Chapter 562: Wu Youde

The texture was peculiar—it felt exactly like a virgin's skin. "Is this the Human Skin Mask?" Not wanting to get dust on it, I refrained from examining it closely. I folded it back exactly as it was and tucked it into the book.

"To think the ancient book actually came with a readymade Human Skin Mask. Those points were well spent." I memorized a few essential principles of the Qimen Disguise, stowed the book away, and leaned back in the car to rest my eyes.

After a bumpy ride, I finally arrived in Xinhu shortly after eleven in the morning.

Unlike Jiangcheng, I was completely unfamiliar with this place. Asking around for the Worst Film Studio would be difficult, so I decided to seek someone out first: Li Jingyu, the second daughter of Xinhu's richest man, Li Changgui.

I gave her a call. She hadn't expected me to reach out and was a bit surprised, but she gave me an address and told me to come over.

Compared to her older brother, Li Chunqiang, Li Jingyu possessed far better business acumen and tact. She knew how to bide her time.

With my help, she had previously obtained crucial evidence proving her brother had forged their father's will. However, she didn't rush to confront him. Instead, she quietly gathered her strength.

Dogs that bite don't bark. It might be a bit impolite to describe her that way, but that was exactly the impression Li Jingyu gave me. This woman was not to be trifled with. She might hold back, but once she struck, it would be with the force of a thunderbolt. She was going to turn the entire Li Group upside down.

Arriving at the address Li Jingyu provided, I found she had long since moved out of her low-rent apartment and into a high-end mansion.

When I saw her in person, I could hardly believe it. The woman who had been so destitute just days ago was now lounging in a top-tier suite, sipping red wine and looking completely at ease.

"A woman should naturally treat herself a bit better," she said. Standing barefoot on the plush, expensive carpet, her long hair was draped casually down her back. She wore a simple nightgown, holding an elegant glass in one hand and a bottle of red wine in the other. "Want a drink?"

"No thanks." I finally realized that Li Jingyu's previous destitution had likely been an act, put on deliberately for her brother. Now that she had the leverage to turn the tables, she naturally wouldn't mistreat herself any longer.

"It's not nice to reject a lady," Li Jingyu said, a confident smile on her face as she sank back into the sofa. "What brings you here? If it's to collect your task payment, you might have to wait a little longer."

"I want to ask you about someone." I looked at her. "Have you ever heard of the Worst Film Studio?"

"Worst Film?" Li Jingyu chuckled lightly, her red lips parting. "I don't think any film studio would give itself a name like that. Sorry, I've never heard of it."

"That can't be right. I was told this studio has an excellent reputation. Someone left a message saying I could just come to Xinhu, ask anyone on the street, and they'd know it."

"Can a smart man like you really be this foolish?" Li Jingyu took a sip of red wine and laughed softly. "There are absolutely no film studios with excellent reputations in Xinhu. You were lied to."

I fell silent. The King of Bad Movies had tipped me a Paper Boat, and the Live Show had rewarded me with an extra eleven points. If those points were exchanged for gold and converted into cash, they would amount to over 300,000. Honestly, I didn't believe the King of Bad Movies would lie after tipping a Paper Boat.

'Tipping can consume merit, lifespan, luck, and other hidden human potentials. For the King of Bad Movies to tip a Paper Boat, his current situation must be terrible. He might already be in danger. I'd better find him as soon as possible.'

Thinking this, I prepared to leave, but Li Jingyu stopped me. "Don't be in such a rush. I have another matter I'd like to trouble you with. Once it's done, I'll pay you the bounties for both tasks at the same time."

She bent over to pour me a glass of wine. Her movements were entirely natural, as if she hadn't noticed the large expanse of pale skin her neckline exposed when she lowered her head.

"I'm very busy. I'm not planning to accept any commissions at the moment." I wasn't in the mood to drink, nor did I have any interest in the stunning female boss in front of me.

"Just hear me out." Li Jingyu swirled her goblet. "My late father's secretary died under bizarre circumstances a few days ago. The state of her body was extremely eerie. Word has it her corpse was found kneeling, and she was bowing directly toward a Double-Faced Buddha Statue. The strangest part is that the statue was never something she owned. The police suspect the killer brought it into her house to create the illusion of a religious murder."

"A Double-Faced Buddha Statue?" Hearing this, my interest was suddenly piqued.

"Since the secretary died, my brother has been in a constant state of panic. He barely even goes to the company anymore. I'm very curious about what he's so afraid of." Li Jingyu set her wine glass down. "You seem to know a great deal about the Double-Faced Buddha Statue, so my second commission is for you to assist the Xinhu police in catching the killer as soon as possible. As for the compensation, I'll give you a satisfying number."

"Impossible." I refused outright without a second thought. Given my current situation, I could barely protect myself. I absolutely wouldn't dare cooperate with the police, let alone investigate the death of a complete stranger.

"Don't be so quick to refuse. Once these hidden threats are eliminated, I can comfortably take charge of the company. When that time comes, I'll throw my full weight behind helping you crush the Jiang family." Li Jingyu tossed out bait after bait, but I didn't waver. In truth, I had encountered that secretary during my first trip to the Shuangfo District. Her death was very likely because she failed to follow Li Changgui's will, bringing the Two-Faced Buddha's vengeance down upon her.

Li Changgui's secure position as the richest man in Xinhu definitely had something to do with the Two-Faced Buddha. As for the exchange of interests between them, that was far beyond what a live show streamer like me could decipher.

"I can't help you with this. Moreover, I advise you not to provoke anything related to the Two-Faced Buddha. They aren't something you can handle." The Two-Faced Buddha's lair was right here in Xinhu City. Until I was absolutely certain of success, I wasn't going to clash with them on their turf.

I stood up to leave. As I reached the door, footsteps sounded behind me. Li Jingyu hurried over. "I just remembered. That Worst Film Studio you mentioned earlier... I think I've heard of it. You can try looking in Xinhu's Beigang District."

I waved a hand in acknowledgment and took my leave.

Thirty minutes later, holding a roujiamo, I walked through the streets of the Beigang District. Asking around as I went, I actually found a lead.

Whenever I mentioned the Worst Film Studio, the words passersby used most often were: bottomless, shameless, and a cancer on the industry.

"It really does have a 'prominent reputation' and 'excellent word-of-mouth,' doesn't it?" I muttered.

I had the sinking feeling I'd been played, but things had already reached this point; there was no other way. Stopping to ask for directions as I went, I finally located the Worst Film Studio's office.

It was hard to imagine a film studio's office actually being located inside an electronics mall. While working in the film industry, these guys were also moonlighting by selling computers and various peripherals.

"Hello, I'm looking for the person in charge of the Worst Film Studio. Is he in?" Standing by the counter, I hesitated for a long time before speaking, because there was only one employee in the entire work area, and she was heavily pregnant.

"Looking for the person in charge? Which department are you from? Do you have an ID badge?" The pregnant woman's attitude was fairly polite.

"Which department? Do you guys get into trouble a lot?" I gave a wry smile and explained my situation.

After hearing me out, the pregnant woman finally relaxed. Then, her eyes reddened. Ignoring the merchandise on the counter, she grabbed my sleeve and dragged me downstairs. "My Old Wu has been mumbling about you constantly! I thought he was just making things up. Who knew you'd actually come looking for him? Please, hurry up and save him!"

"What? Has something already happened to him?" My eyelids twitched as I followed the pregnant woman out of the electronics mall.

The pregnant woman's husband was named Wu Youde, and King of Bad Movies was the online ID he had used for many years. A few years ago, they had enjoyed a period of great success, even buying a villa in Xinhu's Shuangfo District and owning an entire commercial building. Later, for various reasons, their entertainment company went bankrupt, and the commercial building had been mortgaged. Left with no other choice, they had started this studio.

Half an hour later, the pregnant woman and I arrived at the villa they lived in. Calling it a villa was generous; it was more like an isolated fortress. The surroundings were desolate, and apart from their household, most of the neighboring houses were empty ghost buildings.

"Do just the two of you live in such a big house?" The main road led straight to the villa's front door. Just as the pregnant woman and I reached the entrance, a heart-wrenching scream tore from inside the house.

"Oh no, Old Wu is having another episode!" The pregnant woman hurriedly unlocked the door and led me inside.