Chapter 157: I Know Where the Painting Is Hidden

Many of the newly added items were related to formations, which left me confused.

I vaguely remembered that when the last broadcast ended, a lot of books on dream interpretation and dream-making had appeared in the catalog, and the broadcast I experienced right after happened to involve the Dream Realm.

Did the appearance of formations in the catalog this time indicate I would encounter an evil formation in the next broadcast?

"Formations, much like the Secret Dream-Making Art, are things ordinary people rarely come into contact with. I should discuss this with Blind Liu before making a decision."

I stuffed my phone into the Black Leather Suitcase. Although this broadcast in the dream had been thrilling and fraught with danger at every turn, my physical body hadn't suffered any harm in reality. At most, I just felt a little exhausted.

After leaving the Jingying Sanatorium, I first took Sakurako to see a movie, then escorted her back to the Blues Bar.

Once at the bar, getting a scolding from Onitsuka Ayaka was naturally unavoidable. This glamorous older woman was actually quite terrifying when angry.

Fleeing in a panic, I returned to Ting Tang Road. I unlocked the shop, took off my shirt, and crashed on the bed, only waking when Bai Qi roused me around noon.

"What's wrong?"

Seeing Bai Qi's resentful gaze, I finally noticed another person was in the room. "Tie Ningxiang?"

Even though I didn't mind having this great beauty watch me sleep, my second-floor bedroom also hid the Underworld Live Show's Live Broadcast Notes, the Huang Family's commission, and other things that couldn't see the light of day.

I jumped out of bed. "Why are you here?"

"What? Am I not welcome?" Tie Ningxiang wasn't wearing her police uniform, and a hint of a smile flashed across her face. "Or do you have something hidden here that you don't want anyone to see?"

"Tch, I, Gao Jian, sit straight and act properly. An upright man doesn't fear a crooked— Hey! Don't touch my stuff!"

Without even bothering to put on a shirt, I rushed over to stop her. She had probably just meant well and wanted to pick up the clothes I'd casually tossed aside, but her hand slipped, and a brightly covered booklet fell out of my pocket. "What is this?"

To be honest, I was also a bit dumbfounded. I didn't remember ever stuffing such a thing into my pocket.

Wait, wasn't this the adult magazine Guo Junjie's older brother was reading in the dream? How had I brought it out of the Dream Realm?!

Could it be that some of my experiences last night hadn't been a dream? Or was it that once the Secret Dream-Making Art was mastered, you could create something out of nothing?

My mind was racing, and I completely missed Tie Ningxiang's brilliant expression. She casually flipped through a couple of pages, her cheeks flushing crimson. Glaring at me fiercely, she threw the book down in front of me. "Gao Jian, I never would have thought you had this kind of hobby. You've managed to keep a magazine published five years ago without a single crease. Just how much do you love this book?"

Blushing with shame, Officer Tie turned and marched out. I looked down at the open book at my feet. A cute catgirl was striking an incredibly seductive pose, her body smeared in what was either cream or cheese, glistening so brightly it nearly blinded me.

"Onii-chan, what part do you want to eat?"

"I swear, this book really isn't mine!"

I threw on my shirt and hurriedly chased after her. The only one left in the room was Bai Qi, who squatted next to the open pages. He tilted his head, studying the woman in the book, and even reached out a paw to poke it a couple of times. "Woof, woof!"

Tie Ningxiang had probably come looking for me today to discuss something. She hadn't left immediately after heading downstairs; instead, she stood rather uncomfortably in the middle of the shop.

After running downstairs, I poured two cups of tea, then pleaded and rambled on about anything and everything until I finally managed to distract her.

"So you were discharged from the hospital a while ago?" Hearing about my experiences last night, Tie Ningxiang was a little surprised. "You were hurt so badly. Don't push yourself too hard; your health is what's important."

"Never mind me, how did you get out of the hospital so soon?" I cupped the teacup in both hands. From what I remembered, Tie Ningxiang had been heavily injured at the time.

"I'm tough. It's been like this since I was a kid—whenever I get hurt, I heal up fast." Tie Ningxiang didn't think much of it. She didn't know this was the trait of someone with a destiny carrying the general star. Fortune and misfortune are interdependent, yet one could still forge ahead triumphantly.

"That's good. By the way, was there something you needed to see me about today?" I blew on the tea leaves and took a sip of hot tea.

"It's nothing major." Tie Ningxiang squirmed a little, a rare sight for her. "It's just that my parents want to meet you."

"Pfft!" I sprayed a mouthful of hot tea and broke into a violent coughing fit.

"Why are you reacting like that?" Tie Ningxiang came over and gently patted my back. "Don't overthink it. My parents just want to thank you. While I was in the hospital, I told them about how you saved Yi Yi as well. You did us a huge favor, so it's only right that we treat you to a meal."

"Can I refuse?" I wore a bitter expression. If Tie Ningxiang's parents recognized me as the confused guy who had "walked into the wrong room," wouldn't it be incredibly awkward? "Saving you two was just something I did in passing. Let's just forget about the dinner."

"It's just a family dinner. My mom already bought the groceries." Tie Ningxiang's tone softened in a rare display, making it hard to refuse.

"Alright then."

"I'll drive over and pick you up at seven tonight. See you then." Tie Ningxiang's mood instantly brightened, and she walked out of the shop with a smile.

Lighting a cheap cigarette, I watched her leave, not knowing if what I was doing was right. The deeper I got involved, the more painful it would be if I lost her. If I failed a broadcast one day, would she still remember me?

There was still a long time before dark. I had originally planned to find Blind Liu first to discuss redeeming the formation, but when I remembered that the Heavenly Yi Noble was something Two-Faced Buddha desperately needed, I changed my mind. Taking Bai Qi with me, I headed to Ganding Pharmaceuticals.

It wasn't until two in the afternoon that Secretary Zhang brought me into Huang Boyuan's office. The old director's daily schedule was packed tight; it was hard for him to steal even ten minutes of free time.

"What are you here for? Have you figured out the cause of Huang Guanxing's death?" Processing the thick stack of documents on his desk, Huang Boyuan took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes. "I have to admit I'm getting old. My eyes are already blurry after reading for just three hours."

Even though he had a full head of black hair, it was all dyed. Compared to twenty years ago, he truly had grown old.

"Director Huang, I have confirmed the identity of the killer who murdered your son. It is undoubtedly Two-Faced Buddha."

Huang Boyuan wasn't entirely satisfied with my answer. He raised his hand, signaling Secretary Zhang to brew him a cup of high-quality tea. "I hired you to investigate, not for such a vague answer. I need you to pinpoint a specific person."

"Although the process is a bit complicated, I can give you the killer's name. He's currently wanted by the police. His name is Lu Xing." I was absolutely certain that Huang Guanxing's death was inextricably linked to Lu Xing. "This man is incredibly dangerous. I suggest you don't do anything rash."

Lu Xing wasn't someone a single person or a financial conglomerate could handle. If I had to give a reason, the name 'Two-Faced Buddha' was enough.

"You want me to keep waiting?" Huang Boyuan immediately understood what I meant.

"That's right. If possible, I will catch him myself."

"Something even I can't do, and you're going to step up? The younger generation is to be feared." Huang Boyuan drank his tea, his face calm, making it impossible to tell what he was thinking. "If there's nothing else, you may leave. I'm very busy."

He had just issued an order to leave, but I turned a deaf ear to it. What I had to say next was the main topic. "Director Huang, do you still remember the Wordless Ancient Painting we mentioned before?"

"I already told you, that painting disappeared twenty years ago. It can't be found!" Huang Boyuan grew a little displeased. The events from twenty years ago were a wound deep in his heart, and he didn't want others bringing it up.

Looking him straight in the eye, I wasn't affected by his tone. Instead, I simply followed up on his words. "I know where that painting is."

"What?!"

"When Huang Xue was little, did she sleep in a handcrafted little bed enclosed on all four sides?"

"How did you know?" Huang Boyuan couldn't maintain his breezy composure anymore. This was a secret he had kept buried in his heart for twenty years. "That's right. I was very poor back then, so I had to make a little bed for her myself."

"That painting is right underneath that little bed."

Upon hearing this, Huang Boyuan completely stopped flipping through the business contracts on his desk and hurriedly brought me back to his villa.

It was a massive house, ten times the size of his dilapidated rental apartment from twenty years ago.

On the second floor of the villa was a locked door. Huang Boyuan dismissed the nanny and unlocked the door himself. Inside was nothing but old, shabby furniture that didn't match his status at all.

He seemed deeply familiar with every single item. Walking inside, he headed to the very back, where a somewhat crude wooden crib sat.

Twenty years hadn't left too many marks on the wood, but the man who had built it was already weathered by the years.

Huang Boyuan reached beneath the wooden bed. In the hidden compartment, he suddenly felt something.

With trembling hands, he pulled it out and unrolled the scroll. Written across it in fresh blood was a suicide poem.

"Wanjun..." Huang Boyuan seemed to age ten years in an instant. His body swayed, and if I hadn't supported him in time, he probably would have collapsed to the floor.

Waving me off gently, he leaned against the wooden bed and slowly slumped to the floor, reading the verse on the scroll word by word.

"The spring blooms shed their red too soon, too fast, helpless against the morning's cold rain and evening's wind."

"Tears of rouge, an intoxicating embrace, when shall we meet again? Life is filled with endless sorrow, just as the river forever flows east!"