Chapter 33: The Appearance of the Alchemist

Well, even the smallest mosquito is still meat.

To Li Yiran, this is nothing; after all, she is a young lady who can casually pull out twenty million. But to me, it might be a good opportunity to make some money. However, how should I put it? Perhaps I have been influenced too much by my grandfather; I don’t like the tomb-robbing trade.

...

It was already afternoon when we exited the ancient tomb. We climbed back into our vehicles and turned toward the depths of the Qinling Mountains. Miaodi Village is north of the ancient capital, while the Qinling Mountains are to the south. Therefore, we would likely have to pass through the Qinling range on our way back.

We came quickly and left just as fast; I didn’t even return home to pay a visit. To be honest, there wasn’t much to visit—my grandfather had already passed away. That courtyard was simply the place that held eighteen years of my memories.

Several off-road vehicles sped along, and after several hours, we returned to the ancient capital. After dropping off Song Haitao, who was injured, we didn't stop for a meal in the city. We just grabbed some canned food and continued our trek toward the Qinling Mountains.

The Qinling Mountains span from east to west, stretching over 1,600 kilometers, and serve as the geographic boundary between the north and south of the Great Xia nation. There are many residents living within the Qinling Mountains, but because of the inconvenient transportation, the region is extremely underdeveloped.

The ancient capital is about an hour's drive from the Qinling Mountains. As we neared the range, we didn't take the highway, opting instead for a provincial road. From there, we switched to county roads, then to narrow village paths. After winding around for hours, we finally reached the inner reaches of the Qinling Mountains late at night.

"This should be the place. Everyone, out of the cars!" Li Yiran’s voice came through the walkie-talkie.

It was already around midnight. This area was desolate, without a soul in sight, not even another vehicle. From the navigation, I could see that we were likely within the territory of Anzhen County.

"Everyone, stay behind me. Don’t fall behind. If you get lost, I won’t waste time or energy coming to rescue you," Li Yiran reminded us.

"We have to climb a mountain too?" The old man looked like he was about to cry.

"If you don't want to go, you can go back; I won't stop you. Jiang Chen, keep your people in check!" Li Yiran glared at the old man before snapping at me.

As expected, money isn't easy to earn. We had been in the car for nearly a day, and now we had to start climbing a mountain; even an iron man couldn't handle this kind of torture. But Li Yiran didn't care if we were tired. The great master wearing the bronze mask took the lead, with Li Yiran right behind him. The three subordinates who had been driving were also carrying large packs of gear. Just like that, the group began the ascent.

Under the cover of night, the beams of several flashlights danced across the mountainside. The sportswear Li Yiran had made us wear finally came in handy; at the very least, it made climbing a bit easier. The poor old man, whether he was truly exhausted or just pretending, was drenched in sweat and panting with every step he took.

"Rest for half an hour!" Even Li Yiran at the front must have reached her limit.

"I’ll go scout the path!" No sooner had she spoken than the great master in the bronze mask headed off directly.

Is he even human? I felt a bit skeptical. He had pushed open a multi-ton stone door with his hands, and now, after sitting in a car for a day and climbing for hours, he still acted like nothing had happened!

During the break, Li Yiran took out a map and began to study it. I leaned in and asked, "Miss, what exactly are we trying to do? Why go to such great lengths?"

"Don't ask what you shouldn't," Li Yiran glared at me.

This girl’s temper is getting worse. I snuck a peek at the map. There was a red heart on it, which must have been the destination, but it was at least three major mountains away from where we were. It looked like tonight was destined to be restless.

"Who is that great master, anyway?" I asked, unable to keep my mouth shut.

This time, Li Yiran didn't snap at me, but explained, "A great master from the Alchemist Sect. It's said he is ranked in the top ten."

The Alchemist Sect? I was stunned when I heard the name. According to my grandfather, our Warlock lineage and the Alchemists didn't exactly get along. I wasn't sure of the specifics of the grudge, but it was a feud that had lasted for thousands of years. By my generation, even if I had no personal grievance with him, we were destined to be enemies.

But how was I supposed to be an enemy? That man in the bronze mask was only in the top ten of the Alchemist Sect. If the tenth was this strong, wouldn't the first be capable of flipping the sky? I’m terrified! Such a powerful enemy could probably crush me with a single finger. Luckily, I was just working in the shadows.

"Why? Do you want to join the Alchemist Sect?" Li Yiran suddenly asked.

"No way!" I waved my hands immediately. Why would I join my enemies? To go die?

"Alchemists are both righteous and evil, and it's extremely difficult to join anyway, so I suggest you stop thinking about it," Li Yiran advised, likely thinking I was just trying to cover up my interest.

"Even if they begged me, I wouldn't go." I wasn't bragging. They are enemies; if I went there, wouldn't I be admitting defeat? Of course, they wouldn't invite me anyway.

...

Tens of minutes later, the man in the bronze mask finally returned. His aura was surging as he stood beside Li Yiran. "There are some issues, but nothing major."

Some issues. Nothing major. What kind of answer is that? Is there a problem or not? Just say it! I hate this beating-around-the-bush.

"Then let's continue forward!" Li Yiran looked at the mountains swallowed by the night, her own heart clearly uncertain.

The bronze-masked man was incredibly strong; he had scouted three mountains in less than half an hour. I didn't know what methods he used, but his speed was truly astonishing.

We continued forward, mountain after mountain. By the time we finished climbing, it was already around ten in the morning. We were finally able to rest again. Li Yiran ordered a half-hour break, with plans to move again around noon. Having two hours of rest in a row was a real luxury. This was the calm before the storm; there was likely a fierce battle ahead.

Everyone rested or replenished their energy. Li Yiran, however, looked solemn; it seemed this business was not easy. But it had nothing to do with me anymore. Li Yiran pays, I do the work; but when it comes to a personal life-or-death crisis, I naturally have to prioritize myself. It’s not like I’m going to throw my life away just to help her. I’m not that stubborn.

Zhang Yuxuan was already lying on a large rock resting, while I didn't feel any sleepiness at all. Li Yiran stared at the lush forest, her expression melancholic. I followed her gaze; in front of us was a dense, verdant forest. The destination must be inside, though as for the danger, I hadn't seen any sign of it yet.