Chapter 24 — Dismissed By the University
Jing Yichen even help deal with Guo Shuai while he was at it, which saved her from a huge annoyance.
Shangguan Ning gritted her teeth, fuming with hate for Guo Shuai. This guy was both mental and petty, She just hoped that he would get a taste of his own medicine. Otherwise, who knows when the man might repeat his actions again despite his vain attempt yesterday.
She wasn't going to wait until she has already suffered losses, then retaliate. It would already be too late by that time.
Shangguan Ning remembered yesterday clearly, the conversation with Guo Shuai gave her the hint that someone was helping him, becoming Guo Shuai's patron.
Guo Shuai was usually on campus, so he couldn't have known someone with a deep background. No one would help him without rhyme or reason lest this person had enmity towards her. Only then would said person use this kind of underhanded tactics for the sake of completely ruining her.
By not taking into account Shangguan Rouxue, those who held enmity towards her would only be her Aunt and younger cousin. However, she really wasn't willing to believe that this incident had anything to do with them.
Once she recovered a bit more, she needed to personally go ask Guo Shuai for the one who helped him!
Zhao Anan also learned from Jing Yichen that someone must had incited Guo Shuai to do this, but he hasn't found out who was the culprit behind the scene yet. Seeing that Shangguan Ning's complexion wasn't too good, she hesitated on whether or not she should tell her the latest news that she received.
"What is it, Anan? There's something you haven't told, isn't there?" Shangguan Ning saw through Zhao Anan's hesitance. She wasn't someone with an ulterior motive, whatever thoughts she has, they are practically written all over her face.
Zhao Anan considered for a moment, but she still couldn't hold it. In any case, this was something that Shangguan Ning was going to know sooner or later. "The university had us… dismissed…"
"What?!" Shangguan Ning bolted up in alarm. "Why?!"
"You are accused of engaging in a sexual relationship at school, and I was charged with the offense of neglecting my job and student abuse."
"I didn't! The school's framing us — the situation wasn't like that at all!" Shangguan Ning was furious. The university was inverting black and white, and it was helping Guo Shuai too! Could it be that someone from the university participated in this incident as well?
"Anan, I'll go explain to the school. I can't let them fire you like this because of me. You had no choice at that time anyway."
Of course, Zhao Anan knew that Shangguan Ning was innocent. She was very indignant as well, but she didn't feel too big of an impact as far as being fired by the university was concerned.
"Ah Ning, don't worry about it. If you want to return to the university, then I'll find my brother to help you since there isn't anything that he couldn't do in A City after all. As for me, I already had the plan to not stay in the university, so you don't have to worry. I'm not suitable as a teacher anyway, so it's better if I don't go wrecking the next generation."
Shangguan Ning shook her head. She didn't want to trouble Jing Yichen again, this was something that she could handle herself.
"Anan, your brother doesn't need to help me get re-employed back to the university. I have my own methods."
Zhao Anan still wanted to say something, but Shangguan Ning didn't let her. "You've already helped me a lot. As for the rest, I'll take care of them by myself!"
"En, okay, but you can call me if you have something on your mind. Now, come here, I'll re-apply the medicine for you."
As Zhao Anan kept Shangguan Ning company and reapplied medicine for her, Jing Yichen brought Ah Hu and Mu Qing to the underground sector―Mu Qing shamelessly followed along because how could he miss out on something as thrilling as this?
Jing Yichen didn't agree at the beginning, but shortly afterward, he fished out a silver needle from who-knows-where and argued: "I have a secret weapon. Whatever secret you wanna know, all I have to do is to needle him, and I guarantee you that he will cough up the eight generations of his family tree."
Jing Yichen thought that it might come into use, so he took Mu Qing with him.
The underground sector wasn't exactly underground, but a deluxe nightclub located in the heart of the city.
The nightclub has two floors, the first was for entertainment while the second was a casino. It was also a well-known underground sector in the criminal world. The Red Night Triad's headquarters was coincidentally in the underground sector.
Red Night was one of the very best organizations in the underworld. It's growing momentum in the past two years was especially steady yet fierce which cannot be mentioned without its president and leader, Black Knife.
Black Knife was nearing his fifties, yet the older he was the more fearsome he got with his name climbing all the more higher. Now whoever saw him in the underworld would have to address him respectfully as "Old Master Knife". He was notorious for his ruthlessness. As long as the price was high enough, there was no business that he didn't dare to do. And at the mention of "Old Master Knife", those who knew him all trembled for the fear of being remembered by him.
Today, the very one mighty, domineering Old Master Knife had been so struck with terror that he shattered the previous century-old Yixing clay teapot in his hands the moment he heard his subordinate reporting in that there was a 'Jing Yichen' who wanted to see him.
He promptly booted the passionate beauty that had served him with a kick, swearing as he pulled up his pants and hurried out. "What mother f***ing bad luck! Who was it that provoked this living King of Hell?! If I, your father, finds out, I'll definitely skin him alive!"
By the time when Jing Yichen came to the second floor of the underground sector, its promenade was already filled with a row of black-clad henchmen. They all stood ramrod straight, but when they saw that the guest arrived, they immediately bend in a perfect ninety-degree bow, chorusing loudly: "Welcome Yong Master Jing to the underground sector!"
Ah Hu, who followed behind Jing Yichen, didn't have much of a reaction. Mu Qing, however, jumped in shock. He had come to the underground sector to gamble before, but there was no such grand welcome that time!
Jing Yichen turned a blind eye to all of this, his pace was steady as he walked forward.
A man who was short yet showed exceptionally quick-wits came bowing as he walked in front of Jing Yichen, and mustering the most cordial smile he could. "Black Knife is honored for Young Master Jing to grace us with your presence. You haven't visited for quite a while that we, brothers, missed you very much!"
One of the new lackeys standing in the promenade dropped his jaws to the ground in shock. After all, the Old Master Knife that caused the underworld to tremble with but a stomp of his foot was actually humble towards a young man! No one would believe his words if he spoke about it!
Jing Yichen only apathetically made an 'en' sound before continuing forward.
Entering the spacious private room and without waiting for Black Knife to settle in his seat, Jing Yichen coldly started talking. "I want to know the client who put in a mission that was recently received here."
"Young Master Jing, this — you're putting this old knife here in a difficult spot. The laws of the underworld… Little Knife I don't have the guts to break them!" Black Knife was immediately drenched in cold sweat, cursing the eight generations of the person who received said mission, but he could only brace himself as he answered Jing Yichen.
There was a very important law in the underworld, and that was to maintain a strict secrecy of the preceding client. Otherwise, if the victims found the culprits, then they would start a frenzied retaliation. By then, the criminal world wouldn't be able to do the dirty work on another villain again even if they wanted to.
Jing Yichen made no comment, but the aura that he emitted was getting colder by the second that even Mu Qing, who stood by his side, felt uncomfortable.
Black Knife couldn't help but shudder when he recalled Jing Yichen's previous ruthlessness.
He obviously didn't decline to offer up the client, he just couldn't agree so readily. This was also to let Jing Yichen know that his line of business wasn't that simple.
Besides, refusing to offer up the client needed to depend on who the other party was. The client could be said to be unfortunate for encountering someone like Jing Yichen, but it wouldn't affect his entire Red Night triad's business.
Ten years ago, Jing Yichen had flipped the entire underworld upside down. He didn't know how many brothers had perished for the sake of finding a girl that time, even he had almost handed over his life.
It was only in the recent years that Red Night was restored to its former size. They had just released a breath, and they don't want to be choked to death by the living King of Hell again so soon!
Chapter 25 — The Drug's After Effects
Black Knife hadn't lived so long for nothing, he knew his limits well. He hadn't spoken for more than a minute before he compromised, then immediately had people to investigate.
Very soon, the Deputy-Head Back Wind was brought in.
Black Knife only asked a few questions before he confirmed that the mission had been received by Black Wind in private. Red Night has always strictly forbid the receiving of missions in private, and no one would usually dare to receive missions privately. Since Black Wind knew the risk of accepting it, then the reward must have been very enticing.
"Who was the client?" Jing Yichen demanded coldly.
"Kid," Black Wind started in disdain, shooting him a glance. "Who are you to put your nose into my business? You're better off running back home to drink your milk!"
Jing Yichen's face remained wooden, unaffected by Black Wind's taunt. He only coldly instructed Ah Hu: "Make him talk."
Ah Hu's forthright face revealed a smile.
The invincible Black Wind couldn't get a clear view of how Ah Hu's had moved before he was locked in a hold. Following after, his arms dislocated with a snap. However, Black WInd had experienced battles of life and death before, so he gritted his teeth, refusing to make a sound no matter how Ah Hu pounded him.
Jing Yichen knew that no one could last through Ah Hu's torture. But if he encountered someone with a tough hide, he would need to spend a rather long period of time.
And Jing Yichen didn't want to waste time. "Ah Hu, come back. Mu Qing!"
Mu Qing's eyes have been shining, his worship for Jing Yichen just went up a whole new level. So the moment he heard Jing Yichen calling him, he copied those underlings before and bowed at a ninety-degree angle. "Understood, Young Master Jing!"
Mu Qing pulled out a silver needle from his person, sparing a glance at Black Wind and his dislocated arms as if pitying him He then located one of the acupuncture points and gently stuck said needle in it.
What followed the pricking of the long silver needle was Black Wind, who previously restrained from making a sound, abruptly screaming miserably.This blood-curdling scream caused Black Knife's other subordinates within the room to all feel their scalps go numb.
The moment a second needle was inserted on him, Black Wind could no longer bear it, causing him to surrender with a wretched cry. "I'll talk, I'll talk! Don't stab anymore!"
Mu Qing nodded his head in satisfaction. "Like I said before, those who can last through the third needle are not human. Sure enough, you're still one!" When he finished, he stole a glance at Jing Yichen who was as unmoved as an ancient well.
Everyone else couldn't help looking in Jing Yichen's direction. Don't tell them that what looked to be a very young man last through the third needle?!
Black Knife glanced at Black Wind spasming in pain and couldn't help but silently cursed: This living Hell King f***ing upgraded his torturing skills again!
Jing Yichen got the answers that he wanted in no time, then he took Ah Hu and Mu Qing and left the underground sector.
It was almost noon by the time they returned to the villa.
Mu Qing hadn't even stood steadily the moment he entered through the door when he saw a human shadow flying at him. Without another thought, he turned around on his heels and ran.
What followed was a woman's shrieks and a man's anguished howls reverberating through the entire villa.
Shangguan Ning was half reclined against the white leather sofa in the living room andher lips were curling into a faint smile. This morning, she has already heard Zhao Anan spoke of a Mu Qing through her seething teeth. She supposed that that person moments earlier was him.
Jing Yichen entered the living room just in time to see Shangguan's peaceful smiling image. The warm sunlight sprinkled on her somewhat paled face, her smile looked as if it could thaw the ice.
His heartbeat suddenly sped up.
"Are you having fun?" He asked gently, not able to restrain himself from approaching her.
Shangguan Ning returned from her thoughts, staring at the handsome male right in front of her as she smiled and lightly nodded her head. "Anan is a fun person."
"Why did you come out? Your injuries weren't light, it's better if you go back and rest."
"It's fine, they're nothing but minor injuries. I had Anan helped me out, and I'm not that fragile―" She hasn't even finished speaking when Jing Yichen carried her up in his arms.
Shangguan Ning couldn't help but cry out in alarm, stunned to the point that she even forgot how to breathe.
"You need to lie down properly for the next two days. You can get out of bed when the doctor says so. Let him examine you over in a moment."
Being carried in his arms, Shangguan Ning could pick up the nice, fresh scent on his body and feel his faint body temperature — heck, she could even hear his strong heartbeat.
The palm of his hand securing tightly under her thighs was transmitting a blazing heat.
Shangguan Ning's cheeks quickly redden with a boom as she stammered through her speech. "I…… I can walk, y-you……put me down……"
Seeing her reddened face, Jing Yichen's mood felt inexplicable good — though, he still refused to put her down. But the distance between the guest room and the living room was so short that he felt he had only taken a few steps before he reached the bedside.
He reluctantly but carefully placed her down, letting her lie down properly.
"Do you want me to keep you company?" His voice was oddly tender, bringing about a trace of natural appeal and charm.
She was unable to control her heart from skipping a beat.
She soothed her beating heart and waited for the heat in her cheeks to cool down before lifting her head, speaking with the most leveled voice that she could. "You don't have to, but thank you……and…… and thank you for yesterday too!"
Jing Yichen chuckled softly and gently made an "en" sound. That pair of ever-ice-cold eyes now was filled with a warm smile, it was like a whirlpool and people couldn't help but be sucked into it.
There absolutely was something wrong with today's Jing Yichen, and she, Shangguan Ning, felt that there was something wrong with herself too. She wasn't one who judges based on appearances, and even more so, she wasn't one whose heart was so easily moved.
It must be that drug's after effect, right? She thought for awhile and finally came up with a reasonable explanation.
Shangguan Ning stared at Jing Yichen's handsome face that could topple over every living being and suddenly felt that if he could always be as gentle as now instead of unreasonably apathetic like before, there wouldn't be anyone that could resist against his charisma.
Maybe, she wasn't an exception either.
Jing Yichen took note of Shangguan Ning constantly staring at him, the corner of his lips slightly lifted and spoke with a voice as melodious as the most beautiful sound from a zither. "What's wrong? You're staring without blinking."
Shangguan Ning heard through his teasing, but she wasn't angry. Instead, she returned with a light laugh. "I thought I wasn't someone who judges based on appearance, but against someone as good-looking as yourself, it's hard not to judge you like that."
This was her saying he was handsome. No one had used this way of speaking to compliment him before, she was paving a new path again.
Jing Yichen was in a very good mood that he involuntarily carried a doting tone as he spoke. "You also make it difficult for people to not judge you by your appearance."
Shanggun Ning couldn't help but touch her face, thinking that Jing Yichen was only being polite with her. For someone like him who drove in a sports car worth over tens of millions, owning his very own helicopter, and could be recognized as a son of an influential family with a glance, what kind of woman hadn't he seen? Her looks were still far from stunning compared to those women.
Shangguan Ning lightly shook her head and didn't continue with the topic.
There were times when she talks without thinking. She can't always praise a guy for being handsome, or else the other would misunderstand her intentions.
The room suddenly fell rather silent. Jing Yichen wasn't one of many words and Shangguan Ning didn't want to say too much, but both of them didn't felt awkward at all. They were obviously not familiar with each other, but why do they keep getting the feeling that they have known each other for a long time?
Thinking up to this point, she suddenly realized that, it seems, she hadn't even gotten his name yet.