Chapter 185 1185: The Deal

Ivic, standing to the side, began to give them a focused tour:

"My esteemed guests, Changbai Mountain City not only has the largest man-made lake in the country, where visitors can feed the swans and enjoy being in touch with nature, but its World Sculpture Park is also famous both at home and abroad…"

Ivic rattled on and on, but of everything he said, Chen Erbao only caught the words "foot bath culture." 'What a shame Lin Zhiqing is with me,' he thought, 'or I'd definitely have to go experience it for myself.'

The Bentley slowly started up and sped along the provincial highway, heading straight for the city center.

Some twenty minutes later, the vehicle stopped. Ivic opened the car door and led Chen Erbao and Lin Zhiqing to the Ocean Museum.

Chen Erbao wasn't particularly interested in places like this. He figured it would be more fun to stay home and sleep with Lin Zhiqing in his arms. But since he was out with her to have fun, he might as well look around. 'Otherwise, if all we do is stay in and sleep, are we just changing locations to plow the same field?'

The Ocean Museum in Changbai Mountain City lived up to its reputation. All sorts of deep-sea fish were visible everywhere, swimming slowly behind transparent glass. Chen Erbao even saw fluctuations of Spiritual Qi on a dolphin.

After asking a nearby staff member, Chen Erbao learned that this dolphin had just been rescued from pirates. Because it had suffered some minor injuries, it couldn't be released back into the wild, so it was being temporarily kept at the museum.

Oceans cover eighty percent of the world's surface, with land making up only twenty percent. Chen Erbao felt that the deep sea must hold vast quantities of Spirit-Containing Objects or Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures. It was just a pity that with his current strength, going out to sea was nothing but a fantasy.

Only after he reached Foundation Establishment would there be a glimmer of a chance.

Right now, he hadn't even mastered Fasting. If he went out to sea, he'd die of thirst within a few days.

After wandering around the Ocean Museum for a while, the three of them went to the World Sculpture Park to feed pigeons.

As for the dazzling array of sculptures, Chen Erbao couldn't make heads or tails of them. 'When it comes to the beauty of the human form,' he thought, 'the women in my life are more than enough. From mature matrons to young maidens to cool, dominant types, I've seen it all. I've already had plenty of opportunity to appreciate beautiful curves.'

'As for the male form, I have zero interest!'

By the time they finished at the sculpture park, it was already past three in the afternoon. Ivic took the two of them to a famous afternoon tea cafe to enjoy some local specialties.

While Chen Erbao was in the restroom, he suddenly saw a figure flash by on the street outside.

'Is that the man in black from the plane? Did he follow me here?'

Chen Erbao's heart tightened. He sent a message to Lin Zhiqing, then pushed the door open and followed.

By the time he reached the street, the man in black had already ducked into a small alley.

Without hesitation, Chen Erbao followed him in.

The alley twisted and turned. After about twenty minutes of following, Chen Erbao finally stopped.

Within his Divine Sense, the man in black had stopped moving.

And the other two people who had appeared there made everything click for Chen Erbao.

The two southerners were supporting each other, staring coldly at the man in black in a tense standoff.

"Let us go! I'll give you seven million!"

The words came from the pair in a thick accent.

The man in black just smiled, his voice weathered and deep:

"I'm an assassin with principles. Seven million is not enough."

"Ten million! I'll give you ten million! Let us go!"

The man and woman quickly raised the price.

The man in black seemed to hesitate, but finally sighed. "If this were an ordinary mission, I could take the ten million and let you go. But this time, I'm repaying a favor. Sorry, but no amount of money will work."

Hiding around the corner, Chen Erbao heard everything clearly.

'He wasn't lying about being an assassin. But to not even be tempted by ten million... Looks like this guy really does have principles!'

"My name is Gesang. I hope you don't run into me in your next life."

The man in black took off his mask and said emotionlessly.

Chen Erbao, watching from the side, could see clearly. Gesang had a hideous, eye-catching scar across his face.

His fierce features, combined with his ice-cold gaze, made the man and woman's hearts sink as if they had been plunged into an abyss.

The man gritted his teeth and threw out his final bargaining chip. "Ten million USD. That's all I can come up with right now. If you let me go, I can give you another ten million USD later!"

Gesang remained unmoved, slowly drawing the sharp short knife from his waist:

"There will be no pain. Relax," he said, devoid of emotion.

Seeing this, the woman next to the man had a flash of determination in her eyes. She lifted her skirt, pulled a Dagger from a leg holster, and charged at Gesang.

"Xiaoyue, don't—"

The man cried out in alarm and was about to stop her when Gesang suddenly kicked out, striking the woman squarely in the chest.

THUD!

The woman was sent flying, crashing into the man. Both fell to the ground, wailing in agony.

Seeing Xiaoyue coughing up blood nonstop, the man gave Gesang a look of despair, his voice shrill with anguish:

"Xie Kun, I'll never forgive you in my next life!"

A dead man's threats are the most useless of all. Gesang had heard too many final, vicious words like these.

He had been in an assassin organization for nearly ten years; his heart had long ago grown as cold as the short knife in his hand.

Gesang walked over to the man and was about to swing his knife to sever his neck when a voice suddenly came from behind him:

"Spare his life!"

Chen Erbao straightened his clothes, pulled a piece of cloth from who-knows-where to cover his face, and stepped out.

Upon hearing the voice, Gesang instinctively ducked his head and, with a backhanded flick, threw his knife toward the source of the sound.

The short knife tore through the air, reaching Chen Erbao in an instant.

Chen Erbao hadn't expected the guy to be so decisive. It was too late to dodge, so he had no choice but to reach out and precisely snatch the knife by its hilt, then began to toy with it in his hand.

"Nice blade!" Chen Erbao exclaimed in admiration, looking at the sharp edge and the polished surface that reflected his image.

After throwing his short knife, Gesang rolled across the ground, snatched the Dagger from the woman's hand, and assumed a crouch, staring coldly at the newcomer, Chen Erbao.

The man was also bewildered by this turn of events.

"Hey, boss. You said ten million USD just now, right?"

Chen Erbao looked at the man with a wide, beaming smile.

To the man's eyes, that smile was like the smile of God himself!

He nodded frantically. "Sir, ten million USD... no, fifteen million! I beg you, save our lives! I'll give you another fifteen million USD in a month!"

Chen Erbao wagged his finger. "I want twenty million USD from you, right here, right now. Otherwise, before he even makes a move, I'll kill you myself!"

Chen Erbao wasn't just extorting him. For an ordinary person, this was an amount of money they couldn't earn even if they risked their lives. But for a big boss, it was an absolute bargain to buy back their life.

Money can always be earned again, but you only get one life!

Once you're dead, it's really game over!

The man didn't have that much cash on hand, but he gritted his teeth. "I can make a call right now to mortgage some of my assets. I can scrape together twenty million USD!"

Chen Erbao smiled and nodded. "Deal."

He turned to Gesang. "Brother, you're just here to repay a favor, but I'm here for the money. How about this? You back down. A favor can be repaid anytime, but my chances to make money are few and far between!"

But Gesang just watched him in silence, not saying a word.

Chen Erbao's smile gradually faded, his expression turning blank as he met Gesang's gaze.

The atmosphere suddenly turned grim and murderous.

The man and the young woman seemed to sense something was wrong and supported each other as they backed away.