Volume 4 Chapter 23 (1/2)
Book 4 Chapter 23 – a.n.a.lysis
”What do you think?” Bing Shuai switched off the monitor and turned toward Ying Mei.
”It's a warning. A deliberate show of strength to warn us to back off.” Ying Mei shut her eyes and recalled the brief encounter.
“I agree. I didn't expect this much patience… We've underestimated him. He put up a perfect show. To be able to hide his motives so well… Looks like we have to reconsider our approach.” Bing Shuai offered his own a.n.a.lysis with furrowed brows and an apparent worry.
”Perhaps the problem lies with Guo Tai. He was outmatched. He would've failed us if not for Man Dao.” Ying Mei was irritated by Guo Tai's incompetence.
”It is his first encounter with a guardian. Understandable. We gave him too much pressure. It's not his fault.” Bing Shuai defended Guo Tai.
”So, what next?”
”Hard to say… We're on our back foot. Our enemies hide in the shadows while we lay exposed. We must find a way to regain the initiative. Did you catch Li Yiming's parting phrase?”
”You mean when he said that he was not in a hurry?”
”Yes. That was a reminder.” Bing Shuai closed his eyes and leaned back slightly in his seat. 'Ji Xiaoqin is one test subject. She's replaceable if they have mastered the production method. On the other hand, my losses are …'
”Perhaps Li Yiming is their weakness?” Ying Mei hesitated; Li Yiming was prudent and intelligent, and therefore not an easy target.
”Both of them are replaceable. It would be a nuisance for them at best, but our trump card…” Bing Shuai's looked downward.
* * *
Li Yiming began his a.n.a.lysis of his meeting with Guo Tai during his ride home on a rented bicycle. 'That a.s.sistant is a guardian, I'm sure. The calluses on his hand and his aura… he's no ordinary secretary. Come to think of it, why would the director of a company worth millions welcome me warmly?' Li Yiming was expecting to have the door shut in on his face. It was surprising that Guo Tai agreed to meet him, and even more so that he welcome him warmly.
'He seemed surprised when I asked about Guo Tai, but why? What else would I possibly ask about?'
'The guardian… Guo Tai… Guo Xiang… Ji Xiaoqin… Fu Bo…'
Li Yiming parked the bicycle at the roadside and sat on the pavement. He listed out the key names in his mind, but failed find the connection between them. Everything remained shrouded in mystery, but he was at least sure of one thing — The Guo Family was behind the disappearance of Ji Xiaoqin. 'But what about Fu Bo?'
* * *
”You lived like that for the last few years?” Tian Yan was shocked. She could hardly imagine a life completely detached from society, with nothing but loneliness as one's companion. She had lost her sight, but at least she had everything else she needed: bodyguards, maids, uncle Bing, sister Ying…
”What else can I do? Besides, life's not that bad. Being forgotten by everyone is rather liberating.” Fu Bo shrugged his shoulders. This was the second time he retold his life story, and it brought him some relief.
”Is it true that everyone forgets about you the next day?” Tian Yan was still fascinated by what she heard, despite being a guardian.
”Not everyone… Just recently, I met someone who could remember. And now, you…” Fu Bo suddenly paused and stared at Tian Yan with a dazed smile. His thoughts began to wander. 'Lady Luck is smiling upon me. First, my friends.h.i.+p with Li Yiming, and now, a chance at true love…'
Although Tian Yan could not see Fu Bo's pa.s.sionate gaze, she s.h.i.+vered at its intensity. She looked down and played around with her hair to hide her embarra.s.sment. For a brief moment, the bas.e.m.e.nt lapsed into a silence in which love and warmth reverberated quietly.
“Miss Tian?” A middle-aged woman suddenly came down to the bas.e.m.e.nt.
Tian Yan leaped up from her seat like a startled rabbit. Fu Bo himself blushed like someone who had never experienced romance.
”So this is where you have been? Miss Ying is looking for you.” The woman looked at Fu Bo and seemed confused by the presence of a stranger in the bas.e.m.e.nt. The woman's name was Xue Mei, and she was simultaneously Tian Yan's bodyguard and caretaker ever since Tian Yan's childhood.
”Oh. I will go immediately.” Tian Yan wrung her hands like a child who had made a mistake. She promptly left with Xue Mei's help, not even bothering to bid farewell to Fu Bo. Before walking out of the room, Xue Mei glanced one last time at Fu Bo.
”Who is he?” Xue Mei asked.
“I'm not sure… I pa.s.sed by and saw him there, so I chatted with him for a bit.” Tian Yan's heart pounded. The story Fu Bo told her gave her the courage to lie.
”Could he be the new test subject?' It never occurred to Xue Mei that the little girl who been nothing but innocent and honest had learned to deceive.
”New test subject?” Tian Yan came to a sudden stop.
”Yes. Did they not tell you? Miss Ying wanted to test the effects of reversing the ritual formation. Bing Shuai has already given his approval.” Xue Mei continued to guide Tian Yan forward, not noticing the latter's sudden halt.
'They're going to reverse the ritual on him? But if his karma is extracted, then he'll…' Tian Yan knew very well what the consequences would be for Fu Bo if such an experiment was to take place, since she was the once who came up with the idea in the first place. 'But… it would make sense. The slow progress on Guo Xiang calls for special measures…'