Qian Guran was already discovered when he entered the E-Times District.

Since the kidnappers were fishing for information, they would leave clues. However, the manner in which these clues were left needed to be well thought out: it could not attract police attention, yet it needed to signal to Hidden Moth that He Kao and Gao Xue'e had disappeared due to a kidnapping.

The kidnappers' original plan was to extract the identity of Hidden Moth from He Kao and Gao Xue'e. Even if they didn't know, the kidnappers aimed to pinpoint suspicious targets. The second step of the plan was for them to call for help, luring out Hidden Moth.

Hidden Moth, knowing the news, would first need to go to the kidnapping scene to confirm the situation, specifically Gao Xue'e's home and where He Kao lived. They had stationed people in both areas for surveillance to further narrow down Hidden Moth's identity.

The received orders were not to track but merely to document who came. Unexpectedly, the plan couldn't keep up with change, and before the kidnappers could interrogate anyone, someone appeared at the scene.

However, the kidnappers' observers only noticed Qian Guran; they missed Huang Xiaopang, as he hadn't passed through the district at all.

Qian Guran left the district, made a phone call, and then drove straight to Yunteng Mansion.

Gu Yunteng owned multiple luxury homes domestically and abroad, but he usually stayed in his base of operations, Yunteng Mansion, where he had an entire floor dedicated to his office, meeting, and living space, complete with a private garage and elevator.

Everyone knew he was a successful entrepreneur, yet few knew he originated from the Magic Sect, a Tier Two Broker who practiced Qi Observation Skill, and even Qian Guran had to call him Uncle Master.

Back when he founded the Bada Group, Gu Yunteng's initial goal was to create the conditions necessary for completing an advancement ritual. In the end, however, between "achieving greater business success" and "better completing the ritual," he chose the former.

In truth, "business success" and "completing the ritual" were not inherently contradictory, but in practice, some compromises were needed based on the situation.

At that critical moment back then, if he had chosen to complete the ritual, he might have missed a significant business opportunity that would elevate him into the top echelon of the wealthy. Oh well, the ritual can always be done again...

This is why Gu Yunteng did not become a Tier Three Zongheng Scholar, and later did not succeed further, until finally... he simply gave up. What difference does a Tier Three Zongheng Scholar make; could it make life more comfortable? He thus consoled himself.

The identity of a Qi Observation Sect Sorcerer provided great help for his business success, and his subsequent further business success also made him an integral part of a vast network of relationships, facilitating a wealth of resource exchanges and mutual assistance.

For instance, with a promising young man like Qian Guran, he didn't mind offering a small favor, while also letting the young man do a little thing for him in return.

Before Qian Guran entered Yunteng Mansion, he received another call from Huang Xiaopang. Huang Xiaopang informed him that Gao Xue'e had also been kidnapped and vanished, and the kidnappers used the same method, an ambulance...

Qian Guran suspected Gu Yunteng for two reasons.

First, there was the material He Kao retrieved from the safe. Gu Yunteng had once entrusted him to find out what He Kao had obtained. He kept the matter of the materials a secret; it seemed Gu Yunteng still had concerns.

Second, the E-Times District was a project developed by the Bada Group. The home He Kao was in had its key provided by the developer. If He Kao didn't open the door himself, it would imply that the kidnappers also possessed a key.

But Gao Xue'e also disappeared; what was happening?

Qian Guran asked, "Xiaopang, are you at President E's house? How did you get in?"

Xiaopang: "President E's house uses a password lock. She told me the code last time when I helped her retrieve something...but that's not important, the point is President E is also missing! Her phone was also left at home. I asked around, and she too was taken away by an ambulance!"

Qian Guran: "Keep searching, stay in touch, and wait for my news."

After hanging up, Qian Guran entered Yunteng Mansion and met with Gu Yunteng. No third party knew the specifics of their conversation, but upon Qian Guran's departure, his face was dark and brooding.

Gu Yunteng flatly denied any connection to the matter and was agitated by Qian Guran's confrontational approach, ultimately sending him away.

Gu Yunteng stood by the tall window watching Qian Guran's car leave, his expression varied and uncertain.

Indeed, he was not the orchestrator of the event; Zhao Hai Zhen had planned it all. He had merely offered a small amount of assistance, simultaneously asking the other party to return a small favor, while also making some covert arrangements.

Of course, these details were unnecessary to share with Qian Guran. After all, no matter what happened to He Kao, it had nothing to do with him.

As Qian Guran departed from Tengyun Mansion, his expression was unpleasant. Being a Tier Three Cultivator of Qi Observation Skill, he was adept at discerning human relationships and could easily see the nuances of his relationship with Gu Yunteng—

There was both apprehension and considerable suspicion and distrust; clearly, the attitude was not honest.

Previously, Qian Guran had deceptively claimed to be in Pingjing to avoid meeting with Gu Yunteng, as he too held secrets from Gu Yunteng, who was also a Sorcerer of the Qi Observation Sect.

Even though it was said that Gu Yunteng had always been just a Tier Two Broker, who could be sure he hadn't progressed in recent years? After all, cultivation isn't something typically worn on one's cheek.

After meeting, however, Qian Guran managed to probe and ascertain that Gu Yunteng was indeed still a Tier Two Broker and had not advanced, yet his prior attitude was still dishonest.

What to do now? Qian Guran suddenly remembered that he'd been laying low in Jiangbei these past few days. That very evening, after receiving Huang Xiaopang's call and heading to the E-Times District, he recalled encountering an ambulance crossing the Great River Second Bridge.

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