Chapter 449: Trying to Trick Me into Going to the Haunted House Again
At one o’clock in the afternoon, Ling Ping’an finally went downstairs.
He walked out of the elevator and arrived at the cafeteria. Just like yesterday, he ordered a pine-leaf crab.
It was still the same fat chef who helped prepare it.
The taste…
Was still fine!
Ling Ping’an finished his meal and wiped his mouth.
He picked up his phone and walked out of the cafeteria.
Just as he was about to go upstairs and take a nap, he saw a group of bodyguards dressed in formal clothes and wearing sungla.s.ses. They were escorting a young man to the front desk.
Ling Ping’an looked at them and shook his head. “Who is he… Such a grand event!”
“It’s the young master of the Jia family!”
Behind him, a man who had also finished his meal and walked out said.
Ling Ping’an turned his head and saw a young man who was much younger than him.
He was at most 18 or 19 years old.
“He’s so young and he’s already in a hurry to go on a blind date?” Ling Ping’an thought and asked, “Which Jia family?”
“Who else could it be?” The young man took out a box of cigarettes of an unknown brand from his pocket and skillfully put it in his mouth. He said with disdain, “The Jia family of the Xisong Mining Company!”
Ling Ping’an nodded when he heard that. “So it’s Xisong’s mine owner!”
“No wonder he’s so ostentatious!”
Although Xisong had vast territory and few people, the pastures and mines within its borders were the best in the entire federation.
This was particularly true for the iron mines of Xisong. They were one of the best iron mines in the world.
The steel industry of the Federal Empire was only able to develop because of the cheap and high-quality iron mines of Xisong.
In the past few years, as the economy of the Federal Empire had once again transformed, the local industry had shifted to the overseas kingdoms in the metropolitan territory.
The mineral product price of Xisong had shot up into the sky like a rocket!
As a result, the Xisong Mining Group had become one of the most sought after resource stocks in the Federal Empire’s stock market.
It was said that their market value was already close to a trillion!
However, the youth said disdainfully, “What is this?”
“A puppet that relies on the power of others!”
Ling Ping’an listened and smiled without saying anything.
As he knew that there had always been a legend among the people.
The Federal Empire had a behind-the-scenes interest group that was powerful enough to control everything.
These people were the true owners of the capital.
Those capital magnates and wealthy tyc.o.o.ns were just dogs raised by those behind-the-scenes people and puppets that worked for them.
However, these things were actually like most of the urban legends, they were just false rumors.
In any case, Ling Ping’an knew that the son of the Yun Gui Sun family who was the so-called ‘currency controller of the world’, who was being blown up and invisible behind the Empire’s finance, was working as a volunteer in Jiangcheng City, at the same time, he was also working as a taxi driver, delivery driver, and other professions.
This was had sufficiently proved that most of the legends were just nonsense.
Seeing that Ling Ping’an didn’t answer him, the youth seemed to have lost interest.
He shrugged his shoulders and muttered some unknown content as he walked to the door of the hall.
Ling Ping’an shook his head, carried his cat and walked back to the elevator.
…
w.a.n.g Qian walked to the door of the hall. He lowered his head and looked at the message on his phone. He shook his head. “Everyone says that there’s an opportunity in the Yan Tower…”
“Bullsh*t opportunity!” He pursed his lips and looked back at the young man who was surrounded by bodyguards. He walked to the elevator. “I’ve been waiting here for two days, and I haven’t even touched the shadow of an opportunity!”
He put his phone away when he said this.
At this moment, a young man who was about the same age as him came to him on an off-road bicycle. He whispered in psionic power, “w.a.n.g San, have you heard? The people of Xinluo are spreading the news everywhere that they have a handmaid who has been blessed with a precious treasure!”
“The Xinluo Emba.s.sy is in an uproar right now!”
“Precious Treasure?” w.a.n.g Qian raised his eyebrows. How could he not know the personality of the people of Xinluo?
They loved to exaggerate. They used chicken feathers as a command arrow.
Therefore, he sneered, “Could it be that they picked up a piece of trash as a treasure and want to use it to intimidate others?”
In the past, the Xinluo people had done a lot of things that people did not know whether to laugh or cry.
For example, twenty years ago, they confidently claimed that they had found the tomb of the Weizi.
In the end, the experts from the Federal Empire went over to take a look.
Early Shang and Zhou tombs?
Hehe, early last week!
It was only because they were used to throwing tantrums that no one bothered.
“It really isn’t this time!” The youth said, “That treasure is really a great treasure!”
“I heard from the Blackguard that it is indeed a magical treasure!”
“Moreover, it is very likely to be a top-grade magical treasure!”
“If it is a general imperial official, its full power can withstand a blow from an immortal G.o.d!”
“Unfortunately… this treasure fell into the hands of an ordinary Xinluo woman… and besides her, no one else is allowed to touch it… touching it would trigger the treasure’s self-defense…”
“No one dares to touch it anymore…”
“That person who bestowed the treasure…”
“Touching it would be a slap on his face!”
As he said this, the youth sighed with regret.
w.a.n.g Qian, on the other hand, became serious.
“Really?” He asked.
“You don’t believe me?” The young man said, “w.a.n.g San, go and ask around… Now everyone knows!”
“No wonder…” w.a.n.g Qian turned around and looked at the Jia family members who had already walked into the elevator. “I was wondering why the second son of the Jia family didn’t stay in the colorful world of the capital and came here so early… So it’s true!”
At this point, w.a.n.g Qian seemed to have remembered something.
“Boss Wan…” he asked in a low voice, “What is the legendary image of that Mr. X?”
The youth laughed. “It is said that the senior is a mighty figure who loves to wear white clothes and likes to appear in front of others as an ordinary person…”
“His image is mostly ordinary. He wears a very cheap supermarket outfit, carries a cat, has a buzz cut, and seems to often wear a pair of very ordinary gla.s.ses…”
“There’s a saying in the Cen family… that person seems to have some kind of special ability. If you don’t pay attention, even if you’re standing across from him, it’s very difficult to notice… it’s almost like he doesn’t exist…”
When w.a.n.g Qian heard this, he was dumbfounded.
Cheap supermarket clothes, holding a cat, and a buzz cut…
If you didn’t pay attention, it’s almost impossible to notice?
Wasn’t that…
“The person I have just met?!” w.a.n.g Qian was dumbfounded, his heart aching beyond words.
The Almighty was right across from him, yet he was still foolishly explaining the Jia family to him…
At this moment, w.a.n.g Qian wished he could give himself a slap!
If he was a little cleverer at that time, wouldn’t he be able to leave a good impression?
Not to mention giving him anything, just a simple reminder would probably save him a few decades of hard work!
The youth called Boss Wan looked at w.a.n.g Qian, who was stunned, and asked carefully, “w.a.n.g San… Don’t tell me you…”
w.a.n.g Qian looked like he was about to cry. “If I didn’t guess wrongly…”
“That senior was right in front of me just now… I even talked to him!”
At this point, w.a.n.g Qian gave himself a tight slap.
As he discovered a terrifying thing: at that time, he seemed to have shared knowledge with that person about the Jia family.
And that person seemed to have smiled at him.
What did that person mean?
Did he take a liking to the Jia family? Or was he interested in the Jia family?
“I’m a pig!” w.a.n.g Qian was extremely dejected.
If the second son of the Jia family obtained an opportunity…
The Jia family would ride on top of his brains!
Moreover, with that guy’s personality, he would definitely be showing off .
If he knew the truth, he might even come specially to ‘thank’ him!
Just thinking about that scene made w.a.n.g Qian’s heart feel like it was being cut by a knife!
When the youth surnamed Wan saw w.a.n.g Qian’s expression, he took out his phone and started typing in the group chat.
“Does everyone know?”
“w.a.n.g San, the stupid fellow, just met that guy, but he didn’t know it. He missed a great opportunity for nothing!”
As soon as he posted this message, the entire group went into an uproar.
Countless people immediately tagged him. Some even immediately added him as a friend, or directly messaged him privately to ask about the specific situation.
Boss Wan was still a young man after all. He had a big heart to show off, and he was good at being a teacher.
Therefore, he didn’t reject anyone and replied to them one by one.
He even made up some things in his mind.
In less than an hour, the entire upper echelon of the capital knew about w.a.n.g Qian.
w.a.n.g Qian’s name immediately became a joke on the mouths of countless people.
On the other hand, because of w.a.n.g Qian’s matter, countless people became alert.
They widened their eyes and paid attention to every person pa.s.sing by.
They looked for people dressed in ordinary clothes and carrying cats.
Unfortunately…
They searched for an entire afternoon, but did not find anything.
In the evening.
These people suddenly realized that most of the pa.s.sers-by in Monsoon Villa seemed to be wearing clothes on sale at the supermarket and a pair of cheap gla.s.ses that they had bought from an e-commerce platform.
The people were shocked, thinking that they had committed a taboo.
They immediately shrank back, not even daring to come out of the door.
Until someone figured out the truth of the matter. It turned out that it was because someone saw that many delicate young masters and young ladies were inquiring about and looking for a man who was wearing clothes on sale at the supermarket and cheap gla.s.ses.
Therefore, these people thought that the upper echelons of the capital liked such styles.
One after another, they went to buy a set and put it on.
The reason was very simple.
It was fashionable. It was trendy.
Just like a few years ago, it was fashionable to wear worn-out pants.
When people heard this, they didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.
…
When Ling Ping’an went downstairs for dinner, he was shocked to find that most of the pa.s.sers-by in the hall were wearing clothes bought from the supermarket just like him.
The clothes from the supermarket were very easy to recognize.
They were all made of the same mold, and there were only a few styles.
Therefore, Ling Ping’an recognized them at a glance.
“What new tricks are the n.o.bles in the capital doing?” Ling Ping’an was suspicious.
He had seen similar things several times.
A few years ago, a fashion expert in the capital let his model carry a snake-skin bag from the countryside and wear the rubber shoes from the countryside. Then, he walked onto the model stage.
After that, many second-generation followed suit.
They used tens of thousands or hundreds of thousands to buy a snake-skin bag or rubber shoes.
Then, they would wear it and go out for a stroll. It was called “fashion”!
Therefore, from Ling Ping’an’s point of view, it was probably another master who started to lead the rhythm and wanted to cut the leeks.
“Forget it…” He shook his head and hugged his cat. “This has nothing to do with me… I’m going to Michiko-chan’s beef noodle’s place to get a free meal first…”
There was no point eating buffet all the time.
He carried his cat and walked towards the private kitchen.
A few well-dressed young men and women walked over.
Their voices were very soft.
However, Ling Ping’an still heard something.
“Have you heard?”
“There’s a very special person living in this building…”
“Hmm…”
“I heard that… that person seems to have the capability of an immortal!”
“An immortal?”
“Hehe, an immortal is probably just a servant in front of him…”
Ling Ping’an shrugged as he listened. He looked at the young people and sighed, “It’s good to be young!”
Immortal?
Even an immortal was just a servant?
Ling Ping’an shook his head. “It seems like a swindler has arrived in the capital”
“He’s pretending to be mysterious… and he’s making a big fuss about it…”
As a firm materialist, Ling Ping’an raised his head. “Don’t let that swindler appear in front of me…”
“Otherwise…” he smiled, “ll definitely expose his swindling tricks in public!”
Even though Ling Ping’an hated trouble and was unwilling to meddle in other people’s business, he was a gentleman.
One of the most important qualities of a gentleman was ‘righteousness’.
Mencius said, ‘Where righteousness lies, millions of people will follow me!”
If a fraud dared to come in front of him and fool him.
Then he would definitely act righteously!
As that was justice!
However, he did not expect that his words would be heard by a pa.s.serby.
Perhaps it was because he had been searching for a whole day and was too tired, so he wanted to have some fun.
Or maybe it was because his heart was too empty and he wanted to see a joke.
Therefore, when this person heard Ling Ping’an’s words, he laughed. “You’re boasting shamelessly!”
Ling Ping’an turned his head to look at him.
He also looked at Ling Ping’an.
Supermarket style? Checked!
Carrying a cat? Checked!
Cheap Gla.s.ses? Checked!
Ordinary?
This was not quite right.
Although this person in front of him looked like a pa.s.serby.
But the eyes under the pair of gla.s.ses were shockingly clear.
There had never been any evidence or legends about how Mr. X’s eyes were like.
Therefore…
“Another person who wants to pa.s.s himself off as Mr. X and try to take some advantage?” He thought.
After the afternoon, there had been quite a number cases in the Monsoon Villa. Some people had pa.s.sed themselves off as Mr. X, taking the opportunity to get close to the young ladies sent by those big families, and even attempted to have s.e.x with them.
This was ridiculous. Those idiots didn’t know that this was the Monsoon Villa. There were surveillance cameras everywhere, and there were Blackguard security guards everywhere.
The slightest movement would immediately trigger the alarm.
Therefore, these idiots had all gone to the police station to drink tea with the police.
By the time they were released, the families of the victims and the well-hired lawyers were already waiting for them.
What awaited them would be endless civil lawsuits until they were completely exhausted and living a life worse than death!
Therefore, in this person’s heart, in front of him, was another person who wanted to muddle along.
As for Mr. X?
Why did Mr. X appear in front of him so casually?
That mighty figure came and went without a trace.
Most importantly — how could Mr. X scold him?
Thinking of this, this person narrowed his eyes. “You don’t seem to believe that this world has transcendent being’s strength, much less the theory of ghosts and G.o.ds?”
Ling Ping’an nodded as a matter of course. “Of course!”
“I’ve grown so old…”
“At least visited 100 haunted houses…”
“The so-called vicious haunted houses, no less than 50 I have visited…”
“As for those alleys where the legendary ghosts and monsters appear… those temples that are extremely efficacious… those divinities that can communicate with the netherworld…”
“I don’t know how many I’ve seen…”
“They’re all liars!”
That person chuckled and shook his head, thinking to himself, “They’re probably from some poor countryside that lacks spirit aura?”
After the recovery of spirit aura, the spirit aura resources between heaven and earth were not concentrated. Some places were comparable to heavenly paradises.
For example, Qingcheng Mountain, Mount Heng, Mount Tai…
And some places were spirit aura deserts.
For 200 years, not a single extraordinaire had been born.
Thinking of this, he said, “There is a famous danger zone in the northern suburbs of the capital…”
“In the past hundred years, anyone who has been there after midnight has either died or injured…”
“Even though the government has sent important officials to investigate many times, they still have no leads…”
Saying this, he crossed his arms. “Do you dare to go?”
Ling Ping’an listened and sighed. “Another one who doesn’t believe in evil…”
Last time, the driver in Jiangcheng City said something about the “Pan family’s haunted house” with certainty.
It made him think that there was really a ghost.
In the end, he ran over in the middle of the night, but the ghost was not found, and he found an illegal immigrant.
And a few days ago, he had even met the person who had found a job with the help of the government of Jiangcheng City!
That person was alive and kicking, and he worked very hard!
So, he looked at that person and asked, “Tell me… where is that place? I’ll go there tonight…”
Haunted house? Evil spirits?
These were his favorites.
Ling Ping’an even hoped to find ghosts and evil spirits.
Then, he would study them carefully.
Just like that joke on the internet.
What would a materialist do if he discovered a ghost?
The answer was to capture it, dissect it, and write a few papers.
Ling Ping’an had even thought of the t.i.tle.
“On the interplay between ghosts’ souls and real objects.”
“The basic structure of ghosts’ souls.”
Hmm…
If he could really capture it…
Ling Ping’an felt that he would definitely win the Federal Empire’s highest science award — The Heavenly Work Award!
He would even be able to receive the Grand Scholar Award with his eyes closed.
And then…
He would happily took the large sum of money and comfortably shut himself up to write and play games.
This was also the reason why he liked to go to the haunted houses.
The seven generations of the Ling family were all high intellectuals, high officials, and war heroes.
But in the end, in his generation, he had directly pulled it down.
Forget about high intellectuals.
Even when he was admitted to a university, he relied on the legacy of his parents and received special care before he was barely admitted to a third-rate undergraduate course.
If the ancestors of the Ling family knew about this underground, they would probably have tears streaming down their faces and berate their unworthy descendants.
But what could he do?
Mathematics and Physics were like heavenly books to him.
Before the college entrance exam, he didn’t even know how to solve a middle school equation.
What was he playing at.
So, he could only catch a ghost, write a few papers, and create a grand scholar.
But the problem was…
Fairy tales were all lies!
He had grown up, not to mention ghosts.
Even when he went to the theater to watch people perform magic, he could tell at a glance how other people were playing.
Other than not being able to learn, he could easily tell how magic worked and how it was played.
So, after the age of 18, he was already a guest on the blacklist of all the theaters in Jiangcheng City — who dared to let him in?
The magician hadn’t even performed yet, but he had already spooked him.