Manipulative Harem God

Chapter 193 Lin Ruoxi escape plan! (2)

The car glided through the city with effortless grace, navigating its way through downtown streets before meandering along the waterfront district.

Lin Ruoxi sat in the car, her gaze fixed on the world outside. She occasionally glanced at Raven, whose demeanor remained stoic, and at Zhang Wei, a quiet figure beside her.

Summoning her courage, Lin Ruoxi finally spoke up, her voice trembling, “C-Can I step outside for a second?”

The car had reached the waterfront district, near a warehouse, where emptiness stretched around them. Hoping for a chance to take a brief walk, Lin Ruoxi’s anticipation was met with an unexpected denial from Zhang Wei, delivered without a hint of remorse.

“No.”

Stunned, Lin Ruoxi’s gaze shifted outside. She wrestled with her roiling emotions before Raven directed the car to the southern district, following Zhang Wei’s instructions. Soon, they turned onto a path leading to the Golden Dragon Falls.

Zhang Wei, who had been reclined calmly until then, suddenly tensed, his eyes narrowing as he gazed outside.

Memories surged within him—the image of the maid he had killed at the outset, and the lingering presence of her mother, a matter yet to be dealt with.

Thoughts swirled in his mind. An unknown entity had informed him that he had sent Hao Yue’s soul into reincarnation—an assertion that left Zhang Wei perplexed, trying to make sense of this new piece of information.

Doesn’t it mean that people reincarnate after dying?

What if she comes back for revenge?

Should he keep her mother alive to use it as a bargaining chip?

But then, he felt that killing her mother was the best option.

After all, he knew and saw nothing.

He would have no direct hand in killing her.

It would be Mo Chen…

Like an sacrifical lamb…

Zhang Wei has found a perfect use for these Guardians of the earth…

Just as the system suggested, it was best to put all of them in jail, not for crimes they have committed, but for the ones Zhang Wei would commit in their name.

Zhang Wei’s own hands would be kept clean this way, so even if he had to kill any of the relatives of his women in the future, he could do it by framing the guardians and get away effortlessly.

Zhang Wei’s mind churned with the unsettling necessity of his actions.

Zhao Hongyan’s husband had to be eliminated, not to mention preemptively dealing with the looming threat of the Song Family, who would undoubtedly come after him for killing Song Hu.

While Zhao Hongyan might not object to the death of Song Pojun, he knew that killing Song Shoushan’s father, would undoubtedly invite trouble, from Song Shoushan.

Adjusting the system’s suggested plan, Zhang Wei considered how to harness the potential of Guardians like Ye Feng and Mo Chen to suit his agenda.

He couldn’t help but acknowledge his proficiency in playing the role of a villain.

His adeptness at maintaining a fa?ade of cleanliness was evidenced by his manipulation of pawns like Tang Bo and Wang Haoran. These minions were disposable, ready to be sacrificed by another subordinate if they ever threatened to expose his secrets.

Tang Bo’s potential for trouble lingered—he could reveal Yu Lei’s experiences during their first year of university, along with the identity of the mastermind behind those attacks.

Seeking a solution, Zhang Wei turned to the system for advice. ‘How can I ensure Tang Bo remains silent?’ he inquired.

The system’s suggestion was straightforward, [Why not use a slave seal on him?]

Zhang Wei swiftly dismissed the notion, rejecting it with resolve. ‘I have no interest in keeping bastards as slaves.’

The idea of binding a man perpetually to his will wasn’t in line with his intentions.

He wasn’t some kind of vampire, after all.

[…]

[“How about Gu insects then?”]

Zhang Wei’s mind buzzed with curiosity. ‘Gu insects?’ he pondered briefly. ‘That’s a good idea, but where could I possibly acquire them?’

A notion surfaced, drawn from the knowledge he had gleaned from Li Shen. It held secrets of cultivating Gu insects, creatures that could burrow into a person’s heart, awaiting a command to strike and end their victim’s life.

Yet, he faced a dilemma. The current environment provided insufficient Qi for his cultivation, let alone nurturing Gu insects.

The system chimed in with a possible solution, [Host, I can provide them upon your special request.]

Zhang Wei’s expression changed—this was the option he had hoped to avoid. Resigned, he sighed. ‘How much?’

[1000 points for a single one!] the system replied.

Zhang Wei’s brows raised in disbelief, ‘Are you attempting to rob me, system?’ he muttered, shaking his head in disbelief, unwilling to spend such a hefty sum on Gu insects.

At that moment, Raven pulled the car to a stop in an open area—a spot near the cliff from which Zhang Wei had discarded Hao Yue’s car.

“You can enjoy some fresh air,” Zhang Wei offered, swinging the car door open and stepping out. “Keep an eye on her,” he directed Raven before astonishing them both by leaping off the cliff.

“He jumped!?” Lin Ruoxi exclaimed, her shock evident. She knew well that beneath him lay ‘The Abyss,’ a powerful current that could even disintegrate metal.

She sucked in a sharp breath, a mixture of confusion and disbelief gripping her. Was he attempting suicide or was this his way of finally releasing her?

Raven’s eyes held a more complex blend of emotions. She assessed Zhang Wei’s prowess, her thoughts racing. ‘Is this what they call Cultivators?’ Snippets of information from his conversation with Rose lingered in her mind, and a flicker of desire to possess such power crossed her eyes.

Opening the car door for Lin Ruoxi, Raven fixed her with an unwavering stare. “Don’t even think about running away or pulling anything funny,” she commanded firmly.

While a measure of pity stirred within her for Lin Ruoxi, it paled in comparison to the weight of respecting Zhang Wei’s authority. He was now her boss’s boss, and disrespecting his orders was out of the question.

Lin Ruoxi nodded and cautiously stepped out of the car, her body draped in a towel.

The chill of the open air cut through her, a reminder of her lack of clothing.

Seeking warmth, she leaned against the car’s metallic surface, lost in thought.

Her gaze kept flicking nervously toward Raven, who stood smoking a short distance away from the car. An idea began to take shape in Lin Ruoxi’s mind—a desperate plan for escape.

‘Can I do it?’ Lin Ruoxi’s hand balled into a fist as she contemplated the idea of attacking Raven, injuring her in a bid to hinder pursuit.

With Raven out of the way, she could seize the car and make a run for it.

Zhang Wei was absent, and she didn’t know when he would return.

This appeared to be her best opportunity.

Nervousness gnawed at her as she bit her finger, searching for an object to use against Raven.

Her eyes landed on a fist-sized stone lying on the ground.

She feigned a casual stroll, subtly positioning herself closer to the stone, her heart pounding in her chest.

The moment of decision hung in the air, fraught with tension.

Raven narrowed her eyes, momentarily watchful. However, as Lin Ruoxi’s movements seemed to be no more than a casual circle, Raven’s guard gradually eased, her shoulders relaxing with a sigh.

Meanwhile, Lin Ruoxi’s heart raced, her fingers tightening around the stone she had picked up sneakily. She carefully concealed it within her grasp, her back against the car and inching closer to Raven.

With determination fueling her actions, Lin Ruoxi justified her decision in her mind, ‘I’m only trying to protect myself’ 𝒩𝑶𝓋𝐋𝐞xt.𝕔𝑜𝑚

‘I-I am not a bad person…’

‘I don’t want to harm her…’

Her breath grew uneven as she wrestled with her nerves.

Clutching the stone tightly, she took hesitant steps, each one bringing her closer to Raven, who remained oblivious to the impending danger from behind.

________

As Zhang Wei descended to the base of the cliff, he was greeted by a surreal spectacle—the rushing water generated a deafening *roar*, and the sheer speed of the flow made his ears feel slightly numb, the sound echoing with a constant roaring and rushing.

He nimbly leaped from one stone to another, navigating the treacherous terrain until he finally reached the ground. With a focused determination, he began scouring the area for any remnants of Hao Yue or potential clues.

Minutes ticked by, but his search yielded no results. His eyes caught sight of a small whirlpool forming beneath the colossal waterfall—a peculiar sight that intrigued him. Despite his curiosity, the force of the water dissuaded him from investigating further. He had a more pressing matter to attend to—dealing with Lin Ruoxi.

Though it had been confirmed that Hao Yue was dead by the mysterious entity, Zhang Wei still sought to see evidence with his own eyes. Yet, it seemed that even her bones had been swept away by the relentless currents, leaving no trace behind.

[Host, how about you find ‘The Heavenly Mirror?’ and grow Gu insects inside it?] The system, unable to sway Zhang Wei into purchasing Gu insects, presented an alternative suggestion.

Zhang Wei’s was interested in this yet another heavenly treasure, “…What does the Heavenly Mirror do?” he inquired.