Translator: CinderTL
"Night Watcher?" The leading man frowned slightly, clutching his credentials tightly. "I don't know what you're talking about. The police at the foot of the mountain lent me these."
"But if you recognize the credentials, you should know I'm telling the truth," the man continued. "Come with us down the mountain for questioning."
"Listen to an old man's advice," an elderly man with a scar across his forehead said, his voice thick with accent. "That Golden Gulch is haunted. We're keeping you out for your own good. It's swallowed countless people over the years."
Time was of the essence. There was no way they could go down the mountain with them. After all, no one knew how many people the train would claim by morning.
Yet from the men's words, it seemed the Night Watchers were stationed at the foot of the mountain. Starting a conflict here could bring trouble.
Just then, Luo He pulled a notebook from his pocket and held it up. "Leave immediately. I'll handle this. Don't interfere with us."
It was the same type of credential as the man held, but more advanced. A golden badge was flanked by a pair of crimson wings.
"Are you the police sent to solve the problem?" the leading man asked in surprise.
"We will handle the matter of the Grey Stone Town mine Tunnel. You hold the mountain pass and prevent anyone from interfering with us," Luo He said with authority. In their gaze, more than half of the townsfolk surrounding them believed they were indeed sent by the police.
"Understood," the man nodded, then cautioned, "There's something strange and dangerous about the Grey Stone Mountain Tunnel. You must be extra careful."
"Also, could you leave your credentials with me for now? I need to take them down the mountain and report to the police," the man added, silently calculating. If they were imposters, they would likely find an excuse to refuse.
"Of course," Luo He replied, handing his credentials to the leading man.
In fact, the man had already confirmed their authenticity upon receiving the credentials. The texture was exceptionally unique.
Comparing them, the two credentials appeared to originate from the same source.
Moreover, Luo He's credentials were even more meticulously crafted than the one in his own hand, with crimson wings that seemed to come alive upon prolonged observation.
Night Watcher.
The gazes of several people in Jiang Cheng's group unconsciously drifted toward Luo He. While they had suspected the Night Watcher's involvement from the start, the sight of a bookish man and a volatile loli as their representatives was still somewhat unexpected.
When Luo He stepped forward to reveal his identity, Huai Yi swallowed nervously.
This is going to be a mess. Crimson and the Night Watcher have just collided.
Fortunately, there were only two of them. On their side, they had at least three official Crimson members. Even if a fight broke out, their chances of victory were higher.
But if Luo He and his companion died during the mission, it was unlikely the Night Watcher would let it go. If their identities were exposed and they became targets of a Night Watcher encirclement, things would turn dire.
"Oh, right," the burly man said, putting away his credentials as if suddenly remembering something. "The person who came with you also entered the Mountain. We've captured him."
"Who?"
"The one who was driving," the man replied, blinking in surprise. "You don't know him? He said his name is Pi Ruan."
At this, Jiang Cheng spoke up: "Where is he?"
"He's in the back Mountain. I'll take you to him."
After dispersing most of the group, the burly man led Jiang Cheng and the others to the back of the mountain. After walking for about ten minutes, they found another tent hidden behind a large boulder.
But when they opened the tent, they discovered two unconscious men tied together inside, their mouths stuffed with cloth.
"Where's the person?" Fatty asked the burly man, who was leading them.
Seeing the scene before him, the burly man panicked. "He was just in the tent earlier. I even left a few people to watch him."
"Someone must have rescued him," the burly man said, glancing at everyone with a questioning look, as if asking if there were any other companions who had entered the mountain.
"No, it was just the few of us," Jiang Cheng said, crouching down to examine the two unconscious men. Their hands and feet were bound.
Upon seeing the rope used to tie them, Chen Qiang immediately knelt down. After a moment, he said, "Whoever knocked them out and kidnapped Pi Ruan is highly experienced. The knots are tied with professional skill."
Just then, they heard rustling in the bushes behind them, as if some animal were hiding there.
One of the burly men who had followed them stepped forward with a pitchfork. To their surprise, a person suddenly leaped out from the bushes, shouting, "Don't move!"
Pi Ruan, his face pale with panic, held a dagger in one hand and a child in the other, the blade pressed against the boy's throat—clearly using him as a hostage.
Fatty immediately recognized the half-grown boy as the one he'd given beef jerky to before entering the Mountain.
"Dr. Jiang!" Seeing Jiang Cheng and the others, Pi Ruan's eyes welled up with tears. "Boss Lin, Brother Fugui, it's so good to see you again! I thought I was going to die."
After explaining, Pi Ruan released the hostage. The boy immediately burst into tears and ran behind the burly man, utterly terrified.
"What are you doing here?" Jiang Cheng's expression was grim.
Pi Ruan squatted on the ground, cautiously swallowing. "Dr. Jiang, please don't be angry. I was just curious." He flashed a sly grin and leaned in conspiratorially. "When I came, I looked into this Grey Stone Town. It's so remote and impoverished, I couldn't imagine what would bring you here personally. Then I found out there's a gold mine in the Mountain."
"I was just wondering if you had some big money-making scheme going on," Pi Ruan said sheepishly. "Dr. Jiang, you know I still hold the title of chairman of the company, but after my falling out with Xue Jinhua, no one in the company respects me anymore."
"I've been trying to find other ways to make money. We've known each other for so long—if you come across any good opportunities, could you please include me?" Pi Ruan looked at Jiang Cheng with a pitiful expression.
It seemed Pi Ruan hadn't left after all. He had parked his car outside the town and sneaked back in, only to be caught red-handed by the townsfolk after entering the Mountain.
"So, you're saying you knocked out those two guys inside?" Fatty looked at Pi Ruan in surprise. "I didn't realize, Brother Pi Ruan, you've got some serious fighting skills under the bed!"
Pi Ruan's face fell. "No way! I was terrified. Luckily, they let their guard down. I ambushed one with a rock, and when the other came to help, I ambushed him too."
Jiang Cheng frowned. He knew Pi Ruan's fighting ability well—the kind who would mostly just pull and tug in a fight with a market stall grandma.
It seemed the strength people could unleash in life-or-death situations was truly underestimated.
"It's truly remarkable for a big boss like you to master such knot-tying techniques," Chen Qiang said with a meaningful tone, standing behind Jiang Cheng.
"Hehe, I specifically learned this," Pi Ruan replied, turning his head with a proud air. "Chen Qiang, you're still young. You don't understand the hobbies of rich women."
(End of the Chapter)
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