Although the Wind-Devouring Gu could burrow into Shen Bing's body and eliminate the Love Gu, doing so by force would leave Shen Bing completely mentally disabled.
Furthermore, the caster of the Gu would suffer a severe magical backlash, potentially leading to serious injury or death.
If that happened, obtaining any further clues would become impossible.
The caster had to be found.
Killing him would work, or forcing him to hand over the cure.
However, Tao Bai generally ruled out the second method.
To find the caster, he first had to get close to Shen Bing's best friend—Yu Qiong.
One hour later.
"Wow, look at that face, that aura! You look even more handsome in person than in the photos! You really are the Tony Leung of Guicheng!"
Stepping out of a red Honda CR-V, Yu Qiong immediately spotted Tao Bai waiting by the roadside.
Yu Qiong was about 1.65 meters tall, slightly shorter than Shen Bing.
While her facial features were a notch below Shen Bing's, her figure was significantly more voluptuous.
She wore a pure white sweater as a base layer, draped with a fur coat.
Her lower half was clad in tight jeans that accentuated her figure perfectly, and she wore black leather boots.
Her outfit was simple, yet tasteful.
The moment she got out of the car, she smiled and heaped praise on the tall and slender Tao Bai.
Tao Bai blushed and didn't reply.
"Get in!"
Yu Qiong opened the passenger door and ushered Tao Bai inside.
The two went to the second floor of a French restaurant and found a secluded table.
"Sister Yu, you really are much prettier than in your photos and videos...
I can't believe a Yu-jie like you is still single..."
Tao Bai said shyly after sitting down.
"There are plenty of men chasing me, and I've had a few relationships, but none of them lasted long,"
Yu Qiong said frankly and generously.
"What about you, Xiao Bai?"
"What?"
"How many relationships have you been in?"
"Does... does unrequited love count?"
"Hehehe..."
Yu Qiong covered her mouth and laughed.
"Of course that doesn't count."
"Then... none..."
"No girls have ever chased you?"
"I've received some little notes, but I found it quite distressing. None of them were my type..."
"So, what is your type?"
"Uh... intellectual, mature, someone like a caring big sister..."
"Wow, aren't you a little pervert... you actually like big sisters!"
"???"
While Tao Bai was stunned, plates of food and a bottle of red wine were brought to the table.
"You must be hungry. Eat something to line your stomach first!"
Tao Bai looked at the steak on his plate, then at the knife and fork on the table, hesitating to make a move.
Feigning that he had never eaten Western food before, he lowered his voice and asked with a flushed face, "Sis Yu, does here provide chopsticks?"
Yu Qiong smiled.
"Here, Xiao Bai, let me teach you how to use a knife and fork!"
Saying this, Yu Qiong moved behind Tao Bai, leaning down close to his back and grabbing his hands.
"Knife in the left, fork in the right. Hold the knife with your left hand and the fork with your right. Use the fork to hold the steak in place, then use the knife to cut..."
A mature fragrance washed over him.
Her full chest brushed against Tao Bai's back, seemingly accidental yet deliberate.
She guided Tao Bai's hands, the knife making a harsh scraping sound against the plate until, finally, a piece of steak was successfully cut.
"Did you learn it?"
Yu Qiong asked.
"Mn. I learned it. Thank you, Sis Yu..." Tao Bai said, his face red.
"By the way, Xiao Bai, how old are you now?"
"Twenty-seven."
"I'm thirty. Three years older than you."
As she spoke, Yu Qiong threw a flirtatious wink at Tao Bai.
"What do you think of me? Am I mature and intellectual enough?"
She then puffed out her chest.
"Also, am I BIIIG?"
"Cough..."
Tao Bai immediately performed a choking act.
Seeing this, Yu Qiong hurriedly moved behind Tao Bai, wrapping her arms around him to perform the Heimlich maneuver.
Tao Bai felt her taking advantage of the situation to grope his chest and abdomen.
If he hadn't spat out the piece of steak lodged in his throat in time, her hands might have wandered even lower.
The redness in Tao Bai's face gradually returned to a normal color.
"I shouldn't have asked you that while you were eating... it's my fault. It seems I wasn't being very caring..."
Yu Qiong gently patted Tao Bai's back, her tone filled with self-reproach.
"No, no, it was my fault for being in such a rush to speak that I choked..."
Tao Bai quickly waved his hand to deny it, then whispered, "I..."
"What?"
"No... nothing..."
"Have a sip of lemon water!"
Yu Qiong handed a glass to Tao Bai.
*Gulp, gulp... *
Tao Bai took the lemon water and drank it down.
After catching his breath, he said, "Thank you, Sis Yu."
"Don't be in such a rush to thank me verbally,"
Yu Qiong laughed, "Just paying the bill later will be enough..."
"Uh... how much is this meal?"
"I'm just teasing you," Yu Qiong laughed,
"You came all this way; as the local, obviously I'm treating."
"You scared this poor Daoist to death..."
Tao Bai smiled and patted his chest,
"My travel funds are already running low..."
"By the way, Xiao Bai, why are you dressed like an ancient person?
And your hair is as long as mine—
Why haven't you cut it?
Isn't it hard to find a job like this?"
"Haircuts cost money too.
Isn't this all to save money to marry a wife?"
Tao Bai explained, "And didn't I just find a job now?"
"Not yet."
After swallowing a piece of steak, Yu Qiong added, "You haven't officially started yet."
"It doesn't count yet?"
Tao Bai sounded quite distressed,
"What counts as officially starting?"
Seeing Yu Qiong continue to chew her steak, Tao Bai could only sigh:
"That high salary of five thousand really was a scam!"
With that, Tao Bai also forked a piece of steak and began to chew.
After swallowing, Yu Qiong raised her wine glass and said,
"It depends on your performance... Come, let's toast."
The two tall wine glasses clinked together with a clear ring.
After they each took a sip of wine, Yu Qiong suddenly exclaimed,
"I almost forgot, I have to drive later.
I can't drink anymore.
Xiao Bai, you drink the rest for me.
Consider this a small test for your employment."
"Huh?"
Thirty minutes later.
"Xiao Bai? Xiao Bai... are you drunk?"
Yu Qiong nudged Tao Bai, who was slumped limp against the table.
After confirming his state, a look of satisfaction appeared on her face.
She supported Tao Bai as they went downstairs, opened the passenger door, and with some effort, arranged him in the seat and buckled his seatbelt.
Then, with a bang, she slammed the door shut.
Half an hour later, Tao Bai was tossed onto a hotel bed.
Yu Qiong took off his cloud-patterned boots, pulled up the quilt, and covered him.
Then, she took off her own black boots and socks, removed her fur coat, and shuffled in the hotel slippers to the bathroom to rinse off.
Since she didn't wash her hair, she came out of the bathroom very quickly.
She was wearing only flesh-colored panties and the white sweater base layer.
She held a white bra and a pair of jeans, hanging them up on the wooden coat rack.
After doing this, she went to the bedside, lifted a corner of the quilt, and shrunk into the warm bedding...
She looked at Tao Bai's face.
It didn't seem as red as before...
Then she touched Tao Bai's face.
It wasn't as hot as before, either...
"Sis Yu..."
Tao Bai opened his sleepy, drunken eyes and gently caught Yu Qiong's hand...