It Couldn't Be Ruins, Could It

Xu Ningbing’s voice came through, “I’m going to check out that place. I have a feeling there might really be something valuable there.”

“Come back and pick me up. We’ll go together.”

Xu Mu thought it was best to trick Xu Ningbing into coming back first.

“No need, I’m almost there.”

Xu Ningbing replied from the other end.

“Didn’t I tell you before, you’re quite attractive. Someone like you should stay alone—it’s easy to run into trouble!”

“Don’t worry, I purposely put on some ugly makeup.”

Xu Ningbing continued.

“What about Lei? You can’t hide him, right?”

Xu Mu was speechless. Had she never heard the saying that for many men, when a woman’s figure is good enough, her looks don’t really matter?

“Get lost! I’m hanging up!”

Xu Ningbing snorted coldly.

“Don’t hang up! Tell me where the address is!”

Xu Mu asked immediately.

But Xu Ningbing hung up right away. Just as Xu Mu was about to call back, Xu Ningbing sent him an address along with several nearby photos.

Clicking to view, Xu Mu saw that the location was right at the border between Jiangbei and Jiangnan.

He took a deep breath. Looks like he had to make a trip there.

……

Meanwhile,

Outside Yang City, atop a mountain to the east, lay Dai Family Village.

Of course, the real truth was that this was the secluded Dai family.

In the largest villa at the mountain’s peak, Dai Xiao hadn’t gone out today.

After what had happened, he was still a bit shaken.

More importantly, he didn’t dare to take the initiative to ask his father to assign him more bodyguards.

He had already cost the family two ancient martial artists, especially the second one, who was at the peak of Dark Energy.

Among their clan, that was someone who ranked quite high.

Besides, this time it was because he had given Feng Kang a hat that the latter got so angry.

“Young Master Dai.”

Just then, a short man in a suit hurried over to Dai Xiao’s side.

Dai Xiao glanced at him. This man was a servant of the Dai family named Ding Daqiang, only at the mid-level of Ming Energy.

Before Dai Xiao had become a martial artist, Ding Daqiang had served as his bodyguard and often accompanied him outside.

However, two months ago, Dai Xiao had also reached mid-level Ming Energy, and the family had assigned him a stronger bodyguard.

“What is it?”

Dai Xiao sat by the guardrail on the cliff at the mountain’s edge, asking calmly.

“I’ve uncovered a secret, something about the Feng family.”

Ding Daqiang came closer and whispered.

“The Feng family?”

Dai Xiao’s interest immediately piqued. “What secret?”

“Do you know why Feng Kang was able to connect with ancient martial artists? Because he has high-level heavenly materials and earthly treasures.”

Ding Daqiang looked around to make sure no one was nearby before speaking softly.

“What? Heavenly materials and earthly treasures?”

Dai Xiao’s expression changed drastically. As a member of a secluded clan, he naturally knew what those things represented.

The reason secluded families amassed wealth so crazily was to pay people to find these treasures, using them to boost their family’s strength.

“How do you know this?”

Dai Xiao asked in a low voice.

“I’m friends with a security guard at the Feng family—they’re drinking buddies. He got drunk last night and told me.”

Ding Daqiang paused, then continued, “He said the Feng family gave him a picture book filled with rare medicinal herbs. He found a place with plenty of them, and Feng Kang rewarded him ten million yuan.”

“Did you get the address?”

“I spent a fortune yesterday, arranged a full-service deal for him before he finally gave it to me.”

Ding Daqiang chuckled.

Hearing this, Dai Xiao’s eyes gradually lit up with excitement.

So that’s how it was!

No wonder Feng Kang, such an ordinary entrepreneur, suddenly had experts backing him.

It seemed he had provided those martial artists with rare heavenly materials and treasures.

If he could get his hands on something like that, whether to gift his family or to boost his own strength, it would solidify his position.

He was well aware that before finding the treasure, he absolutely could not inform the family.

Asking the family to help and getting it himself were two completely different matters.

But Dai Xiao wasn’t stupid. Places like this were usually dangerous—going himself would be a death sentence.

Wait!

He thought of someone.

His sister, Dai Xingluo, who had always lived away from home.

She was the daughter of his father’s concubine, who had since passed away.

Yet despite that, his father cared for her deeply and had always wanted her to return to the Dai family.

The bottom line was that Dai Xingluo was capable—she had even been a disciple of a sect.

If he got her to help, worst case scenario, they could split the treasure fifty-fifty.

Dai Xingluo wasn’t interested in the Dai family and wouldn’t become a rival.

“Ding Daqiang, you did a great job. Send me the address. Once I get the treasure, I’ll give you ten million!”

Dai Xiao smiled and patted Ding Daqiang on the shoulder.

Ding Daqiang sneered inwardly; Dai Xiao was truly stingy.

The Feng Family’s twenty million had already been transferred to his account.

He had expected Dai Xiao to give him a cut too, but surprisingly, Dai Xiao was smart enough to wait until after securing the treasure.

But he probably wouldn’t get that chance.

After finishing the job, Ding Daqiang planned to move to another city, change his identity, and enjoy a peaceful life.

“I’ll send you the address. It’s right at the border between Jiangbei and Jiangnan,” Ding Daqiang said with a smile as he pulled out his phone.

……

Xu Mu had originally planned to bring Meng Wanyue along.

But considering the Feng Family might pose a threat to them, he sent Meng Wanyue a message instead.

He told her to protect Ye Tong and Ye Yu.

Meng Wanyue naturally agreed. Since Xu Mu wasn’t at the company, she preferred to stay with Ye Tong rather than go.

After giving his instructions, Xu Mu set off for the destination.

Using the map for navigation, he saw the journey was quite long—about four to five hours.

He would probably arrive around noon.

Once on the highway, Xu Mu was bored and called Xu Ningbing.

But no one answered.

Xu Mu cursed silently—Xu Ningbing really was asking for trouble.

Four or five hours flew by in the blink of an eye.

The arrival time matched Gaode Map’s estimate—around 12:30 p.m.

Xu Mu looked up at the nearby mountains, untouched and wild.

There was no way to drive into them.

He had no choice but to head toward a nearby small county.

On the edge of the county, there was a hotel. Xu Mu pulled in and immediately spotted a Mercedes S-Class parked there.

The license plate belonged to Xu Ningbing.

He parked right next to her car and headed straight for the hotel.

“Hello, sir,” the receptionist greeted him with a smile.

“I’d like to ask if Xu Ningbing is staying here?”

Xu Mu took out his ID card. “I’m his younger brother. You can check our IDs to see if our addresses match.”

“Sir, may I ask what happened?” the receptionist asked curiously.

“She ran away from home,” Xu Mu said helplessly.

“Heh, Miss Xu did check in, but after dropping off her luggage, she left with her backpack,” the staff member replied with a smile. After all, it was midday and there weren’t many guests.

“Thank you,” Xu Mu said, then turned and left.

Once outside, he called Xu Ningbing again, but there was still no answer.

He looked over the photos Xu Ningbing had sent—one of them seemed to show the entrance to a cave.

“Wow, could this really be a ruin?” Xu Mu exclaimed in surprise. Being familiar with the story, he naturally knew what this place was.