Chapter 87: Savage Jungle

"Sit!" He Tian settled into his chair and gestured for Wang Xinmeng and Wang Xinrou to do the same.

"The people you brought... How should I treat them? For instance, should I pay them?" Wang Xinmeng looked at He Tian and asked softly.

"Pay them? No, absolutely not! They're all my brothers, there's no need for payment. Xinmeng, just act as you normally would. However, I hope you'll cooperate with some of their suggestions for your own protection," He Tian said earnestly. "Maybe, if things stayed as calm as before they arrived, we could still find the mastermind behind this—but that's too difficult and would take far too long. I need to make some changes... But whatever those changes are, your danger will increase. So I hope you're mentally prepared."

"That's nothing," Wang Xinmeng said with a gentle smile. "As long as we can find the person behind all this, a little turbulence is hardly worth mentioning."

"He Tian, should we be doing more?" Wang Xinrou looked at He Tian and asked.

"No need! I already said, just do what you would normally do. Don’t do anything exaggerated. Remember this!" He Tian waved his hand emphatically.

"Alright then! He Tian, thank you so much," Wang Xinmeng said gratefully, looking at him.

"Xinmeng, saying that is far too formal," He Tian replied with a smile. "We don’t need thanks between us!"

"Exactly, sis! Why be so polite with him?" Wang Xinrou laughed.

"However... I do have a question for you," He Tian’s smile faded and his expression grew serious. "Have you ever kept anything belonging to Longya? Any item at all... I suspect the mastermind isn't just after your lives. They want something. Otherwise, even with such a grudge, no one would make moves under this much scrutiny."

"Things? I have nothing of father’s," Wang Xinrou shook her head and looked at Wang Xinmeng.

"I don’t have anything either," Wang Xinmeng thought for a moment and shook her head. "Father always came and went in a hurry... We hardly saw him. And he seemed to keep his distance from us on purpose. He never gave us anything."

"I see," He Tian mused.

At this moment, he didn’t believe Wang Xinmeng or Wang Xinrou would lie about this. Nor did he think they suspected him. So, the only explanation was that neither of them truly possessed anything representing Longya.

This left He Tian puzzled. Was his suspicion off track?

He felt he needed more information about Longya—where exactly had Longya died? Was the body ever found? All of this mattered for his analysis and judgment.

After chatting a while longer, Wang Xinmeng took her leave. Wang Xinrou, however, showed no intention of leaving. Her reason, of course, was more than sufficient. She claimed it was to consult He Tian on some martial arts moves she couldn’t quite grasp. But in reality, Wang Xinrou was here to demand answers.

He Tian was well aware.

Sure enough, as soon as Wang Xinmeng left, leaving just the two of them, Wang Xinrou’s true colors emerged.

"What is going on with you?" Wang Xinrou glared at He Tian, her expression so fierce it looked as if she wanted to devour him whole.

"What’s the matter?" He Tian looked at her, perplexed. "Why are you so angry?"

"Oh, come on! Don’t pretend you don’t know what I’m talking about!" Wang Xinrou rolled her eyes. "Where did you find so many female friends? And each one... so beautiful!"

"Oh, so that's what this is about! Heaven knows, I really am just too popular! What can I do? Wait, are you jealous?" He Tian winked and grinned at Wang Xinrou.

"Jealous, my foot!" Wang Xinrou retorted, her tone annoyed.

He Tian squinted his eyes just a little. Did this girl not realize how ambiguous her words sounded? Men, after all, except for eunuchs, all have two heads—which one did she mean?

Well, He Tian had to admit, he was becoming a bit more wicked in his thoughts.

"See, you won’t admit it!" He Tian laughed. "I’m in high demand, you know! Think it over carefully!"

"Please... You really think you’re something special, don’t you?" Wang Xinrou turned to leave, scoffing. "As if I’d ever be interested in you!"

"You just keep denying it," He Tian said with a smile.

"Hmph..." Wang Xinrou snorted coldly.

He Tian shook his head slightly, gazing out at the distant sea, listening to the waves crashing.

He felt a hint of confusion. With Long He's identity, and his own history with Cao Xiaomin, it was as if his heart had been opened completely. Amidst all this, a possessiveness had begun to take root, slowly sprouting.

But this possessiveness was aimed at people—not at mindless objects.

He Tian worried that he might never be able to realize this desire, and that in the end, he would only hurt himself, and even more, hurt others.

That was not something he wished to see.

---

"Chou, you really don’t need to come with me," He Tian said as they trekked through the primeval forest, glancing at Chou, who was fully armed like himself.

"Nothing better to do. There’s not much for me elsewhere," Chou shrugged.

"I thought you didn’t trust me to handle things alone," He Tian said with a smile.

"If you think so, I admit, perhaps I do feel that way," Chou replied indifferently.

"Chou, must you be so blunt?" He Tian rolled his eyes, speechless.

Chou smiled faintly.

He Tian blinked helplessly. He knew Chou was strong and meant to protect him. But it was frustrating—since when did He Tian need anyone’s protection? Especially when fully armed—how could he possibly need help?

Still, Chou meant well. What could He Tian say?

They flew from Tianhai straight to Kunming, then drove southwest, passing through Dali and Baoshan, finally reaching Ruili.

From Ruili, He Tian and Chou vanished into the vast mountain forests.

By now, the two had thoroughly entered Myanmar.

He Tian kept in contact with Kamikaze. He learned that Kamikaze was still alive, but not in good shape.

This drove He Tian to move faster.

As for the forces in Myanmar, since they traveled through the jungle, they avoided most detection. Myanmar was mountainous.

Outsiders had no idea that two men had already penetrated deep into their territory.

The jungle was said to be a beast, devouring men without leaving a trace. Ancient wisdom in China warned against entering forests lightly.

All this underscored the terror of the jungle—especially the primeval forests where He Tian and Chou found themselves.

"The other side has a five-hundred-men elite special forces unit, with more than a dozen internal energy masters," He Tian whispered to Chou.

"Kamikaze... truly daring! I once thought of getting that jade myself. But I gave up since it wasn’t cash. Even if it’s worth five hundred million dollars now," Chou shrugged.

"You’re wiser! Look at Kamikaze—he’s gotten himself into trouble," He Tian shook his head.

"It’s not wisdom... just lack of interest. If I cared, no one could stop me," Chou said confidently.

"Alright, I admit, Kamikaze could learn a lot from you. Although you’re in the same business, you do differ in some ways," He Tian said. "Kamikaze enjoys the thrill of theft. You have other motives."

"Don’t you think mine are nobler?" Chou smiled.

"Stop flattering yourself! In the end, you’re still a thief," He Tian replied.

"So what? Is a thief inherently inferior? Your thinking is flawed!" Chou argued.

"Be careful! We’re less than thirty miles from Kamikaze now. We could encounter the enemy at any moment. General Balang is a true powerhouse—he brought so many experts!" He Tian complained. "Kamikaze really knows how to stir up trouble!"

"Balang—he’s like a local king in Myanmar. And now we’re in his territory! Stay sharp. He has many skilled men, and the internal energy masters here have different techniques from ours," Chou warned.

"I’ve traveled far and wide, I know that. But even if they’re not weak, so what? Kamikaze—I will save him!" He Tian said confidently. The two moved forward, keeping thirty meters apart, stealthily advancing.

Both were jungle experts.

They crept silently through the foliage.

Suddenly, He Tian saw Chou’s hand signal.

He Tian froze instantly.

Following Chou’s gesture, through layers of trees, leaves, and undergrowth, He Tian spotted a fully armed man, his face smeared with camouflage, hiding in a patch of low bushes.

From a distance, it looked like nothing was there.

But to Chou and He Tian, the disguise was useless.

They exchanged hand signals.

He Tian knew they had entered the perimeter surrounding Kamikaze.

Battle could break out at any moment.

Chou signaled back.

He Tian nodded, his sharp eyes scanning for any target.

Chou’s body flickered, moving silently but swiftly toward the hidden man.

He Tian soon saw Chou appear out of nowhere, snapping the man’s neck...