Chapter 544

“Miss Liu, don’t you know that as soon as you declare yourself a member of Quanxing, you’re already a member?”

“You’re already a member of Quanxing just by announcing it yourself?”

Zhang Chulan, unable to hold back any longer, interjected with a question.

As the largest antagonistic organization in the occult world, he had sought advice from professionals like Zhang Jie and Xu San countless times.

What impressed him most wasn’t the number of Quanxing members,

their strength, or their madness—but their method of joining:

as soon as an occultist declares themselves a Quanxing member, they become one,

and all other Quanxing members automatically recognize them.

In other words, joining Quanxing requires no introduction, no trial—

it’s purely a matter of personal assertion: say you’re a member, and you are!

“Huh? Is that really how it works? So I was tricked by Lu Liang?”

Liu Yanyan was instantly crushed by Zhang Chulan’s words; her sobs even stopped unconsciously.

“Forget it, let’s leave it at that.”

Xu San waved his hand wearily.

Interrogating Liu Yanyan, a complete novice as blank as a clean sheet of paper, strangely gave him a sense of guilt, as if he were bullying a fool.

“Now that Liu Yanyan’s motive is clear, it’s up to you now, Chulan.”

Xu San turned his gaze from Liu Yanyan to Zhang Chulan.

“Me? What does this have to do with me?”

Zhang Chulan pointed at his own nose, puzzled.

Weren’t they interrogating and discussing how to handle Liu Yanyan? How did it suddenly become about him?

Zhang Jie patted Zhang Chulan’s shoulder: “Liu Yanyan is a novice who just ran away from home,

she wanted to join Quanxing but never actually succeeded—she was merely used by Lu Liang.

Among all her actions, you are the only victim.

If you don’t press charges, the company has no reason to pursue it.

After all, if the people don’t file a complaint, the authorities won’t investigate.

Understand?”

“Then I won’t press charges.”

Zhang Chulan, sharp as they come, immediately understood what Xu San—or rather, the company—wanted, and replied without hesitation.

As long as the victim didn’t pursue it, Liu Yanyan wouldn’t face serious punishment,

wouldn’t deeply offend the Liu family, or provoke discontent among other occult factions,

which aligned perfectly with the company’s long-standing policy of stability,

and the company undoubtedly hoped he’d make this “reasonable” choice.

Though it seemed like the company was using its power to pressure him, upon reflection, he hadn’t really lost anything.

The one who dug up his grandfather’s grave was Lu Liang and his crew; his own abduction by Liu Yanyan was due to his own lust-driven stupidity.

The near-catastrophic risk of being soul-searched by Lu Liang’s Ming Hun Shu and turning into a fool

was already covered by big shots like Zhang Jie—it would never happen.

Besides, from the interrogation, it was clear Liu Yanyan was a complete novice with zero understanding of Quanxing,

utterly blank in social experience, like a sheet untouched by any brushstroke.

To hold a grudge against such a novice before any real harm was done, Zhang Chulan felt it would be beneath him.

With this thought, Zhang Chulan made his decision without hesitation.

“You’ve been wronged, Chulan.”

Xu San apologized to Zhang Chulan.

“No, no, I’m now a member of the company—I have a duty to contribute to its mission.

A little wronged? What’s that? It’s my honor!

Zhang Chulan replied with an air of righteous indignation.

[This kid lives up to his nickname “No Shame.”]

Watching Zhang Chulan nearly slap his chest and sing a ballad of loyalty, Zhang Jie sighed inwardly.

Zhang Chulan’s tactic of yielding to advance spared Liu Yanyan from severe punishment;

the company maintained stability; wouldn’t Xu San and the Liu family owe him for this?

In this way, this whole affair was like Qin Shi Huang looking in the mirror—winning on both sides!

“Thank you.”

Grateful for Zhang Chulan’s magnanimity, Liu Yanyan blushed and thanked him.

She never imagined that after deceiving him and nearly turning him into a fool,

Zhang Chulan would forgive her so generously—she asked herself, could she ever be this magnanimous?

For a moment, Zhang Chulan’s long-haired, non-mainstream image grew towering in her mind.

“Cough… cough…”

Xu San cleared his throat twice, drawing everyone’s attention to him:

“Although the victim, Zhang Chulan, has chosen not to press charges, the death penalty may be spared, but the punishment for living cannot be avoided.

Liu Yanyan, given that your actions still caused some harm to Zhang Chulan,

you must undergo labor reform under company supervision until you fully adapt to life in the occult world.

How about it? Do you object?”

“No, no, I fully accept it!”

Liu Yanyan nodded vigorously.

This labor reform punishment was far lighter than the usual treatment meted out to Quanxing deviants.

“Alright, then this matter is closed.”

With the matter resolved satisfactorily, Xu San, the lead officer, nodded in approval.

“Oh? Did I arrive too late?”

At that moment, a young man entered, wearing a suit with unbuttoned buttons, messy hair, a cigarette dangling from his lips,

puffing smoke, radiating a thuggish aura from head to toe.

“Xiao Si, you’re here.”

Feng Baobao, who had remained silent throughout, spoke first.

“Yes, Xiao Si, no need for you to play the villain this time.”

Xu San nodded.

Clearly, this young man, dripping with thuggish energy, more like a street hoodlum than a company employee,

was the second son of Xu Xiang, head of the North China Region,

Xu San’s younger brother—the “Xu Si” in the “Bu San Bu Si” duo.

Oh, right, this guy is also Bao’er’s lapdog.

“Big Brother Si.”

Zhang Jie greeted him.

“Big Brother Si.”

Seeing his idol already greet him, Zhang Chulan didn’t dare delay—he quickly fell into line.

“Everyone, hello.”

Xu Si removed the cigarette from his mouth, holding it between his fingers, and grinned broadly.

They unbound Liu Yanyan, left the interrogation room, and entered a conference room, taking their seats.

“Xiao Si, how’s the investigation going?”

As the highest-ranking and oldest person present, Xu San took the main seat without hesitation.

“Hss…”

Xu Si, cigarette always in mouth, took a deep drag, exhaled slowly through his nose,

then spoke calmly: “It’s confirmed—during the old Heavenly Master’s generation, a disciple named Zhang Huaiyi vanished without a trace.”

After learning from Zhang Jie that Zhang Xilin was likely the lost younger brother of the old Heavenly Master Zhang Zhiwei,

Xu Si had personally traveled to the Central China Region where Longhu Mountain was located.

This wasn’t distrust of Zhang Jie—this matter was too critical to rely on hearsay;

multiple sources had to be verified to reach a definitive conclusion.

“So my grandfather’s original name was Zhang Huaiyi!”

At this, Zhang Chulan could no longer remain calm, muttering to himself.

Now Zhang Chulan could no longer maintain his composure, muttering to himself.