Reborn As Super Heiress

Chapter 1594: Chapter 1578: Providing Clues

Huo Sining rolled her eyes at Oil Rat with exasperation: ”You’ve been awake for so long yet just realized it, your reaction time is really impressive!”

”That’s right, it’s exactly as you thought. In fact, we were tracking you and Gao Yuyuan all the way to Xiangxi, reaching Divine Tomb Village, and we heard from the folks in Miao Village that you followed Long Shan Zhang into the Back Mountain Sacrificial Forest.”

”Then, we followed you in, and after you entered the stone wall mechanism, we went in right after.”

”However, we had help, and unlike you, we were lucky enough not to get stuck in that maze, while you were running around like headless chickens.”

At this point, Huo Sining’s face showed obvious annoyance: ”Moreover, you guys are really stupid, using explosives in that Underground Palace. Are you out of your mind? The structure in there is all balanced on a fulcrum, using explosives would definitely cause a collapse. Haven’t you thought about that?”

Oil Rat couldn’t help but look a bit embarrassed. Though the idea of using explosives to blast a hole was suggested by Gao Yuyuan, he had wanted to do it for a long time. When people are on the brink, they wouldn’t let go of any glimmer of hope. In such a situation, blowing open a path was their only option, and in order to survive, they wouldn’t consider much else.

However, they never expected that after blasting open the tunnel, instead of seeing the light of an exit, they were met with a surging underground river.

Oil Rat’s face turned pale as he recalled the scene at the moment the entire labyrinth corridor was blown open. The bodyguard ran desperately, only to be buried by a torrent of sand before reaching the tunnel’s mouth.

The groundwater gushed out tirelessly, and he along with the remaining others were too frightened to react. By the time they came to their senses, they had already been swept away, with Oil Rat trapped in the underground maze, rocks cascading down, until he was knocked unconscious by one.

”Wasn’t I trapped inside the maze? How am I here?” Oil Rat asked, puzzled.

Huo Sining shrugged: ”By pure chance, when we were coming out, we happened to see you and rescued you along the way.”

”You saved me? Why?”

Huo Sining fixed her gaze on Oil Rat: ”What do you think? We’ve tracked you down from so far away, and you don’t know why? Last time at Porcelain Village, you got away. Did you really think we would let you escape so easily this time?”

Oil Rat’s eyes flickered, embarrassed for a moment, but then something struck him, and he asked:

”You saved me, what about the others? Did you see Fujiwara Seiho and Gao Yuyuan?”

Inside the tunnel, Oil Rat’s patience had worn thin, and all he could think about was survival. He even prayed desperately, willing to forsake any gold, silver, jewels, or double commissions, as long as he could survive.

But now, out safely from the underground labyrinth, realizing he was in no danger, other thoughts began to stir in Oil Rat’s mind.

Previously, when he negotiated this deal with Fujiwara Seiho and Gao Yuyuan, it was clear as day that regardless of whether they found what they were seeking, he was to be paid double commission once they came out of that mountain.

Since the deal was already agreed upon, why shouldn’t he get paid? He wasn’t a charity; he accompanied them into the mountains, nearly losing his life in the process. How could he not ask for his payment?

Oil Rat wanted to demand payment from Fujiwara Seiho, but Huo Sining’s subsequent words made him shudder involuntarily.

”The others? Buried in that Underground Palace. Gao Yuyuan and Fujiwara Seiho were already our adversaries; why should we risk our lives to save them? Besides, under such circumstances, saving you alone was already a stretch. They dared enter that corridor of mechanisms, they should be prepared for the consequences. Constantly grave-robbing, can they escape retribution?”

Huo Sining looked at Oil Rat’s face, a hint of playful mockery in her eyes, and said with a half-smile:

”Were you tricked by them? Why do you still care about them now? Didn’t they pay your commission? If you want your money back, just head to Yama’s Palace. I suppose they’re still waiting for you there.”

Oil Rat hurriedly waved his hands: ”No, no, no, Miss Huo, I’m just curious, just asking offhand, nothing more. Whether I get the commission doesn’t matter, as long as I stay alive.”

Huo Sining smiled: ”I’ve heard your Thief Sect has rules and principles. Although we came to Xiangxi to catch you, we inadvertently saved your life. Shouldn’t you have something to say?”

Oil Rat was stunned, then his eyes spun, realizing what Huo Sining meant, he promptly declared his stance:

”The Thief Sect is always grateful and clear when it comes to grievances. I, Oil Rat, owe my life to Miss Huo. If you have any inquiries or need my assistance, I absolutely won’t hesitate.”

Hearing those words, Huo Sining’s smile grew more genuine: ”Looks like you know what’s good for you.”

Oil Rat let out two nervous chuckles, then confessed earnestly:

”Actually, I haven’t met Old Mr. Zhong, but I know where Gao Yuyuan lives. I also know that the map he used when entering the Shenmuzhai’s Rear Mountain was tricked out of Old Mr. Zhong. So, I surmise this Old Mr. Zhong might very well be at Gao Yuyuan’s residence.”

It’s not entirely Oil Rat’s fault for betraying them; self-preservation comes first. In Fujiwara Seiho’s hands, he suffered greatly. Now, hearing that Fujiwara Seiho and Gao Yuyuan had been buried in the Underground Palace, Oil Rat, even if he defected to the police, didn’t need to fear retaliation from those two Dongyang men, so he felt unburdened.

Oil Rat thought a lot, and after this life-and-death experience, he realized that living is more important than anything else. So he no longer resisted Huo Sining’s requests, making only one demand: that once the mystery involving Old Mr. Zhong is resolved, they consider the information he provided for a lighter sentence.

Aside from his fondness for tomb raiding, Oil Rat hadn’t done anything gravely wrong, so Huo Sining didn’t refuse his request. However, the matter had to be handed over to the judicial authorities, and at most, she could only help him find a reliable lawyer. How many years he would be sentenced would still depend on his own actions.