Sequence Beyond: My Wife is a Mysterious Boss

"Teacher Wang, don't worry."

Ji Yun turned to look at the dejected old man, his tone becoming respectful and gentle again:

"Since the item is still in Blackrock City, it can't have disappeared. As long as someone took it, it's just a matter of price."

After saying that, he took out a clean white handkerchief and handed it to the supervisor, pointing to his forehead which was covered in cold sweat.

"Don't be nervous, tidy up."

"What was the name of the friend who took the stone slab? Where is he now?"

The supervisor turned pale and waved his hands repeatedly:

"Young Master Ji, this...this is a secret within the organization. As you know, although our gang is rotten, if we don't follow the rules, we won't be able to survive in the future..."

The atmosphere suddenly became somewhat awkward.

Ji Yun stared at the supervisor for two seconds, then suddenly smiled, a smile as warm as a spring breeze.

"That's true, every profession has its rules."

He stood up and straightened his perfectly wrinkle-free cuffs: "I don't make things difficult for people who need help. If you're not comfortable saying it, I'll just ask someone else."

"Teacher Wang, let's go."

"Go back and rest, don't worry. As long as the item is still in Blackrock City, there's no way I won't find it."

Professor Wang sighed, stood up unsteadily, his face full of regret:

"What a pity... That thing is of great research value. If it falls into the hands of someone who doesn't know anything about it and gets damaged, they would be sinners in the eyes of history."

Suddenly, he thought of something, grabbed Ji Yun's arm, and earnestly instructed him:

"Xiao Ji, looking for things is fine, but you absolutely mustn't do anything reckless!"

"We're academics; we can't harm innocent people or seize things by force just for a research project, understand?"

"Don't worry, teacher."

Ji Yun helped the old man walk out, and paused slightly as they passed the trembling supervisor.

"What kind of person do you take me for?"

The young man turned his head to the side, sunlight illuminating his profile and outlining an elegant curve, like a gentleman who had stepped out of a magazine.

"We are scholars, we are reasonable people, not bandits."

"If the price is right, I think that lucky person would be happy to part with it and make a contribution to alchemy."

After all, there's nothing in this world that money can't buy.

If so, then add more money.

The two gradually walked away.

The supervisor was left leaning against the wall, letting out a long sigh.

His back was already soaked, as if he had just been pulled out of the water.

......

"Achoo—!"

Lin Bai, who was in a dark alley, suddenly sneezed.

"Who's talking about me?"

Lin Bai rubbed his nose, tightened his trench coat, and muttered:

"Thinking, cursing, and catching a cold—I always feel like there are treacherous subjects trying to harm me."

He was of course unaware that the Spirit Erosion Mother Plate he had painstakingly acquired had already been coveted by the academic giants of the inner city.

At this moment, he was standing in front of a dilapidated iron gate.

This is on the edge of the infamous "ghost market" in the downtown area, a grocery store that looks like it could go out of business at any moment.

A rusty bronze plaque hung at the entrance, engraved with an image of an ouroboros—a common symbol of alchemy.

Although this snake looks more like a malnourished earthworm.

"Is this the address Gu Canglan gave us?"

Lin Bai looked down at the copper coin in his hand, then at the dilapidated shop in front of him, which looked as if a gust of wind could blow it down.

It's hard to associate that imposing black-robed big shot who casually pulls out hundreds of gold coins with this kind of place that looks like a junkyard.

Is this what they mean by "the truly wise live in seclusion in the city"?

Question: Is it safe here?

[Answer: Temporarily safe.]

[Note: Tsk tsk tsk, starting to get paranoid already?]

[Host, your paranoia is really getting worse, isn't it? Don't worry, come in. Since this old man gave you the token, he won't plant landmines at the door.]

Lin Bai's lips twitched, ignoring the parchment's mockery.

He silently raised his guard to the maximum level and had Ah Ya stand watch at the door.

Then, he reached out and pushed open the creaking door.

Ring ring—

The clear sound of wind chimes rang out.

......

Pushing open the creaking, dilapidated door, one is greeted by a crowded yet well-organized shop.

All the gears were arranged by size, the screws were categorized, and the medicines were neatly arranged.

For Lin Bai, a severe case of obsessive-compulsive disorder, it was incredibly therapeutic.

Lin Bai glanced around and his gaze settled on the tall swivel chair behind the counter.

A little girl was sitting in a chair, her back to the door.

She wore a deep red velvet dress, the hem of which resembled a blooming blood rose, covering the entire chair surface.

Hearing the wind chimes, the chair turned around.

It was a face so exquisitely beautiful it was almost unreal.

Her skin was as white as top-grade porcelain fresh from the kiln, and her eyelashes were ridiculously long; she was practically the most expensive Barbie doll in the shop window.

She put down the precision screwdriver in her hand, and her big eyes scanned Lin Bai up and down.

Her pink lips parted, and a childish voice uttered:

"Where did that spendthrift old man Gu Canglan pick up this piece of trash from?"

Lin Bai raised an eyebrow, stunned.

Hearing that childish voice say such... direct things, I was a little unaccustomed to it for a moment.

However, it was his professionalism as a con artist that allowed him to immediately regain his composure.

With a polite smile: "I'm here to learn alchemy."

"Learn alchemy?"

The girl scoffed, her childish voice filled with sarcasm:

"You? All of your clothes together aren't even worth a single button on my skirt."

"Do you know how to write the three characters for alchemy? It's called learning alchemy."

She was like a sharp-tongued housekeeper, speaking extremely fast:

"Gu Canglan is really senile. He's so poor he's practically selling his underwear, yet he still brings back all sorts of random people."

"Turn right after you leave. No need to see me off. Don't waste the oxygen in the store."

That mouth... was it rinsed with arsenic?

Lin Bai inwardly scoffed, but maintained the "highly qualified talent" smile on his face.

Although, it had already started to feel a little stiff...

"Xiao Shu, you mustn't be rude."

The heavy curtain in the inner room was lifted, and Gu Canglan came out.

He removed his mysterious black robe and was wearing a gray knitted sweater.

His sleeves were rolled up, and he was holding a manuscript covered with formulas in his hand.

At this moment, he didn't look like a powerful figure in control of everything; he looked more like a down-on-his-luck university professor.

"Mr. Gu." Lin Bai nodded slightly.

"I'm here." Gu Canglan smiled apologetically.

"I'm sorry, Xiao Shu is used to managing the household and is quite sensitive about money. It wasn't directed at you."

After saying that, he looked at the porcelain doll, his tone both helpless and indulgent:

"Xiao Shu, this is Lin Bai, a new student. He's not someone we picked up; he's here to properly learn alchemy."

Shen Shu rolled her eyes dramatically, her lips pouting so much they could hang an oil bottle on them.

"Students? I think they're creditors."

She muttered something, her face clearly showing her displeasure, but she still obediently braced herself against the edge of the counter, preparing to jump off the bar stool.

......