Taboo Mage - Chapter 26 - Nightmare

Once again, I firmly told her that I am simply someone who makes Yin-Yang life amulets, not a ghost catcher! The few times before were just luck!

If this misunderstanding continues, who knows what kind of people will come to find me.

Seeing my uneasy expression, Li Mi didn’t say much. After sitting for a while, she left.

I originally thought this matter was just a minor episode in my life, but I never imagined it would have such a significant impact on my future.

For three days after leaving the Sales Office, I locked myself in my room, studying ancient books.

That day, just as I was about to go out to buy some supplies, I turned the corner at the entrance to the alley and a luxury black sedan, so fancy I couldn’t recognize the emblem, stopped in front of me.

I cursed under my breath, annoyed at encountering a roadblock so early in the morning. I prepared to walk around it when, to my surprise, the door automatically opened, and the man I had seen at the Sales Office stepped out.

“Hello, I didn’t expect you to be Mr. Gu.”

“There are plenty of people with the surname Gu. How do you know the Gu you’re looking for is me?”

Thinking about that day at the Sales Office, the Sales Lady’s face changing expressions like Sichuan opera mask-changing, I couldn’t control my temper.

Even if I don’t have money, I still have dignity!

The man chuckled awkwardly and continued, “Mr. Gu, we didn’t treat you well at the Sales Office that day. Today, our boss especially wants to invite you for a meal, as an apology.”

“No.”

I refused outright. Even an idiot could guess this invitation was a trap.

The smile on the man’s face didn’t fade as he took a step forward and said, “Mr. Gu, you probably already guessed it. Since that’s the case, let me state our request…”

“Stop, I’m not interested! I need to go buy groceries, so please get out of the way.”

I interrupted him before he could finish, feeling annoyed. Was I not clear enough, or was my annoyed expression not obvious enough?

“As long as you have a meal with our Boss, you can choose any property under our company’s portfolio and move in for free!”

I chuckled. I never knew when I, Gu Qingshu, became so important that sharing a meal could get me a house.

“No need, thank you.”

“Your girlfriend would probably want a house, wouldn’t she?” The man straightened up and said with a smile.

I was stunned for a moment. Girlfriend? Since when did I have a girlfriend? If I had a girlfriend, would I be out here buying groceries in slippers by myself?

“Don’t joke with me. Do I look like someone with a girlfriend?” I snorted.

“The girl who was with you that day…”

“She’s just a friend, don’t say such things.”

I hurriedly explained. Such a joke could not be taken lightly. After saying this, I could clearly see a hint of a knowing smile on the man’s face.

I couldn’t help but roll my eyes.

Enough! Talking has been a waste of my breath.

Not wanting to continue entangling with him, I decided that if they were blocking my way to buy groceries, I’d just go home and cook some instant noodles instead.

Just as I turned around and took two steps, the man caught up, waving a finger in front of me.

“What?”

I struggled to suppress the anger building in my chest. I didn’t want to disgrace myself in front of my old neighbors and ruin my reputation. Otherwise, I would’ve started cursing already.

“A million.”

“What did you say?” I swallowed the curse words that were already at the tip of my tongue and stared at him.

“A million, plus a house, if you can solve our problem.”

The temptation was just too great.

I mentally calculated my savings and realized I couldn’t help but be tempted.

Perhaps it was the sight of that Sales Lady’s eyes gleaming with greed at the Sales Office, or maybe it was Li Mi’s gaze lighting up when she saw the house, leaving an indelible mark on my mind.

But from the moment the man’s finger kept waving in front of me, I knew-I had already compromised.

An hour later, I was seated in a private club’s VIP room. Facing a medieval oil painting on the wall, with my back to a transparent glass wall, the floor-to-ceiling windows revealed an endless ocean outside.

“Hello, my name is Chen Li.”

The man opposite me held a cigar, his deep, eagle-like eyes scanning my face indifferently.

Chen Li, a name that resonates in my ears. His photos and interviews frequently appear on television and in major media outlets. A billionaire business mogul, owner of Ruihao Real Estate, whose empire nearly monopolizes the province’s real estate market.

A bona fide real estate tycoon.

Sitting before him, looking down at my worn-out white sneakers, I couldn’t quite describe my feelings.

“Gu Qingshu, I’ve heard of you,” Chen Li continued. “I understand you possess certain esoteric skills. I’ve recently encountered some issues and need Mr. Gu’s assistance. Regarding the terms, Manager Lin has already discussed them with you. What do you think?”

Chen Li got straight to the point, wasting no words.

On the way, Manager Lin had indeed briefed me on the situation. It turned out that a new development under Ruihao Real Estate, the same one I visited days ago, had several workers die consecutively on the construction site before its completion.

The initial investment was substantial, so Chen Li suppressed the incident and continued the project. After the development was completed, however, Chen Li found himself unable to sleep at night, seeing the gruesome deaths of the workers every time he closed his eyes. Problems even arose with the property sales.

I asked Chen Li about the specifics of his nightmares and concluded that he was plagued by a nightmare.

Chen Li seemed to agree with my assessment, nodding repeatedly, and immediately promised that if I could resolve the issue, he would additionally reward me with a car worth 300,000 yuan.

I couldn’t suppress my inner joy and quickly agreed to the deal.

After leaving the private club, I requested Manager Lin take me for a walk around the site where the incidents occurred to better understand the source of the nightmare.

The construction site had been transformed into a luxurious residential community. Access required facial recognition. Along the way, I marveled once again at the world of the wealthy-it certainly stretches the limits of my imagination.

Following Manager Lin, we passed several villas and finally stopped at an open space.

It was an area designed as a European-style garden, filled with various flowers, with a large fountain in the center.