Chapter 14: Into the Savage Mountains

The Old Pit Glass Apple Green jade, the flawless Ice Jade with Floating Flowers, and the exquisite Ice Lavender Jade—with these three breathtaking treasures, Jade Fortune Jewelry became the undisputed, sensational winner of the auction. The entire industry was now buzzing. To seal the company's fate and future, all three pieces were acquired by the representative of the formidable Bentley family. The aristocratic Quinton “Qu” Bentley himself had presented a business card before departing, an undeniable declaration of support. This deliberate act triggered a massive, envy-inducing ripple effect across the entire jewelry world.

That night, Alan Sterling was immersed in endless social engagements and celebratory banquets with eager jewelers. Skylar Vance, meanwhile, made a final stop at the internet café to finalize the detailed, topographic maps and routes for the remote mountain area she was heading toward.

As she stepped out, a sleek, black Mercedes sedan glided to a silent halt before her. The window descended smoothly, revealing the handsome, noble, and dangerously astute face of Quinton Bentley.

Skylar knew he was no mere playboy. He was a master predator in a suit. His move at the auction, the strategic card—it had all been calculated. His appearance here now only confirmed her suspicion: his true, proprietary target was her.

Under the deep obsidian curtain of the night sky, the flickering neon signs cast a chiaroscuro of light and shadow over Quinton’s face, emphasizing his chiseled perfection. He smiled, a gesture that was at once charming and predatory, issuing a proposition that was both an offer of power and a demand for ownership.

“Your technique is exceptional. I require that level of competence in my immediate circle. Are you interested in a permanent position… by my side?”

By my side. The phrasing was loaded, an intimate invitation delivered with all the chilling formality of a man who was accustomed to buying whatever he desired. Since he was unaware of Skylar’s true identity, the offer was framed as a transparent transaction—a lucrative exchange of her skills for his vast resources.

It was in this moment that Quinton witnessed a phenomenon that would haunt him for years. That extraordinarily delicate, beautiful face broke into a full smile. The expression was fleeting but utterly devastating, a brilliant, blossoming beauty that seemed to roll and shimmer deep within her startlingly clear eyes. It was a smile as radiant as a sunlit flower, yet it simultaneously sent a cold, paralyzing chill through him, hinting at the immeasurable darkness within her soul.

“Many people in this world have tried to ‘buy’ me,” Skylar said, her voice dropping to a low, lethal purr. “But every single one of those people… eventually died by my hand.”

The words were spoken without malice, yet they held the gravity of a thousand deaths. Quinton would recall that precise moment, that cold, beautiful threat, time and time again. He would be eternally grateful that his aristocratic pride hadn't driven him to provoke an immediate, fatal enemy.

With her assets established and her resources secured, Skylar knew that reckless action was still unwise. While her wings were not yet fully formed, calculated patience and stealth were her best defenses.

However, some people and places were not exempt from immediate, unavoidable retribution. Her past debt had come due.

The day after the auction, Skylar returned to the market, selecting five or six more choice rough stones. She presented them to Alan Sterling, her decision unchangeable. “The profit from those auction pieces, along with the value of these newly purchased stones, will be entirely absorbed into Jade Fortune Jewelry. The cost of that capital infusion is the final sixty percent of your shares. You have one week to consider the transfer.”

Alan watched her slender figure walk away, his mind reeling. Handing over that final sixty percent meant the complete loss of control over the business he had built—Jade Fortune would officially change hands, becoming hers. But then he remembered her almost divine, supernatural ability to find jade, and the sudden patronage of the powerful Bentley family. He knew, deep in his gut, that only in the hands of this terrifyingly capable youth could Jade Fortune truly fulfill its destiny and become a global empire. His ambition warred with his fear, leaving him in a state of agonizing indecision.

Leaving the major decision hanging over Alan’s head, Skylar dusted her hands clean of city concerns and boarded a long-distance bus, heading toward the remote, mountainous region etched into her memory.

In this era, vast stretches of the country remained untouched by modernity. The remote mountain villages lacked electricity, formal education was nonexistent, and the people still lived a primitive existence, clinging to ancient beliefs. As the bus jolted violently over the broken roads, the intimidating, dark silhouettes of the overlapping mountain range slowly emerged, reflecting a heavy, resolute shadow in Skylar’s cold eyes.

Due to the impassable terrain, the bus could only stop at the mountain’s periphery. All passengers were forced to disembark and proceed on foot.

“$0.50 USD fare for everyone! Pay up before you get off, understand?” the bus driver bellowed, his voice filled with contempt for the poor mountain dwellers.

As Skylar handed over her f*e, an old, trembling hand reached out and clutched her arm. A frail, aged voice pleaded, “Little girl, I don’t have enough money. Please, be kind. Can you pay the f*e for me? I’ll repay you when we get back to the village…”

Skylar turned, her eyes settling on the woman's deeply lined face. It took every ounce of her self-control to suppress the urge to snap the old woman's neck right there. She knew this face. The devil’s envoy.

“Yes, I’ll pay. No need to repay me.”

She handed over the extra $0.50 USD. The old woman—Wang Po—got off the bus alongside Skylar, accompanied by her son, a hulking man in his late twenties known as Dazhuang (Big and Strong). His gaze was lecherous, openly tracking Skylar’s figure.

Wang Po subtly pinched her son to control his open lust, then adopted a grandmotherly, ingratiating tone with Skylar. “Oh, thank you, sweet girl. What brings a pretty young thing like you to these desolate mountains all alone?”

Skylar had deliberately worn a simple, soft black dress today, her clothes highlighting her slight figure and feminine charm. Her voice was soft, slightly hesitant, playing the part of a naive student. “I’m a biology student. I’m here to collect some plant specimens for research. Would you be so kind as to lead me into your village, Grandma?”

The innocent flirtation in her tone—especially when she smoothed the short strands of hair behind her ear—made Dazhuang’s eyes glaze over with pure, bestial desire.

Seeing her son’s reaction, Wang Po was ecstatic. She eagerly agreed, happily leading Skylar into the depths of the mountains.

Three hours of difficult hiking and one mountain crest later, the trio reached the isolated valley village. It consisted of about a hundred houses, all primitive mud-brick structures with thatched roofs—a place utterly cut off from the modern world.

As they walked through the village, people who saw Wang Po bringing a stranger immediately exchanged knowing, vulgar glances.

“Ai-yo, Dazhuang! Unbelievable! Your mother found you such a gorgeous wife! What about Clara Hu, the one you’ve got already?” someone yelled, roaring with laughter.

“Yeah, Clara’s pretty too! Are you trying to keep two women, you lucky dog?”

Wang Po instantly glared, her face turning hard and vicious. “Stop your stinking chatter, all of you!” She quickly glanced back at Skylar to gauge her reaction. Detecting no alarm, she quickly ushered Skylar toward her hut. “We are rough, uneducated mountain folk, Miss Vance. Please forgive our lack of culture.”

Skylar shook her head, her gaze sweeping the dilapidated surroundings. “I understand, Grandma. But I overheard them mention another girl, Clara Hu. I don’t see her. Is she a family member?”

Wang Po’s smile froze. She quickly mumbled an excuse. “Oh, Clara is a distant relative, just visiting for a few days. She must be resting now. Miss Vance, you look exhausted. Please rest. I’ll call you when dinner is ready.”

With that, Wang Po urgently pulled her son out of the room, slamming the wooden door shut and securing it with a heavy latch.

Inside, Skylar heard the bolt click. Her face was grim.

She placed her palm on the thick mud wall. Activating her Spatial Ability, she peered through the opaque barrier, observing the mother and son by the outdoor stove. She watched as Wang Po pulled a small packet of powder from her clothing and carefully sprinkled it into the cooking pot.

At that sight, the last vestiges of mercy vanished from Skylar’s eyes, replaced by a cold, murderous intent.

She had expected to spend days locating this hellhole. Instead, she had literally run into her executioners on the bus. In her past life, she had been sold into this village by the traffickers, where she was kept and supervised by this very mother and son. She had endured endless labor, constant threats, and the daily terror of Dazhuang’s lust.

And this isolated village was not just a village; it was a designated hub for the traffickers—a holding pen and transit point used to break and manage the captured young women.

Wang Po and Dazhuang thought they had successfully lured a naive, beautiful prey into their lair, using the promise of debt repayment and guidance. They were fatally wrong. They had ushered a vengeful spirit into their isolated world, one that was about to bring swift, terrifying annihilation upon the entire valley.