Fate Trading System – Chapter 236

Plan A

Mist Map 9

Qiuze Mountain

Su Xin felt very resistant inside, and Liao Qingjie was even more resistant.

They absolutely didn’t want to bring an outsider along.

But Su Xin had to think of a good reason to refuse. Before she could come up with one, she heard the voice speaking on the other end.

“I also participated in repairing the Mist Map. Now that it’s lost, I also have a part to play in searching for it, to go take a look at the place where it was unearthed.”

Su Xin thought for a moment, then replied.

“If you insist, then pack your things. Set off with us tomorrow. I’ll call you then, and we’ll arrange a place to meet.”

“Okay.”

Su Xin hung up the phone and looked at Liao Qingjie.

“She’s acting strange. Since she insists on following us, let her follow. I’ll see what her objective is eventually. Flushing her out¹ is better than having no activity at all.”

Su Xin hadn’t really suspected this colleague much initially, but the timing of her departure was rather convenient, and the timing of her return was also rather convenient.

Xiao Xiaoruo’s reason wasn’t flawed – a child who had just lost both parents throwing herself wholeheartedly into work to avoid excessive grief, there was nothing unreasonable about that.

Different people react differently to the same event. Some people might become listless, unable to extricate themselves from the pain, while others might pour all their energy into something else to avoid letting their minds wander to things that make them sad.

But at this critical juncture, it was hard for Su Xin not to be suspicious of everything, doubting everyone who approached.

The murderer was very likely the man who came disguised to deliver the item, but it could also be the murderer’s accomplice, or even someone hired by the murderer.

Setting other things aside for now, the current priority was to go to Qiuze Mountain and investigate.

They met up the next day. Su Xin saw Xiao Xiaoruo, who wasn’t looking particularly well.

Xiao Xiaoruo carried a hiking backpack, her hair tied neatly back. She looked somewhat haggard, her eyes still red and swollen.

“This is my relative, Liao Jie². She’ll be coming with me.”

Su Xin and Liao Qingjie had discussed it beforehand; Liao Qingjie would use a fake name.

“Hello.”

“Hello.”

“Xiaoruo, you don’t look too well. Can you handle such a long trip? I checked online, that mountain is very desolate. If you’re not feeling up to it physically, you really shouldn’t force yourself to go.”

Su Xin urged her sincerely, though her inner attitude was different. Whether Xiao Xiaoruo went or not, she had a plan to deal with it.

“Bringing my things here already shows my determination. I won’t go back. No matter how difficult it gets, I will follow. I really don’t want to be alone; it makes me think of many bad things.”

Xiao Xiaoruo was about the same age as Su Xin but looked younger. If she put on some makeup and dressed up, everyone would definitely believe she was a university student.

“Alright, let’s go together then. I’ve already booked tickets online, but only for the two of us. You should have bought your ticket already, right?”

Su Xin had told Xiao Xiaoruo the city they were taking the high-speed train to the previous night.

“Mhm, I’ve bought it. But we’re probably not in the same carriage. See you at the station exit.”

Xiao Xiaoruo adjusted the backpack on her back. Su Xin nodded, and the three of them got into a taxi together.

After truly transferring through several vehicles, they reached their destination.

But the mountain was still quite far in; they had to keep walking forward. However, after a whole day of traveling back and forth, the sky had already turned completely dark.

Su Xin and the others decided to rest for a night in the small town they were currently in and continue their journey tomorrow.

The small town could be considered rather desolate, lacking many features of modern society, seemingly stuck at the end of the last century.

The town had electricity, but they still used old-fashioned light bulbs. Mobile phones couldn’t find any signal for internet access; it was very isolated and didn’t have much connection with the outside world.

It was early July, and it got quite cool after nightfall.

The place Su Xin and the others arrived at was the only inn in the small town. The boss lady³ was very surprised to see outsiders, greeting them warmly and pouring them three glasses of water.

“I’m really sorry, there are only two rooms available for people to stay in. Since you’re all young ladies, squeezing in together shouldn’t be a problem, right?”

“Boss Lady, are all the rooms full? It doesn’t look like there are many people here.”

How could there only be two rooms?

“To be honest with you, the rooms aren’t full of guests, it’s just that no one has stayed in them for a long time, so they’re in pretty poor condition. You young ladies have delicate skin⁴, you probably couldn’t stand it.”

The boss lady was a thin woman, smiling somewhat sheepishly.

“Those two rooms are a bit messy. Let me go tidy them up for you first. It’s been a long time since outsiders came here.”

“Since living here isn’t good, why don’t you all leave? Isn’t there transportation available now? You can take a vehicle to other places.”

Su Xin held the paper cup to warm her hands, surveying the small inn’s environment.

“How could it be that easy? Our ancestors have lived here for generations, we’ve put down roots here. Leaving isn’t such a simple matter. Besides, everywhere outside probably requires money, right? And earning money is hard. We wouldn’t have a place to live outside, might not even be able to manage food and drink. Better to just stay here peacefully. Although life is a bit boring, we grow our own vegetables, raise some chickens every day… this lifetime just sort of muddles through like this.”

The boss lady’s words carried a sense of world-weariness. She picked up cleaning tools from the corner and walked up the wooden stairs, which creaked with the sound of age.

“I’ll share a room with her, you take one room by yourself, okay?”

If they had to share, Su Xin naturally chose to be with Liao Qingjie. Of course, it would be even better if she could have a room to herself, but wouldn’t that mean Xiao Xiaoruo would have to stay with Liao Qingjie? Two people who didn’t know each other well sleeping in the same bed, how awkward.

“Mhm, okay.”

The room wasn’t very hot because the window was open, allowing the outside breeze to enter. This also meant mosquitoes could get in just as easily.

The bathing conditions here were extremely poor, and the bed wasn’t very large either.

Taking a proper bath was impossible. Su Xin planned to just wipe herself down with cold water.

“Hey, come over and wipe my back for me.”

Su Xin had never properly called Liao Qingjie by her name, always using ‘hey,’ ‘that one,’ ‘you.’

“Sure thing.”

Liao Qingjie was currently re-spreading the bedsheet and quilt.

As soon as Liao Qingjie entered the bathroom, she saw a stretch of skin so white it was dazzling, a slender waist that looked like you couldn’t even get a grip on it. So thin.

“Here, towel. If you want to wipe down, I can wipe your back too.”

Su Xin tilted her head slightly, handing over the towel.

“I don’t need to.”

Due to her constitution, Liao Qingjie didn’t sweat easily.

The icy temperature of the towel made Su Xin shiver instinctively.

Liao Qingjie wiped carefully from the back of her neck down to her waist.

Liao Qingjie saw a mosquito leisurely fly onto Su Xin’s shoulder and slapped it with her hand.

“You?”

Su Xin flinched from the slap and whipped her head around sharply.

“There was a mosquito.”

Liao Qingjie innocently held out her palm, upon which lay a dead mosquito.

“Finished wiping?”

Su Xin took the towel, wiped her shoulder, and stood up.

Then she put her clothes back on, piece by piece. Su Xin turned around, facing Liao Qingjie directly, revealing deep cleavage⁵.

“Didn’t realize before, you’re so stacked⁶.”

Liao Qingjie gave a flirtatious whistle. Looked like quite a handful. You really couldn’t tell when she wore loose clothes usually.

“Right back at you.”

Su Xin glanced meaningfully at Liao Qingjie.

“I’m not as impressive as you.”

Liao Qingjie turned and left the bathroom, took off her outer jacket, and lay down on the bed.

Neither of them was particularly fussy. Liao Qingjie had rolled in mud pits before, and Su Xin had eaten insects; why would they be afraid of this slightly unclean environment?

The night was quiet. Su Xin closed the window halfway. Outside was pitch black, with only a few stars twinkling in the sky.

They sprayed mosquito repellent before sleeping and had a good night’s rest.

The three washed up briefly, paid the bill, shouldered their things, and prepared to walk into the mountains.

“Where are you heading?”

The boss lady asked curiously.

“To Qiuze Mountain.”

“Just the three of you young ladies?”

“Mhm.”

“Ai, be careful. There’s nothing left there anymore, what’s the point of going? Just a broken-down mountain, it’s all been dug up. If there were really any good treasures there, would our place still be so poor and run-down?”

“Mhm, mhm, thanks for the reminder, Dajie⁷. We’re just curious.”

Su Xin smiled and waved.

The boss lady watched their retreating figures with a somewhat pitying expression.

Liao Qingjie glanced back, and her eyelid couldn’t help but twitch. Something was wrong.

By the time they reached the foot of the mountain in the afternoon, they finally stopped.

Su Xin and the others paused for a short rest, taking out dry rations and water to replenish their energy first.

Xiao Xiaoruo’s face was already as white as paper. Carrying a large backpack, she looked somewhat unsteady, as if about to collapse.

She sat on the ground, assuming a relaxed posture.

“Are you okay?”

Out of both courtesy and reason, Su Xin had to ask.

“Mhm, mhm.”

Su Xin swept her gaze over Xiao Xiaoruo, the suspicion in her heart deepening.

There was definitely something wrong with Xiao Xiaoruo. Due to her professional background, Su Xin had once studied the state of the human body very deeply, which could be used to judge an enemy’s physical condition and weaknesses. Xiao Xiaoruo appeared very weak now, but in reality, her stamina was still decent.

Lord Fourteen, help me investigate this mountain.

【Okay, scan complete. Map transmitted.】

This mountain indeed held more than meets the eye⁸. It looked like an unremarkable mountain covered in trees, but underground, there was actually a huge, complex underground palace⁹.

【Host, thermal imaging tells me there are people inside this mountain. However, due to the shielding protocol¹⁰, I cannot tell you how many people there are or their locations.】

It’s fine, thank you.

Su Xin understood Lord Fourteen’s meaning. There were at least two or more people inside.

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