45: Chapter 45 Zhao Shanhe's Suspicion

Hu Tian looked at the surrounding scenery, his mood relaxing along with it. Feeling the warmth of the beauty beside him, a warm current welled up in his heart.

Indeed, it was quite nice to occasionally slow down and enjoy such a leisurely time; after all, "when things go well in life, one must enjoy oneself to the fullest, and never let the golden goblet face the moon empty."

The two strolled the streets for a long time until late at night. Zhou Waner said reluctantly, "It's getting late, let me take you back to the hotel. I'll come to the hotel tomorrow morning, and then we can go to Confucius Temple and stroll around the Qinhuai River. The day after, we'll go to the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum and the Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum. How about it? I guarantee you'll have a great time!"

"Alright, it's a deal. See you tomorrow."

Hu Tian nodded with a smile, feeling a trace of reluctance in his heart, as if this brief time spent together was more precious than spending an entire day in the Holy Treasury.

Back at the hotel entrance, after watching her leave in a taxi, Hu Tian's figure standing under the streetlight beside the hotel looked a bit solitary, yet full of anticipation, as if he had returned to the innocent days of first love.

Several minutes passed until the taxi was no longer in sight.

Hu Tian finally returned to his hotel room. Standing by the window and looking at the night view outside, a faint smile played on his lips as he reminisced about the day's events. It was a long-lost sense of happiness belonging to a normal person.

Tomorrow would be a new day, but before that, he needed to rest well. After all, one must "conserve energy and build up strength" to meet the challenges of tomorrow's outing. Although treasure hunting was his main job, accompanying a beautiful woman while shopping was also a form of "cultivation."

Meanwhile, at the other end of Jinling City, Zhao Shanhe's off-road vehicle had just entered the urban area. His gloomy face was filled with resentment and anger, like a volcano about to erupt, ready to pour out its fury at any moment.

Early the next morning, Hu Tian finished washing up, packed his things, and prepared to head out.

Carrying his backpack, he walked out of the room, pressed the elevator button, and after waiting a moment, the elevator doors slowly opened.

Just as he stepped into the elevator, Hu Tian froze for a moment—several people were already standing inside, with Zhao Shanhe at the head.

The moment their eyes met, the air seemed to freeze, and even the ventilation fan in the elevator seemed to stop spinning.

Zhao Shanhe's face was so dark it looked like it could drip water. His eyes were sunken, his face covered in stubble, and his gaze held undisguised hostility and resentment as he stared fixedly at Hu Tian.

Of course, he didn't know that this seemingly harmless young man in front of him was the one who had beaten him to the punch. Given his current state, he looked at everyone with hostility, as if the whole world owed him eight million.

Three or four companions followed behind him, all looking exhausted with dark circles under their eyes. Clearly, they had traveled a long way last night and slept very poorly, looking like they had just escaped from a refugee camp.

Hu Tian walked into the elevator with a calm expression. Standing in the corner, his gaze swept over Zhao Shanhe indifferently without saying a word, as if he were looking at thin air.

The atmosphere in the elevator was so oppressive it made people feel suffocated. The other guests noticed something was wrong and lowered their heads to look at their phones, wishing they could shrink into the floorboards for fear of being caught in the crossfire.

Zhao Shanhe clenched his fists so hard his knuckles turned white and his veins bulged. He seemed to be doing his utmost to suppress the anger in his heart; it was a true portrayal of "when enemies meet, their eyes blaze with hatred."

He wanted to say something, his lips moved, but in the end, nothing came out. After all, in a public place, he still had to maintain his dignity as a big shot.

Hu Tian maintained a calm expression throughout, and there was even a faint, almost imperceptible smile on his lips, as if the person in front of him was just a stranger or a head of cabbage by the roadside.

"Ding—" The elevator reached the first floor, and the doors slowly opened.

Hu Tian was the first to walk out of the elevator, heading toward the hotel lobby entrance without looking back. His back was composed and confident, so cool it made one want to punch him.

"President Zhao, we..."

A companion behind him asked in a low voice, a hint of fear in his tone.

"Eat first."

Zhao Shanhe took a deep breath and said in a low voice, his tone dripping with teeth-gritting hatred, "Sooner or later, I will find that lowlife who dared to snatch food from my mouth. I'll turn him into sashimi!"

With that, he led the others toward the restaurant. His steps were heavy, and his back exuded a gloomy aura, as if he were dragging a mass of black resentment behind him.

Hu Tian stood at the hotel lobby entrance, looking at the street through the glass doors. The morning light spilled over him, warm and cozy, dispelling all the gloom.

He took out his phone to check the time; Zhou Waner should be arriving soon.

He had already put the scene in the elevator behind him. After all, for a mere extra, there was really no need to take it to heart. His eyes were only for treasures and beauties.

Before long, a white taxi stopped at the hotel entrance. Zhou Waner stepped out and came to Hu Tian like a cheerful little butterfly. "Brother Hu Tian, have you been waiting long? Let's go! Today I'll take you on a good tour of Jinling City!"

Hu Tian walked over with a smile, led Zhou Waner to the hotel entrance, took the car keys from the hotel attendant, opened the door, and sat inside with Zhou Waner.

Meanwhile, in the hotel restaurant, Zhao Shanhe sat in a window seat. Through the glass, he happened to witness this scene.

He watched Hu Tian's black off-road vehicle as it gradually drove away, his gaze as sharp as a hawk's.

His gaze suddenly froze on the tires of that car—the tire treads were clearly stained with a bit of mud, faintly visible in the morning light. It was a gift from nature, but also a fatal flaw.

Zhao Shanhe's pupils constricted suddenly, and an ominous premonition surged in his heart, as if he had been struck by a bolt of lightning.

"Xiao Li."

He called out in a low voice, his tone as cold as ice.

The young man sitting next to him immediately leaned in. "President Zhao, please speak."

"Did you see that black off-road vehicle just now?"

Zhao Shanhe lowered his voice, a flash of sinister intent in his eyes, like a venomous snake eyeing its prey. "Go check if that car went to Cuiyun Peak yesterday."

Xiao Li was slightly taken aback, then immediately understood. "You suspect..."

"Cut the crap and go check!"

Zhao Shanhe interrupted him, his tone brooks no argument. "I want the most detailed information, including the license plate number and the owner's details—don't miss a single thing. Even if it's his ancestors from eighteen generations back, I want to dig everything up!"

"Yes, I'll get right on it."

Xiao Li immediately took out his phone, walked quickly to a corner of the restaurant, and began making calls, his fingers dancing across the screen.

Zhao Shanhe picked up his coffee cup but didn't drink. He just stared in the direction where the off-road vehicle had disappeared, his gaze growing increasingly dark, as if he wanted to see through the car.

The mud on the tires, that specific yellowish-brown color—he was all too familiar with it. That was exactly the soil type unique to the mountain roads of Cuiyun Peak; it was like Cuiyun Peak's 'ID card'.

If that was really the case...

"Damn it!"

Zhao Shanhe slammed down his coffee cup. Some of the liquid splashed out, spilling onto the white tablecloth and blooming into a dark stain, much like his currently shattered mood.

At this moment, Hu Tian was driving his rugged off-road vehicle through the streets of Nanjing, completely unaware that because of a small oversight—forgetting to clean the mud traces from the tires—he had drawn Zhao Shanhe's suspicion. It was truly a case of "carelessness leading to a great loss."

Sitting in the passenger seat, Zhou Waner enthusiastically introduced the sights along the way to Hu Tian. "Brother Hu Tian, the Confucius Temple is just ahead. It's very lively there, and there are many specialty snacks..."

Hu Tian nodded with a smile, focusing on driving, completely unaware that an accident was quietly approaching, still immersed in the comfort of a "fine car and a beautiful woman."

The Confucius Temple was teeming with people. The snack stalls on both sides of the street were a feast for the eyes, with aromas wafting everywhere—it was simply a paradise for foodies.

Hu Tian followed Zhou Waner through the crowd, feeling the thick atmosphere of the marketplace, as if he too had become an ordinary tourist.

Zhou Waner was like an excited little hamster, constantly pulling him to a stop. "The Duck Blood Vermicelli Soup here is very famous, let's have a bowl! There's also Sweet Taro Seedlings over there; they're sweet, I'm sure you'll like them! Oh, that Plum Blossom Cake looks good too, should we get one?"

Hu Tian followed her and took a few bites, nodding and saying with a smile, "It really is good. Street snacks have a way of leaving a lasting impression; they're even better than what five-star hotel chefs make."

The two walked and ate, smugly feeling the vibrant life of this city, as if they had returned to their carefree student days.

Along the way, various cries of street vendors rose and fell. "Stinky Tofu, come have a taste! Smells stinky, tastes savory!"

"Salted Duck fresh out of the pot, buy it while it's hot! Authentic Jinling flavor!"

"Fried Dough Twists, so crispy they crumble! Come and buy! If it's not good, it's free!"

Zhou Waner's words also became faster as she said excitedly, "Brother Hu Tian, these are all our Jinling specialty snacks. You must eat more! Otherwise, how could you face your stomach?"

Soon, they followed the flow of people to an ancient-style archway. The three large characters for "Confucius Temple" were carved on the archway, the red paint and gold lettering shimmering in the sunlight.

This was the place where tourists stopped the most and was also a symbol of Jinling City's culture, like a time portal connecting the ancient and the modern.

Zhou Waner stopped and looked up at the archway. "We're here; this is the Confucius Temple. It has a long history and attracts thousands of tourists every year to experience the cultural atmosphere of Confucius. You can ask me any questions; I'll be your guide! I guarantee I'm more detailed than Baidu Baike!"

Hu Tian nodded with a smile and looked around.

Behind the archway was a bustling commercial street where ancient charm and modernity intertwined. Tourists walked through it in small groups, looking like a living version of 'Along the River During the Qingming Festival'.

Red lanterns were hung on both sides of the street, arranged neatly and reflecting on many smiling faces, filled with a festive atmosphere.

The two took a deep breath, merging into this atmosphere where history and excitement intertwined, feeling the pulse of the city...

The two arrived at the Confucius Temple. People came and went, and snacks were everywhere. Zhou Waner, like a little hamster, took Hu Tian through various snack shops, finally arriving at the front of the Confucius Temple with the flow of people.

"Brother Hu Tian, look!"

Zhou Waner pointed to the ancient building ahead, her eyes shining with excitement like two bright stars. "This is the main hall of the Confucius Temple. It's dedicated to Confucius and has a history of over a thousand years."

Hu Tian looked up and saw upturned eaves and painted beams, looking solemn and majestic in the sunlight, exuding a sacred and inviolable aura.

Tourists were coming and going in an endless stream; some were taking photos, while others were piously burning incense and praying, asking the God of Examinations for protection and success in their exams.

"Come, let's go inside and take a look."

Hu Tian said with a smile, following Zhou Waner into the temple gates, as if stepping into the long river of history.

Just as he stepped into the temple, a familiar notification sound suddenly came from Hu Tian's mind—"Ding! Detected fluctuations of valuable historical relics in the vicinity. Treasure Hunting Radar is automatically starting the scan..."