Chapter 418: Unexpected Acquaintance

Seeing this, Chen Ling slowly moved down the street, dragging the golden mountain behind the convoy. His feet remained suspended about fifty centimeters above the ground. The ancient golden mask appeared even more mysterious and profound under the twilight glow.

Lu Yuanzheng saw this scene and cursed under his breath, "Old fox." He immediately ordered his convoy to follow, trailing behind the special envoy. Thus, a large convoy of dozens of cars majestically proceeded from the main city gate, deep into the city. This grand procession, coupled with the towering golden mountain, immediately attracted more and more people.

"This bun is really tough to eat."

In a dark street corner, Jian Changsheng bit hard into the dry, crumbly bun in his hand, only to get a mouth full of plastic-like debris. He immediately spat it out with a grimace. "Ptui, ptui, ptui... Can't we eat something else?"

Heart 9 thought seriously for a moment. "Actually, I had some leftover late-night snack from last night. Want some?"

Jian Changsheng's eyes lit up. "What kind of snack?"

"Pao mo."

"No, why do we have to be so frugal??" Jian Changsheng couldn't help but complain. "Didn't we just get paid two days ago? Where's your salary?? Take it out so we can eat!"

"I don't have any money. I spend it all as soon as I get paid," Heart 9 replied, sounding perfectly justified.

"??? What did you spend it on?"

"I bought some things."

"What?"

"That... you'll find out later." Heart 9 glanced at him. "Anyway, I'm broke. If you want good food, you'll have to pay for it yourself."

"..." Jian Changsheng silently stroked his wolf-tail hairstyle and felt the texture of his leather jacket, immediately deflating a bit. "Tsk... Is Dr. Chu really not in Red Dust City? Or is it that he makes money fast there..."

"He's not here." Heart 9 finished his bun, clapped his hands, and his gaze naturally fell on the half-eaten bun in Jian Changsheng's hand. "Are you going to eat that bun or not? If not, give it to me."

"...I'll eat it!" With three parts reluctance and seven parts helplessness, Jian Changsheng took a fierce bite.

Just then, a commotion came from nearby. Both looked over at the same time and saw a faint golden mountain moving among the street buildings.

Jian Changsheng blinked hard and couldn't help but curse, "What did you put in this bun? I'm having hallucinations... I'm seeing a golden mountain wandering around the city?"

"Holy crap!! That's not a hallucination! The golden mountain has legs!!"

Heart 9's eyes widened, and as if injected with adrenaline, he shot off towards the golden mountain. Jian Changsheng stared blankly for a moment, then blurted out a classic expletive and hastily followed.

As they got closer to the street, they found it packed with people, making it impossible to move. Countless figures crowded the roadside, gazing at the golden mountain slowly moving under the streetlights, utterly astonished. Jian Changsheng and Heart 9 squeezed through the crowd, inching their way to the very front... As he emerged from the throng, still chewing on his bun, and finally saw the golden mountain in its entirety, his mouth involuntarily dropped open...

*Plop—*

The tattered bun fell from his mouth and hit the ground, kicking up a puff of dust.

"Oh my god..."

The flags of the two major syndicates fluttered in the wind. A dense mass of cars moved through the street, dispersing the surrounding crowds and traffic... In the very center of this convoy, a black figure moved through the air. Beneath an ancient and mysterious golden mask, a pair of indifferent pupils gazed forward, paying no attention to the commotion around them. Every movement exuded a formidable aura of dominance. Behind him was a mountain made of golden treasures, incredible valuables piled up like junk, clinking and clanking.

Jian Changsheng gasped sharply.

"Who is that person? They seem so pretentious..." Heart 9 muttered.

"The Golden Guild's special envoy, don't you know?" A passerby nearby, overhearing this, immediately explained it to them.

After hearing the rumors about the special envoy, Jian Changsheng was even more astonished. He leaned close to Heart 9's ear and whispered, "How come I've never heard of this organization before? They can't be more powerful than our Twilight Society, can they..."

"Impossible. No matter what background this Golden Guild has, they're definitely not as impressive as our Twilight Society," Heart 9 replied with conviction.

"But they said... that every year, an eighth-tier expert comes. Does our Twilight Society have that many eighth-tier experts?"

Heart 9 opened his mouth, then fell into thought... "I'm not sure... but there should be."

"If only that golden mountain were ours... Sigh." Jian Changsheng looked at the broken bun on the ground, covered in dust, and sighed deeply.

Heart 9 watched Chen Ling's figure gradually move into the distance, lost in thought. A moment later, his eyes narrowed slightly. "Come on, let's secretly follow him."

"What do you want to do? That special envoy is an eighth-tier expert!" Jian Changsheng exclaimed, startled.

"Something's off... I have a feeling the appearance of this Golden Guild is a bit strange. Since when have there been so many eighth-tier experts in this world?" A sharp glint flashed in Heart 9's eyes, and a fierce smile curved his lips. "Anyway, I'm not afraid to die. If you're chicken, you can just hide in a corner and chew your bun!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Heart 9 ignored Jian Changsheng completely, slipped out of the crowd, and secretly followed the slowly moving golden mountain.

Jian Changsheng was a bit dazed by this. He gritted his teeth, hesitated for a long time, but finally made up his mind. "Damn it, if I die, I die!" He quickly chased after Heart 9.

"Wait, that's..."

Chen Ling's peripheral vision scanned the surrounding crowd. Upon seeing two specific figures, the expression beneath his golden mask instantly became strange. *Why are they here?*

Chen Ling wouldn't have thought much of seeing other Twilight Society members in Red Dust City, but seeing Jian Changsheng and Heart 9 together, he admitted his heart suddenly felt a little flustered... These two wouldn't play by the rules at all, especially Heart 9, who was practically a lunatic. If they messed things up and interfered with his plan, it would be troublesome.

Chen Ling's mind raced, strategizing his next move. Meanwhile, a tall, magnificent domed building gradually loomed closer before him.

"Special Envoy, we've arrived at the auction house," Lu Yuanzheng's voice sounded from behind him.

Perhaps because Chen Ling had caused such a stir, even though it was evening, quite a few people were already waiting in front of the auction house. Among them, an elderly man with graying hair, dressed in a sharp suit, immediately stepped forward and respectfully began:

"I am Gu Kaixian, the manager of the Red Dust Auction House. Welcome, Special Envoy."