Chapter 418: Chapter 403: Getting Paid to Do a Job

In the simple, dim little stone house, the moonlight cast upon the middle-aged man’s face, highlighting an air of nobility—the kind that could only be nurtured by years of accumulated power and wealth.

He glanced at Mi Le opposite him, nonchalantly swirling the blue-and-white porcelain teacup in his hand as he became lost in thought.

’The Third and Fourth Branches don’t want my younger cousin to return. The reason is simple: they were the ones behind what happened to my younger uncle all those years ago.’

’But this matter really has nothing to do with us, the First Branch.’

’As for the Second and Fifth Branches...’ The man frowned slightly, a wave of irritation rising within him. ’If the Old Master hadn’t been so indecisive back then, I wouldn’t be in such a difficult predicament now.’

Across from him, Mi Le finished the last of his tea and sighed regretfully.

’Tsk. This tea Mr. Gu brought really is the best of the best. It’s a shame it’s all gone.’

He shook the empty Zisha teapot, from which not another drop of tea would come. He was tempted to try and wheedle some more good tea leaves out of the man across from him, but seeing the unconcealable irritation on his otherwise composed face, he knew the man was likely seething internally. In the end, he reined himself in and didn’t ask.

Just then, the middle-aged man looked up. His gaze fell on the Zisha teapot that was constantly being shaken in Mi Le’s hands, and the corner of his mouth twitched almost imperceptibly.

He set down his teacup and looked up at Mi Le. "I still have some pre-Qingming Dragon Well tea that was preserved from years ago. While it can’t compare to the fresh teas from before the apocalypse, the flavor is still quite good. After I return this time, I’ll have someone send some over to you."

’As long as he doesn’t expect it for free.’

Mi Le nodded, then, as if he’d suddenly remembered something, he said, "Oh, right. When I was cooking over there today, I heard them mention Ye Junhan. It seems... they’ve guessed his identity?"

The man across from him abruptly looked up, his hand holding the teacup tightening imperceptibly.

’So he won’t make a move until he’s seen his prize, huh?’

"Are you sure?" he asked in a low voice, his eyes narrowing slightly.

But Mi Le shook his head, spread his hands, and said with utter shamelessness, "Nope, not sure."

But just before a dangerous glint appeared in the other man’s eyes, he added, "However, I did hear them mention the Chen sisters..."

He glanced at the middle-aged man, his tone casual yet full of deeper meaning. "Mr. Gu, the Chen sisters were also involved in what happened back then. And the relationship between Chen and the Third Master..."

At this point, he seemed hesitant to say more, as if treading on sensitive ground, and left the rest to their mutual understanding. He only added vaguely, "Of course, I’ve never had direct contact with the Chen sisters, so I don’t know what they’re like as people, but..."

"Mr. Gu, don’t look at me like that. I just think that regardless of how they found out, or whether the Chen sisters are involved, the fact is they’re starting to get suspicious. The family... needs to come up with a plan, and soon."

He paused. "Don’t you agree, Mr. Gu?" Mi Le suggested with great sincerity.

The middle-aged man was speechless.

Fortunately, his self-control was impeccable, and his expression didn’t change. Instead, he had Mi Le recount everything he had seen and heard that day, down to the last detail, including the reaction of everyone present.

Mi Le did so with a smile.

But it was the same old story: he was just doing a job for money.

A little reminder was one thing, but what came next... that would depend on what kind of payment this Crown Prince of the Gu clan was willing to offer.

—Just that bit of aged pre-Qingming Dragon Well tea he’d promised earlier definitely wouldn’t be enough.

The middle-aged man across from him narrowed his eyes, studying him for a moment. He saw Mi Le serenely toying with the empty teacup, not the least bit intimidated, a look of disappointment occasionally flashing in his eyes... Finally, the man averted his gaze.

After a moment’s thought, he activated his personal terminal and sent out a message.

Mi Le didn’t need to look to know that the message was definitely going to one of his spies.

Sure enough, a reply came back quickly. After reading it, the middle-aged man—the one Mi Le called Mr. Gu—suddenly went pale.

Although he quickly regained his composure, Mi Le had caught that fleeting moment of utter shock.

"Mr. Gu?" Seeing the man look over again, Mi Le put down the empty cup with a deeply regretful smile and spoke with a hint of confusion.

But his eyes remained as calm as still water.

The middle-aged man, however, had already stood up. He stared at Mi Le for a moment, then looked out the window. "Something has come up at home. I have to head back tonight. I’ll leave things here in your hands, Mr. Mi."

The moment he finished speaking, the man vanished on the spot.

Mi Le wasn’t surprised. He just looked down at the now-empty table with considerable regret.

’It’s really not easy to get one over on the Gu Family. Look at that. Even in such a rush, their Mr. Gu didn’t forget to take the tea set he brought—the one I was practically drooling over.’

’Tsk. Exactly what you’d expect from a great family of cunning merchants with centuries of experience.’

’Fortunately, I’m no honest man myself.’

...

’Although I’ve long known that honest people can’t survive in the apocalypse, I never expected that a simple plate of cured meat could reel in such a big fish.’ 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

’Of course, when Gu Shen’s ability was cut off without warning, forcing him out of his Space Jump and revealing his form, he also never expected that this younger cousin of his—whom he had only ever heard of but never met—would have such a terrifying degree of control over abilities.’

’No wonder a single trip to Gu Garden was enough to scare that useless oaf from the Liu Family into fleeing back to Central Base overnight.’

’She really is something else.’

’However, if the Third and Fourth Branches were to find out about this ability to control other people’s powers, they’d probably be too terrified to eat or sleep.’

Because his ability had been forcibly interrupted, Gu Shen suffered a backlash and tumbled out of his Space Jump. He cut a rather pathetic figure at the moment.

His legs were slightly bent, with one hand on his knee and the other braced against a nearby tree trunk. Against the cold moonlight, his unremarkable face looked deathly pale, no different from a ghost from a folktale.

Only the faint, ragged breaths he was trying to suppress proved he was still alive.

After a long moment, Gu Shen slowly raised his head and looked at the person opposite him.

’I have to say, this younger cousin of mine is incredibly patient. She just waited quietly all this time for my power to stabilize.’

’Is she not worried at all that I might try to escape?’

But then he remembered how he’d been forced to reveal himself just moments ago without any warning... A bitter smile touched the lips of Gu Shen, who had never been so humiliated.

—’Then again, she certainly has the skill to back it up.’

"Xiaoxi, may I call you that?" He pushed himself off the tree trunk and slowly stood up straight. Though his voice still held an uncontrollable rasp from his breathlessness, his tone was remarkably calm, even composed.

’Just what you’d expect from the successor that a great clan like the Gu Family has painstakingly groomed for years.’

"Though this is the first time we’ve met, please allow me to introduce myself. I am Gu Shen." He looked at Gu Xi, his voice carrying a convincing yet clearly discernible note of faint sorrow as he slowly said, "I am also your older cousin."