Chapter 248: Discovering the Treasure Entrance
Looking at Taotie, covered in blood, and Tom, who remained spotless, Fang Xiaocao couldn’t help but pout—it was a stark contrast.
Some people are just born different. Like fine rice versus coarse bran.
Both were top-tier assassins, yet the difference was night and day.
“Uh… your clothes…”
Fang Xiaocao pointed at the bits of intestine still clinging to Taotie’s outfit, hesitating.
“No big deal! I’ve got spare clothes in my bag!”
Taotie grinned, picking up his backpack and heading behind a nearby tree to change.
Soon, he emerged in fresh attire, swinging his bag casually.
“All set! What’s next?” he asked boisterously.
Fang Xiaocao glanced at Tom.
Tom smiled. “We can head down now. I’ve found the entrance.”
Everyone froze.
“Already?”
“How’d you find it so fast?” Fang Xiaocao asked, puzzled.
“Gotta thank that giant snake,” Tom chuckled.
“It was using the entrance as its nest.”
“Which means there’s probably more snakes inside. The whole treasure vault might be infested.”
He pointed at a dark, gaping hole beneath the intertwined ancient trees.
Fang Xiaocao stiffened.
The group gathered around, peering into the pitch-black abyss. A shiver ran down Fang Xiaocao’s spine—something about that unknown darkness felt wrong.
“Uh…”
“Do we have to go in?” she asked weakly.
As a girl, fear of the unknown—especially the unseen—was only natural.
“Princess, scared already?” Taotie teased with a smirk.
Fang Xiaocao shot him a glare, refusing to dignify that with a response.
“Your Highness, we’ve come this far, faced so many dangers—wouldn’t it be a waste not to check it out?”
Taotie’s grin widened, expertly nudging her curiosity.
Fang Xiaocao wavered.
Damn it. This idiot actually knows how to push my buttons.
“Princess, if there’s really treasure inside, we could use it to build our own forces and crush the Blacklist.”
Tom’s tone turned serious.
“Don’t forget—even though Capricorn is dead, and Taotie’s still inside the Blacklist covering for you, you’re still on their hit list. The Gemini twins’ deaths are pinned on you. Once they realize Capricorn’s gone, they will come after us.”
Fang Xiaocao fell silent.
She had thought her biggest threats—Capricorn and Han Xue—were gone. That she could finally relax, return to her carefree, wealthy life.
But Tom’s words were a wake-up call.
Her real enemy wasn’t just those two women—it was the entire Blacklist.
And now…
Probably the Nemesis too.
After all, Feng Yue had sent footage of Tom and Taotie ambushing the Nemesis back to their headquarters. Even if Fang Xiaocao hadn’t appeared, the Nemesis would eventually trace the connection.
Tom’s cover identity? Her butler.
No matter how careful they were, traces would remain.
After a long pause, Fang Xiaocao nodded firmly.
“Let’s go in.”
“Now we’re talking!” Taotie grinned, cracking his knuckles.
His eyes gleamed with excitement as he stared into the hole.
Tom smiled approvingly.
This was the princess he knew—never one to back down from a challenge.
“Taotie leads, Hummingbird covers the rear. The princess and I take the middle. Stay alert.”
With the decision made, Tom swiftly organized their formation.
“Got it!”
Taotie drew his machete and leaped into the hole without hesitation.
Fang Xiaocao moved to follow, but Tom yanked her back.
“Wait, Princess.”
“Let Taotie scout ahead first.”
“We don’t know how deep this goes. You might get hurt jumping in blindly.”
Fang Xiaocao blinked, staring at Tom in disbelief.
Wow.
You look all noble and handsome, but you’ve got no problem throwing Taotie into danger, huh?
At least warn him to use a rope! What if he breaks his legs?!
Tom smirked, reading her mind.
“Don’t worry about Taotie, Princess. He’s tough. Even if he jumped off a three-story building, he’d walk it off.”
Fang Xiaocao’s lips twitched.
He really does see right through me.
Tom unshouldered his pack, pulling out a coil of climbing rope and tossing it to Hummingbird.
“Find a solid anchor point. The princess will need this.”
As Hummingbird secured the rope, Tom rummaged through his bag, transferring small objects into his pockets. Fang Xiaocao peeked—mostly explosives.
Of course.
Nearly fifteen minutes later, Taotie’s voice echoed faintly from below:
“Clear!”
The hole was indeed deep.
“How far down?” Tom called.
“About ten meters!”
Fang Xiaocao paled.
Ten meters?! If I’d jumped in unprepared…
Tom noticed her expression and smiled.
This is why I’m the professional.
(End of Chapter 248)
