Chapter 398

They took me into the villa.

A bearded man in his thirties examined the surroundings with a compass, occasionally writing calculations in a notebook. The crowd did not distract him.

Even Qingyuan and Jin Wuju waited until he lowered the compass and noticed my injuries.

“What happened to him…?”

“Ignore everything else, Mr. Qian,” Qingyuan said pleasantly. “Just locate the Map of the Sin Realm. You’ll receive every cent promised.”

Mr. Qian wisely remained silent and handed him a drawing. “I’ve located two possible directions. The map should be at one of them.”

Qingyuan accepted it excitedly but retained caution.

“Why two? Aren’t you skilled in Dragon-Vein and Acupoint Location?”

The implication was that his accuracy was disappointing.

“Mr. Qingyuan, I locate dragon veins and acupoints, but the map is no ordinary object. Perfect accuracy is impossible.”

Mr. Qian continued, “Rest assured, it is at one of these places. You have many workers, so extra digging won’t matter.”

Qingyuan summoned everyone and ordered immediate excavation.

They brought me to one site.

“Work quickly. If you see anything black, retreat immediately,” Qingyuan instructed.

Then he pulled me aside and offered a cigarette, watching me like a victor. “You rescued the girl?”

I nodded.

“Not bad. Why cooperate with Lv Zhengxian to trap and kill me?”

I stayed silent.

“When he arrives, who do you think dies today, me or him?”

“You planted more men,” I said. “You knew he wanted you dead and planned to eliminate him.”

“Very clever!” He patted my head. “Lv Zhengxian is a useless, arrogant brute. If he can’t be controlled, he can’t remain alive. Besides, my people have nearly replaced everyone inside his company.”

“He keeps about a hundred fighters, but only thirty-some are competent. Add a dozen expendable men, and he’ll bring perhaps fifty.”

“I have only thirty-some, but every one is elite. They are why I rule Lanjiang City without fear.”

Proudly, Qingyuan added, “You hate Lv Zhengxian, don’t you? I enjoy doing favors. Want the chance to kill him?”

I trembled. “You’re telling me internal secrets because you don’t intend to release me either?”

“Of course I won’t kill you. I could have done that last time. I regretted your unannounced departure. After this, you’ll visit me again.”

Breathless with anger, I said, “Kill me instead. I won’t go!”

“That isn’t your decision.”

As Qingyuan crushed his cigarette, someone shouted from the excavation.

“We found it! The Map of the Sin Realm!”

Qingyuan ran over delightedly, and I followed since escape was impossible.

Workers lifted a long wooden box from a deep pit. Inside lay the same painting I had seen in the photograph.

“Hahaha! Good! This is what our superiors want!”

Qingyuan and Jin Wuju nearly jumped with excitement.

Mr. Qian rushed over and immediately rolled it closed.

“Don’t look casually, especially with so many people!”

Jin Wuju frowned. “Why?”

“It disrupts the surrounding magnetic field. Anyone entering that area may trigger a black hole, and more people increase the probability.”

Mr. Qian explained, “Opening the painting opens the hole. Rolling it closed shuts it.”

He handed it to Qingyuan. “Store it carefully to prevent accidents.”

Qingyuan thanked him and placed it in a specially prepared case.

“Protect this with your lives!”

Several high beams suddenly illuminated most of the estate.

Multiple vans and a three-million-yuan Aston Martin drove up.

Qingyuan raised his radio. “Everyone assemble! Every single person, come here!”

Dragging me forward, he laughed. “The real show begins. Let’s send him on his final journey.”

More than fifty men surged into the estate, led by Du Yunting.

Qingyuan’s thirty-some men gathered from every direction.

Du Yunting froze, his expression turning grave. I had told him there were only a dozen.

“Old Lv! Why bring so many people up here at night?”

Qingyuan stood several meters away, hands behind his back.

Du Yunting remained silent.

“Too frightened to speak, yet brave enough to want my life? I personally extended yours. How ungrateful!”

Du Yunting ignored him and waved to his men. “One million to whoever kills Qingyuan. Kill everyone else except Chen Mo.”