The person in black saw her stop in front of him and let out a cold sneer, his eyes brimming with disdain.
Ye Jiuliang looked down at him from above, a mocking smile playing on her lips.
With a wave of her pale hand, a colorless powder swirled around him.
A faint, pleasant fragrance spread through the air.
Wei Nan and Wei Xi had held their breaths as soon as Ye Jiuliang made her move, to avoid falling victim themselves.
Wei Xi watched the person in blackâs expression gradually become vacant with mild surprise.
Ye Jiuliang squatted down and snapped her fingers loudly.
The man in black looked at her with a vacant gaze, like a marionette on strings.
Ye Jiuliangâs red lips parted slightly, her voice cool and carrying a distinctive intonation, "What is your purpose in targeting the Dark Hall this time?"
"To eliminate Li Mochan and catch Wei Nan," the person in black responded mechanically.
Wei Nan and Wei Xi were taken aback.
This works?
"Why do you want to capture Wei Nan?" Ye Jiuliang asked again.
The person in black said, "To cure the poison."
Their guess had been right on target, Ye Jiuliang slightly furrowed her brows.
"What were the orders your master gave you this time?"
"To use the Dells Organization to oppose the Dark Hall, lure Li Mochan into action, set an ambush in the Desert of Hell to eliminate him, and take the opportunity to release the poisoned ones from the Dark Hall. Make Wei Nan willingly cure the poison, and once Wei Nan has developed the antidote, capture her and bring her back," the person in black answered without hesitation, each word clearly enunciated.
Ye Jiuliang continued, "Who is your master? What is their surname?"
"Donât know," the person in black shook his head, speaking dully.
Ye Jiuliang frowned, "Then what does your master look like?"
The same three words again, "Donât know."
"Madam, could he be lying?" Wei Nan blurted out.
Ye Jiuliang shook her head slightly.
She thought that these people in black probably didnât know what their real master looked like, perhaps only the man in grey who had committed suicide knew a bit more.
After pondering for a moment, she lowered her voice and asked, "Where do you go after completing your mission?"
"F country," the person in black said.
At these words, a gleam flashed through Ye Jiuliangâs eyes.
"Why go back to F country?" she pressed.
"Branch office."
"Where is the branch office?"
Wei Nan took out paper and a pen, waiting to take notes.
"Los Island," the person in black said without hesitation.
"Anywhere else?" Ye Jiuliang asked, lips curled.
The person in black said, "Donât know."
"Then where is the headquarters?" Ye Jiuliang shifted the question.
The person in black shook his head, "Not sure."
Ye Jiuliang glanced at him, judging that she wouldnât get much more out of him.
She snapped her fingers, and the person in black passed out.
"Take care of all of them," Ye Jiuliang stood up and turned to leave the dungeon.
Wei Nan and Wei Xi exchanged glances, then Wei Xi followed Ye Jiuliangâs steps out of the dungeon.
The bright moon hung in the sky, the air filled with a faint smell of the sea.
Wei Xi caught up with Ye Jiuliang, walking beside her with a curious look, "Madam, is what that person in black said true?"
Ye Jiuliang glanced at him sideways, taunting, "Do you want to try it out?"
"Better not," Wei Xi waved his hand and stepped back two paces.
He definitely didnât want to end up like a marionette.
Ye Jiuliang shifted her gaze away, speaking indifferently, "Check the information on Los Island."
After being calculated against so often, it was time to recover some interest.
"Understood," Wei Xi said.
"Has Mohan returned yet?" Ye Jiuliang checked the time; it was already past seven.
Wei Xi said, "Heâs back now, should be in the study."
Ye Jiuliang had just lifted her foot to leave when Wei Xi called out to her, "Madam, we have a competition tomorrow, do you want to come and watch?"
He had a feeling that if she went to the match, it would definitely be fun.
"Competition?" Ye Jiuliang looked back at him, slightly curious.
"We at the Dark Hall have a competition every year, kind of like a boxing match, with both penalties and rewards for winning or losing," Wei Xi explained.
This did sound somewhat similar to their organizationâs annual trials.
A glint flashed in Ye Jiuliangâs eyes, "What are the benefits if one wins?"
"The master gives out a big red envelope," Wei Xi said with a smile, looking every bit like a money-grubber.
She asked, "How big is it?"
Wei Xi spread out his five fingers, "Fifty million."
Sheesh, talk about splashing the cash.
Ye Jiuliang clicked her tongue.
"And whatâs the penalty for losing?"
"Clean all the toilets in the Dark Hall for a month," said Wei Xi, starting to laugh at his own words.
Ye Jiuliang, "..."
This idea was quite wicked, but indeed a good one.
It seemed she should take note; whoever lags behind in the next trial should clean all the toilets in the organization for a month.
"Then, can I participate?"
Wei Xi chuckled dryly, "Iâm not the one to decide that, youâd have to ask the master."
If the lady got even slightly injured, he guessed that all of them would have to clean toilets.
Ye Jiuliang raised an eyebrow, a sly smile flitting across her eyes.
This did seem quite interesting.
**
After dinner, Ye Jiuliang took Li Mochan for a walk outside.
After discussing the clues about the man in black, Ye Jiuliang didnât forget to bring up the Dark Hallâs competition the next day.
"Can I participate?" Ye Jiuliang wrapped her arms around his, grinning.
Seeing her sparkling eyes, Li Mochan felt a bit of a headache, "Who told you about it?"
"Thatâs not important," Ye Jiuliang pressed, "Can I participate?"
"Why do you want to?" Li Mochanâs voice was deep and velvety, tinged with helplessness.
Ye Jiuliang was frank, "I heard the winner gets a big red envelope."
Li Mochan couldnât help but be amused by her reason; all his belongings were already hers, yet she was interested in that red envelope.
"What if I give you double?"
"No," Ye Jiuliang refused without hesitation, "Itâs more fun to win it myself."
"Just because of that?" he asked, looking at her skeptically.
"Not just that," Ye Jiuliang chuckled lightly, "I heard that Wei Bei and the other three have never scrubbed toilets, so I want to give them a chance to try something new."
Finally hearing her real purpose, Li Mochan couldnât contain his laughter and flicked her forehead, "You, seriously..."
If Wei Dong and the others heard this, theyâd probably cry.
"So, can I participate?" Ye Jiuliangâs smile curved her eyes.
"I didnât say that," Li Mochan walked away.
Ye Jiuliang jumped onto his back, nibbling on his ear, "No, if you donât agree, I wonât get down."
Li Mochanâs eyes darkened slightly, his hand moving to support her legs so she wouldnât fall.
"Behave yourself."
"So do you agree or not?" Ye Jiuliang poked his cheek, asking with a giggly smile.
Li Mochan laid out some ground rules for her, conceding a step, "You can only play for a little while."
Ye Jiuliang nodded vigorously, agreeing readily, "Okay."
"Can we go back now?"
Ye Jiuliang, feeling good, kissed his cheek, "Letâs go."
Li Mochanâs lips curved into an indulgent smile, his eyes almost brimming with laughter.