"Are you Gao Xuan?"
Zhang Lifeng squinted, scrutinizing the man opposite. Although the man was wearing a mask and sunglasses, obscuring almost his entire face, the contours alone made him look extraordinarily handsome.
Gao Xuan nodded slightly, "That's me. Have you taken care of what I entrusted you with?"
Zhang Lifeng took out a small box and opened it, revealing two fingernail-sized metal chips, "Digitally certified identity chips from the Pegasus Star Alliance government."
Gao Xuan gestured, and the woman standing beside him, Yun Qingshang, brought over a briefcase and set it before Zhang Lifeng.
"This is fifty kilograms of gold."
Zhang Lifeng opened the case and glanced inside—it contained five gold bars. He picked one up casually to weigh it, then scanned it with his smartwatch.
The smartwatch he wore had a special detection device, capable of analyzing the basic composition of substances.
The scanning result appeared quickly: 99.99% pure gold.
Zhang Lifeng closed the case and placed it at his feet. Just as Gao Xuan was about to reach for the digital identity chips, Zhang Lifeng clamped down on the box.
With a stern face, he said, "These can't be moved just yet."
Zhang Lifeng, around fifty years old, with a balding head and rough features, had been a law enforcement officer for many years, giving him a somewhat fierce demeanor when he was serious.
Gao Xuan didn't attempt to snatch it by force; he frowned slightly and asked, "What do you mean, Director Zhang?"
Zhang Lifeng said in a deep voice, "We're making a deal, and you're still covering your face. That's not very sincere."
"That's easy."
Gao Xuan removed his mask and sunglasses, "I have an eye condition, not trying to be mysterious."
Zhang Lifeng was dazed as he stared at Gao Xuan's face, utterly distracted.
It was the first time in his life he'd seen such a handsome man. No, even counting all the beauties he'd ever seen, none were as handsome as Gao Xuan. Even if the other was blind!
Gao Xuan grew a bit impatient at being stared at—it seemed excessive for one man to scrutinize another so intently.
He said, "I've shown sincerity. Shouldn't you hand over the items now?"
Only then did Zhang Lifeng come back to his senses, but his hand remained on the box. "Truthfully, the digital chips have been registered, but they have not yet been activated on the Alliance's website."
"What are your terms?"
Gao Xuan had already anticipated that the other wouldn't be straightforward, so he wasn't surprised.
Yun Qingshang, standing beside Gao Xuan, glared coldly at Zhang Lifeng. If that guy dared to make any conditions, she was ready to punch his head off.
Zhang Lifeng scrutinized Gao Xuan for a few seconds before suddenly pointing at him, "I want you!"
Gao Xuan was somewhat bewildered; dammit, this plot wasn't right.
Yun Qingshang, who'd been keeping a stern face, couldn't help but burst into laughter; so Zhang Lifeng, the lecher, was interested in Gao Xuan!
Gao Xuan shot an exasperated glance at Yun Qingshang, "Is it that funny?"
With an expressionless face, Yun Qingshang shook her head, "Not funny."
A completely ignored Zhang Lifeng was slightly displeased, "What do you mean?"
"Sorry to keep you waiting."
Saying this, a blood-red blade flashed in Gao Xuan's hand; the Godslaying Sword had already pierced through Zhang Lifeng's forehead.
Zhang Lifeng had no reaction, exploding into a burst of blood on the spot.
Gao Xuan muttered, "You're so disgusting, you should disappear quickly."
He then said to Yun Qingshang, "You transform into Zhang Lifeng, go to the security bureau, log onto the internet, and activate the identity chip. Then have some drinks and drive into the mountains..."
Surrounding Black Water were all primeval forests with plenty of wolves and tigers. It was normal for Zhang Lifeng to disappear into the woods.
"Okay. But you killed him and don't even know the password..." Yun Qingshang said, seeing the slightly agitated Gao Xuan, but she still found it a bit amusing.
"Aren't you a hitman? Use your brain and think of a way."
Gao Xuan looked as if he had accidentally stepped in dog poop, full of disdain, "He actually coveted my looks. That kind of guy deserves to die!"
...
The White Dragon Mountains in May were quite cold, with an average temperature around seventeen or eighteen degrees.
Yun Qingshang, wearing thick wolf-skin clothing, stood at the entrance of a massive cavern, gazing out at the mountains.
Though the view was limited, the sky was high and the clouds white, with endless layers of forests. Occasionally, flocks of birds soared through the skies, and various beasts roamed through the woods. It was full of primal, natural vitality.
However, not far on the nearby mountains were vast swaths of black scorched marks. In the distance, one mountain was still spewing thick smoke.
The fires that had swept over hundreds of miles were now under control but hadn't been fully extinguished.
Smoke and dust were pervasive in the wilderness, making it somewhat stifling.
Yun Qingshang had stayed here for a few days and had grown fond of the place.
Though the cave's environment was damp and chilly, without even a bathroom, and the food was a topic best left unsaid, the place's rough yet primitive life felt free and unrestricted.
Even the acrid smoke seemed so familiar.
Never in her life had Yun Qingshang felt this happy and relaxed.
She wished Gao Xuan could live here, never leaving, but she also knew he would never agree.
The eighteen-year-old man chattered incessantly each day, yet his mind was deeper than an eighty-year-old's.
With the Alliance's official identity chip in hand, Gao Xuan still wanted to live in the White Dragon Mountains for some time, calling it life experience to better disguise himself.
Yun Qingshang had no idea what Gao Xuan intended to do, but she could see that his ambitions were vast and his considerations far-reaching.
Yun Qingshang didn't want to change Gao Xuan's mind; she only hoped this kind of life could last a little longer.
"Little Changchang, come in fast..."
At Gao Xuan's call, Yun Qingshang quickly entered the cavern.
The cavern's interior was quite spacious, several hundred square meters in area, with chaotic, massive stones scattered everywhere. More than a dozen stones were polished smooth, glistening, clearly from prolonged use by someone.
Gao Xuan explained that there had once been a small tribe living here, who perished due to forest fires. They were just impersonating members of this tribe.
Inside the cavern, a huge virtual screen was broadcasting the news: Recently, Mingjing University's expedition team had arrived at Black Water, and would soon delve into the White Dragon Mountains to explore their origins...
The gentle and sweet female voice reverberated through the cavern, producing rather mystical sound effects.
Yun Qingshang looked at Gao Xuan, not understanding what was noteworthy about this news.
Gao Xuan smiled, "Mingjing University is a top university in the East Continent. This time, the expedition team brought two professors; if we latch onto any one of them, we could justifiably attend Mingjing University."
"Oh."
Yun Qingshang didn't want to attend university or leave. But as long as Gao Xuan wanted to go, she would follow.
Thus, she didn't ask Gao Xuan for any reasons; she didn't need Gao Xuan to convince her.
Seeing Yun Qingshang's silence, Gao Xuan asked, "What do you think?"
"I'll go with you." Yun Qingshang was succinct.
Gao Xuan couldn't help but smile; she lacked a sense of security and insisted on following him.
In a previous life, they had been comrades through thick and thin. As long as Yun Qingshang was willing to follow him, Gao Xuan would never turn her away.
Although what he was doing was dangerous, living always involved encountering various dangers. Yun Qingshang's personality wasn't well-suited for society anyway. Following him was potentially better for her.
Excitedly, Gao Xuan said, "The expedition team will venture into the volcano; we'll lead them in. Deep inside the volcano, there's bound to be something good..."