One person: Starting with the Rumble-Rumble Fruit, his grandmaster uncle emerges from seclusion.

Seeing the questioning looks from everyone, he spread his hands, looking utterly hopeless.

"Dear brothers and sisters, congratulations! We've received an S-rank suicide mission."

"Chairman Zhao said that Chen Duo is a major hidden danger and we must give an explanation."

"But the company's higher-ups didn't dare to approach my second mentor, so... they passed the buck to us. They want us to negotiate."

"Negotiation?"

Black Pipe frowned, glancing at the deep pit in the distance: "Negotiate with a monster that can summon lightning at will? Is Chairman Zhao suggesting we go and stage an accident?"

Wang Zhenqiu also shook his head repeatedly, crossing his hands to make an "X" shape:

"No way! I'd rather die than go!"

"I finally managed to get to know that guy at the bar, and I don't want to go and mess things up today, only to get slapped into the wall and never be able to get out."

Old Meng opened his mouth, though he was very concerned about Chen Duo's whereabouts.

But when he thought of Zhang Tianyi's purple eyes that seemed to see right through his soul, he finally lowered his head in dejection.

He really didn't dare.

Looking at these temporary workers who usually acted arrogantly in various regions, they were now as timid as quails.

Zhang Chulan sighed. He knew that if this matter wasn't resolved, he wouldn't be able to explain himself to the company.

His mind raced, and suddenly, his eyes lit up.

"Everyone, actually... don't be too pessimistic."

Zhang Chulan rubbed his hands together, and that signature sly smile reappeared on his face:

"My second master is a man with an eccentric temper, and he can be quick to anger. But actually... he's not an unreasonable old-fashioned person."

"On the contrary, he was a person who paid great attention to the quality of life and knew how to enjoy life."

"If we just go along with him and mention it when he's in a good mood, maybe things will turn around!"

"Oh? What do you mean?" Xiao Zizai wiped his hands clean and came closer.

"It's very simple!"

Zhang Chulan slapped his thigh:

"Let's go to the hotel to find him right now! With utmost sincerity and... delicious food!"

"Go and offer your condolences! Go and pay your respects!"

"I refuse to believe that if we, a bunch of juniors, humbly beg for a guarantee, he'll eat and drink his fill and then chop us up, will he?"

Everyone looked at each other.

Although Zhang Chulan's "indirect approach" seems a bit far-fetched, it seems to be... the only feasible method at present.

"alright."

Black Pipe sighed and picked up his coat from the ground: "Then let's go. What's meant to be will be.

Chapter 106 Top Technician Zhang Chulan

Inside the five-star hotel in Liupanshui city, which Zhang Tianyi had almost booked half a floor.

The VIP private hot spring area on the top floor.

This place is usually open to the public, but today, the entire area is marked with "Closed for Business" signs.

The reason was simple: Zhang Tianyi swiped his card and booked the entire place.

A misty haze hangs in the air above the luxurious indoor hot spring pool.

The air was filled with the faint scents of high-grade agarwood and sulfur.

A corner of the hot spring pool.

Zhang Tianyi was completely submerged in hot water, with only his head showing.

He had a neatly folded hot towel on his head and his eyes closed.

A small yellow duck tray floats on the water nearby, with a cup of iced soda on it.

On the other side of the hot spring pool, just a few meters away from him.

Chen Duo was curled up in the water.

She wore a slightly oversized bathrobe provided by the hotel, which wrapped her body tightly, leaving only her neck and above exposed.

Soaking in hot water, an unnatural blush appeared on her originally pale face.

But if you look closely, you'll find...

On her fair neck, below her collarbone, and on her arms covered by her bathrobe.

It has striking dark patterns that intertwine like black vines.

Those are irreversible marks left by the primitive poison that has been eroding the body for years.

This is also why Zhang Tianyi booked the entire private hot spring.

He knew that this girl was very sensitive.

This skin, which is considered a mark of a monster, would draw strange looks from others if one went to a public bathhouse.

This will be a devastating blow to the little bit of "popularity" she has managed to build up.

"Girl, is the water temperature just right?"

Zhang Tianyi kept his eyes closed, didn't turn his head, and spoke in a lazy and soothing voice that echoed softly in the empty hot spring area.

"Hmm...suitable."

Chen Duo responded softly.

She looked down at the ugly black lines on her arm underwater.

That deep sense of inferiority and emptiness resurfaced in his eyes once again.

"Second Master..."

Chen Duo hesitated for a long time, but finally couldn't hold back, her voice barely audible:

"Am I... ugly?"

“These things…can’t be washed off. Village Chief Ma said…only the Body-Cultivation Furnace can wash them off…”

Upon hearing this, Zhang Tianyi's hand, which was submerged in water, twitched slightly.

He did not answer immediately.

Instead, he slowly reached out, picked up the Coke from the floating rubber duck tray, and took a big slurp.

"Ah...that feels good."

Zhang Tianyi let out a satisfied sigh, then casually pulled off the hot towel from his head and turned around.

He leaned against the pool, looking through the misty air at Chen Duo, who was curled up in the corner like a wounded little animal.

There was not a trace of pity, nor a trace of disgust.

There is only one kind of calm and carefree attitude that comes from seeing through the ways of the world.

"ugly?"

Zhang Tianyi chuckled lightly, his tone casual:

"Girl, who defines beauty and ugliness?"

"Are they just ordinary people who only look at appearances?"

Zhang Tianyi raised a hand and pointed to the black patterns on Chen Duo's body:

"In their eyes, it was a monster, a poison."

"But in my eyes, that thing..."

Zhang Tianyi paused, a gentle yet powerful smile curving his lips:

"That's the tattoo that life gives you."

"It's a bit like... abstract art. Black and white intertwined, vines entwined, it's quite unique."

Chen Duo was stunned.

Tattoo?

Art?

This is the first time someone has used this term to describe the traces of Gu poison on her body.

"Girl, you need to understand one thing."

Zhang Tianyi put the towel back on his head, closed his eyes, and his voice became distant:

"In this world, what can truly hurt you is never how others see you."

"It's about yourself, how you see yourself."

......

The heavy, solid wood carved door was gently pushed open, and a waft of steam carrying the fresh scent of herbs wafted out.

Zhang Chulan led a group of temporary workers in quietly.

They looked like a few interns who had sneaked into the CEO's office while the boss was away.

"Shh!"

Zhang Chulan turned around and made a shushing gesture, his shifty eyes scanning the marble floor.

After passing the screen depicting "A Boy Asks a Question Under a Pine Tree," the group finally saw the scene clearly.

In the enormous white marble hot spring pool, Zhang Tianyi floated on the surface, a steaming white towel covering his face. Only his mouth and nose were exposed, and his breathing was as steady as if he had entered a state of meditation.

"Second Master's skill level... is truly amazing."

Zhang Chulan lowered his voice and sighed, then gestured to the professional team behind him: