498 A new mission
Ever since arriving in the Central Plains, Ren Xiaosu felt like he had entered a whole new world. It was a world where not only the Qing Consortium and Fortress 178 existed but also many other strange organizations such as the Pyro Company, the Anjing House, the Qinghe Group, etc.The world was much bigger than he knew. It was no wonder Yang Xiaojin once said she would come here after finishing her business in the Southwest. Thinking about it, when she was willing to stay with Ren Xiaosu in that deserted valley, it showed her attitude about him.
At this moment, Ren Xiaosu felt that the person behind the biggest and most professional black market in the Central Plains was most likely the boss of the Qinghe Group. If he could come to such a conclusion, others would definitely be able to as well.
However, the reason why everyone left this black market unchecked was probably also due to the uncaring attitude displayed by the Qinghe Group. Since an organization like them did not have the ambition to rule over the Central Plains, others would naturally be able to turn a blind eye to some unimportant matters.
“Let’s go and check out what the black market is like at night.” Ren Xiaosu got up and headed out. Zhou Yingxue followed him, but she curled her lips in silence. Wasn’t he just curious to see the sensual temptations of this world? He must have been tempted after hearing what she said about the croupiers and brothels. There were indeed no good men!
However, Zhou Yingxue still obediently followed him. After they left the hotel room, the two of them returned to their roles as an A-rank hitwoman and her assistant respectively. Zhou Yingxue’s expression could not get any more arrogant than it was.
Ren Xiaosu suddenly felt like Zhou Yingxue was a little bit addicted to being in-character for her role...
When they passed by the legendary brothel, a group of beautiful women in uniform were standing at the door and smiling at the passersby. Ren Xiaosu asked, “What uniform is this? I haven’t seen any soldiers wearing it before.”
“They say it’s the uniform of flight attendants from the Pre-Cataclysm times. I’m referring to the cabin crew of a plane,” Zhou Yingxue explained.
Ren Xiaosu didn’t respond.
The black market was a real eye-opener to him. It was no wonder those mob bosses were willing to stay here. According to Zhou Yingxue, there was even a housing block specially built here in the black market. The villas there were sold to the mob bosses at astronomical prices.
Moreover, the people from the black market organization had been eliminating wild beasts so frequently in the surrounding mountain range that there was not even a snake to be found.
But Zhou Yingxue asked, “Aren’t you gonna go into the brothel to have a look? Didn’t you come out in the middle of the night because you wanted to see this?”
“I just wanted to have a look from the outside.” Ren Xiaosu asked in confusion, “Why would I go in?”
Zhou Yingxue was shocked right then and there. Was he really just here to have a look?!
When they came to the entrance of the casino, Ren Xiaosu was taken aback. He and Zhou Yingxue both saw that Rider from earlier wearing a red scarf hoisting a student out from inside.
Although the student looked like he was around 50 kilograms, the Rider held him in his hand as though he were a featherweight.
They saw the Rider throw the student mercilessly to the ground. “You’ve violated the order about going out without permission. Head back to Luoyang City yourself. You’ve been expelled from the school!”
The student got up from the ground in a pathetic manner and said, “What gives you the right to make such a decision when you’re just here to protect us?”
The Rider said coldly, “If you can make it back to Luoyang City, you’ll understand why I can make a decision like this.”
Ren Xiaosu muttered, “It seems that the Riders have a lot of authority within the Qinghe Group.”
“Of course.” Zhou Yingxue nodded. “They’re all devotees to the founder of Qinghe. The current leader of Qinghe, Xu Ke, also reveres them greatly. Apparently, only by completing eight challenges can they become true devotees.”
“Then why did the student confront him?” Ren Xiaosu asked.
“Probably because the Riders do not have any actual duties within the Qinghe Group.” Zhou Yingxue was not too familiar with the internal workings of the Qinghe Group.
“I think he’s just young and immature. His family must’ve already told him, but he still went into the casino out of curiosity. He’s only getting angry out of embarrassment at being caught red-handed.” Ren Xiaosu shook his head. “Look, he can’t bear to face that Rider now. This shows that he still understands the Rider’s standing within the Qinghe Group. He was just too pampered and had nothing better to do.”
Zhou Yingxue looked strangely at Ren Xiaosu. ‘Aren’t you also around the same age as that student!’
“Do you know anything about the founder of Qinghe?” Ren Xiaosu asked.
“A lot of information was lost after The Cataclysm, and only a few people in the Qinghe Group know about it. It seems that there were some secrets hidden in the history of the founder’s life experience. Everyone’s guessing that if we learn about his life, we’ll know how he became a supernatural being in the times before The Cataclysm.” Zhou Yingxue thought for a moment and said, “Frankly, everyone’s actually quite curious about this secret.”
“What’s the name of the founder?” Ren Xiaosu asked.
“He was called Ren He.” Zhou Yingxue said firmly, “But that’s not a secret anymore.”
“Let’s go, we’re heading back to the hotel.” Ren Xiaosu turned around and left.
Zhou Yingxue could only follow and say, “Then what’re we gonna do next?”
“We wait.”
...
When they returned to the hotel at night, Zhou Yingxue quietly placed a pillow on the couch for herself. With just one reserved room left, she was forced to accept that she would have to sleep on the couch.
Ren Xiaosu swaggered to the bed and lay down on it. He did not have any intentions of being gentlemanly. In a huff, Zhou Yingxue covered herself with a thin blanket.
However, Zhou Yingxue had a particularly peaceful sleep this time. It was though she was no longer worried that Ren Xiaosu would do something to her.
She slept all the way until dawn when she suddenly woke up. Then she saw Ren Xiaosu move a chair over and sit down calmly next to her. Zhou Yingxue was immediately jolted awake as she quickly wrapped herself up in the blanket. She carefully probed, “What are you doing?!”
Ren Xiaosu calmly asked, “Had a dream?”
Zhou Yingxue was stunned. “How did you know... No, I didn’t have any dreams!”
“Then what did you mean when you said those words in your sleep?” Ren Xiaosu asked.
“What did I say?”
Ren Xiaosu said with a deadpan expression, “You were saying that you wanted to kill me.”
Zhou Yingxue was so scared she almost cried. “I was just talking in my dream. Who takes the things that people say while dreaming seriously?”
Ren Xiaosu did not argue with her. He got up and said, “Go and wash up. We have business to handle.”
Zhou Yingxue quickly got out of her blanket on the couch. “What business?”
“We have a mission.”
A text message had appeared on their cell phones at the same time. “The target in Stronghold 73 is Zhou Xilong. He advocated the development of nuclear weapons and once took his subordinate’s wife for himself. He’s suspected to be protected by a superhuman. A-rank. Reward: 1 million yuan. Up to five people can work in a group for the mission, and all will receive rights to use the safe house and be protected by us upon being pursued by the enemy.”
Ren Xiaosu placed the cell phone into his pocket. He had to carry it around at all times. If he put it away in the palace, he would not receive any texts.
However, he suddenly felt that the Anjing House and the Saboteurs seemed to have a common goal in that they both had a hostile attitude towards nuclear weapons. Could there be any connection between the Anjing House and the Saboteurs? But he had not heard Yang Xiaojin mention it before.