Chapter 161: Lingling Daoist's Plan
"Damn it. All things considered, you two getting fired is actually the good news!" Zhou Fan ignored Fan's prying, grabbing his head with both hands and yanking at his hair. He cursed in exasperation.
"Ahem... actually, that crazy woman isn't in Hui City. She's in the Capital City getting treatment. The gu poison she was hit with is strange—she can't cure it herself. That's also why we suspect the mysterious person is Elder Witch!"
Seeing Zhou Fan on the verge of a breakdown, Fan couldn't help but say in a low voice.
"Oh, is that it? Well, never mind then. Hope you two get reinstated soon. I've got stuff to do, so I'm heading out!" Zhou Fan's mood flipped like a switch. With his good humor instantly restored, he gave the two a wave and turned to go back to his room.
"Shit, hold on!" Fan was speechless. He quickly grabbed Zhou Fan, then asked awkwardly, "Did you just say you're going to Hui City too?"
"Yeah, I'm going to catch a traitor. Why?" Zhou Fan asked, confused.
"I'll go with you. After all, your injuries haven't fully healed yet!" Fan declared righteously.
"Get lost. Cut the act. You think I was born yesterday? Just get to the point!" Zhou Fan said, shaking Fan's hand off in disgust. He knew Fan all too well—the guy wouldn't lift a finger unless there was something in it for him. 'He'd be kind enough to come with me just because I'm not fully healed?'
Not in a million years.
"That crazy woman went back to the Capital City for treatment, right? The person she captured before was then rescued by Elder Witch, wasn't he? My master wants the two of us to go and get that person back!" Fan wasn't the least bit embarrassed about being called out. They knew each other inside and out, after all.
"So you two are afraid of running into Elder Witch because you know you're no match for her, and you want to drag me along as cannon fodder? Holy shit, you guys are just great. I really can't thank you enough!" Zhou Fan stared at them with contempt. He Yi had the decency to look away, but Fan was completely shameless—he even nodded in agreement!
"Even that crazy woman only lasted two moves. If we really run into Elder Witch, do you think I'll be of any use? Are you underestimating her strength, or are you overestimating mine?" Though Zhou Fan said this, he showed no intention of leaving, because he was truly curious about this Elder Witch.
'This Elder Witch, whose traces seemed to be everywhere... It was like she'd been a part of everything that had happened since my marriage to Chu Yan. Who on earth was she? And what was her goal in setting up so many pawns?'
"Lingling Daoist's plan is for us to lure Elder Witch out first," He Yi explained softly. "Then he'll make his move and finish her off. Elder Witch definitely has other masters with her. The two of us alone aren't enough to even make her show her hand. That's why the three of us need to work together."
"You two are on a mission, ridding the world of evil. But what's in it for me? There has to be some kind of reward, or the deal's off!" Zhou Fan shot them a wry smile, then turned and headed upstairs.
"I told you we shouldn't have been so direct! See? That guy won't agree to anything unless there's something in it for him!" Fan grumbled, glaring at He Yi as Zhou Fan walked away.
"You don't seriously think he couldn't have figured that out, do you? Call your master. See if he's willing to offer up some incentive or if he wants to change the plan." He Yi rolled his eyes at Fan and turned to head upstairs himself.
'Damn it, what does this have to do with me? Why's everyone taking it out on me?'
Fan cursed inwardly but had no choice but to call Lingling Daoist.
"Brother Fan, was what I did too cruel?" The moment Zhou Fan returned to his room, Gu Feifei threw her arms around his neck and whispered the question.
"Not at all. If it were me, I'd have been even more merciless." Zhou Fan smiled and shook his head. "As for your grandfather, just let him stew on it for a while. Then we can have Elder Kong and Elder Liang talk to him. I'm sure he'll come around." He gently stroked Gu Feifei's hair, comforting her.
"Brother Fan, where do you think I should even begin? The company's rotten to the core. Even with Han Huan here to help, I'm still completely lost." Gu Feifei sat quietly in Zhou Fan's lap, frustrated just thinking about the company.
"Inject some new blood into the company. Since you're starting over, you need to make sure everyone, from the top down, all the department heads, answers to you. You need to have absolute decision-making power. Let them know who's really in charge," Zhou Fan said after a moment's thought, offering his advice.
"I have to go to Hui Province later. While we still have some time, we..."
"What do you mean? I don't understand..."
"You don't? That's okay, I can teach you. We'd better make the most of our time."