Chapter 331: Gu Needles
Except for Miao Wentang, who knew Tang Xiu fairly well, the others in the VIP lounge only heard about Tang Xiu from hearsay. But they fell into silence after hearing Jin Xingkui's story.
Terrifying! Ruthless! Merciless!
Henceforth, their opinion of Tang Xiu utterly changed.
Cough, cough!
Coughing twice, Miao Wentang then lightly said, "I cooperated with Tang Xiu in a matter awhile ago, so I can say that I know him quite a lot. He's ruthless and merciless to his enemies, but to his friends, he's extraordinarily sincere. Hence, as long as you don't act against him deliberately, he won't act against his friends. Anyhow, Brother Jin displayed a good performance today! Tang Xiu has surely recognized you for it. If you get along well with him in the future, it will be easy to make friends later."
Everyone's expressions instantly relaxed.
A smile appeared on Jin Xingkui face as he nodded and said, "I was worried of not getting along with Tang Xiu well before. But after seeing him, I'm relieved. He's not the sort of fiendish and evil person I was afraid of."
Yet, shortly after, the smile on his face slowly disappeared, replaced by a solemn expression, as he said, "You must never disclose what I just said to anyone else. Or else, not only will Tang Xiu bear a grudge, even my cousin will face a bad end!"
"Rest assured!"
"Got it!"
The others nodded and expressed their compliance.
Half an hour later, Miao Wentang sent them off, as he then went back inside. He headed straight to the General Manager's Office under Chi Nan's lead.
Knock, knock!
The sound of the door being knocked awakened Tang Xiu from his sleep.
"Brother Miao, come in!"
Tang Xiu stood up from the sofa and called out with a smile.
With a smiling expression, Miao Wentang said, "Brother Tang, do you a important matter to discuss with me? Tell me about it. Could it be that this important matter is a plan to make a fortune and you want me to join in?"
"Hehehe," Tang Xiu laughed involuntarily and said, "How could there be such a good thing, eh? Anyhow, the reason that I wanna talk to you, is that I need your help!"
"What is it? Tell me!" said Miao Wentang.
"You're a cultivator, so you should know about cauldron furnaces, right? It's not the kind used to refine pills, though. It's a type to refine weapons. I'm preparing to craft a small tool, but I don't have a suitable furnace. So I wanna ask your help, about where I can find it."
Miao Wentang frowned, "Cauldron furnace to craft weapons? Even if such a thing can be found, it's unlikely that someone will sell it, no? I do know someone who has this type of cauldron, but I'm not sure whether he would be willing to sell it or not."
"Who is it?" Tang Xiu's expression moved as he quickly asked.
"You too know him. He's Dao Master Zi Yi."
"Dao Master Zi Yi actually has a weapon's cauldron furnace?" Tang Xiu was astonished, "It seems like I gotta call him. If he's willing to sell me the cauldron, I'll give him a fair price for it."
"Brother Tang, money to Dao Master Zi Yi is nothing but dirt," Miao Wentang shook his head and said, "If you want to buy it, you must be mentally prepared to get rejected. Anyhow, I know what he doesn't have, though. But that thing is rather hard to find and extremely rare in this world."
"What is it?" Tang Xiu quickly asked.
"Gu Needles. And the best one is an entire set of 18 Gu needles."
What is that?
A bewildered look emerged in Tang Xiu's eyes as he asked, "Brother Miao, I've never heard of this thing. What is its shape like? What is its uses?"
"Of these 18 Gu Needles, each one differs from the other by either its shape, length, circular measure, as well as the barbed hook and the lines on the surface are completely different. You should have heard about Gu Poison too, right? These Gu Needles are a treasure used to treat this Gu Poison."
"I do know about Gu Poison. It's a poison akin to the witchcraft poison inside a human body, which contains an extremely potent toxic venom. What does Dao Master Zi Yi needs these Gu Needles for?"
"It's for his successor disciple," Miao Wentang sighed and said, "The little guy was a smart and quick-witted kid since childhood. But more than half a year ago he went traveling in the Miao ethnic region and inadvertently offended a Gu Poison expert there. Hence, that expert poisoned him with a kind of extremely rare and extremely potent Gu Poison. Even though Dao Master Zi Yi has done everything he could, he still couldn't get rid of the poison inside the little guy's body. Brother Shao and I also have tried helping before, yet we couldn't do nothing."
"I see!" A sparkling light flashed in Tang Xiu's eyes. Since Dao Master Zi Yi and Miao Wentang couldn't do anything about it, that meant his chance to get rid of the poison was also small. After all, many methods would need the support of cultivation base, whereas his cultivation base was rather too low at present. At present he couldn't even compare with them.
Suddenly, his expression flickered as he recalled one thing. He immediately looked at Miao Wentang and said, "Brother Miao, I didn't keep Dao Master Zi Yi's contact before. I think you should be able to contact him, no? Maybe there's someone who can get rid of the Gu Poison in his disciple's body."
"Who?" Miao Wentang quickly asked.
"An old friend of mine," laughed Tang Xiu and said, "But I have to trouble you to contact Dao Master Zi Yi for this! If possible, tell him to bring his disciple to Shanghai."
"Dao Master Zi Yi has a mobile phone, but he rarely uses it," Miao Wentang nodded and said, "Moreover, he lives in the middle of the mountains and there's no signal there. Hmm, I'll send someone to contact him there and tell him to immediately bring his disciple to Shanghai."
"Don't forget to mention about that cauldron furnace!" said Tang Xiu.
"Don't worry!" laughed Miao Wentang and said, "If your old friend really can heal his disciple, let alone that cauldron furnace, Dao Master Zi Yi would give you even more precious things if you wanted."
Shortly after, Tang Xiu and Miao Wentang chatted for a while. After Miao Wentang bade his farewell and left, Ji Chimei appeared inside Tang Xiu's mind. She was a member of the Mesmer Clan, and the very thing Mesmer clansmen excelled at was exactly this "witchcraft" heritage, as well as being experts in relieving Gu Poison. For Ji Chimei, this kind of witchcraft thingy on Earth was probably a cinch.
Today, the reason he had a private talk with Miao Wentang in order to get a furnace was because he already had the ores to refine the interspatial ring prepared. The reason he delayed was because he had no cauldron furnace.
"Boss, your next…" Chi Nan stood beside Tang Xiu and softly asked.
"I need nothing else," said Tang Xiu and continued, "The restaurant seems to be well managed and the business looks great. Anyway, it's not that late, so I should go back."
"Do you need me to send you back?" Chi Nan quickly asked.
Tang Xiu hesitated before he nodded, "Then, drive me back! Although I have nothing else to do for the next few days, I still have to adjust and adapt myself to the life of a university student."
A trace of a smile appeared on Chi Nan's face as she said, "Boss, I don't understand why do you want to go to university. In actuality, considering your identity, not to mention becoming a university student, you could have built your own university, and a high class one at that."
Tang Xiu forced a smile, "I'm in fact, I'm not interested in attending university, but my mother has a wish: for me to study in the university, and I don't want to disappoint her. However, attending university is not necessarily a bad thing either. Because, after all, more learning will bring more advantages to me."
Chi Nan slightly smiled, "Boss, you really don't look like a young man, but rather like a scholar."
Tang Xiu involuntarily laughed as they continued chatting while walking. Soon, they came out of the Everlasting Feast Hall. Under Chi Nan's guidance, the two then stopped in front of a black Lamborghini.
"Good car!" The car's shape piqued Tang Xiu's interest as he couldn't help praising it.
"You can drive it at any time you like, Boss," said Chi Nan with a tender smile, "If you don't like it because it's a used one, I'll order you a new one."
"Nah, forget it!" Tang Xiu waved his hand and said, "Though I quite like cars, there are already a few cars in my place. Besides, this is Shanghai, a metropolis city. Even if I do have great sports cars here, I will still have to abide by the traffic rules and speed limit regulation, no? Driving a sports car here feels like a waste."
"Boss, you didn't know?" Chi Nan covered her mouth as she chuckled and said, "Shanghai actually has a lot of second generation nouveau-riches who love drag racing! This place is indeed very strict in enforcing the speed limit, but there's Changxi City, about an hour distance by driving through Laoshan Highway. It's the heaven for drag racing enthusiasts. There are drag races happening there almost regularly. Moreover, today seems to be having a car race there. It should be very exciting."
"Car racing in Laoshan Highway should be very dangerous, right?" Tang Xiu was surprised and asked, "The traffic authorities don't care about it?"
"Logically speaking, car races aren't allowed there," laughed Chi Nan as she said, "But some people have access to the highest authorities, so the traffic authorities turns a blind eye to it. The people who can participate there are nearly all riches. Hence, even if there's an accident, someone will take care of it."
Tang Xiu hesitated and then asked, "Is this car race really exciting?"
"It is. I've been there to play a few times. I've even suppressed Mu Zi—the King of Racing. I bought this car from the winning money. As for the time, it usually starts at 10 PM."
Looking at his watch, Tang Xiu found that it was only thirty minutes to 10 PM. He then shook his head and smiled, "Though I really want to see it, it seems it's too late. Forget it."
"Boss, I'll call Mu Zi if you wanna join the game," said Chi Nan quickly, "The race is often postponed due to special circumstances, anyway. Besides, Mu Zi also owes me a big one. So he surely will able to do it if I call him."
"Exactly what's this Mu Zi's background?" asked Tang Xiu.
"He's Changxi City's local snake, and his family is very affluent there. Either in politics or business, there's always some of his family elders there. Thus, Laoshan Highway's car race has been running smoothly for six or seven years due to his arrangements and management."
Tang Xiu was surprised for a moment, as he said hesitatingly, "If he can do it, then call him!"
"No problem!" Chi Nan nodded with a smile.
Having said that, she quickly took out her mobile and dialed a cell number.
Chapter 332: Car Race
Changxi City.
Halfway up a hill on Laoshan Highway was a developed large and wide square, surrounded by dozens of searchlights, illuminating the entire square.
On the square, hundreds of young men and women in gaudy clothes wandered around the long tables, which were temporarily placed in rows. The long table was filled with all kinds of booze and delicacies. The young men and women were enjoying them while hanging around and chatting; it was very lively.
And in the surrounding square, aside from cars of various designs, there were super luxurious supercars parked a little further in some places, whereas some people were sitting on them with glasses of wine in their hands, while some others embraced hot girls as they leaned on the cars' doors.
In front of one of the long tables, a 30-year-old man was hugging a hot young girl, merrily laughing and chatting with several young men. He was Ji Mu, nicknamed Mu Zi.
Ring, ring, ring!
Ji Mu's mobile rang, but he didn't hear its sound because of the clamoring in the surrounding. But the mobile's vibration was sensed by him. As he took the phone out and saw the caller ID on the screen, he looked a bit surprised. Then, he released the hot young girl from his embrace and motioned for the other young men to be silent as he spoke, "Hello, Big Sis Nan. How come such a busy person like you remembers to give me a call?"
"Is there a car race on Laoshan Highway tonight?" Chi Nan's voice was heard from the phone.
"Yup!" Ji Mu laughed and said, "It will start about half an hour from now. Anyhow, are you gonna join the game tonight, Big Sis Nan?"
"Postpone the race and start it about an hour later! I'm going there with a very important person to join the game, and we'll be arriving there at nearly 11 PM."
A very important person?
Ji Mu was stunned as he laughed, "Then I look forward to it, Big Sis Nan. I hope you can join the game and spice it up. And don't worry! I'll tell the others that tonight's game will be postponed for an hour. Right, can I ask you who's the VIP you're bringing tonight?"
"No need to ask. In short, you gotta treat him better than you treat me!"
"…"
Ji Mu's handsome face changed a few times after he heard the hanging sound from the phone. He knew that Chi Nan was the deputy manager of Shanghai's Everlasting Feast Hall. She was a capable woman. And in particular, her car racing skill was not something he could hold a candle to.
A few professional racers from Hong Kong had once come and suppressed the enthusiast amateur car racers from several cities nearby. Back then, they were miserably suppressed. Even he, who was known as the King of Racing, lost miserably. They utterly lost face, and he had to call Chi Nan for help. After some effort, Chi Nan was finally able to defeat those Hong Kong's professional racers, saving their faces.
To sum it up, he really owed Chi Nan a big one!
"Hou Zi, tell the others that tonight's race will be delayed for an hour," taking out a cigarette and lighting it up, Ji Mu said after taking a deep puff.
The one who was called 'Monkey' was a thin youth. He looked somewhat excited as he asked, "Boss Ji, was it Big Sis Nan who called you just now? Is she going to join the game today?"
"Yup, she's coming," Ji Mu nodded and said, "I heard she's also bringing a VIP to join the game. So tell the others that we'll begin the race by 11 PM."
"Boss Ji, Li Zhen wouldn't be enraged because of this, right?" Hou Zi forced a smile and said, "I believe you too know why he came today. He must want to wash away his defeat more than a month ago. I heard he invited a professional racer from Hong Kong who won the Asian Racing Championship."
With a solemn expression, Ji Mu said, "I did hear about the guy Li Zhen invited. He's well-known as Junior Racer God in Hong Kong. His record is only a bit worse than the crowned Racer God, who has won the World United Racing Championship seven times. I originally had the intention to lose, but I didn't expect that Big Sis Nan would suddenly come. Maybe, if Big Sis Nan were to play, we should have a 50% chance of winning."
"Yeah, I hope she can win," said Hou Zi.
A few minutes later, a group of young men and women surrounding a young man with bleached hair and explosive hairdo in front of Ji Mu and the others.
"Ji buddy, I heard you have to postpone the game for an hour, eh? Are you afraid of losing miserably, thus you tried finding outside help? Hahaha, I gotta tell you one thing dude. I'm afraid there's only one outcome for you: failure. You'll utterly and miserably lose today." The youth gave Ji Mu a provocative look with a rampant and arrogant tone.
With a cold and detached expression, Ji Mu said, "You win some, you lose some. It's just a common occurrence for me. Even if we lose today, it's only our first loss. But if you were to lose yet again today, that's another shame for you. Li Zhen, if I were you, I'd better wait honestly for the game, since acting too rampant and arrogant will only more seriously disgrace me once I lost the game."
"Humph," Li Zhen gave white eyes and sneered, "It's not in my fucking intention to lose again. If you can win again this time, I will never step here again."
"I've prepared 20 million," Ji Mu nodded and said, "You can take it if you can win."
"Ji Mu, I have a condition since you changed the time," Li Zhen rolled his eyes and said, "Double the bet!"
Ji Mu chuckled, "Doubling it is only 40 million. Easy."
"If so, then you had better prepare the money and give it to me obediently!" Li Zhen proudly said, "I'll tell the other participants. If they want to follow the bet, they must also bet 20 million. And if they can win, they will get 80 million from both of us."
Money was not something Ji Mu lacked. Running car races here gave him a billion annually. Added with him betting and playing from time to time, he had won a fortune. 40 million was only a small sum for him. There was not much difference between 20 or 40 million, as both were only a small sum of money.
Yet, for people like them who were of big background and status, oftentimes money was less important than face. Especially in their young masters' circle, their faces was the most important of all.
Time passed by.
At 10:40 PM a black Lamborghini roared into the square, displaying wonderful drift and attracting almost everyone's attention.
A group of young men and women under Ji Mu quickly walked toward it, as they then saw Chi Nan in the driver seat. The latter quickly opened the door and got off, as she slightly ran to the copilot door and opened it personally. Immediately, everyone saw a young man with a smiling expression coming out from the car.
"Who is he?"
Of the hundreds of people present, seventy to eighty percent of them knew who Chi Nan was, as well as learned that she was the deputy manager of Shanghai's Everlasting Feast Hall. But the most inconceivable thing for them was that, the usual proud and elegant Chi Nan unexpectedly became someone else's driver. She even personally opened the door for that young man under everyone's watchful gaze with an assistant-like behavior.
Li Zhen, on the other hand, also knew who Chi Nan was. He also knew that Chi Nan had once participated in the game here and defeated several professional racers from Hong Kong. Yet, he was still very confident toward the Junior Racer God he had invited, so he didn't pay much attention to Chi Nan.
"Who are they?"
A young man standing beside Li Zhen asked with a cool tone.
Li Chun, standing among the young people, asked coolly.
"She's the woman I have told you about, Huan Yu. The one who has defeated some skillful professional racers from Hong Kong. But as for that guy beside her, I've never seen him before," said Li Zhen.
"I did have a match with those guys who competed with Chi Nan. They are indeed very good; I even had to go all out to defeat them. Since this Chi Nan can defeat them, I'm afraid that her skill is not much lower than mine. However, don't worry. I have received your money, so I'll help you win this game tonight," Hong Yu nodded and said.
"You're a powerful figure touted as the Junior Racer God," said Li Zhen with a smile, "So I'm confident that you'll win this race. Come on, I'll treat you to a drink after the game is over."
"No problem!" said Huan Yu in a cool voice.
Leading a group of young men and women, Ji Mu came in front of Chi Nan and Tang Xiu. With an amiable and warm expression on his face, he called out, "Big Sis Nan, how have you been? This one is…"
Taking a step forward, Tang Xiu extended his hand and smiled, "Hi, my name is Tang Xiu. You can regard me as a bystander here. I just came to play here. I didn't disturb you, did I?"
After having a handshake, Ji Mu laughed, "Of course not! You're Big Sis Nan's friend, so you're this Ji Mu's friend also. I'm very glad you came today!"
"To be honest, I had only seen car races on TV before; it's my first time seeing it in real life. May I participate in the game?" asked Tang Xiu with a smile.
"You haven't seen a car race once in real life?"
For a moment, Ji Mu was stunned, as a strange expression was cast on his face.
He originally expected that Chi Nan would bring a skillful racer. Even if he were to thicken his skin or pay a price, he intended to ask the other party to win tonight's gamble. But he didn't expect that the other party was not even a player.
"That's right," said Tang Xiu with a smile.
Ji Mu let out a hollow laugh and then said, "Never mind. Let's just focus on partaking the game."
Having said that, he turned to look at Chi Nan as he smiled and said, "Big Sis Nan, are you going to join in the game tonight? Someone came with the purpose of smashing our gathering field. If you don't go on stage, I'm afraid we're gonna lose."
Before replying, Chi Nan glanced at Tang Xiu, and then said, "I came here today as a guest, not for the gamble."
"This…"
With a somewhat awkward expression, Ji Mu looked at Tang Xiu, since he found that Chi Nan seemed to very much heed Tang Xiu. Hence, if he wanted to make Chi Nan participate in tonight's gamble, perhaps the only chance was to ask Tang Xiu.
"Since he requested you, then let's play!" laughed Tang Xiu and said, "However, it seems like we don't have enough cars to participate in the race."
"Big Sis Nan can take my car," said Ji Mu quickly.
"Alright, then I'll play," Chi Nan nodded and said, "But I don't care about winning or losing. I will only do my best."
Ji Mu laughed, "I feel relieved if Big Sis Nan is gonna do her best. Don't worry, though. I'll give you the stake money if you win. I'll also take the full responsibility if you lose."
"There's a gambling stake? How much is it?" asked Tang Xiu, surprised.
Ji Mu said with a smile, "The set stake was supposed to be 20 million per person, but since Li Zhen insisted to raise the stake against me, the stake went up to 40 million, while the stake for the rest is still 20 million."