TheConqueroroftheUniverse

Chapter 68 Lotuses in the Water

In a flash, five days had passed. It was November 1st today.

Over the past five days, the expedition teams were connected more closely, and they were more vigilant, so no more terrible things like those experienced by Team 96 happened.

After all, although Young Master Can was wealthy, reputation was more important than money in this industry.

If there was a large-scale accident when the main force was still at the outskirts of the mountain, it would be a huge blow to Young Master Can's prestige, at least at this stage.

Even if Young Master Can regarded many people as his pawns, he would still have to keep a good reputation, because the outside world could get the updated news about what happened here.

After the fight with the red-haired monkeys, Li Ping'an got a much higher status in Team 97.

Zhang Hongqiang had long since stopped treating Li Ping'an as an errand boy. Instead, he treated Li Ping'an as a brother.

Yan Ling, Yan Li, and Zhang Xiaojing all regarded Li Ping'an as a trustworthy partner.

Of course, they would still tease him.

However, what was different from the teasing before was that Yan Li and Zhang Xiaojing looked at Li Ping'an differently.

After all, Li Ping'an could do this at such a young age even before stepping into the Awakening Stage, and he was reliable and handsome. They were not fools, so how could they not have feelings for him?

"Daniu, we can arrive at the Pigeon Tower tomorrow. I remember that there was a big reservoir in front of the tower. If we have enough time, I will catch fish for you to taste."

After lunch, Zhang Hongqiang lit a cigarette under a tree and looked over the mountains with rapt attention.

By this time, Li Ping'an had become intimate with Zhang Hongqiang. He smiled and said, "That's good. Thank you. But Brother Qiang, what's going on with those monkeys? We haven't seen them these days. I feel a little uneasy."

Zhang Hongqiang was nice, but he was too insensitive, which left Li Ping'an speechless.

Although this kind of personality made him a good friend, he was not reliable or helpful in this case. Even if Li Ping'an and Lin Jianjia summed up a lot of confidential information, Zhang Hongqiang was too careless to be told.

He could only be more straightforward and reminded him to pay more attention.

Yan Ling and their whole family all counted on him.

Hearing this, Zhang Hongqiang raised his eyebrows and said, "Daniu, I was just about to talk to you about this. You little boy, although you look as stubborn as a bull, you are smarter than a monkey. You have noticed it too, right? We are now more than 100 kilometers into the mountains, but we haven't found any other powerful beasts."

Li Ping'an nodded, "Brother Qiang, could it be that these red monkeys have dominated this mountain by chasing away or even killing other powerful beasts?"

Zhang Hongqiang smoked, blew a whiff, and answered, "Daniu, it might be! Although we are now marching with the main force, we have to be careful. The red monkeys are too fierce, and we can never be too careful!"

Li Ping'an heaved a sigh of relief as Zhang Hongqiang understood the situation here.

He then continued, "Brother Qiang, what's going on with the headquarters? Are there any clear missions for us these days?"

Zhang Hongqiang smiled, "We have been resting for a few days. I believe the mission will come soon. Daniu, we are like brothers. I'll share with you any rewards we get."

Li Ping'an smiled, "Brother Qiang, come on, we are brothers. This trip to the mountain is dangerous. In addition to winning the rewards, we have to return safely."

Zhang Hongqiang laughed, "Daniu, I like that! We'll have a good drink when we go back."

...

They did not wait too long. Soon after Li Ping'an finished talking with Zhang Hongqiang, Young Master Can's assistant who was leading the expedition teams gave a new order.

Team 97 and the other three teams would set off tomorrow morning towards the reservoir of Pigeon Tower to explore the way.

Having learned a lesson from the previous experience and considering the fact that they had entered the mountain, Li Ping'an and the others treated the order seriously.

While being well prepared, they also had a good rest tonight to conserve their energy.

However, they had an advantage compared with the other teams.

When Zhang Hongqiang was young, he had been to the reservoir of the Pigeon Tower with his master, Zhang Xiaojing's grandfather. So he was very familiar with the terrain here, which saved their team a world of trouble.

Early in the next morning, the team set off to the reservoir of the Pigeon Tower.

The reservoir of the Pigeon Tower was the farthest accurate coordinates that people knew about the Wudang Mountain. No one knew about the subsequent terrain if they advanced further.

As for the immortal sect of Taoism in Wudang Mountain, almost nobody had ever been there.

Especially after the great variation, the change there might be more shocking.

Despite the steep mountains, dense trees, and thick thorns, the team members were well prepared and energetic. With Zhang Hongqiang being familiar with the terrain and leading the team, they did not take too many detours. At two o'clock in the afternoon, they arrived at this large reservoir with a radius of more than ten miles.

However, the roads, villages, and fields around the reservoir had merged with the mountains. And there was almost no flat land around it.

Standing on the mountain and looking down, they seemed to see that there was a dark green pearl embedded in the cliff.

Zhang Hongqiang could no refrain from sighing, "The great variation has changed too many things. In fact, my experience is not reliable. We're just lucky to arrive here so early, or we might not be able to arrive here at night."

The team had some rest before setting up camps on a flat mountain top.

Yan Ling reported to the main force of the headquarters, Yan Li and Zhang Xiaojing started to prepare lunch, and Li Ping'an and Zhang Hongqiang sat on a flat and hot rock, appreciating the scenery.

Zhang Hongqiang introduced to Li Ping'an, "Daniu, look over there. It was a beautiful beach. I caught fish there before with my master. I heard from my master that there was a restaurant here famous for cooking fish. It was well-known around the nation. Unfortunately, it is now just a memory of the past..."

Li Ping'an could not help but nod.

The storm-like variations didn't leave human beings any room to resist. They could only force themselves to accept their fate.

Fortunately, even if the variations were fierce, they were not destructive. At least, some areas were left for human beings to survive.

Zhang Hongqiang was just about to light a cigarette when Li Ping'an's pupils dilated. Li Ping'an grabbed his hands and whispered, "Brother Qiang, look, the cliff over there, are there the red monkeys we encountered before?"

"Uh..."

Zhang Hongqiang came back to his senses and looked in the direction Li Ping'an was pointing at. His eyes widened, "Damn, Daniu, it is them! There are seven or eight of them! Let's report to the headquarters!"

Li Ping'an shook his head, "Brother Qiang, hang on. Look. What are they doing?"

Zhang Hongqiang realized something. He stared at the monkeys and carefully observed them.

At this time, Yan Ling and the others also noticed that something was wrong, so they stopped what they were doing and hurried over.

Li Ping'an gestured for them to keep quiet, motioning them to hide behind the thorns around them.

At this time, Zhang Hongqiang understood what the monkeys were doing. He swallowed hard and stuttered, "Daniu, are they... are they trying to pick the lotuses in the water?"

At the bottom of the cliff, there was beautiful lotus growing in the shady dark green water.

These seven or eight red monkeys were trying to use the thick vines along the cliffs to pick the lotus seeds.

Li Ping'an nodded, "Most likely."

"Damn..."

Zhang Hongqiang spat in a low voice, his eyes shining brightly.

Although he was insensitive, he was not a fool. He understood that the things that these big red monkeys wanted were not something simple.

He whispered, "Daniu, good. We will make a fortune together today."

Yan Ling and the other two girls also realized the situation, and their eyes lit up.

To put it bluntly, earning money from Young Master Can was just part of the reason that they entered the mountain risking their lives. More importantly, they wanted to make some extra findings by leveraging the forces of Young Master Can.

After all, with such terrifying variations in the mountains, they had a slim chance of survival if they went into the mountain alone.

They could only maximize their chance of success under a big tree like Young Master Can.

"Daniu, what should we do now?"

Zhang Hongqiang was excited, but he understood that although he was more experienced than Daniu, he was not as resourceful and decisive as Daniu.

Besides, these lotuses were discovered by Li Ping'an, so Zhang Hongqiang had to follow Li Ping'an's opinion.

Li Ping'an narrowed his eyes.

His eyesight was much better than that of Zhang Hongqiang and the others. He could see many details and feel how nervous and cautious the red monkeys were towards these lotuses.

A moment later, Li Ping'an said in a low voice, "Brother Qiang, Sister Ling, we are all good friends. I won't beat about the bush. We have two choices now: Report this to Young Master Can's headquarters. In this way, we may get some rewards and remain free from danger."

"We also have another option."

Li Ping'an looked around at their eyes and continued, "We can take it for our own. The benefits will be tens of thousands of times better than the ones given by Young Master Can, but the risk is also pretty high. We might even lose our lives!"

"Damn!"

Zhang Hongqiang spat and answered, "Daniu, we don't even have to think. We came here risking our lives to let our wives and children live a stable life. Daniu, I'm in. You tell me what to do. I think that I can deal with five red monkeys myself."

Li Ping'an smiled as he held Zhang Hongqiang's big hand tightly, "Good! That's all I want to hear."

Zhang Hongqiang, on the other hand, was a bit anxious and whispered, "Daniu, they are about to get the lotuses. What are we waiting for? Let's kill these red monkeys first!"

As he said those words, he was going to get up.

Fortunately, Li Ping'an was well prepared and he held Zhang Hongqiang down, but even with Li Ping'an's strength, he was almost pushed out by Zhang Hongqiang.

He said, "Brother Qiang, what's the rush! Did you see that those red monkeys seem to be very careful and be afraid of the lotuses in the water?"

"Uh..."

Zhang Hongqiang was stunned and was about to say something.

His wife, Yan Ling, covered his mouth and scolded in a low voice, "Qiangzi, you are a fool. Don't act recklessly! All of us must follow the instructions of Daniu!"

Then, she looked at Li Ping'an with trust in her eyes, "Daniu, we have come to know each other well these days. And you saved my life, so we will do whatever you say. Even if I lose my life, I will have no regrets!"

Beside her, Yan Li and Zhang Xiaojing also nodded. Their eyes were full of sincerity and trust for Li Ping'an.