A heavy gloom hung over the Lucky Inn today—unsurprising, really. If Ye Rong had suddenly led the staff in a hula dance, it would've only confirmed they'd collectively lost their minds under pressure.
In truth, Ye Rong's efforts had yielded little progress. The dark shadows beneath her eyes told the story plainly.
"The money isn't enough… A two-year lease needs at least two hundred thousand." Her voice, barely above a whisper, carried with it a sigh of utter helplessness.
Lin Lin and the others exchanged uneasy glances. Though they tried to mask their emotions, the anxiety in the room was palpable—in short, after today, the inn would have to shut down, and they would all be out of work.
"Don't worry! I've already thought of a way out for you!" Ye Rong forced a smile as she turned away to make another phone call.
Chen Mo watched her retreating figure with a sigh of resignation. He desperately wanted to help her—but not without invoking the curse tied to his powers.
"Let's not make things harder for Sister Rong," Lin Lin murmured into the silence, shaking her head. She reached for the newspaper, eyes scanning for job listings.
Just seconds later, she froze, eyes wide with disbelief. "Look at this! Something unbelievable happened last night! The paper says a group of 'appliance demons' attacked a jewelry exhibition and stole two priceless pieces of jade!"
"Pfft!" Chen Mo, mid-sip of tea, turned into a human fountain, spraying a fine mist two meters out.
Ignoring the stunned looks from the others, he snatched the newspaper and skimmed it rapidly. Within moments, his expression twisted in fury, as if a demon lord were about to awaken.
The others looked at one another, alarmed. "Brother Chen, are you okay?"
"I'm fine! But someone else is about to be very not fine," he growled, seizing a hammer and storming out of the inn.
The group stared after him, dumbfounded. From the fiery aura around him, they half-wondered if he planned to storm the Twelve Gold Palaces. Though... that hammer hardly seemed like sacred armor.
"Come out, all of you!" Moments later, his voice echoed through the alleyway. Four appliance demons sheepishly revealed themselves, faces wary of the killing intent radiating from Chen Mo.
Seeing his thunderous expression, they exchanged glances and suddenly broke into cheerful, synchronized laughter. "Hey, boss! Great weather today, huh? Let's go see the circus! Maybe they'll have tigers in clothes and pretty girls!"
"Wonderful idea. And I'll personally escort you—to hell. And I promise, no one there will be wearing clothes," Chen Mo replied with a grin so pleasant it made them all shudder.
After a tense beat, Nono stammered, "Boss, we… we just wanted to help Sister Rong!"
"Save it. Now, where are those two jade pieces?"
Nono blinked innocently. "Sold them... to Black-Tooth Chang on the black market. He offered a good price."
"A good price? Millions?" Chen Mo didn't look the least bit pleased. He knew—greater the gain, the worse the curse.
Just then, a musical hum pierced the air, and Li Zhi appeared from thin air, his face a mask of fury, spiritual energy rolling off him in waves.
"I know, I'll handle it right away," Chen Mo cut him off before he could speak, leaping onto his electric scooter and speeding away.
The demons bounced along after him, leaving Li Zhi standing alone, bewildered at his supporting-role status. After a long pause, he sighed and muttered, "Well, that guy is perceptive… If I'd known it'd turn out like this, I would've taken a cab and saved my spiritual energy."
Meanwhile, Chen Mo was racing through the streets—until he nearly collided with little Xun'er, who came toddling along, lugging a huge bag of ice cream.
"Daddy!" she chirped, running up with a beaming smile. "Xun'er was super helpful just now—I sold the—mmph!"
Chen Mo clapped a hand over her mouth instantly. This was a public street—one careless word could summon a police convoy in no time.
Ignoring the curious stares of passersby, he pulled her into a quiet corner. "Xun'er, did you sell the jade to Black-Tooth Chang?"
"Mhm! Thirty grand!" she chirped cheerfully. Chen Mo staggered at the answer, then slowly turned to glare at the demons.
Nono raised both hands. "Boss! We sold it cheap on purpose—so your luck wouldn't tank! You're welcome!"
"I'll thank you in the afterlife!" Chen Mo wailed to the sky, heartbroken.
Then, with a sudden jolt of resolve, he grabbed Nono by the collar. "Call Black-Tooth now! Tell him the deal's off—we want the jade back!"
But no matter how many times they tried, the call wouldn't go through. Black-Tooth had shut off his phone.
"Boss, maybe we should call the cops?" Guo Guo ventured hesitantly.
"Great idea!" Chen Mo snapped. "Then when they ask who made the deal, Black-Tooth'll rat out Xun'er, and her face will end up on wanted posters—Wait. Xun'er, what is it?"
The girl blinked innocently, tugging on his sleeve. "Daddy, when I went invisible and snuck into that man's house, I heard them say something about a deal tonight…"
"You mean…" Chen Mo froze, then smacked his forehead.
Of course. After getting the jade, Black-Tooth would've rushed to flip it. In cases like these, both buyer and seller usually switch to burner phones.
In other words, the only way to track him now was if—
"Xun'er, do you know where the deal is happening?" Chen Mo crouched, voice full of hope.
The girl frowned, uncertain. But just as his heart sank, she nodded hesitantly. "I think I heard one uncle say something about… the Fisherman's Wharf?"
Before she finished, Chen Mo had already leapt onto his scooter and vanished into the night wind.
The demons huddled in the trunk, muttering. "Even if we do find Black-Tooth… he won't give the jade back."
"Then we'll take it back—and the antiques too," Chen Mo murmured, slipping on a helmet that obscured his face. "We'll return both the jade and the antiques. And as for the thirty grand—it's going to the orphanage. That money mustn't be touched."
"Take it back?" At the word "take," Guo Guo shivered with glee. "Boss, I love it! Don't worry, I'll be thorough—I won't even leave them their undies!"