Ch. 751..760

Chapter 751

James shook his head, trying to get Thea out of his mind. He looked at Quincy’s cheek, which was red after being slapped. He stood up, caressed her slightly swollen face, and asked worriedly, “Does it hurt?” “Yeah,” Quincy responded aggrievedly and leaned into James’ arms. “I’m scared of losing you. Once you recover and go back to Thea, what will I do?”

James gently embraced her and sighed. “Then, it must be fate. I’m indebted to her and will never be able to pay her back in this life. It’s my fault she was poisoned. How can I abandon her if I find a way to detoxify the venom?”

Quincy knew his thoughts, which was why she was worried. Despite that, she was satisfied being the woman in James’ arms for the time being. Whatever was bound to happen in the future was inevitable. Still, she was willing to fight against it. Quincy believed she would not lose to Thea. “Cough…cough…” James weakly coughed a few times. Quincy quickly helped him back onto the wheelchair, saying, “It’s too windy out here. I’ll push you back inside.”

“Okay.” James nodded. Pushing James in the wheelchair, Quincy returned to the villa. Soon, Daniel showed up at Quincy’s villa with dozens of highly-skilled soldiers from the Blithe army.

Daniel pointed at the soldiers behind him and said, “James, these are elites from our army. From now on, they’ll obey your orders.”

James looked at them and nodded. “Alright.”

Daniel continued, “From now on, you can contact me directly if you have any needs. Whatever you need, I’ll get it done.”

“Cough!”

James covered his mouth and coughed up blood again. Quincy hurriedly took a tissue to wipe his hands, Jarnes took it from her and said, “I can do it.”

He wiped his hands and looked at Daniel, saying, “Prepare a few off-road vehicles and fill them up with gas. I also need tents, diving equipment, and dry food.” Daniel asked curiously, “What are you planning, James?”

James uttered weakly, “I’m looking for a place. Get them ready for me. We’re leaving tomorrow morning.” “Alright.” Daniel nodded and left with the soldiers to prepare the list of things James requested. For the rest of the day, James remained at Quincy’s house.

The night passed silently.

The next day. Some off-road vehicles appeared outside Quincy’s house. Daniel approached and reported, “Everything’s ready, James.” James nodded and instructed, “Alright, let’s go. The destination is Mount Dragon Treasure.” “Understood.”

Daniel turned and instructed, “Everyone, get in your vehicles. We’re headed to Mount Dragon

Treasure.”

Quincy helped James into the car.

Just then, a Porsche approached them.

Under countless gazes, a beautiful woman in a sexy dress got out of the car. Her face was slightly covered with bandages. However, it did not affect her charisma, and she was just as beautiful. The approaching woman was Thea. Last night, she returned home and thought about James until dawn. She concluded that she still loved him and could not live without him.

James was about to get in the car when he saw her approaching. His brows furrowed as he questioned, “What are you doing here?” Thea quickly walked to James and took his hand. With a bright smile, she asked, “Why can’t I be here? Are you heading out? Here, I’ll help you.”

Quincy sensibly let go of James. James held on to the car door, looked at Thea with a troubled expression, and pleaded. “Thea, can you stop causing trouble for me? I’m off to do important business.” “Important business? Thea glared at Quincy and said, “Why can she go, but I can’t?”

Thea’s words rendered James speechless.

Chapter 752

Quincy said with a smile, “Since Thea wants to follow, let her come with us.” “Hmph!” Thea snorted. Ignoring Quincy, she tried to help James into the car. “I can do it myself.” James shook her hand off and got into the car without anyone’s help. Thea quickly got into the car and sat beside him.

Not wanting to be outdone, Quincy walked to the other side of the vehicle. She opened the door and sat on the other side of James.

After everyone got in their respective vehicles, the team set off slowly to their destination.

Shortly after getting into the car, James leaned back and closed his eyes to rest.

Thea held his hand intimately and asked with a smile, “Honey, where are we going?”

Quincy criticized her, “Can you be quiet? James needs to rest right now.”

Thea retorted, “I’m talking to my husband right now. What does it have to do with you?” 2

“You…”

Quincy was furious.

James opened his eyes, looked at Thea, and said in dissatisfaction, “Can you keep it down? You’re being very annoying right now. If you say another word, you’ll have to get off the car immediately.” Hearing this, Thea stopped talking. She held on to James’ hand and leaned her head on his shoulder.

Only now did she realize how comfortable James’ shoulder was. She hoped for things to remain like this for the rest of her life.

The car moved quickly.

Soon, they arrived at the vicinity of Mount Dragon Treasure, located at the junction of Cansington and North Cansington.

At the vicinity of Mount Dragon Treasure…

The off-road vehicles parked on the roadside, and people quickly got off.

James got out of the car, stood at the roadside, and looked at the hundred-meter-wide river in the distance. He pointed at it and said, “Set up a tent by the riverbank.”

Daniel ordered, “What is everyone doing? Get moving! Start setting up our camp.”

All of the soldiers were from special forces and acted quickly. They took out their bags from the vehicles and hurriedly walked toward the riverside to set up their camp. James sat on a rock near the riverside.

Daniel went over to him and handed him a cigarette. “I quit smoking.” James waved his hand and refused it.

Daniel lit his cigarette and looked at the hundred-meter-wide river in front of them. He asked, “James, what are you looking for?”

James explained, “An underground cavern. Daniel, send someone to ask the nearby residents if there are any caverns around this area.” “Alright.” Daniel nodded.

Then, he gestured to a few several soldiers. “You guys, come over here.”

The soldiers quickly trotted over.

Daniel instructed, “Scout the area for any residents. Ask them if there’s an underground cavern nearby.”

“Alright.”

The soldiers quickly dispersed.

Meanwhile, in the Capital…

In the Emperor’s Mansion. The Emperor sat on a sofa with his legs crossed. A middle-aged man stood in front of him.

“What is James doing after returning to Cansington?” The Emperor asked indifferently.

The middle-aged man standing in front of him replied, “Nothing much. However, he did borrow dozens of soldiers from the Blithe King. They headed to the suburbs this morning, seemingly looking for something.” “He borrowed soldiers from the Blithe King?”

The Emperor frowned and ordered, “Find out what he’s looking for.”

“Understood. I’ll send someone to spy on him.”

“Alright. You’re dismissed,” The Emperor waved his hand and said.

The subordinate turned around and left.

The Emperor gently massaged his temples.

“James, James. You’re getting on my nerves. It doesn’t matter that I crippled you. I can’t sleep or eat in peace with you alive. You can’t blame me for this.”

As long as James was still alive, he would be a threat to the Emperor.

Unless he was killed, the Emperor would not be at peace.

The Emperor took out his phone and dialed a number. “Get some people to kill James. Be sure not to leave any traces behind.”

Chapter 753

Mount Dragon Treasure Mountain, Fortune River.

James sat on a rock with his phone in hand, analyzing what happened in the three months before the Cadens’ villa was set ablaze ten years ago.

Quincy saw beside him and asked, “What are you looking at, James?”

Thea’s curiosity was also piqued.

Last night, she concluded that she did not want to lose James to Quincy. Therefore, she went to look for them and coincidentally joined their trip. Until now, she still had no idea what James’ plan was.

James put his phone down and looked at the mountain across the river, explaining, “I’m looking at the weather reports back then. I’m trying to deduce the river’s depth by analyzing if there was any heavy rain that year.” Quincy frowned and asked, “Why do you need to know the water levels?” James explained, “Back then, 1 jumped into the river and held onto a log, floating along the current. That’s how I survived. I didn’t sink to the bottom of the river, so I definitely drifted to the underground cavern along the river’s current. Determining the water levels would allow me to have a rough gauge of the cavern’s location.”

Thea could not help but ask, “Honey, are you looking for an underground cavern? Why are you looking for it? You can ask me if that’s what you’re trying to figure out. I used to play along the Fortune River frequently.”

James turned to Thea and asked doubtfully, “You’re familiar with such things?”

Thea fell into thought.

She racked her mind and said, “I remember there was a severe drought that year. It hadn’t rained for several months, and the water levels were relatively shallow. I was catching crabs by the river with a few classmates.”

James asked, “Are you sure?”

“Yeah.” Thea nodded.

The memories from ten years ago tormented her for a long time, so much that it was impossible for her to forget.

James looked at the gushing river in front of him and fell into deep thought. After a while, he reached a conclusion,

If there was a severe drought ten years ago, the water levels then would be incredibly shallow, al about ten to twenty meters deep.

He sat on the rock absent -inindedly. The virus carried by the Gu in his body had already affected his brain and nervous system. It was difficult for him to think for an extended period. Otherwise, he would suffer from unbearable headaches,

Soon, the soldiers that had gone looking for residents returned. “We’ve obtained information about several underground caverns under that mountain opposite from us. They extend in all directions and are interconnected.”

“A few villagers also mentioned another cavern on the opposite riverbank, but it had already been flooded with water.”

“Yeah. I heard about that one too. It’s around that area.” The soldiers reported the information they gathered one by one. “Alright.”

James nodded after listening to them. He pointed to the mountain opposite them and instructed, “Head to that cliff and dive ten to twenty meters underwater. After finding the underground cavern, go inside and check if there’s a statue.”

James remembered that the cavern where he found the medical book extended in various directions. He wandered for a very long time and found a statue. Near the statue, he found the medical book

One of the soldiers asked, “What kind of statue?” James harked back to the past. When he entered the cavern, it was pitch black, and he could not see his surroundings. The statue seemed to be of a human being or some sort of monster. Perhaps it was not a statue at all but simply a boulder.

“I’m not sure if it’s a statue. It might’ve been a human, a monster, or just a boulder. In short, it’s about ten meters tall, and its surroundings are completely flat. You’ll know it’s the right place once you find it.”

Daniel ordered, “Why are you all still here? Get moving!” “Yes, sir!” The soldiers nodded.

They quickly put on their wetsuits and jumped into the river.

The current was fast, and the waves were huge, making it difficult to swim in the river. However, they were soldiers trained in the special forces, and it was not a big deal to them.

Most of the soldiers from the team jumped into the river, whereas a few stood nearby on guard.

The breeze near the river was cold, and a chill blew toward James, causing his whole body to shiver.

“What’s wrong? Are you feeling cold?” Quincy, who was beside him, asked with concern. James nodded, “Yeah, a little.” Quincy suggested, “The autumn winds are chilly. Let’s head inside the tents to rest. I’ll ask them to pick up some dry wood and build a fire.”

After saying that, she stood up to support James

Chapter 754

Thea immediately interrupted and reached out to support James. She glared at Quincy and said coldly. “I’ll take care of this. You shouldn’t get too intimate with my husband in the future.”

Quincy let go of James with an embarrassed expression.

Although technically, James had accepted her as his girlfriend, Thea was still his ex-wife, and she felt slightly guilty toward her.

Deep down, even she felt that she was stealing Thea’s man.

James was cold and was suffering from a headache. Feeling faint, he did not have the energy to argue with Thea.

He could only cast Quincy an apologetic look Quincy understood and gave him a slight nod. Thea helped James back into the tent nearby to rest. The tent was already filled with pillows and blankets.

James made himself comfortable after entering the tent and tried to rest. However, Thea did not leave him. Instead, she sat beside him and looked at him with teary eyes. “James, are you still mad at me?”

James did not want to answer and kept his eyes shut.

He was dizzy, and his whole body felt light as if he was about to float.

“Answer me, James. Are you still mad at me?” Thea’s voice rang in his ears.

James opened his eyes slightly. He looked at Thea, but he had double vision and saw multiple figures overlapping each other. He blinked a few times before finally seeing Thea’s face clearly. “I’m not in the mood to talk right now. Can you leave and let me rest in peace?” James uttered weakly.

“No! You have to answer me now!”

Thea was unrelenting and tugged James’ sleeves, trying to pull him up. She shook him and shouted like a madman. “I know I made a mistake. Why won’t you forgive me? I know you love me too. I know that you’ve done so much for me. Let’s start over, please. I’ll take care of you for the rest of your life.”

James was slightly dizzy, and after being shaken by Thea, he began to feel nauseated. Suddenly, he coughed up blood.

A few droplets splattered on Thea’s hand.

Inside his blood, a tiny worm could be seen wriggling around.

It was a tiny white worm that looked incredibly disgusting.

Seeing this, Thea screamed out in fright. She quickly stood up and tried to shake it off her hand. Quincy heard her shouting and quickly walked into the tent. Seeing James’ lips and Thea’s hand covered in blood, she promptly took out a tissue to wipe his lips. She asked worriedly.” Are you alright?” James closed his eyes and shook his head weakly.

He did not want to talk and simply wanted to sleep. Seeing that James was unwilling to speak, Quincy glared at Thea and said furiously, “Come out with me.”

Thea’s face went pale from fear. She looked at James lying in bed and noticed his fatigued appearance. Suddenly, she felt a sharp pain in her chest, as if a knife was stabbing into her heart.

She walked out of the tent, visibly traumatized from the incident. Outside the tent… Quincy said coldly, “What are you doing? I’ve already warned you about James’ condition. He’s extremely weak and needs to rest. Why do you keep bugging him? Do you have any idea how bad his condition is right now?” “I-… I didn’t know.” Thea was horrified. She never expected the venom in James’ body to be so brutal. His condition was more severe than she thought..

Quincy said helplessly, “I’ve been telling you how horrible his condition is. He’s even said that he only has a few months left to live. Why do you think he’s risking his life to come here?”

Thea looked at Quincy in confusion and asked, “Why?”

“He’s doing it to survive and also for you. He knows that you’re also poisoned with Gu, so he came here to find a way to detoxify the venom. So, please give him some peace of mind and stop disturbing him. You’re only going to frustrate him.”

Chapter 755

Thea was stunned.

James came to the cavern to find a way to detoxify the venom?

‘He’s doing this all for me?’

She suddenly felt that she did not understand James at all.

James had been doing so much for her and was even worrying about the venom in her body. Meanwhile, she was only causing him trouble. “I…”

She parted her lips but was unable to utter a word. Quincy ignored her and walked back into the tent. James’ eyes were shut, and he had already drifted into sleep. Even asleep, his face looked pale and weak. Quincy felt helpless and sighed upon seeing the condition he was in. James slept for a very long time and was woken up by pain. This time, it was not just a simple headache. Instead, he felt an excruciating pain throughout his entire body.

It felt as if countless poisonous worms were biting on his flesh, drinking his blood, burrowing into his bones, and trying to tear his body apart.

He was a soldier who had been through hundreds of battles and suffered all kinds of injuries, but the pain was unbearable to him. He hugged his knees and rolled around, groaning in pain.

“Argh!!!”

James’ screams immediately caught the attention of the people outside.

Quincy and Thea quickly rushed into the tent. Seeing James painfully rolling on the ground in a fetal position, both of them turned pale. Quincy squatted down quickly, held James’ hand, and called out to him, “James, are you okay?”

Thea was stunned and did not know what to do.

Daniel followed them into the tent and was upset to see James in pain. He was a great hero that served the country and its people. In the end, destiny was not kind to him. His downfall was a tragedy for their nation.

Soon, the pain subsided.

A few minutes later, all the pain was gone.

With Quincy’s help, he weakly got up from the ground and sat up. Quincy wiped the sweat on his face with her sleeve.

“I’m alright.” James smiled at Quincy. He stood up with all his strength but was overwhelmed with dizziness. Quincy quickly stood up, supported him, and said, “Your body is weak. You should lie down and rest.”

James uttered weakly, “It’s uncomfortable lying down for so long. I want to go out for a walk.”

Quincy reluctantly helped him out of the tent.

The soldiers had already started a fire.

Beside it was a few benches to sit on.

James sat on the bench near the fire. However, it was uncomfortable for him as there was nothing to lean on. He turned to Quincy and requested, “Help me get the wheelchair from the car.”

“Alright.” Quincy nodded. Daniel promptly stopped her. “You should stay.” After saying that, he waved his hand to a soldier patrolling nearby and shouted, “Go get the wheelchair from the car.”

Receiving the order, the soldier quickly headed to retrieve the wheelchair. Soon, the wheelchair was brought to them.

James sat in the wheelchair and leaned back. Only then did he feel more comfortable.

He took his phone out and looked at it.

He had slept till noon. He turned to Daniel and asked, “Have the soldiers that dived into the water returned?”

Daniel shook his head. “Not yet. They must’ve found the cave but have yet to spot the statue you mentioned.”

James nodded gently. He did not have high hopes either. It was a coincidence that he stumbled upon the cavern. Whether it had what he needed was also unknown.

However, as long as there was a chance, he had to at least try.

He already had a plan. If he could not find what he needed here, he would have to go back to the Cadens and ask them for the Moonlit Flowers on Cliffside’s Edge and find a way to unravel the secrets within the painting.

An Internal Martial Arts cultivation method must be hidden within it.

Feeling cold, he reached his hands out to the fire. Quincy asked, “Are you hungry, James? I’ll go and get you something to eat.” “Yeah.” James nodded. He was indeed a little hungry. Quincy immediately got up and went to the car to get some food.

She had prepared a lot of food prior to their departure.

After James finished eating, the soldiers that had headed out returned.

Daniel asked, “What’s the situation?” A soldier replied, “General, there was indeed an underground cavern down there. It’s incredibly deep and extends in many directions. However, we couldn’t find the statue James mentioned. Some of the other guys are still looking around in the cavern.

Chapter 756

Disappointment spread across James’ face. Quincy held his hand and comforted him. “Don’t worry. We’ll find it.” “I hope so.” James nodded lightly. He knew the chances of finding it were slim. Even if they found it, what he was looking for might not be inside.

He continued to wait patiently for updates.

Soon, it was evening. The soldiers that had stayed back to search the cavern returned.

They had scouted for an extended period but could not find any statue or boulder more than ten meters high.

The campfire continued to burn at the riverbank.

Daniel asked, “What should we do now, James?”

James fell into thought.

Even dozens of trained soldiers could not find the statue after a whole day’s search. It was unlikely for them to find it at this point.

There were only two possibilities-the statue or stone had collapsed after ten years, or they were looking in the wrong place.

James took out the map and analyzed it again.

He observed the map, looked at the river before him, and then gazed at the mountain. The mountain was massive, and the river flowed downstream off the cliff.

After pondering for a while, James said, “Let’s rest for today. Tomorrow, get everyone to continue searching downstream to see if there are other entrances to the cavern.”

James was not giving up just yet.

This was his only chance to survive. Moreover, Thea’s life was also on the line.

Giving up would mean waiting for death.

His condition would deteriorate daily until his whole body was paralyzed, rendering him bedridden.

It would be a tragedy for a War God to end in such a miserable way. He could not go down like this. Even if he were to die, it had to be on the battlefield. Daniel instructed the soldiers, “Take turns to keep watch tonight. We’ll continue the search tomorrow.” “Yes, sir!”

The soldiers answered in unison. As the sun went down, their surroundings gradually darkened, and the stars lit up the sky. A few more campfires were started at the riverbank. Soldiers gathered around the fires and chatted cheerfully.

Meanwhile, James sat in his wheelchair by a campfire.

He held onto a map and carefully analyzed it. “James, you’ve been looking at it for quite some time. Take a break,” Quincy said, concerned. Thea walked over to them with some warm water. She opened the bottle and brought it to James’ lips, saying softly, “Honey, have some warm water. It’ll keep you warm.”

James was thirsty, so he put the map down and took a sip.

Concurrently, in the Capital…

In the Emperor’s Mansion.

Sitting on the sofa was the Emperor.

In front of him stood a middle-aged man.

“Commander, there’s been some news from Cansington. According to the reports, James took dozens of soldiers to Mount Dragon Treasure in search of an underground cavern.” “An underground cavern?” The Emperor was stunned and asked, “Why is he looking for it?”

The man explained, “A soldier accompanying him overheard James’ conversation with his companions. Apparently, James jumped into a river ten years ago and drifted into an underground cavern. That’s where he got his medical skills from. It seems he’s looking for something inside the cavern. As for what, we’ve yet to find out.”

James had borrowed dozens of people from the Blithe King.

However, these people did not sign a non-disclosure agreement.

Some of them overheard the conversation between James, Quincy, and Thea.

Therefore, it was not difficult for the Emperor’s men to find out James’ whereabouts.

After hearing the report, he waved his hand and said, “Alright, you’re dismissed.”

“Understood.”

The middle-aged man stepped back. The Emperor fell into thought.

“What is he looking for?” After thinking for a while, he took out his phone and made a call. “Stay still for now. Keep following him and pay attention to his every move. Find out what he’s looking for and take it.”

“Understood.”

A hoarse voice sounded from the other side of the phone.

Chapter 757

Originally, the Emperor wanted to kill James.

Although James was crippled, the fact that he was alive was enough to keep the Emperor at his wits’ ends.

In the past, the Emperor could not get rid of him as he still possessed the Blade of Justice. Even though he had resigned from his position, his death would still be investigated.

However, now that James was a civilian and had handed over the Blade of Justice, no one would care if he was dead or alive.

As long as the Emperor covered it up well, he would be safe.

Learning that James was looking for something, he once again had a change of mind.

James must be looking for something extraordinary. He intended to grab it before killing him off once and for all.

He hung up but was still worried. After a while, he made another phone call.

“Is the person you reached out to reliable?”

The hoarse voice sounded from the phone. “Don’t worry. He’s absolutely reliable. He was a mercenary abroad and worked with me. We’ve been through life and death together. If you give him enough money, he’ll kill even the King of Sol if he can.

The Emperor thought for a while and said, “James isn’t just anybody. Even after crippling him, I’m still worried about him being a threat. Even Floyd didn’t stand a chance against him. You should go to Cansington in person, keep an eye on him, and grab whatever he finds in the cavern.”

The person on the other end of the phone hesitated.

“Boss, there are many people with him right now, including Thea, Quincy, Daniel, and the soldiers of the Blithe army.”

“Kill them all. Don’t leave any evidence.”

“Understood.”

The Emperor hung up the phone and threw it on the table. He leaned back on the sofa and touched his face pensively.

“James, you sure are worrisome. Even while crippled, you’re not saving me any trouble,” he murmured.

On Mount Dragon Treasure, Kensington. On the riverbank of Fortune River…

Not long after James had his dinner, his stomach started grumbling again. He ate another meal and began to feel drowsy, so he left to rest in the tent.

Quincy and Thea remained in front of the campfire.

Crackle…

The flames were blazing, emitting sparks. Quincy said, “It’s getting late. You should go to bed.” Thea looked at her and asked, “What about you?” Quincy shook her head and replied, “I’m not sleepy yet. Plus, James doesn’t sleep very well and wakes up easily. He has to have something to eat every time he wakes up. Today, his condition seems to be deteriorating rapidly. I’m afraid something might come up, so I’ll stay on guard for the time being.”

Quincy’s remarks made Thea ashamed.

She was James’ wife but never considered this stuff.

Suddenly, she felt like she had failed him as his wife. It was no wonder James decided to leave her. She must have really broken his heart.

“A-Alright. I’ll leave the first half of the night to you. I’ll get some rest. Wake me up when you’re sleepy.” Thea was feeling drowsy, and she yawned while walking toward the tent. Quincy stayed on guard and paid close attention to James.

Before midnight, James woke up from hunger. He turned around feebly and sat up. Quincy immediately walked inside after seeing him get up. “You’re up?”

James picked up the phone to check the time. He was shocked to find out that it was already midnight. He asked, “You haven’t slept yet?” Quincy replied with a smile, “I’m not sleepy. Are you hungry?”

James nodded lightly.

“Wait for a bit. I’ll go warm up some food.” Quincy walked out of the tent.

They had prepared well for this trip and brought along a small generator and an induction cooker.

Taking out the stuff, Quincy began to warm the food. She wanted to feed James but was turned down.

James took the food and ate it himself.

After finishing the food, he yawned and said, “It’s already so late. You should get some rest too.”

“Alright.” Quincy nodded and left the tent.

James lay down but could not fall asleep.

His mind was full of Quincy. He was indebted to this woman but could not promise her anything

“Huff…” James sighed helplessly and pushed the thoughts out of his head. He closed his eyes and fell asleep soon after.

James woke up several times throughout the night.

He was either awakened by pain, hunger, or the cold winds.

Now, his body felt incredibly cold, as if he was in an igloo.

Chapter 758

Meanwhile, Quincy stayed up the whole night, guarding his tent.

Thea, on the other hand, slept soundly.

It was already the next day when she woke up.

She rolled over, sat up, and picked up her phone. Seeing that it was eight in the morning, she slapped her forehead and cursed herself remorsefully, “Thea, you good-for-nothing!” She quickly got out of bed, fixed her messy hair, and walked out of the tent. Outside, the campfires were still burning. James was sitting in his wheelchair with Quincy massaging his head from behind. Thea walked over and called out, “Quincy.” Quincy turned her head and gestured for her to keep quiet. Thea came close and saw that James had fallen asleep in the wheelchair. Seeing Quincy’s exhausted face, she asked in a hushed tone, “D-did you not sleep at all?”

“Huff…” Quincy sighed softly and said, “James’ condition got worse again last night. He kept waking up either cold or in pain. His body feels like ice right now.”

Thea reached out and touched James’ face.

His face was ice-cold.

She looked at Quincy and said, “You’ve worked hard. I’ll look after him now. Go and get some rest.”

Quincy was sleepy and nodded. “Okay. Wake me if something happens.” “Alright, go and rest.” Thea waved her hand.

Quincy turned around and walked into the tent to rest.

“Haa…” James woke up and yawned.

He turned to Daniel and asked, “General Highsmith, what are the latest updates? Have the soldiers returned?”

Daniel answered promptly, “Yeah. Some of them returned just now. They’ve found a few underground caverns and are searching them one by one.” “Alright,” James replied casually. “Honey, have some warm water.” Thea returned with a bottle of warm water. She opened the cap and pushed it to his lips. “I’ll handle it.”

James took the water bottle and took a sip.

The warm water traveled down his stomach and made him feel much better.

He handed the bottle back to Thea.

Then, he stared at the river absent-mindedly.

He hoped that the soldiers who had gone out searching for the cavern would return with good news.

Time passed minute by minute.

Several hours had passed in the blink of an eye, and soon it was noon.

James was eating when suddenly, a figure emerged out of the water. The man surfaced, took off his rebreather, and shouted, “We found it! We found the cavern!”

Hearing this, James put down his bowl and utensils and jumped up ecstatically.

The soldier quickly swam ashore.

He walked over and reported, “Sir, we found the statue that you mentioned. It’s a dragon head statue over ten meters tall.” –

“Finally,” James said with relief.

Then, he asked, “Did you find anything else inside?”

“No.”

“I-I’ll have to go and take a look for myself. Prepare me a wetsuit.”

“You can’t do that.”

Thea tugged James’ hand and dissuaded him, “Honey, you can’t go. You’re in such a terrible state and can’t even walk. You’ll be swept away by the current in minutes.”

“I must go,” James said firmly. He knew the cave’s situation and would only be relieved if he went to look for it himself.

“But, how are you supposed to go in this state?” Thea was worried.

“I’m fine.”

James waved his hand.

Daniel promptly interrupted them, “The river is quite deep. I’ll use my connections to get a small submarine.”

James nodded. “That would be best. I’ll go get ready.”

Daniel stepped aside, took out his phone, and made a call.

Chapter 759

Daniel was a one-star general with great authority. Getting a submarine was a piece of cake to him. After making the call, he walked toward James and reported, “James, I’ve made the phone call, and the submarine will be arriving shortly. However, you’ll have to wait for a while.”

“Alright.” James nodded and sat back in his wheelchair.

An hour later, the submarine arrived.

It was a small submarine that could only fit five people. When it arrived, Quincy had just woken up from her nap. At the riverbank…

With the help of Quincy and Thea, James changed into a wetsuit.

Quincy looked at James, who was already dressed in a wetsuit, and asked, “James, are you sure you don’t need me to come with you? You’re weak right now. What are you going to do if something happens in the cavern?” James reassured her, “Nothing will happen.” “Quincy, you wait at the riverbank. I’ll go with him,” said Thea.

James turned to Thea and said, “You’re not allowed to go either. Just stay here. I’ll come back right after taking a quick look.”

“No.” Thea was firm.

She was worried about James and was determined to follow him.

“James, let her come with you. It’ll be better with someone taking care of you,” Quincy persuaded. She, too, was worried about James’ safety. Although there were other soldiers with him, it would be better to have someone more attentive come along.

James gave up trying to retort them and boarded the submarine.

Thea quickly put on a wetsuit and followed after James.

Daniel did not follow them.

He instructed the soldiers, “Take care of James.”

“Yes, sir! We’ll make sure to complete our mission!” The accompanying soldiers replied in unison

The submarine slowly descended into the water and gradually disappeared. Quincy sat at the riverbank, patiently awaiting their return. In the distance, on a mountain behind the road…

Dozens of people were gathered at the peak.

The leader was a middle-aged man dressed in a camouflage outfit without military badges. He had a round face with slightly tanned skin. Another man of a similar age standing beside him said with a smile, “Dom, was it necessary for you to come in person to deal with a crippled man? This looks like it can be settled in minutes.”

The round-faced, slightly tanned man held a pair of binoculars and inspected the movements on the riverbank

His real name was unknown, but he used to be a mercenary by the nickname Dominator.

Dominator replied indifferently. “The boss ordered me to personally take care of this matter. They must’ve found something, seeing that they’re going underwater. Prepare to take action. Kill those on the riverbank first and chase after those underwater. Kill James and take whatever he’s looking for.”

“Alright. I’ll instruct the others to get ready for action.”

After the dozens of people received the order, they quietly moved toward their target.

At the riverbank…

Daniel remained on land with more than a dozen men standing guard nearby.

Everyone else had gone to the underground cavern.

Bang!

Suddenly, a gunshot sounded.

Right after, a soldier fell to the ground.

“There’s an enemy ambush! Everyone, on defense!” One of the soldiers shouted.

The other soldiers quickly took out their guns and sought cover.

Daniel heard the warning, looked up, and saw dozens of people with weapons rushing toward them.

“They sure do have a death wish!” He cursed out loud and quickly pulled out his gun.

Then, he quickly rushed to Quincy, who was still looking at the waters in a daze and pulled her off the chair, pressing her down on the ground. Quincy was absorbed in her thoughts while looking at the water and was oblivious to what was happening. After being pulled to the ground, she asked frantically, “What’s happening, General Highsmith?”

Daniel lay on the ground and quickly explained, “We’ve got enemies coming our way.”

“What?”

Quincy turned pale upon hearing that they were under attack. Bang! Bang! Bang!

Gunshots sounded around them.

Seeing that they had more than a dozen fully-armed enemies, Daniel knew they would be at a disadvantage if they tried to fight back.

On top of that, he had to protect Quincy.

He was not afraid of death, but Quincy’s life was now on his shoulders.

“General Highsmith, you have to retreat right now!” A soldier in the distance shouted.

“Let’s go.”

Chapter 760

Daniel quickly read the situation. He knew that if they chose to fight back, Quincy would surely get injured in the process, even if they managed to take down their enemies. He quickly pulled Quincy up and ran. Bang! Bang! Bang! Gunshots kept sounding from a distance.

The opponent’s firepower was overwhelming.

Although Daniel had brought experienced soldiers from the special forces, they were not equipped with destructive weapons and only carried pistols.

Their pistols were not enough to suppress the opponent’s firepower.

Soon, the soldiers sustained injuries.

Daniel had no time to be concerned with their safety and quickly ran away with Quincy. Seeing them fleeing from the scene, Dominator quickly ordered his men, “Chase after them! Don’t let even one escape!” The mercenaries quickly chased after them.

However, the mercenaries were quickly suppressed by the soldiers covering for them.

These mercenaries turned all their firearm toward Daniel.

Daniel had run for more than ten meters but was not out of fire range yet.

He stayed behind Quincy, acting as her shield, and sustained a shot in his back.

Immediately, he fell to the ground.

“Ahh…”

Quincy also fell to the ground.

“R-Run!”

Daniel pushed Quincy with all his might and shouted, “Quick, run! Find a safe place and call the Blithe King. Ask him to send backup!” While speaking, he hurriedly handed his phone over to Quincy.

“The password is four eights. The Blithe King’s number is saved inside. Take it and run…”

Quincy did not have any time to think. She stood up and frantically ran away from the scene.

Daniel sat up, turned to the distance, and kept shooting to cover for Quincy. Although their opponents had heavy firepower, the soldiers with Daniel were not ordinary people. They were veterans that had gone through countless battles. Even with their pistols, they managed to take down twenty mercenaries. However, despite their excellent skills, they were unable to escape death. Daniel was shot but was not dead yet. After running out of ammunition, he stayed down on

the ground and was soon surrounded by dozens of guns.

Meanwhile, at the riverbank…

The mercenaries carefully examined the dead bodies. “Boss, thirteen of them are dead, and we captured one alive. However, a woman managed to escape. The person we captured alive is General Highsmith.”

Hearing this, Dominator frowned.

The battle continued for a long time. Quincy had already disappeared without a trace.

“Send a few men to find and kill her. Keep a few here to clean up the bodies. As for the general, keep him alive so the woman doesn’t escape and call for backup. We can use the general as a hostage.”

“Understood.”

A few mercenaries went after Quincy. Meanwhile, the others put on wetsuits and jumped into the river. Quincy was still on the run. She fell a few times but never looked back.

After running for a long time, she noticed that no one was chasing her, so she stopped. She turned and looked behind her to make sure no one was there.

Seeing that she was safe, she squatted on the ground and sobbed.

She saw Daniel getting shot and knew he was in a bad position.

While crying, she took out Daniel’s phone and entered the password with trembling hands. She looked for the Blithe King’s personal number and dialed it.

In the Military Region.

The Blithe King was in a meeting when his phone suddenly rang.

His brows furrowed as he stopped the meeting. He took out his phone and saw that it was Daniel.

He answered the phone and asked, “What’s wrong? Did something happen?”

“B-Blithe King, General… General Highsmith was shot. We were attacked, and the soldiers fought back… The general… asked me to call for support… Boohoo…”

A woman’s shivering voice sounded through the phone.

“F*cker!” The Blithe King slammed the table in anger.

With a grim expression, he ordered, “Locate James’ and General Highsmith’s phones and send troops to support them immediately.” After giving the order, the Blithe king comforted Quincy, “Miss, calm down. Tell me, what’s the situation right now?”

“I-I don’t know. General Highsmith was shot, and he told me to escape.”

“Alright. Hide and don’t expose your location. The army will arrive near Mount Dragon Treasure within half an hour.”

“Okay.” Quincy hung up the phone. Afraid that the enemies were still on her tail, she ran with all her might.

She dared not take the main road but instead crossed over it and ran deep into the dense woods.