Over the next two days, Changdong continued refining and perfecting this idea, never discarding a single drawing, and every detail required careful reconsideration. The tool box came in handy, with some small items needing to be made on the spot. Ye Liuxi usually stayed by his side, offering advice and passing tools, while silently criticizing herself for being overwhelmed—sometimes suddenly losing heart, sighing in resignation and burying her head deep into her knees. What was she doing? When he hung himself, she handed him the rope; when he jumped into the river, she stood by, calling out, "Ready, jump!" Changdong would laugh at her, but more often than not, he would pause his current work, reach out, and gently stroke the back of her neck. His palms and fingertips were rough, while her skin behind the neck was smooth and delicate, their surfaces gently rubbing against each other through the soft strands of hair—a sensation she couldn't quite put into words. Ye Liuxi particularly enjoyed this, no matter how restless or impatient she might be; with just this gentle touch, her calmness gradually settled. Once, Changdong remarked to her, "How like a little dog you are—always enjoying being touched on the back of "Yexiaoxi said, 'Cats and dogs are everywhere—can anyone really compare me to someone different?' Changdong was busy with his own matters and only later added, 'Little leopard.' Little leopard... Yexiaoxi suddenly felt a flutter of longing. She imagined a little leopard with soft, smooth, lustrous fur—its delicate paws gently turning over and rolling little snails, which was quite charming. She turned her face and laughed out loud. Changdong had no idea what was so amusing; he simply felt as if steam of sheer giddiness was bubbling up from the top of her head. When Ahu realized what was happening, Jiang Zhan had already cut the connection, and only then did she gradually come to her senses, her breathing rapid and her lips dry. Ye Liuxi asked her, "Have you ever visited the Golden Mine?" "No, Miss Liuxi," Ahu's voice trembled slightly, "that's something you'll need to discuss with Mr. Zhao. For ordinary Yulin Guards, the Golden Mine is a sacred ground—harder to reach than even entering Black Stone City. How could Jiang Zhan possibly choose such a place?" Chang Dong, on the other hand, found the location particularly fitting: the Golden Mine had a close connection to Ye Liuxi's past, and now, with a clear opportunity, they could finally speak formally with Zhao Guanshou. He turned to Ding Liu and Gao Shen, "You two—come to my room." —By late afternoon, Zhao Guanshou received word that Ye Liuxi had come again, claiming the matter was "of great importance." Zhao Guanshou sensed it was likely that Jiang Zhan had also brought news. Yet as soon as he stepped into the living room, he frowned: wasn't it necessary to bring so many people to discuss business? Chang Dong, Ding Liu, and that one named Gao Shen were all there. Ye Liuxi seemed a bit uneasy, speaking softly to him, explaining, "Since Jiang Zhan sent word, everyone has been very concerned, so they all came along. Jiang Zhan mentioned the meeting would be held at..." Zhao Guanshou interrupted her, "Come with me to my study and go over the details there." With so many people in the living room, the conversation would be too scattered and noisy to carry on here. Ye Liuxi deliberately stayed a few steps behind, while Zhao Guanshou went ahead. When she closed the door behind him, she gently pressed a thin iron plate against the latch—this plate was in a 'rectangle' shape, with its sides naturally clamped inward, and it was fitted with a rubber strip, providing sufficient friction to hold firmly against the door's inner and outer surfaces, preventing it from slipping. Then she closed the door firmly. — The sound of the door hitting the frame is crucial. If it's strong and resonant, it conveys a sense of security—like the door has been properly closed—drawing the viewer’s attention to the doorway less frequently. Zhao Guanshou sat back at his desk, indicating that she should sit across from him, “Where did he meet?” Ye Liuxi didn’t answer immediately. She was out of breath, one hand pressed against her chest, speaking in a long, winding manner: “It all started this morning at noon. Ahu was having lunch when suddenly her eyes seemed off-beam…” She glanced toward Zhao Guanshou’s diagonal rear. — Now everything appears normal. But if the door is pushed open, the afternoon sunlight will cast a gradually widening streak across it. … The tea service was brought to the table. The tea attendant returned to the tea stand and wiped the surface with a cloth. Chang Dong gave a subtle signal to Ding Liu. Ding Liu immediately picked up her teacup, took a few steps, approached the tea stand, stood facing the study, and then held the cup out to the tea attendant to show him: “Young sir, why do you have insects in your tea?” The tea broth is orange-red, clear with a lustrous sheen, and the tea attendant bends down to inspect it. Chang Dong quickly walks to the door of the study, grasps the handle, and slowly opens it, then swiftly crouches down—the lower the center of gravity and the smaller the body, the less likely he is to be noticed. As the first beam of light touches the wall, Ye Liuxi immediately extends both hands to support the table, rises to his full height, and leans forward toward Zhao Guanshou, shielding his line of sight with his body, speaking clearly and deliberately: "He invited me to the gold mine you, the Yulin Guard, oversee." Zhao Guanshou stiffens—this pause lasts only a few seconds. Outside, Ding Liu said softly, "Here, the dark specks in the tea foam—don't call them tea scum; I can even see the shapes of insects..." Inside, Ye Liuxi's palms were damp with sweat. Zhao Guanshou said, "Don't worry, sit down and talk." The streak of light was narrowing. Ye Liuxi didn't immediately sit down, but fixed her gaze firmly on Zhao Guanshou's eyes. "The gold mine isn't under the jurisdiction of your Yulin Guard, is it? Then why did Jiang Zhan meet there? Does Yulin Guard have someone working with him?" Zhao Guanshou cleared his throat twice, sat upright, and the movement caused a slight creak from the chair beneath him. "You're overthinking it—Jiang Zhan and the gold mine have always had a certain connection..." Suddenly, someone gently pulled at his feet. Ye Liuxi's legs suddenly went weak, and she nearly fell into the chair. She casually lowered her gaze: Chang Dong was right at her feet, having rolled over there, now sitting up with extremely light movements, his back pressed firmly against the edge of the table. He came in, but then—difficult at the beginning, difficult step by step, difficult to conclude. Every second in this study felt like agony. Ye Liuxi steadied himself and asked Zhao Guanshou, "What is the connection?" … Zhao Guanshou’s voice remained calm: “When Jiang Zhan was around ten, he worked at the gold mine. Later, for some reason, he managed to escape—our only speculation is that he must have slipped through one of the lesser-known tunnels…” A large paper basket, placed at the hollow spot beneath the table, held two folded sheets of paper, the ink still visible through the paper. Chang Dong gently shifted Leaf Liuxi’s leg aside and moved it slowly. Leaf Liuxi asked Zhao Guanshou, “Is that all just speculation? Hasn’t it been verified?” “Miss Liuxi, do you know what the mountain’s tunnels look like?” Chang Dong picked up the topmost paper fold, held his breath, and slowly unfurled it, careful not to draw attention to the faint rustle of the paper. The paper spread out. The handwriting was vigorous and dynamic, flowing like a dragon or a serpent—four characters were written: “Victory secured.” Zhao Guanshou continued, “The gold mine—its name is merely that. You can’t simply close your eyes and feel the gold.” A mine with a ton of ore yielding just several grams is already considered rich. The mountain's mine shafts stretch everywhere, with every tunnel extending deep into the mountain's core... Chang Dong unfolded the second piece of paper, which bore more scattered notes—Nine-thousand-foot mountain: never let the final effort falter; the decisive victory must guard against a single misstep. Be cautious, be vigilant. Suddenly, something unusual happened. Chang Dong didn't pause to think, quickly stepping back, his back nearly pressing against Ye Liuxi's leg—Zhao Guanshou had grown uncomfortable and suddenly extended his legs, shifting his hips forward. If he hadn't retreated swiftly, his head would have collided with Zhao Guanshou's knee. "Over time, it became as intricate as a spider's web, spreading out in all directions deep within the mountain's core. The tunnels themselves were constantly changing—sometimes entire sections would collapse, other times a simple dig with a shovel would reveal an empty cavity. At other times, an unknown source of water would seep in, filling the tunnels with foul, golden foam. Even the seasoned miners of the mountain could no longer recall the exact layout or orientation of the tunnels beneath." Zhao Guanshou stood up and walked over to the bookshelf that lined the wall. Ye Liuxi took the opportunity to quickly bend down, fixing her gaze firmly on Chang Dong, her expression so intense it seemed as though she wanted to throw him right out then and there. Chang Dong raised his index finger to his lips, signaling for her to remain calm, and then suddenly leaned forward, almost extending his body into the table's depth. The bookshelf was not open—each shelf was enclosed by glass, secured with silver eagle-vultures whose wings were spread wide. He wanted to observe just how Zhao Guanshou would open the locks. In her heart, Ye Liuxi made a vow: if she emerged unscathed from this journey, she would surely make Chang Zhao Guanshou pressed the wings of the eagle and the hawk together, then twisted them backward by ninety degrees, and the glass door slid open silently. He reached out and took a bound volume from the table. Chang Dong quickly drew back. Zhao Guanshou returned to his seat at the desk. Ye Liuxi immediately noticed that the seal on the cover of the book was crude and awkward, resembling a fierce human face—exactly like the one branded on her lower leg. She hesitated, "This is..." "The 'Golden Lord's face,' an ancient belief: where gold is produced, there must be a fierce spirit guarding it, hence they respectfully call it the 'Golden Lord.' When the Golden Lord is pleased, his face becomes a joyful one, and gold miners will find gold. When the Golden Lord is displeased, his face turns grim, and no matter how hard you work for years, not a single gram of gold will seep through his fingers." "Most small gold mines, the gold lord is hard to find, but in a major gold mine like this, the gold lord stands out clearly. The site is so tall—it reaches several stories high: two eyes, two nostrils, two ear holes, and one mouth, each serving as a tunnel, known as the Seven Orifices Tunnels. These tunnels cannot be entered; they've always been used for rituals and offerings. The ghost tooth tunnel Jiang Zhan arranged for you to meet him in is accessed through the mouth—especially at night. And it's particularly late at night when no one dares to enter the tunnels. By choosing this time and place, he deliberately ensures that the Yulin Guard watches helplessly, unable to intervene. His strategy is truly refined. Miss Liuxi, if your friend isn't particularly important, I'd recommend you not go. You won't die suddenly, but if you suffer injury or are trapped in the tunnels for life, never seeing the sky again, then such a fate would truly be unworthy." Chang Dong was momentarily stunned, only regaining his composure when the room fell silent. He silently chided himself for being distracted: if the forces were divided, he should have focused on his own task. With care, he stepped out from beneath the table, pressing his back against the table’s surface and slowly moving toward the side. Ye Liuxi slightly lowered her head, and Chang Dong made a gesture to her, indicating that he was heading toward the glass bookshelf. "The topographical map of the gold mine mountain terrain—you can take a look at it, though it's not very meaningful. The ordinary mine tunnels inside the mountain we can still reach with miners who've worked there, but the Ghost Tooth Tunnel? No one has ever entered it." Ye Liuxi could only glance at Chang Dong's position with the corner of her eye. "Then, what can you offer me when I meet Jiang Zhan tomorrow night?" Zhao Guanshou replied, "All I can do is do my best to persuade you not to go. Beyond that, I can't think of anything else. What would you like me to do, Miss Liuxi?" Suddenly, Ye Liuxi reached out and pulled the gold mine booklet to her, and Zhao Guanshou instinctively turned to look. Taking advantage of this brief moment, Chang Dong rolled sideways to hide behind the bookshelf and then stood up. Zhao Guanshou couldn't see him, but Ye Liuxi could watch him clearly. Her scalp tingled with tension, yet she had to remain composed, meeting Zhao Guanshou's gaze with a calm tone. "At the very least, you send a squad of the Swift Hawks with me into the Ghost Tooth Tunnel." Zhao Guanshou paused thoughtfully, a little hesitant: "The elite guards of the Swift Birds are outstanding—excellent at charging and fighting, but to ask them to die for something so meaningless... I find it difficult to agree with you." In his heart, Ye Liuxi thought: As long as I don't turn around, it's fine. When he got close enough to the bookshelf, Chang Dong noticed that there were inscriptions at the lower right corner of the glass door—likely labels for file archiving. A quick glance revealed entries for various markets, such as "Pallas City," "Yellow Earth City," "Red Brick City," and special locations like "The Grand Gate" and "The Ancient Relics Pavilion." Then— Chang Dong's heart suddenly tightened: There were two dedicated spaces, and the inscriptions on them read— Beyond the Jade Gate, Westward.