Chapter 176: Let’s Stay in Panliu Mountain
“The condition is that your father must join sincerely, not just pretend to go along with it.”
Meng Qian was so overjoyed that she almost burst into tears.
“That will never happen! My father has always been upright and steadfast. Once he gives his word, he’ll be willing to sacrifice everything for you!”
Su Tao looked at her, remembering what Ma Dapao had said. Whether he agreed or not was still uncertain.
Both father and daughter were equally stubborn.
Mist was locked up in the staff restroom, forced to eat, drink, and relieve himself in a tiny stall.
After all, he was a prisoner—he couldn’t expect good treatment.
The only one suffering because of it was Fire Snake.
Su Tao ordered him to bring Mist to Meng Qian’s dormitory. But unexpectedly, Mist refused to move, his face resolute.
“I’m not going anywhere. Just kill me now! Don’t even think about getting a single word out of me!”
Fire Snake was about to explode from frustration. His sharp tongue lashed out immediately:
“No wonder Tan Yong threw you away like trash! You’re as stubborn as you are stupid. You totally deserve this, you idiot!”
Mist’s face went pale in an instant.
So… was it really his own failure that led him to such a miserable fate?
Fire Snake lost all patience and grabbed Mist by the collar, dragging him upstairs.
Mist looked completely defeated.
As soon as Meng Qian saw him, she ignored her injuries and rushed forward. “Dad!”
Mist’s pupils shrank instantly. “Qianqian?! Why are you here?”
Then, as if realizing something, his expression changed drastically. “Did you take my daughter hostage?!”
Su Tao rolled her eyes in exasperation.
Fire Snake was even more tempted to punch him.
Meng Qian’s heartache instantly turned into anger as she shouted:
“Dad! Watch your words! It was Boss Su from Panliu Mountain who saved me. Otherwise, do you think I could stand here in front of you like this?”
Mist looked a little confused. He saw that while his daughter was injured, her wounds had been properly treated, her clothes were clean, and she wasn’t tied up.
She really didn’t look like a hostage…
Meng Qian softened her tone. “Dad, if Boss Su hadn’t saved me, you might not have seen me today. She even found a doctor to treat my wounds and allowed me to come see you. Think about it—if he really wanted to kill you, why would he wait until now?”
“Dad, Boss Su is nothing like Tan Yong. Tan Yong is ruthless, not just to his enemies but even to his own people. If the situation were reversed and you had fallen into his hands, do you think you’d still be unharmed like this?”
Mist hesitated, unable to respond.
Meng Qian gently hugged him.
“Dad, please listen to me. Tan Yong abandoned you long ago. He even said that saving you would be a waste of resources. Do you still remember his promises back then? He swore that you and the other brothers would live safely in the apocalypse, just like before, and that he would take care of your families.”
“Has he fulfilled even a single one of those promises? When I decided to come to Panliu Mountain despite the risks, did he say a single word to stop me? No—he acted as if my death would be a relief to him.”
Hearing this last sentence, Mist trembled uncontrollably.
Meng Qian bit her lip, delivering the final, crushing blow.
“Dad, even if you want to go back, Tan Yong will see you as a traitor. He won’t hesitate to kill you on sight! If you insist on leaving, I won’t stop you. But I’m staying at Panliu Mountain. You can go your way, and I’ll go mine.”
Mist let out a choked sob and suddenly collapsed to the ground, his mouth open in silent agony.
When loyalty and faith are shattered, when the truth is laid bare so mercilessly, ten years of dedication turns to dust, each realization cutting through his heart like a thousand blades.
Seeing him like this, Meng Qian couldn’t help but cry.
“Dad, let’s stay at Panliu Mountain. We’ll have a good life here…”
*
“Mist’s emotions are still unstable,” Su Tao said. “Let him stay at Panliu Mountain with Meng Qian for a few days. Once he fully recovers, assign him to the security department under your command.”
Qi Yunlan agreed but then asked, “What about Meng Qian? I quite like this girl—why don’t you let me have her?”
Zhuang Wan protested immediately, jumping in, “You’re taking both father and daughter? Boss, give her to me! Our administration department still needs a manager. I even asked Meng Qian—she’s been to school.”
Qi Yunlan squinted. “Oh, so you had your eye on her all along? You even checked her background?”
Zhuang Wan declared proudly, “If you want to recruit someone, you have to act fast.”
Su Tao dismissed both of their proposals.
“Old Mei still needs a student. I’ll ask Meng Qian in a few days and let her choose for herself.”
With that, the two had no objections.
But Zhuang Wan wasn’t ready to give up and followed Su Tao, pleading:
“Boss, I’ve been looking for someone for almost two months. My hair is practically falling out! I finally found the right person. When you talk to Meng Qian, make sure she knows—working in administration comes with a private office, hands-on guidance, and a non-dangerous role. She’ll start as a manager right away…”
Su Tao smirked. “Old Mei’s side also has a private office, plus one-on-one tutoring from a respected professor. As his direct disciple, she’d be recognized as Taoyang’s chief planner—very prestigious.”
Zhuang Wan was speechless.
Su Tao patted her shoulder. “I’ll explain everything to her properly. In the end, it’s her choice.”
*
Over the next two days, Su Tao balanced researching her own abilities with expanding the Taohua Building.
According to Shi Zijin, these changes were signs of an impending awakening, but a true awakening required a specific trigger.
For now, it was certain that her ability belonged to the mental category, though the exact details remained unclear.
Su Tao decided not to overthink it.
Still, she was secretly pleased. She had envied those with powers for so long, and now she finally had her own—without any weird mutations.
She was satisfied!
As for the Taohua Building’s expansion, she could have completed the second floor in two days, but midway through, Black Sesame sneaked off again, wandering into a household in Dongyang. She and Jiang Yu had to spend half a day tracking it down.
After two escapes, Su Tao realized that Black Sesame was deeply influenced by its ability. Even being kidnapped by Xiong Tai last time hadn’t taught it a lesson—it still forgot its pain the moment it healed.
Its desire for freedom and exploration was ingrained in its very bones.
Su Tao tried a familiar trick—opening a can of food for White Sesame to eat while making Black Sesame watch, hoping to reform the rebellious troublemaker.
It didn’t seem to help much.
Instead, White Sesame now eagerly hoped its brother would run away every day.
Jiang Yu asked, “Why don’t you just lock it in a cage?”
Su Tao sighed. “I tried. It screamed like a cat being tortured, clawed at the cage nonstop, and even tore up its own paws. Even injured, it still ran off the moment I let it out.”
Jiang Yu said no more.
Su Tao was so worried she couldn’t sleep, caught in a mental battle.
But personal troubles aside, she still had to meet with the people from Hekang Base. She needed more crystal cores.
Just before the meeting, Meng Qian suddenly approached her and handed her a document.
“Boss Su, my dad asked me to give this to you. It’s a list of all the managers and ability users under Tan Yong, as well as a floor plan of his old base.”
Su Tao’s eyes widened. She quickly opened the file and found that each name came with detailed information—the position they held, the power they wielded, and even their weaknesses.
Even Tan Yong’s personal details were included:
Tan Yong, 38 years old. Ability: ‘Insulation’—resistant to all psychic-type abilities.
Weakness: None identified. However, he is highly influenced by his mistress’s opinions.
Just then, a system notification rang in her mind:
[Target’s full details acquired. Hidden mission activated: Kill Tan Yong and retrieve his crystal core.]
[Completion will unlock a new area and upgrade the defense materials shop.]
