Chapter 950 Arrest
Having said all that, Jiang Bai was too lazy to bother with those petty opportunists and disdained to show off to them.
Jiang Bai and Cheng Tiangang were drinking here.
More than an hour had passed before Su Mei woke up and called Jiang Bai. Jiang Bai also called her over. Cheng Tiangang was an old friend, and there was nothing shameful about it.
Before Su Mei arrived, Jiang Bai briefly told Cheng Tiangang about her. Cheng Tiangang only said one thing to Jiang Bai: "You kid, this is a debt of romance. You owe too much, be careful you won't be able to pay it back."
A romantic debt?
Maybe so. Jiang Bai has quite a few women now, but to be honest, he doesn't take most of them seriously. He can count the few he does take seriously on one hand: Lin Wanru, Su Mei, Jiang Yuqing, and Han Youxi. As for the others, well, let's just say they're not worth mentioning.
The two schoolgirls are nice, but Jiang Bai doesn't really have anything going on with them. Right now, it's more like an ambiguous relationship than anything serious. When they get a little older, they might have other options.
When Su Mei arrived, she noticed that Cheng Tiangang was visibly nervous. Even if she was stupid, she knew that Cheng Tiangang was a very important person. Director Ma, who was of a certain rank, knelt down on the spot when he saw him, which showed just how important he was.
She wasn't some naive young girl, so naturally she was a little nervous in front of such a powerful figure.
However, Cheng Tiangang acted very kindly, and after seeing the relationship between Jiang Bai and Cheng Tiangang, Su Mei gradually felt relieved.
After the passion subsided, although she was still somewhat conflicted, she had come to terms with it. She had already developed feelings for Jiang Bai, and now Xing Tongguang's actions had completely shattered her hopes.
This gave her a completely new choice: to stay by Jiang Bai's side and not have to think about anything else.
Whether the two can stay together in the end depends on fate.
Jiang Bai ordered two more dishes to reassure Su Mei and then glanced at his watch before saying to her, "You should stay at the hotel for today. Old Cheng needs my help with some things. If I have enough time, I'll come see you. If not, you can stay here by yourself for now."
"Don't go back home for now. I'll handle things with Xing Tongguang. Your relationship should also come to an end."
After a moment of hesitation, Su Mei's expression was somewhat complicated, but she still nodded in agreement.
Jiang Bai and Cheng Tiangang went out and sat in the car. Cheng Tiangang said to Jiang Bai, "It's a waste that this girl is with that Xing Tongguang. I hope you will treat her well since she's with you."
Jiang Bai chuckled but remained silent, and Cheng Tiangang said nothing more.
Led by Xiao Li, the group arrived at a hotel.
In a place like Tiandu, the nightlife is extremely vibrant, and nightclubs and similar establishments are constantly being updated and replaced. Although Imperial Entertainment occupies half of the market, it cannot achieve a monopoly, and new venues are constantly emerging.
The "living a life of debauchery" in front of us is one of them.
"Is this the place?" Jiang Bai, sitting in a car across from the bar, pointed to the nightclub across the street and couldn't help but ask Cheng Tiangang beside him.
"Yes, it's confirmed. She just entered not long ago, no more than ten minutes. Our criminal investigators can confirm that, although we didn't get close enough to investigate and couldn't see her face clearly, her red dress was too eye-catching."
Cheng Tiangang said with great certainty that he had full confidence in the elite troops he had trained. When it came to investigating cases, his men were absolutely top-notch.
The frustrating and helpless situation is that even if the case is solved, his side has no ability to apprehend such an outcast criminal.
"Then what are we waiting for? Let's go!" Jiang Bai chuckled and got out of the car, with Cheng Tiangang following closely behind.
"Minister Cheng." As soon as Jiang Bai and Cheng Tiangang got out of the car, several people immediately gathered around, a total of five or six people.
There were men and women, old friends and young people. Among them, two people were obviously more energetic than the others. Jiang Bai could tell at a glance that these two people should be ancient martial arts masters from the human group.
As for the other people, they should be from the God Group.
Cheng Tiangang had previously told Jiang Bai that he had sought help from the Human Group and the God Group, and that Li Qingdi and Yang Wudi had sent several capable men.
However, it now seems that either Cheng Tiangang didn't explain things clearly to those two, or those two were just giving Cheng Tiangang the runaround. The strength of these people...
Well, you can't say they're bad. A third-rank martial artist and an A-level superhuman, to be honest, their strength is pretty good. They should be able to handle most things with ease.
But things are different now. Jiang Bai's cultivation level is too high, so he naturally thinks these people are a bunch of weaklings.
Moreover, Cheng Tiangang described the matter in such a mysterious way that not only was Cheng Tiangang himself somewhat uneasy and thus sought out Jiang Bai, but Jiang Bai himself also felt that things were not so simple.
These people are clearly not up to the task.
Cheng Tiangang nodded, which was considered a greeting to the people in front of him. Jiang Bai, on the other hand, smiled as the people nodded to him, and he chuckled in return, which was considered a greeting to them.
This attitude clearly displeased these self-important individuals, who felt that Jiang Bai was too arrogant. They had nodded to him, but he hadn't even acknowledged it, simply laughing it off. Wasn't this looking down on them?
They were all proud and arrogant people, with outstanding strength, which also fostered their arrogance. Jiang Bai's performance naturally made them dissatisfied. If it weren't for Cheng Tiangang standing there, someone would probably have already made trouble for Jiang Bai.
Of course, there is a premise here.
That is, they don't know who Jiang Bai is.
In fact, they really didn't know. If they knew who Jiang Bai was, they would probably all be silent and obedient like quails, and none of them would dare to have the slightest dissatisfaction.
"Minister Cheng, the target has gone inside. Should we go in and arrest them now?" A woman from the Divine Group spoke first. She was about twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old, and it was unclear what her abilities were.
She's fairly good-looking, deserving of the title "beauty," but in the underworld, where strength speaks volumes, looks and age are secondary; only strength matters. Strength equals power and status.
She spoke first, so naturally she must be the strongest among them. Even the middle-aged man who looked to be over forty had to obey her.
"Actually, it's a waste for so many of us to come. In my opinion, we should just go in directly. I already spotted that woman. If you hadn't ordered me to wait for you, I would have already apprehended her!"
Chapter 951 Our Own People
"Leave it to us brothers, we'll handle it. It'll be a piece of cake." The two men from the group were quick to offer their opinions, and one of them stepped forward, confidently telling Cheng Tiangang this.
It's just capturing a woman, and she's a seemingly weak woman. Although she's said to be ruthless, how can she compare to these real masters?
In their view, this was a piece of cake.
"What's the rush? Let's go in and see what's going on with this woman!" Before Cheng Tiangang could speak, Jiang Bai chuckled and said this.
She then added, "I heard this woman is quite beautiful. I want to see just how beautiful she is that so many men would risk their lives for her."
"What a lecher!" His words immediately drew a muttered comment from the woman from the Divine Group who had spoken earlier, who also gave Jiang Bai a disdainful look as she spoke.
If Cheng Tiangang hadn't been there, and Jiang Bai hadn't come with him, she wouldn't have known Jiang Bai's identity and wouldn't have dared to act recklessly. She probably would have already been fighting with him.
Jiang Bai chuckled and remained silent.
Then, he said calmly to them, "Minister Cheng will be going in with us in a bit. Don't do anything without my orders. Actually, this isn't really your business. Just stay by Minister Cheng's side and protect him. Don't worry about anything else!"
After thinking for a moment, Jiang Bai gave this order.
This immediately drew displeasure from the six people present. The woman from the Divine Group who had spoken earlier disregarded the fact that Cheng Tiangang was still there and angrily said to Jiang Bai, "Who are you? Do you know what this is about? We, the Divine Group..."
"I know you're from the God Group, and I know those two are from the Human Group, but no matter what you do, since I've let you come, you'd better behave yourselves!"
Before the other person could finish speaking, Jiang Bai interrupted them, responding with some impatience.
"Minister Cheng! I need to report this to my superiors. We came here to help your police apprehend the suspect, because he might be a person with special abilities. However, I feel that your police do not respect us!"
The woman's face turned extremely ugly after being rebuked by Jiang Bai. It was clear that she had once been a woman who was the center of attention, and given her own great strength, she naturally received very special treatment. This allowed her to speak loudly even in front of Cheng Tiangang, without behaving timidly.
"We in the Human Group think so too!" Someone spoke up, and the two young men from the Human Group also chimed in.
Jiang Bai's attitude seems to have provoked a backlash from both sides. Even the two organizations that are at odds seem to be united against a common enemy at this time.
"You're all talk and no action. Stop talking nonsense. Even if you call Li Qingdi and Yang Wudi over, they'll still have to listen to me today!" Jiang Bai sneered, treating these people like juniors and scolding them like a child.
This infuriated the people in front of them.
They were considered the pride of heaven, each one a top-notch elite, receiving preferential treatment and being treated with utmost respect wherever they went.
How could they possibly remain calm after being treated this way by Jiang Bai?
"Who exactly are you?!" If it weren't for the presence of Cheng Tiangang, a powerful figure, someone would probably have already attacked Jiang Bai.
Even so, the woman standing there said this with great indignation, as if to tell Jiang Bai, "Boy, if you have the guts, introduce yourself. After this is over, I'll teach you a lesson!"
Seeing Jiang Bai deliberately teasing these people, Cheng Tiangang stood silently to the side, watching the events unfold with great interest. It was still early, so there was no rush.
However, seeing that the firearms here were getting bigger and bigger, he knew that Jiang Bai had really angered these people. If he hadn't been there, they probably would have already made a move. He gave Jiang Bai a wink, indicating that he was here to do serious business and not to mess with the kids.
Jiang Bai understood immediately and revealed his identity: "I am Jiang Bai!"
Jiang Bai?
Several people were stunned for a moment, but then their expressions changed drastically, becoming extremely solemn. In particular, the two people in the group immediately straightened up and saluted Jiang Bai: "Deputy Team Leader!"
Jiang Bai had already been given the title of deputy leader by Yang Wudi, and now he enjoys the treatment of a general. Although he has no real power and is essentially a useless counterfeit product, he still holds a high position within the group.
Of course, his lofty status did not come from his identity, but from his own hard-earned and impressive record.
There aren't many people in the group who have actually met Jiang Bai; it's just a limited number of people. But anyone who says they've never heard of Jiang Bai is an absolute idiot!
Jiang Bai is now a new generation idol within the Human Group, a benchmark for the new generation. His extremely fierce fighting power has given him a prestige within the Human Group that is no less than that of Yang Wudi. However, Jiang Bai himself is unaware of these things because he has not returned for a long time.
The two young men from the Human Group were transferred from ancient martial arts families, but that didn't stop them from knowing and admiring Jiang Bai. When they heard that the visitor was Jiang Bai, they were immediately startled, and the slight dissatisfaction they had felt earlier vanished, replaced by an attitude of utmost respect.
Just kidding. Being able to carry out a mission with a giant like Team Leader Jiang is something they can brag about for three years when they get back. Just thinking about it is exciting. How could they dare to have the slightest dissatisfaction?
Think about what the team leader said. It wasn't that he looked down on them; it was that he cared about them and was afraid something might happen to them, which is why he made such an arrangement.
Think about it, this matter even alarmed this old man, that woman in red must be more than he thought, and the fact that he told them to stay away is definitely out of concern.
What could one possibly complain about in the face of such care?
As for the members of the God Group, they weren't in the same good mood as the two kids from the Human Group. They were so frightened by Jiang Bai's name that they almost lost their souls.
Who is Jiang Bai? He's infamous!
He was a notorious tyrant; anyone who offended him never had a good ending. Thinking about how they had treated him earlier, the group felt uneasy. If he were to punish them, they would have absolutely no chance of resisting.
They're from the God Group, not the Human Group. Those two guys from the Human Group are all on his side, so Jiang Bai definitely won't make things difficult for them. But the God Group isn't on Jiang Bai's side. I heard that his boss and Jiang Bai have a little bit of a conflict.
Chapter 952 Small Fish and Shrimp
If this little conflict were to be used as an excuse by this guy, it would really cause trouble.
For a time, everyone in the God Group was on tenterhooks.
Only the woman who spoke had a furrowed brow, and it was unclear what she was thinking.
He seemed somewhat puzzled by the drastic change in the attitude of those around him, and glanced at Jiang Bai with a hint of curiosity.
"Mr. Jiang, we didn't know it was you, we really didn't know." The oldest middle-aged man in the God Group stepped forward with a mournful face and said this to Jiang Bai.
"Alright, ignorance is no excuse. Just get back to work." Jiang Bai waved his hand and laughed, not bothering to argue with them. They weren't even on the same level, so why bother with such things?
"You..." The woman was about to speak when the person next to her noticed something was wrong and quickly covered her mouth without regard for the occasion. Then she said to Jiang Bai, "Mr. Jiang, she was on a mission abroad and has only been back for less than a week. There are some things she doesn't know. Please don't hold it against her."
Jiang Bai chuckled and walked in without saying a word.
"Who is he? Why are you all so afraid of him! Do you think we, the people of the God Group, are afraid of anyone? He's the deputy leader of the Human Group, not our God Group. Why should we be afraid of him? Do you think he'd dare to do anything to us?"
After Jiang Bai and Cheng Tiangang stepped inside, followed closely by the two members of their group, the woman was finally released by her companion. She angrily addressed her companion, accusing him of being cowardly and disgracing the Divine Group.
Why should the people of the God Group bow down to the guys from the Human Group?
The two groups have been at odds for a long time. What's wrong with the deputy leader of the human group? He has no right to interfere with the gods.
Her words terrified everyone around her. The young man who had just covered her mouth hurriedly said anxiously, "My dear aunt, please don't talk nonsense. We can't afford to offend this grandpa. His position as deputy group leader is just a title; he doesn't care about his status at all. If he says he's going to cultivate, we'll definitely dare to take action. No one can help us then."
"We're not afraid of cultivation or anything, but didn't you see this guy drinking? If he gets angry and kills us all, who will we complain to?" The middle-aged man said with a wry smile, still feeling lingering fear.
"How dare he! Is there no law anymore? Does he really think our God Group is made of clay?"
The woman stood there angrily after hearing this, feeling even more that her companion was cowardly and afraid of trouble.
"Of course we dare! When this grandpa gets angry, he's killed more than one or two big shots. Compared to those people, we're nothing! Even our team leader avoids him. This guy is incredibly fierce right now. Anyone who messes with him is asking for death!"
"You've been abroad for so long without coming back, there are some things you don't know."
"But there's something I need to tell you about recently, and then you'll know what kind of person this guy is."
"You should know what kind of person a cardinal of the Holy See is, right?"
The companion explained to the woman that she might not understand things in China. This woman had been discovered by the God Group when she was young and then sent abroad, where she lived for ten years. She had only recently returned less than a month ago, so no matter how much he explained about things in China, she wouldn't know.
That reminded me of a recent rumor.
"Of course I know! He's a figure of immense stature!" The woman's face was filled with awe when she mentioned the cardinal.
She was a member of the God Group and had come into contact with countless superhumans outside, but all of them were like ants in front of those powerful mages.
The cardinals of the Holy See are the strongest among mages, and one of the ultimate forms pursued by these supernatural beings.
That person was absolutely powerful and influential, like a god.
"Some time ago, this person also went abroad and had a conflict with the people there. I heard that the Holy See sent a large number of experts to besiege him, including two cardinals and other experts."
"However, he managed to escape and is only returning to the country now because a couple of days ago, this guy killed a cardinal abroad. According to the news, the one who died recently was probably killed by this guy."
"If someone like that offends him, he can kill them if he wants to. What are we compared to him?"
A few words left the woman utterly shocked. Watching Jiang Bai's departing figure, she was filled with fear and instinctively panicked. Her expression kept changing, and her hands were trembling, as if she were extremely afraid.
She knew all too well what kind of existence the Cardinal was, more intuitively than her colleagues back home. He was a god living on earth, yet such a figure had been killed by that young man just now.
Thinking about her previous attitude, she broke out in a cold sweat.
"He...he wouldn't..." the woman said with some fear.
"Don't worry, Minister Cheng is here. Even if he doesn't give the team leader face, he'll give Minister Cheng face. Minister Cheng and the others have a good relationship, so he won't make things difficult for us. But just be careful what you say. Just don't challenge him. Otherwise, if this guy really gets angry, no one can protect us."
The middle-aged man was a shrewd man; he could tell what the woman was worried about just by listening to her speak. He chuckled and comforted her, telling her that although Jiang Bai was a petty person, he wouldn't do anything reckless because of Cheng Tiangang, and that she could rest assured.
After saying this, he looked worried and said to his companions, "Everyone be careful in a while. Just follow the instructions and don't move around. Stay by Minister Cheng's side and protect him. This matter is definitely not simple. Minister Cheng has already summoned him as soon as he returned to the country."
"Anyone worth his time is an ant to be crushed like an ant. Nobody should do anything stupid. If he makes a move, get to Minister Cheng's side immediately and don't wander off. Otherwise, you won't even know how you died."
His words were immediately agreed upon by his companions, who all nodded in agreement, and even the proud woman with a rather fiery temper did not object.
Jiang Bai could even kill a cardinal, yet he managed to get Jiang Bai involved in this matter. Anyone with half a brain knows that this is definitely not a simple matter.
While it's true that sometimes using a sledgehammer to crack a nut is excessive, there's no need to bring a dragon-slaying sword just to kill a chicken. Since the dragon-slaying sword is here, it must be for slaughtering a real dragon.
It's best for these small fry to stay far away, lest they get caught in the crossfire.
If a real fight breaks out, no one will care about the lives of insignificant people like them.
Unconsciously, the group had abandoned their arrogant attitude from before, no longer considering themselves extraordinary superiors, and consciously placing themselves among the ranks of insignificant people. All of this was because of Jiang Bai's arrival.
Chapter 953 Let's get to know each other
Jiang Bai didn't care what they were thinking, nor would he. Small people are small people; their mindsets are different, and Jiang Bai wouldn't pay attention to them.
As soon as you step into the bar, you're greeted by deafening noise that makes your eardrums ache.
The crowd swaying in the dance floor let out screams.
The hot, youthful bodies are displaying their unrestrained youth, and every beautiful girl is always surrounded by several flamboyant young men.
As soon as they entered, the manager at the door came over and, after Jiang Bai and the others explained their purpose and Jiang Bai tossed out a black card, he respectfully arranged for them to sit in the best booth.
"So, Lao Cheng, how many years has it been since you've been to a place like this? No, I mean, have you ever been to a place like this before? Want me to ask them to arrange a few pretty girls for you? A diamond bachelor like you is in high demand here!"
Jiang Bai laughed as soon as he sat down, and said this to Cheng Tiangang.
Upon hearing this, the foreman quickly smiled and said, "Brother, are you looking for girls? I have a few pretty girls here, I'll introduce them to you later?"
"Jiang Bai, get down to business!" Cheng Tiangang said to him with a dark face.
Seeing that no one paid attention to him, the foreman smiled awkwardly and then changed the subject, asking Jiang Bai and his group what drinks they wanted. After Jiang Bai made the arrangements, he immediately left humbly. Someone who had asked for tens of thousands of dollars just for drinks was someone he couldn't afford to offend.
He didn't care at all about people not taking him seriously; this wasn't the first time he'd encountered something like this.
Rich people are always arrogant.
"Look, is that it?"
Not long after sitting down, Jiang Bai spotted his target: a young woman in her mid-twenties with long, beautiful hair, wearing a bright red cheongsam that showed off her perfect figure and exquisitely alluring features.
With just one glance, Jiang Bai knew that she was the person he was looking for. He nudged Cheng Tiangang, who seemed a little dazed and uncomfortable due to the noisy environment around him, and gestured for him to look at the woman.
Following Jiang Bai's gaze, Cheng Tiangang fixed his eyes on the garment, stared at it for a while, and then said in a low voice, "That's right, it's this outfit. Although I'm not sure about the exact appearance, I've seen this outfit at least dozens of times. There are detailed records in the video."
"This woman always wore this dress when she committed murder; there must be some special meaning behind it."
"Tch, what are you saying? Don't assume everything is perfectly predictable. Just because someone wears this outfit doesn't mean it has any special meaning. What if she doesn't have any other clothes? What if she just loves this outfit? Your statement is baseless."
Jiang Bai scoffed at Cheng Tiangang's criminal investigation theory. They always felt that any criminal's habitual tools or methods had some special significance, not realizing that sometimes these people just used them on a whim and didn't think much about it at all.
Crime itself has a lot of randomness involved.
"I'll go give her a try!" Jiang Bai stood up and said with a smile.
At this moment, there were actually four or five men standing next to this woman, each of whom considered himself handsome or a successful person, otherwise he would not dare to stand in front of such a woman.
Only someone who believes they have a certain charm and confidence would stand in front of such a woman.
Despite the fact that this woman was a murderous monster who had killed dozens of people, Jiang Bai had to admit that she was indeed beautiful, on par with Lin Wanru and the others, and seemed to possess an indescribable alluring charm.
It has a fatal attraction for men who are feeling empty and lonely.
No wonder so many men are drawn to this world like moths to a flame, only to be consumed by lust in the end.
Jiang Bai hadn't even reached his destination yet. After taking a few steps, something interesting happened: a burly middle-aged man had already approached the woman.
He stood there arrogantly with four or five henchmen, arguing with several men around him. It was unclear what they were saying, but after being either scolded or persuaded by him, the other men left one by one, feeling resentful.
This guy must think he's the most capable and powerful, having driven everyone else away, and wants to have this beauty all to himself, for a mesmerizing romantic encounter.
After a moment's hesitation, Jiang Bai still moved closer.
"Miss, may I buy you a drink?" Jiang Bai walked over with a smile and said to the woman in front of him, ignoring the middle-aged man in a leather jacket with a fierce look standing next to him.
"Okay." The other person bit their lip, looked Jiang Bai up and down, gave Jiang Bai a flirtatious wink, and said in a rather charming manner.
"Hey kid! There's someone here! Don't you have eyes? Do you want to die?" Faced with this situation, the middle-aged man who thought he had already won the beauty tonight was not about to let it go. He immediately became furious and pointed at Jiang Bai, shouting.
No sooner had he finished speaking than several henchmen standing not far behind him immediately crowded around, pointing at Jiang Bai and cursing, "Kid, are you blind? Can't you see our boss Ye is here?"
"Are you tired of living? How dare you cause trouble here?"
"Believe it or not, I'll break your legs!"
Such words came out one after another, as if they would rush up and tear Jiang Bai, this ungrateful brat, to pieces at the mere command of this General Manager Ye.
"Hehe, we're all out having fun. I'm just treating a beautiful lady to a drink, why get angry? Let's get acquainted, this is my business card." Jiang Bai chuckled, not bothering to argue with the man, and took out a box of business cards from his pocket, tossing one to him.
He then ignored him, ordered two drinks from the bartender, raised his glass to the woman in front of him and drank together, and didn't look at the middle-aged man once more from beginning to end.
This infuriated Boss Ye. He laughed loudly, "I am a man of great stature. In the past two years, I have been doing very well in Tiandu. I am worth over 100 million yuan and have hundreds of underlings. I can get whatever I want in this area."
Tonight, I went out with a bunch of buddies and ran into this stunningly beautiful woman. Just as I was about to make my move, a swarm of flies appeared, which really annoyed me.
Whether through threats or bribes, they drove all these people away. He had barely exchanged a few words with the beautiful woman and felt that he would be able to become the groom tonight, when this guy suddenly appeared out of nowhere.
They act all high and mighty, not taking me seriously at all. Seeing so many of me, they still dare to be so arrogant. They just gave me a business card and then ignored me.
Chapter 954 Old Ye is very scared
What the hell is going on? Do you think I'm easy to bully?
Mr. Ye expressed his anger.
Mr. Ye is very angry, and the consequences will be severe.
They were about to have someone take action and teach this ungrateful brat a lesson.
But before he could even utter a word, he wisely shut his mouth.
Before he spoke, his gaze fell on the gold-plated business card that Jiang Bai had tossed onto the bar counter beside him.
"Jiang Bai, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Imperial Enterprises."
Just that one simple line of text was enough to scare Mr. Ye so much he wet himself.
He picked it up and touched it, only to find that the business card wasn't gold-plated at all; it was pure gold. Mr. Ye, who was in the hardware business, knew everything about gold and could tell the difference just by touching it.
That was terrifying.
A business card made of gold with only one line of text on it—it's definitely not fake.
Jiang Bai, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Empire Enterprises?
Isn't this the famous Jiang Ye?
Old Ye doesn't know Master Jiang. It's not that he doesn't want to, but that he's not qualified.
But he's someone of some stature. If even Master Jiang doesn't know him in Tiandu, then there's no point in him trying to make a living. He should just get lost to avoid ending up dead in the streets one day.
Moreover, he knew that the person in front of him was definitely not fake. His age and appearance were similar to the rumors, which was one thing, but most importantly, the person who dared to impersonate Master Jiang in Tiandu had not yet been born!
"Mr. Jiang?" President Ye said to Jiang Bai in a trembling voice, his voice already trembling with tears. He no longer had the domineering aura he had just displayed. He looked pitiful, like a child who had done something wrong, with tears about to fall at any moment. He was so trembling that he couldn't utter a single coherent word.
"Go on, go on, come out and have fun. Don't be so bossy all the time. You'll suffer for it sooner or later. Don't you agree with me?"
Jiang Bai chuckled, shifted his gaze from the woman in red to the trembling old Ye in front of him, and said this.
"Yes, yes, Master Jiang is right, he is right. I, Old Ye, will never do this again. I promise, I promise to mend my ways. If I ever do this again, may I die a horrible death."
The old man dared not utter a word of dissent. Hearing that Jiang Bai did not hold it against him, he returned the business card with trembling hands and hurriedly said these words.
He wanted to keep the business cards, though. If he had them, he could show them off when he went out, and his status would surely rise dramatically. Even those powerful figures would have to treat him with more respect in the future.
But he didn't dare. He knew he wasn't high enough, and he wasn't qualified to take Jiang Ye's business card, so he had no choice but to hand it over with a heavy heart.
He then added, "Mr. Jiang, have fun. I'll be going now."
"Hmm." Jiang Bai hummed in response, gesturing for the other person to leave. Suddenly remembering something, he called out, "Wait a minute."
The word "wait" almost made Old Ye kneel down. He thought that Master Jiang had changed his mind and was going to make an example of him. His legs went weak and he almost wet his pants. If it weren't for the bar counter next to him, which he could support himself with his hands, he would have collapsed to the ground in embarrassment by now.
"Master Jiang, what are your orders?"
"Your men have foul mouths. Go back and give them a good talking-to. Don't let them embarrass themselves in public again!"
This put Old Ye at ease. It turned out they weren't going to hold him accountable, but rather his ill-mannered subordinates. Old Ye breathed a sigh of relief and quickly said to Jiang Bai, "Don't worry, Master Jiang. These bastards have foul mouths and deserve to be taught a lesson. When we get back, I'll cut out their tongues and break their legs! I'll teach them a lesson!"
Jiang Bai couldn't help but smile wryly and shake his head, ignoring the guy. He was too lazy to waste words with him. Let him do whatever he wanted; that was his business, and Jiang Bai didn't care.
"It seems you're quite a formidable person? That guy just said he was very powerful, scaring everyone else away, but in front of you, he's like a quail."
The woman in red with beautiful long hair spoke to Jiang Bai in a noncommittal tone, her slender fingers constantly drawing circles on the table as she spoke.
Biting her lip, giving a seductive look, and deliberately leaning forward to reveal most of her snow-white skin, her intention to seduce was quite obvious.
If a man lacks self-control, he might easily be seduced by these simple actions and reveal all his secrets to the other party.
Even if Jiang Bai hadn't known the woman's background beforehand, and hadn't known that she was a complete murderous monster, he would probably be agitated by now.
With a chuckle, Jiang Bai said softly, "He's nothing special, just doing some small business. He's not a big shot, but he's a bit more capable than you."
"This kind of person, despite their loud and boisterous demeanor, doesn't actually have any great abilities."
"Yes, I think so too," the woman said with a soft laugh.
They chatted for a bit more, and the other person was clearly trying to seduce him, so Jiang Bai went along with what they were saying.
After chatting for about ten minutes, the other person suddenly said, "How about coming to my place tonight?"
Jiang Bai paused for a moment, then realized the main event was about to begin. It seemed this woman had already chosen him as her target and didn't want to delay any longer, hence her words.
"OK."
Jiang Bai naturally agreed. As the saying goes, you have to catch someone cheating in the act, and you have to catch a thief red-handed. You can't just take action against someone without any evidence.
Moreover, this is a public place with at least several hundred people here. If Jiang Bai were to fight this woman here, innocent people would inevitably be harmed.
Jiang Bai didn't care about the lives or deaths of these people, but Old Cheng was still around, and he cared about this matter. Even if he gave him face, he couldn't act recklessly here, so Jiang Bai agreed.
So, the woman chuckled and took Jiang Bai's hand as they left. From beginning to end, the two of them hadn't even asked each other's names.
Jiang Bai didn't ask, because he would have the chance to ask later. The woman didn't ask either, probably because she felt that it didn't matter much whether she asked Jiang Bai's name or not, since he was a dying man.
Jiang Bai let the other party pull him away. Before leaving, he turned back and made a face at Cheng Tiangang, who had been staring at him. Cheng glared at him and then got up and left as well.
After leaving the bar, Jiang Bai asked the woman for her address. She gave him a rather cheap place name. Once in a taxi, the woman leaned against Jiang Bai, her slender hands constantly caressing his body. Jiang Bai let her do as she pleased and did not stop her.
After passing through the bustling streets and leaving the brightly lit city, the two arrived near the outskirts of Tiandu. They got out of the car at a secluded riverside park, and Jiang Bai was led by the woman to a deserted riverside park without saying a word.
Chapter 954 Old Ye is very scared
What the hell is going on? Do you think I'm easy to bully?
Mr. Ye expressed his anger.
Mr. Ye is very angry, and the consequences will be severe.
They were about to have someone take action and teach this ungrateful brat a lesson.
But before he could even utter a word, he wisely shut his mouth.
Before he spoke, his gaze fell on the gold-plated business card that Jiang Bai had tossed onto the bar counter beside him.
"Jiang Bai, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Imperial Enterprises."
Just that one simple line of text was enough to scare Mr. Ye so much he wet himself.
He picked it up and touched it, only to find that the business card wasn't gold-plated at all; it was pure gold. Mr. Ye, who was in the hardware business, knew everything about gold and could tell the difference just by touching it.
That was terrifying.
A business card made of gold with only one line of text on it—it's definitely not fake.
Jiang Bai, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Empire Enterprises?
Isn't this the famous Jiang Ye?
Old Ye doesn't know Master Jiang. It's not that he doesn't want to, but that he's not qualified.
But he's someone of some stature. If even Master Jiang doesn't know him in Tiandu, then there's no point in him trying to make a living. He should just get lost to avoid ending up dead in the streets one day.
Moreover, he knew that the person in front of him was definitely not fake. His age and appearance were similar to the rumors, which was one thing, but most importantly, the person who dared to impersonate Master Jiang in Tiandu had not yet been born!
"Mr. Jiang?" President Ye said to Jiang Bai in a trembling voice, his voice already trembling with tears. He no longer had the domineering aura he had just displayed. He looked pitiful, like a child who had done something wrong, with tears about to fall at any moment. He was so trembling that he couldn't utter a single coherent word.
"Go on, go on, come out and have fun. Don't be so bossy all the time. You'll suffer for it sooner or later. Don't you agree with me?"
Jiang Bai chuckled, shifted his gaze from the woman in red to the trembling old Ye in front of him, and said this.
"Yes, yes, Master Jiang is right, he is right. I, Old Ye, will never do this again. I promise, I promise to mend my ways. If I ever do this again, may I die a horrible death."
The old man dared not utter a word of dissent. Hearing that Jiang Bai did not hold it against him, he returned the business card with trembling hands and hurriedly said these words.
He wanted to keep the business cards, though. If he had them, he could show them off when he went out, and his status would surely rise dramatically. Even those powerful figures would have to treat him with more respect in the future.
But he didn't dare. He knew he wasn't high enough, and he wasn't qualified to take Jiang Ye's business card, so he had no choice but to hand it over with a heavy heart.
He then added, "Mr. Jiang, have fun. I'll be going now."
"Hmm." Jiang Bai hummed in response, gesturing for the other person to leave. Suddenly remembering something, he called out, "Wait a minute."
The word "wait" almost made Old Ye kneel down. He thought that Master Jiang had changed his mind and was going to make an example of him. His legs went weak and he almost wet his pants. If it weren't for the bar counter next to him, which he could support himself with his hands, he would have collapsed to the ground in embarrassment by now.
"Master Jiang, what are your orders?"
"Your men have foul mouths. Go back and give them a good talking-to. Don't let them embarrass themselves in public again!"
This put Old Ye at ease. It turned out they weren't going to hold him accountable, but rather his ill-mannered subordinates. Old Ye breathed a sigh of relief and quickly said to Jiang Bai, "Don't worry, Master Jiang. These bastards have foul mouths and deserve to be taught a lesson. When we get back, I'll cut out their tongues and break their legs! I'll teach them a lesson!"
Jiang Bai couldn't help but smile wryly and shake his head, ignoring the guy. He was too lazy to waste words with him. Let him do whatever he wanted; that was his business, and Jiang Bai didn't care.
"It seems you're quite a formidable person? That guy just said he was very powerful, scaring everyone else away, but in front of you, he's like a quail."
The woman in red with beautiful long hair spoke to Jiang Bai in a noncommittal tone, her slender fingers constantly drawing circles on the table as she spoke.
Biting her lip, giving a seductive look, and deliberately leaning forward to reveal most of her snow-white skin, her intention to seduce was quite obvious.
If a man lacks self-control, he might easily be seduced by these simple actions and reveal all his secrets to the other party.
Even if Jiang Bai hadn't known the woman's background beforehand, and hadn't known that she was a complete murderous monster, he would probably be agitated by now.
With a chuckle, Jiang Bai said softly, "He's nothing special, just doing some small business. He's not a big shot, but he's a bit more capable than you."
"This kind of person, despite their loud and boisterous demeanor, doesn't actually have any great abilities."
"Yes, I think so too," the woman said with a soft laugh.
They chatted for a bit more, and the other person was clearly trying to seduce him, so Jiang Bai went along with what they were saying.
After chatting for about ten minutes, the other person suddenly said, "How about coming to my place tonight?"
Jiang Bai paused for a moment, then realized the main event was about to begin. It seemed this woman had already chosen him as her target and didn't want to delay any longer, hence her words.
"OK."
Jiang Bai naturally agreed. As the saying goes, you have to catch someone cheating in the act, and you have to catch a thief red-handed. You can't just take action against someone without any evidence.
Moreover, this is a public place with at least several hundred people here. If Jiang Bai were to fight this woman here, innocent people would inevitably be harmed.
Jiang Bai didn't care about the lives or deaths of these people, but Old Cheng was still around, and he cared about this matter. Even if he gave him face, he couldn't act recklessly here, so Jiang Bai agreed.
So, the woman chuckled and took Jiang Bai's hand as they left. From beginning to end, the two of them hadn't even asked each other's names.
Jiang Bai didn't ask, because he would have the chance to ask later. The woman didn't ask either, probably because she felt that it didn't matter much whether she asked Jiang Bai's name or not, since he was a dying man.
Jiang Bai let the other party pull him away. Before leaving, he turned back and made a face at Cheng Tiangang, who had been staring at him. Cheng glared at him and then got up and left as well.
After leaving the bar, Jiang Bai asked the woman for her address. She gave him a rather cheap place name. Once in a taxi, the woman leaned against Jiang Bai, her slender hands constantly caressing his body. Jiang Bai let her do as she pleased and did not stop her.
After passing through the bustling streets and leaving the brightly lit city, the two arrived near the outskirts of Tiandu. They got out of the car at a secluded riverside park, and Jiang Bai was led by the woman to a deserted riverside park without saying a word.
Chapter 955 The Six-Tailed Fox Fairy
"It seems we've arrived." After confirming that no one was around, the woman made a charming gesture, looked at Jiang Bai in front of her, and chuckled.
That seemed to imply that Jiang Bai could do some clandestine things here.
"We've arrived. Hmm, so you're planning to make a move on me?" Jiang Bai chuckled and said this, while taking out a box of Shuncheng Tiangang's special edition cigarettes from his pocket and smoking them.
One sentence caused the woman's smiling face to change abruptly, her expression turning astonished. Then, she suddenly realized what was happening, narrowed her eyes, and her charming smile vanished. She coldly asked Jiang Bai, "Who are you?"
Then, as if remembering something, he narrowed his eyes and said sternly, "You stinking constables, I let you go last time and didn't hold it against you, just because I didn't want to hurt the face of the imperial court and cause unnecessary trouble."
"You dare to be so ungrateful as to come looking for trouble with this great immortal? You're simply courting death!"
"You really think I wouldn't dare to wipe you all out?"
"What the hell is going on?" Jiang Bai's face darkened upon hearing the other party's words.
What's up with this guy? A constable and an official of the imperial court? Seriously? Do you think this is a period drama?
Returning to the Great Immortal? Are you sure you're not insane?
However, Jiang Bai's mind worked quickly, and he suddenly realized something. While smoking, he narrowed his eyes and said, "What do you mean by that? From what you're saying, you don't seem to be from this era?"
"Hmm, or rather, not human at all?"
"Indeed, I am Hu Jiaojiao, a six-tailed fox spirit! Born in the seventh year of Emperor Ruizong of Tang, I cultivated for a thousand years to attain an immortal body, and am a living fox spirit! Naturally, I am not a foolish human!"
"A hundred years ago, I was injured and fell into a deep sleep by some unknown Western demons. When I woke up, the world had changed color and the dynasty had changed!"
"I only killed some lecherous men, drained their life essence to repair myself, and you constables are already chasing me so relentlessly? Do you really think this great immortal wouldn't dare to kill you?"
"It's only because you've been loyal to your duties and have considered the court's reputation that we're doing this. You would have died countless times already!"
In just a few words, Jiang Bai gained a somewhat incomplete understanding of Hu Jiaojiao, who claimed to be a six-tailed fox spirit.
So the woman in front of me is a fox spirit, born in the mid-Tang Dynasty. She has cultivated for a thousand years and can transform into a human. Her cultivation level should be quite good. However, she couldn't escape the earth-shattering battle a hundred years ago and was injured and fell into a deep sleep.
Now that she's awake, her mindset hasn't completely shifted or integrated into modern society. To her, modern times are just a change of dynasty, and she's still doing things she's probably done many times before.
He absorbs people's essence and blood to replenish his own cultivation, and not only does he not think killing is wrong, but he also justifies it, as if he is eliminating a scourge for the people.
Overall, it's definitely wrong for this woman to kill people; she's a serial killer. However, it's somewhat excessive that she killed all these casual sex partners as lecherous men.
However, looking at it from another angle, analyzing her words, it seems that she held back against the police who were chasing her last time, so she wasn't completely bad; she just had a somewhat distorted value system.
I wonder what kind of trauma or emotional wound this vixen suffered in her youth that led her to have such thoughts.
"You spared the life of the police officer, which proves you're not completely beyond redemption. I'll spare your life as well. However, the fact that you killed someone is true. I promised my friend I'd help with that, so I can't let you go."
"If you're smart, you'll just surrender."
After thinking for a moment, Jiang Bai gave this answer, which was considered as giving the other party a way out, without intending to kill him directly.
If this were simply a wicked monster who killed everyone and did all sorts of evil deeds, Jiang Bai wouldn't waste words with her and would have killed her even without Cheng Tiangang's orders.
Murder is illegal and subject to legal judgment, but that applies to humans; a monster is a different story.
If he's killed, so be it; Old Cheng won't say anything.
This was the second time Jiang Bai had encountered a monster. The first time was with Li Yaoji, and the second time was with Hu Jiaojiao, who claimed to be a six-tailed fox spirit.
Li Yaoji was very strong back then, but now he seems like nothing more than a weakling. If Jiang Bai were to encounter someone like Li Yaoji again now, he could kill him with one hand and one move.
Little did they know the true strength of Hu Jiaojiao, who claimed to be a six-tailed fox spirit.
According to Jiang Bai's judgment, while monsters may have long lifespans, their cultivation levels are rather mediocre. Li Yaoji, for example, has lived for so long and is known as a thousand-year-old great monster.
As a result... Jiang Bai could only chuckle.
If Hu Jiaojiao in front of him was of this caliber, then Jiang Bai really didn't know where she got the courage to do evil.
"You're so arrogant! You're just asking for death!" Hu Jiaojiao said angrily to Jiang Bai, then transformed into a gust of wind and rushed straight towards Jiang Bai. Long, slender fingernails grew on her delicate fingers, sharp as blades.
It struck straight at Jiang Bai's chest.
"Smack!"
Jiang Bai didn't move at all; he just stood there and blocked the opponent's attack with one hand.
He shook his head and said, "Your strength is considerable, hmm, equivalent to a peerless master. According to the old saying, your strength and speed would place you among the ranks of ancient martial arts practitioners."
"However, if that's all there is to it, you're too weak to me!"
"How is that possible!"
Hu Jiaojiao was somewhat bewildered. She was confident that her power was extremely strong, and she had been invincible for a hundred years. Although she was later attacked by Western demons and suffered severe injuries, she has not recovered to this day.
He only possesses one-tenth of his former peak strength; otherwise, he wouldn't need to absorb essence and blood to recover. However, this level of power is more than enough to deal with ordinary people.
Unexpectedly, Jiang Bai blocked it so easily.
"You are an ancient martial arts cultivator!" Hu Jiaojiao exclaimed in surprise, jumping back with a look of fear on her face.
"Not only is he an ancient martial arts cultivator, but he's also at the Heavenly Rank," Jiang Bai chuckled, making this remark.
Hearing this, Hu Jiaojiao turned pale and, without bothering to fight Jiang Bai, immediately turned around and ran away.
What a joke! Even in her prime, what could she do against an ancient martial arts master at the Heavenly Rank? She could only turn and run away. Let alone now.
Although she claims to be a six-tailed fox spirit, she knows her own situation well; frankly, she's just a wild demon.
I had some fortuitous opportunities back then to cultivate to where I am today, but I'm no match for the great demons with proper lineages. Faced with these powerful ancient martial artists, there's nothing I can do but run away.
Chapter 956 Hu Jiaojiao's Despair
"Trying to run? Is that even possible?"
Jiang Bai shook his head, finding Hu Jiaojiao's childish behavior laughable. He leaped forward and blocked her path, throwing a punch that sent Hu Jiaojiao flying with a scream.
Jiang Bai used considerable force, enough to obliterate an ordinary master. However, the demon race's bodies are incredibly strong, far surpassing those of ordinary humans, so Jiang Bai wasn't afraid of killing them in the process.
Otherwise, if they get away, it would be a laughing stock.
With a muffled thud, Hu Jiaojiao landed on the ground, smashing a large hole in it. Blood began to seep from the corner of her mouth. Lying there, she looked at Jiang Bai in fear, her previous high spirits completely gone.
Instead, his face was filled with fear: "My lord, please don't kill me, my lord, this little demon dares not do it again, please spare my life."
She remained in human form and did not transform into a demon, meaning she did not use her strongest abilities.
Whether she uses it or not is actually not very meaningful; she herself knows this, and Jiang Bai knows it too.
Jiang Bai's strength far surpasses hers.
She was merely a wild demon with a thousand years of cultivation. By chance, she had some opportunities to cultivate to this point and take human form, but her strength was not great, and she was far inferior to a true great demon.
Theoretically speaking, Li Yaoji is a legitimate great demon with strong talent and bloodline. However, unfortunately, his family suffered a tragic death, with all the adults dying. Li Yaoji survived the ordeal but did not inherit the family line.
Otherwise, given so many years, he would definitely not have become that weak.
Jiang Bai knew from ancient books how powerful orthodox demons were. To be honest, for demons like Hu Jiaojiao and Li Yaoji who had cultivated for thousands of years, if they had a normal lineage and good bloodline, the Heavenly Rank was their minimum limit.
Otherwise, they wouldn't have ruled the earth in ancient times, calling themselves gods, and it would have taken humanity to rise up and defeat them.
"I already said I wouldn't kill you. Considering you're not completely wicked, I just said I wouldn't kill you. You don't need to beg for mercy. I just want to keep you under house arrest."
"After all, what you did would have killed an ordinary person countless times. Although I said I wouldn't kill you, I will definitely help someone imprison you. You can prepare to spend the rest of your life in prison."
"If you're sentenced to twenty years for killing one person, then imprisoning you for six hundred years isn't unreasonable, is it?"
Jiang Bai chuckled and said that the first part of what he said was true, but the latter part was pure nonsense. Even if she were imprisoned for six hundred years, there would still be someone to guard her.
Jiang Bai knows no one who can live that long, including Jiang Bai himself; he doesn't have the confidence to live for five or six hundred years.
Of course, this is Jiang Bai now. He is still very young. As his strength increases in the future, his lifespan will naturally increase. He might even become a thousand-year-old monster in the future.
Upon hearing that Jiang Bai intended to imprison her for six hundred years, the vixen Hu Jiaojiao was terrified.
His face was deathly pale as he stared at Jiang Bai in front of him, his expression filled with utter terror. He cried out to Jiang Bai, "No, no! Don't imprison me! Six hundred years of imprisonment would be worse than death! You might as well kill me!"
"Then I'll kill you!" Jiang Bai raised an eyebrow and said in a deep voice. What did he mean? Threatening me? Did he really think I was too soft-hearted to kill him?
Grandpa has killed countless people, and you're not the first to kill a demon, so you're quite adept at it!
"No, no... I don't want to die, I don't want to die."
Hu Jiaojiao shook her head like a rattle drum. What a joke! If she wanted to die, why would she waste her breath talking to Jiang Bai? Why would she run away?
Of course, I don't want to die.
"You don't want to die, and you don't want to be imprisoned. Do you expect me to release you? You've killed so many people, why should I release you?" Jiang Bai sneered. This vixen is dreaming too much.
"I...I promise I won't kill anyone again...Great Immortal, I had no choice. I was seriously injured, and even after a hundred years of slumber, I haven't recovered even a tenth of my original strength. I did this because I was in a hurry!"
"Besides, I only killed lecherous scoundrels. I didn't touch any decent people, really!"
"I..."
Hu Jiaojiao hurriedly defended herself.
Unfortunately, Jiang Bai interrupted him before he could finish speaking: "Stop talking nonsense. Murder is murder. No matter who you kill, it's still murder, and murder is illegal! You should be punished."
"Do you think this is still a hundred years ago? Killing someone is such a trivial matter, no one will investigate?"
"I... I can serve you, sir. I am willing to serve you for life. I only ask that you do not kill me or imprison me." Hu Jiaojiao's face turned pale after hearing this. Suddenly, she thought of something and her eyes rolled. She said to Jiang Bai in a coquettish voice, giving him a flirtatious wink as she spoke, looking like she was ready to accept his offer.
It was as if as long as Jiang Bai let her go, she could immediately let Jiang Bai do whatever he wanted.
This sent a chill down Jiang Bai's spine. Although he was a bit lecherous, he didn't want just anyone. Hu Jiaojiao was an anomaly. Just thinking about himself with a fox...
Jiang Bai got goosebumps all over his body. This kind of thing is more acceptable to normal people. As for the weirdo... well, forget it. Although Hu Jiaojiao is a beautiful woman now, Jiang Bai is not so blinded by lust.
So he shook his head, indicating that he refused the offer. It sounded tempting, and although he had some psychological barriers to doing it, it should feel pretty good.
This really made Hu Jiaojiao anxious. Her face changed drastically, and she was already quite impatient. This was her last bargaining chip. If Jiang Bai didn't even agree to this, she really had nothing left to offer in exchange for him.
If they couldn't offer the terms for the exchange, even if they survived, they would be imprisoned for a hundred years. Thinking about the days when her friends were imprisoned, Hu Jiaojiao felt a chill; it was truly a fate worse than death.
They were treated like pigs and dogs, subjected to arbitrary humiliation and abuse, and deprived of their freedom. They were whipped and beaten at will. None of their friends could endure it, and they all died of fright.
She doesn't want to face that kind of life.
But... what else does she have besides her beauty? Hu Jiaojiao herself doesn't know.
Hu Jiaojiao felt a sense of despair. She glanced at Jiang Bai with a tragic expression, feeling a despair she had never experienced before. Even when she was injured a hundred years ago, or when she was being hunted as a child, she had never felt such despair.
When people are in dire straits, they always have some special methods, and demons are no exception. When Hu Jiaojiao was trapped in a desperate situation, a flash of inspiration suddenly appeared in her mind. Something from a long time ago, which she had gradually forgotten, suddenly popped up from the depths of her mind.
Chapter 957 Qingqiu Map
"My lord, I have thought of something that I am willing to exchange for my freedom and my life!"
Hu Jiaojiao suddenly said this to Jiang Bai.
Then, as if remembering something, he quickly added, "I promise that as long as you don't confine me, I will never kill anyone again. I will appear in places you can control and obey your orders. If I disobey, you can kill me at any time."
"Oh? What is it?" This piqued Jiang Bai's interest. He was curious about what this six-tailed fox spirit, who had lived for at least a thousand years, had to offer in exchange.
A fox's lineage is determined by the number of its tails; the more tails a fox has, the nobler its lineage and the stronger its abilities.
The Six-Tailed Fox is actually quite strong; it just has a good bloodline. Unfortunately, Hu Jiaojiao is a wild demon with no foundation. She only has the bloodline, and like Li Yaoji, her strength is lacking.
Otherwise, Jiang Bai would never have been able to manipulate the other party so easily.
Such monsters, though lacking in strength, possess pure bloodlines. Their unstable foundations may stem from various unknown reasons. For instance, Li Yaoji's unstable foundation and lack of lineage might be due to the extinction of his entire family.
The Long-Armed Ape Clan is renowned among demons; Zhang Mengmeng, the young celestial master of Longhu Mountain, once told me something about this.
Her family had some records about the demon race, and when Jiang Bai was curious, she told him everything.
Logically speaking, the thousand-year-old Tongbi Ape clan should have reached adulthood and possess immense strength, otherwise they wouldn't have been qualified to be adopted as pets by the First Emperor among the many demon clans.
Even the dogs of important people are extraordinary, let alone their pets.
The First Emperor's pets, when they came out, were also incredibly powerful.
Because their family were demons with long lifespans and were extremely loyal to their master, the First Emperor, they were responsible for storing the Qin Emperor's secret keys. Of course, the main reason was that they were powerful enough.
Unfortunately, no matter how powerful they were, it was useless. After the First Emperor died suddenly, the whole world rose up against them, and the Long-Armed Ape Clan was wiped out. Only Li Yaoji, a fish that escaped the net, managed to survive and live a miserable life.
However, Li Yaoji, being so young, also lost his inheritance, which is why he is not strong enough.
For some unknown reason, the six-tailed fox in front of me is also terribly weak, just like Li Yaoji. Its bloodline is sufficient, but its strength is lacking.
However, such people usually have some secrets, and you never know what surprises they might bring.
Li Yaoji possesses such a tremendous secret as the Qin Emperor's Key, so this six-tailed fox might also have something valuable.
Therefore, Jiang Bai became interested.
"Qingqiu Map!" After thinking for a moment, Hu Jiaojiao gritted her teeth and said this to Jiang Bai.
"Qingqiu Map? What is that?"
Jiang Bai was stunned, not knowing what this thing was that Hu Jiaojiao would use to make a deal with him. Judging from her expression, she spoke with a serious tone, as if she had made a great decision.
What does this mean? Is this thing really that important?
"Do you know about Qingqiu Kingdom?" Seeing Jiang Bai's blank expression, Hu Jiaojiao was also taken aback. She gave Jiang Bai a strange look, feeling that although the man in front of her was powerful, he seemed to know nothing about some things.
If the Qingqiu Map had been revealed back then, wouldn't those stinky Taoist priests and those self-proclaimed immortals have gone crazy?
But now that I've said it, the person in front of me doesn't know?
This made Hu Jiaojiao's heart pound with anxiety: "How exactly did this guy cultivate to the Heavenly Rank? Could it be that the lineage of ancient martial arts practitioners has been severed to this extent, with only the techniques and cultivation levels remaining, and all the secrets and mysteries unknown?"
Little did she know that Jiang Bai, like her, was a self-taught monk who only had a superficial understanding of many things. Because he lacked a foundation and lineage, he naturally couldn't know some secrets from ancient times.
Jiang Bai's current strength relies entirely on the system; otherwise, he would still be just an ordinary person.
Jiang Bai didn't know about the Qingqiu Map, but he did know about the Qingqiu Kingdom.
As a learned man, Jiang Bai thoroughly explored the library of Tiandu University, reading all sorts of books and historical anecdotes. He also possessed the ability to "remember everything he saw," and his exceptional memory allowed him to internalize all of this knowledge.
They naturally knew what the Qingqiu Kingdom was all about.
The *Classic of Mountains and Seas*, specifically the *Great Wilderness East Classic*, records: "There is a country called Qingqiu, inhabited by foxes with nine tails." Guo Pu's commentary states: "When peace reigns, their appearance is an auspicious sign."
Records of this can be found in the *Classic of Mountains and Seas*, specifically in the section on the Five Classics of Mountains and Seas, specifically the section on the Southern First Classic, and in the *Guicang* section on divination.
The content varies, but they all have one thing in common: Qingqiu Kingdom is a fox kingdom, inhabited by nine-tailed fox demons. Of course, in Jiang Bai's eyes, the Classic of Mountains and Seas is just an ancient fantasy novel and shouldn't be taken too seriously.
So I didn't pay much attention to it, but now, listening to what Hu Jiaojiao is saying, there really is such a place?
But the Earth is only so big, and China is even smaller, with 9.6 million square kilometers. Every inch of its land now bears human footprints, and the government's network covers the entire country. If such a place really existed, how could it escape public scrutiny?
Could Hu Jiaojiao be trying to fool me and deliberately lead me to this strange place?
Well, although she is a demon, she is still a demon living in this world, so it's not entirely unacceptable. But now she's telling me about some Qingqiu Kingdom, which is a bit ridiculous.
Jiang Bai expressed disbelief.
However, he remained calm and said, "I know about Qingqiu Kingdom, the legendary Fox Kingdom, but what does that have to do with the Qingqiu Map you mentioned?"
"What does this have to do with me?"
"Of course it's related, sir. You may not know, but the Qingqiu Kingdom is real. It's not just hidden away. Our fox clan has an ancient powerful being who concealed the ancient Qingqiu Kingdom."
"In the ancient war, humanity defied the heavens and defeated all the demons and gods. The ancient kingdom of Qingqiu was also destroyed, and the demons were completely driven out. On the eve of the defeat, the fox clan foresaw this and thus concealed the ancient kingdom of Qingqiu."
"Only the Qingqiu Map was left behind. To find the ancient Qingqiu Kingdom, you must have the Qingqiu Map. It is the key and map of the ancient Qingqiu Kingdom!"
Hu Jiaojiao hurriedly said.
However, these words sounded increasingly mysterious to Jiang Bai. Ancient history was obscure and unclear, but Jiang Bai also knew that it was quite chaotic at that time, unlike what some historians described as primitive.
In fact, some scientists have also said that ancient civilizations exist, but no one knows what these civilizations were like.
But Jiang Bai found the idea of humans defying nature rather laughable.
That's a bit too far-fetched. Jiang Bai still had doubts about Hu Jiaojiao's words, even more so than before.
Chapter 958 The Secret to Immortality
Do you think I'd believe that?
Jiang Bai stood there, speaking noncommittally to Hu Jiaojiao in front of him.
He himself was skeptical about this matter, as monsters and such are generally considered unreliable in traditional Chinese thought.
In particular, fox spirits, known for their intelligence and cunning, are the epitome of untrustworthy characters.
Jiang Bai was unsure about the situation and naturally wouldn't easily trust the other party.
This attitude made Hu Jiaojiao very anxious. If she hadn't been injured, she would have jumped out on the spot. Because she had nowhere else to go, and subconsciously regarded Jiang Bai as the kind of person who imprisoned her friend hundreds of years ago, she was terrified and had no choice but to reveal this secret.
But the other party didn't believe it!
How could Hu Jiaojiao bear this?
Although this matter is considered a secret, and no one knows where the Qingqiu Map is, the Qingqiu Map itself is not exactly a secret.
"Big brother, don't you have any common sense? How did you cultivate to this level?" Hu Jiaojiao cried out in her heart.
"My lord, you can ask around. Although the matter of the Qingqiu Map is a secret, many people know about it. Someone like you must have a powerful force supporting you. You can check the records. The Qingqiu Map does indeed exist."
Left with no other choice, Hu Jiaojiao could only respond to Jiang Bai in this way, subtly implying to him that it's alright if you don't know, brother, go and inquire about it. There are still people who know about this.
Jiang Bai naturally understood what she meant, and couldn't help but raise his eyebrows, feeling slightly embarrassed.
However, he remained calm and said, "Even if it's true, what benefit would I get from this Qingqiu Map? If it's so useful, why don't you use it yourself?"
"The Qingqiu Map records the location of the ancient Qingqiu Kingdom. It is the map and key to get there. A few friends and I obtained it by chance in our early years. They asked me to hide it. Now, some are dead and some have perished. Only I know the location of the Qingqiu Map."
"It's not that I don't want to enter, it's just that my cultivation level is too low, and I simply can't enter the Qingqiu Ancient Kingdom! But if I can't, then you can, sir."
"Your cultivation has already reached the Heavenly Realm, making you one of the best among ancient martial artists. Entering the Qingqiu Ancient Kingdom will not be a problem."
"To have cultivated to this level as you have today, you must have expended a great deal of your youth. I don't know what's in the Qingqiu Ancient Kingdom; that's too far in the past. However, the Qingqiu Ancient Kingdom is involved in the secret of immortality."
"The greatest secret that the Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox obtained back then is hidden within it."
"Over the years, countless people have been frantically searching for the Qingqiu Map, and this is inextricably linked to this matter."
"According to ancient legends, the Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox once bewitched the gods and obtained the secret to immortality. However, before she could acquire the secret and achieve immortality herself, humans rebelled against the heavens and slaughtered demons. In desperation, the Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox sealed this secret within the ancient kingdom of Qingqiu."
"If we can enter the Qingqiu Ancient Kingdom, the greatest benefit for you is this: even if the secret to immortality is fake and cannot grant immortality, it will certainly increase your lifespan. Just this alone is enough reason for you to be tempted."
Seeing that Jiang Bai remained unmoved, Hu Jiaojiao couldn't help but try to persuade him with reason and emotion, even bringing up some "secret to immortality" to attract him.
Jiang Bai scoffed at this, secretly disdainful. If the "Qingqiu Map" were truly as mysterious as this fox spirit claimed, it would have already fallen into the hands of someone with ulterior motives.
Putting everything else aside, it's understandable that others might not have obtained this item due to bad luck, lack of ability, or other reasons.
But what about the Qin Emperor?
The Qin Emperor was practically insane in his search for immortality, mobilizing the entire nation's resources to find the secret to eternal life.
Who was Qin Shi Huang?
The greatest emperor of all time, the one who vanquished demons and gods, and unified the universe.
Even a wild demon like Hu Jiaojiao knows about the "Qingqiu Map," so according to her, many other people also know about it. How could the Qin Emperor not know?
If he had known, how could the Qingqiu Map have escaped his touch?
But instead of searching for any "Qingqiu Map", he sent Xu Fu with three thousand boys and girls across the ocean to find the three immortal islands overseas!
why is that?
Did Xu Fu deceive the First Emperor? Or did the First Emperor know all along?
This so-called "Qingqiu Map" by Laozi is completely useless from beginning to end. It's a complete scam and there's no "secret to immortality" involved.
Jiang Bai leans more towards the latter.
However, judging from Hu Jiaojiao's expression, she didn't seem to be lying. Perhaps the wild demon had overheard something from someone else and spread it around, rather than intentionally lying to her.
"You don't believe me, sir?" Hu Jiaojiao could tell from Jiang Bai's expression that he didn't believe her, and she couldn't help but show a miserable expression on her face.
The difference in strength between Jiang Bai and her was too great. She didn't even have a chance to escape. Once she fell into his hands, there was no possibility of struggling. Otherwise, she wouldn't have said so much to Jiang Bai.
But now, Jiang Bai refuses to believe her, which leaves her feeling utterly helpless.
"Hehe, whether what you said is true or not, I will naturally investigate. But I am very curious, how did you obtain the Qingqiu Map?"
Jiang Bai asked Hu Jiaojiao in front of him, neither confirming nor denying.
He was very curious about this.
"This... is actually very simple. Adults may not believe it, but we used to live in the mountains. Back then, we were not yet intelligent. One day, I was playing with my friends and accidentally wandered into an ancient temple in the mountains."
When Hu Jiaojiao heard Jiang Bai ask about this, she knew that Jiang Bai had some doubts, so she dared not hide anything and told Jiang Bai what had happened.
Overall, Hu Jiaojiao's story is a melodramatic and bizarre adventure.
According to her, she was just a low-quality fox who was playing with a bunch of foxes when she accidentally entered a dilapidated ancient temple and fell into its underground crypt.
There, she and her companions had their bloodlines activated, some of which awakened their intelligence, and they also obtained the Qingqiu Map.
Jiang Bai didn't listen to the details of the process, but that's basically what happened.
After obtaining the Qingqiu Map, they devoted themselves to cultivation for a hundred years and were finally able to transform into human form. Then, as the story unfolded, things changed, and some people couldn't bear the loneliness and left.
Then, this secret was discovered by someone with ulterior motives...
Then, the poor little friends were tricked by that sister who couldn't resist going out, and then their tragic fate began. They scattered in all directions, and after so many years, only she was left.
Jiang Bai didn't bother listening to Hu Jiaojiao's tragic story. He only heard about her adventures and already knew what to expect. No matter what she said afterward, Jiang Bai didn't pay attention. Instead, he was thinking about how to handle the situation.
Chapter 959 The Earth Group is becoming increasingly lax.
After thinking about it, he realized that he couldn't really trust anyone else to talk about this with.
Although Jiang Bai only believed 30% of what Hu Jiaojiao said, this 30% credulity made Jiang Bai think twice.
Logically speaking, in the past, Jiang Bai would have consulted Yang Wudi when faced with such a situation. Yang Wudi was a fairly upright person, so there wouldn't have been any problems.
However, Yang Wudi's cultivation level is too low right now, and this guy is only a little older than him, so he probably doesn't know much. He might have to ask others for help.
Yang Wudi must have some background or connections, just like Cheng Tiangang did.
If he were to ask sincerely, he would definitely be able to give Jiang Bai an answer, but that would make too many people aware of the matter.
This is not in Jiang Bai's interest.
If it's fake, fine, but what if it's real?
Those guys swarmed over like flies drawn to blood.
Jiang Bai is not afraid, but he will face endless troubles.
He already has enough trouble, and his feud with those guys in the west hasn't been settled yet. Jiang Bai doesn't want to add more trouble and variables to his life now.
So after much deliberation, Jiang Bai decided to turn his attention to Cheng Tiangang, since Cheng had connections.
Grandpa Cheng is awesome! He's also my best friend, and he's more reliable than Yang Wudi. Plus, he's related to a major sect like the Southern Xinjiang Witch God Sect. After thinking it over, he seems like the most trustworthy person.
Besides, this matter can't be kept from Cheng Tiangang. He asked me to help arrest someone, and now that I've arrested Hu Jiaojiao, I have to give him an explanation, both morally and logically.
With just a few words, Lao Cheng could probably guess what was going on.
Since that's the case, why bother going in circles with him? It's better to just call him over.
"I'll call a friend over and ask."
After thinking for a moment, Jiang Bai said something to Hu Jiaojiao that left her speechless with grief.
"Brother, this is the Qingqiu Map! It contains the secret to immortality! Do you know how many people throughout history have turned against each other, even fathers and sons, because of this? I made a huge decision to tell you this, how can you not take it seriously?"
"Could it be that one has truly reached the legendary state of being free from desires and fearless of life and death?"
For a moment, Hu Jiaojiao looked at Jiang Bai with a strange expression.
Little did they know, Jiang Bai had absolutely no sense of lifespan or death.
Ultimately, this guy is just too young. A lifespan of several hundred years is a very long and arduous process for him. He doesn't even know when he will grow old or when he will feel the urgency of death.
Naturally, I've lost interest in things like immortality.
Even a highly talented expert with exceptional talent would need at least a hundred years to reach the Heavenly Rank. The remaining time is not much, ranging from a hundred or eighty years to fifty or sixty years, which would naturally create some pressure.
But Jiang Bai... Jiang Bai's mother is only twenty-five this year, and that's still his age according to the Chinese reckoning.
Jiang Bai absolutely lacked the sense of urgency that a master of the Heavenly Realm should have at this moment.
Hu Jiaojiao had this idea because she didn't understand Jiang Bai's situation; otherwise, she would never have thought of it.
"Old Cheng, the guy's been caught. Come over here yourself." He called Cheng Tiangang and told him to come over.
This matter is of great importance, and Jiang Bai really doesn't want anyone to know. Who knows which faction or organization those two-person teams come from?
If they find out, wouldn't the whole world know?
The people in the God Group might not be so reliable either. Li Qingdi's group is so close to those guys in the Heaven Group. If he finds out, it might not be a good thing.
Therefore, Jiang Bai didn't want them to follow; too many people would cause too much gossip, and he had to be careful.
After saying that, he sent Cheng Tiangang a location. This was a new feature developed by Jiang Bai on TT, which he had acquired. Although Jiang Bai didn't manage things or understand technology, he had seen a lot in his previous life and could still offer some innovative suggestions.
All departments of the Empire Enterprises have been influenced by Jiang Bai to varying degrees, resulting in some groundbreaking progress.
This is just one of its small features, but it's very convenient to use and quite popular.
Soon, a car stopped on the side of the road a hundred meters away, and then Lao Cheng got out of the car and walked over unsteadily.
Upon arriving, Lao Cheng saw Hu Jiaojiao lying on the ground with blood at the corner of her mouth, still unable to get up, looking pitiful. He then glanced at Jiang Bai, who was standing there smoking and acting somewhat nonchalant.
He leaned closer and whispered, "What's going on? Is it a person or a ghost?"
"A demon, a six-tailed fox demon," Jiang Bai said noncommittally.
"A six-tailed fox demon? I never expected it to be a monster! Since the founding of the People's Republic of China, there have been very few monsters committing crimes. After Qin Shi Huang destroyed the Wu Kingdom, their numbers dwindled. Although there have been occasional disturbances in recent years, they have all been quickly suppressed."
"They were also arrogant for a period of time during the Republic of China era, but after the founding of our country, the number of cases committed by demons has become very small."
"Since it's a monster, this matter is no longer our responsibility. I'll give the Earth Group a call. Those guys who are specifically responsible for monitoring monsters are becoming increasingly lax. They've been doing nothing for decades, and in the last two years, two major incidents have occurred."
"Li Yaoji and this fox demon, it seems the Earth Group needs some restructuring. I must report them to the higher-ups!"
Cheng Tiangang was clearly displeased after confirming Hu Jiaojiao's identity. He couldn't help but mutter to Jiang Bai, taking out his phone as if he really wanted to call the Earth Group.
"Don't rush." Jiang Bai stopped Cheng Tiangang's actions. He hadn't called him here to hand Hu Jiaojiao over to someone else. If that were the case, Jiang Bai wouldn't have specifically asked him to come alone.
Why is Old Cheng's brain not working properly right now?
Jiang Bai grabbed him, and Cheng Tiangang immediately came to his senses, giving an awkward smile. Upon hearing that it was a monster, his first thought was to tell the Earth Group, a reaction he had had for many years.
Of course, he might also be using this incident to cause trouble. He only came to his senses after being pulled by Jiang Bai. Jiang Bai had specifically asked him to come over, so it couldn't be as simple as just handing someone over to him.
Otherwise, I wouldn't have specifically told him not to bring any people.
"What? Is there something else going on here?"
How clever was Cheng Laohu? Realizing what was going on, he immediately understood why Jiang Bai had pulled him aside, and leaned closer to ask in a low voice.
"Of course something's wrong." Jiang Bai glared at Lao Cheng.
Isn't that obvious?
Why would I call you if there's nothing wrong? Grandpa has already caught the monster. If there was nothing wrong, I would have dealt with it myself. Why would I need you to come and talk nonsense?