185: Chapter 185 The Arrival of the Noble Young Master

Li Xin stayed in Shenzhen for three days, completing all the necessary paperwork for the Family office, trusts, and private banking. With the funds and Family affairs all arranged, Li Xin set off for India.

As the private jet crossed into Indian airspace, the twilight outside the porthole was thick.

The Pink City loomed faintly on the horizon, hazy and wrapped in a veil. The afterglow of the setting sun shone upon the city walls, casting a dark red light.

Li Xin leaned back in his seat, flipping through a travel guidebook. He had bought it at the airport, but after flipping through a few pages, he could not really focus on it.

Liu Mo sat opposite him, with an untouched cup of coffee in front of him.

"Mr. Li, everything in Jaipur has been arranged. The caretaker of the villa is named Surendra. He has served the descendants of three generations of princely rulers and is very discreet."

Li Xin closed the guidebook and set it aside.

"Whether he is discreet or not does not matter. What matters is whether he knows what should be seen and what should not."

Liu Mo paused.

"I have hinted that 'Mr. Li values privacy.' He understands."

"That is good. By the way, after entering the country, travel separately and keep your luggage separate. Do not let anyone realize you are a team."

Liu Mo nodded. "Understood. Four people will enter in three batches, with two-hour intervals."

Li Xin turned to look out the porthole. The plane slowly descended, and the buildings on the ground became clear. The houses were packed closely together, including both old-fashioned stone houses and modern buildings. In the twilight, a ring of pink city walls was particularly striking, winding along the terrain and enclosing the entire old city.

By the time the plane landed, it was almost dark.

Jaipur Airport was not large. The entire terminal was built of stone, with several stone pillars standing at the entrance. A few small private jets were scattered on the tarmac.

When Li Xin got off the plane, a wave of heat hit him. March in India was already hot. The air had an indescribable scent, like spices mixed with dust.

Liu Mo walked behind him, carrying a briefcase. "The car is waiting at the exit. You should go through customs first, and I will follow."

Li Xin nodded and walked into the terminal.

There were not many people in the arrival hall. A few windows were open with short queues. He stood at the end of the line, waiting.

In front of him was a European carrying a large backpack and holding a worn-out travel guide. The immigration officer asked a few questions, and the European answered stutteringly, but was eventually stamped and cleared.

When it was Li Xin's turn, he handed over his passport.

The immigration officer was a middle-aged man with dark skin, a beard, and glasses. He opened the passport, glanced at the photo, and then turned to look at Li Xin.

"Mr. Li, what is the purpose of your visit to India?"

"I am here for tourism, to see the local culture. I plan to visit Jaipur, Orchha, and a few temples in South India, just sightseeing along the way."

Li Xin smiled, his tone casual. The immigration officer flipped through the passport, which was filled with visa stamps from many countries.

"Are you alone?"

"Yes, just myself."

"Do you need me to recommend a tour guide?"

"No need, I have local friends here to arrange things."

The immigration officer nodded, stamped the passport, and handed it back. "Welcome."

"Thank you."

Li Xin took the passport and walked toward the exit. His luggage was all stored in his personal space, so there was no need to collect it. The backpack on his back was empty, containing only a few changes of clothes and his passport.

An old man stood at the exit. He was in his early sixties, with a thick beard and dressed in authentic traditional Rajasthani attire. A plain white tunic paired with a bright red turban made him particularly eye-catching.

He held a pickup sign in his hand, with three characters written neatly on it: "Mr. Li."

Li Xin walked up slowly. "Surendra?"

"That is me." The old man bowed slightly, his manner respectful and polite. "Welcome to Jaipur, Mr. Li. The car is waiting outside. Please follow me."

Surendra's English had a thick local accent, but he spoke fluently. He took the initiative to take Li Xin's backpack, stepped aside to lead the way, and guided him slowly out of the airport.

In the parking lot, a black Mercedes was parked quietly. The car was not brand new, but it was wiped spotless. A young driver stood beside it, dressed in a neat white uniform and a cap, standing at attention.

Surendra reached out and opened the back door. Li Xin bent down and sat inside. The car was well air-conditioned, and the leather seats felt soft and comfortable.

Surendra walked to the front passenger seat and sat down, turning to look at Li Xin. "The villa is located in the center of the old city, about a twenty-minute drive. Traffic is heavy right now, so please bear with the wait."

"It is fine."

The car drove away from the airport. Along the road were low houses, a mix of stone and concrete. The streets were crowded with people and vehicles, motorcycles weaving back and forth, horns blaring incessantly, yet amidst the noise, there was a strange order.

Ten minutes later, the car entered the old city. The roads suddenly narrowed, and the houses on both sides were tightly connected. The walls were uniformly painted with pink paint, though much of it was peeling, revealing the grayish-white stone walls underneath.

The street became even noisier. Vendors pushed carts along the street, peddling fruits, snacks, and various clothes. Herds of cows walked slowly in the middle of the road, and no one drove them away; stray dogs lay sleeping across the road, forcing passing vehicles to slowly drive around them.

Surendra turned his head and said, "The roads in the old city are narrow and inconvenient for driving. However, the villa is in a prime location, so it is very convenient to walk when you go out."

Li Xin looked out the window, nodded, and said nothing.

The car turned into an even narrower alley. High walls towered on both sides, almost blocking out the sky. There were no streetlights in the alley, and everything was dim, relying solely on the car's headlights to light the way.

After driving for a while longer, a courtyard gate appeared ahead. The stone door frame was sturdy and thick, and the two wooden doors were painted deep red, embedded with copper nails, and the copper door knockers were polished to a bright shine.

Surendra got out and pushed open the door. The car slowly drove inside.

Inside the gate was a small courtyard. It was not large, but it was elegant and exquisite. A small fountain stood in the center of the courtyard, with murmuring water making a soft sound.

The surroundings were lush with flowers and trees, neatly trimmed. A stone path wound toward the two-story stone building in the back, the walls painted a pale pink.

Li Xin got out of the car and looked around.

Surendra stood nearby with his hands behind his back. "The villa has been prepared according to your requirements. There are three bedrooms in the main building, the west wing is the kitchen and dining room, and the east wing is the study. The backyard has a private entrance that leads directly to the alley."

"Not bad. I heard this courtyard used to be where princely rulers entertained distinguished guests?"

Surendra nodded. "Exactly. In 1976, when Prince Charles of the UK visited India, he stayed here. You are the third distinguished guest to stay here this year."

"Who were the first two?"

Surendra lowered his voice. "One was an industrialist from Mumbai, and the other... it is not convenient for me to say."

Li Xin smiled faintly. "No need to wait for me for dinner. I plan to go out for a walk by myself."

Surendra bowed slightly, acknowledging the request. "Understood. Do you need me to arrange a guide for you?"

"No need, I will just wander around on my own."

Li Xin walked into the main building. The living room on the first floor was not spacious, but it was spotless. The dark wooden furniture was carved with exquisite patterns, and several paintings hung on the walls, all depicting the scenery of Jaipur.

He went up to the second floor, and the bedroom was at the end of the corridor. The headboard of the large wooden bed was carved with patterns, and the window faced the courtyard, offering a full view of the fountain and the flowers and trees.

Li Xin put down his backpack, washed his face, then went downstairs and walked out through the small back gate.

The alley was narrow, with high walls on both sides, leaving only a long, narrow strip of sky visible above. The stone path underfoot was uneven, with many cracks.

After walking for a few minutes, he arrived at the main street. The street was bustling with noise and excitement.

Shops on both sides were dazzling, with spices, fabrics, jewelry, and carpets all available.

Dim yellow lights spilled down, adding a touch of warmth to the entire street as he wandered around casually.

Ten minutes later, he stopped in front of a restaurant. The storefront was unremarkable, but it was noisy inside. He pushed the door open and sat in a corner.

A young waiter in a white shirt and black trousers walked up. "What would you like to order?"

"What are the restaurant's specialties?"

"The signature dish is the Thali set, and the butter chicken and naan are also very good."

"Then I will have a Thali set, a portion of butter chicken, and two pieces of naan."

"What would you like to drink?"

"Bring me an iced beer."

"Alright, please wait a moment."

Ten minutes later, the food was served. The Thali set was served on a large copper plate, with several small bowls containing curry, beans, yogurt, and side dishes. The butter chicken was in a copper pot, the sauce rich, and the chicken pieces were of a moderate size. The golden-brown naan was brushed with butter, smelling fragrant.

He tore off a piece of naan and dipped it in the curry before eating. The spiciness was mild and lingering, mixed with the rich aroma of spices. The butter chicken was tender, and the sauce was savory and rich. The iced beer slid down his throat, and a coolness instantly spread throughout his body.

Halfway through the meal, his phone vibrated. Liu Mo sent a message: "Arrived. Staying at a hotel one kilometer away from you, ready for orders at any time."

Li Xin replied casually: "Good, see you at the villa at eight tomorrow morning."

"Understood."

He put down his phone and continued eating.

After finishing, he walked out of the restaurant, and there were fewer people on the street. The wind blew from the alley, carrying the smell of dust.

He walked back along the same path. The alley was dark, with only a few dim yellow streetlights. His footsteps echoed in the alley, da da da.

Returning to the villa, Surendra was waiting at the door. "Mr. Li, do you need me to prepare breakfast for tomorrow?"

"Yes, at eight o'clock sharp."

"Alright, good night."

"Good night."

Li Xin went upstairs and took a shower. The cold water poured over him, making him shiver, but he felt much refreshed afterward.

He lay on the bed and opened the system panel.

"AI System, Scan the entire Jaipur area. Fifty-kilometer radius."

[Scanning. This will take a few minutes.]

He lay there waiting. It was quiet outside the window, with the occasional dog barking, stopping after a few sounds.

A few minutes later, the System popped up a line of text.

[Detected a dense area of multi-religious energy. Signal distortion probability is 67%. Multiple calibrations recommended.]

"Signal distortion rate is 67%. Continue calibration?"

"Continue calibration. Zoom in on the Jaigarh Fort area; I want to see the underground structure clearly."

[Calibrating...]

The progress bar moved for a while, very slowly.

[Locked onto two strong signal points. The estimated gold density below the reservoir is extremely high. Mixed signal of gold and silver jewelry in a double-layered secret chamber. A detailed list can only be precise after Extraction.]

"Mark coordinates."

[Marked.]

He closed the panel and closed his eyes.

Reservoir. Double-layered secret chamber.

This will be enough to last a while.

The next morning at eight o'clock, Liu Mo arrived on time.

He was wearing a dark blue polo shirt, khaki pants, and casual shoes, looking like an ordinary business professional.

"Did you sleep well last night?"

"Not bad." Li Xin sat on the living room sofa, drinking tea. "Any movement outside?"

Liu Mo sat down opposite him.

"I took a walk outside just now and discovered something."

"Speak."

"Recently, a group of foreigners has appeared in the old city. There are Europeans and faces from Central Asia. They hire cars to go to the fort every day. They do not look like tourists; I have not seen anyone carrying a camera, but they do have metal detectors."

Li Xin put down his teacup.

"How many are there?"

"At least two groups. One group of three Europeans, and one group of two with Russian faces. They are operating independently and ignoring each other."

"What about the locals?"

"There are some. They travel by motorcycle, have simple equipment, but are very well-informed. Most of the vendors around the fort know them."

Li Xin considered for a moment.

"Then let them act. We will observe the situation and wait, neither inquiring nor interfering."

Liu Mo nodded upon hearing this.

"Understood. How should the security perimeter be set up?"

Li Xin responded calmly, "You can arrange that yourselves."

"Understood. We plan to set up three layers. Two roving sentries at a 500-meter outer perimeter, two fixed observation points at a 200-meter middle perimeter, and you will lead two people for close protection within a 50-meter inner perimeter."

Li Xin asked again, "What about thermal imaging equipment?"

"We brought four handheld units. At night, any living creature approaching within 300 meters can be accurately detected."

"Very good, but you only need to be responsible for security; do not worry about what I am doing. If there is any abnormality, notify me first, and do not act without authorization."

Liu Mo stood up.

"Understood, I will go down and arrange it now."

"Mm, go ahead."

Li Xin leaned back on the sofa and poured another cup of tea.

This was Indian black tea, mixed with milk and sugar, tasting sweet and refreshing.

He held the teacup, quietly looking at the fountain in the courtyard, the water murmuring, the sound leisurely.