Chapter 392

Chapter 392

Naturally, the meal was unpleasant.

But no matter how unhappy Seventh Master felt, Mr. Tan was the employer. An employer was like a customer, and the customer was always right.

Mr. Tan wanted to hire another person without reducing Seventh Master’s payment, so Seventh Master could only accept Jin Wuju’s participation.

Downstairs, Jin Wuju acted exceedingly humble.

He apologized remorsefully. “I truly never intended to steal your business. Mr. Tan invited me. Please be magnanimous and consider this a chance for a younger practitioner to learn from you.”

Seventh Master remained expressionless and offered him no courtesy. “Master Jin is too modest. You can solve in one week what I failed to understand in half a month. How could I compare? I should learn from you.”

He got into his car and left, abandoning an embarrassed Jin Wuju.

Jin Wuju naturally knew Seventh Master had overheard him in the private room.

I hurriedly smoothed things over. “Master Jin, Seventh Master has always had that temper. He treats us the same way. Don’t take it personally.”

Jin Wuju smiled awkwardly. “No, I was disrespectful. Please apologize to Seventh Master for me later.”

Perhaps because I was approachable, he deliberately tried to build rapport.

We discussed the rough details of that night’s operation. I also explained the Tan family Massacre Case but did not mention the black hole.

Seventh Master had invited me today because he clearly wanted me to return to the estate, though I strongly resisted the idea.

Since seeing the black hole, I had suffered nightmares every night.

“Master Jin, please pick me up tonight.”

I added, “My car is new and still being broken in. That road is terrible.”

Jin Wuju patted my shoulder and nodded. “No problem. See you tonight.”

…

At eight that evening, after darkness fell, Jin Wuju arrived on time.

Besides my broadsword, I carried a heavy backpack containing a drill, Climbing Pitons, and rope.

In the car, Jin Wuju asked whether Seventh Master would come.

I said he certainly would. The Old Man had a bad temper, but he was reliable.

Seventh Master had already left home and might arrive before us.

As we chatted, I asked, “You aren’t part of Lanjiang City’s local circle, are you? I’ve never seen you here.”

He smiled. “I’m not famous like Seventh Master, and I’m from another region.”

I praised him. “Mr. Tan invited you from so far away. You must be famous where you live.”

Jin Wuju smiled bitterly. “Fewer people study these arts now, so scarcity creates value. Anyone with a little skill is treated like a master. In the past, my abilities would have made me a novice.”

He suddenly frowned.

I asked what was wrong.

“Something feels strange…” He looked around. “We haven’t reached the estate, yet I sense faint yin energy nearby. I felt it at the foot of the mountain.”

I said, “Few people visit this mountain. Besides the Massacre Case, there have been disappearances and murders. Some yin energy is normal.”

He nodded and dismissed it.

On the way, Seventh Master called me.
After hanging up, I told Jin Wuju that Seventh Master had arrived and was waiting at the estate.

We arrived soon afterward.

After getting out, Jin Wuju looked around but saw no sign of Seventh Master.

“Where is he?”

I pointed. “Over there.”

He followed my finger and stared for a long time before apparently spotting him.

We walked over. Jin Wuju acted humbly and repeatedly tried to ingratiate himself, but Seventh Master did not answer a single word.

Having embarrassed himself, Jin Wuju could only speak with me. He asked why I carried such a heavy pack.

“Master Jin, the most dangerous thing here isn’t a ghost. It’s something worse.”

I told him about the black hole. He was shocked and asked how it appeared.

I said I did not know. Seventh Master had been investigating it without making progress.

“I brought these things in case it suddenly appears again.”

“We don’t know where it leads or what lies below. But if we fall in, we’ll certainly die without leaving a body.”

Jin Wuju nodded repeatedly. “You’re young, but extremely cautious. It’s always better to prepare for the worst. Our profession is exceptionally dangerous.”

With flashlights in hand, we entered the villa again.

“Actually, I don’t think the killer in the Tan family Massacre Case was anyone from the Tan family,” Jin Wuju said, laying out his analysis. “Tan Wannian can be completely ruled out. His dominant hand suddenly changed while he killed, which clearly indicates another force invaded his consciousness.”

“The eldest son is the greatest suspect. But how insane would a normal person have to be to remain expressionless while his father hacked down the entire family one by one? Even when his father came for him, he behaved as if nothing were happening.”

“A normal person would never react that way. The eldest son must have been affected first. Under that influence, he drugged the family’s drinks, then somehow affected Tan Wannian and made him kill everyone, including him.”

I applauded. “Master Jin, you’re incredible. No wonder Mr. Tan hired you.”

Jin Wuju waved a hand. “Don’t force yourself to praise me. You already described the entire incident. If I couldn’t infer this much, I’d be useless.”

“Assuming you omitted nothing, this is the only explanation for the whole event and Tan Wannian’s sudden change of dominant hand.”

“Still, the eldest son must already have had problems. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have been affected first.”

“But that isn’t our most urgent concern. We need to learn what force affected him.”

Jin Wuju appeared humble but clearly enjoyed showing his abilities. “I believe that force is connected to the black hole. Such a hole could not appear in the Basement without reason. Seventh Master’s suspicion is correct. Something must be hidden here, probably an evil object.”

“Why don’t we go directly to the Basement?”