Ita Era

Chapter 130 Siege
Wang Meng was furious to learn that Ding Shi had succumbed to the charms of Cao Ying, who stole his account books. However, this cleared Ding Shi of suspicion of betrayal and infiltration. If Ding Shi hadn't slept with Cao Ying, he truly wouldn't have been able to explain the leak of Yi Xia Company's data.

Ding Shi's views on love are different from ordinary people. He is willing to date as long as the girl is pretty, but he will not put too much effort into pursuing girls, will not invest his feelings in a relationship, and will not take the initiative to break up with girls. He focuses his main energy on his work and will not answer his girlfriend's questions except for everyday family and bedroom topics.

This resulted in Ding Shi having many girlfriends, but the breakup period was very short, to the point that sometimes he had to think carefully before he could determine whether he was currently single.

As for Cao Ying, she wasn't really a girlfriend; it was just a transaction. Cao Ying cooperated with the Dragon Gang as an agent for a foreign businessman in City A, engaging in smuggling. Her main business was high-tariff goods such as furs, ivory, and luxury items, and she also assisted in smuggling.

During their six-month-long contact, Cao Ying discovered that Yi Xia Company was the main import and export business of the Long Gang. She then devised a plan to steal Yi Xia Company's secrets and frame Ding Shi, killing two birds with one stone. However, Ding Shi, who possessed the secrets, was unmoved by her charms, indifferent to money and love, and was also an orphan.

One day, Cao Ying learned that Ding Shi was in charge of the year-end inventory of Yixia Company, and naturally, Ding Shi would also be temporarily keeping the account books. Another day, Wang Meng would return to City A. After Cao Ying reported this to Wang Meng, Ding Shi would destroy the account books. This was Cao Ying's best opportunity.

Cao Ying was unaware that Ding Shi and his superior were in a state of great anxiety, plotting to take down Yixia Company. If they didn't eliminate Yixia Company this time, it would become a foreign-owned company next year, as Wang Meng's advisors had suggested he transfer Yixia Company's shares overseas and reclaim control from Ding Shi.

Cao Ying offered herself to Ding Shi, who had already figured out her background, and a plan formed in his mind. He half-heartedly slept with Cao Ying. Cao Ying hid the drug in her cigarette afterward and begged, pleaded, and coquettishly asked Ding Shi for a puff, which he reluctantly accepted and fell into a deep sleep. Cao Ying used Ding Shi's fingerprint and password to open the safe and copy the ledger.

Seeing that Cao Ying didn't leave after finishing, and that she planned to pretend to be stupid and lie back down to take advantage of him for a long time, Ding Shi woke up at the most opportune moment, which frightened Cao Ying so much that she immediately pulled up her pants and ran away.

Although they had known each other for half a year, Cao Ying mainly worked under Wang Meng and rarely had daily contact with Ding Shi. However, Ding Shi had heard Wang Meng say more than once that Mei Ying (Cao Ying) was quite capable, not only shrewd in handling affairs but also cunning.

Cao Ying's competence lay in helping Wang Meng eliminate dissidents within the Dragon Gang. It was also Cao Ying who made Wang Meng realize that of his dozen or so core brothers, only Ding Shi never complained and remained unconditionally loyal. The others either cursed him behind his back about unfair distribution of spoils or were unwilling to do anything that offended others or involved risk.

Without Ding Shi, Wang Meng would understand human nature. Complaining a bit when faced with difficulties isn't a big deal, since the other person still did it. Asking someone to give up a lucrative job, and they doing so, even if they curse him behind his back, isn't a big deal. Not wanting to antagonize other brothers and trying to smooth things over isn't incomprehensible either, since they've all fought side-by-side.

But Ding Shi is different. Ding Shi only has Wang Meng in his eyes and no other brothers. As long as Wang Meng says a word, he will kill all the members of the Dragon Gang without hesitation.

Cao Ying particularly enjoyed encouraging Wang Meng to undergo human nature tests to identify her loyal brothers, ensuring she could confidently entrust key business to them. Wang Meng, a man of great loyalty, couldn't resist Cao Ying's provocations. However, each test proved to him that people couldn't withstand such tests, unless they weren't human, or they were Ding Shi. Faced with millions in gold, Ding Shi didn't betray Wang Meng but instead mobilized his men to take action. When tempted by Wang Meng's woman, Ding Shi promptly reported him to Wang Meng.

This is the story of their complicated relationship.

……

Ding Shi stood before the two large gates leading to the inner ancestral hall. These were two heavy iron gates, bolted shut from the inside, leaving almost no gaps. There were only two ways to reach the inner ancestral hall: the first was through the Ghost Lady; the second was through the tunnels. Each courtyard had a tunnel leading to the inner ancestral hall.

Why go to the inner ancestral hall? Because the main task is to distribute the property. One of the rules states: "The property will be distributed at 7:00 AM on the fourth day in the inner ancestral hall." If you can't get into the inner ancestral hall, you don't even have the right to distribute the property.

After thinking for a while, Ding Shi went to the firewood and took a small stick. He burned a piece of it into charcoal with an oil lamp and used the charcoal to write on the iron gate: "Wang Yi is here."

As a bounty agent, Cao Ying is used to reflecting on the shortcomings of each operation, but she can't reflect on Ding Shi because Ding Shi is sometimes too naive and stupid.

Ding Shi turned around and saw Cao Ying's disapproving look: "Is my handwriting bad?"

Cao Ying asked, "What is the background of the script?"

Ding Shi replied, "The Republic of China."

Cao Ying asked, "Do you think there are people in the local area who can understand simplified Chinese characters?"

Ding asked, "Which character is in simplified form?"

Cao Ying was taken aback: "I don't know, I can't read." Her background indicated that she was illiterate and unable to read or write.

Ding Shi was even more puzzled: "Are there still restrictions?" He had already tested it and broken the curse of being a gigolo, as well as the rule that he couldn't call someone by their real name.

After trying it, Cao Ying said, "It's still limited." She noticed that Ding Shi had written something with mosaics.

Ding Shi shrugged; he had suffered from illiteracy before and felt sympathy for the situation. Ding Shi asked, "Do you have a plan?"

Cao Ying replied cautiously, "No."

Ding Shi: "Cooperation?"

Cao Ying asked, "How do we cooperate?"

Ding Shi said, “Let’s find the secret passage together. You know, the Black Hand is lurking in the darkness and could kill us at any moment. If we go alone, a slip could extinguish our lantern and we could be devoured by the Black Hand.”

Cao Ying was not enthusiastic: "I am a bandit, and I have already robbed enough treasure. I don't really care about whether I can get a share of the property."

Ding Shi said, "Then I will tell Madam Gui that you killed her."

As soon as he finished speaking, Ding Shi felt a chill run down his spine. Without a word, he took off running towards the southwest side gate. Cao Ying didn't know what had happened, but she felt a little uncomfortable. Seeing Ding Shi run, she followed suit. Although she was a woman, her running speed and physical endurance were not much worse than Ding Shi's. The two of them tried to squeeze through the side gate together, but they couldn't get through.

This delay caused the side door to close automatically, the lanterns in the outer ancestral hall to sway, and the oil lamps to flicker. The Ghost Lady floated into the outer ancestral hall. Ding Shi reached out and pushed the side door, but as expected, it wouldn't budge. These ghostly things wanted to close the door, and no one could push it open; they wanted to smash the door, and no one could stop them.

"You thief, come out here!" The Ghost Lady's voice was shrill and distant, piercing straight to the eardrums.

Ding Shi said in a low voice, "Wang Zei is a single-player game, it's quite fun, but it's too old."

See, no one could have predicted he'd say that. Cao Ying sighed. She didn't want to deal with Ding Shi and hoped that Madam Ghost would ignore her and just kill Ding Shi.

The Ghost Lady spotted the two mushrooms crouching by the side door, instantly teleporting forty meters to stand in front of them, looking down at them: "Where is Wang Yi?"

Ding Shi immediately replied, "It's inside the iron gate."

Ding Shi floated up, pulled up by an invisible force to be level with the Ghost Lady: "Where?"

Ding Shi pointed: "Inside."

Lady Ghost: "Take me there."

As soon as Ding landed, he eagerly led the way, and when they reached the iron gate, he gestured with his finger: "Inside."

Lady Ghost: "Take me to see him."

Ding Shi explained, "I can't get in." Oh no, is her intelligence even enough to understand such a profound question?

Ding Shi further said, "Please."

Lady Ghost turned to look at the iron gate, then her body touched it. Ding Shi was overjoyed. "She's already inside? That's so cheeky! I love it!"

Then Ding Shi saw a burst of lightning crackling and exploding on the door, and the Ghost Lady was thrown away, smashing a large hole in the wall of the outer ancestral hall.

Lady Ghost abandoned her umbrella, ignoring her frizzy hair, and attacked the iron gate with a ghostly howl. The iron gate rippled but remained motionless. Instead, Ding Shi, standing beside the iron gate, bled from both ears.

Ding Shi was filled with hatred; it was truly a battle of gods, and mortals suffered. Enduring the pain, Ding Shi ran to sit down next to Cao Ying, hoping to at least find someone to take down with him.

Cao Ying took out a porcelain bottle and poured out a crystal-clear pill: "500 dollars."

Ding Shi reached out, picked up the pill, and swallowed it. This medicine from the imperial physician was still as amazing as ever, and Ding Shi's injuries were completely healed.

"Can you hear me?"

"Ah."

"Five hundred dollars."

Ding Shi was taken aback: "I'll give it to you?"

Cao Ying: "Nonsense, give me the money."

Ding Shi: "I didn't agree."

Cao Ying laughed angrily: "I said five hundred dollars, and then you ate it. Are you going to renege on your debt?"

Ding Shi said, "I didn't hear it, really." His attitude was serious and sincere, without the slightest pretense.

That's not entirely unreasonable, Cao Ying said. "You have to pay for the medicine, right?"

Ding Shi drew out 10 knives and handed them over.

Cao Ying thought for a second, then reached out and took it, hoping to get as much as she could.

They were settling accounts, while the Ghost Lady was battling the iron gate. There were some kind of restriction on the gate, or perhaps some array or incantation behind it; the Ghost Lady was repeatedly thrown back, yet she kept charging forward. Finally, she was ejected from the ancestral hall and didn't return for a long time.

As the Ghost Lady was knocked away by the door, the restriction on the side door was also lifted.

"Let's go." Ding Shi turned around, opened the door, and was about to step out when he saw the woman in the cheongsam outside looking at him with a sinister gaze.

Damn it! Ding Shi took several steps back. Why was this person's face so green?

The woman in the cheongsam took two steps closer, but then they saw a wisp of black mist swirling around her. Ding Shi and Cao Ying both retreated, and Cao Ying said, "Something's strange."

Ding Shi: "Thigh."

Cao Ying: "I'm speechless." All men are the same.
Ding Shi: "There is a talisman on the thigh."

Cao Ying: "How come I didn't see it?"

Ding Shi: "Because you don't care about women's thighs."

The woman in the cheongsam ran towards the two men in a strange posture. The two men separated to the left and right. Cao Ying leaped forward and kicked the woman in the cheongsam in the head. The woman staggered and took two steps to the side. Ding Shi swept his leg and knocked the woman in the cheongsam down. He then fell down himself, pulled open his cheongsam, and ripped off the yellow talisman from his right thigh. The talisman immediately burned and turned to ashes as soon as it left his body.

The woman in the cheongsam kicked Ding Shi in the stomach with her left foot, causing him to stagger three meters. Cao Ying, wielding a stick with both hands, struck the woman in the cheongsam on the head like hitting a golf ball; the force was so great that the stick snapped on the spot. However, the woman in the cheongsam felt nothing and reached back to grab Cao Ying, who dodged the attack.

The woman in the cheongsam struggled to stand up, but her right leg had no strength. She ended up on her hands and one foot, dragging her right hind leg, and charged at Cao Ying like a canine.

Ding Shi saw it clearly and said, "Tear off the talisman; there are talismans stuck to her limbs."

"I know, come help me." This monster felt no pain at all; its body was stiff as a board, and it was incredibly fast.

The woman in the cheongsam grabbed Cao Ying's thighs with both hands, her sharp teeth about to bite down, but Ding Shi, who was behind, grabbed the woman's hair and pulled her back.

Cao Ying felt pain just watching it and said, "I hate it when people pull my hair the most."

As soon as she finished speaking, the woman in the cheongsam released Cao Ying and turned to pounce on Ding Shi. Ding Shi stuck a yellow talisman on her and pulled her aside, causing the talisman to explode.

Cao Ying was about to offer a word of praise when two more corpses appeared: one was Zi Qing, and the other was Bage. Both had sinister eyes, green faces, and bodies shrouded in black mist. Zi Qing even charged directly at Ding Shi.

Ding Shi was shocked and heartbroken: "Zi Qing, Zi Qing, how could you die? Zi Qing..." He dodged Zi Qing's hug, tripped her, and stomped on the back of her head, her lumbar spine, and her cervical spine with all his might: "Zi Qing, Zi Qing..."

Cao Ying had already used the soft whip at her waist, but it was really useless against the corpses. Faced with the attack from the woman in the cheongsam and the myna bird, she was a bit flustered, so she shouted, "Those who can't be trampled to death, come and help!"

Before Ding Shi could respond, a wooden door was kicked open, and Ding Shi saw his good buddy, Niu Lang.

Ding Shi said, "We're about to be surrounded. Grab your lanterns and head in my direction."

Cao Ying leaped up, grabbed a lantern from a pillar, and ran towards Ding Shi. Ding Shi slapped Zi Qing on the head, knocking her to the ground again.

Ding Shi jogged forward and reached back, like in a relay race, firmly grasping Cao Ying's right hand. Cao Ying was momentarily touched; Ding Shi hadn't abandoned her, but what did it mean by grabbing her hand?
The next second, Ding Shi's left-hand dagger slashed across Cao Ying's finger. While Cao Ying was still in shock, Ding Shi threw a flying knife at the paper figure, smearing Cao Ying's finger across the paper figure's eyes.

With a splash of blood, the paper figure came to life, growing rapidly in the wind until it landed and transformed into a soldier the size of an adult. It held a shield in one hand and a sword in the other. The soldier took two steps forward, then delivered a shield bash that sent Zi Qing flying three meters away. With the sword at its front and the shield at its chest, it walked step by step toward the demons and monsters that approached it.

A soldier command interface appeared before her, and Cao Ying's mind went blank for a moment. Then, her collar was tightened, and Ding Shi dragged her out of the ancestral hall through the large hole that Lady Ghost had smashed open.

Cao Ying was certain of one thing: Ding Shi would never hold hands with a woman while fleeing for his life, because he was afraid that the woman would pull him back and hold him back.

Ding Shi: What kind of sexism is this? Even men wouldn't do that. Holding hands while running for their lives, as if afraid they'd run too fast?

Ding Shi: "Where is Madam Ghost?" He threw Cao Ying's collar forward, bent down to pick up the red umbrella. The face is gone, nowhere to be found; the red umbrella still smiles in the spring breeze.

Ghost Umbrella: Driven by ghostly power, it can withstand damage.

Ding bent his knee and smashed the umbrella against his shinbone, breaking the red umbrella and throwing it aside.

If I can't use it, then nobody should use it.

Is Ding Shi's perspective too narrow? Of course not, because with the player's double seal, only NPCs can use ghost power. Although the player is a competitor, the NPCs are not necessarily friends.

"Where are we going?" Cao Ying asked for the third time as she followed Ding Shi.

Ding Shi also defeated the corpses that suddenly appeared from the darkness for the third time. The most distinctive feature of these controlled corpses was that they were tough and could bite people, but they did not have any special abilities.

"Go to the East Wing."

(End of this chapter)