Luring

Chapter 39 - Recruitment

As the freshly ordered dishes were served, Xiao Jiangnan, still shaken, recounted the incident where martial artists from a rival gym challenged their establishment before he and his sister arrived, much to the surprise of his childhood friend, Officer Wang Xuan.

What was even more unexpected was that Doctor Li, who had organized this dinner, had resolved Yongling Martial Arts Fitness Center's crisis in his own understated way, effectively killing the chicken to warn the monkeys.

From now on, any Tianlan Jidao Hall or other martial arts-themed fitness centers looking to challenge them would have to think twice about whether they had the courage to leap into a madhouse.

Hearing about the fate of those troublemakers from Tianlan Jidao Hall, everyone burst into laughter. Just then, the ordered dishes began to arrive, and they raised their drinks for a toast.

The special investigation team members, being public servants, dared not touch alcohol. Xiao Jiangnan and Officer Xiao Wang had to drive, so they couldn't break the rules. Xiao Wei was a young lady who didn't like drinking, and Li Bai found drinking alone boring. Therefore, the table only had Wanglaoji and orange juice – no spirits, no beer.

Old Zhang and the others weren't surprised by Li Bai's miraculous abilities at all.

Earlier that day, even the notoriously tight-lipped suspect in the smuggling case, Yao Donghu, who had refused to speak, had been forced to talk. Teaching a few ignorant martial arts instructors a lesson, legally and reasonably, was nothing.

The dinner table had both new and old friends. As the dishes were served like a flowing stream, the atmosphere grew more lively.

"Doctor Li, have we met somewhere before?"

Guo Wenkai seized the moment while everyone was getting acquainted to ask the question that had been lingering in his mind. From the moment he arrived at his grandmother's restaurant and saw Li Bai, his gaze had been fixed on him.

Although it was impolite, Li Bai wasn't surprised.

Hypnosis was not the Demoness's innate divine ability, Spiritual Eye Illusion. It still had many flaws. As time passed and the human body's self-correction abilities kicked in, memories sealed in the subconscious had a chance to gradually resurface, depending on the quantity and frequency of stimulating key information.

For Guo Wenkai, the key information was Li Bai himself.

The first time he accidentally saw Li Bai's back in the Santana, a crack began to form in the memory sealed by hypnosis. Coupled with his professional habit of suspicion and his skill in deduction, this crack inevitably widened.

If he hadn't encountered Li Bai, Guo Wenkai would have likely forgotten his appearance before he could even recall it, as memories also fade over time.

"No, I can be sure!"

Li Bai shook his head firmly.

In terms of shamelessness when lying through his teeth, he was on par with the Green Flood Dragon Demoness. It was no accident that one person and one demon could end up together.

Birds of a feather flock together; they were both unscrupulous.

"You're not lying to me? You really look familiar!"

Guo Wenkai still wouldn't let Li Bai off the hook. With his professional habits, it was unlikely he would easily dismiss his doubts.

"Maybe it's because I have a handsome celebrity face?"

Li Bai shamelessly praised himself.

Pfft! Xiao Wei, the martial arts heroine, let out a suppressed laugh beside him.

The Great Demon spread his hands and said helplessly, "See, didn't I tell you!"

With the endorsement of a beautiful woman's laughter, it seemed to confirm his self-praise.

"..."

Was there anyone who flaunted their handsomeness so openly? Guo Wenkai inexplicably felt a pang of frustration. He had a dark, square face, and it was indeed less likely to attract the attention of girls compared to a pretty boy.

As an experienced police officer, Guo Wenkai could see through countless criminals, but when faced with Li Bai, a psychiatrist who was equally skilled at manipulating people's minds, his repeated attempts to probe had failed.

However, fire couldn't be contained in paper. As long as Guo Wenkai continued to interact with Li Bai, the hypnosis he had undergone would eventually dissipate on its own. But after learning that there was a powerful figure influencing high-ranking officials in the Provincial Department behind the Yao Family's smuggling case, Li Bai became more cautious and didn't let things take their course, allowing the other party to recognize him slowly.

He, a mere citizen of the Celestial Dynasty, couldn't withstand the repercussions of such high-level power struggles. Therefore, not a single hidden danger could be left behind.

However, Guo Wenkai was already somewhat alerted, and his guard was up. Hypnosis was no longer effective, and Li Bai couldn't directly "re-shoot." He had no choice but to subtly use some suggestive methods to consolidate the cracks that had already begun to form, although the efficiency was not as high as a snap of the fingers.

A few minutes later, their conversation had veered off course and gone beyond the Himalayas.

After the dinner, everyone went their separate ways.

Old Zhang and the other members of the special investigation team returned to the Nanhu District Public Security Bureau to continue their overtime work, burning the midnight oil, striving to unearth and capture all personnel involved in the smuggling chain, including their protectors and other vested interests, so as to eliminate future trouble.

Xiao Jiangnan, driving his BMW 745, glanced at Li Bai in the passenger seat and said, "Director Guo from the Provincial Department seems quite interested in you. It's so hard to get into civil service these days, don't you want a ready-made position with a high starting point?"

During the dinner, he had noticed Guo Wenkai's particular attention to Li Bai. They had chatted for a long time, and from their fragmented conversation, he could discern Director Guo's intention to recruit him. Such quotas for introducing special talents were not easy to obtain.

Although medicine was also a good profession, entering public service and securing a stable job, especially in the Provincial Public Security Department, would lead to a future far beyond that of a hospital director.

Unexpectedly, Li Bai refused without hesitation.

Although Xiao Jiangnan's words were a well-intentioned reminder, Li Bai smiled and still said, "I'm a simple-minded person and don't like associating with people who engage in scheming. There are too many disputes in government offices, so it's best to stay away."

Those who had been screwed over by the Great Demon would never admit that this guy was truly simple-minded. If anyone believed it, they would truly lose.

"Everyone has their own aspirations. What a shame!" Xiao Jiangnan shook his head. After a moment of silence, he suddenly added, "How about working for me? I'll give you eight thousand a month."

Before Li Bai could reply, Xiao Wei, sitting in the back seat, exclaimed with surprise.

"Okay, okay! Doctor Li, you're so skilled. If you were in charge at Yongling, no one would dare to challenge us."

It was clear that the failed challenge from Tianlan Jidao Hall that afternoon, which resulted in the loss of three key fighters, had left a deep impression on her.

"Just give me a call if you need anything. Besides, Ms. Xiao only charges me eight hundred yuan a month for rent."

Li Bai understood the subtext. Although he had refused Guo Wenkai, Xiao Jiangnan was trying to see if he could recruit him to Yongling Martial Arts Fitness Center, essentially asking him to be their mascot.

"Doctor Li, if you come to help me, not only will you have five social insurances and one housing fund, but you'll also get annual raises and overseas trips. After a year, I can offer you shares. It's much better than working at a hospital."

Xiao Jiangnan genuinely wanted to recruit Li Bai. He had effortlessly subdued two advanced trainees and casually pointed to subdue an enemy. With such a person in charge, Yongling Martial Arts Fitness Center would become famous.

With Yongling's current reception capacity, it could at least triple its intake, enough to become Huxi City's premier fitness center.

"What can I do? Teach people to snap their fingers? That's not my specialty!"

Li Bai smiled and shook his head. Money was easy to come by, but the more favors he owed, the harder it would be to repay them in the future.

This was why cultivators were reluctant to easily form karmic ties. Debts of gratitude were hard to repay, and unresolved thoughts could easily lead to inner demons, hindering their Great Dao.

Even though she knew her brother wanted to recruit Doctor Li, this extraordinary individual who always spoke with unintentional brilliance, the Swordswoman Xiao couldn't help but laugh heartily, much to her own detriment.

"It's fine. If Doctor Li ever feels unhappy with his current job and wants a change of scenery, my doors are always open."

Xiao Jiangnan, who had also been politely rejected, did not give up. The other man was renting his property, giving him a prime opportunity. There would be plenty of time in the future; as long as he was patient, there would be opportunities.

Even if he couldn't recruit him now, if Yongling Martial Arts Fitness Center ever faced another challenge from someone coming to test their skills, Doctor Li might not just stand by and watch.

Relationships were built this way, unintentionally. If one only focused on the immediate gains, they would ultimately struggle to achieve greatness.

Although he had the support of his parents, Xiao Jiangnan founded Yongling Martial Arts Fitness Center and established himself in the industry not just through his martial arts techniques inherited from a famous master, but also through his own way of interacting with people.