Chapter 43: This Money Isn't Easy to Earn

Translator: Tim Editor: Tehrn/Carolin

Wen Dong’s car sped along the winding mountain road. Looking out, one might fear the car would plunge off the cliff at any moment; yet, Wen Dong drove with speed and precision. Nevertheless, other drivers, witnessing her reckless driving, pulled over, fearing a collision.

Wen Dong was speechless. Even if Ye Mo weren't afraid of the speed and lack of guardrails, he should at least have opened his eyes. Instead, he slept soundly.

Was he incredibly brave, or did he trust her driving? Or did he even know how skilled she was? Even she felt her heart pounding at this breakneck pace.

Recalling their first meeting and his unflappable demeanor, Wen Dong finally understood Ye Mo. Kindly, he was a fearless young man; unkindly, he was a fool. However, this very quality made him perfect for her; she needed someone like him. Otherwise, this deal would be far too difficult to accomplish alone.

Seeing Ye Mo oblivious to their speed, Wen Dong slowed down. The mountain road was dangerous, with numerous twists and turns. She’d increase her speed after leaving the mountains.

Suddenly, Ye Mo opened his eyes and asked casually, “How much farther?”

“About 600 kilometers,” Wen Dong replied immediately.

“Still that far? How long will it take with you driving so slowly?” Ye Mo frowned. Wen Dong nearly veered off the road. She thought she was driving fast enough, but apparently not for him. No wonder he’d been silent—he thought she was too slow.

“We're still on mountain roads; we'll go faster on the highway,” Wen Dong replied helplessly. Fortunately, Ye Mo didn't press the issue and closed his eyes to meditate. If his tone had been truly unhappy, she would have suspected he was teasing her.

Once on the highway, Wen Dong accelerated. Ye Mo noticed the car felt a little floaty, glanced at the speedometer, and saw they were doing 200 km/h. At this speed, Yun Du was less than two hours away. However, they didn't enter the city, instead parking outside a mansion in the suburbs.

The mansion was grand, boasting a bamboo grove, a large artificial lake, and a sprawling yard. Seven or eight luxury cars were parked, and the lawn was large enough for two soccer fields. The owner was clearly wealthy.

“You take the smaller case; I’ll take the larger one,” Wen Dong said, exiting the car and grabbing the larger case from the trunk. Ye Mo knew the larger case contained an AK rifle, while the smaller one held documents and a model.

Ye Mo studied Wen Dong thoughtfully. Owning such a property on the city outskirts indicated not only wealth but significant connections; such things were rare.

Considering this, Ye Mo retrieved a beak-shaped hat and sunglasses from his bag, donned them, and then added a face mask before picking up the smaller case.

Wen Dong watched, her lips moving, but she said nothing. She didn’t understand his actions. She considered Ye Mo fearless and unconcerned with revenge-related repercussions. Yet, his actions puzzled her, leaving her silent.

His disguise was undeniably cool, creating an air of mystery.

“Not bad,” Wen Dong murmured, carrying her case into the mansion. They didn’t drive their car inside. Two guards at the entrance scanned Ye Mo, but upon seeing Wen Dong, they let them pass without question or search.

Ye Mo's spirit sense was limited, extending only five or six blurry meters. He couldn't thoroughly assess the mansion.

“Haha, Mrs. Wen, you look well after leaving Northern Sands. I’ve been expecting you. Please, have a seat and some tea!” A slightly aged voice greeted them in the living room.

“No tea, thanks. I want to finish the deal and leave. We'll have no further dealings,” Wen Dong stated bluntly.

Ye Mo observed the speaker, a man in his fifties with some gray hair, but a fierce, almost predatory aura. Despite the smile, his eyes were sharp and calculating. He wasn’t ordinary; he was highly suspicious.

However, to Ye Mo, the man was at most Wen Dong’s level, or even weaker, posing no threat. Regardless of his suspicious nature, he felt insignificant, like a cloud against a storm.

Two men stood on either side of him—not the guards from the entrance. This incongruity, along with the man's demeanor, intrigued Ye Mo.

Using his spirit sense, Ye Mo located four more men: two at the entrance, one crouching on each side, each armed. They cleverly used a ping feng (a folding screen) for concealment. They'd withdrawn after Wen Dong and Ye Mo entered.

Wen Dong hadn't noticed them because the ping feng had openings, was hollow at the base, and wasn't overtly conspicuous. Ye Mo, however, could see through it with his spirit sense. Although appearing as a painting, the interior side was three-dimensional, yet expertly positioned to be almost invisible to someone entering. Without his spirit sense, he wouldn't have noticed it either.

Even without knowing the hollow interior, Ye Mo noticed inconsistencies. The ping feng was nailed to the floor near the entrance—unusual for a living room. The hidden men blended seamlessly with the screen, only half visible from the doorway. Most would overlook such an ordinary screen.

Wen Dong's deal was more complex than anticipated. It seemed this $50,000 wouldn't be easy to earn.