The Mighty Mage
Chapter 527: Feng Lian

Chapter 527: Chapter 527: Feng Lian

Gu Jin stared at the screen of the glowing crystal mirror, her fingers tapping against the table. On the mirror, lines of green text slowly appeared—messages from the bug before it was shut down.

"It sent a few short video clips before the system caught it," she said quietly.

Jin Mu leaned closer. "What kind of videos?"

Gu Jin didn’t speak for a moment. She played the clips one by one.

The first showed a dark room—inside, a group of men were standing over a body. Blood was everywhere. One man held a knife.

"That’s... murder," Pei Ke whispered, his face pale.

The next clip showed a shipment being loaded into crates. A voice offscreen said, "Don’t drop it. That’s high-grade mana dust—worth millions on the black market."

Mimi gasped. "They’re smuggling drugs too?"

Gu Jin nodded slowly. "Yes. If we hand this to the police, with a clean record and an honest explanation... there’s a high chance we can win."

Jin Mu’s face lit up. "You mean we can prove our innocence?"

Pei Ke smiled, relief washing over his face. "Finally... we can live like normal people again."

Even Mimi looked happy. She reached for Gu Jin’s hand and said softly, "You did it."

But Gu Jin’s expression didn’t change. Her eyes were still sharp and serious.

"Don’t celebrate yet," she said coldly. "The institute is powerful. They might find some scapegoats to blame and escape the real punishment. They always have a backup plan."

The smiles disappeared from everyone’s faces.

Jin Mu looked down again. "Then... what do we do now?"

Pei Ke asked, "Do you have another plan?"

Gu Jin was about to speak when—

Knock knock.

Everyone froze.

Gu Jin’s brows furrowed. Someone found us? Already?

She lifted her hand, signaling everyone to stay silent. Then she quietly walked to the door and looked through the peephole.

A man stood outside, wearing a black coat and sharp glasses. His posture was calm, but there was something dangerous in the way he stood.

Gu Jin’s eyes narrowed. Wasn’t this the man who sat in the first-class seat opposite me on the plane? Why is he here?

Just then, the man spoke, his voice clear through the door.

"I know you’re inside, Gu Jin. I’m not here to hurt you. I want to talk. I believe we can help each other."

Gu Jin raised an eyebrow.

Help each other?

She opened the door slightly and looked him over again.

"Come in," she said.

She didn’t let him in carelessly—no, in her mind, she had already thought of 101 ways to kill him if he turned out to be a spy from the institute. She was ready to use poison, traps.

The man walked in slowly and looked around at the room.

"You’re rather unguarded," he said with a small smile. "Most people wouldn’t let strangers in like this. But I guess you’re not most people. After all, you solved something the police couldn’t figure out in years."

Gu Jin’s eyes stayed cold. "I’m asking one last time. Who are you, and what do you want?"

The man chuckled.

"My name is Feng Lian," he said, reaching into his coat and pulling out a silver badge. "I’m the head of the Special Forces Department of the Magic Division."

Everyone’s eyes widened.

Feng Lian continued, "I know Jin Mu and Pei Ke were framed. And I have the power to remove their ban instantly. I can also put the institute under direct investigation."

Jin Mu looked shocked. "You... you can really do that?"

Feng Lian nodded. "Yes. But there’s something I need from you first."

Gu Jin folded her arms. "What is it?"

Feng Lian’s face turned serious. "I’m looking for one of the ancient keys. The key to the Void Gate."

Silence filled the room.

Pei Ke stood up quickly. "No way. That’s too dangerous. Don’t listen to him, Gu Jin."

Jin Mu also shook his head. "He’s asking you to risk your life."

Feng Lian didn’t argue. "Yes, it’s dangerous. But if anyone can handle it, it’s you."

He turned to Gu Jin again. "Help me find the key. And I promise I’ll protect your family, clear their names, and make sure the institute pays."

"You said you want the key to the Void Gate," Gu Jin said slowly. "Why? What even is the Void Gate? And why does it need ancient keys?"

Feng Lian looked like he expected that question. But before he could answer, Pei Ke stepped forward, his face serious.

"I can explain," Pei Ke said.

"The Void Gate... it’s not just a gate. It’s the entrance to an ancient temple in Country J. People say that inside the temple, there are powerful items, lost knowledge, and even forgotten spells. Things that could change the whole world."

Jin Mu’s eyes widened. "Then why hasn’t anyone gone inside?"

"Because it’s locked," Pei Ke replied.

"And not just any lock—it’s sealed with a magic only the ancient keys can open. But no one knows where the keys are."

Pei Ke paused before continuing, his voice lowering.

"Actually... one of the keys is believed to be hidden in the Death Mountain. But the place is deadly. Monsters, traps, curses... even a full army from Country J once went in, and not one person came back."

Mimi gasped and hugged herself. "That sounds horrible..."

Gu Jin raised an eyebrow and looked at Feng Lian. "And you want me to go there?"

Feng Lian chuckled lightly, not denying it. "Yes. I won’t lie—it’s dangerous. But if anyone can survive it, it’s you."

Gu Jin gave a cold laugh. "You really are something else. So shameless."

Jin Mu and Pei Ke both stared at her, shocked. Did she really just say that to the head of the Special Forces?

But Feng Lian didn’t get angry. In fact, he laughed. "You’re not wrong. I am shameless when I want something badly."

Gu Jin looked him up and down.

"You want me to risk my life, give you the key, and in return, you clear our names. Nothing more? You’re truly greedy, aren’t you?"

Feng Lian nodded, smiling. "Maybe. But I’m willing to offer more if you have other requests."

Gu Jin’s eyes glinted. "Then I do. I want to be the first person to enter the temple once the gate opens."

Feng Lian’s smile faded a little. He shook his head.

"That’s impossible. The first ten spots are already taken. They belong to powerful people from the government, higher than me. I can’t change that."

Gu Jin’s voice was sharp. "Then I want to be the second."

Feng Lian sighed. "Still no. Like I said, the top ten are fixed. But... I can get you in as the eleventh.

And I’ll let your two cousins join as the 12th and 13th."

Gu Jin didn’t answer right away. She looked at her cousins.

Pei Ke said quietly, "Honestly, it’s not worth it. You don’t have the necromancy element. Death Mountain only benefits necromancers. It’s too risky."

Gu Jin’s eyes widened slightly.

Necromancy?

In her heart, something stirred. Death Mountain benefits necromancers...?

She repeated those words in her mind. Then maybe... my power can grow stronger there.

But she didn’t show it. Her face stayed calm.

She wasn’t going to let Feng Lian know she was interested now.

Feng Lian could tell the deal wasn’t sweet enough. He sighed again.

"Alright," he said. "I’ll let you and your cousins take the 11th, 12th, and 13th spots. No one will stop you."

Gu Jin nodded slowly. "The offer sounds good. But I need something else too."

Feng Lian raised an eyebrow. "What more?"

Gu Jin leaned back in her chair, her arms crossed. "Money. I want payment."

Feng Lian let out a short, dry laugh. "You want money too?"

Gu Jin’s face was calm. "Of course. You want me to walk into Death Mountain. That place kills armies. You said it yourself. I’m not doing it for free."

Feng Lian looked annoyed for a second. He took off his glasses, wiped them, and sighed. "Fine. I’ll give you 10 billion yuan."

Jin Mu and Pei Ke both gasped. Even Mimi’s eyes went wide. That was more money than they could ever imagine.

But Gu Jin?

She just chuckled.

"We’re outside the country," she said lightly. "Yuan won’t do. Let’s use dollars instead."

Feng Lian raised an eyebrow. "Seriously?"

"Yes."

He smiled again and nodded. "Fine. I’ll give you the dollar equivalent of 10 billion yuan."

But Gu Jin shook her head. "No."

Feng Lian paused. "No? Then what do you want?"

Gu Jin looked him dead in the eye.

"I want one trillion dollars."

There was silence.

Feng Lian blinked. "Did you just say... one trillion?"

Gu Jin nodded. "Yes. One trillion. Not a dollar less."

Feng Lian nearly stumbled backward. His face twitched as he stared at her.

"One trillion? That’s more than the national budget of some countries!"

Pei Ke’s jaw dropped. "Jin... are you serious?"