Seeing the people emerging from the surroundings, Manager Wang panicked. He instantly put on a sour face and looked at Lan Hua with hostility.
"Manager Lan, youâd better know whoâs backing me. If you dare to touch me, you might not even know how you die. I advise you not to cause yourself trouble!"
Hearing his bluff, Lan Hua sneered.
"Isnât the one backing you Young Master Luo? Now everyone in Ping City knows you offended Young Master Luo because of the Purple Jade Dagger. You still want him as your support? Arenât you afraid of dying at his hands!"
As soon as Lan Hua spoke those words, Manager Wangâs face changed drastically.
"What do you mean? Whatâs your real purpose for calling me here today?"
"No real purpose, just wanted to chat with you. Itâs a pity you didnât get the hint and tried to mess with me. I called these people here just to make you hold back a bit. If Manager Wang is willing, why donât we talk inside?"
Seeing Lan Hua softening her stance, Manager Wangâs expression eased a bit.
"Alright, since Manager Lan sincerely invites me, Iâll give you this face."
After speaking, he walked in with a cold face.
Lan Hua followed closely behind, and as he entered, she locked the door immediately.
The moment the candlelight brightened the room, Gu Sheng and a group emerged from the shadows.
Seeing so many people in the room, Manager Wangâs face changed instantly.
"Manager Lan, whatâs the meaning of this?"
"Weâre not thrilled about this either, but my backer wants to chat with you. Please have a seat, Manager Wang."
Lan Yao and Er Gou were already standing at the door. Knowing he couldnât leave, Manager Wang sat down, suppressing his anger.
Gu Sheng sat opposite him and glanced at him.
"Manager Wang, if Iâm not mistaken, you havenât found the right gemstone for the Purple Jade Dagger yet, have you?"
Hearing him mention the Purple Jade Dagger, Manager Wangâs pupils instantly contracted.
"Who exactly are you? Iâve never seen you in Ping City, how do you know this? You must know that Ping City is under the control of the Luo family. By knowing this information, youâre undoubtedly courting death!"
Hearing his words, Gu Sheng chuckled softly.
"Is that so? I donât see it that way. On the contrary, I think Iâm offering you a lifeline. After all, if I donât step in, Luo Qin is prepared to kill you, and youâre preparing to escape, arenât you?"
Listening to him lay out his true thoughts one by one, Manager Wang only felt that the person in front of him was extraordinarily terrifying.
"Who exactly are you? How do you know so much? Have you been spying on me?"
"Youâre not worthy of my surveillance, but as I said earlier, if youâre willing to cooperate, I can offer you a way out and ensure that Luo Qin doesnât find you, allowing you to live well in another place. Do you want to cooperate?"
Gu Sheng extended an olive branch, and Manager Wang couldnât help feeling tempted.
He couldnât find the gemstone because all the people he could mobilize had used theirs, and now he was at the end of his rope. But with Luo Qin pressing him step by step, he was left with no choice but to plan his escape.
Originally, he had thought that if he had some backing, it would be better, at least increasing his chances of survival. Unexpectedly, Gu Sheng took the initiative to present himself.
Although he couldnât yet determine if Gu Sheng was a friend or foe, the proposal was highly tempting, as it concerned his life.
After much thought, he asked, "What do you want to do? What do you need me to do?"
Seeing that he took the bait, Gu Sheng slightly curled his lips.
"I want you to hand over the Purple Jade Dagger to me, and then Iâll save your life."
Hearing this, Manager Wangâs eyes lit up.
"Is it that simple?"
"Thatâs right, just that simple. If you want to save your life, give me the Purple Jade Dagger and stall Luo Qin, so he canât present anything at the recruitment meeting."
After Gu Sheng spoke, Manager Wang frowned.
"You want me to stall him, but I might not be able to do it. After handing over the Purple Jade Dagger, I need to leave. If I continue to associate with him, wouldnât that be exposing myself?"
"Without the Purple Jade Dagger, youâre of no value to him. When youâre gone, heâll surely find someone else to do the job. You craftsmen must have your own networks. Do you need to show up personally to stall him?"
Understanding what he meant, Manager Wangâs mind started calculating again.
Seeing his eyes darting around, Gu Sheng had already guessed what he was thinking.
Taking out a money bag, he slapped it onto the table.
"Iâll cover all expenses, you just need to do the work."
Hearing the heavy thud, Manager Wangâs eyes brightened.
"Good! Seeing that youâre Manager Lanâs backer, Iâll trust you this once!"
With that, he was about to grab the money bag.
Seeing his movement, Gu Sheng pulled back, causing Manager Wang to grab at air and frown.
"What do you mean by this?"
"Nothing much, just have a few questions."
"Ask away."
"Is the Qingcheng Sect under Luo Qinâs control? How many people do they have? Where are they stationed? I need to know all about this."
Hearing him ask about the Qingcheng Sect, Manager Wang was a bit troubled.
Seeing his hesitant look, Gu Sheng tapped his fingers on the table.
"Donât forget, heâs the one who wants your life now, and Iâm the one saving it."
With Gu Shengâs reminder, Manager Wang gritted his teeth and said, "As far as I know, King Luo has completely handed over the Qingcheng Sect to Luo Qin and is giving them strong support. Itâs said that they also have a mysterious force at their disposal. Theyâre stationed in the south of the city, in the most luxurious mansion there, with about a thousand men, most of whom were trained by King Luo. The rest belong to Luo Qin, but itâs said Luo Qinâs forces are not as strong as King Luoâs, hence the recruitment drive to cultivate a few capable assistants."