Chapter 131: Bewitched by Obsession

The doubts stirred by the ancient jade clung to him like vines, fueling an urgent desire to unravel its secrets. He headed to the city library, immersing himself in an ocean of books, ranging from studies on ancient scripts and shamanic cultures to various folk legends. He scoured nearly every relevant volume, yet found no record of the inscriptions etched onto the jade.

"Could it really be as my master said—that this script is so ancient that existing records are all but lost?" Qin Feng rubbed his throbbing temples, filled with a sense of helplessness.

Unwilling to give up, he raced to the city museum, hoping to find a glimmer of a clue among the ancient artifacts. However, despite the breadth of their expertise, the museum’s professors shook their heads, admitting they were powerless before a script they had never encountered. Two days vanished in the blink of an eye, and Qin Feng remained empty-handed. He had to admit that, on his own, unlocking the mystery of the jade was a daunting task. With no other choice, he temporarily set aside his doubts and returned to the Tibet region to rendezvous with Yang Tianchen as planned.

"Well, A-Feng? Did you find a way to unlock the secret of that broken piece of jade?" Yang Tianchen asked the moment they met, his voice brimming with anticipation.

Qin Feng shook his head and gave a bitter smile. "Don't ask. I spent two days looking through records and found nothing. It seems the origins of this jade are even more complex than we imagined."

Yang Tianchen’s face fell with disappointment, but he quickly regained his optimism, patting Qin Feng on the shoulder to comfort him. "It's alright, A-Feng. We’ll take it slow; there’s bound to be a way."

"Yeah," Qin Feng nodded, though his heart remained heavy. He knew that this trip to Tibet would be anything but peaceful. According to their plan, they were to venture deep into the mountains once more to find the mysterious location mentioned by Mr. Long. To ensure their rear remained secure, Qin Feng left Yang Tianchen in the town to handle any emergencies, while he set off again with Zhang Hu, following the team sent by Mr. Long.

This team was larger than the last, numbering over twenty people. Aside from a few familiar faces, there were many new ones—all robust, sharp-eyed individuals who clearly looked like well-trained professionals. The leader remained the taciturn guide from before, Abu, the son of a local hunter, who knew these mountains intimately.

"Mr. Qin, the path ahead will be even more treacherous than the last. Please, take extra care," Abu said, stepping close to Qin Feng to whisper a warning just before they departed.

"Thank you for the heads-up. I will be careful." Qin Feng nodded, a look of gravity flashing in his eyes. He knew Abu wouldn’t say such things without reason; it seemed this mission was far more dangerous than he had anticipated.

The team wound their way along rugged mountain trails, surrounded by sky-piercing peaks and dense, primeval forests. The occasional cry of birds and roar of beasts added an air of mystery and peril. After traveling for half a day, the group stopped to rest on a relatively flat stretch of land.

After a brief break, they pushed on. As the altitude climbed, the air grew thin, and Qin Feng felt waves of dizziness. He took a deep breath, struggling to regulate his breathing.

"First time on the high plateau, Mr. Qin?" A rough voice sounded in his ear. Qin Feng turned to see a burly man with a jagged scar across his face. This was Morey, another man who knew these mountains well.

"That's right. I’ve mostly operated in the plains before," Qin Feng replied coolly, his gaze quietly appraising the man.

"Haha, the weather on the plateau is fickle. Mr. Qin had best be careful," Morey said with a meaningful smile before turning away. Qin Feng watched him go, his brows furrowing slightly. He felt that there was more to Morey’s words than met the ear, though he couldn't pinpoint exactly what was amiss.

"Brother Feng, what’s wrong?" Zhang Hu, noticing Qin Feng’s unease, asked in a low voice.

"It’s nothing. I just feel like the people in these mountains are all a bit strange," Qin Feng said, lowering his voice. Zhang Hu looked in the direction of Qin Feng’s gaze and saw Morey huddled with several unfamiliar men, whispering, occasionally casting suspicious glances their way.

As the journey continued, they encountered various dangers. When night fell, the team set up camp in a valley. The campfire crackled, driving away the chill and darkness of the forest. Qin Feng sat on a rock, scanning the crowd. Most were chatting and laughing around the fire, but a few sat alone in the corners, lost in thought.

"Mr. Qin, what are you thinking about?" Abu appeared at his side, handing him a waterskin.

"Nothing much. Just wondering when we’ll reach our destination," Qin Feng replied, taking the skin while maintaining an indifferent expression.

"Soon. Two days at most, and we’ll reach the place Mr. Long described," Abu said calmly, though a flicker of panic crossed his eyes. Qin Feng caught it instantly, confirming his suspicion that Abu was hiding something.

"Abu, tell me the truth. Is there something about this operation that I don’t know?" Qin Feng leaned in, his gaze burning into Abu’s eyes.

Abu’s face changed, and just as he moved to deny it, Qin Feng cut him off. "Abu, you know I don’t like being lied to. If you truly consider me a friend, you should be honest."

Abu’s expression shifted like a palette of colors. Under Qin Feng’s hawk-like gaze, he finally crumbled. He let his shoulders slump and let out a long, weary sigh.

"Mr. Qin... *sigh*, since it’s come to this, I won’t hide it from you anymore." Abu shook his head bitterly. "The purpose of this trip is not actually an ancient tomb."

Qin Feng raised an eyebrow, signaling him to continue.

"I come from an ancient tribe deep in these mountains. For generations, we have guarded a rare medicinal herb said to possess the power to bring the dead back to life." Abu lowered his voice, his tone trembling. "But recently, our people have fallen ill one after another with a strange sickness that no medicine can cure. Only that herb can save them!"

"And so you went to that Mr. Long?" Qin Feng finished the sentence, a flash of realization in his eyes.

"Mr. Long claims to be a man of immense learning, well-versed in ancient artifacts and rare herbs. I originally thought that by finding the ancient tomb, I would find the legendary medicine..." Abu clutched his head in agony. "It was my own obsession—I let myself be deceived by his lies!"