxing and whispered, "We'll make it quick and bail. No need to sit through the whole show."

Ji Nanxing nodded. “Mm.”

He had no interest in the show either—human anatomy was just that. No matter how much skin you showed, it was still just flesh and bone. He couldn’t understand why some people were so obsessed with such things.

Someone recognized Xiao Ye and came over with a glass of wine to exchange pleasantries. Others noticed Ji Nanxing and were surprised the youngest son of the Ji family would be here. Rumor had it he was said to be very proper—but if he could show up here, those rumors clearly weren’t true.

It was rare to run into each other at an event like this. Regardless of whether their families had business dealings, expanding one’s network never hurt. Soon, both men found themselves surrounded by people.

Ji Nanxing wasn’t incapable of small talk—he simply disliked it. He wouldn’t be inheriting the Ji family business anyway, so there was no need to build these kinds of connections. As long as his brothers and master were around, he’d never lack for contacts. Maintaining frosty silence, he turned his head away to watch the song and dance performance below, ignoring any attempts at conversation.

Xiao Ye, a natural extrovert, could chat with anyone—as long as they didn’t insist on refilling his glass. Even while engaging others in lively banter, he kept a close eye on his boyfriend, plying him attentively with drinks and fruit.

Before long, Luo Xin returned. The moment Xiao Ye saw him, he stood up. “I need to talk to Old Luo about something. Catch you next time!” With that, he pulled Ji Nanxing along and walked over.

Xiao Ye: “Well? Did you find out anything?”

Ji Nanxing frowned slightly as he looked at Luo Xin. Earlier, the man had been clean—but in such a short time, he’d picked up a reek of decay. There was definitely something strange about Ding Ran.