Chapter 94: An Old Friend: Uncle Huang

Ding Lizhong slowly opened his tightly shut eyes. "Is there really surveillance inside the jade?"

"Yes, there is!"

"I... I never suspected him! Even if I suspected everyone else, I never doubted him..."

"Because of your friendship?"

"The path of scientific research is very lonely. Few can keep pace with us. Whenever I hit a bottleneck in my research, I always invited him over or went to his place to sit for a while..." Ding Lizhong slowly stood up, raised his head, and took a deep breath. "Tell me, what should I do? What’s the right thing to do?"

"Some things require putting yourself in the other’s shoes." Lin Xiaosu also stood up, casually picked up the teacup on the coffee table, and handed Ding Lizhong’s cup back to him.

"Go on."

"Right now, you’re trapped inside the villa without an explicit order forbidding you from going out, correct?"

"Yes!"

"In the designer's mind, you still have the chance to exert influence in the Everlasting Group, right?"

"Yes!"

"So his plan isn’t truly complete yet!"

"Exactly, as long as I remain free, he hasn’t truly succeeded."

Lin Xiaosu smiled. "That is the breakthrough point!"

Ding Ruoshui trembled slightly, glancing back at the corner of the building.

The teacup in Ding Lizhong’s hand shook gently. "Explain clearly..."

"Although the other side has laid a great chessboard, they haven’t truly finished you off. Your reputation and influence leave you a lifeline—this is the only flaw in their plan," Lin Xiaosu said. "What if you give him a chance to finish you off? Do you think he would miss it?"

"What kind of opportunity?"

"You sneak out to seek the chance to break the deadlock," Lin Xiaosu said. "This stealthy exit must deceive everyone but be known by that one person."

Ding Lizhong was confused. "What happens if he finds out?"

"He might launch another spidery murder spree and catch you red-handed at the right moment..."

"Then... how can I explain?" Ding Lizhong’s eyes bulged. "I’ve been confined in the villa for two months, no spider activity. The moment I step outside into the free zone, the spiders start moving immediately... How can I convince the police? How can I convince anyone? It’s like jumping into the Yellow River to wash away the stain! Kid, you really want to get me killed..."

Lin Xiaosu smiled. "I don’t want to get you killed, but don’t forget, that person truly wants to."

Ding Lizhong was stunned...

Ding Ruoshui’s heart pounded...

She understood!

This is fishing!

Fishing needs bait...

You must let the other side know that restarting the spider killing spree is beneficial; only then will they risk activating it.

Is there such a benefit?

It’s enormous.

Her father hasn’t left the villa for two months; everything outside is calm and peaceful, nothing happening.

If suddenly another spidery killing spree occurs, what will outsiders think? Their first suspicion will fall on the Ding family—the most likely controllers of these spiders—whether they have the means and if they have signaled beyond the screening.

If investigated, her father will just happen to be disguised and out.

Tell me, when mud falls into your pants, how do you wash clean?

Her father might really be arrested because of this!

If he is truly caught, whether convicted or not, his influence in the Everlasting Group will vanish!

The opponent’s project detour will clear all obstacles and proceed smoothly.

This is the benefit that the other side sees.

"Two questions!" Ding Ruoshui spoke. "First, if that person launches this again, are you confident you can trace the source?"

"You can rest assured on this!" Lin Xiaosu said.

When investigating, his focus is never just the case but the timing.

Currently, he can only trace back half a month, far short of two months, but once they restart, no matter how subtle their methods, clues will inevitably emerge.

"Second question!" Ding Ruoshui continued. "My father wants to sneak out, but how can we let the other side know?"

Lin Xiaosu smiled. "Doesn't your uncle’s study have a communication device?"

Ding Lizhong’s eyes suddenly lit up...

Ding Ruoshui’s eyes brightened too.

The surveillance in the study!

This was a brilliant move by the other side, but in strategy, what can’t be turned to one’s advantage?

This could become their trump card for a desperate counterattack...

Ding Lizhong returned to the study, paced around three times...

Then opened the study door and called downstairs, "Ruoshui, come up for a moment!"

Ding Ruoshui entered the study.

"Close the door!"

She closed the study door and lowered her voice, "Dad, what’s up?"

"Help me with something. It must be done secretly, without anyone knowing."

"Say it!"

"Go to Chuyuan Temple and find Master Huikong. Arrange a time to meet him. I will go see him."

Ding Ruoshui was a bit surprised. "Dad, it’s not convenient for you to go out now."

"I know, that’s why I’m asking you to secretly find him."

"What for? He’s a monk..."

"You don’t understand! Only he might be able to solve my predicament..."

"Alright!"

They left together, closed the study door, went downstairs for lunch, and after eating, Ding Ruoshui went out to Chuyuan Temple to meet Master Huikong and returned.

Ding Lizhong waited in the study with the door closed. Ding Ruoshui reported, "I spoke with Master Huikong. He said he’ll wait for you in the meditation room tonight."

"Good. Bring me Uncle Sun’s clothes and hat. After dinner, we’ll go to the temple."

Night fell.

Gardener Uncle Sun finished work.

Ding Ruoshui told Lin Xiaosu they were going to South Lake Park to see the night view, took her car out of the villa, and brought Uncle Sun along.

No one knew that the person in the car wasn’t the gardener but the villa’s owner, Ding Lizhong.

No one noticed the car didn’t enter South Lake Park but instead went up a small hill beside the lake.

This hill is called Tiger Hill.

Tiger Hill is small, shaped like a crouching tiger resting by the riverside.

But this hill holds a special place in the hearts of Jiangcheng residents, for it houses a thousand-year-old ancient temple, Chuyuan Temple.

"Chu" means beginning, "Yuan" also means origin. The Buddhist and Taoist traditions that bear the meaning of "beginning" always feel especially sacred.

The car stopped under the trees. Ding Lizhong, dressed in Uncle Sun’s clothes, got out and entered the temple.

Inside the car, the lights went out. Ding Ruoshui exhaled softly, "Do you think he’ll fall for it?"

"Maybe!"

"I think the excuse my dad used is a bit lame. Seeking a monk to solve a predicament, what was he thinking?"

Lin Xiaosu smiled. "You’re wrong. That excuse is quite wise."

"Hmm? What do you mean?"

Lin Xiaosu said, "Do you know who Master Huikong is?"

"I really don’t. I barely understand people in the secular world, let alone those in the monastery."

"He used to be Secretary-General of the provincial government. Disenchanted with the mortal world, he retreated into the monastery. Many high officials often come to him for help, and he can actually solve problems."

Ding Ruoshui was stunned. "He’s no longer an official but can still solve officialdom’s problems?"

"Precisely because he’s no longer an official, he’s freer to handle official affairs. The Secretary-General position is special. Though it seems powerless, he knows the most secrets in the bureaucracy. Don’t forget, time is on his side!"

"Time bonus? I don’t get that! When he left office, I could believe he had some influence, but decades later, how could his power increase instead of fading?"

Lin Xiaosu explained, "As time passes, many officials whose secrets he holds get promoted, so his influence naturally grows. Moreover, over the years, by helping officials solve problems, he accumulates new merits..."

"Merits? You call this shady backdoor dealing merits?" Ding Ruoshui felt a bit sickened.

Lin Xiaosu said, "In colloquial terms, you could say 'chips'!"

Ding Ruoshui sighed deeply. "Looks like I haven’t been around long enough. I understand when you explain, but if you didn’t, I’d never think a monk could have such profound knowledge..."

"It’s okay that you’re inexperienced. My convenient father-in-law and that secret watcher have enough worldly experience for us all."

Ding Lizhong wanted to find Huikong.

The secret watcher knew this was a brilliant move.

Huikong’s influence was immense and could truly help Ding Lizhong out of his predicament.

This would put pressure on the secret watcher.

Under pressure, he would hasten his next moves to completely crush Ding Lizhong.

This is exactly what Lin Xiaosu wanted.

Ding Ruoshui stared at him. "Convenient father-in-law? Is he really convenient? I paid 400,000 yuan!"

"Haha, so your mom wasn’t wrong—you’re a spendthrift!" Lin Xiaosu laughed. "Others catch their boyfriends to squeeze dowry to the bone, but you find a pretty boy and already invested 400,000 from the start."

"Don’t get cocky. Sooner or later, I’ll get it back from you..."

Knock knock...

A finger tapped lightly on Lin Xiaosu’s car window.

He rolled down the window.

Outside stood a beautiful woman holding a pair of glasses. "Handsome, want to buy a pair?"

The glasses looked stunning.

Lin Xiaosu asked, "What kind of glasses?"

"They have sunshade and night vision functions. Best of all, you’ll look especially handsome wearing them, and your girlfriend will love them."

The woman smiled sweetly.

"You’re quite persuasive. I have to buy them! How much?"

"Fifty."

"I’ll scan you." Lin Xiaosu took out his phone.

Beep!

He scanned the code.

The car window closed. Lin Xiaosu put on the glasses.

Ding Ruoshui appraised him from head to toe. "Hey, you really do look handsome!"

"Of course. They even have night vision."

"Pfft, night vision’s no big deal. One day I’ll get you a real top-notch pair... ones that can see through people’s clothes. Exciting, huh?"

Lin Xiaosu’s face lit up with excitement...

Ding Ruoshui shook her head. "My goodness, you really are shamelessly lustful."

"Life is short, like the passing of grass and trees in autumn. Follow your heart, do what you want. No one’s ever carved a saintly halo of 'righteous gentleman' on my bones just because I’m not lustful..."

Ding Ruoshui would never have guessed that Lin Xiaosu’s excitement was entirely different from what she imagined.

He was simply thrilled by the glasses.

These were no ordinary glasses—they were Dragon Eyes!

Once worn, they scanned the iris.

Only after confirming it was him would the Dragon Eyes truly activate—if not him, even wearing the glasses would be just like wearing regular glasses.