Cui City, a border metropolis known as the "Spring City."
The air here carries a vibe completely different from East Capital.
The breeze is gentle, infused with the sweet scent of unknown flowers along the streets, and even the sunlight seems to be filtered into a softer glow. ɴᴇᴡ ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀʀᴇ ᴘᴜʙʟɪsʜᴇᴅ ᴏɴ noᴠelfire.net
By the time the plane landed at Cui City International Airport, it was already nearing noon.
"Wow, it’s been years since I vacationed here, the changes are huge!"
Just stepping out of the VIP passage, Pan Wendi exaggeratedly exclaimed, spreading his arms as if to embrace the whole city.
By the roadside, a stretched black Bentley had been waiting quietly.
The driver walked up quickly and respectfully opened the car door for everyone.
"The hotel has been arranged, the top-floor suite at Cuihai Pearl, guaranteeing you feel right at home!"
Pan Wendi eagerly invited Fang Cheng, Lin Chuqiao, and Bai Ling into the car, his tone full of anticipation:
"Once we find Fang Cheng’s uncle and that professor, I’ll show you around. The ancient city here, the snowy mountains, and the bonfire nights with the ethnic minorities are far more interesting than East Capital."
The vehicle smoothly headed towards the city center.
Along the way, Pan Wendi played the role of a tour guide, pointing out various sights through the window.
About half an hour later, the black Bentley slowly pulled up at a sailboat-shaped modern hotel standing by Cuihai Lake.
No need to go through the front desk, a dedicated hotel butler was already waiting in the lobby, leading the group via a VIP elevator directly to the top floor.
The butler handed out several gold-embossed room cards to everyone, smilingly informing them that lunch had been prepared in the executive lounge.
Lin Chuqiao waved a hand and said to everyone:
"Let’s all freshen up first in our rooms, meet at the restaurant in an hour."
Fang Cheng took the room card from the butler and swiped it to open his door.
The room was spacious and bright, the minimalist decor exuding understated luxury.
Through the full-length windows, one could glimpse the shimmering waves of Cuihai, bringing an inexplicable sense of calm.
He casually set down his luggage and walked into the bathroom.
Warm water poured down from the overhead shower, washing away the dust of the journey.
A moment later, he changed into fresh casual clothes, barefoot on the soft carpet, and walked to the large floor-to-ceiling window.
Outside was Cui City’s most prized view.
Closer was the hotel’s exquisite garden and the bustling lakeside road.
In the distance, a vast lake glittered under the sun, like a giant emerald, that was the famous Cuihai.
Though it wasn’t peak tourist season, the lakeside boardwalk was still crowded with visitors.
However, he wasn’t here for a vacation.
Fang Cheng’s gaze fell on the distant lake, his eyes gradually deepening.
The Tian Nan Chen Family, an empire in the jade industry entrenched here for over a century, possessed power far beyond ordinary wealth.
The late Family Head, Chen Jintang, was not only a leading figure in the jewelry industry but also served as the president of Xia Country’s Jewelry Association, with influence nationwide.
Such a family could easily be described as a local powerhouse.
Their ancestral ability, "Spiritual Eyes," was said to see through illusions and discern truths.
Simply put, it was like having X-ray vision, particularly adept at seeing inside raw stones and even used for assessing jade mining paths.
But this couldn’t possibly be the Chen Family’s only trump card.
A purely auxiliary ability couldn’t sustain a family’s control over the lucrative jade industry in a complex edge province for over a century.
A vast fortune, without corresponding power to protect it, would only become a tempting target.
For the Chen Family to stand firmly until now, they must be harboring a covert strength unknown to the public, enough to deter any threat.
Yet even so, they fell victim.
If there truly was a Black Magic Master behind all this.
Even a noble family at the top of society was helpless against it, having to turn to Naihe Bridge to issue a task.
Then, its strength must not be underestimated.
Fang Cheng had a vague premonition.
This journey to Tian Nan might not be so simple.
To find his uncle’s whereabouts, perhaps a confrontation with the hidden enemy was unavoidable.
A knock on the door interrupted his thoughts.
Fang Cheng turned around and walked over to open the door.
Standing outside were Lin Chuqiao and Bai Ling.
Both had clearly just taken a shower as well. Lin Chuqiao had changed into a simple cotton-linen long dress, her face washed clean and looking even more elegantly beautiful.
Bai Ling, on the other hand, was in a refreshing set of athletic shorts, with a high ponytail, appearing lively and charming.
"Ready? Pan Wendi is probably getting impatient by now."
Lin Chuqiao looked at him, a slight smile on her lips.
No sooner had she spoken than Pan Wendi’s door across opened with a bang, and he emerged wearing a flamboyant floral shirt and beach shorts:
"Let’s go, let’s go, time to eat! I’m starving, if we wait any longer, all the good dishes at the restaurant will be gone!"
"Do you think you’re still rushing to the canteen on Yong’an Island?"
Lin Chuqiao rolled her eyes at him helplessly.
Fang Cheng chuckled at this.
The group had a simple lunch at the hotel’s exclusive member restaurant before officially getting into action.
Fang Cheng, Lin Chuqiao, and Bai Ling planned to conduct a field investigation at the Chen Family estate.
As for Pan Wendi, who originally wanted to join the excitement, Lin Chuqiao gave him a different assignment.
She sent him to Cui City University to audit a three-day seminar on folklore and religious studies, requiring him to take photos daily as "evidence" to report back to his aunt.
Upon hearing "lectures" and "mom," Pan Wendi’s face immediately fell.