Chapter 153: Secret Base

After a long bout of persuasion, Old Ghost proved exceedingly shrewd, treating everything Jun Ye Li said with deep suspicion.

Hua Rong grew anxious. “What are we going to do? He doesn’t seem to believe us.”

Jun Ye Li had no time to answer. Instead, he felt around his belt pouch and suddenly tossed a money bag through the gap. “If you do not believe us, surely this is real enough, is it not?”

Old Ghost stared at what had been thrown out, puzzled at first. Then he lowered his head and saw that the bag was stuffed full of gold. His pupils instantly contracted, and he looked up in surprise.

He examined the two of them again. “Well, well. I never would have guessed you were hiding such depths. It seems you came thoroughly prepared.”

“I learned of this place through the Thousand Mechanisms Pavilion. I heard that you take money in exchange for getting things done, and that you are absolutely reliable. I wonder if this is enough—or would you like more?”

Jun Ye Li’s manner remained calm, yet every word he spoke was filled with deadly temptation. He was plainly trying to buy their way into the man’s trust.

Old Ghost swallowed. This was far more than he had expected—an amount well beyond its worth. There was nothing more to discuss. He hurriedly nodded with a smile. “Ah, the two of you must forgive me for any offense earlier. I truly apologize!”

With that, he reached behind himself, pulled out a button, and pressed it. The platform beneath them slowly rose, and the two of them were once again free.

Hua Rong stared in astonishment. “Is this the legendary truth that money can make even ghosts turn millstones? That was far too effective!”

If she had known things would be this simple, why had they gone to so much trouble?

What Hua Rong did not know was that the real reason Old Ghost trusted them was the Thousand Mechanisms Pavilion, an all-knowing presence. Their main source of business came from clients directed to them through the pavilion.

Thus, Jun Ye Li and Hua Rong’s identities had temporarily won Old Ghost’s confidence. After weighing the money bag in his hand and carefully verifying its contents, he once again broke into a cheerful grin.

“Tell me, are you looking to kill someone, rob someone, massacre a village, commit a burglary...?”

The range of their services was unexpectedly broad. Hua Rong was left speechless. She genuinely had no idea what their own purpose was, since none of those options had anything to do with what they were here to accomplish.

Just as she was thinking this over, Jun Ye Li suddenly spoke.

“Of course, we are here to kill someone.”

“That is a rather astonishing thing to say.”

Hua Rong stared at him in surprise but did not dare speak out of turn. She merely followed his lead and nodded solemnly.

After all, if their ruse were exposed here, Old Ghost’s territory was filled with mechanisms. Should anything go wrong, they would not be able to talk their way out of it so easily.

“Come with me.” Old Ghost nodded and walked to a bookshelf. He twisted the vase standing beside it, and the bookshelf slowly swung open.

Beyond it lay a corridor whose destination was impossible to discern. Endless darkness waited at the far end, exuding a deep and sinister air.

Hua Rong unconsciously folded her arms around herself and shivered. Jun Ye Li noticed. He removed his coat and draped it over her shoulders.

Hua Rong looked bewildered. “Why are you giving me this?”

“Are you not cold?”

...

How could she make him understand that she was trembling because she was frightened?

After forcing out two awkward laughs, Hua Rong abandoned any further explanation. Under Old Ghost’s guidance, they entered the corridor together.

The lamplight around them was almost painful to the eyes. A breeze seemed to drift through, making the flames sway. It looked as though the passage led to the outside world.

Doubt surfaced once again in Hua Rong’s heart. “Don’t you feel that there is something strange about this place?”

“The strangest thing is how well hidden it is. But as a place inhabited by assassins, that is only to be expected.” Jun Ye Li appeared utterly at ease, as though he had been here countless times before.

Old Ghost turned his head, looking fairly pleased. “You are quite a sensible young man. At least you understand the importance of speaking cautiously and conducting yourself prudently.”

“After all, I have no wish to become the next person hunted by the Lotus Sect.” Jun Ye Li gave a soft laugh.

Time passed slowly, and the three of them finally reached the end of the corridor, where they emerged into a desolate woodland.

Withered branches twisted together in every direction. Combined with the pitch-black night, the forest seemed to promise that every step might scrape flesh from bone.

“So this really does lead outside. I never knew this place existed!” Hua Rong exclaimed softly. Her gaze wandered around, and she felt almost as though she had entered another world.

Old Ghost chuckled. “This is not a place ordinary people can reach. Put this on.”

As he spoke, he took out two strips of cloth and handed one to each of them. Clearly, the path ahead was the truly secret part of the journey.

Without hesitation, the two of them tied on the cloth and followed Old Ghost onward. Along the way, Hua Rong secretly used her scented powder to leave marks on the ground.

She had no idea how long they walked or how many turns they made before Old Ghost finally called out, “You may remove your blindfolds now. We have arrived.”

The words felt like a return to freedom. Hua Rong hurriedly untied the cloth, only to find herself inside a cavern. There was nothing around them but a single door, and the three of them were still alone.

“What is this place? Weren’t we supposed to find someone to help us? Why is there no one here?” Hua Rong asked in confusion.

The place was strangely cramped and silent. It hardly seemed like somewhere an assassin organization would operate.

Old Ghost chuckled. “There is no need for the two of you to hurry. Wait a moment. Someone will come to receive you shortly.”

Good grief. This organization had an entire chain of procedures. Who knew when they would finally get through them all?

Hua Rong curled her lips and felt utterly speechless, though at the same time she had gained a clearer sense of just how tightly organized the place was.

After finishing his instructions, Old Ghost left the cavern without another word, abandoning the two of them. They casually chose a place to sit.

Once she saw that no one else was around, the tension in Hua Rong’s heart finally eased a little. She immediately began, “You know, the two of us—”

Before she could finish, Jun Ye Li raised a finger to silence her. Without making a sound, he mouthed, “Speak carefully. We are being watched.”

Hua Rong’s expression changed at once. She swallowed all the complaints she had been about to voice and nodded.

Jun Ye Li was the first to speak. “We spent a great deal of money to come here this time. We must make sure that man dies without a grave, so that he will never have the chance to oppose me again!”

Hua Rong naturally understood his deeper meaning and hurriedly nodded along. “That man even dared to make improper advances toward me. We must make him regret it to the bitter end. Let him go to hell and repent!”

The two of them acted with such lifelike conviction that the people hiding behind the scenes were finally reassured. Only then did someone slowly move out from the corner of the wall and reveal himself.