Chapter 78: 78, Before taking action

“`

By the time Hu Xiaoniu, Liu Dezhu, and others were gathering, Qing Chen had already reached Laojun Mountain one step ahead of them.

The place was teeming with people, and Li Tongyun was the first to jump out of the car, stretching lazily in the parking lot.

Her small backpack hung loosely on her back, as if it would fall off at any moment, yet it never did.

Jiang Xue followed her with a smile, preparing to get out of the car, but at the next moment, Qing Chen reached out a hand and forcibly pulled her back inside the bus.

“What’s wrong, Qing Chen,” Jiang Xue, almost unable to keep her balance from Qing Chen’s pull, turned her head to look at the youth’s profile, but found him staring intently out the window.

Jiang Xue hesitated, “Is there danger?”

Qing Chen silently stared outside, where he now saw five people holding black briefcases stepping out of a nearby black Buick van.

Each of them wore sunglasses and non-uniform casual clothes, but on their feet were identical black leather boots.

He had seen these black leather boots before, on the feet of four criminals at 4 Xingshu Road.

As if they were purchased in bulk.

Inside the bus, an impatient aunt behind them spoke up, “Are you getting off or not? If not, make way.”

Qing Chen ignored her comment.

Not until he confirmed that the five individuals had entered the scenic area did he turn back to the passengers behind him and apologize.

If one remembered everything in their life, then they would never believe in coincidences.

Too many things happened under the guise of coincidence, yet harbored far too many hidden motives.

The same boots, the same five people.

Suddenly, Qing Chen felt like he understood something, but wasn’t sure.

They were not here for tourism; no one would have the leisure for tourism while being on the run.

On Laojun Mountain, there was only one road up and down the mountain. If they were discovered by Kunlun, escape would be difficult.

A truly smart criminal would not put themselves in such a dangerous place, but they had still come.

They must have come for Time Traveler.

Just in these past days, across the ocean, the news had reported that a Time Traveler had brought back a cancer-targeting drug, which had been confirmed as effective.

Targeted drugs usually cost tens of thousands of yuan for a bottle, enough for a month’s supply.

Yet the drug that Time Traveler brought back had been auctioned off for a sky-high price: ten million US dollars.

The buyer was not a wealthy individual fighting cancer but a pharmaceutical company, which purchased the drug for research purposes.

In fact, the targeted drug wasn’t unique; other Time Travelers could also bring back the same thing.

Otherwise, that one bottle could possibly sell for a billion yuan.

On the day the pharmaceutical company publicly auctioned the targeted drug, its stock price rose by 32%.

Between the Outer World and the Inner World, there lay immense commercial value. Wealthy people buy lifelines, tech companies buy technology, and some companies buy publicity stunts, each with their own needs.

And this visible monetary value directly created a huge gray interest chain.

There would always be those willing to risk everything for it.

By now, the sky in Laojun Mountain had gradually darkened, and the crowd, vast as the sea, was pouring in, quickly concealing the traces of all the criminals.

Once Qing Chen got off the bus, Jiang Xue hurriedly took Li Tongyun’s hand and asked, “What did you see, Qing Chen, what’s happening?”

Jiang Xue still wore a pair of black silk gloves to cover her mechanical limbs.

“I spotted five people, very likely the five fugitive suspects still at large,” Qing Chen said, surveying the surroundings: “But first, you can rest assured that they’re not here for you, otherwise we’d already be cornered on the bus.”

“`

Jiang Xue asked, “So what should we do, shall we go back?”

“We were on the last bus; there are no more buses to return now,” Qing Chen explained. “The media coverage of you previously only revealed your address unintentionally, but your photo was never exposed, so we are quite safe at the moment.”

Qing Chen and the others were not wealthy, so they took public buses, while Hu Xiaoniu and his group rented vehicles and were not restricted by time or schedules.

Standing aside, Li Tongyun said, “Mom, don’t worry, let’s just listen to Brother Qing Chen.”

After pondering, Qing Chen said, “Let’s head to our accommodation first, and skip climbing the mountain tomorrow. As soon as it gets light, we’ll take the first coach back to Los Angeles City.”

Upon arriving at the lodge Jiang Xue had booked, Qing Chen didn’t go to his own room but stayed in the room with Jiang Xue and Li Tongyun.

He first went to the bathroom to send a message to Liu Dezhu: Stay home during the seven-day National Day holiday, don’t go anywhere.

Qing Chen didn’t say not to come to Laojun Mountain, since that might give away their position. However, as long as Liu Dezhu didn’t show up, he believed Hu Xiaoniu would probably cancel his trip too.

But Liu Dezhu hadn’t replied to him.

Returning to the room, Qing Chen drew the curtains closed and then stood silently behind them, quietly observing the outside.

He did this for several hours, showing no signs of fatigue.

Upon seeing him stand for too long, Jiang Xue asked, “Xiao Chen, why don’t you rest for a while? I’ll watch by the window.”

Qing Chen shook his head. “You don’t know what they look like, Aunt Jiang Xue. Just make me and Xiao Yun a bowl of instant noodles and take out the beef jerky from my bag. I’m a bit hungry.”

It wasn’t that he wanted to eat, but Qing Chen realized that if he didn’t eat, Jiang Xue and Li Tongyun were too nervous to eat anything themselves.

From the neighboring lodge, a faint mix of laughter, drumming, and music could be heard.

In contrast to the neighboring happiness, theirs seemed a bit cold and deserted.

Li Tongyun silently brought over a chair and stood behind Qing Chen, using her small hands to gently knead his shoulders and neck, helping to ease his fatigue. “Brother Qing Chen, aren’t you tired? Why don’t you rest a bit? You said they’re not coming for us, so there’s no need to be so tense.”

Qing Chen still shook his head, showing no intention to rest. “It’s fine, I can handle it.”

Jiang Xue, watching the young man’s silhouette, suddenly felt a sense of security. She said, “How about we…”

“Shh!” Qing Chen interrupted Jiang Xue’s unfinished words.

At that moment, he saw that familiar figure outside the window.

Two criminals, vigilant of their surroundings, slowly passed the front of Qing Chen’s lodge.

With walkie-talkies attached to their chests, one of the criminals was saying something into it with a serious look.

As they walked, their right hands never left their waists.

After the two disappeared in front of the lodge, Qing Chen glanced at his phone, 11:55 PM.

Countdown 00:05:00.

The final five minutes.

Qing Chen frowned, the criminals had entered a state of alert.

It was a stance ready for battle at any moment.

“The criminals’ target might be the inn next door,” Qing Chen said.

Jiang Xue froze: “Cloud Inn? There are a lot of people there, they’re in danger.”

“Yeah.”

Qing Chen let the curtain fall and stepped into the bathroom to glance at the communicator, only to see that, several hours later, Liu Dezhu still had not replied to his message.

…

Thank you to True Weird Uncle for becoming the Alliance Hierarch of this book. Boss, your generosity is boundless, may you make a fortune!