Joining the Club

Ye Jinghong spent the entire day investigating and actually found Fang Moqi's address.

What was more, he had intelligence that Fang Moqi had only recently returned to the country and was currently in Magic City!

So despite it already being nighttime, he directly took a trusted police officer with him and drove to Fang Moqi's home.

Two hours later, he drove to Sheshan. The area was filled with upscale residences, and he found one of the villas.

"This is Fang Moqi's home? Director, are you sure you didn't get it wrong? He's so rich—how could he be a murderer?" Ye Jinghong's trusted subordinate was named Li Han. After getting out of the car, he stared wide-eyed at the garden villa before him. He knew the Royal Gardens area was home to internationally renowned luxury residences.

He could not imagine that a murder suspect lived somewhere so extravagant.

Ye Jinghong was somewhat startled as well, but he trusted his instincts and did not feel intimidated.

"Li Han, whether someone is a suspect has absolutely nothing to do with whether he has money! Once someone has money, ability, and everything else, people like that often seek thrills. No one can tell what they're thinking! Maybe they play at punishing evil and upholding justice, treating it as a game. People like that do exist!"

As Ye Jinghong enlightened Li Han, he seemed to become even more convinced of his own intuition.

"Ding-dong! Ding-dong!"

After pressing the doorbell twice in succession, Ye Jinghong waited outside the garden.

He waited for over three minutes without hearing a single sound, so Ye Jinghong pressed the doorbell again.

"Ding-dong! Ding-dong!"

This time, after a minute had passed, a display screen outside the iron gate suddenly lit up. It showed a man with deep-set features, wearing only a black shirt. His taut muscles stretched the fabric tight.

Ye Jinghong showed his ID and said, "I am Ye Jinghong, Director of Public Security for Magic City. You are Fang Moqi, correct? We would like to ask you about a case and hope you will cooperate."

When the man on the screen saw that two police officers had come looking for him over some case, he immediately frowned.

"I haven't returned to Magic City for half a year. What case could possibly involve me?"

Ye Jinghong said, "There was a premeditated murder in Hongshan District early this morning. The murder weapon was a bow and arrow, so we'd like to ask Mr. Fang about—"

Before he could finish, Fang Moqi interrupted as soon as he heard it had happened yesterday. "It has nothing to do with me. Besides, I'm very tired. Don't disturb me."

Ye Jinghong froze, becoming even more suspicious of Fang Moqi.

"Mr. Fang, please cooperate! I never said you did this—"

Fang Moqi looked exhausted. "I don't know who did it either. It has absolutely nothing to do with me."

With that, he directly shut off the display, leaving the Director of Public Security outside the gate.

Ye Jinghong stared blankly at the iron gate. He had never seen someone so arrogant.

He was so angry that he laughed. "Perhaps only someone like this would disregard the law and provoke the police?"

After witnessing Fang Moqi's personality, Ye Jinghong became even more certain that he was the man known as Heaven's Punishment. He fit Ye Jinghong's image of the murderer far too well.

"Ding-dong! Ding-dong!"

Fang Moqi lay wearily on the sofa. Listening to the doorbell continuously ringing beside him, his expression grew impatient.

He picked up his phone and dialed a number.

Before long, the other party answered. "Old Fang? I heard you came back to Magic City. Why haven't you come to the club to see me?"

"We'll talk about it later... I'm tired. I haven't slept well for months," Fang Moqi said lazily.

The person on the other end said, "Fine, fine. You're like this every time you come back. You're completely unlike yourself when you're outside. By the way, where did you go?"

Fang Moqi said, "Venezuela, the Guiana Highlands. Old Bi, don't ask. I have something else to ask you."

"Oh, oh, oh. What is it?" Old Bi asked.

"The moment I got back, police came to my door saying they wanted to ask me about a murder case. It's so annoying. Help me deal with it." Fang Moqi spoke with his eyes closed.

Old Bi gave a chuckle and asked, "There does seem to be something like that. Does the case have anything to do with you?"

"No. I only came back yesterday. You know I always sleep like crazy for two days after I return, but they woke me up." Fang Moqi sounded depressed.

"I see. Got it. Fine, I'll handle it for you. But since you're back, lead the club members for a while. They've been waiting for you forever."

Fang Moqi sighed. "Do I really have to go? Why does your club always make me work?"

Old Bi said, "Hehehe, just tell me whether you'll help or not!"

"I'll help! Hurry up and get those two cops outside my door to leave. They're driving me crazy!" Hearing that the doorbell was still ringing, Fang Moqi hurriedly agreed.

"Old Fang, don't be so impatient. You own shares in the club too, don't you?" Old Bi laughed.

"I'll go to the club after I wake up. Also, I can only lead the group for ten days. I have something to do on the third of next month..." Fang Moqi was nearly asleep as he spoke.

Old Bi asked curiously, "Something to do? Where are you going?"

"Shennongjia..."

"Oh? Going with those people from the capital again? Hello? Hello?"

"Snore... snore..."

Fang Moqi had fallen asleep directly, his phone tossed onto the sofa.

After calling out several times, Old Bi understood what had happened and could only hang up.

"Tch, every time he comes back, he's like a dead pig..."

Old Bi muttered to himself, "Shennongjia? That godforsaken place has been around for so many years, and they still haven't fully explored it?"

"Ding-dong! Ding-dong!"

Ye Jinghong frantically pressed the doorbell outside, but Fang Moqi clearly had no intention of responding. He waited a full ten minutes without the slightest movement.

"Director, should we go back first? He's clearly refusing to cooperate!" Li Han said cautiously.

Ye Jinghong was frustrated beyond belief. He had never encountered anything like this.

Just then, his phone rang. Ye Jinghong answered it, and his expression changed. After listening with a frown for several moments, he said,

"Whether it's related still needs to be investigated. He fits in every aspect..."

"This... how can this be?"

"Yes..."

Ye Jinghong's face darkened as he hung up.

Li Han understood what he had seen. It was probably someone from above calling; otherwise, with Ye Jinghong's temper, he would not have been so obedient.

"Director... this matter..."

"Let's go!" Ye Jinghong abruptly turned around and got into the car.

Li Han hurriedly followed him in and asked, "Director, where are we going?"

Ye Jinghong gritted out two words: "Off work!"

The next morning, Lan Mu began moving early. He did not have much to do himself, mainly just packing up what needed to be packed and leaving the rest to the moving company.

Just after he brought Su Yue to the new place, he received a call from Du Yu.

Hearing that familiar voice through the phone, Lan Mu snapped, "How do you even know my phone number?"

"Ahem... Don't sweat the small stuff."

Du Yu continued, "I found the club manager and settled everything. Just come directly to the Forest Club. Want me to pick you up?"

"That fast? Does your family own the club?" Lan Mu was surprised at Du Yu's speed. He had no certificates whatsoever, yet the club actually dared let him lead some wilderness survival event?

"Yeah! My brother owns it," Du Yu admitted without the slightest concern.

"..."

Lan Mu fell silent, then said, "Fine, come pick me up. I'm at..."

After hanging up, Lan Mu looked at the empty studio, which had not yet been set up, and called Cheng Ming.

"What's up, Brother Mu?"

"Busy at work? If not, come help out. The studio is over in Songjiang. The exact address is..."

"Oh, oh, oh, you really rented a studio? I honestly thought you were going to set everything up in that dump of yours," Cheng Ming said.

"Uh... Stop talking nonsense. The studio will officially open before long."

About half an hour after he hung up, Cheng Ming arrived.

"You got here fast enough. Take a look at what I wrote."

When he saw Cheng Ming arrive, Lan Mu tossed him the keys and handed him the promotional copy he had written on his laptop.

"I have many years of experience working at television stations and have now formed a professional team to undertake all kinds of television program pre-production and post-production work. Timely delivery, reasonable prices. We look forward to working with you. Professional production of product VCRs needed for television shopping."

"We undertake documentary production, commercial production, corporate promotional videos, year-end report videos, product videos, microfilms, gala recordings, conference recordings, and more. We provide pre-production planning, photography and videography, post-production packaging, voiceover, music, subtitles, and more."

"Business phone... Company address... Contact person..."

After reading the promotional copy, Cheng Ming felt it was decent, though it resembled a small advertisement a little too much...

Still, he could not write anything better, so he said, "It's pretty good, but where are we supposed to get a professional team?"

"I didn't tell you to take on jobs right now. I'm going out to make some money soon. Once I get back, we'll officially open."

"I'll transfer thirty thousand yuan to you. That's all the assets I have left."

"Decorate the studio, put up the signboard, and buy some furniture, appliances, and the like. Also, get in touch with our old classmates. If any of them are interested in joining our team, invite them over."

Cheng Ming was left stunned by all this. Once he had finally heard everything, he said, "All right, leave it to me!"

"I won't go to work anymore either. Since they know I submitted my resignation, the newspaper office hasn't really been assigning me anything anyway. I don't even want the rest of my salary. I'll just quit outright! Haha!"

Just then, a low horn sounded from downstairs.

Lan Mu looked out the window and saw that it was indeed Du Yu. He was driving a Ford E350 and sticking his head out the window.

Cheng Ming was still wondering what was going on when he saw Lan Mu make a gesture, then sling a bag over his shoulder and head out.

"Brother Mu, where are you going to make money?"

"No idea. I might not leave today. I'm just going to take a look."

"Oh, right." Before leaving, Lan Mu introduced Su Yue to Cheng Ming, then said to Su Yue, "This is my good buddy, Cheng Ming. You'll be colleagues from now on."

Su Yue could not see Cheng Ming, but she could roughly tell where he was from his voice. She gave a slight, polite bow. "Mr. Cheng, my name is Su Yue."

Cheng Ming was completely bewildered. Why was she a blind girl? Before he could ask, Lan Mu said, "I'm leaving first. Take good care of Su Yue. She's the cleaner I hired, and she'll handle our meals too. Put some effort into it."

With that, Lan Mu went straight downstairs, leaving Cheng Ming standing there in a daze, utterly confused.

After getting into Du Yu's car, Lan Mu could not help saying, "Pretty rich, aren't you? You changed cars again?"

Du Yu laughed. "This car looks badass! How could I drive some delicate sports car to pick up an expert like you?"

Lan Mu was rather pleased to hear that, but then Du Yu unnecessarily added,

"Oh, I wasn't saying your face looks delicate!"

"..."

For the sake of the money, Lan Mu endured it again.

Counting the days, this was the seventh day since he had transformed into an elf. If his calculations were right, he would be able to turn back into a human at three in the morning tomorrow.

Around a few dozen minutes later, Du Yu drove to Jinkou District.

They did not go to the Forest Club in the city. Instead, they went directly to the outdoor grounds purchased by the Forest Club, the so-called VIP Training Ground.

The environment there was quite nice. Buildings stood amid lush green grass, forming a garden-style complex somewhat like a resort.

There were only around a dozen people in the training ground, each carrying their own bow and arrows as they moved around.

Some were practicing on basic ring targets, some were shooting moving targets such as balloons, while others simply gathered together to chat.

Du Yu parked the car and led Lan Mu over.

A middle-aged man immediately came forward with a smile. "Xiao Yu!"

"This must be the Mr. Lan... you mentioned?"

The middle-aged man was initially dazzled by Lan Mu's beautiful appearance, but quickly returned to normal and introduced himself.

"My name is Wang Ling. May I ask whether Mr. Lan would be willing to join the Forest Club?"

Without a second thought, Lan Mu said, "No need."

"Uh..."

Du Yu helped from the side. "If Brother Mu says there's no need, then there's no need! We'll just treat him as outside support."

Wang Ling smiled bitterly. "Xiao Yu, even if we're hiring outside support, he needs some qualifications, doesn't he? The club members might not give us any face..."

"Besides, I heard that Mr. Lan has no wilderness survival experience and hasn't joined the Hunter Association... You probably don't even have a hunting license, do you?"

Lan Mu nodded and answered bluntly, "That's right. My only work experience is as a reporter."

Wang Ling looked troubled, and Du Yu hurriedly said, "Manager Wang, didn't we agree on this?"

"I agreed, but Mr. Lan isn't willing to join the club. There are many things I can't arrange that way!"

"If Mr. Lan joins the Forest Club as a member, then according to the VIP benefits, he can participate in any outdoor activity with a group. That way, I can arrange for someone qualified to lead the group to go along as the nominal leader."

"There have been cases with two leaders before. As long as they coordinate well, leading the group actually becomes easier. What do you think, Mr. Lan?"

Hearing this, Lan Mu fell into thought.

Finally, under Du Yu's eager gaze, and for the sake of the money, Lan Mu agreed.

"I can join the Forest Club, but..."

"He pays the annual fee!"