Chapter 22 Part 2: The Interview Trap

The next day, Yang Mao put on a suit, spruced himself up, and went out for the interview cheerfully.

 

During the stream, viewers asked about him.

 

– Where’s Senior Disciple Brother?

Haven’t seen him these past couple of days.

– Kind of miss Senior Disciple Brother’s face.

 

Qianyang explained, “He’s been looking at houses.

This place is too small for us.”

 

– Moving?

– Our Senior Disciple Brother has been sleeping on the sofa for a month.

So pitiful.

– Show us the new place when you move.

– Have you decided on a house yet?

 

Qianyang said, “Yes.

We rented a four-bedroom.

We’ll move next week.”

 

– Four-bedroom?

Just the few of you need four rooms?

– Is there enough space?

If not, I can come sleep with you (starry eyes).

– Hey, your abacus beads are hitting me in the face!

– Why a four-bedroom?

 

“My apprentice has a younger sister.

She’s moving in soon.

The remaining room is for his junior apprentice sister.”

 

– ???

– Junior apprentice sister??

– Wait, I can’t even be Second Senior Disciple Brother?

– Who is the junior apprentice sister?

Why doesn’t she come out and say hello?

– Damn!

What did Senior Disciple Brother do to deserve living with three young ladies?

 

Qianyang said, “…She’s shy.”

 

– Wait… is the junior apprentice sister the ghost sister?

– Right!

There’s also the ghost sister.

– Wait, you’re renting a separate room for the ghost sister?

– Oh man, what a loving school.

 

Qianyang furrowed her brow and said sternly, “Don’t talk nonsense.

There are definitely no little ghosts around me.

Absolutely not, no way!

Got it?”

 

– Fine, fine, got it!

– Fine, fine, there are none, okay?

– (Mouth says no, body says yes)

– Forget it, don’t call her out.

– Just give her face!

– Now that the house is decided, why isn’t Senior Disciple Brother here today?

 

Qianyang said, “He went out for an interview.”

 

– Huh?

It’s the weekend.

Are there interviews on weekends?

– Senior Disciple Brother still needs a job?

If it were me, I’d just cling to master’s thigh.

 

Qianyang didn’t continue interacting.

She started today’s live connections.

 

By the time the morning stream ended, Yang Mao still hadn’t returned.

 

At noon, Qianyang reheated leftovers herself.

After an hour-and-a-half nap, she started the second round of streaming.

 

– Good afternoon, streamer!

– Haha, I was scrolling through posts at noon.

Qingsi lost almost one hundred thousand followers, and his stream traffic is down to thirty thousand.

– Dying of laughter.

His fans don’t dare bark anymore.

– So satisfying!

– Have you noticed a strange phenomenon?

– Occult zone streamers basically don’t dare mention Qianyang anymore.

– Qianyang made Qingsi lose so many followers with just a few words.

Other streamers don’t dare get involved.

– The streamer attracts too much hatred.

So many eyes are watching her.

– The streamer became famous too fast, driving the entire platform in reverse.

Those in the industry must be green with envy.

– Streamer, be careful lately.

Tall trees catch the wind.

 

Qianyang glanced at the comments and didn’t take them to heart.

 

By evening, her stream was still very popular.

Everyone loved the little occult tips Qianyang shared.

 

– Streamer, when Senior Disciple Brother was learning mediumship, did he encounter any difficulties?

– I’ve watched some mediumship tutorials.

I want to try self-study.

 

Qianyang answered, “I’m not sure.

I’ll ask him when he gets back.”

 

– Senior Disciple Brother still isn’t back?

It’s seven in the evening!

– What kind of interview takes this long?

– What is he doing?

– Haven’t seen him all day.

A bit strange.

 

Qianyang glanced at the sky outside.

The sun had long set, and the sky was dark.

In fact, since waking up from her nap, she had felt a sense of foreboding.

But the phone she used for streaming had no other social apps.

She usually didn’t take her phone when going out.

She had never called Yang Mao.

Her contacts only had an old number of his that had been disconnected.

She couldn’t reach him.

She couldn’t reach Yang Mao, let alone anyone else.

 

Before leaving, Yang Mao had told her it might take a while.

She just hadn’t expected it to take so long that he wouldn’t be home by evening.

 

– Not back for this long.

Could something have happened?

– Holy shit!

More than one person is jealous of the streamer’s traffic lately.

I hope it’s not…

 

Qianyang frowned deeply.

She hadn’t been joking when she said she didn’t easily calculate fortunes for people close to her.

Yang Mao was her apprentice, meaning she had become part of his karma.

Acting rashly could cause deviations and lead to an uncontrollable situation.

It wouldn’t affect Qianyang much, but the impact on Yang Mao would be significant.

 

Him being gone for so long was indeed unusual.

 

“Dong dong—”

“Dong dong dong—”

As the stream buzzed, someone knocked on Qianyang’s door.

The knocking was hard and urgent, almost like pounding.

 

– Is Senior Disciple Brother back?

– Finally!

 

Qianyang sat up from the sofa and shook her head.

“It’s not him.”

 

– Holy shit?!

– That knocking sounds hostile!

– Streamer, don’t open the door!

– So scary!

 

Ignoring the viewers’ concerns, Qianyang took her phone and slowly walked to the door.

By the sound of it, there was only one person outside.

Unless they were holding a gun, it was basically impossible for them to hurt Qianyang.

 

She turned the lock.

The knocking stopped.

 

“Brother…”

At the door stood a girl of seventeen or eighteen, in a simple jacket, out of breath.

When she saw the door open, she relaxed.

 

“Who are you?”

Seeing that it wasn’t Yang Mao who opened the door, the girl’s expression changed.

She grew anxious again.

“Where’s my brother?

Yang Mao?

Where is he?!”

 

Qianyang’s fingers tightened on the doorknob.

The uneasy feeling in her heart instantly peaked.

 

“Yang Wei?”

 

The girl froze.

“You know me?

Where’s my brother?

He went out for an interview today and was completely unreachable by the afternoon!

Is he home?”

 

Qianyang pressed her lips together.

“He’s not back yet.”

 

Yang Wei’s eyes reddened instantly.

She ignored Qianyang and rushed into the room, searching everywhere.

 

“Brother!”

“Brother?!”

 

She searched the entire house, then stood paralyzed in the living room, eyes red.

“Can you reach my brother?

He’s never like this…”

“Give me your phone.”

Qianyang’s voice was heavy.

 

Yang Wei handed her the phone she had been clutching tightly, her voice trembling.

“Are you Master Qianyang?

My brother mentioned you.

You’re very skilled.

Can you reach him?”

 

Qianyang tossed her streaming phone to her.

“I can find him.

Don’t panic first.

Hold this for me.”

 

“Okay…”

 

– Holy shit…

– Did something really happen to Senior Disciple Brother?

– Please no!

 

Qianyang checked the chat logs.

Yang Wei added, “He was very happy yesterday.

He said he got a great job opportunity.

I was worried he might be scammed, so I told him to stay in touch.

But after three in the afternoon, he stopped replying.

I called, but his phone was off.

Completely unreachable.”

 

“Has, has something happened to him?”

Yang Wei was on the verge of tears, her hands trembling.

 

“Is this the interview address?”

Qianyang turned the phone around.

An address in Taihang City was displayed.

 

Yang Wei nodded hurriedly.

“Yes, yes!

That’s the address my brother sent!”

 

In the chat log, Yang Mao had said the interview process was going very smoothly.

Then, after Yang Wei asked for some details, she never got another reply.

 

[Shenlin Residence?]

– If I’m not mistaken, that’s the most luxurious private residence in Taihang City.

– What kind of interview takes place there?

– Holy shit?!

That’s scary.

 

Yang Wei saw the comments in the stream.

She grabbed Qianyang’s hand, her face unusually pale.

“This seems like a private residence!

Why would my brother be interviewed there?”

 

Qianyang’s face darkened.

“We’ll go see.”

 

“Okay!”

 

– Locals in Taihang should know: everyone living in Shenlin Residence is either rich or noble.

– How did Senior Disciple Brother get this interview opportunity?

– Maybe you can find clues on job platforms.

– I hope nothing happened!

– He stopped replying after three.

That was four hours ago…

 

Qianyang slung her cloth bag over her shoulder, gave the phone back to Yang Wei, and told her to take a taxi to Shenlin Residence immediately.

 

“A few days ago, someone contacted Yang Mao out of the blue.

They found him through the stream and thought he was perfect for the job, so they reached out to him,” Qianyang said grimly.

 

– Holy shit…

– Someone living in a place like that, actively contacting Senior Disciple Brother for an interview?

No matter how you think about it, it’s extremely abnormal.

– It’s almost certainly someone targeting the streamer, luring Senior Disciple Brother there.

– Can we call the police?

– No.

He’s an adult.

It’s only been hours.

The police usually won’t act.

– And there’s no evidence he’s in danger.

– So we can only go ourselves?

 

Since the stream viewers might offer some help, Qianyang didn’t cut the stream.

 

They hurried downstairs, took a taxi, and headed for Shenlin Residence.

 

Qianyang had Yang Wei hold the phone.

She took out the Sky-Asking Compass from her bag, but after hesitating, she didn’t use it.

Perhaps the situation wasn’t that serious.

And since he had been with Qianyang for so long, the compass might be affected and be even more prone to errors.

 

On the way, Yang Wei’s body trembled uncontrollably.

She was clearly terrified.

Aside from her grim expression, Qianyang remained fairly calm.

 

“I can’t say for certain about other things, but at least he won’t be in life-threatening danger.”

 

Yang Wei’s eyes were red.

“My brother can’t be hurt.

He can’t be hurt.”

 

“Yes.

He won’t be.”

 

– Sob sob, I hope nothing happens to Senior Disciple Brother!

– I suspect the streamer is being retaliated against by someone.

– Because of the Blade Building thing before?

The streamer instantly revealed its secret.

– But it didn’t bring any negative consequences.

Rich people who now know the Blade Building residents will have better luck will probably fight to move in.

Prices should skyrocket.

– Could it be that idiot Qingsi?

He’s lost a lot of followers lately.

– What right does he have to retaliate?

Didn’t he start it?

– It really might be him!

– He usually streams at this time, but today he’s offline!

 

Thinking back to recent events, the sudden appearance of this good job was too suspicious.

It was undoubtedly related to Qianyang’s stream.

Yang Mao’s disappearance probably wasn’t a coincidence or misunderstanding, but intentional.

The purpose… naturally, to lure Qianyang in.

 

That meant the perpetrator was watching her stream right now.

 

“Looking for me?”

Qianyang raised her head, her eyes fixed on the camera.

Her usually calm face showed rare severity.

“I’m on my way to Shenlin Residence.

If you have something to say, let’s talk in person.”

“But you’d better ensure Yang Mao is unharmed.

Otherwise, I will not let you off.”

 

– Is that person in the stream right now?

– The person behind this is targeting Qianyang, so of course they’re watching her every move.

– So disgusting.

I hate people who pull strings behind the scenes.

– Whether it’s Qingsi or not, I find it disgusting.

– Unbelievable.

Why does the streamer have to be so high-profile?

Didn’t she know that the innocent die for their treasures?

Now she’s even endangering those around her.

– If something happens to Senior Disciple Brother, I don’t think you’ll sleep well.

– Ehh, she has some skills but doesn’t know to hide them.

Making enemies everywhere.

 

“Are you sick?

Isn’t this the fault of the bad guys?

They tricked my brother…”

Yang Wei was trembling with fear, but couldn’t help retorting at the comments blaming Qianyang.

 

– Exactly.

– So many fake people in the comments.

Blaming the victim?

– Against a premeditated bad person, it’s unavoidable anyway.

– For those who don’t know, what immoral thing has the streamer done?

If others provoke her and cause trouble, should she pretend not to know and swallow her losses?

– Some people are just useless.

They’re used to being pushovers, and can’t stand others fighting for themselves.

 

Qianyang didn’t care about the comments.

She didn’t know Yang Mao’s situation, but she was sure a pair of eyes were watching her.

 

– One problem.

Shenlin Residence is the most luxurious private residence in Taihang.

Its security must be very strict.

I’ve heard the guards are legally allowed to carry guns.

Ordinary people can’t get in.

– AHHH what do we do?

We can’t just barge in.

 

Yang Wei saw the comment and grew worried.

“Master Qianyang, we might not even be able to get in…”

Qianyang’s eyes were dark and unreadable.

“I have my ways.”

 

– Don’t barge in!

– If their guards shoot you, it’ll still be self-defense!

– Occult arts don’t work against guns!

– Which idiot kidnapped Senior Disciple Brother!

 

Fang Fang Lie Lie: Shenlin Residence?

That name sounds familiar.

 

– Holy shit?!

– The boss is here?

– Right!

Isn’t the boss a rich second-generation from Taihang?

Maybe he owns property in Shenlin Residence!

– Boss, boss, boss, can you get into Shenlin Residence?

– The strikingly handsome big boss!

 

Fang Fang Lie Lie: Connect?

 

Qianyang took the phone and directly invited Fang Lie into the call.

 

“Can you get into Shenlin Residence?”

Qianyang asked.

 

Though Qianyang had a way in, it would require unconventional methods.

 

Fang Lie sat in his office chair.

His pink head nodded once.

“If I remember correctly, the land for Shenlin Residence is my cousin’s asset.

He just moved there recently.

He should be home today.”

 

Yang Wei looked nervously at Qianyang, not daring to interrupt.

 

Qianyang said, “Please contact him.

I need to get in.

I’ll be there soon.”

 

Fang Lie pursed his lips.

“I’ll call him.”

 

With that, Fang Lie used another phone to dial Song Yunli’s number.

The phone rang for half a minute before being answered.

 

“What?”

A single cold word came through the phone.

 

“Bro, are you at Shenlin Residence?”

Fang Lie got straight to the point.

 

“Yes,” Song Yunli answered.

 

“Here’s the thing.

Master Qianyang’s apprentice went missing after an interview at Shenlin Residence.

We want to ask you to help find him…

She’ll be there soon…

Ahem…

You, you’ll do this for her, right?”

By the end, Fang Lie’s voice betrayed his unease.

 

“Mr. Song, I am Qianyang.

My apprentice is missing in Shenlin Residence.

Please let us in,” Qianyang said.

 

Song Yunli was silent for a few seconds.

“What time did he enter Shenlin Residence?”

 

Qianyang glanced at Yang Wei, who understood and answered, “Around ten in the morning…

He sent me a message before going in.”

 

“Alright.”

Song Yunli’s tone was flat.

“I’ll have the butler wait at the gate.

Follow him in when you arrive.”

 

“Thank you,” Qianyang said.

 

“No need.”

 

Song Yunli didn’t say anything more and hung up.

 

***

 

Soon, Qianyang and the others arrived at Shenlin Residence.

They saw the butler waiting at the gate.

 

“Master Qianyang?”

“Yes.”

 

“Please follow me.”

 

“Sorry for the trouble.”

 

They followed the butler into Shenlin Residence.

On one side of the gate stood several sturdy, professionally trained bodyguards, each with a holster at their waist.

As they passed, the guards’ sharp eyes scanned them, but they didn’t stop them.

 

Shenlin Residence was like a large garden, very well landscaped.

Dense shrubs lined the road.

Streetlights cast shadows on the ground.

The wind rustled.

 

The butler brought them to a Chinese-style residence and signaled them to follow.

 

Inside an open room, Qianyang first noticed a finely crafted bow hanging on the wall.

 

Song Yunli, wearing a shirt, sat at a wooden table.

He turned his computer screen toward them without delay.

 

“Around ten this morning, only three people entered Shenlin Residence.”

 

Several surveillance videos were displayed on the screen.

 

Qianyang had turned off her stream before entering, so she stepped forward without worry to examine them.

 

“That’s my brother!”

Yang Wei immediately spotted Yang Mao in the surveillance footage.

 

Song Yunli pressed his lips together.

His slender fingers moved the mouse and played that segment of video.

 

The video played.

Yang Mao, in his suit, was led into Shenlin Residence.

A burly man flanked him on each side.

Yang Mao seemed to sense something wrong, constantly talking to them, forcing a smile, his posture subservient.

Passing a patch of shade, Yang Mao suddenly shoved one man and turned to run toward the gate.

But the men were well-trained.

They caught up in three steps, grabbed his arm, and pinned him to the ground, twisting his arm back.

Yang Mao’s face contorted in visible pain.

Then, the two men flanked him and walked into a residence.

 

“Brother…”

After watching the video, Yang Wei’s face was ashen.

 

Qianyang’s lips tightened.

Her expression was terrifyingly dark.

 

Perhaps before walking in here, Yang Mao had been filled with joy, believing he had finally found a suitable job.

For someone without any family, before meeting Qianyang, finding a suitable job had been his greatest obsession.

He had been so happy to get this interview opportunity.

He had prepared for it for a long time, deliberately wearing his most expensive clothes.

But they treated him like that.

His joy had been shattered.

This deceit, this manipulation, this arrogance…

This was what Qianyang hated most in the world.

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