In the following month, no matter how much Qin Qu tried to look for the person who replaced the gift, he always ended at square one. And whenever he informed Xiao Zhiren about this matter, he would always glare at Qin Qu saying, "Have you lost your value? Or perhaps you have forgotten how to work? Keep looking!"
While Xiao Zhiren was busy in looking for Xie Rong, she was busy with establis.h.i.+ng a Traditional Medicinal Hall in the mountainous region at the outskirts of the Imperial City. Ru specifically chose this place because it was far away from the hustle and bustle of the city which she didn"t like and also because this place was going to be the cover for her base.
The traditional medicinal hall was beautifully designed with bamboo wood. It had an ancient feel to it with the way courtyards and pavilions were set up. She was busy with drying the herbs in the courtyard when she felt the presence of someone behind her. "What is it?" She asked without looking.
Although it wasn"t the first time that Ru managed to feel her presence even when she didn"t make a slight sound, it still surprised Adia. "They are here, Master!" She informed respectfully.
"Okay! I"ll be right there." Ru answered in a calm and yet authoritative tone.
Adia bowed her head and walked back leaving Ru alone. Xie Rong strewed the yarrow flowers in her hand in the wicker basket to dry them and trudged inside the bamboo house. Behind the house, an open courtyard garden spread far. Leaving the medicinal building at the front, the rest of the courtyards were engulfed by tall forest trees. There was a cobblestone path at the side led to a pavilion.
In the pavilion, she pressed a b.u.t.ton and a pa.s.sageway within the mountain opened up. It was brightly lit up and Xie Rong trudged in leisurely and reached an open area at the end designed as a courtyard.
The entire courtyard was filled with people clad in black suits. They were standing on ceremony as none of them even dared to lift their eyes to look at her. Xie Rong stood right before them and looked at the people before her.
"Do you all know what you"re here for?" Ru"s pleasant voice rang out in the huge courtyard. Originally, she had brought her best group of five people called, Black Mist with her. Now, she had called her Purple Rain group consisting of more than a hundred people to China.
"Scatter around the country, I need you to keep an eye out for anything suspicious. But don"t forget, we"re not here to seize the power." She took a pause as she observed the lowered heads before her and added, "Don"t get into unnecessary fights. Be as low-key as you can possibly be. Do you get it?"
"Yes, Master!" The sound reverberated in the courtyard built inside the cave.
It was true that Ru had no plan to establish any authority in China before, but now she had to have some power in Asia to counterattack the people who tried to a.s.sa.s.sinate her in Europe. She always was taught that enemy who hides in the dark to strike is the most vicious one since you can"t see his moves at all. Therefore, she asked her group of people to keep an eye out to avoid any kind of surprise attacks.
After pa.s.sing her orders, she went out of the cave with only Adia and Wu Dis.h.i.+ following behind her.
She halted in her step and both the people behind her also stopped. "Wu Dis.h.i.+!"
"Yes, Master!"
"Your job is still the same. Keep looking over the Metrix Consortium. And Adia will a.s.sist you." Wu Dis.h.i.+ and Adia shared a look behind her and hesitated.
"Master, since you"re here in China, I was hoping for you to take your role as the chairman openly. You"ve been working from behind the scenes for a long time now." Wu Dis.h.i.+ presented his point with utmost respect not daring to offend her in any way.
"I"m fine with working behind the scenes. Don"t make it an issue. Take Adia and the other Black Mist members with you. We"re expanding Metrix Consortium, you"ll need help." Ru replied calmly.
"But master, if I take all the members then who will be with you?" Wu Dis.h.i.+ asked.
Ru turned to look at him and he instantly bowed down his head in fear. "Am I a kid who needs someone else" protection? Don"t forget, I"m the one who saved those members of Black Mist"s, not the other way around."
Wu Dis.h.i.+ gulped down his saliva with difficulty as the droplets of sweat rolled down his face profusely. "Sorry, master! I"ll take everyone with me." With that, Wu Dis.h.i.+ left with Adia.
Ru followed a certain path that opened up to a small lake. At one side of the lake, there was a forest of white flowering Magnolia and Wisteria trees. Under the clear blue summer sky, the lush blooming white flowers depicted an aesthetic sight.
Ru sat down on a rock at the edge of the lake. She was immersed in observing the white water lilies when suddenly, she heard a yelp with a thud sound along with a horse" neigh.
Spontaneously, Ru stood up and darted her eyes around. The sound had come from the white flowering forest, she frowned and kept her gaze at the trees. Suddenly, a black caviar horse ran straight towards her.
The horse was neighing loudly as it ran straight towards her with a scared look in his big eyes. Ru turned sideways and caught it"s harness firmly in her hands. The black caviar was moving his head from side to side in an attempt to escape from Ru. She calmly petted the horse" withers and lightly scratched a few times.
"Be a good boy! Calm down!" She whispered near its ears in a soothing voice. As if understanding her command, the horse stopped moving around and leaned closer to her. Ru smiled at him saying, "Aiyo! you"re such a sweet horsey."
"Thank G.o.d, he"s okay!" Ru was busy talking to the horse when she heard a voice from behind her. She turned around and saw a man clad in washed up jeans with a white short sleeve s.h.i.+rt coming towards her.
As his gaze fell on Ru, he stopped. He remembered those green eyes perfectly well. "How come you"re here?" Xiao Zhiren asked looking straight into her eyes.
"Do we know each other?" Ru remembered him not just from his face but also from his voice that was distinct from others. But she still pretended as if she had forgotten about him. Before Xiao Zhiren could open his mouth to speak, Ru"s eyes fell on the blood dripping down his knee. "You"re injured." She remarked looking at the bleeding knee.
"Why is it that something bad always happens when you and I come across each other?" Ru shook her head as she thought how she first broke his gift, then on the second meeting, she broke his cellphone. And today, although it wasn"t her fault, she still was there when he got injured.
Xiao Zhi-Ren"s lips curled up pleasantly as he said, "So, you do remember me?"
Ru bit her tongue as she just realized that she had spoiled her own cover. Thinking of something, she spoke, "Well, how can I forget Mr. Saint?"
Her cheeky smile and the word, "saint" made Xiao Zhiren scowl.