Chapter Sixteen: Malefic Energy

Wang Tiancheng glanced at the hand Gu Liuyun extended but had no intention of shaking it. His eyes swept over the young man with a hint of disdain.

“Who are you?”

Gu Liuyun smiled and withdrew his hand, then sat directly across from Wang Tiancheng.

“President Wang, don’t you recognize me?”

Seeing Gu Liuyun’s arrogance, Wang Tiancheng’s underlings grew restless immediately.

“Who’s this punk, daring to act up in front of our Brother Tiancheng!”

“If you know what’s good for you, you’d better toast all the gentlemen here, kowtow once to each, and then get lost!”

Gu Liuyun’s eyes gradually grew cold, a murderous aura quietly spreading.

Wang Tiancheng felt a chill rise from beneath his feet, an ominous premonition settling in. He raised a hand to signal his men to be silent.

“I don’t know you, but if the young brother is interested, it’s not too late for us to get acquainted now.”

Wang Tiancheng fetched a bottle of beer and placed it in front of Gu Liuyun.

“Spare me the drink. I’m here to talk business,” Gu Liuyun said coolly. “President Wang, it seems you’ve been paying special attention to my Gu Corporation lately.”

The mention of Gu Corporation immediately made Wang Tiancheng’s expression clear.

“Oh? So you’re President Gu. I’ve heard much about you.”

“And what business does President Gu have here?”

Gu Liuyun cut straight to the point: “Let’s not beat around the bush. You’ve been making frequent moves against Gu Corporation’s business lately. Isn’t that crossing the line?”

Wang Tiancheng gave a half-smile: “Brother Gu, that sounds naïve. Business is like war—victors reign, losers fall. What’s this about crossing the line?”

“So you’re saying, President Wang, you don’t intend to give me an explanation?” Gu Liuyun’s tone grew colder.

“Explanation? What do I have to explain? If there’s blame, it’s on you for messing with the wrong people,” Wang Tiancheng said. “A word of advice: back out of the market soon, or you’ll regret it.”

Suddenly, Gu Liuyun stood up and grabbed Wang Tiancheng’s neck with a single hand.

Wang Tiancheng’s face instantly drained of color.

“Big brother!”

“Try touching Brother Tiancheng and see what happens!”

Wang Tiancheng’s men were terrified and quickly surrounded Gu Liuyun.

The security guards, who had been beaten by Gu Liuyun at the door earlier, also rushed in with several colleagues.

“It’s him! The troublemaker is him!”

“Let go of President Wang, or don’t expect to walk out of here today!”

“How dare you cause a scene in our Lanxiang Nightclub? You’ve got a death wish!”

Gu Liuyun ignored their noisy protests, focusing entirely on the powerless Wang Tiancheng.

There was no true energy within this man—he was just ordinary.

Yet somehow, Gu Liuyun faintly sensed the aura of a cultivator in him, almost mistaking him for one.

If Gu Liuyun hadn’t restrained his force in time, Wang Tiancheng might have been directly crushed by his true energy.

But why?

Gu Liuyun observed Wang Tiancheng carefully and noticed a faint black mist emanating from the space between his eyebrows, nearly invisible in the dim nightclub.

It was evil energy.

There was a trace of extremely subtle sinister energy wandering inside Wang Tiancheng.

This evil aura carried an ancient and eerie feeling.

This technique...

It was remarkably similar to some dark arts he knew from his previous life.

In that life, just as he was about to obtain the Ascension Stone, interference from dark cultivators caused his demise and his rebirth into this world.

Gu Liuyun gathered his two fingers and pressed lightly on Wang Tiancheng’s forehead, effortlessly dispelling the malevolent force.

Wang Tiancheng felt a sudden pain between his brows and immediately regained clarity.

“President... Gu...”

Gu Liuyun released him, and Wang Tiancheng collapsed weakly into his seat.

“Are you... a cultivator?” he asked cautiously.

Gu Liuyun did not deny it.

Ordinary people naturally wouldn’t know about cultivators, but Wang Tiancheng was different. He had once sought the path but lacked talent and was too old, unable to enter the Dao.

So, upon witnessing Gu Liuyun’s technique, he knew Gu Liuyun was a cultivator.

“Brother Tiancheng, are you all right?” one of the underlings stepped forward to support Wang Tiancheng.

The security guards watched Gu Liuyun like hawks, waiting for the right moment to strike.

“Get lost! None of your business!” Wang Tiancheng angrily shouted at his men and the guards.

Once they were driven away, Wang Tiancheng gave a sheepish smile to Gu Liuyun.

“President Gu! I sincerely apologize!”

All his earlier arrogance was gone. He looked at Gu Liuyun like a begging dog, trying to please him.

“I never intended to target Gu Corporation. About a week ago, someone met with me. After that, I felt dizzy and confused.”

“It was as if something was controlling me...”

Wang Tiancheng knelt down directly before Gu Liuyun.

He knew that no matter who else he offended, never to offend a cultivator.

Because one never knows what powers stand behind such a figure.

If Gu Liuyun were to act decisively, Wang Tiancheng’s fate would be worse than death.

Gu Liuyun waved his hand.

He knew Wang Tiancheng was telling the truth. This matter likely had nothing to do with him, and he didn’t want to make a fuss.

“Compensate Gu Corporation for the losses,” he said coldly.

Wang Tiancheng wiped the sweat from his brow. “Absolutely! Absolutely!”

“Who did you meet that day? Someone you know?” Gu Liuyun asked.

Wang Tiancheng shook his head.

“All I know is he was a young man in his twenties, wearing a mask and a hat. I didn’t see his face clearly.”

“But I vaguely remember his methods were similar to yours, President Gu.”

It seemed Wang Tiancheng had no useful information. Growing impatient, Gu Liuyun kicked him lightly.

“Nothing more to do with you. Get out.”

Wang Tiancheng felt as if freed from prison and repeatedly thanked Gu Liuyun before fleeing as if his life depended on it.

He feared that if he delayed even a second longer, Gu Liuyun might change his mind.

Gu Liuyun left Lanxiang Nightclub, his confusion unresolved. The mystery only deepened.

Who exactly wanted to take him down?

He needed to uncover the hidden force behind this as soon as possible.

But Wang Tiancheng clearly knew nothing. Should he wait for the next move?

Such passivity was not in Gu Liuyun’s nature.

Suddenly, a spark lit in his mind. He remembered the anonymous message he had received earlier.

He did not know if the sender was friend or foe, but it was the only lead he had. The content seemed like a warning.

It was worth a try.

Gu Liuyun took out his phone, found the message, and pressed the call button.

After a moment of busy signal, the call was answered.

A young woman’s sweet voice came through the receiver: “Hello, hi there?”