Chapter 264: Malicious Intentions

Du Jinsong assigned everyone their respective areas and placed tracking talismans on all ten of the selected individuals.

Zhou Li followed their requirements to the letter. These ten people possessed no knowledge of sorcery whatsoever, so once they encountered danger, they would have no ability to defend or counterattack other than waiting for rescue.

"Brother Ma, you and Sister Li are responsible for South Street."

"Miss Kong, you are responsible for West Street."

...

All the exorcists were similarly divided into ten groups, with each group responsible for one person to ensure their safety.

Zhou Li, on the other hand, was personally led by Du Jinsong and Zhang Ximing, clearly receiving special treatment.

Du Jinsong glanced at the time and began planning.

At this very moment, Su Yan stood by the window of her room, watching the sunset sink below the horizon.

Night had arrived.

"Editor Gu, you haven't finished work yet?"

Gu Yang tidied up his current tasks and prepared to give Su Yan a call.

He had endured an entire day of not contacting her, but before he could even pick up the receiver, Liu Yiyi's coquettish voice rang out from the office doorway.

"Is something the matter?"

There was some urgent work to be done at the publishing house tonight; besides him working overtime, other colleagues were also present.

Liu Yiyi did not answer immediately, but instead walked into the office.

"Editor Gu, I heard that things aren't quite peaceful tonight. I was a little worried about you, so I came to check on you."

Such blatant flirting made Gu Yang frown.

He was certain that Liu Yiyi was approaching him with an ulterior motive. Normally, at the publishing house, she would restrain herself somewhat, but now...

"Things aren't peaceful tonight? How come I didn't know?"

Gu Yang truly couldn't tell what she meant by "not peaceful."

Liu Yiyi giggled. "Editor Gu, why must you play dumb? So many people have gone missing in the city lately, and you even encountered danger yourself—you were almost taken away, weren't you?"

As she spoke the final words, the smile on her face became exceptionally meaningful.

A shadow crossed Gu Yang's eyes. "How do you know?"

Only he, Lu Feng, and Kong Nian knew about this matter, and Lu Feng certainly wouldn't be bored enough to spread it around.

"I know many things about Editor Gu. I also know that Editor Gu seems to be quite interested in that Miss Kong." Although Liu Yiyi's words were frivolous, she was constantly observing his every move.

The atmosphere in the office became suffocatingly oppressive.

"Who... exactly are you?" Gu Yang's guard against Liu Yiyi reached its peak.

Liu Yiyi slowly approached his side, completely unbothered by his sharp gaze.

"So, between Su Yan and Kong Nian, which one does Editor Gu actually like? Are they better than me? What can those seventeen or eighteen-year-old little girls understand of romance? Why won't Editor Gu look at me instead? As long as Editor Gu gives the word, I will be yours." Liu Yiyi spoke these heart-fluttering words of passion, her coquettish eyes radiating an ambiguous light.

"I'd like to treat Editor Gu to a drink tonight. I wonder if Editor Gu would do me the honor?"

"Are you insane?" Gu Yang's expression was dark enough to drip water.

Where was her sense of shame?

Liu Yiyi provocatively hooked her finger on the hem of Gu Yang's clothes, her red lips slowly approaching him.

There was no man she couldn't have.

The distance between them was mere inches when Gu Yang pushed her away without a shred of mercy.

"You make me feel disgusted."

The expression on Liu Yiyi's face froze, quickly replaced by a chilling coldness.

"Gu Yang, you can't escape my grasp. Rather than having our relationship fall apart publicly, it would be better if you just obediently submitted to me."

"Why are you hounding me like this?" Gu Yang was not narcissistic enough to believe she was doing this because she liked him.

Looking at her impatient manner, he even thought of what Kong Nian had said—that the eight people who went missing a few days ago must have been captured to have their essence drained.

Could it be her?

Gu Yang was startled by this sudden thought, staring intently at Liu Yiyi, attempting to find any clue.

An air of impatience appeared on Liu Yiyi's face. "Of course it's because I like you. A man I like is a man I must have. If I'm not mistaken, Editor Gu hasn't experienced it yet, has he? Once you try it with me, I guarantee you won't be able to leave me."

She deliberately thrust her proud curves forward to catch Gu Yang's eye.

Gu Yang let out a sneer. "But I have no interest in you."

Instead of being angry, Liu Yiyi became even more brazen. "As long as you are willing, I will give it to you."

Gu Yang's intention was merely to provoke her to test if she was indeed that menace, but this woman's thick skin was truly breathtaking.

"I am not willing. Can you leave now?"

A cold rejection, leaving no room for negotiation.

The displeasure on Liu Yiyi's face vanished in an instant. "Believe me, one day you will kneel down and beg me."

Gu Yang watched her figure walk away, the ominous premonition in his heart growing stronger.

Just as Liu Yiyi left, Lu Feng walked in with a long face.

"Gu Yang, I think I've had a broken heart."

Gu Yang's expression wasn't great; even without asking, he knew what Lu Feng meant.

"Miss Kong rejected you?"

It was expected.

Sure enough, Lu Feng nodded dejectedly. "She said she was busy tonight, so I asked her for tomorrow night, and she said she was busy tomorrow night too. Then I asked her when she would have time, and her answer was that she wouldn't have time anytime soon."

He wasn't a fool; she had rejected him quite decisively.

Gu Yang sighed. "If that's the case, then just give up. She came to the capital for business; she might not stay long."

In his view, Lu Feng and Kong Nian were from two completely different worlds.

Lu Feng sighed heavily. The Prince of Xiang had a goddess in his heart but no intention of pursuing her; what else could he do?

"By the way, I saw Liu Yiyi walking out when I came in just now. What was she looking for you for again?"

At the mention of Liu Yiyi, a look of disgust involuntarily surfaced on Gu Yang's face.

"She wanted to go to bed with me."

"Oh, I knew that Liu Yiyi wasn't peacefu—Wait, what?! What did you say?!" Lu Feng's eyes nearly popped out of his head as he processed the words.

Gu Yang gave him a confirming look. "That was her meaning. However, I suspect she is related to the disappearance cases from a few days ago."

Lu Feng gasped. "Can you be sure? Should we contact Miss Kong immediately and tell her about this lead?"

A very serious topic had once again been forcefully dragged back to Kong Nian.

"It's only a suspicion for now. I have already rejected Liu Yiyi. If she is the one, she is very likely to take some extreme actions."

Gu Yang's analysis caused Lu Feng's expression to change.

"Then aren't you in great danger? No, we must go find Miss Kong."

In Lu Feng's mind now, only Kong Nian could deal with Liu Yiyi.

Gu Yang felt somewhat helpless. "She has already set her sights on me; it's clearly not easy to shake her off. Besides, right now it's just a guess, I don't have concrete evidence yet."

(End of Chapter)