"So how do they intend to use it after getting the Golden Crow Wheel?" Zhou Sheng said in a low voice. He gazed at the floating tea leaves in the glass cup — some floated to the top, while others sank to the bottom.
Qin Guodong didn't answer him.
"I'll change the question," Zhou Sheng pondered, then continued, "Does Ren Chong intend to continue handing it up to his superiors after getting it? Hand it up layer by layer, and put it in some place where the country collects important treasures?"
"There must be a conclusion even if he were to hand it up." Qin Guodong laughed and explained, "It's not as if people would just believe you if you were to just casually pick something up and take it to the State Department, and just accept it. If you want the leaders to believe you, you'll have to integrate material objects, have a detailed research report, and carry out demonstrations when necessary."
Zhou Sheng suddenly sensed part of Qin Guodong's real intention hidden in the deepest parts under layers of pretenses.
"At first, they discussed many different ways." Qin Guodong said, "Zhao Liang made use of his personal connections to set up a small research laboratory, but soon after, Ren Chong discovered that his real purpose could be to take it for himself...so some disputes broke out between them, and the investigation team decided to be dissolved temporarily."
Zhou Sheng thought for a bit before saying, "Ren Chong wants to protect both me and it temporarily, wait for an opportunity to communicate with me, then start investigating. On the other hand, Zhao Liang couldn't wait to make a move. But ultimately, without my cooperation, there's no use even if they were to get the Golden Crow Wheel."
Qin Guodong said, "That's the initial agreement I had with Lao Ren after we talked things over when I left office."
Zhou Sheng, "Let me hold onto the Golden Crow Wheel, and then no one can make a move to snatch it openly. The one who makes a move first loses. But do you understand me that well? I couldn't tell."
Qin Guodong glanced at his watch and answered, "That was Huang Ting's suggestion; the actual plan is very complicated. Lao Ren's opinion was 'can be considered', provided you had the strength to protect the treasure, so as to prevent the secret from being leaked any further."
"The actual plan is very complicated?" Zhou Sheng was a little surprised as he asked.
"The plan to study the Golden Crow Wheel." Qin Guodong stated, "I still remember the day when we first saw Huang Ting's report. Everyone thought it was really unfathomable."
Zhou Sheng said, "When I first got the Golden Crow Wheel, I found it really unfathomable too. I even suspected whether it had some sort of task for me to accomplish, and after the task is over, everyone associated with it would forget everything about it..."
"No." Qin Guodong shook his head. "The Golden Crow Wheel's existence isn't odd. Things that were even more peculiar than it that couldn't be explained by current scientific principles have been witnessed by some people before. The 'unfathomable' part I was referring to was of how it chose you."
Qin Guodong shrugged. Zhou Sheng smiled. "So what about that?"
Qin Guodong looked into Zhou Sheng's eyes meaningfully and asked, "What do you plan to do next?"
Zhou Sheng answered, "Wait for them to find me. It'll take about 10 days to half a month. When one of them can't hold back anymore, they'll come find me and ask me to cooperate with their research. The real world is their territory, but dreams are mine. He's definitely not too far from Beijing, and he may just be hiding somewhere in this city. Do you know where his research laboratory is?"
Qin Guodong said, "No one knows. Towards the end, Zhao Liang didn't disclose even the slightest hint of his plans to us. Perhaps that's why Lao Ren can't save Huang Ting. He must have his reasons. You mustn't interfere in the struggle between them right now. Huang Ting will be saved; this isn't something you guys can handle anymore."
"All right." Zhou Sheng exhaled, pondered for a moment, then got up.
Qin Guodong said, "If I were you, the only thing I would do right now is to protect myself properly, and not provoke Zhao Liang anymore. Promise to cooperate with him on the surface; just as you said, once you're in a dream, you can do whatever you want."
"Zhao Liang isn't an idiot either," Zhou Sheng said casually, "He'll definitely understand the principles behind dreams before he'll let me enter his. It's still hard to say if we can defeat the boss in his heart. I'll go now, I still need to work."
In the newspaper office, Yu Hao finished sorting out the manuscripts for today and said, "I'm going to focus on blood banks for my next feature."
"Okay." Lin Ze said, "The problem regarding donating and using blood? I've found them unpleasant for quite some time now. The office will fully support you, it'll be published in the March issue."
Yu Hao said, "Is April okay? I need more time to prepare, and I still have my graduation thesis to write."
Lin Ze checked the schedule and readily agreed. Yu Hao didn't make any interview appointments today and was going to meet an informant for afternoon tea. As soon as he left the newspaper office, Zhou Sheng called him.
"Zhao Liang's base is either in Yanqing or Huairou," Zhou Sheng said through the phone, "Can you find any relevant personnel there and ask them some questions?"
Yu Hao, "He won't hang the sign 'Golden Crow Wheel Research Institute' outside his base, don't bother."
Zhou Sheng, "Personnel mobilization and guard duty would leave traces."
"Even if we were to find the exact address," Yu Hao said through the phone, "You still can't rush in alone to save Huang Ting, right? Ren Chong will definitely take action on his side. If I were him, I'd rent a three-bedroom apartment in the residential area..."
"Listen to me," Zhou Sheng was always paying attention to his surroundings. After leaving an alley, a car stopped by the roadside. Zhou Sheng went forward to open the door. Chen Yekai was sitting in the driver's seat. Zhou Sheng plugged his phone into the charger by his seat, turned on bluetooth, and said to Yu Hao, "Zhao Liang has a set of research equipment at his place. He got it from somewhere before their three-man team was dissolved, so it definitely wouldn't be in such a covert place like a residential building."
Chen Yekai interrupted, "I've seen the computer used for analysis by the STA. It won't be that small if it's used to study data."
Yu Hao said through the phone, "Security is bound to be very strict."
"So, we still need Huang Ting's cooperation." Zhou Sheng said patiently, "Kaikai, what news did you get?"
Chen Yekai said, "Sounded him out as per your request. I asked him to meet, and he requested a meeting three days from now."
"We must get Huang Ting out as soon as possible." Zhou Sheng said.
"It's impossible for Ren Chong to leave him be," Yu Hao said, "He's Ren Chong's student."
Zhou Sheng answered, "It has been forty-eight hours since Huang Ting went missing."
Chen Yekai nodded. "Yes. If he wanted to save him, he would've done so long ago."
Chen Yekai drove along the road aimlessly. Zhou Sheng said, "Qin Guodong, Ren Chong, Zhao Liang, among these three, two must be working together in the dark. We just don't know who's with who right now."
"It shouldn't be your boss," Yu Hao said in the phone, "If he wanted to make a move, he would've done so long ago."
"I'm not sure about that now either." Zhou Sheng said, "One of them could be utilizing hard tactics, while the other one would utilize soft ones."
"Your boss understands very clearly that the Golden Crow Wheel can't work without you." Chen Yekai focused on driving and casually said, "Perhaps all of them want the Golden Crow Wheel, just that their means of getting it are different. From the looks of it now, Qin Guodong obviously one-upped the others. At the very least, he has won your initial trust. Zhou Sheng, there's something I want to say..."
"Un?" Zhou Sheng was fiddling with the Golden Crow Wheel and pondered for a moment.
"I know that Huang Ting's not that close to you guys, and you don't like him that much because he took the Golden Crow Wheel away." Chen Yekai stopped the car in front of a red light. He sighed, "But he's my friend, and he's very important to me. I'm can't do anything about this alone, so I can only pin my hopes on you guys."
"I didn't say I wouldn't save him. Listen to what you're saying. Am I such a cold-blooded person?" Zhou Sheng stopped thinking and said with a smile, then instructed into the phone, "Yu Hao, make a trip home."
Yu Hao understood what Zhou Sheng meant. He asked, "Okay, I'll reschedule my appointment this afternoon with the informant. Should I call Qihang and Gege too?"
"No, just us three will do." Zhou Sheng said, "Leave Gege a message and ask him not to wake you up when he gets back. Kaikai, find a hotel to get a room in."
Zhou Sheng hung up. He turned sideways and glanced at Chen Yekai, who then nodded and didn't speak any further.
Yu Hao got back home. He woke up very early today in the first place, so he was sleepy before it was even noon. After lunch, his fatigue multiplied and washed over him, as if all his strength had been exhausted.
"I want a bed." Yu Hao said, "I feel so sleepy even in my dream."
"It'll be okay in a moment." Chen Yekai said, "You feel sleepy in the dream because there's insufficient blood supply to your brain."
In the world of Chichén Itzá, Yu Hao, Zhou Sheng, and Chen Yekai watched the scene in the Golden Crow Wheel together. It was noon now. Most people don't take afternoon naps, and even if they did fall asleep, their dreamscapes would be extremely hazy. Scenes during light sleep appear extremely messy.
Zhou Sheng said, "Let's exchange information first ba. What did Ah Ze say?"
The two of them simply exchanged the information that they had respectively obtained. Chen Yekai watched the scene in the Golden Crow Wheel at the center of the pyramid, while Zhou Sheng's dragon appeared behind them. Unlike other dreams, most of the time when the Golden Crow Wheel stopped, this time it displayed a dark maze. Tempestuous storms raged within, where thunder roared and streaks of lightning flashed by.
"That's strange," Yu Hao said, "Only this person is sleeping right now. Is it him?"
Zhou Sheng murmured, "It must be him, it can't be anyone else. Someone who's on the brink of death and is dreaming of you too, who else would it be other than Huang Ting? Go!"