Chapter 34: The Company Won’t Last Much Longer

The Mist Concealment Technique was a form of ninjutsu commonly used by the ninjas of Fusang. By taking advantage of watery surroundings to create a dense fog, ninjas could hide within the mist and launch surprise attacks on their foes. The density of the mist was entirely under the control of the user.

No wonder the man had been hiding in the bathroom earlier.

Since this was a ninjutsu from Fusang, it followed that the figure who had hung from the ceiling and vanished at Gu Xiangnan’s strike was likely using a Shadow Clone Technique, another skill of the ninja. Back on the mountain, Gu Xiangnan’s master had taught him about these arts.

The Mist Concealment Technique was merely a trick to deceive the eyes; the practitioner didn’t actually disappear but could be anywhere, simply hidden from Gu Xiangnan’s sight.

He stood quietly in the courtyard, attuning himself to the flow of air around him, his eyes narrowing slightly.

Suddenly, a faint breeze stirred, carrying with it a hint of moisture and an unfamiliar scent.

A cold smirk tugged at the corner of Gu Xiangnan’s lips. He knew the ninja lurking in the shadows had finally revealed a flaw.

He casually plucked a flower from a nearby planter and brought it to his nose, as if savoring its fragrance.

Then, lifting his head, he addressed the empty air, “Why not step out and enjoy the flowers with me, friend?”

No sooner had the words left his mouth than a surge of danger swept in from behind.

Gu Xiangnan’s body shifted in a flash, dodging to the side.

A dark silhouette darted past where he had just stood, the wind whistling in its wake.

“What speed!” Gu Xiangnan was startled, but his reaction was just as swift.

Rubbing his palms together, he set the flower spinning rapidly in his hands, its petals shooting out like sharp arrows.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

The petals sliced through the air with a piercing shriek, attacking indiscriminately in all directions.

The ninja had not anticipated such a move and tried to evade, but it was already too late.

A tortured cry rang out as one petal struck the ninja’s shoulder, disrupting his stance and sending him tumbling from above.

His invisibility was broken, exposing his true form.

With a flash, Gu Xiangnan appeared at the ninja’s side and planted a foot firmly on his face.

The ninja groaned in pain but clenched his teeth, refusing to make a sound.

Wang Mei, hearing the commotion, hurried over. Upon witnessing the scene, she asked in surprise, “What happened here?”

Gu Xiangnan cast her a glance and replied coolly, “There was a ninja hiding in your bathroom. I caught him.”

At once, Wang Mei realized she had misunderstood Gu Xiangnan earlier.

She turned to the man in black and interrogated sternly, “I am the Deputy General of the Northern Frontier of Hua, and I suspect you’re a spy from Fusang. Confess—who sent you, and what is your mission?”

“So you’re…” Only now did Gu Xiangnan learn of Wang Mei’s true identity, and he was a bit taken aback.

The ninja sneered, cursing in Fusang language, “Baka yarou!”

A sudden sense of unease gripped Gu Xiangnan.

He looked down to see the ninja’s eyes growing vacant, black blood trickling from his lips.

“No! He’s taking poison!” Gu Xiangnan reached to pry open the ninja’s jaw, but he was too late.

The ninja’s head lolled to the side, his body going limp.

Realizing he couldn’t escape, the man had chosen to end his own life.

Gu Xiangnan crouched down and pulled away the ninja’s black mask, revealing a young and ferocious face.

He shook his head with a sigh. “What a pity. We couldn’t get any useful information.”

Wang Mei’s curiosity was piqued. “Have you offended the Fusang people?”

Gu Xiangnan recounted in detail the conflict with the Fusang men at the hot spring hotel the previous night, and the subsequent arson at the medicinal herb plantation.

Wang Mei’s heart surged as she listened, a flash of admiration passing through her eyes.

“It’s almost certainly the Fusang people seeking revenge,” she said, clenching her fist and saluting Gu Xiangnan. “But you did the right thing. I respect you, Gu Xiangnan.”

She had never expected that the usually unserious, teasing Gu Xiangnan could be so upright when it mattered.

Gu Xiangnan grinned, “I’ve always known you secretly admired me.”

Taking advantage of her once more.

Wang Mei’s face flushed crimson at his words, and she raised her hand, ready to slap him.

At that moment, Gu Xiangnan crouched down. “Let’s deal with this fellow first.”

He searched the man in black, finally finding a jade box hidden in a secret pocket.

“Isn’t this the box for the Celestial Spirit Fruit?” Gu Xiangnan exclaimed.

He carefully opened the box, saw the fruit inside was unharmed, and let out a sigh of relief.

“So they were after the Celestial Spirit Fruit as well as my life,” Gu Xiangnan mused, his gaze darkening. “I must hurry and have my sister take the medicine, before others start coveting it.”

He stood up and looked seriously at Wang Mei. “What should we do with him?”

Wang Mei smiled. “I’ll report this to headquarters. Leave it to me.”

With her status, such matters were easily resolved. Besides, a ninja lurking in Hua was likely up to no good—stealing secrets or carrying out assassinations. The sooner he was eliminated, the better.

Gu Xiangnan went back inside, opened his large trunk, and took out the “Pharmacist King’s Secret Record” left to him by his master.

Leafing through the pages, he finally found the section on the Celestial Spirit Fruit.

It turned out the fruit could not be used directly. It required special processing to activate its medicinal properties.

Drying was a key step. Sun-drying was time-consuming and ineffective, while proper drying demanded a specialized fruit oven.

But he didn’t have such equipment at home.

Just as he was fretting, inspiration struck—Su Hanyan ran a pharmaceutical company and was bound to have such a device.

He decided to wait for his senior sister to return and ask for her help.

Yet, he waited and waited, and ended up dozing off on the sofa, the jade box clasped in his arms, but Su Hanyan did not come back.

The next morning,

Gu Xiangnan woke up on the sofa, and determined to go to Yisheng Corporation himself.

Wang Mei, returning from her workout, heard he was heading out and decided to join him.

While Gu Xiangnan freshened up, Wang Mei took a quick shower.

She rode her motorcycle, with Gu Xiangnan on the back, weaving through the city traffic.

Gu Xiangnan feigned fear, clutching Wang Mei’s slender waist tightly and inhaling the pleasant scent of her shampoo.

This time, Wang Mei didn’t push him away. Gu Xiangnan’s image as a patriotic and responsible young man was now firmly established.

Before long, they arrived at Yisheng Corporation.

“Senior Sister!” Gu Xiangnan burst excitedly into the CEO’s office, only to find Su Hanyan frowning deeply.

“What’s wrong? Why do you look so troubled this early in the morning?” he asked, full of concern.

Su Hanyan looked up at him and sighed. “The patented formula was ready for production, but some of the herbs in it were destroyed in the fire. The entire project has to be halted.”

“I’d hoped to turn things around with this formula… but at this rate, the company won’t last much longer.”