Who Was Scheming Against Whom

A sinister smile curled the corners of Fan Yuli's lips, sending a chill through everyone and making their hair stand on end.

Meng Huai frowned. It seemed this woman had fooled him after all. She had been directing everything—or, more precisely, the person behind her had.

Hoshino Aki understood the situation too. She hurriedly pulled Pei Cuiyun two steps aside, lest they get caught in the crossfire and be left with nowhere to turn.

Meng Huai said sternly, "I truly underestimated you. Your skills are formidable indeed, to be able to conceal one gu inside another. Someone with your abilities certainly can't be a nobody."

A male voice emerged from Fan Yuli's mouth. "As expected of a Gu Master. Your eyes are sharp indeed. I am Ye Yao, the Left Protector of the Night God Church."

Meng Huai glared at her. "If I'm not mistaken, you were also He Huaying at the Butterfly Bar that night!"

Fan Yuli put on a hearty air and said, "That was indeed me. I genuinely wanted to talk to you then, hoping we could bury the hatchet, but you adamantly refused.

"Our Night God Church needs talented people, especially someone as gifted as you. Being a mere Gu Master is a waste of your talents. If you're willing to join us, I would gladly step down and let you take my place."

Meng Huai snorted. "Spare me that nonsense. We follow different paths and have nothing to discuss. You use gu arts to harm people. As a Gu Master, I will never stand for that."

His words rang with righteous resolve, but he quietly edged closer to Yun Zimo and gave her a look, signaling her to run.

Yun Zimo had never been one to stick to convention. The moment she caught Meng Huai's signal, she turned and ran. But as soon as she reached the side door, she seemed to hit a wall and bounced straight back.

Meng Huai dared not hesitate. He hurriedly caught her, and they both landed in a chair. He coughed several times.

Though Yun Zimo had a model's figure, her frame was still substantial. She weighed around a hundred pounds, after all, and the impact was considerable.

Fan Yuli snorted contemptuously. "Your abilities are decent, but they're still nothing in my eyes. If I wanted to, I could destroy you at any time.

"But I'm a generous person. I've always preferred winning people over through virtue, and I enjoy games even more. Since you're so interesting, I'll have some fun with you.

"One day, I will bring you to heel and make you my most loyal subordinate. Seeing you kneeling before me then will certainly be entertaining."

Meng Huai held Yun Zimo tightly and roared, "Don't delude yourself! If you want me to submit to you, wait until your next life!"

His shout was loud enough, but his expression resembled that of a helpless young wife about to be ravaged, able only to vent her humiliation.

Fan Yuli snorted disdainfully, then turned to Hoshino Aki. "You filthy woman, you've got some nerve coming to China to stir up trouble. Do you really think we have no one to stop you?

"Whatever quarrels we have among ourselves are the affairs of our great nation. What right do barbarians like you have to come here and throw your weight around?

"Since you're quite good at serving people, I'll let you off today. Yun Zimo is my boss, after all, and she's treated me well. Multiply the company's purchase price by ten as your punishment. Any objections?"

Sensing the immense power before her, Hoshino Aki hardly dared to object. She hurriedly nodded her agreement.

Fan Yuli looked at Yun Zimo with a smile. "I've repaid what I owed you, boss, and what I owed Little Yun as well. I hope we can still be sisters in our next life."

With that, she walked to the window, opened it, and jumped. Screams rose from below, followed by someone shouting that a person had jumped from the building.

Meng Huai walked to the window and glanced down. Fan Yuli had already been smashed to a pulp, but he could see several tiny insects wriggling amid the flesh and blood.

He shook his head helplessly and returned to Yun Zimo's side. Tapping the tabletop, he said, "My patience is limited. Since you've already agreed, pay up!"

Pei Cuiyun stared at him. "Fan Yuli has already fallen to her death. Why should I pay anything? Do you think I'm an idiot?"

Hoshino Aki hurriedly tugged at her, signaling her to keep quiet, then took out her checkbook and wrote down a figure.

Hoshino Aki respectfully placed the check on the table and bowed. "Of course we must keep our word. Please have a look, sir. If it isn't enough, I can add more."

Meng Huai picked up the check and flicked it, saying mockingly, "You Japanese are a cunning lot. Being able to settle a karmic debt with money is the best bargain you could ask for.

"Why can't you be like that stupid woman? Fan Yuli is dead anyway, so you could refuse to pay. Surely there are better things you could do with this money."

Hoshino Aki answered without hesitation, "As you just said, sir, settling a karmic debt with money is the best bargain. Besides, Fan Yuli was merely a tool. Whether that tool still exists is unimportant. What matters is that the person wielding it is still here."

Pei Cuiyun had a reputation on par with Yun Zimo's, so she was naturally no fool. She immediately understood what was going on, and a shiver of belated fear ran through her.

Meng Huai handed the check to Yun Zimo, then sighed softly. "Who exactly outmaneuvered whom this time? It's hard to say. Either way, there'll be plenty of trouble ahead!"

He told Hoshino Aki, "This place belongs to you from now on. I won't interfere with your business, but you'd better put aside any crooked ideas. Otherwise, I'll throw you out of this window."

Hoshino Aki replied respectfully, "Rest assured, sir. I will follow the rules. Money is often more useful than magic, so there's no need for me to take that risk."

A flash of anger crossed Meng Huai's face, but there was nothing he could do. If his own people failed to measure up, who else could he blame?

Yun Zimo tugged at Meng Huai and hurried out with him. By the time they reached the ground floor, Fan Yuli's remains had already been cleared away.

After all, Yun Zimo and Fan Yuli had been close as sisters for years. Filled with sorrow, she unconsciously shook her head. Then her eyes suddenly widened. A figure in the distance, seen from behind, was unmistakably Fan Yuli.

Meng Huai took Yun Zimo's hand and led her toward the car, saying as they walked, "Fan Yuli died just now. The person you saw was Ye Yao.

"He's far more powerful than I imagined. It seems dealing with them really won't be easy. Just thinking about it gives me a headache."

Yun Zimo asked cautiously, "If we don't provoke them, could we live in peace? I still have a little money. It's enough to support us both."

Meng Huai picked up his flask and took a drink. Looking out the car window, he said, "Once you set foot on certain paths, there's no turning back. Staying with me will only drag you into trouble. Why don't we break up?"

Yun Zimo's beautiful eyes widened. Without another word, she started the car and sped all the way back to the villa.

She gripped Meng Huai tightly and dragged him into the house, then glared at him in a fury, like a little lion baring its teeth and claws.