The receptionist stared at Lin Zhao in stunned silence for a long time, "This gentleman is truly an expert!"

It wasn't the receptionist's fault for being ignorant; Lin Zhao had used illusion techniques upon entering.

When Lin Zhao accompanied me on missions, she always wore combat boots and field uniforms, although her clothes were closer to European military attire.

If the timing wasn't off, I'd suspect I was accompanied by a female secret agent.

I countered, "Can your company handle my order?"

The receptionist hesitated, "Sir, may I ask how large the room you need decorated is?"

I said calmly, "Including the courtyard, roughly less than four thousand square meters, with a budget of twenty million. If suitable, I can prepay two million as a deposit."

"This..." The receptionist's expression clearly indicated she thought I was bragging.

Thinking about it, if Ye Yang were here, that guy could pull off the air of a young nobleman. In my field uniform, I looked more like a bodyguard.

Lin Zhao smiled slightly, "Xiao Li, let's not joke around."

"Miss, this is my business card. You can give it to your boss. Just say it's from Li Yue. If he doesn't want the business, I won't say another word."

After Lin Zhao handed the gold-plated business card to the receptionist, she quickly sent a telepathic message, "Stand behind me, act like a bodyguard!"

I gritted my teeth and stood up, placing my hands behind my back, and released my killing intent at the same time.

I intended to scare Lin Zhao, but unexpectedly, I frightened the receptionist, turning her face pale. "That...that gentleman...could you please not look at me?"

"Xiao Li, how many times have I told you, don't stare at girls, it's very impolite!" Lin Zhao turned her head and made a face at me.

Spoiled brat!

When we get back, I'll team up with Ye Yang for some interrogation!

After the receptionist left in a hurry, she quickly returned, "President Lin, please have a seat for a moment. I'll go get President Ma right away."

Lin Zhao's expression darkened slightly, "Are we not qualified enough for your President Ma to greet us personally?"

The receptionist said in a fluster, "That's not what I meant! It's just that our President Ma is a very dedicated person. He doesn't allow anyone to disturb him when he's drawing designs, sometimes locking himself in the studio for days."

"We have to ring the bell over and over again to find him. So, please wait a moment."

Lin Zhao laughed, "I must meet such a dedicated person. How about this? Take me to his studio, I promise I won't disturb him."

The receptionist hesitated before saying, "Please, follow me!"

As Lin Zhao and I followed her through a winding corridor, Lin Zhao quietly sent me a telepathic message, "There's a soul-confusing maze in this corridor, it seems to be for ghosts!"

There are many ways to stop ghosts in the world of術 (shù – esoteric arts), and mazes are one of them.

Although mazes can't harm ghosts, it doesn't mean that the esoteric practitioners who set up the mazes are friendly. On the contrary, they are more vicious.

If ghosts are trapped in a place and can't get out, they will become resentful over time. Even ordinary ghosts will be forced to become vengeful ghosts. As long as someone enters the maze, the ghosts will treat them as targets for venting their anger.

The receptionist couldn't see the wandering spirits trapped in the maze, but I could see them clearly.

When the receptionist was talking to me, the ghost standing by the wall had already lifted her hair and was gently twirling it in its hand. The receptionist, who was still explaining the business to us, had no idea that a ghost was playing with her hair.

I asked casually, "Is it always this cold here, Miss?"

The receptionist replied, "President Ma's office needs to be quiet, so there are no doors and windows installed here, and the indoor temperature is a bit lower."

Ordinary people can't distinguish between coldness and Yin energy. The receptionist was clearly being invaded by Yin energy, but she was completely unaware.

The receptionist had only walked five or six meters forward, and five more figures appeared on her body and legs. Some were squatting on her shoulders, some were hugging her legs, and some were wrapped around her waist like snakes, revealing half a head from under her armpits, looking at Lin Zhao and me with a smile that was not a smile.

We pretended not to see the ghosts and chatted with the receptionist while walking towards the studio.

Lin Zhao sent me a telepathic message while I was talking, "How many ghosts do you think there are here?"

"I don't know!" I replied to Lin Zhao before asking, "Does your President Ma have a lineage in feng shui techniques?"

As the receptionist looked at me with some wariness, I had already said, "Nowadays, there are many feng shui books in bookstores. After reading a few casually, plus a bit of eloquence, you can talk about feng shui in a logical way. If your President Ma is that kind of person, then let's not meet."

In the time I was speaking, two more ghosts had appeared on the receptionist.

Lin Zhao sent me a telepathic message, "There are already seven ghosts缠 (chán –缠繞,缠着,缠身: entangle) on her. Looking at the positions of those ghosts, I feel something is strange."

I also replied casually, "Don't worry about her for now. I think there should be one or two more ghosts纏 (chán –缠繞,缠着,缠身: entangle) on her. Don't do anything before that."

While Lin Zhao and I were communicating telepathically, the receptionist had already explained, "We also asked President Ma about this. President Ma said that if anyone asks, just say that he has a lineage. As for what it is, let the customer ask him in person."