A Way Forward

Meng Huai saw the pleading looks in their eyes, and disdain spread across his face. His contemptuous gaze was as though he were sizing up livestock.

He cleared his throat and said, "The one who started all this was Wang Taiying. If you want to live, you'll have to go to her.

"That doesn't apply to you, Zhao Yuejiao. This had nothing to do with you in the first place, so why did you get so worked up earlier? Just resign from the firm, and you'll have nothing more to do with each other."

Zhao Yuejiao hesitated before saying, "When I was in college, my family was poor, so I had to work for other people to get by. It was only because Sister Liu helped me later that I could finish my studies.

"Over the years, I've done some things that went against my conscience, but I had no choice. Everyone does it, and we can't afford to act morally superior. Gratitude is the bare minimum, and I can't abandon that."

Meng Huai gave a disdainful chuckle, shrugged casually, and pointed toward the door. His meaning was clear.

Liu Jun wanted to say something more, but in the end, she merely sighed and left with her two subordinates, other plans already forming in her mind.

Yun Zimo hesitated before saying, "That fat bastard may be scum, but Yuejiao's firm is still pretty decent. They've done plenty of good over the years. Are you really going to leave them to it?"

Meng Huai drew Yun Zimo into his arms and said with a smile, "Whatever the reason, using gu to harm people crosses a forbidden line. As a Gu Master, how could I possibly ignore it?

"But this is a troublesome case. Judging by their skill with gu, the other party is definitely an expert. To deal with someone like that, I have to plan carefully before making a move.

"That's why I sent them to Wang Taiying. Only when a venomous snake comes out of hiding can you see its true face and get a chance to strike where it's vulnerable."

Yun Zimo frowned slightly, then said in realization, "You want to use Wang Taiying as bait and hook your prey."

Meng Huai smiled and shook his head. "I want to watch the two sides fight and kill two birds with one stone. Have you thought about it? In this case, the worst monster is Wang Taiying. That fat bastard was just an accomplice.

"Every wrong has its perpetrator, and every debt has its debtor. Anyone else would go after the main culprit. Who kills the accomplice first? Normally, you kill the main culprit, then dispose of the accomplice while you're at it."

Once Yun Zimo heard Meng Huai's explanation, she realized he was right. The killer's actions had indeed put the cart before the horse and made no sense at all.

She was exceptionally clever; she simply hadn't considered that angle before. Now that she thought it through, she grasped the key point.

Yun Zimo blinked and said, "So what you mean, honey, is that someone is protecting Wang Taiying, and the other party had no choice but to turn their attention to that fat bastard.

"Wang Taiying is rich and utterly unscrupulous. Anyone acting as her bodyguard must be from the Night God Church. So you want them to fight first, then clean up once both sides have suffered."

Meng Huai kissed Yun Zimo on the cheek and said, "My wife really is clever. That's exactly it, though my main target is the Night God Church.

"If the person using gu is taking revenge for themselves, that's perfectly understandable. If they're avenging someone else, they would at least have been called a gallant hero in ancient times.

"So although I can't let that person off, I'm in no hurry to deal with them. The Night God Church is different. Whether for public duty or personal reasons, I have to wipe them all out.

"It won't be easy to take on the Night God Church with my own abilities alone. That's why I have to draw on outside forces and turn someone else's strength to my advantage."

Yun Zimo nodded with a warm smile and rested her head on Meng Huai's shoulder. Though she said nothing, her meaning was clear.

Liu Jun and the other two returned to the firm. In the past, plenty of people would have been working overtime there, but now the place was deserted. With something this serious happening, who wouldn't be afraid?

Zhao Yuejiao shook her head and said, "I made plenty of excuses earlier, but I have to admit he had a point. Liu Shourui deserves to die.

"This case has caused such an uproar that the whole internet is cursing us. If we weren't living in a society governed by law, who knows what might have happened?"

Liu Shourui said miserably, "As if what's happening now isn't serious enough! Besides, you can't put all the blame on me. The firm took the lion's share of the money from this case.

"If we're fighting a lawsuit, of course we use every means available. I admit my methods were despicable, but without help from the people at the firm, how could I have produced so much false evidence?

"Now I'm supposed to pay with my life? Why should I? Anyway, I've made up my mind. Money's good, but my life matters more. Tomorrow, I'll expose everything. None of you will get away unscathed!"

Liu Jun gritted her teeth and said, "If you expose everything, you'll wish you could die. You know perfectly well how many people are involved. Do you think I don't know Wang Taiying is utterly depraved?

"If it were only that monster involved, I would never have taken the money. I'd even have represented that little girl for free and made sure that monster went to prison. But I couldn't!"

Zhao Yuejiao shook her head and said, "There's no point talking about that now. Meng Huai showed us a way forward, and we have to follow it. We might still survive. Otherwise, we're dead for sure.

"I was thinking in the car earlier. If it were me, I'd definitely kill Wang Taiying first, then go after Liu Shourui. Someone must be protecting Wang Taiying."

Liu Shourui might have been a monster, but he certainly had brains. Otherwise, he would never have made it this far. Being a bad person was often harder than being a good one.

Liu Shourui quickly took out his phone, called Wang Taiying, and told her what had happened.

Wang Taiying said indifferently, "I thought it was something serious. Why are you panicking over such a little thing? Do you really think that worthless wretch can cause any trouble? Besides, you're not dead yet, are you?"

By now, Liu Shourui was desperate too. He snapped furiously, "I'm not dead yet, but I'm close! I've already hidden all the records of our past dealings somewhere safe.

"If I die, everything goes online. Don't try to intimidate me. If I'm already dead, why the hell would I be afraid of you? Try me if you don't believe it. You'll definitely wish you were dead!"

Wang Taiying considered for a moment, then said with a chuckle, "We've worked together for so long. How could I bear to let you die? Don't worry. I'll send someone over right now and make sure you're safe."

Liu Shourui hung up. The call had been on speaker the whole time, so Liu Jun and Zhao Yuejiao had heard every word clearly too. They let out long sighs of relief.

Liu Jun looked at Liu Shourui with mixed feelings. Every firm had someone like him, someone specifically responsible for doing the dirty work. Without one, a firm simply couldn't survive.

It wasn't that they didn't know about many of these things; they simply had no choice. Anyone would feel guilty acting against their conscience, yet they could never put that conscience at ease.

Zhao Yuejiao tilted her head to listen and asked in puzzlement, "Do you hear something?"

Liu Jun and Liu Shourui quickly held their breath. At last, they heard it clearly: a rustling sound, as though something were crawling.