"There are monsters in the water, why didn't you say anything? You're setting us up."
Lu Hongtao's expression changed.
The crocodile by the river had killed several people before, making the entire residential complex uneasy.
This pool in the mountain cave didn't look like anything good either. To be honest, he had been cautious when he came yesterday.
But there hadn't been any abnormalities at that time.
Zhang Bo said, "I don't know either. We weren't attacked when we came here before."
Lu Hongtao seized the loophole in his words, "You weren't attacked, but you've seen it before."
Zhang Bo chuckled. He had indeed seen it and knew there was something in the pool, but he deliberately didn't mention it.
Being forced by these people to reveal the altar location had already annoyed him. He wasn't running a charity, why should he explain everything clearly? Keeping something back was precisely to prevent anyone from coming early.
But he certainly wouldn't admit it, immediately retorting sarcastically, "We haven't seen anything, but didn't you send people ahead to take the cards? Didn't the people who came early see what's in the water? Didn't they tell you?"
Lu Hongtao's face flushed red with anger. He glanced warily at the bottom of the pool, "I didn't leak any information."
Zhang Bo mocked, "Then can you guarantee no one else in your team leaked it?"
Lu Hongtao couldn't guarantee that.
This was just a loosely formed temporary alliance to begin with.
Zhang Bo sneered, "See, you can't even guarantee it yourself."
Lu Hongtao scanned the surroundings, then suddenly asked, "Could it be a third party?"
Zhang Bo frowned, "Third party?"
Lu Hongtao said coldly, "Yes. Let's come earlier tomorrow, leave half an hour early—no, an hour early! I refuse to believe someone can beat us to it again. If there really is a third party, and they took the card today, they definitely won't be able to resist coming back tomorrow."
Zhang Bo gradually understood, "If no one comes tomorrow, that means there's a mole."
......
After leaving the cave, they walked east along the mountain foot for a long distance before stopping.
Qin Ziwen took out the card, letting his brother and Deng Guang take turns examining it.
After receiving the card, the two looked at the Recruitment Card in their hands as if handling a rare treasure.
Deng Guang marveled, "A Recruitment Card. Can this really summon a living person? It's amazing."
Qin Ziwu was happy for his older brother, "Brother, that means our team can have one more person."
Returning the card to his older brother, Qin Ziwu said, "Big brother, what do you think the group that originally discovered the altar will think when they find the card is gone?"
Qin Ziwen shook his head, "I don't know, but if I were them, I'd definitely come early tomorrow and set traps around, absolutely not letting us get cards so easily again."
After pausing briefly, Qin Ziwen said, "I think we need to establish some rules going forward. Everyone wants cards like these. We're a team, and without rules, there's no order. I'm not a dictator—I've always believed in one principle: one person can't earn all the money. When we make money together, the team has vitality, and everyone puts in more effort."
Qin Ziwu wanted to say something, but Qin Ziwen raised his hand to stop him.
Qin Ziwen said, "Starting today, whoever discovers an altar in our team can obtain any one card produced by that altar, limited to just one card. This opportunity can be saved for later. If there's a desired card in the future, they can unconditionally obtain it, but only once."
"Then, for cards produced by subsequent altars, it will be determined by the number of people participating in that operation. For example, there are three of us. Everyone who participated in today's operation earns 1/3 contribution share. After accumulating a full share of contribution, they can reserve any card produced by an altar the next day."
Qin Ziwu asked curiously, "Brother, why do we need to reserve?"
Qin Ziwen explained, "Because the cards are all random, and different cards have different functions. Right now, we've just started contacting cards, and it's hard to have a fair evaluation standard for their value, so we'll simply rely on luck."
"This method is temporary. If we establish a value evaluation standard for cards later, we can change it."
Deng Guang hadn't expected that he could also have a chance to obtain cards, and Qin Ziwen's method sounded quite fair. But he felt somewhat ashamed, thinking he hadn't contributed much, "I just feel like I'm taking advantage of you."
Qin Ziwen smiled, "Brother Deng, everyone can play their role. You're an indispensable part of our team too."
Deng Guang let out a long sigh. A flash of determination appeared in the man's eyes, "I understand."
Qin Ziwen said, "Let's head back first."
They had obtained a card today, perfect for testing how many points acquiring one card would give.
The three didn't return the same way but detoured around, returning to the residential complex before noon.
On the wasteland outside the complex gate, Qin Ziwen saw someone pushing a single-wheeled wheelbarrow.
This single-wheeled wheelbarrow had a tire at the bottom, with two long poles extending from either side of the tire, supporting a large, lidless wooden box on top.
It looked crude, but it was indeed a suitable transport tool for mountainous terrain.
Qin Ziwen inquired, "Brother, where did you buy this?"
The man pushing the single-wheeled wheelbarrow had a sun-tanned neck. He took the towel draped over his shoulder and wiped his sweat, "Building 7, Unit 1, 7th floor. There's a carpenter's workshop specifically selling these. This thing is quite convenient for moving stuff. By the way, I'm Qin He. If you need anything moved, you can find me. I live in Building 2, Unit 1, 1st floor. The price is negotiable, just trying to make a living."
Unexpectedly, they shared the same surname.
Now the residential complex was gradually diversifying, with people doing all sorts of jobs. Even this kind of primitive laborer had appeared.
Returning home and closing the door, Qin Ziwen took out the Recruitment Card.
He silently chanted "activate use" in his heart.
The Recruitment Card transformed into light that flew from his fingertips, condensing into a solid ball of white light on the floor ahead.
When the white light dissipated, a blacksmith identical to the picture on the card appeared in place.
The blacksmith was only about 1.7 meters tall, with prominent shoulder muscles.
The blacksmith stood still, his eyes dazed for a moment before quickly clearing.
He looked at Qin Ziwen, opened his mouth, and stammered, "G... Great Lord."
His speech was halting, but clearly in Chinese.
Qin Ziwen asked, "Can you understand what we're saying?"
The blacksmith nodded, "Y... yes, I can."
Qin Ziwen pondered for a moment, then asked, "What's your name?"
The blacksmith said, "I am Li Tieshan, a blacksmith from the West Market Iron Workshop of Yangzhou City."
As the blacksmith spoke more fluently, Qin Ziwen noticed key words, "Yangzhou? Iron Workshop? Where are you from?"
Li Tieshan frowned, thought for a long time, then shook his head dejectedly, "This humble one cannot remember clearly. I only know I must follow your commands from now on, Great Lord."
Qin Ziwen inquired, "Then what do you remember?"
Mentioning his profession, Li Tieshan immediately straightened his chest, his voice becoming brighter, "Reporting to the Great Lord, this humble one is skilled in iron smelting! I can forge farming tools for the fields, ship components for the canals, and daily iron utensils for the neighborhoods!"