Thinking leads to action.
The Gardener did not delay. He stood up and said to Fatty:
"Since we're acting tomorrow, I'll go digest Kim Jung-hyuk's body first and create a substitute mastermind."
With that said,
The Gardener left without waiting for Fatty's reply.
Seeing this,
Fatty watched the departing Gardener and muttered to himself:
"Senluo's assist this time is good. I was wondering how to speed up the Gardener's progress, but now it's fine. I don't even need to say anything; the Gardener already wants to act sooner."
Thinking this,
Fatty also got up, not idle, and went back to his room to make preparations. He did not forget to send a message to Zhang Wei:
[Fatty]: Zhang Wei, pay attention tomorrow. The substitute mastermind and I are preparing to make a move against you. Remember to cooperate when the time comes.
After sending the message,
Not long after,
Zhang Wei replied:
[Zhang Wei]: ok, I'll cooperate well then. By the way, Fatty, you're amazing. You managed to convince the Gardener so quickly. Don't tell me the Gardener has a crush on you.
[Fatty]: Get lost, get lost, what nonsense are you talking about? You're the one the Gardener has a crush on your dad.
[Fatty]: I made a typo, not dad, but "ba" (a particle).
[Zhang Wei]: Haha, Fatty, you don't need to say it. I know it's a typo. It's clearly a typo.
[Fatty]: Actually, it wasn't me who convinced the Gardener; Senluo called.
Then,
Fatty explained the matter of Senluo's call.
[Fatty]: Zhang Wei, when did you agree to deal with the matter of the Huang family's grand elder? Damn it, Senluo was the one who injured the Huang family's grand elder. To heal him, the required items are very difficult to obtain and quite dangerous. Don't think you're capable of saving him just because you've become a half-step True Dragon Guard.
[Zhang Wei]: Actually, I didn't agree after becoming a half-step True Dragon Guard. It was when I first went to the Northeast. I was already considering it. It was that time when the Tailor asked you to send ghosts to kill me.
[Fatty]: Holy crap! At that time, your strength was only at the level of a Red-clothed Fierce Ghost, right? As expected, a newborn calf fears no tiger.
[Zhang Wei]: Was it that dangerous?
[Fatty]: Of course, it was. Have you read "Grave Robbers' Chronicles" or "Ghost Blows Out the Light"? The danger level is similar to that. If you're looking for a place to find healing items, it's equivalent to you, as an ordinary person, being in "Grave Robbers' Chronicles." It's very dangerous. Do you think everyone is Wu Xie?
Mentioning the healing of the Huang family's grand elder, Zhang Wei's interest was immediately piqued:
[Zhang Wei]: Fatty, where is that place? I heard Captain Huang Qingshan mention it. He said that place is very dangerous, but he didn't tell me to keep it a secret and prevent others from knowing. Do you know where it is?
[Fatty]: I don't know the exact location, but the general area is in Yunnan. I heard it from the Tailor and the others. They say it's very dangerous. Apparently, many ghost kings and even True Dragon Guards have searched for that place before, but very few survived.
"In Yunnan?"
Zhang Wei murmured softly.
Although he didn't know the place, Zhang Wei realized the danger upon learning it was in Yunnan. Yunnan has a subtropical landscape with numerous poisonous insects and creatures. The unique ghost-exorcising profession in Yunnan, the 'Gu Masters,' is the best proof of this.
[Fatty]: Since you've agreed to the Huang family's grand elder, I won't say anything more. Don't overthink it. Let's deal with the current situation first. If you can obtain a half-step National Guardian level magical artifact, you'll have more security going to that place.
[Zhang Wei]: Okay.
Following that,
After a brief conversation, Zhang Wei ended the chat.
...
The next day.
Shouer University, dormitory.
Zhang Wei woke up early. He didn't go to class with Yu Xiaoqi and asked Yu Xiaoqi to request leave for him.
"Huh? Zhang Wei, why are you taking leave?"
Lu Lianxue asked from the dormitory entrance. She had come to find Zhang Wei, preparing to go to class together, but heard that Zhang Wei was taking leave.
"To collect information and investigate the missing persons case. Since I agreed, I have to do something. Otherwise, if I can't complete it, not only will I be ridiculed, but Great Xia will also be ridiculed."
"Then I'll go with you."
Lu Lianxue said after thinking.
"No need. It's just an investigation. We are exchange students. It's better not to take leave easily. Otherwise, before we even deal with the ghost exorcists from the rival country, we'll be ridiculed by the university students and professors here."
Zhang Wei couldn't reveal his plan with Fatty, so he made up a casual excuse.
Just as Lu Lianxue was about to respond,
A voice came from the dormitory entrance again:
"I thought Zhang Wei was so carefree. I thought you were still going to class. Turns out you get nervous too."
Zhang Chao and Wu Nian walked over. Zhang Chao teased.
"Why are you guys here?"
Zhang Wei was a little surprised. He remembered telling them last night that he had class and would find them after class.
"Amitabha, Monk Wu Nian and I are here to tell you, Zhang Wei, that we've come to help you investigate."
Wu Nian stated directly.
After returning last night, Zhang Chao and Wu Nian discussed it. They knew the missing persons case was tricky and were afraid Zhang Wei might fail. They decided to help investigate the missing persons case while Zhang Wei was in class. When Zhang Wei got out of class, they would share information, not wasting any time.
"Thanks. Since that's the case, let's investigate separately. Investigating from multiple angles is better than investigating together."
Zhang Wei found an excuse.
Zhang Chao and Wu Nian didn't suspect much and nodded in agreement.
"Amitabha, Monk Wu Nian also has this intention."
"Alright, then Wu Nian and I will investigate together, and you, Zhang Wei, will also investigate. I hope we can quickly find the mastermind behind the missing persons case, or even better, directly encounter the mastermind. However, it's best if you, Zhang Wei, encounter them. Wu Nian and I would probably die if we met them, haha."
...
On the other side.
As Zhang Wei and the others set out to investigate the missing persons case.
The Dharma Association.
The President also received a call from the surveillance personnel at the first moment, learning that Zhang Wei had gone out to investigate.
"It seems Zhang Wei hasn't given up. I thought he had time to collect game cards yesterday and was preparing to slack off and get criticized. It seems that's not the case."
In his words,
He watched the 'Yu-Gi-Oh!' anime playing on the computer screen in front of him, his gaze unwavering, and instructed his assistant beside him:
"Although it will take Zhang Wei seven or eight days to get results from investigating the missing persons case, we still need to make preparations. Have someone prepare the copy. After seven or eight days, when Zhang Wei can't find the mastermind, we'll start a large-scale public opinion campaign against Zhang Wei on international forums."
"Okay, President. I'll go now."
The assistant nodded and handed a pack of game cards to the President.
"President, this is a card pack I just bought again. The shopkeeper said this pack is guaranteed to have one Yu-Gi-Oh! holographic card."
...
At the same time.
Seoul City, on a street.
After leaving Shouer University with Wu Nian and Zhang Chao, Zhang Wei, following the plan he and Fatty had discussed last night, prepared to pretend to go to the scene of the missing persons case to conduct some investigations and search for clues.
Soon,
He arrived at the villa complex where Kim Jung-hyuk lived.
At this moment,
The Gardener and Fatty, who were hiding in the dark and tracking Zhang Wei, saw Zhang Wei's actions.
Regarding this,
The Gardener calmly said:
"Kim Jung-hyuk is a person recently involved in the missing persons case. His death location, since he died not long ago, is very likely to yield clues. It seems Zhang Wei is not only talented but also intelligent."
Fatty, feigning casualness, said:
"Indeed, Zhang Wei is quite intelligent and brave. Causing trouble for people like him would have great villainous flair. So, Gardener, shall we make our move?"
...