I don't know

Meng Huai rested his hand on Chang Yanping's wrist, his expression so grave that the latter grew terribly nervous, his heart in his throat.

Chang Yanping asked cautiously, "What exactly is wrong with me? Please enlighten me, Master."

Meng Huai withdrew his hand and rubbed his nose. "I have two things to tell you. First, don't call me Master. I don't deserve that title.

"Second, as for what exactly is wrong with you, honestly, I don't know. Judging by the signs, you've definitely been afflicted with gu. Otherwise, my phlegm wouldn't have worked."

At the word "phlegm," Chang Yanping's stomach churned. He barely managed to suppress it, his face turning even uglier.

Seeing his expression, Meng Huai shrugged. "But when I examined you just now, there were no gu insects in your body. That should be impossible."

"Even powerful Gu Masters, though they can dispense with a medium, can't dispense with gu insects. It's like how a gun needs bullets to kill someone."

By this point, everyone present understood. Someone had set Chang Yanping up, but they didn't know what had been used against him. Without finding the source, anyone else would be just as helpless.

Qin Xiuying hesitated before saying, "Mr. Chang spent the entire afternoon vomiting. Could he have thrown up the insect?"

Meng Huai wagged a finger. "Absolutely not. Never mind gu insects—you couldn't even vomit up a parasite."

"So I'm certain Mr. Chang has been afflicted with gu, but I can't find the insect, which leaves me powerless. Even if I can keep you safe for a while, I can't protect you for the rest of your life."

Chang Yanping's expression grew grim. From the looks of things, Meng Huai was the only person who could help him, yet even he was at a loss. He was in serious trouble now.

Yun Zimo blinked. "Didn't you say there was Protective Gu? If you implanted one in Mr. Chang, wouldn't that solve everything?"

Chang Yanping was instantly delighted and hurriedly said, "Please help me, Mr. Meng. As long as you can keep me safe, money is no object."

Meng Huai frowned. "You certainly will have to pay. In our line of work, what we fear most is becoming entangled in karma. When I dealt with those people before, it was my duty, and the Black-and-White Wujiao Sect bore the karma for me."

"Now, although someone is using gu to harm you, you aren't a man without means. Helping you will create a karmic debt, and that debt needs to be settled."

Yun Zimo discreetly rolled her eyes. Meng Huai really was impressive. Only he could make asking for money sound so lofty and refined.

To Chang Yanping, money was nothing more than a number. He didn't care about it at all; his sole concern was staying alive.

Meng Huai cleared his throat. "Since we don't know what method the other person used, we can only start by giving you Protective Gu. I have several price tiers available. How much do you want to spend?"

Chang Yanping answered without hesitation, "The most expensive one, of course."

Meng Huai shook his head. "I thought you'd ask for the best, but instead you chose the most expensive. The price is ten million, no bargaining. You hand over the money, I hand over the insect."

Chang Yanping was taken aback. He hadn't expected that response and hurriedly said, "Money is absolutely no problem. Are you saying the most expensive isn't the best?"

Meng Huai sneered. "You sell houses, Mr. Chang. Don't you know perfectly well whether the most expensive is the best?"

Chang Yanping froze again, unsure why Meng Huai would say that. His tone clearly conveyed deep displeasure.

Meng Huai continued, "Although I don't know what kind of gu you've been afflicted with, I can guess what sort of person cast it. If I weren't a Gu Master, I really wouldn't want to get involved."

"You should know perfectly well what you've done. Don't think you can cover everything up. You might be able to blind the world, but you can't blind Heaven."

Chang Yanping's face darkened. He now knew what Meng Huai was referring to. What he had done in that matter had indeed been disgraceful. He'd thought it had been buried, only for it to resurface now.

A moment ago, Meng Huai had looked ready to champion justice and fight wrongdoing. Then his expression changed again, and he said cheerfully, "You're my customer. You pay, I sell. That's only natural. Hand over the money!"

Qin Xiuying didn't dare delay. She quickly wrote out a check and placed it on the table.

Meng Huai told Chang Yanping to open his mouth, produced a greenbottle fly from who knew where, and stuffed it inside. Then he gave him a slap, making him swallow it straight down.

He laughed. "That's the most expensive Protective Gu. It'll keep you safe for at least three months. What happens after those three months is hard to say!"

Chang Yanping had lost all trace of his temper. He pleaded humbly, "I know what I did wrong. I'll go back and put it right immediately. Please, you have to save me."

Meng Huai sighed. "To resolve this, we have to find the person who cast the gu. But your affair involves over a thousand people. It's like looking for a needle in a haystack."

"I'm really not trying to frighten you. This person can use Wormless Gu, which means his knowledge exceeds mine. Though I can't say whether I could beat him, if he doesn't show himself, I certainly won't be able to find him."

Chang Yanping's face turned ashen, and he bitterly regretted what he'd done. Had he known things would turn out like this, he would have paid compensation from the start. The money he'd spent covering it up was actually no less than the compensation would have been.

He hadn't known about the matter initially and had only learned of it after things went wrong. He had intended to pay compensation, but everyone under him had opposed it. In the end, he'd made that decision in a moment of rashness.

Meng Huai sighed. "As far as this matter goes, I ought to wait until you're dead before dealing with the person using gu. Whatever the reason, using gu to harm people is wrong."

"But the victim brought this on himself. If the person taking revenge weren't allowed to succeed, Heaven would be blind. Even I couldn't reconcile myself to that.

"Still, at the charity Banquet, I saw the glow of merit around you. That means you aren't a bad person and have done plenty of good deeds."

Yun Zimo interjected from beside him, "Mr. Chang is a well-known philanthropist. He really has done a lot of good and helped many people."

Meng Huai nodded. "That's why I decided to save you. If you want to resolve this, you first have to hand over the culprit and make the truth public."

"Only then can you quell the public's anger. As the saying goes, Heaven's wrath follows the people's grievances. Without their grievances, Heaven won't be angry, and the other person will lose his shield. That will make him easier to find. I've said everything I can. As for what you choose,

"I certainly won't interfere. You have three months anyway. Decide whether you want to save your own life or put other concerns first, then come see me. See yourself out!"

Chang Yanping said without hesitation, "There's no need to wait three months. I'll do everything you said."

A smile appeared on Meng Huai's face. Then he spread his hands and, still smiling, said something that left everyone stunned.