Chapter 141: 138. Young Master

138. Young Master

Man-made?

Zhang Laoban's heart gave a jolt, and he asked with a look of uncertain suspicion: "Could it be that the madman didn't just happen to kill people at my place by chance?"

"I have no way of knowing that either," Li Duojin shook his head. "It's just that I sensed a strange and foul Qi in this amusement park. It didn't form naturally, so it could only have been brought in. The madman you mentioned, Zhang Laoban, was very likely influenced by this power of unknown origin."

Hearing this, Zhang Laoban beat his chest and stamped his feet, feeling deep heartache. The JOJO Amusement Park he had operated for many years had always been popular; how could it have suddenly run into this kind of trouble?

"Then have you found the source of this power?" Just then, Chen Xiaolin suddenly stepped forward to ask.

Li Duojin looked at Chen Xiaolin and was about to speak when Zhang Laoban's square, chubby face tightened. His nasolabial folds deepened, his brows furrowed in worry, and he stared straight at Chen Xiaolin: "Miss, you're a reporter, aren't you? The amusement park is not open to the public right now. If you have no other business, please leave."

Chen Xiaolin was not surprised that Zhang Laoban could tell her profession at a glance. Someone like her, whose behavior was boundary-crossing and abrupt, and whose face was written with intense purpose, was either mentally ill or had ulterior motives. A person with ulterior motives who dared to barge into this place of trouble at a time like this was, in all likelihood, a reporter—the kind capitalists viewed as a persistent plaster.

No sooner had Zhang Laoban finished speaking than several employees behind him walked toward her with unfriendly expressions.

Chen Xiaolin did not want to be treated roughly; if things went poorly, the notes she had just recorded might be destroyed. She immediately raised both hands in surrender: "Alright, alright, I'm leaving, I'm leaving. But before I go... handsome, can I add you on WeChat?"

"You still want to add me on WeChat?" Zhang Laoban's eyes widened.

Li Duojin was stunned for a moment, then suddenly laughed out loud. He shook his head and sighed with the air of an old man: "Young people these days..."

Seeing that she likely had no chance of getting Li Duojin's contact information, Chen Xiaolin retreated a few more steps, becoming completely obedient and honest. Not daring to overstep again, she silently followed the few amusement park employees who had surrounded her as they left, looking back at Li Duojin every few steps as she went.

A faint smile appeared on Li Duojin's face; from beginning to end, he had not taken this little farce to heart.

Chen Xiaolin was expelled from the amusement park. She stood at the entrance of the JOJO Amusement Park, which usually had long lines, and after humming a few times at the unfriendly employees, she walked away and found her Beetle in the parking lot.

She sat in the car, but did not start the engine to leave right away; instead, she sat in the driver's seat, waiting quietly.

As a professional reporter, she was thick-skinned and patient. She could endure hardship to uncover news. Being targeted just now was only a minor annoyance, not even a threat, and it could not stop her from pursuing the truth.

She was going to wait here for that young master to come out and ask him properly.

That young master named Li Duojin was definitely not simple, Chen Xiaolin thought to herself.

The big boss of JOJO Amusement Park, Zhang Haoquan, was actually meticulous and careful, unlike his rugged and thick-set appearance. How could a shrewd person like him just grab some guy on the street who claimed to be a "master" to perform rituals, and even respectfully ask the other party to help him resolve his disasters? No matter how she thought about it, Li Duojin did not seem simple.

Either Li Duojin was a clever con artist, or he possessed real skills sufficient to make Zhang Haoquan admire him to the point of prostration.

But Chen Xiaolin felt the former was unlikely. That Zhang Laoban was indifferent even to a harmless young female reporter like her, and didn't even give her a chance to ask Li Duojin any deep questions. Being so vigilant and cautious, she did not believe any swindler could cheat money out of him.

And if it were the latter, then the nature of the matter was different.

Chen Xiaolin attached great importance to this vicious murder case. The news report was secondary; she was mainly more concerned about what had happened to her friend who had gone mad in such a short, unseen period of time, whether the abnormal factors lingering on her late friend could be found, and whether it was related to the Heaven described by her daughter.

After waiting for about 70 minutes, Chen Xiaolin finally saw a black sedan drive out of the underground parking lot of JOJO Amusement Park. With her sharp eyes, she immediately spotted Li Duojin sitting in the back seat, and she started her car and quickly followed.

After following for a long time, Chen Xiaolin finally noticed Zhang Laoban's car stop in front of the five-star Black Jasmine Hotel, and then Li Duojin got out of the car.

Seeing Zhang Laoban's car drive away and Li Duojin follow a bellhop helping with luggage into the hotel, Chen Xiaolin gritted her teeth and hurried to follow.

Just as Li Duojin finished checking in and was about to go upstairs, Chen Xiaolin stopped him.

"Master Li, I'm sorry, could I bother you for a few minutes?" Chen Xiaolin asked expectantly, opening her bright, large eyes.

Facing the schemes of this female reporter, Li Duojin seemed to have anticipated it long ago. Not only was he not curious or surprised by the female reporter's behavior, but he also gladly invited her to go to the hotel's tea restaurant with him to sit down and talk slowly.

Although Chen Xiaolin was a bit puzzled, she still accepted Li Duojin's invitation.

After sitting down, Chen Xiaolin ordered a cup of coffee, while Li Duojin ordered a cup of green tea, and then the two began their conversation.

Chen Xiaolin followed up on her previous question and asked: "Can you find the source of that strange power?"

"Without clear clues, I can't deduce anything either," Li Duojin shook his head.

"But aren't you a master? Why do you still rely on deduction to solve cases, and why do you care about science and logic?" Chen Xiaolin twitched the corner of her mouth.

Li Duojin smiled and explained: "Not everything is suitable for those methods, and doing so is very energy-consuming."

Chen Xiaolin didn't tease him too much and said: "If the source of that strange power were close at hand, could you find it?"

"It sounds like you have an answer?" Li Duojin chuckled while taking a small sip of the fragrant green tea.

Chen Xiaolin did not answer immediately; she just looked seriously into his eyes and asked again: "Can you find it?"

"I think I should be able to." Li Duojin put down his teacup and, after a moment of thought, gave a serious reply.

"Then I'd like to ask you for a favor. I'll pay twenty thousand." Chen Xiaolin held up a peace sign, her heart twitching. Twenty thousand was a huge sum for someone like her who didn't usually have much savings.

Li Duojin smiled and, without any hesitation, agreed directly, saying "Good."

Hearing the affirmative answer, Chen Xiaolin's face showed joy, but then she felt a wave of regret.

I offered too much, that was rash...