Chapter 1555 Stall (1/2)

Old Thaw stopped speaking after that, and his face contorted in terror. It was clear that the harrowing experience traumatized him and the fear still lingered. Even just thinking about the incident was enough to make him shiver.

Li Du then asked, ”A lot of people died. Didn't anyone come here to investigate the issue?”

”They did,” Old Thaw said as he nodded, ”but the investigations were inconclusive. In the past, many people were interested in the news of a jade mine in our town but they never found anything. There's definitely jade in this mountain, it's just hidden away by the mountain god.”

The blonde guy licked his lips. ”Hey, Old Thaw, is there really a jade mine here? Why don't we tell the mayor? Let's go look for the mine, we'll be rich if we can find some jade!”

Old Thaw side-eyed the teen. ”You fool, you think you'll really become rich if you find jade in the mountain? Besides, so many people have tried but not a single one has found any jade.”

The man was perceptive. If Dena Mountain became a jade mine, the ones who had the most to lose were the residents of Wooku Town.

Li Du probed again, ”You said there used to be three towns here? What happened?”

Old Thaw said, ”From what I know, there used to be many towns on the stretch along Dena Mountain. However, those had been gradually dwindling for a long time. In the recent past, only three towns remained.

”The last three towns were Palaung Town, Nierkan Town, and our Wooku Town. Some years ago — I'm not sure exactly how long ago — people from Palaung Town said they discovered jade. In the end, their town was wiped out by a landslide.

”After that went Nierkan Town. The elderly people in our town have some recollection of Nierkan Town. That town was ruined after the Japanese invasion. The Japanese set up their barracks and arsenals here. Subsequently, the arsenal mysteriously exploded and the entire town was blown up.

”But from what I know, the disappearance of Nierkan Town also had something to do with jade. The Japanese troops found something on Dena Mountain, and then the town went kaboom...”

Li Du stroked his chin and chuckled. ”Seems like the jade mine in Dena Mountain is cursed. Whoever comes into contact with it will die, is that it?”

Old Thaw nodded seriously. ”That's right. A word of advice to you foreigners: don't go looking for trouble. It's best you stay far, far away from the jade mine rumored to be on this mountain.”

Young Markelov crossed his arms in front of his chest and said in disdain, ”Mountain god? Curses? I don't buy it. Boss, do you believe this?”

Li Du said, ”I didn't even buy the rumors about the haunted house, so what do you think? Last question, Mr. Old Thaw. The King of Old Hpakant's son had come up here to mine, yes? Where did he mine?”

Old Thaw stared at him and said, ”Oh my, you bold foreigner. You really want to go looking for death, huh?”

Li Du smiled. ”Yes, I do.”

The blonde guy interrupted the two, ”There's no point in you going. Even if you find a jade mine, our laws restrict us from contracting jade mines to foreigners.”

Li Du repeated, ”I just want to take a look.”

Old Thaw shook his head. ”I'm sorry, but I don't know where that place is.”

Li Du chuckled. ”You mentioned earlier that you went to help retrieve his corpse, so how could you not know where they opened the mine?”