Chapter 2: The Confused Logistics Officer

  At 3 pm, a minibus stopped on time at the downstairs, I carried my luggage with clothes and went down with everyone. Leng sent us to the minibus and introduced a woman and two men in the car. The woman's name was Zhao Chen, unexpectedly she was not very old, very thin, fair skin, beautiful facial features, but looked gentle; only a pair of phoenix eyes, especially spiritual, looking sharp. Another two men, one named Yang Chao, with a flat head, when I looked at his eyes, I always felt that his gaze was focused and sharp, giving people a sense of being pierced, his face had clear edges, with a beard on his chin, very masculine; the other was Jiang Nan, not very tall, but quite sturdy, darker skin, small eyes darting back and forth, looking very astute.

  The three of them obviously knew Mingying and Li Yubo, but they cast distrustful glances at me. Ling Kong counted me and Li Yubo together, saying that this time's advisor was us. After hearing this, Jiang Nan had a disdainful expression on his face, while Yang Chao didn't even give me a glance. Only Zhao Chen was relatively polite, nodding slightly to indicate recognition.

  In my opinion, this team of explorers is too small compared to Wu Yifan's tomb raiding team. It's really making a big deal out of nothing. They're just going to Jinshan, a district in Shanghai. They haven't even left the city, it can't be considered tourism, let alone exploration? If they really want to go on an adventure, shouldn't they go to places like Qi Xing Lou Wang Gong, Qinling Shenmu or Shezhang Guicheng? If they went to Guangxi or Guizhou, those remote and eerie places where Miao witchcraft is prevalent, that would be even more exciting.

  The only reason is that mysterious enemy group who shot and chased after them. Who are they? Chen Ziqi's subordinates? If the opponent is Chen Ziqi, what kind of person is he to dare to confront Lady Yun's organization? Does he have an even bigger black hand behind him?

  Just thinking about it, I regret the theft that day, and having a feud with such a person. If he really wants to pursue it, hiring someone to kill me would be easy as pie. It's said that during the Spring Festival, many people who can't afford to go home are waiting for a big opportunity. At that time, it's easy to hire thugs. But looking at the situation, I estimate that without the protection of the organization, I may not even make it past the Laba Festival.

  Ironically, I was further and further away from the road of fighting against Chen Ziqi.

  This road is very far. The road to Jinshan, the bus took a full hour and a half.

  Everyone was silent all the way, and the atmosphere in the car was so heavy that it was hard to breathe. When we arrived at Jinshan, there were fewer reinforced concrete buildings, and the air had improved significantly. The rare greenery in the city made people feel happy.

  The car turned into a small district called Shanlong Xincun Phase 3. After stopping, a man who looked like an ordinary passerby, about 35 years old, wearing a very mismatched pink T-shirt, stood by the side of the road to greet us.

  Although he waved enthusiastically at us, the others who got off one by one didn't even acknowledge him. As soon as I got off the car, this person saw that I was a newcomer and made a gesture of wanting to shake hands with me, walking up and introducing himself: "My name is Xin Xiaoxin, in charge of your material supply and logistical support for this trip, please advise..."

  Jiang Nan raised his eyebrows and said: "Xin Kong, have you seen him? He so easily spoke out the words 'take action', aren't you afraid of leaking secrets?"

  Xin Xiaoxin stopped in her tracks, her hand still suspended in mid-air, but she was taken aback for a moment. Perhaps realizing that she had spoken too casually, yet feeling indignant: "Didn't he come with you guys..."

  Jiang Nan was about to say something when Yang Chao pressed his chest and said, "Alright. Let's drop it."

  Jiang Nan glanced at Yang Chao, seeing that he was expressionless, like a wooden puppet, probably also somewhat fearful, his lips moved slightly, but he didn't say anything else.

  I smiled awkwardly and shook hands with Xin Xiaoxin, saying: "My name is Lin You, and this one," pointing to Li Yubo who had just gotten out of the car, "are both consultants for this operation..."

  "Oh! Both of you are advisors, that's Professor Lin. Hello hello. You're so young, yet you know so much about Cannes..."

  Mingying couldn't take it anymore and shouted: "Xin Kong! Watch your language!"

  Xin Xiao Xin let go of my hand, scratched the back of his head and said: "Hey, why are you guys so serious?"

  Zhao Chen, who had been silent beside him, suddenly said, "Aye! Let's eat first! I'm starving!"

  Xin Xiao Xin hastily smiled and apologized to Zhao Chen, saying: "Zhao Gong's good skills must be easy to get hungry, right? Let's go, let's go inside and talk, dinner is already being cooked." Seeing that everyone had a cold expression, he could only smile awkwardly and lead them towards the entrance of a nearby building.

  This house on the 7th floor is a bit larger than Lingkong's home, about over 200 square meters, with 6 rooms and 2 halls. Of course, Lingkong's home is in Jing'an District, and the housing prices here in Jinshan District are not comparable. Although this house is large, it is simply decorated, mostly rented out.

  I was the last one to enter, and I carelessly pulled the door shut with a loud bang, attracting six pairs of eyes. I smiled awkwardly twice, but found that the lock tongue was still stuck outside the door frame, so I had to turn the handle to close the door again.

  As soon as he entered the room, he was greeted by a fragrant aroma that filled his nostrils. On the table, various dishes were already packed in take-out boxes, emitting steam. Zhao Chen clapped his hands and went over to dig in, first tasting the delicious food, and stuffed a piece of braised pork belly into his mouth.

  Xin Xiao Xin arranged a room for each of us, 7 people in 6 rooms. He said he would just sleep on the sofa in the living room and prioritize our sleep quality. Ming Ying and Zhao Chen were assigned to the two rooms in the southeast corner; Li Yu Bo was placed next to Zhao Chen because she had been chased before, with their two rooms side by side. The three west-facing rooms, from north to south, were mine, Yang Chao's, and Jiang Nan's. Perhaps because I was the most useless one, I was assigned to the study room next to the bathroom, closest to the entrance.

  My room has a small single spring bed, which is really cramped. I muttered to myself why not go live in a hotel, while taking out my clothes and putting them in the simple wooden cabinet at the foot of the bed. As soon as I opened the cabinet, a small cockroach jumped out, I felt nauseous, hurriedly stepped on it to death, and a stream of white liquid flowed out. I thought to myself, this is really unlucky, and looked around for paper to wipe it up.

  At dinner time, Li Yubo gave a lengthy and grand speech, recounting the history of Cannes that he had told us at Mingying's house earlier. His enthusiastic expression and eloquent tone were indeed befitting of a university professor. As he became more emotional, his chopsticks accidentally brushed against Jiang Nan, who was sitting next to him, leaving an oil stain on his white T-shirt. Jiang Nan, who didn't have much affection for Li Yubo to begin with, muttered a curse under his breath and stopped paying attention to him.

  After dinner, Mingying told Zhao Chen that she wanted to use the independent bathroom in her room. Zhao Chen agreed without hesitation. I went back to my own room and lay on the bed thinking about whether Mingying would do something with Zhao Chen tonight. Then I received a call from Ling Kong, saying that the results of the microscope test were out, and the paper in the painting was not Jingchuang paper. I said it must be peach blossom paper, and we could make a profit now.

  I hung up the phone and took some peanut oil from the kitchen, then ran to Li Yubo's room.

  Li Yubo forgot to lock the door, and I directly pushed it open. Seeing him holding a small object with holes all over it, about the size of a pocket flashlight, with earphones plugged in, as if listening to something, I asked him what that was.

  "MP3." Li Yubo saw that I didn't even know how to knock on the door and felt a little displeased, "What's up?"

  "Such a thick MP3? Rare, rare." I said, letting him find that piece of paper. Seeing the fruit knife on the table, I picked it up and applied oil to it. Just like spreading butter on bread, I used the blade to wipe the paper and placed it on the table to air dry.

  Li Yubo looked at me doing these things and casually said: "Lin You, why did you participate in this event?"

  "Being pulled down into the water. What, you're not one of them either?"

  "I'm just a casual acquaintance," said Li Yubo, "I don't know these people very well, and they all seem like they're not easy to get along with."

  "How did you know Old Lady Yun doesn't like being disturbed at night?"

  "What, you didn't know? Well, now you do, no need to ask, just knowing is enough," he said with a raised eyebrow and a sly glance, "The less you know, the longer you live."

  I sat back in my chair and said, "You mentioned two stories that you also didn't know about. Is there any way to confirm them?"

  "Yes." Li Yubo was led away by me, licking his lips, "My father told me that in Jinshan, there is a secret underground organization that specializes in studying the history of ancient Kang City. The leader seems to be a high-ranking monk from Wanshou Temple, but his identity is very mysterious. This organization has a lot of materials related to the history of Jinshan, ancient Yunjian and Kang City, they might know about those two stories. I'll go look for this underground organization later and see if I can ask them what's going on."

  I patiently listened and said: "Strange, didn't you say your father knew about these two things? Why make it so complicated, can't you just ask your father?"

  Li Yubo suddenly lowered his head and said, "My father was murdered."

  I muttered a condolence, but my heart suddenly shook: Could it be that Li Yubo's father was the "historian" Mingying mentioned? I wanted to see this historian, but Mingying said he couldn't be found anymore. Was it because he had been silenced by those mysterious enemies?

  No wonder Li Yubo came as a consultant this time. He is not an organization person, and he is mostly here to seek asylum or revenge.

  On that piece of paper, some strange patterns or words had faintly appeared at this time.

  I looked at Li Yubo and asked: "What is this thing?"

  He picked up the paper and looked at it carefully for a while, shook his head and said this ghost drawing looks like Oracle bone script, probably is logogram, anyway I don't understand.

  I stood up and bid farewell, walked out of the room, Xinxiao Xin was sitting on the sofa, saw me and smiled: "Two professors talked all night?"

  I chuckled and said, "Don't call me professor, I'm just a worker. Is there anyone in the bathroom? I'll go take a shower."

  Xin Xiao Xin said: "No one, those two brothers have already finished washing. You go, you finish washing and I'll go wash."

  I nodded and went back to my room to get my clothes.

  I took a bath and felt refreshed. I was down to my underwear, just about to lift the covers and get in, when I heard a man's terrified shout from outside the door:

  "Ahhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"