The torrential rain had come fast and gone fast. By morning, only a dim gray haze remained beyond the window.
Caw caw—
Early in the morning, Coal Boss saw Ji Qinglin and Yu Ye both lying on the sofa. It flew up and squawked wildly, waking them both with the air of a rightful wife catching an affair in bed.
Crazy Night: Damn, she climbed into your bed in the middle of the night? Something this explosive, and you didn't call me?
Yu Ye: We were just lying beside each other to sleep. What's there to make such a fuss about?
Crazy Night: Next time, it won't just be the bed she gets on.
Ji Qinglin grabbed the noisy Coal Boss and got up, just about to leave the living room when he remembered something. Turning back, he asked, "Yu Ye, was that reply about 'Imperial Jade Liquor Wine' really instinctive?"
Yu Ye's willow-leaf brows drew together slightly. She looked somewhat helpless, yet her almond eyes remained sincere. "Of course. What is it, Master?"
Ji Qinglin smiled in relief. This little one probably hadn't gone through what I had. He replied, "Nothing. I just feel that master and disciple like us really are fated. Get up. Today, your master will cook and reward you properly."
Once her Master went downstairs, Yu Ye asked: Was that really an instinctive reply? Crazy Night: No way, even you don't believe me now? I swear on my chastity in my next life! Yu Ye: Actually, I'm curious too. How did you know that?
Crazy Night: Maybe someone among the soul consciousnesses I devoured knew it. Back then, you acted all lofty and only killed without eating. Otherwise, you probably would've known that phrase too.
Hearing that, Yu Ye recalled that bloody past, like raising venomous insects in a jar. She shook her head and did not dwell on it further.
Beep beep beep—
The moment he opened the shop door, the phone at the counter suddenly rang.
"Hello? Zheng Hao? What happened? What did you say?! Alright! We'll be there right away! Don't panic yet!"
Yu Ye was startled as well. After all, this was the first time she had seen her Master so tense.
"Master, what happened?"
Ji Qinglin frowned tightly. Hanging up, he picked up his helmet. "Someone attacked Thunderclap Manor before dawn. President Lei Qiong was seriously injured and has fallen unconscious."
Yu Ye's eyes widened, her face full of disbelief. Remembering that hearty uncle from the drinking table, she asked in confusion, "The President was seriously injured and unconscious? How is that possible? Who could possibly be capable of that?"
Ji Qinglin handed Yu Ye a helmet. "No one knows yet. We need to go to the hospital first."
Ji Qinglin had lived in this world for two years since waking up. During that time, aside from those he had helped, the only people who had shown him genuine human warmth were Old Hu and President Lei Qiong.
Only while riding behind him to the hospital did Yu Ye realize that her Master could ride Night Owl this fast. He seemed no worse than a professional racer. Compared to this, when he usually took her along, it was more like a leisurely ride.
By the time master and disciple arrived at Xin Dong Street Hospital, quite a few people had already gathered outside the private ward.
However, when Ji Qinglin and his disciple arrived, the other elders of the chamber of commerce did not come over. They continued talking among themselves. Only Lei Zhenghao, his eyes red-rimmed, took the initiative to approach them.
"Brother Qinglin, you came."
"How is it? What's the situation now?"
"The doctor said he barely made it out of the critical period, but he still hasn't woken up. Mom is inside with him."
"What exactly happened?"
Lei Zhenghao took a deep breath, steadied himself, and described what he knew once more.
It turned out that the other members of the Lei Family had all been out last night. Aside from the servants in the manor, only the President had been there.
During the torrential rain before dawn, the servants heard thunderous roars and loud explosions from the rear courtyard. At first, they thought lightning had struck and collapsed the buildings. Only after the rain weakened did they go over and discover that every building in the rear courtyard had collapsed, while the President lay heavily injured amid the ruins.
Ji Qinglin looked around and asked, "Where's your sister?"
"Right after confirming that Father was out of danger, she went back first to search for clues about the culprit."
Ji Qinglin sighed softly. "That hotheaded fool. Zheng Hao, from now on, make sure the ward is tightly guarded by police and trustworthy Qi Practitioners. I'll head to Thunderclap Manor too, then come back quickly."
"But Brother Qinglin, if they really wanted to kill my father, wouldn't they have succeeded last night?"
Ji Qinglin glanced at the elders in the corridor. Only after confirming that none of them were looking their way did he lower his voice beside Lei Zhenghao's ear.
"The person who attacked the President last night definitely didn't intend to take his life. But those who now know he's seriously injured and want to take the chance to kill him haven't made their move yet."
"Understood!"
There was nothing they could do to help with the treatment. After learning the basic situation, Ji Qinglin and Yu Ye headed for Thunderclap Manor as well.
The moment master and disciple entered the rear courtyard, they saw a vast stretch of rubble. The main house and two side rooms had all collapsed. Broken bricks and shattered tiles lay everywhere. Not even a single intact wall remained, and several scorched black craters sat in the middle of the courtyard.
Yu Ye stared in shock. "The President should have fought the other party here. For it to end up like this, what sort of person was the opponent?"
Ji Qinglin circled the ruins once, returned to the scorched craters in the courtyard, then looked up again in puzzlement.
"These ruins don't look like they were caused by a fight. All three rooms collapsed, and the fragments are this evenly scattered. Add in those craters on the ground... it looks more like it was caused by a single move."
"One move?"
Though she had not witnessed the scene, Yu Ye could imagine the power of that thunderous strike from the destruction around her.
And judging from the outcome, President Lei Qiong had likely been the one who took that move.
As they spoke, several people dressed like bodyguards hurried in and began searching through the ruins. Behind them came a woman in a blue trench coat. "Search carefully! Don't overlook anything suspicious!"
Her voice was urgent but remarkably clear and forceful. At a glance, she was no ordinary body-tempering Qi Practitioner.
Yu Ye asked quietly, "Master, is she President Lei's daughter?"
"Yeah. Lei Qiuyun, the successor the President raised. People call her Little Thunder Duke. Her temper and way of doing things are quite similar to the President's. Her strength isn't bad, but if she has to support the entire chamber of commerce... without the President, I'm afraid..."
Hearing movement from this side, Lei Qiuyun turned around and spotted Ji Qinglin. She leaped over at once.
"You came too? That's great. Let's search for clues about the culprit together."
Only once Yu Ye saw her up close did she realize how tall the young woman was, just a little shorter than her Master. Even the loose trench coat could not hide her stunning supermodel figure. Her features were dignified and intellectual, while the black hair at her temples had fallen loose in disarray. Sweat beaded across her tightly furrowed brow, making it clear that she was deeply unsettled.
Ji Qinglin sighed, raised a hand, and several bodyguards looked over. Then they heard his command.
"Stop searching. Everyone, return to the hospital with me!"
Lei Qiuyun grabbed Ji Qinglin's arm and said anxiously.
"What are you barking orders for?! We need to find clues about the culprit here!"
"And then follow those clues and let the culprit kill someone again?"
"You!"
"The only clear clue right now is the President himself. If you don't go back now, then with Zheng Hao and the others alone, the President will soon turn from a living witness into physical evidence."
Lei Qiuyun calmed down somewhat. "I'll send people to guard Father. But this is still the primary crime scene. If we don't search for even the tiniest traces now, are we supposed to wait—"
Ji Qinglin cut her off bluntly. "The fact that the President is still alive means the other party never intended to kill him. They could cause this much damage and still leave unscathed. Do you think they would leave any clues here? Besides, let me remind you: everyone can go look for the culprit right now, except you."
"Why?"
Ji Qinglin lowered his head to stare at Lei Qiuyun, enunciating each word.
"Because from the moment the President fell before dawn today, your chamber of commerce has already begun drifting toward the edge of collapse, Acting President."
Lei Qiuyun, who had just been full of fury and beyond questioning, came to her senses upon hearing that. She took a deep breath to calm herself, then gave Ji Qinglin a slight nod and muttered softly, "I understand, Master."
A transitional chapter before Sky-Piercer comes to the rescue. Thank you all for your support. Hearts to you all.
Before you continue