I nodded, having to admire the divine doctor's perspective. Although he lived in seclusion in the mountains, he was by no means a simple rustic. I was certain that he had not only experienced much but also received a higher education and even held important positions.
Though dressed in plain clothes, describing him as dignified and imposing was not an exaggeration. Around fifty years old, his long, greying hair was meticulously combed. He stood about 1.75 meters tall, and his sun-weathered, dark face inspired awe.
During dinner, Wang Dong handed me a piece of paper and also brought a mobile phone.
He was truly thoughtful, even providing a communication device.
I said I wanted to take it to my room to discuss with my master, explaining that I didn't need him present for the call and he could await the results.
After entering my room, I turned on the phone. It had a signal. I dialed Wen Siqiang's number and asked where he was.
He said he was at the raw stone base. I told him everything was fine on my end and asked him to find Jing Lei immediately, as I had something to discuss with her. I instructed him not to call from her phone but to use his own to call me.
Wen Siqiang agreed and said he would contact Jing Lei right away.
About half an hour later, Wen Siqiang called, and Jing Lei was on the line.
She sounded a little anxious. I reassured her that I was fine and asked her to find a pen and jot down an account number and a name. I instructed her to transfer twenty thousand yuan to this account, preferably today, but by tomorrow morning at the latest if today wasn't possible.
Jing Lei said she would, mentioning she knew of a bank that was still open and that she would go there now.
I told her I was fine and to wait for my return with peace of mind.
She acknowledged with a hum and handed the phone back to Wen Siqiang.
I then instructed him to keep an eye on Principal Sun. If he returned, he was to closely monitor his movements. Additionally, I asked him to investigate the girl who was following Principal Sun. I felt that Zhou Yingying was already beyond help with him, and approaching this new girl would yield results.
Wen Siqiang said he understood. I told them to go about their tasks separately and then hung up.
I went out and returned the phone to Wang Dong, telling him the transfer might happen today and to keep an eye on his account.
Some banks take until the next day for transfers, especially for interbank transactions. I wondered if Jing Lei could find a bank of the same network.
Wang Dong nodded and left with the phone.
I had already deleted the call records. At least, with the technological means available here, tracing the recent call history would be difficult.
However, it was still necessary to take precautions. Mobile phones are the least secure means of communication; they transmit via radio waves, making them easy to intercept and record with the right technology.
Therefore, we spoke very cautiously, using many coded phrases that only we understood. These were pre-arranged, using aliases or specific terms, so that even if they were listening in, they wouldn't understand what we were saying.
Despite the backwardness and poverty of the Golden Triangle, advanced equipment and cutting-edge weaponry are not lacking here. The reason the government forces have repeatedly failed in their encirclements and purges is partly due to the mountain's natural barrier and partly because the government troops' equipment is outdated and their weaponry is dilapidated, making them no match for the enemy.
As long as there is a continuous supply of drugs, any weapon, ammunition, or equipment desired in the world can be obtained in exchange.
Thus, it was not surprising that they possessed equipment for intercepting wireless signals.
My caution wasn't directed at Wang Dong but at their organizations potentially monitoring our communications. If they traced the calls, it would lead to significant trouble.
Returning to my room, I found the divine doctor meditating on the bed. His eyes were half-closed, his hands resting on his legs, palms facing upwards, head slightly bowed, already in a state of deep concentration, having entered a wondrous realm.
I tiptoed to the bathroom to wash up. Stripping completely, I turned on the faucet, and hot water gushed out, enveloping my body.
After showering for a long time, I emerged, dried myself, wrapped a towel around my body, and lay down on the bed.
The divine doctor had finished his meditation and was resting with his eyes closed.
Seeing me lie down, he said, "Twenty thousand is not a small sum. Aren't you afraid he's trying to trick you?"
I replied, "We're desperate now, grasping at straws. Let's bet that he has fifty percent sincerity. Don't we still have that fifty percent hope?"
The divine doctor remarked, "That young fellow Wang Dong is cunning and untrustworthy. It's best to be cautious when dealing with him."
I said, "Weren't we tricked by him last time, nearly costing me my life at the valley's bottom? I still haven't learned my lesson. I don't know if this will be a path of swords and flames or a sunlit road."
The divine doctor advised, "Be extra vigilant yourself. If things start to look bad, retreat quickly."
I assured him, "If there are any unexpected developments, I have countermeasures. Rest assured, Senior, Wu Guodong will not trouble you in any way. You can leave on your own, and I'll find a way back."
The divine doctor mused, "I didn't expect you to think three steps ahead in chess, having already planned your retreat?"
I responded, "You identified Wang Dong as untrustworthy, and I have firsthand experience. Therefore, before making this decision, I naturally had to think about my escape route. Being tricked by him again would be utterly foolish."
The divine doctor nodded. "I judged you correctly. You have potential, young man, and will achieve great things in the future."
I replied, "General Wu also said I would succeed, and now you're saying it too. I'm starting to believe it myself. I'm just a half-baked delinquent who didn't even finish high school. In the past, I looked down on myself. In school, I was bullied by the school bullies, and in society, I was hunted by these thugs. I was forced to fight back and defend myself. If I have any insights, it's because I've endured hardship and suffered beatings repeatedly. Where does this potential come from?"
The divine doctor stated, "Whether a person has potential and can achieve something isn't determined by how many beatings you've taken or how much suffering you've endured. It's your magnanimity, your way of handling affairs, your interpersonal skills, and other comprehensive qualities. You possess these. What you need now is the refinement of time and rich experience. As long as you can calm yourself and overcome these challenges one by one, the future world will surely belong to you."
I said, "Senior, I've taken your words to heart. I can calm myself. Heng Qiu also fights desperately. It's just a matter of fighting one more battle or one less. I don't care."
The divine doctor said, "It's good that you think that way. In the future, if you need my help, just call upon me. I will do whatever I can to contribute."
I replied, "I thank you in advance, Senior. With your words, I feel much more at ease. There will be many things in the future that will trouble you. Consider this: our enemies are so powerful. On my own, I can't even touch their edges. We must rely on the elder seniors, and you, Senior, along with the brothers who support me. Together, we will eliminate these scums!"
The divine doctor affirmed, "Indeed, we are not dealing with petty thugs, but with regular armed forces equipped with weapons. They are at the pinnacle of the black chain. We must not only prepare for tough battles but also be ready to be ambushed at any moment."
I responded, "Yes, my connection with Wu Guodong began with an ambush by his men."