Second floor.
After receiving permission from inside, Da Wei carefully pushed open the door.
The room wasn't big; a traditional Eight Immortals table took up most of the space. A young man in a Zhongshan suit sat at the head.
Usually surrounded by many, the second boss Qi Yuan was surprisingly sitting at a lower position today, fawningly toasting the young man.
Besides the two, there were three others standing in the room.
The most eye-catching of the three was a black man, standing at two meters, covered in muscles, with a gloomy face and cold eyes.
As he scanned his gaze over, Da Wei instinctively shrank back.
"Here he is."
Seeing Da Wei enter, Boss Qi casually nodded:
"Are you familiar with Celestial Plate Mountain since you're a local?"
"Celestial Plate Mountain?" Da Wei thought for a moment and said:
"Boss Qi, Celestial Plate Mountain is not just one mountain. It's a collective name for over two hundred peaks. I often wander on the outskirts, but I'm not familiar with the interior."
At this, the young man in the Zhongshan suit frowned, clearly displeased.
"You run into the mountains every day. How can you not be familiar?" Boss Qi raised his voice at this:
"Even if you're not familiar, you're still better than others, right?"
"Yes, yes."
Da Wei nodded with a forced smile.
He ventured into the mountains with girls for camping and picnics, for the atmosphere, so he only wandered around the outside and never ventured in.
Yet the second boss was clearly unhappy, and he didn't dare to upset him further.
"So..."
Boss Qi stood up and pointed at the three standing in the room:
"These friends want to go into the mountains. Put aside what you're working on now and serve as a guide for a few days. Got it?"
"Huh!" Da Wei was stunned:
"What are we going into the mountain for?"
"Don't ask what you shouldn't," Boss Qi warned with a stern voice:
"It's the same on the road. Just focus on guiding and keep your mouth shut!"
"Yes."
Da Wei quickly lowered his head.
Celestial Plate Mountain isn't a very famous scenic spot, and there are many undeveloped areas, with rumors of wild beasts roaming.
It is not a good place for sightseeing at all.
Choosing this time to enter the mountain...
Is it related to the recently rumored tomb clusters?
His mind raced, and his heart tightened suddenly, immediately dismissing those thoughts.
This wasn't something he should meddle in; it was better to avoid unnecessary trouble.
"Boss Qi." Da Wei swallowed his saliva and said softly:
"The matter from the big boss, I haven't finished handling it yet, can I…"
"What's the matter?" Boss Qi interrupted him.
"Fang Jian, who owed two hundred thousand, died without repaying it. I've found someone to take over, and they should return soon." Da Wei continued.
"Fang Jian..." Boss Qi seemed to ponder:
"Is he the one who runs Square Porcelain?"
"Yes!"
"Let's set this matter aside. First, help Young Master Wang with his business."
"..."
"What?" Boss Qi squinted at him:
"You're unwilling?"
"No, no." Da Wei hurriedly shook his head:
"I will certainly handle this matter thoroughly."
*
*
*
When leaving, Lu Qian had a sullen face and said nothing, but Boss Wen kept his attitude unchanged and suggested meeting up in the city when there's time.
In the middle of the night.
There was a series of bangs on the roll-up door.
Fang Zheng wasn't asleep yet. He opened the window and looked down from the second floor, seeing a drunk Da Wei kicking the door repeatedly, shouting incessantly.
"Pay the money!"
"You bastard, pay the money!"
"The Fang family…"
As Seven Miles was part of the district's property, it naturally had security personnel, especially with Fang Jian found dead a few days prior, ensuring increased vigilance.
The commotion had barely started when several patrolling security guards rushed over upon hearing, yelling loudly:
"What's going on here!"
"What are you doing?"
"Hmph!" Da Wei swayed, grunting coldly:
"Someone owes me money and doesn't pay back. Can't I come to collect?"
Then he kicked the door a few more times.
"Da Wei, that's enough." Someone who recognized him advised:
"Don't get drunk and start causing trouble here. Do you want to end up in a cell for a few days? Come to collect during the day; people are sleeping now."
"Come on, move along, do not wake others late at night."
"Yes, yes…"
A group of people managed to drag the slightly inebriated Da Wei away with persuasion, though the roll-up door inevitably suffered a few more kicks, resounding loudly.
Upstairs.
Fang Zheng's temple throbbed, his fists clenched tightly, it took a while for him to suppress the anger within.
Damn!
If the security hadn't intervened promptly to pull him away, he would've lost control and confronted Da Wei!
Well...
I could probably actually control myself.
But,
It's so damn frustrating!
Earlier today, first Lu Qian was cold and sarcastic, then a drunken Da Wei kicked his door late at night, leaving Fang Zheng in a foul mood.
Money!
It's all because of lack of money!
Isn't it just about making money?
Having been to the Otherworld, is there anything I can't do? If I wanted to make money, making several hundred thousand in no time wouldn't be an issue.
...
The next day.
After all, Fang Zheng was an ordinary person; it's normal to feel timid and hesitant facing danger.
Despite planning a fortune-making journey across the Otherworld last night, remembering the perils of the Otherworld made him hesitant again upon waking.
"Delivery!" The courier's loud call came from outside.
"Hmm?" Fang Zheng was puzzled; he didn't recall having anything sent here recently.
"Fang Jian, right?"
"...Yes."
After signing, he carried the heavy box inside.
"What did Uncle order, taking this long to arrive?"
Given that he passed away several days ago, along with the days before the body was found, this package must've been on the road for at least eight or nine days.
In eight or nine days, during non-special periods, it should have reached even the most remote corners domestically.
"Scratch…"
Upon opening the box, there were layers of tape inside.
After quite some effort slicing through the tape, a few simple instruction manuals drifted out, and he pulled out a light blue garment.
The fabric felt firm, had a snug fit, and although not thick, it weighed three to four pounds, rustling when shaken, sounding like metal plates were inside.
However, it certainly wasn't metal plates considering the textile-like feel.
"Protective suit!"
It turned out to be a special protective suit, made of high-molecular structure as per the instruction manual, resistant to knife stabs, comparable to the protective armor in historical dramas.
It could also absorb most of the impact from blunt forces.
It could even be somewhat bulletproof.
Truly high-tech!
Fang Zheng tested it with a kitchen knife; it couldn't be cut, though a sharp stab would cause a dent. It meant the garment might not tear, but the person inside might not withstand it.
"What a pity…"
"If Uncle had worn this, he might've survived those guys' attack. If only he had waited a few more days."
"This suit couldn't have been cheap; surely Uncle didn't spend all the borrowed money on this?"
Putting down the suit, Fang Zheng contemplated.
Based on previous experiences, the Otherworld's danger primarily lay outside the city; even if someone coveted wealth within the city, they'd still have reservations.
The wrist pattern provided two pieces of information.
One: Crossing worlds consumes energy, and gathering enough energy takes twelve hours, equivalent to twenty-four hours as per the current world's calculation.
Two, you'd reappear at the original returning location upon crossing back.
When I returned, I was within the city, relatively safe. If I wore this protective suit, there'd be a certain safety guarantee.
Moreover…
If I survive a day, I can return anytime, which means the danger lies only on the first day.
As for weapons for protection…
Fang Jian did buy quite a few, but they were confiscated, plus carrying swords or knives around in the city isn't convenient.
Better off with a kitchen knife or a dagger for protection.
After prolonged contemplation.
Fang Zheng suddenly stood up:
"Let's do this!"