Chapter 145: The Plan and the Old Serpent Freak

That evening, Gao Ning sought out Mother Zhu.

"Mother, I see that Father has been gone for several months now. Lately, all sorts of rumors have been flying around, saying that Old Gold Gulch is quite unsettled. Government troops and bandits have colluded to bully the miners and commit wanton killings, and I hear several lives have already been lost. I am rather worried and want to go and take a look!"

Mother Zhu seemed somewhat moved, yet she still refused: "Child, it is kind of you to have this thought, but you have only just settled down yourself. I have been thinking that you three siblings are reaching the age to marry, and I was just looking to find a matchmaker to help you all start families.

As for your father, there is no need to worry about him. When he was young, he ran with the Society of Righteous and Harmonious fists, and he committed more than his share of capital offenses. To this day, there is still a warrant for his arrest hanging over him. Out there, he certainly won't use his real name, and with all his years of traveling the length and breadth of the country, his experience far surpasses yours.

I think you need not go. Just stay put honestly here in Fangniu Gulch.

Goodness gracious, you went and bought two thousand mu of land straight away! Are you out of your mind, child? Back in our old home in Shandong, what a wealthy landowner that would make you! With such a massive estate, you still want to run all over the place? Absolutely not!"

After exchanging a few more words, Mother Zhu remained steadfast in her refusal. It was clear that while she harbored some anxiety, she possessed even greater faith in her husband.

Furthermore, she was afraid that Gao Ning, being young and lacking in experience, would arrive at Old Gold Gulch not to help, but merely to add to the chaos and trouble.

Seeing that she remained resolute, Gao Ning said no more. He shared a meal with the Zhu family, and then rode his horse back to Yuanbao Town.

In truth, this was not the first time he had discussed the matter with Mother Zhu.

Gao Ning knew that with Zhu Kaishan's life experience and martial arts prowess, he would undoubtedly navigate Old Gold Gulch without danger and eventually reap a vast fortune in gold.

Yet, with the gold mine right before his eyes, Gao Ning felt a deep, persistent itch.

Although the Great Qing Dynasty was like a starved camel, it was still traditionally larger than a horse. If he were to make an open and flagrant enemy of the Qing, the meager force of bandits under his command would likely not last a few rounds.

After all, having only blades and no firearms meant they could not wage a proper war.

He resolved that once he was fully settled, he would immediately dispatch several spy operatives to Shanghai to contact international arms dealers.

It was simply a matter of money—if they needed weapons, they would buy them!

Having arrived in this era, Gao Ning had forgotten many things, but the world's top ten gold mines were firmly etched in his memory.

With a little time, he could deploy ore refineries at various locations, and the flow of wealth would be endless.

Of course, purchasing weapons on a massive scale was not merely a matter of money; at the very least, he needed a respectable facade.

The bandits and government troops of Old Gold Gulch were clearly a promising starting point.

Once the commander of the government troops was eliminated and replaced by a spy, and the surrounding bandits were wiped out, he could usurp the nest. Under the legitimate cover of official uniforms, the Black Mountain Bandits could grow wildly and without restraint.

A few years later, when the last emperor abdicated and the entire land of China entered the Republican era, neither the Republican government nor the Beiyang warlords would willingly abandon such a military force.

If he grew impatient waiting that long, he could naturally choose to cooperate with Zhang Zuolin first.

Even if they submitted to Zhang Zuolin's command, it would be of little consequence. With Gao Ning's paratroopers and other specialized troops, sidelining Zhang Zuolin and hollowing out his power would be an easy task.

It was just that such a course of action was a bit unscrupulous.

These, however, were matters for another time.

Gao Ning returned to Yuanbao Town and entered the courtyard he was currently renting.

The houses in Fangniu Gulch were still under construction, but since Mother Zhu had her old home to live in, her family was not overly inconvenienced.

In order to complete their mission, Zhang Shaolong and Ye Zimei had somehow won over Han Laohai, spending a modest sum to move into his large courtyard.

Utilizing Ye Zimei as the vanguard, the group quickly became friends with the locals.

Zhang Shaolong's plan was simple: since Han Xiuer was still unmarried, why not simply take her as his wife?

They were providing protection anyway, and wouldn't close personal protection be even better?

All three of Gao Ning's group agreed it was a fine idea, so they offered their assistance both overtly and covertly.

Through Gao Ning's tireless efforts, the underworld minions had already cleared the bandits from the surrounding mountains, and all major thoroughfares were now occupied by the Black Mountain Bandits.

As for the local ruffians and scoundrels in Yuanbao Town, those proven to be guilty of heinous crimes had been quietly eliminated by the bandits under cover of darkness.

Not even their corpses could be found. Consequently, of late, the underworld community of Yuanbao Town was gripped by a sense of impending doom, with rumors spreading that the Black Mountain Bandits were about to make a move on the town itself. As a result, everyone was currently on their best behavior.

With the bandits gone and the Black Mountain Bandits observing strict rules—charging only a standard toll that allowed horse caravans to pass unhindered—Yuanbao Town had actually grown considerably more prosperous of late, much to the delight of the major merchants.

Two bandits stood guard in the courtyard. Seeing Gao Ning push open the gate and enter, they nodded slightly in salute. Ignoring them, Gao Ning walked straight into the main hall.

Gao Lao'er was already waiting there.

***

Gao Ning took off his hat, tossed it casually aside, poured a cup of cold tea from the table, and drained it in a single gulp.

"Mother Zhu still refuses. In that case, let's execute Plan B!"

Gao Lao'er maintained his lazy demeanor, his legs crossed and resting on the table.

This time, however, he was not smoking cigarettes. Instead, from somewhere he had procured a jade pipe over a foot long, exquisitely carved as if molded from a single piece of stone, and he was puffing on it contentedly.

"I've already made the arrangements. We can launch at any time!"

Gao Ning nodded, and the matter was thus settled.

The location of Old Gold Gulch was indeed advantageous; nestled deep within the dense mountains and ancient forests, it was easy to defend and difficult to attack. Once winter brought the snow, the roads vanished entirely, making entry impossible.

Anyone wishing to leave had to wait until the snow melted and trek laboriously out through the vast expanse of mountains.

Its remote location and poor communications made it the ideal place to hunker down and develop in secret.

Gao Ning had originally thought that the days ahead would simply require waiting for news of a successful operation, after which he could travel there to deploy power plants and ore refineries.

To his surprise, after nightfall, the system suddenly presented him with a surprise.

On the Red Alert map interface, a red dot had suddenly appeared.

Gao Ning had been preparing for sleep when he inadvertently caught sight of the red dot. He jolted awake instantly, any trace of sleepiness vanishing.

"It's finally here! I've been waiting quite a while for you!"

***

As night fell, a carriage slowly rolled into Yuanbao Town.

There was nothing remarkable about this carriage—ordinary horses, an ordinary carriage box, and even the driver looked entirely unremarkable, without a single standout feature.

Yet at this hour, entering Yuanbao Town when the streets were utterly deserted was enough to draw attention.

The driver seemed accustomed to such stares. He drew a small box from his bosom, opened it to reveal a delicate metal compass, and watched as the needle twitched slightly before pointing firmly in a single direction.

"They really fled all the way to Yuanbao Town! Damn it all, I chased you bastards from Hebei back to the Northeast, and then from the Northeast all the way to Yuanbao Town.

You bunch of turtles finally stopped!"

The driver felt a surge of irritation. He glanced down at the compass again, only to see the needle abruptly shift to a new heading.

"It's late. I'll find a place to stay first. Is the best inn in this direction?"

He flicked his whip, urging the horses onto the main street of Yuanbao Town. At an intersection along the main thoroughfare, spotting a sign reading "Inn," he drove the carriage directly into the courtyard.

Yuanbao Town was not large, and the inn's business was modest, though it managed to turn a slight profit.

Lately, however, for reasons unknown, the roads had suddenly cleared, and the bandit menace had been mysteriously eliminated by unknown parties, leading to an influx of horse caravans arriving in Yuanbao Town.

The innkeeper was quite pleased.

At noon that day, he had seen off a party of horse traders, and as he was fretting over the abundance of empty guest rooms for the night, he spotted an empty carriage pulling into the courtyard.

The innkeeper and two of his errand boys had been tidying up the stables, which were typically dirty and chaotic due to the high volume of horses. The innkeeper had figured he would clean them while the space was vacant to avoid scrambling later.

Suddenly seeing a guest arrive, he hurriedly kicked one of the boys.

The boy stepped forward reluctantly, saying, "Esteemed guest, we are closed!"

The innkeeper's face drained of color. He rushed forward a few paces and shoved the boy aside.

"What nonsense are you spouting? Is that any way to speak to a guest? How do I usually teach you? You have no manners at all!"

Packing the boy off, the innkeeper beamed and said, "How many in your party, honored guest? Are you looking to stay the night?"

Having been in the trade for a long time, the innkeeper possessed a discerning eye.

A single glance at the carriage told him this was no ordinary carter's rig; the carriage box was exquisitely crafted, clearly of recent manufacture, and the horses had sleek, well-groomed coats, indicating they were carefully tended to.

Of course, recognizing this was one thing, but he still needed to ask clearly.

The driver leaped down from the carriage and said, "I am indeed staying. Do you have any superior rooms available?"

The innkeeper replied eagerly, "Yes, we have our finest superior rooms! The bedding was freshly changed this very morning and specially cleaned. The rooms have been aired out all day, guaranteeing there are no strange odors whatsoever.

Liu Zi, why haven't you hurried over and shown the honored guest up?"

The other errand boy hurriedly acknowledged the order and trotted over.

The driver's expression remained impassive. "I have two large chests in my carriage. Have the lads help me carry them up to the room, and arrange some food and wine as well. Nothing too elaborate, just six dishes and a soup! Be quick about it!"

With that, the driver turned and followed the errand boy inside.

The innkeeper stood stunned for a moment, then hurriedly agreed before calling the hands to fetch the chests.

He was thoroughly delighted. Guests who arrived like this, demanding superior rooms immediately without ever asking the price, were invariably people of means with bottomless purses.

As long as they were served well, the tips would be generous.

Moved by the prospect of silver, the innkeeper personally led the men to carry the chests into the room.

The two large chests were bulky and heavy, encased in an unknown wood of extreme hardness, adorned with intricate carved patterns. At a glance, they were clearly valuable items.

Although the innkeeper felt a twinge of curiosity, he knew the rules of the trade. He understood very well when to pry and when to keep his hands to himself.

Despite the driver's lower-class attire, under the dim light, the texture of his skin and his fluid movements suggested he was far from a common servant. He might well be the scion of some wealthy and powerful household.

"Honored guest, here is your luggage!"

The innkeeper, accompanied by four errand boys, huffed and puffed as they delivered the two large chests into the superior room.

The driver had already removed his outer coat, revealing a silk-faced Eight Trigrams embroidered vest underneath, which lent him a remarkably spirited appearance.

Earlier, the light had been dim, allowing only a hazy glimpse of his features, but now inside the room, as the candle flame flickered, the innkeeper caught a clear look at this person's appearance.

His heart skipped a beat on the spot.

No wonder this gentleman preferred to keep a low profile—wasn't this face a bit too enchanting?

If not for the flat chest of the person before him, anyone might have mistaken him for a woman; his face possessed more than enough delicate refinement, though perhaps lacking in bold charm.

He was the epitome of a man with feminine features.

The driver seemed accustomed to such stares. Without a change in expression, he said, "Just leave the chests right there. Is there anything else, Innkeeper?"

"Oh, no, nothing else! Honored guest, please rest. The wine and food will be up shortly. By the way, what is your honorable surname? How should I address you?"

"My surname is Lü, and I am the seventh among my siblings. The innkeeper may simply call me Seventh Master Lü."

The innkeeper hastily cupped his fists. "So it is Seventh Master! It is getting late, so I will not disturb you further. If you have any orders, just call for the errand boys directly!"

Seventh Master Lü returned the half-bow, and the innkeeper backed out of the room.

Though this young man's words had been polite, his expression had remained utterly devoid of warmth from beginning to end, his voice chillingly cold, akin to a snake slithering across one's skin, leaving a deeply unsettling sensation.

The wine and food arrived swiftly. As the errand boy turned to leave, Seventh Master Lü stopped him and asked, "Who in Yuanbao Town is a well-known know-it-all? I am planning to start a business and set up shop here, and I'd like someone familiar with the area to help me look things over."

The errand boy hesitated. "Honored guest, what is it you wish to ask about?"

"Just answer my question!"

Seventh Master Lü narrowed his eyes, a flash of cold light seemingly passing through them, which startled the boy.

"Right, right. If you want someone familiar with these parts, there's no one more suitable than our innkeeper. He grew up in Yuanbao Town, and through his daily dealings with travelers, he's heard no end of gossip. There's hardly a stir in the surrounding ten villages and eight hamlets that escapes the innkeeper's ears."

Seventh Master Lü nodded in silence, flicked his fingers, and sent a flash of silver coin spinning through the air.

The errand boy cried out in surprise, patted his head, and discovered it was a piece of broken silver. He beamed with delight.

"Thank you for the reward, honored guest!"

Bowing profusely, the errand boy backed out of the room.

Seventh Master Lü locked the chamber door, ignoring the wine and food on the table. Instead, he walked over to the two large chests, drew a key from his bosom, and unlocked the heavy padlocks on both.

With a sharp click, the lids sprang open on their own, and a massive tangle of thumb-thick black snakes surged out, instantly blanketing the floor.

Each snake was over a meter long, and hundreds of them writhed and crawled across the floor, turning the room into a den of vipers in the blink of an eye.

If anyone had forced their way in at that moment, they would have likely been frightened out of their wits on the spot.

Seventh Master Lü's face gradually elongated, morphing into a triangular, snake-like jaw. A forked tongue darted out, hissing softly into the air, and at the sound, the snakes on the floor slowly parted to clear a path.

Seventh Master Lü seated himself at the table, reached up to grab his chin, and inexplicably stretched his mouth wide to a full 180 degrees. He picked up the plates from the table and dumped their contents straight into his maw.

"Xian'er... I wonder how many people I'll be able to flush out once I've killed you? I'm truly looking forward to it, hiss..."