59: Chapter 59: Changing the Itinerary 59: Chapter 59: Changing the Itinerary When Sister Leng received the call and learned of the latest developnts, she was instantly infuriated to the point of hurling her phone onto the ground and angrily stated, “Gu Fan actually threw the key into the river.
Now our n can’t go swimming in the ancient town looking for the key.”
To this, Hai shook his head, “Then, we also have no need to intercept these university students halfway there.”
“Yes, I don’t know how that boy figured it out.
Did he know we were going to make a move?” After Sister Leng finished speaking, her brow furrowed.
She didn’t believe Gu Fan was clairvoyant.
Hai expressed his worries, “Sister Leng, I have a feeling this is not simple.
Was it deliberate by the town’s people?
They could have kept the key safe and sound, but why did they bring it out?”
“Is that so?” Sister Leng also fell into contemplation, “Could it be they knew of our existence, and knew our people, disguised as tourists, were watching them in the ancient town all along?
Were they trying to lure us out in order to figure out our identities?
But the question is, do they really dare to risk the possibility that once the key is stolen, it won’t be retrievable?”
“Sister Leng, don’t forget, this is ultimately their territory, the last ti I was confident I could snatch the key, but as more people from the ancient town showed up, I had to give up.
The key ended up in the hands of those university students.” Hai beca increasingly puzzled and even sowhat anxious, “But why didn’t they take the key back from the students?”
“There’s another possibility.
The residents of the ancient town wanted the key to fall into the hands of the university students in order to divert our attention to getting the key from them.
The more we act, the more likely we are to expose ourselves.” Sister Leng’s words seed quite reasonable, but Hai still felt sothing was off, “Are the town’s folks so confident that they can get the key from the students at any ti and identify us through our interactions with them?”
“Don’t forget, the information we’ve gathered now seems to involve too many coincidences.
What do you think…” Sister Leng’s reminder made Hai co to a sudden realization, “I see, so the people in the town had arranged this ahead of ti.
Letting the university students keep the key was harmless enough, this is quite a clever move.”
At this, Sister Leng could only sigh, “What’s the use of being clever?
Gu Fan threw the key away, making all our efforts in vain.
I wonder how he convinced himself to handle it as a hot potato.”
“Everyone is now eyeing those university students.
The two sides are playing a ga, with the students being the pawns.
It all depends on who has the better strategy.” After thinking for a mont, Sister Leng added, “The students should be on their way ho now, right?”
Another person ca to report, “Our n are stationed on their way back, but half a day has passed and there’s no trace of them, which is unusual.”
“How is that possible, did their car break down halfway there?” One mishap after another made Sister Leng feel extrely uneasy.
It seed as if they were led by the nose by the actions of the students.
*****
At the sa ti, Gu Fan and Su Hui were driving on a different highway.
They were not heading back to their own city, but another place which contained the relics of the Great Night Country and an exotic cultural artifact museum.
Everyone was puzzled why Gu Fan insisted on going there.
Why was he so interested in archaeology?
But Gu Fan just smiled without explaining, it wasn’t ti to reveal his thoughts yet.
However, Lu Yi ca up with a possibility, “Gu Fan, do you think you can find sothing related to the Qian Ye ancient kingdom from the traces left by the Great Night Country and uncover all the secrets behind it?”
“Good job, you’re getting more and more attuned to my thinking.” Gu Fan was overjoyed and put his arm around Lu Yi’s shoulder.
Indeed, that was what he was thinking.
Gu Fan continued, “Didn’t the old man say it?
His own fish was snatched by a stray cat.
He did not know where the stray cat was, but his neighbor saw it.
The neighbor moved away, but left a note telling him where the stray cats often hang out.
As long as he finds the note, he can find the cat, and finding the cat ans finding the fish.”
Hearing this, everyone seed to understand sothing.
Lin Xi quickly chid in, “You an, find so clues about the Qian Ye ancient kingdom from the relics left by the Great Night Country and we should be able to find all the missing students by finding the Qian Ye ancient kingdom.”
Gu Fan nodded in confirmation, “That’s the theory.”
But Jie had a different opinion, “Gu Fan, are you sure?
All this talk about the Great Night Country, Qian Ye ancient kingdom, immortality and sacrifices are all presumptions.”
“I’m very sure because before coming, I had already researched the foreign texts.
Do you rember what your drone captured?” Gu Fan turned around and smiled vaguely, “That night when we explored the secret chamber, the first thing I did when I ca back was to watch the footage recorded by the drone.
The chamber was complicatedly decorated, but occasionally I could recognize a few symbols as foreign texts.”
“My God, is that for real?” Jie imdiately took out the drone and started examining carefully.
Then Gu Fan took out his phone, “This was the key, although I threw it away, I was cautious, so I had already taken a picture of it.
There are foreign letters on this key as well, so now all clues are pointing to the foreigners.”
“Wow, that makes a lot of sense.” Lin Xi couldn’t help but admire Gu Fan’s logic, and Su Hui also thought Gu Fan had a natural talent for being a detective.
Suddenly, Lin Xi’s phone rang.
Surprisingly, it was a ssage from Du Jun, asking where they were and if they needed any assistance.
Lu Yi shook her head: “What a late reaction!
Now he offers assistance, but it’s too late.
I bet he knew we were about to either leave the ancient town or sothing dangerous was happening there.”
Gu Fan shook his head: “Don’t be so harsh.
We all go to the sa school.
Maybe he felt guilty about not coming with us, so he couldn’t sleep and wanted to help.
Lin Xi, tell Du Jun where we’re going.
We will do the work and he can foot the bill.”
Lu Yi thought for a mont and then agreed: “Right, we have many people so the costs are high.
We need a sucker to pay for it.”
Hearing this, Lin Xi couldn’t help but laugh and then sent Du Jun a ssage according to Gu Fan’s suggestion.
Du Jun responded quickly, not only readily agreeing to cover the costs of the trip but also offering to co and lend a hand.
Lu Yi couldn’t help but sneer: “Knowing that the most dangerous part is already over, he’s decided to show up and play the hero.
What a crafty guy.”
Jie hurriedly interjected: “Don’t say that.
Maybe we inspired him with our spirit.
Although it’s unlikely, we shouldn’t rule it out.”
Just then, Jie’s phone rang.
He imdiately answered, “Hey bro, what’s up?”
It was Hai’s voice on the other end: “I’m going to leave today.
When do you plan to co back?”
Jie looked apologetic: “I plan to stay a few more days.
I’m sorry I couldn’t drink with you this ti you ca back.
Let’s make it up next ti.”
“That’s alright.
Where on earth are you going that you need to stay so many days?” Hai sounded genuinely concerned, so Jie decided to tell him their destination to ease his brother’s worries.
After hearing this, Hai simply said, “Okay, have fun but be careful.”
“Alright, bro.
I’m not a primary school student.
I can take care of myself.” Jie finished with a laugh, and then the two brothers made a little more small talk before hanging up.
Lu Yi couldn’t help but comnt: “Your brother really cares about you.
It’s admirable to have siblings, and ones who get along so well.
It must be nice.” Many people there echoed Lu Yi’s sentint, as most young people nowadays are single children and do not get to experience the joy of having siblings.
Lu Yi’s comnt hit the nail on the head of Jie’s pride.
Jie had always admired his brother, a forr soldier and a man full of male charisma, decisive, ambitious, and recognized by his boss for his capability.
What Jie hadn’t expected was that on the other end, after hanging up the phone, Hai frowned and mused, “Those college students are actually heading towards the Great Night Country.
How did they figure out it was associated with all of this?”
Hearing this, Sister Leng’s complexion changed, “Looks like we underestimated those college students.
Did soone in the ancient town intentionally leak information to guide them there?
But what’s their motive?”
Hai shook his head: “For now, let’s not discuss how those college students found out.
But we, as well as the townsfolk, haven’t discovered any clues.
I don’t believe those few students could find sothing once they reach there.”
“Yes, most likely they’re on a wild goose chase.” Sister Leng’s brow furrowed, seemingly worried about sothing.
“And another thing, all of them left the town safely without any of them missing.” Hai’s tone was heavy, as if sothing didn’t add up.
After a mont of introspection, Sister Leng hypothesized, “Maybe they knew we were watching, so they didn’t take any rash actions.
The first to act is the first to expose their flaws.
Everyone will proceed cautiously, and we’re not yet sure if the ones causing the student disappearances and the folks in the ancient town are on the sa side.
I have a feeling that there’s more to this town than ets the eye.”
Hai nodded: “According to our observers, it seed like Gu Fan threw the keys into the river after talking to an old man in the town.
Maybe we can find so clues from him.”
“Oh, what role does the old man play in all of this?
Does he represent the ancient town?
Interesting.” After saying this, a grin creeped up onto Sister Leng’s face.
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