Chapter 118: United Guidance

The Seventh Branch had never been this lively. After two hours of noise, the newcomers finally settled down.

They formed small teams, picking people they found agreeable, clustering into little groups.

Everyone checked their hotel phones, digesting the information Tongguan had shared, whispering among themselves.

Yu Guo had already hit it off with the nouveau riche, and the two exchanged mischievous grins as they shared insights.

The young man, only twenty-one, had a bizarrely lucky life.

His name was Hong Fu, but he had always been unlucky and came from a poor family.

Abandoned by his biological parents, he had been taken in by a street-sweeping man. Over the years, one by one, relatives and friends died. On his twenty-first birthday, he spent his first month’s salary on a fine bottle of wine for his adoptive father.

The old man drank it in delight and died, leaving Hong Fu without a single family member.

But from that day on, his luck changed dramatically. He became extremely fortunate.

First, his company promoted him. Then, his biological father—already critically ill—appeared to make Hong Fu heir to billions. Within days, the father passed away.

From a poor kid, Hong Fu had suddenly become a wealthy tycoon.

Despite lacking business knowledge, he somehow thrived in the stock market. But six months later, while enjoying wine and cigars in his villa, he was suddenly drawn into Tianhai Hotel.

Realizing his future would be perilous, he wiped his nose and bolted from the hotel.

When Yu Guo chased him, he found Hong Fu standing before a fire pit, stacks of spirit money beside him.

According to Hong Fu, he was burning paper in advance to save money for the underworld’s bank.

This absurdity, ridiculous to outsiders, struck Yu Guo as brilliant. In his view, everyone in the branch was too serious—Hong Fu was the perfect partner.

Nearby, Tongguan had also grouped with three others.

The leader was a hulking man named Qiu Jun, recently discharged from the military. Honest and straightforward, he paired well with Tongguan.

The other two were ordinary but intelligent enough to join Tongguan’s team, seeing the situation clearly.

Most of the remaining newcomers had yet to grasp the situation. Sitting on the floor, they wallowed in self-pity. Some, after encountering the second-floor ghosts, had even lost their will to survive, dictating last words to their families.

Within a short time, three or four newcomers had been burned to ashes for breaking hotel rules, and one had committed suicide. Each loss was immediately replaced by another unlucky arrival.

Compared to Tongguan and Yu Guo’s side, Ji Li and Fang Shenyan’s corner was much quieter.

The two exuded a dark, forbidding aura. Attempts to approach them earlier had been rebuffed. Ji Li and Fang Shenyan, uninterested in conversation, planned to wait and see the details of the new task.

At that moment, the special woman Ji Li had noticed earlier slowly made her way around the group.

Fang Shenyan glanced at her briefly but paid no further attention.

Ji Li, however, narrowed his eyes. Without waiting for her to speak, he handed over the new employee manual.

The woman accepted it without ceremony, silently taking the seat next to him.

Tall, over 1.7 meters, she matched Ji Li shoulder to shoulder. Her cold, striking face gave nothing away, yet he could sense her unusual nature.

Her past had likely not been ordinary. In a place like this, someone like her was invaluable.

Seeing her take the initiative, Ji Li didn’t retreat. He openly tried to win her over.

The second persona had a point—Ji Li could not always act alone. While he didn’t need friends now, allies were essential.

“Mei Sheng.”

When she parted her lips, it was like the curtain of a long-forgotten painting being lifted, only to fall again in an instant—fleeting and ephemeral.

Her tone was icy, as if speaking one more word could cost her life.

“Ji Li.”

Ji Li’s interest in the woman intensified. By usual standards, someone harboring such secrets was often tied to ghosts—or even to the hotel itself.

Fang Shenyan, Yu Guo, Tongguan—all had such connections. It was likely that Mei Sheng was no different.

At that moment, a newly arrived youth, looking barely adult, timidly approached Ji Li from behind.

He was also a newcomer without companions, only seventeen years old, turning eighteen in a month. Too old to be called a boy, too young to be considered a young man.

Seeing Mei Sheng—also isolated—reach out to an experienced staff member, he gathered the courage to step forward.

“Um… Ji… uh…”

He was visibly nervous, unable to form a complete sentence beside Ji Li.

The youth’s hesitation irritated Ji Li. He ignored him, standing and walking toward the center of the hall.

Fang Shenyan pushed up his glasses, stubbed out his cigarette, and followed.

At the round table, only Mei Sheng and the young man remained.

Mei Sheng glanced at the flustered youth and then followed.

The young man inhaled her faint fragrance and the chill wind left by Ji Li, looking startled and helpless, with a mix of resentment in his eyes.

“Everyone, gather at the round table. We need to have a proper discussion.”

Ji Li waved, calling the newcomers over. He had planned to wait for the new task to be announced before speaking, but after enduring the newcomers’ chatter for so long, he decided to give an early briefing on the Seventh Branch’s situation.

No sooner had he spoken than someone stood up, displeased with Ji Li’s tone.

“What do you think you’re doing? Who gave you the right to command us?”

Ji Li paused mid-turn, glanced at the speaker, and asked softly,

“What’s your name?”

“Tang Duan. What’s it to you?”

Ji Li nodded, saying nothing further, returning to his seat while addressing everyone:

“I am the acting branch manager of this hotel. We’ve just been upgraded to a two-star branch. Your timing is perfect.

Because of the benefits tied to the Sin Artifacts, we need to learn more and discuss these rules together.”

Yu Guo nudged Hong Fu, still talking about buying spirit money, stole a glance at Tang Duan, and whispered to Ji Li:

“Keep an eye on Tang Duan. He probably won’t last long.”

Yu Guo knew Ji Li well. If Ji Li grew tired of someone, he would punish them mercilessly—a vindictive man, yet never hiding the darkness of his nature.

Ji Li remained calm, preparing to continue speaking when his hotel phone buzzed in his pocket.

Seven staff members received task emails from Tianhai.

Reading the mission, Ji Li’s previously relaxed expression tightened again.

The glow from the screen illuminated his pale face as he read aloud:

Fourth and Seventh Branches: Joint Guidance Task!