Facing an Ancient God for a Year

Chapter 1649: Chapter 1644: Secrets and Rewards

”Nonsense! Just looking at you, I can tell you’re trapped here just like us.”

Without a doubt, Fu Qian’s question met with a strong reaction.

Especially from Huang Lezhan, who had previously failed to threaten, he jumped out instantly to express doubt.

But as everyone knows, dispelling a Seeker’s suspicion is the first principle of being a Swindler.

And for someone like Fu Qian, a seasoned individual, doing so is as natural as breathing.

”Yeah, you don’t have to believe it.”

In the next moment, he casually agreed with the other’s statement.

...

”What else do you want to know?”

As Huang Lezhan was momentarily speechless, Ms. Miranda, who had relatively more independence in the team, wasted no time.

Not only did she directly express her belief, she even proactively discussed terms.

Of course, she didn’t mention actual money, or perhaps something more valuable like Extraordinary Items.

In a place like this, characters like these, even knowing the way out but not in a hurry to leave, give the impression that it’s not easy to persuade them.

Miranda’s response clearly took into account that the other party knew her name and confirmed it at the start, leaning towards the belief that her information might be more useful to them.

This is indeed a pretty clear understanding, though her overly bold compromise stirred some agitation among the other participants in secretive actions.

On one hand, there was a visceral dislike of information leaks, and on the other, anxiety over someone taking the lead on offering terms.

”Very well.”

Fu Qian was quite pleased with this cooperation, and without wasting time, he took them aside to talk.

”When did Huang Zhixun disappear?”

He immediately raised a question.

”...He was discovered missing yesterday night, before dawn.”

Through this simple question, Miranda clearly realized Fu Qian was targeting this operation, but it didn’t stop her from quickly answering after thinking.

”Who discovered it?”

To her answer, Fu Qian showed no special reaction and continued to ask calmly.

”Sha Ming...”

Miranda began to respond fluently, displaying a strong desire for survival.

Sha Ming?

The last member of the group visiting relatives?

Discovering someone wasn’t around in the middle of the night?

Indeed, they all have extraordinary skills; none of them are ”easy” cases.

Due to prior interactions with Tan Mingxue, Fu Qian naturally wasn’t unfamiliar with this name, and for a moment, he nodded as he looked around.

”Did you encounter any trouble after coming in?”

”Shortly after realizing there was no way back, we fell into this place... and as you said earlier, we hesitated for a long time before choosing this foolish method.”

”So aside from the current deadlock, we indeed didn’t have the chance to face more trouble.”

Miranda even laughed bitterly, not caring about others’ feelings, and showed self-mockery for the current situation.

”Sometimes being a bit foolish isn’t necessarily a bad thing.”

Smiling as he looked at the group, feeling the quietly arisen emotions of guilt, Fu Qian casually sent a piece of spiritual consolation.

”Then, the last question, is this your first time coming in?”

Retracting his gaze, he straightforwardly indicated that the compensation was about to be paid and looked at Miranda very clearly while asking the final question.

...

This time, Miranda’s response was finally not as decisive as before.

Conversely, the other viewers of this transaction had sharper gazes, all staring at her and waiting for her answer.

”No...we came in once before midnight yesterday but left quickly.”

Even without looking directly, Miranda could feel the pressure, yet ultimately chose not to abstain or evade.

”You actually already sneaked in!”

As soon as she answered, before Fu Qian could comment, Huang Lezhan angrily exclaimed, confirming some of his prior suspicions.

Even the remaining people became slightly agitated, expressing their displeasure at being harmed by these three who had ulterior motives.

”But when we came in, everything was normal—none of these strange things and incomprehensible rules, nothing at all.”

Unfortunately, Miranda, who had clearly made up her mind, continued unfazed, only focused on adding details.

It seems quite a few things happened last night.

While digesting this information, Fu Qian wasn’t too surprised; instead, he felt he arrived just in time.

The first time they went in everything was normal, after Blood Lion disappeared and they went again, it became a crisis-ridden deadlock—it’s hard to believe there’s no connection between the two.

Sorting out Miranda’s information almost clearly indicates their trip was directed towards the tree, and without informing the Huang Family, they had already secretly gone in, but seemingly had no harvest, returning at midnight.

That should be why she didn’t stay idle and took the risk to search for clues outside the Night Watchmen Base.

Upon her return, the disappearance of Blood Lion had already been discovered.

Next was the organization and execution of the rescue plan.

One has to say, all parties were quite efficient, fully displaying subjective initiative.

Additionally, there’s actually a crucially hidden piece of information in here—at least before midnight, everything here was still normal, but Ms. Qiu unintentionally decapitated her friend, which happened at dinner yesterday.

The time gap seems to suggest the internal volcanic mutation doesn’t have a direct relationship with the suspected widespread city protection.

Meaning, the dispelling aura on Miranda doesn’t necessarily originate from sneaking in earlier.

The hidden tree, Invisible Palace, city-wide protection—the relationship between these three, and the role played by the missing Blood Lion feels rather subtle.

”I’ve answered, can you tell me the method now?”

While organizing her thoughts, Miranda coldly reminded him, indicating it was time to complete the transaction.

As soon as she said this, Huang Lezhan’s anger was forcibly halted as even he looked over with the others.

No matter what, life is most important.

”Of course, I can.”

And Fu Qian’s response was surprisingly refreshing.

However, while their eyes lit up, he didn’t continue speaking. Instead, like many Swindlers, with the posture of a riddler, turned towards the Blood Falls Long Steps, taking one step forward after another.

In between, whenever the audience expected him to stop and speak, his steps didn’t cease.

Until he arrived at the steps, looked down, and amid the breath-holding gazes, Fu Qian took a step up.

Then another step...

”Are the rules not affecting you?”

At that moment, Miranda, waiting for an answer, finally couldn’t help but call out.