Chapter 1571: One Mind, Two Purposes

Tian Yun refused to lower the price any further.

While he and He Lingchuan were haggling, the beetles were intensifying their search of Yongquan Villa. Tian Yun gave them a new mission:

Avoid crowded areas.

The person he was looking for would most likely not be living among a large group of people.

People like them detested noisy places and needed quiet for contemplation.

Therefore, a detached house with its own entrance was ideal.

Adhering to this requirement, the beetles burrowed deep into the dense forest.

It would still take some time.

Tian Yun's firm price was still higher than He Lingchuan's ideal.

After all, every figure was in the tens of thousands.

Fan Shuang also chimed in, "President Tian, it would be difficult for you to find another large client like Brother He in Tianshui City, one who can buy all your profound crystals at once."

Tian Yun put on a regretful expression. "While I do need money, it's not an urgent matter. If Island Master He truly doesn't want them, I'll just take my time finding a suitable buyer."

He Lingchuan suddenly spoke, "I'll take them."

"Then I'll..." Tian Yun thought he hadn't heard correctly. "What did you say?"

"I'll take this batch of profound crystals."

Tian Yun paused, then pressed, "Seven hundred thousand taels?"

"Yes, I'll take them all," He Lingchuan countered. "Is there a problem?"

"No, no."

"Damn it!" Tian Yun cursed inwardly, then joyfully declared, "Seven hundred thousand taels it is, then. Deal!"

He Lingchuan immediately handed over the silver notes, and Tian Yun wrote out a receipt. Both parties concluded the transaction smoothly.

Tian Yun carefully put away the silver notes, then said, "Island Master He, I heard that Yongquan Villa has a sweet spring, and its water is good for brewing wine and making soup. Could I take some back with me?"

Since it was named Yongquan (Flowing Spring) Villa, how could it not have a spring?

Time, time, his bugs still needed more time!

The beetles were too small; hundreds of them spread across the large villa would need more time to ascertain the core areas and security arrangements of Yongquan Villa.

"No problem!" He Lingchuan laughed. "He just sold me profound crystals worth seven hundred thousand. What's wrong with asking for some spring water? I'll take you there. Also, how about President Tian having a simple meal with me at noon?"

With the deal concluded and the villa owner fulfilling his host duties, Tian Yun had been waiting for that invitation.

So He Lingchuan instructed the small kitchen to prepare a meal for their esteemed guest and personally led Tian Yun to fill two large jars with sweet spring water.

While the three were walking, Tian Yun intended to do something stealthy. He had brought several soft-skinned spores, each about the size of a small steamed bun, and had been looking for an opportunity to drop them on the ground and step them into the soil. However, they were surrounded by a group of guards, who formed a triangular formation around them, and he couldn't guarantee his movements would escape so many watchful eyes.

He could only excuse himself briefly, feigning a sudden need to relieve himself.

When he returned, He Lingchuan asked with a smile, "President Tian, weren't you afraid that if the deal fell through, these profound crystals, worth seven hundred thousand, wouldn't leave the gates of Yongquan Villa?"

Tian Yun was taken aback. "How could Island Master He be such a person?"

"One's heart is hidden, but wealth sways it easily."

Just as Tian Yun was about to reply, he suddenly stopped, his expression changing.

He acted as if something had happened ahead. But He Lingchuan and Fan Shuang looked and saw that the path ahead was quiet and serene; at most, a gecko might have darted past.

"What's wrong?"

Tian Yun composed himself and waved his hand. "It's nothing, nothing. I just felt a bit dizzy from squatting for too long. The Xiyao Court has entrusted Island Master He with projects worth tens of millions. If even the King trusts him, what do I have to worry about?"

With such a grand statement, He Lingchuan simply smiled and stopped questioning him.

In fact, the small beetle Tian Yun was controlling had just flown near a small hill and vaguely spotted a cellar entrance on the hillside. However, its doorway was painted green, blending seamlessly with the surrounding landscape, and would surely be missed without a close, careful look.

The beetle paused briefly on a nearby branch but found nothing unusual.

Just as it was about to leave, someone approached carrying a food container and lightly knocked three times on the door.

Tap, tap, tap.

After knocking, the person stepped back two paces and didn't knock again.

After a few breaths, the green door opened, and out came a... monkey?

It was an ugly monkey, with a demonic face.

Other monkeys had to contort their faces and bare their teeth to be frightening, but this one didn't; its natural appearance was enough.

Was this the monkey?

The beetle on the branch immediately took flight, trying to seize the opportunity to dart inside the door.

The demonic-faced monkey snatched the food container from the person delivering it, turned, and the green door slammed shut again with a bang.

So fast!

The beetle, still two zhang away from the green door, was shut out.

Undeterred, it still wanted to try and squeeze through the gap in the door.

Just then, something suddenly flashed past its eyes, so fast that the beetle couldn't even make it out clearly.

Then, its vision went black.

Tian Yun rubbed his eyes. It seemed his beetle had just been attacked by some creature.

Because he shared the beetle's vision, the last thing he saw was something attacking it head-on!

It startled him.

"Mr. Tian, are you alright?"

He Lingchuan looked concerned.

"I'm fine, just a bit tired lately." Tian Yun picked up his chopsticks again.

What exactly was the creature that had just attacked the beetle?

He tried to recall the last moment, the frozen image, which looked like a wing?

It was very blurry, and he couldn't make out its outline, but ordinary insect-eating birds couldn't possibly consume his beetles.

Tian Yun, of course, wouldn't give up so easily.

He quietly exhaled and secretly dispatched more beetles towards the mountain cellar.

With multi-angle observation, he surely wouldn't miss anything this time, right?

About half an hour later, another beetle flew towards the green cellar door.

As Tian Yun controlled it, he sensed its reluctance.

There seemed to be some force or something threatening it near the cellar door, making the beetle unwilling to approach.

But it couldn't defy Tian Yun's orders.

Just as this beetle was about to reach the door, there was another *whoosh*, and its vision went black.

So fast! Tian Yun's breath hitched slightly.

Other beetles were lurking on nearby branches, but they only saw a grey shadow flash past the door and had no idea what it was.

Having suffered two setbacks, Tian Yun ordered a third beetle to approach.

The grey shadow reappeared, and the third one was also gone.

The fourth one went next.

This continued until the eighth beetle also "bravely sacrificed itself," and Tian Yun finally managed to vaguely discern that it was a bat.

Although its body was covered in fine fur, its snout was somewhat pointed, making it look more like a bird than a typical bat.

Tian Yun knew that on Yalie Island in the South Sea, there was a type of long-nosed bat called a "Thorn Bat." Unlike common bats that feed on insects or blood, it injects venom into its prey, rendering them numb and immobile.

The Thorn Bat wouldn't kill its prey; it would only bite and feed on its flesh, then leave when full. In a few days, it might even revisit this "mobile meal cart."

However, Thorn Bats were very small, similar in size to hummingbirds. Yet, this beetle killer in front of him was twice the size of a hummingbird and incredibly fast.