Chapter 16: Departure and Xiao Chengqian’s call

Before we set off, Jiang Yi did indeed send two escorts, named Tao Bai and Lu Shan.

Very ordinary names, ordinary people, no distinguishing features, the kind you can’t find in a crowd, and both of them were very quiet, as if they were doing everything in a mechanical and inflexible way.

No one would have thought that these two people were so special, or maybe that was even more confusing.

We had no choice but to accept this arrangement, but that didn’t mean we had no countermeasures. For the first step of the lake tour, we deliberately picked some lakes that were not important, just to confuse Jiang Yi.

However, the famous pool was also one of the thirteen lakes left behind by the master.

We took a plane to the north, then transferred twice, and finally reached the foot of the famous mountain.

After a restful night, we began to climb the famous mountain the next day. Since it had been developed into a tourist attraction, the road up the mountain was very easy and led directly to the pool.

It was easy, but it wasn’t easy for the men, because we had heavy luggage on our backs, including two complete sets of diving equipment. Fortunately, the oxygen tanks were rented and two horses were used to carry them for us, otherwise even if our physical strength was excellent, we would have to be exhausted halfway up the mountain.

Compared to the men’s fatigue, the three girls were relaxed. They carried almost negligible luggage, looked at the magnificent scenery along the way, and talked and laughed along the way. It was so comfortable.

We set off in the morning and by the time we reached the mountainside, it was already noon. We simply found a place to prepare a quick lunch and take a break.

Since the time of the action was set for the evening, we were not in a hurry at all. The content of the lunch was boring, all of it was convenience food, which made me miss the wild game that Old Zhang made in the old forest.

“Chengyi, I heard that there are many amazing rumors about this pond. I hope we will have a good catch this time.” During the meal, Chengxin’s mouth was busy, and he started chatting with me while eating.

At that time, although the Internet had already appeared, it was not like today, an era of information explosion, so some rumors were only circulated locally, and occasionally some newspapers and magazines would publish a little speculative article, even if it was the way it was spread.

Because he was coming here, Cheng Xin had collected a lot of information about this place, and the more he read, the more he thought it was amazing. Because according to many sources, many people said that they had witnessed the so-called “water monster” in the pool.

However, because it is a folk tale, this cannot be used as evidence, but Cheng Xin, who has seen too much information, has become quite obsessed, and can’t wait to solve the mystery of the water monster, so he mentions it from time to time.

Faced with Chengxin’s enthusiasm, Yueyue was speechless. She said to Chengxin, “So you want to see the water monster? Then do you want me to summon it from the village for you to see?”

In the Yueyan Miao Village, there is a guardian dragon, which is no secret to us. Tao Bai and Lu Shan, as members of the department, and Jiang Yi’s trusted men probably know about this information, so Ruyue said it without any hesitation.

Chengxin ignored Ruyue’s rebuke, gave her a bored look, and then started eating his bread again. For a moment, the atmosphere was silent, but at this time, Lu Shan, who was usually taciturn, spoke up: “Chen Chengyi, you must remember that the operation must be after 11 p.m. The pond is in a special situation. It belongs to the border between two countries, and about half of it belongs to other countries. Although the operation has the support of the department, we still don’t want to be caught with any pretext.”

Their existence makes us feel restricted, but we must pay attention to what they say.

So, I had no doubt about Lushan’s words at all, and I nodded very decisively. I must admit that with the help of the department, everything went very smoothly. Even things like diving equipment were already prepared for us at the forest farm at the foot of the mountain. How could I have imagined that the department had such capabilities?

Not to mention, it is impossible to dive down to investigate such things without the support of the department.

However, I also thought of a possibility. There have been so many rumors about this pool, so the department must have already sent someone to investigate it, so what else can we gain?

Thinking about this, I looked up and asked Road Mountain, “Have you also investigated this pool? Have you found anything?”

My question was very direct. The best way to deal with a person who is silent is to be direct, so that he doesn’t ignore your question with silence and it doesn’t backfire.

I didn’t expect Lu Shan to answer me, but I didn’t expect him to be so straightforward. He said directly, “We have investigated it several times, but the results were nothing. Minister Jiang said that perhaps you will have a harvest this time.”

We came here to get something? What kind of strange reasoning is this? I didn’t understand what Jiang Yi meant, but I couldn’t help but feel disappointed. From Lu Shan’s answer, I felt that the possibility of getting something out of this operation was not great.

But then my phone rang. It wasn’t my personal phone, but a special phone that Jiang Yi had given us so that we could stay in contact. I really couldn’t think of anyone who would be calling me at this time.

This unexpected call not only made me wonder, but also made everyone wonder. Speculation was useless, so I simply picked up the phone.

I only said “hello,” but the voice on the other end of the line was familiar, and the content of the conversation was so straightforward.

“Chengyi, are you in Changbai Mountain?”

It was Xiao Chengqian!

I was stunned. In fact, I and Chengxin had already heard about Xiao Chengqian and his family when we were descending the mountain, but we were too sad at the time, so when we heard that Xiao Chengqian was fine, we didn’t pay much attention to it.

Of course, I learned the news from Jiang Yi. Now that I think back on it, I feel extremely strange.

After all, when we last looked at the two groups of people, they were fighting the four evil spirits. Then I entered the Dragon Tomb, but I didn’t know that after we entered the Dragon Tomb, the simple long wall and gate disappeared.

Then, a gray mist rose from outside, enveloping everyone. Then, everyone fell into a strange sleep, including the four demon spirits, and they didn’t wake up until we summoned them.

I don’t know how long I slept, but when they woke up, they were all lying in the depths of the old forest, not in the picturesque valley at all.

This is the entire experience of Xiao Chengqian and his friends. No one would believe it if I told them. Even I find it too magical. I inexplicably fainted and inexplicably appeared in the depths of the old forest. Who did all this?

The reason I want to say who did this is because there is also an uncertain news circulating within the company that in that gray mist, someone vaguely saw a figure, a human figure, plus a vague animal figure. The shadow was very strange, and it was impossible to tell what kind of animal it was.

Jiang Yi has so many spies that he can get this kind of information without much effort, and then it was passed on to my brother Chengxin.

Now that I hear Xiao Chengqian’s voice, I remember this incident, and I find it incredibly strange. But what’s even more incredible is what Xiao Chengqian said to me. How did he know that I was in Changbai Mountain, and even managed to get through to the special phone that I had just gotten myself?

There were too many questions, so I didn’t even know where to start. When I got to the end of my sentence, it became: “Are you okay?”

“You finally asked if I was okay. After that, you turned off your phone and I lost contact with you for more than a year. Do you still remember me as a friend?” Xiao Chengqian’s tone was a little sour.

Facing Xiao Chengqian, I didn’t want to hide it either. After all, he was my friend. I said directly, “After I came down the mountain, I got the news that you were safe and sound. You know, I lost Ruoxue.”

News in the circle always circulates through special channels. It’s no secret that the girl from the Miao tribe in Yueyan disappeared in the Dragon Tomb, and my relationship with Ru Xue is even less of a secret.

“I know! That’s why I didn’t blame you. Because I didn’t blame you, that’s why I called.” Xiao Chengqian’s voice was calm, but I always felt that beneath this calmness, his emotions were not so calm.

Or, is there a secret? I thought about this, and I was almost certain that there was a secret. This was just an instinctive feeling!