CHAPTER 500: 499

"Big Brother, you’re back?"

"Mhm, did you find out any news?"

Getting up from the bed, he waved him over as a sign to come and sit down. The latter took off the backpack from his back, placed it on his own bed, and then pulled up a chair to sit beside Ye Tian.

"Did you find the stuff?"

"This is the map."

He pulled a folded piece of paper out of his pocket and passed it over, then stood up to pour himself a glass of water at the table, gulping it down in one go.

Indeed, it was the map from his own memory, identical to it, which at least proved this kid was really taking things seriously. Although Gui Xiao was officially on his side now, Ye Tian still felt a hint of wariness towards him. There was no help for it, given how many different aspects this matter involved, and there was that arms dealer called Qiao, who had suddenly disappeared without a trace of who was behind him or what their true identity was. Even Qiao himself probably didn’t figure it out.

Too many events, too many people, one has to be careful.

"Can you locate where that thing is?"

"Boss, I don’t seem to have found the thing you mentioned, and moreover, I asked around a bit, and it seems like no one knows there’s such an item in the museum."

Ye Tian was startled, "Who did you ask about this?! Is this the kind of thing you can just casually ask strangers about!"

"Look at you getting all tense, I asked folks from the streets. It’s absolutely safe and secure, and they’re just some street hooligans— even if the police were to inquire, they wouldn’t get to them, don’t worry."

Ye Tian nodded, but his heart couldn’t find peace.

"Gui Xiao, have you ever heard of someone called Tang San? He hangs around the museum. Seems like he deals with antiques, smuggling them in and out."

Gui Xiao looked bitter, "Boss, I don’t mix in those circles; I’m just a street pickpocket, okay? Just a petty thief. If I did well, I could be the leader of the beggars, or if I were slightly better, I could graduate to burglaries. If I do my current job well, the most I’ll get... the better I do it, the faster I’d get shot."

"So, why do you still do it?"

Gui Xiao curled his lip, "It’s the only thing I know how to do; otherwise, I would have switched careers already."

"Stop your BS! Lazy is lazy, and on top of that, you complain about this or that. Get lost, get me some water to wash my feet, I’m tired."

"Aye, alright."

Watching Gui Xiao scurrying out, Ye Tian chuckled and shook his head. At the same time, he scrutinized the map that had been handed to him, a twelve-story museum with three additional underground levels, plus a cryogenic floor said to house ancient corpses and remains of great masters. Quite bizarre.

Checking it over, comparing it with his memories, Ye Tian finally noticed some details he had overlooked. He found some items were only in the Asian Exhibition Hall on the fifth floor, and he hadn’t yet visited the higher levels. As for the eighth floor that Gui Xiao brought back details on, there was another exhibit hall there, reportedly displaying rare seeds of plants and animals from Asia. This was quite strange, but Ye Tian’s attention was drawn to a smaller gallery next to the eighth floor, marked "Mystery Powers" Exhibition Hall. It was pointed out by Gui Xiao, indicating that he too was cautious about this place. The kid really understood him.

After further observation, he didn’t discover anything particularly mysterious and decided to let it go.

"Boss, what is this? The thing you brought back?"

Gui Xiao pointed at the bag on the ground and asked, "What’s that?" It was a bag printed with a fashionable star, meant for holding clothes, which he had casually used to pack the two books given by the Great Zen Master when leaving Jenny’s place.

"My own personal stuff."

Hearing him say it was personal, Gui Xiao didn’t plan to touch it. He set the foot-washing water on the ground, pretending to help Ye Tian take off his shoes and wash his feet. Ye Tian cursed with a laugh, "You little rascal, trying to play dumb with me now. Get over here and wash them yourself, I’ve got stuff to do."

Gui Xiao, grinning cheekily, "Hehe, didn’t the boss say he wanted to wash his feet? I’m just about to do it for you."

Ye Tian didn’t bother to argue, smiling as he left. At the doorway, he turned his head back and said, "When Qiao returns, tell him to stay put at home. I’ve got things to discuss with him."

"Alright, I’ll let him know."

Ye Tian walked out the door and then came back to grab the bag before heading out again. In a few days, he’d have to get on stage and fight someone. With only this bit of skill, he was on track to be beaten to death. If he didn’t learn something soon, he’d probably be beaten to death for real.

He hadn’t purchased insurance either. Truly, it’d be a meaningless death!

Ye Tian began to doubt the reasons those old men from his country had for finding him. Were they really just eyeing him because he was all alone, with no attachments, perfectly fitting to be sent to his death?

Having been here twice before, he knew the way well and didn’t take long, even taking a shortcut through Durbar Square and winding through several turns until he reached the hidden courtyard, where he pushed open the door. The first thing he saw was White Bull lying on a wheelbarrow.

"Hey, your master sure does spoil you, never even letting you down. Don’t they say you’re a divine bull? How come it looks like you’re not getting mistreated at all?"

White Bull couldn’t hear who was talking to him, just steadily snoring away, with bubbles coming from the corner of his mouth, formed by drooling, truly slovenly.

The old lady with the white stick came out from the house, "You’re here."

The tone was as if she was speaking to a family member; Ye Tian knew this was a good sign. Rejecting her offer to become his Master was a bit impolite, and it seemed she didn’t hold too much of a grudge against him.

"Yeah, came to check on Jenny."

"She’s been picked up already. Just left not too long ago."

"Then I’m here to see you. Same difference."

"Slick talker."

The old lady glared at Ye Tian before turning and walking back into the house, with Ye Tian following behind.

Once inside, Ye Tian put down his bag, stepped forward, and respectfully offered thirty minutes’ worth of incense in the incense burner before turning to look at the Esoteric Master.

"With everything brought along, it seems you’re set on having a fight at the contest of possession."

"It’s not like I have a choice, that person wants me dead, and you’ve seen it. It’s not just me; even you all could be implicated."

Ye Tian gave two bows to the Three-eyed Bodhisattva.

The Esoteric Master looked at Ye Tian with some surprise. She had thought the lad was nothing but talk, but it turned out he was quite scheming. His words, though ostensibly about his own concern, actually served as a warning to her - if no one helped him, those who would be implicated later weren’t going to be just himself, but also her and Jenny.