Revelation of the Way of Heaven

Chapter 234 Alim

"Spiritualism? Why does this title sound so familiar?" Qin Xiaochuan said, frowning.

"Right?" the man said, even more smugly. "That just means my novel is somewhat famous."

"Since you've also published books, how come you're..." Qin Xiaochuan glanced at the other person and continued, "Why are you playing the violin here?"

"Sigh, it's all because I was too young back then." The man sat down on a chair, picked up a piece of roast meat from the table, and sighed. "Back then, I saw this remote town with its beautiful scenery and simple folks, and I had the idea of ​​living in seclusion here. So I settled down here. Who would have thought that I would have to struggle to make a living in the end?"

"You settled here later? Didn't you just say you'd been wandering around Lop Nur since you were a kid?" Qin Xiaochuan rolled his eyes.

The man quickly replied, "Huh? Did I just say that? You must have misheard me. I was saying that a few years ago I often wandered the mountains with the local hunters."

Qin Xiaochuan was too lazy to argue with him, but then Han Kexin asked, "You said you also sell intelligence, so what kind of intelligence are you selling?"

After finishing a piece of grilled meat, the man took a sip of beer and said, "Normally, according to the rules of our line of work, we pay first and then deliver the goods. But since you've treated me to grilled meat, I'll tell you first, and you can give me a price."

"We don't think we treated you to barbecue either," Qin Xiaochuan muttered to himself, but didn't bother to argue.

The man moved closer to the group, feigning mystery, and whispered, "Have you heard any legends about this place?"

"What legend?" Qin Xiaochuan asked.

"In our small town, there has always been a legend that there is a monster in the nearby mountains. Every full moon night, it comes to the town and takes people into the mountains. If it is not a full moon night, or if it is daytime, it will transform into a beautiful girl and then abduct the boys who love her to the mountains. Those who are taken into the mountains will have their names stolen and become its slaves. Only those with pure hearts and firm wills can defeat it."

"This is a bit like a scene from 'One Thousand and One Nights'," Qin Xiaochuan complained.

"I know you don't believe it, but I hope you remember this legend. It might save your life in a critical moment," the man said suddenly, seriously.

Looking at the other person's serious expression, Qin Xiaochuan suddenly felt uneasy.

"Anyway, it's an interesting story, and I'm willing to pay for it," Han Kexin said expressionlessly.

"That's wonderful!" The man immediately changed his tune, saying happily, "Someone as good as you will surely be blessed by the gods..."

Before he could finish speaking, Han Kexin added, "This part of the money will be paid together with your guide's fee, but I can only pay half now. The rest will be paid to you in full after we return together."

"You mean you want to hire me as a guide?" the man asked excitedly.

"Before that, I need to know your name, right?" she asked instead of answering.

"Alim," the man replied immediately.

"Is this really a good idea?" Qin Xiaochuan looked at Han Kexin with incomprehension. In his opinion, Master Yin had already found a guide, so finding another one would be redundant.

Han Kexin ignored him and said to Alimu, "We have differing opinions internally, and you'll have to convince him yourself."

Alim immediately gave Qin Xiaochuan a knowing look, then cast a knowing glance at him.

Qin Xiaochuan felt his breath catch in his throat and instinctively leaned back in his chair.

"Hey handsome," Alim walked up to Qin Xiaochuan, put his hand on his shoulder, and said softly, "I'm not only a great guide, but I can also play music. Besides the erhu, I can also play the xun. Take me with you, and I guarantee your journey won't be lonely. Latest plot: Click to follow."

"We're here to explore, not to sightsee or listen to music." Qin Xiaochuan really wanted to say this, but he was afraid that the other party would do something strange again, so what came out was: "Okay, okay, I agree to hire you, alright? I was just saying it casually, anyway, it's not my money."

His last words were muttered softly. Although he was addressing Alim, his gaze was fixed on Han Kexin with displeasure. The latter simply ate her barbecue calmly, as if she hadn't heard him at all.

"I'm telling you, don't let this unreliable kid fool you." Just as Qin Xiaochuan was forced to accept reality, a rough male voice suddenly came from the side.

Qin Xiaochuan looked in the direction of the sound and saw that it came from a man in his thirties at the next table. The man was wearing a black training uniform, had a full beard, and his eyes were staring straight at Han Kexin.

Seeing that no one responded, the man simply moved his chair closer to Han Kexin and said mysteriously, "I know why you came here. Mount K2 is not a place that ordinary people can go to. If you don't find a reliable guide, you might not come back alive."

Han Kexin remained expressionless, not even turning her head, and asked with a hint of disdain, "Oh, then what kind of person do you consider reliable?"

"Of course, it's the strong ones, like someone like me." The man said, showing off his fist. "I think you girls don't need to find a guide anymore. Why don't you join us? I guarantee you'll have a safe journey."

"Hey! Don't you know the rules? We've already finalized this deal, what are you doing here causing trouble?" Alim said angrily from the side, reaching out to shove the other person as he spoke.

The man grabbed Alim's wrist, and before Alim could make any move, he fell to his knees with a thud, pleading in pain, "Oh, brother, please have mercy!"

The man ignored Alim's pleas and continued staring at Han Kexin, saying smugly, "Who knows what ferocious beasts, mountain spirits, or monsters might lurk in Mount K2? You're such a lovely girl, wouldn't it be a shame if you were to suffer such a fate?"

"You're right," Han Kexin said calmly. Just as Qin Xiaochuan was surprised by Han Kexin's behavior, she suddenly turned to look at the man and said, "We do need to find a powerful partner, but it can't be you."

The man, who had been excited when he heard the first part, looked surprised when he heard the second part and quickly asked, "Why?"

"Because you're too ugly to deserve it!" Han Kexin shook her head with a contemptuous look.

"You!" The man's face turned ashen, and the veins on his hands bulged instantly, while Alim couldn't help but let out a miserable howl.

Just as Qin Xiaochuan was about to rescue Alimu, the man waved his hand and threw Alimu away. With a loud bang, a wooden table was smashed to pieces by Alimu.

Qin Xiaochuan jumped up from the chair, and just as the man was about to slap Han Kexin, he grabbed her wrist. No matter how hard the man tried, his arm remained motionless.

"Lei Gang, stop! This is not a place for fighting." A sinister voice came from the table where the man was. Although the voice was not loud, it carried an undeniable tone. The man named Lei Gang instantly lost his momentum and tried to withdraw his hand, but he remained motionless.

Just then, Guo Shiyi tugged at Qin Xiaochuan and gave him a wink. Qin Xiaochuan glanced around and noticed that most of the people in the tavern were focused on him. These people were quite skilled, and even though he had seen a bit of the world, he couldn't help but feel a chill and instinctively loosened his grip on Lei Gang's wrist.

"Hmph, you bitch, just you wait!" Lei Gang cursed before sitting back down in his seat.

Han Kexin's gaze was gloomy, as if she was thinking about something, but she made no comment.

A small disturbance arose suddenly, then quickly subsided, and the tavern returned to its usual bustling state.