Jing Li’s patience finally ran out upon seeing his brother arrive. He stretched out his hand, waving Qian Jianan away, and strode towards his brother.
“Ge,” Jing Li stopped before Jing Yu, spreading his arms and enveloping him in a warm embrace, his face beaming with unbridled joy.
Jing Yu, too, was infected by his brother’s emotions. A gentle smile instantly appeared on his face, and he reached out to hug him back.
“Didn’t I tell you to wait in the car? Why did you come inside? Aren’t you tired?” Jing Li lightly chided him after the embrace, though his expression showed no hint of displeasure.
Slinging an arm around his brother’s shoulders, he guided him towards the exit, remarking, “Have you finished your work here? I’ve already wrapped up on my end. I was planning to head home tonight.”
“Yeah, it’s all taken care of,” Jing Yu replied, glancing back towards the figure down the hallway with a furrowed brow. “Who was that? Did he threaten you just now?”
“Qian Jianan, he’s a lunatic. Don’t mind him,” Jing Li dismissed. He didn’t take Qian Jianan to heart at all. He was filled with the excitement of taking his brother to eat delicious food. Ushering him out the door, he inquired, “Are you hungry? I heard there’s a decent private restaurant around here. Why don’t we try it?”
Jing Yu cast one last glance down the corridor, resolving to investigate the man’s identity when he returned home.
This individual had dared to threaten his brother in his presence and vowed to bankrupt the Jing family. He was curious to see what formidable means the man possessed.
Qian Jianan in the corridor didn’t know that he had been targeted by a beast. He was now covered with frightening low pressure.
He hadn’t expected Jing Li to suddenly push him away, catching him off guard and nearly causing him to stumble and fall. Only by bracing himself with his hands did he manage to regain his balance.
However, by the time he stood up, Jing Li had already left through the door with his companion, leaving Qian Jianan to glare at their departing figures.
Qian Jianan looked at the direction the other party was leaving with a livid face, and was so angry that he almost broke his teeth.
Soon, though, his brow arched smugly.
Thinking that he had already asked people to interfere with Jing Li’s family’s business, it would not be long before he heard the good news about his family’s bankruptcy. He couldn’t wait to revel in Jing Li’s dejected expression.
The thought of the man kneeling before him, pale-faced and begging for mercy, only deepened the sinister grin upon Qian Jianan’s face.
He was so absorbed in this vision that he failed to recognize the all-too-familiar figure who left with Jing Li just now.
*
After their meal, Jing Li didn’t linger. He instead rebooked himself and his brother on the same flight back to the capital that very night.
The two brothers hadn’t seen each other for a long time, chatting frequently along the way. When they got home, they continued their chat until Jing Yu, taking pity on his weary brother, finally urged Jing Li to retire for the night.
However, Jing Li still got up early the following morning. He did not forget about his appointment with Wang Lele to visit the Green Forest.
While waiting for Wang Lele, Jing Li searched the internet for information about the Green Forest.
Besides praise for its scenic beauty or complaints about the owner’s fickle temperament, he found little useful data. Any personal information about the owner was scarce.
Almost no one could speak clearly about anything related to this person. It was as if he had materialized out of thin air, with hardly any outside contact beyond his customers, let alone anyone claiming to be his friend or classmate.
However, the more it was like this, the more it aroused suspicion.
Just then, Wang Lele called, saying he was about to arrive at Jing Li’s door. Jing Li responded and went out with his phone.
As Jing Li reached the entrance, Wang Lele’s car had just arrived. He parked in front of Jing Li and glanced at the villa behind him, letting out a whistle, “Your house is huge.”
He knew Jing Li’s status as a rich second-generation, so he wasn’t surprised to hear Jing Li lived in this famous rich neighborhood. However, he didn’t expect his friend’s house to occupy such a vast area.
It seemed his friend’s family was quite wealthy.
Wang Lele sighed secretly but didn’t dwell on it further. After that remark, he remained quiet.
Instead, Jing Li glanced back at the villa after hearing his words. As he opened the car door and got in, he said, “If you’re interested, you can come over next time we’re free and have a barbecue in the yard.”
“That would be great. I’ll definitely post on social media to show off my rich friend.”
Wang Lele joked, taking Jing Li’s words lightly and not reading too much into them. He then brought up the matter related to Green Forest, “I called Boss Ju last night, and he agreed to prepare a special meal for us. However, he still insists on seeing the color of your aura.”
“Don’t be offended. He’s just a nagging person, but he is actually quite nice.”
“But if you feel uncomfortable, we don’t have to force it…”
“It’s fine, I can handle it,” Jing Li smiled nonchalantly, not bothered by it.
To be honest, he was quite curious about how this Boss Ju determined a customer’s aura.
*
Dongshan was only a few dozen kilometers outside the city. Since they left early, it didn’t take long to reach the foot of the mountain.
The entire mountain wasn’t very high, but the forest was densely covered in trees, mostly pines and cypresses, with a few scattered species of unidentifiable varieties.
Regardless of the species, the branches and leaves grew exceptionally lush and beautiful, almost appearing meticulously pruned.
“Don’t these trees on the mountain look great?” Wang Lele glanced at Jing Li as he led the way uphill, noticing his gaze. He smiled, “I was surprised too when I first came here. I thought they were professionally trimmed, but later learned they grew naturally like this.”
“It’s as if the soil and water here are exceptionally nourishing. Not only do the plants thrive, but even the air feels fresher than elsewhere.”
Wang Lele inhaled deeply, his expression blissful, as if savoring the refreshing air.
Jing Li glanced at him, looking at the white mist that entered his body as he breathed, and the gray mist that was gradually expelled from his body. He smiled and said nothing.
The air here was indeed fresher than elsewhere, but not because of nourishing soil and water. Instead, the forest was filled with a denser spiritual energy than outside.
Speaking of which, Jing Li was quite surprised. In this world lacking spiritual energy, it was remarkable for such an abundance to gather here.
Although relatively thin, it was still a precious location in this world.
For this reason, Jing Li became even more eager to meet the restaurant’s owner.
Fortunately, they didn’t linger too long. Upon reaching the mountaintop, they saw a courtyard surrounded by several bamboo pavilions.
From the pavilions to the courtyard, all the materials used were whole green bamboo poles. From afar, it looked like an emerald palace standing in the mountains.
The bamboo appeared freshly cut, still faintly fragrant.
This was one of the novelties that intrigued many netizens, with some speculating the owner frequently renovated for safety reasons.
Jing Li glanced at the spiritual energy enveloping the bamboo pavilions, then shifted his gaze to the lone large tree in the courtyard’s center.
The tree trunk was probably as thick as five or six grown men encircling it. Its lush branches extended over the pavilion roofs. Golden chrysanthemums were planted densely around it, creating a vibrant, pleasing sight.
However, Jing Li’s focus was clearly elsewhere.
In his eyes, the tree was enveloped in concentrated spiritual energy, denser than the entire mountain combined. It continuously radiated outward, nourishing the surrounding vegetation. Meanwhile, the chrysanthemum patch seemed to channel spiritual energy from each flower bud back into the tree, as if trying to replenish it.
Noticing the slightly yellowed leaves at the tree’s crown, Jing Li sensed it was in poor condition, so this phenomenon didn’t surprise him.
“Where are you looking, you shameless brat?!”
A furious male voice suddenly erupted from the courtyard ahead. The two on the path instinctively looked over to see two figures, one in white and one in black, rapidly emerge from the central pavilion.
The black-clad figure was clearly dragged out by the collar by the one in white.
Without a word at the entrance, the white-dressed person flung the man into the courtyard, slamming him face-down on the ground. Then with hands on hips, he raged, “Get out! If I see you step into this courtyard again, I’ll drown you in the well!”
The two of them followed his gaze and looked at the people on the ground. They saw…a muscular 1.8-meter-tall man who was obviously more than half a head taller than the man in white.
However, the man on the ground showed no humiliation at being thrown out by someone so petite. Calmly rising, he smiled graciously, “Don’t be angry, I promise next time…”
Before he could finish, he saw the young man’s eyes suddenly flash as he looked at him. Without another word, he charged over.
The man’s heart leapt, thinking his sincere attitude had finally changed the other party’s mind. Smiling, he opened his arms to receive his passionate embrace.
Then he watched in disbelief as the young man brushed past him, charging straight towards the two young men who had somehow appeared at the courtyard entrance.
He dashed directly towards the better-looking one, excitedly shouting, “Friend!!!
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