Chapter 1344: The Conspiracy Behind the Scenes (Part 1)

If the Death Swamp is the Black and White Impermanence guiding the way, then the ridge of Qi Mountain is the Gate of Hell. Many adventurers around the world have tried, multiple times, in different seasons of the year, to cross this snow-covered mountain range, but they have failed again and again. Many of them couldn’t even find their bodies.

One might end up in the stomachs of wild beasts, be swallowed by the swamp, or, if lucky enough to cross the marshland, they might finally meet their demise, shattering into pieces when crossing the ridge of Qi Mountain.

When Bai Chenyao and Li Mu changed their original plan and set off again in a different direction, an elderly man in a solitary villa thousands of miles away was watching the disappearance of the signal point, a hint of ruthlessness flashing through his eyes.

Shu Kaiqi, standing beside, couldn’t help but frown.

"Could it be that something happened to Bai Chenyao?"

Hearing Shu Kaiqi’s muttering, the elderly man’s brow furrowed into a deep line.

"It shouldn’t be like this. He is the best special forces soldier of our Xia Country. Could he really have perished in that primitive jungle?"

The elderly man recalled when Bai Chenyao traversed an even more perilous hot and humid forest compared to that on the side of Qi Mountain. Though he emerged alive by the skin of his teeth, he survived after all.

It was then that he took notice of Bai Chenyao and attempted various methods to recruit him, yet Bai Chenyao remained unfazed and unyielding.

The old man, with a knitted brow, continuously stared at where the signal disappeared, slowly shifting his gaze to the annotations beside.

There lay a swamp area.

Just a mere thousand meters away from another Death Swamp.

Also, according to the previous movement dots, Bai Chenyao and Li Mu were wandering back and forth at the edge of the jungle and swamp, evidently encountering something.

In such a bleak and chilling environment, fierce beasts capable of surviving would hardly let go of humans they abhor as enemies upon suddenly seeing them in the dead of winter.

Encountering a beast attack, they meandered back and forth between the swamp and jungle, trying to avoid the beasts, finally disappearing into the swamp.

"Are we certain only Li Mu carried communication devices?"

The elderly man’s voice came out hoarse and authoritative.

Shu Kaiqi nodded, very confidently.

"Indeed, only Li Mu carried communication devices. It’s said that whenever Bai Chenyao was on a mission, he was always with Li Mu, the two were as closely connected as flesh to skin."

The old man was clearly aware of this fact and didn’t ask further, continuing to frown deeply, lost in thought.

Shu Kaiqi also furrowed his brow, lowering his voice in inquiry.

"Commander, I remember Bai Chenyao would never carry any electronic equipment during missions, said to be wary of being monitored."

The old man, referred to as Commander, nodded: "Indeed, so during the tropical jungle war in D Country five years ago, I thought he was dead."

"But in the end... he came back alive, while it was those supposedly omnipotent mercenaries who were decimated!"

Listening to the sarcasm in the old man’s words, Shu Kaiqi lowered his gaze to hide his emotions.

"I’ll instantly dispatch someone to enter Qi Mountain to search. If encountered, then directly–"

At this point, Shu Kaiqi made a throat-slitting gesture.

The old man looked on, slowly shaking his head.

"No... If Bai Chenyao is still alive, even if our men find him in that jungle, the ones eliminated won’t be him!"

Shu Kaiqi: "..."

The old man narrowed his eyes, a strange smile forming on his lips.

"For now, leave him be; even if he walks out alive, there are still Thunder Eagle and the others!"