CIATB Chapter 179 That Legend!
Chapter 179 That Legend!
The wind in Changbai Mountain is still biting.
A private plane landed at a small airport.
As soon as Zhang Yan stepped out of the cabin, a cold wind carrying icy crystals rushed towards him.
He tightened his black windbreaker, his expression calm.
The body's bioelectric currents circulated slightly, and the chill was instantly dispelled.
A Land Rover Defender with the exclusive license plate of Xueyun Hotel was already parked beside the runway.
The car door opened.
Manager Qian, wearing a heavy down jacket, hurried over.
Her face was red from the cold, but her smile was brighter than the sunshine of Changbai Mountain.
"Son-in-law!"
Manager Qian reached out his hand from a great distance.
"You've finally arrived! You must be tired from your journey."
Zhang Yan reached out and shook hands with him.
"Uncle Qian, it's been a long time."
That one "Uncle Qian" made Manager Qian feel a few pounds lighter.
Last time, Zhang Yan displayed his prowess here, hanging that arrogant young master Zhao on the diving platform, and then leading the young lady deep into the restricted area.
Later, it was even rumored that he had powerful connections in Beijing and even in the military.
Manager Qian now holds this son-in-law in the highest esteem.
"It's not hard work. I just came from Jinghai and have some things to take care of."
Zhang Yan got into the car.
The car's heater was on full blast.
Manager Qian drove himself out of the airport smoothly.
"Young Master, didn't Miss come along this time?"
Manager Qian glanced at the rearview mirror and asked cautiously.
"She's looking after the house in Jinghai."
Zhang Yan leaned back in his chair, watching the snowfield rushing past the window.
"How's it going here lately? Anything unusual?"
Manager Qian was stunned for a moment, then realized what was happening.
"You mean that...geothermal valley?"
Zhang Yan nodded.
"It's quite peaceful."
Manager Qian gripped the steering wheel, his tone somewhat strange.
"However, recently... there have been more rumors about that place."
"Oh?"
Zhang Yan raised an eyebrow.
"What rumor?"
"Everyone's saying there's a dragon in the mountains."
Manager Qian gave a wry smile.
"It is said that someone saw a shadow tens of meters long in the blizzard, which could also breathe fire."
"Some people say it was the mountain god of Changbai Mountain manifesting his power."
"Recently, many outdoor live streamers and expedition teams have been flocking here, and we can't stop them."
A playful smile curved Zhang Yan's lips.
It seems the commotion we caused last time was eventually seen.
But it doesn't matter.
His purpose in coming here is to completely eliminate this "hidden danger".
The Land Rover Defender drove into the Xueyun Hotel.
Because it was the off-season, and the mountain had been closed before, there weren't many guests at the hotel.
Manager Qian had already arranged the presidential suite on the top floor.
"Young master, please rest. Shall I have dinner delivered to your room?"
"Need not."
Zhang Yan waved his hand.
"I'm going to a restaurant to eat and get some fresh air."
"Okay, then I'll save you a quiet spot."
……
7 PM.
The scenic restaurant at Xueyun Hotel.
Outside the huge floor-to-ceiling windows lies a dark and deep forest and snowfield.
Zhang Yan sat in the corner, with a simple steak and borscht in front of him.
There were very few people in the restaurant.
Besides him, there were only people sitting at a round table not far away.
Three men and two women.
They all looked to be around twenty-four or twenty-five years old.
He was wearing a professional outdoor jacket, and there were several huge hiking backpacks next to him.
He looks like a seasoned outdoor enthusiast.
"Hey, do you guys think that legend is true?"
A girl with a ponytail lowered her voice, her tone tinged with excitement.
"Of course it's true!"
A young man with a buzz cut sitting opposite him put down his beer glass.
He looked completely confident.
"I have a friend who works at a forest farm nearby."
He said that during the recent blizzard, he personally witnessed a blue light shooting out of the valley.
"That beam of light reached straight to the sky!"
"Immediately following was a dragon's roar, so powerful that the snow collapsed!"
Another boy wearing glasses pushed up his glasses, appearing more rational.
"The dragon's roar is a bit of an exaggeration; it's more likely a sound produced by geological activity."
"However, many people did see that beam of light."
Have you seen that blurry video online?
"Although it only lasted a few seconds, that huge dark shadow... was definitely not any known creature."
"Could it be a prehistoric creature?"
Another short-haired girl chimed in.
"Isn't there always been a legend about a monster in Tianchi Lake in Changbai Mountain?"
"Perhaps it's a sea monster that has climbed ashore?"
The group became more and more excited as they talked.
The voice unconsciously grew louder.
The young man with the buzz cut was named Wang Kai, and he seemed to be the leader of the group.
He took a map out of his bag and spread it on the table.
"Whatever it is, we'll find out tomorrow."
"I've already located the position."
"Right in the restricted area on the north slope, that legendary geothermal valley."
"If we can take just one clear photo, our expedition team will be a sensation!"
Zhang Yan paused slightly while cutting the steak.
Geothermal Valley.
Isn't that the lair of the Teng Snake?
Are these people here on an adventure?
Although the threat of the Tengshe is no longer there, it is still a remnant of the Mohist school.
Not to mention the various traps and mechanisms.
The complex terrain and extreme climate alone were enough to take their lives.
"Dude."
A voice interrupted Zhang Yan's thoughts.
Wang Kai walked over at some point.
He was holding a bottle of beer and had a friendly smile on his face.
"one person?"
Zhang Yan raised his head and glanced at him.
"Um."
"Judging by your physique, you must be into outdoor activities, right?"
Wang Kai sized up Zhang Yan.
Although Zhang Yan was dressed casually, his calm and composed demeanor was unmistakable to someone who was constantly on the go.
That's confidence in having absolute control over one's own body.
I guess so.
Zhang Yan replied casually.
"Interested in joining a group purchase?"
Wang Kai pointed to a table of people over there.
"We plan to go into the mountains tomorrow to investigate the legend of the 'fire serpent'."
"We have all the equipment; more people means more support."
"And that place is quite eerie, with lots of people and a lot of yang energy."
The two girls over there also looked over.
Seeing Zhang Yan's handsome face, their eyes lit up immediately.
"Yeah, handsome, let's come together!"
"We brought lots of food, enough to share!"
Zhang Yan put down his knife and fork.
He took a napkin and wiped his mouth.
My gaze swept over their seemingly professional, but actually flashy, equipment.
"Not interested."
The voice was flat.
There was no mockery, just a simple statement.
Wang Kai was stunned for a moment.
Clearly, they hadn't expected to be rejected so decisively.
I'm a little embarrassed.
"Dude, it's dangerous to go to that place alone."
"Besides, it's currently closed to the mountains, and you can't get in without someone familiar with the area to guide you."
"We have internal channels..."
"No."
Zhang Yan stood up.
"I'm not looking for snakes."
"I just came here to relax."
Done.
He turned and walked toward the elevator.
Wang Kai was left standing there alone, holding a beer bottle, looking somewhat embarrassed.
"Tch, stop pretending to be all high and mighty."
The girl with the ponytail pursed her lips.
"I guess they're scared."
"After all, that's a restricted area; most people wouldn't dare go there."
Wang Kai walked back to his seat, tilted his head back, and drank the beer in one gulp.
"Never mind him."
"Having such a pretty boy around is just a burden."
"We'll walk by ourselves tomorrow!"
……
Back in the room.
Zhang Yan took a shower.
I had just dried my hair when my phone rang.
video call.
Nie Qingcheng.
Zhang Yan answered the call and placed the phone on the table.
On the screen, Nie Qingcheng was wearing a face mask and that familiar black silk nightgown.
Her neckline was slightly open, revealing a patch of fair, smooth skin.
"arrive?"
Although her face was covered by a face mask and her expression was obscured, the languidness and allure in her voice were impossible to hide.
"arrive."
Zhang Yan picked up a bottle of water and took a sip.
"I was eating downstairs just now when I ran into a few people who wanted to cause trouble for Tengshe."
"Tengshe?"
Nie Qingcheng was stunned for a moment, then couldn't help but laugh out loud.
"Go looking for trouble with Tengshe?"
"Are they tired of living?"
"I guess they heard some rumors."
Zhang Yan briefly recounted what had just happened.
"A bunch of ignorant and arrogant kids."
Nie Qingcheng tore off her face mask, revealing a face that was the epitome of a femme fatale.
The beauty mark at the corner of her eye looked particularly alluring under the light.
"And what about you?"
"How do you plan to get it back?"
"That thing weighs several hundred tons."
"We can't just let it crawl back to Jinghai on its own, can we?"
Zhang Yan smiled.
"I have a clever plan."
"Just wait until you're at the company gate to cut the ribbon for it."
Nie Qingcheng rolled her eyes.
"So mysterious."
"By the way, Qin Xiao has already cleared out the third basement level at the company."
"According to your blueprints, they're installing that... energy matrix?"
"That kid's gone crazy lately, he's been sleeping on the construction site every day."
"I said I had a surprise for you."
Zhang Yan nodded.
"He's definitely got good potential."
"As long as he doesn't make any foolish mistakes, he can achieve great things in the future."
The two chatted for a while longer.
Most of it is just meaningless nonsense.
For example, what Nie Qingcheng ate today, how many meetings she attended, and how many executives she scolded.
For example, how is the snow scene on Zhang Yan's side?
They are clearly two people who control astonishing wealth and power.
But when they start chatting, they're like college students newly in love.
Sticky and gooey.
"Alright, it's getting late."
Zhang Yan glanced at the time.
"Go to bed early, don't stay up late, it's bad for your skin."
"Okay, housekeeper."
Nie Qingcheng blew a kiss to the screen.
"You should go to bed early too."
"You remember dreaming about me."
"Or I'll go back and bite you to death."
The video call ended.
As Zhang Yan stared at the blacked-out screen, the smile on his lips gradually faded.
He walked to the window.
Pull back the curtains.
It was pitch black outside.
The snowstorm seemed to have stopped.
But Zhang Yan knew that this was just the calm before the storm.
downstairs.
Several figures, carrying large and small bags, sneaked into an SUV.
It was Wang Kai and his group.
Zhang Yan narrowed his eyes.
"Since you're so eager to see..."
"Then you can watch to your heart's content."
……