92: Ailao Mountain

When Wang Jiu returned to the Antique City, the flush on his face still hadn't completely faded.

Since the day he was born, he had never enjoyed such respectful treatment.

The bank manager personally served him, the client manager smiled obsequiously, and those two fair-skinned, pretty young employees—their alluring glances made Wang Jiu's heart itch, making him wish he could pounce on them right there and then.

As he left, one of the young employees even secretly asked for his contact information.

"Is this what it feels like to be superior to others!"

Wang Jiu clenched the Black Gold Dragon Card in his palm, feeling lightheaded, as if he were about to float into the sky.

"If I want to hold onto this wealth, this matter must succeed!"

His gaze became resolute, and he pulled out his phone, searching through his contacts.

Soon, the first call was dialed out.

Before Wang Jiu could speak, an impatient voice came from the other end.

"Wang the Bald? Why the hell are you calling me instead of enjoying yourself in your treasured capital city? If it's nothing important, I'm hanging up. Don't waste my time making money."

The sound of Mahjong tiles shuffling came from the other end of the line. Wang Jiu's lips curled slightly, and he got straight to the point.

"Old Xiao, I have a big... a huge job. I'm just asking if you dare to take it!"

"Didn't you retire, kid? What, running low on cash?"

Old Xiao's tone was still a bit agitated, but he was listening intently now.

He was also extremely curious about what kind of job could make someone like Wang Jiu return to the old trade.

"Go to the Ailao Mountains and dig a huge pit."

Hurried footsteps came from the other end of the phone. Soon, the sound of Mahjong shuffling nearby quieted down considerably.

"Are you out of your damn mind?"

"Is that cursed place somewhere a person can actually enter?"

"Fifty million."

"Fifty million?"

Old Xiao pulled out a crushed packet of Ruan Li cigarettes from his pocket, shaky extracted one, and had to strike a light four times before he managed to light the cigarette.

He began to ponder inwardly.

Even if this job succeeded, they would split it at most fifty-fifty. Accounting for the initial investment in finding people and equipment, the income after completion would only be a little over ten million.

He was a bachelor with no family or attachments; if he lost his life, everything would be meaningless.

"The deposit."

The deposit?

Old Xiao's expression froze, and his heart immediately grew hot. Fifty million for the deposit—how much would the final payment be!

"What about the final payment?"

Wang Jiu snorted lightly and said calmly, "Five hundred million."

"Five hundred million!"

"You're not screwing with me, are you!"

"Old Xiao, when have I ever joked with you about something like this?"

Old Xiao's lips began to tremble uncontrollably.

"Wang the Bald, this money probably won't be easy to earn. That cursed place in the Ailao Mountains is a deadly place."

"Old Xiao, we have a life-or-death friendship, so I won't hide anything from you."

"The Boss said he wants to go to the Ailao Mountains to dig a pit. That treasure seems to be buried three hundred meters underground."

"Three hundred meters underground?"

"That depth won't work with just shovels."

"We shouldn't need to worry about that. Since the Big Boss sought us out, he must have already made complete preparations."

"Alright, send the money over, and I'll go prepare immediately."

"Tomorrow at this time, at Jingcheng Antique City."

"That fast?"

... After hanging up the phone, Old Xiao returned to the Mahjong room, grabbed his jacket, and walked out.

Back at home.

Old Xiao was restless, pacing back and forth in the room, the floor littered with freshly smoked cigarette butts.

"Fifty million deposit?"

"Hmph... Wang the Bald definitely took the lion's share."

"What exactly is it that makes someone willing to pay such a high price?"

A fierce glint flashed in Old Xiao's eyes; he seemed to have made up his mind.

He found a hammer in the cabinet, crawled under the bed, and smashed open one of the floor tiles. When he crawled out, there was an object wrapped in red cloth in his hand, which, judging by its shape, appeared to be a handgun of some model.

"I want the money, and I want the item too."

"Once that sucker finds the pit, I'll tie him up. I refuse to believe I can't squeeze a billion or two out of him."

After placing the item on the table, he pulled out his phone and dialed a number.

"One-Eye, I have a big job. Ten million deposit..."

The next day.

At the entrance of Jingcheng Antique City, more than ten people carrying large and small bags stood haphazardly, like bandits awaiting inspection.

He Ming took out his smart bracelet and quickly scanned the pre-entered information. Correct, thirteen live pigs, not one missing.

Wang Jiu rushed forward with a fawning expression, bowing low.

"Boss He, what do you think of these thirteen people?"

He Ming nodded in satisfaction, scanning everyone present.

"Not bad. They look quite energetic."

"Take a look at this map. If there are no issues, we'll depart now."

Wang Jiu took the map handed to him by He Ming and examined it carefully, his expression gradually becoming serious.

The route map and the final destination were all marked, even identifying several forbidden zones in the Ailao Mountains that must absolutely not be approached.

"This map is incredibly detailed!"

Wang Jiu's heart pounded wildly. The value of this map was simply immeasurable by money.

What kind of place were the Ailao Mountains?

Completely isolated from electronic signals.

Filled with miasma.

All kinds of supernatural oddities that defy rational explanation... Wang Jiu clenched the map, his palms sweating profusely. What he saw was the mountain of corpses and sea of blood hidden behind this map. How many people responsible for reconnaissance must have been thrown in there to produce such a detailed map?

"Well, are there any issues?"

Wang Jiu quickly shook his head, his heart feeling two points calmer.

In his view, if this map was real, the danger of this trip could be reduced by at least fifty percent.

The team officially set off.

Two days later.

Shennan, outer perimeter of the Ailao Mountains.

"Boss He, we are about to enter. Please put on this gas mask first."

For He Ming, the so-called miasma posed no threat to him. In fact, all the supernatural forces in the entire Ailao Mountains combined would not be enough to threaten him.

His life index was close to 47,000 points.

Nanometer full-coverage armor.

High in the sky, the seraph had activated photon stealth mode, hovering in the clouds. With just a call from He Ming, it could immediately launch a full-coverage fire strike, ensuring the elimination of all organic life within a ten-kilometer radius in ten seconds.

The only remaining difficulty was luring out the thing hidden three hundred meters underground.

"Okay."

He Ming took the gas mask, put it on his head, and followed behind Wang Jiu, stepping into the Ailao Mountains.

Upon entering the forest, the ground was extremely wet and muddy.

As the team gradually moved deeper, the light began to dim. This was because the vegetation in the forest was too dense, and the pervasive mist blocked the penetration of sunlight. Though the midday sun was strong, it felt as if they had entered the twilight hours.

Towering ancient trees nearly a hundred meters high were visible everywhere, and occasionally, the roar of an unknown beast echoed in the distance.

No one in the team spoke. Everyone held their breath, concentrating and constantly watching the surrounding environment, fearful that an unpredictable calamity might suddenly leap out from some shadow.