Book 3 Chapter 9 – Master Thieves

　　"Shangbei Historical Museum, established in 1952, occupying 39 200 square meters, 11 000 of which is indoor. Two floors underground and five above, for a height of 29.5 meters. There are eleven dedicated collections and three galleries. The exposition area alone amounts to 2 800 square meters, and there are over one million artifacts here, 120 000 of which are top-cla.s.s. This place alone can be said to hold half of our country's historical collection." Eyegla.s.ses looked at the huge, spherical dome through the inked gla.s.s of the driver's window and summarized the information he had gathered.

　　If there are indeed any guardian equipment within the domain, this would be where we can find them." Qing Linglong examined the building with a pair of binoculars.

　　Li Yiming left the planning entirely to Qing Linglong and Eyegla.s.ses. With her strategies and his ability to gather information, all he needed to do was follow instructions: at least he was aware of his own limitations. He was most preoccupied by Liu Meng and Qing Qiaoqiao. After the two sat down together, they spent most of their time complimenting each other and acted like two best friends who had been separated for a long time. However, when Li Yiming listened to the tone with which they expressed their mutual admiration, he could not help but notice a strong dissonance, a strange feeling that made him doubt their sincerity. Qing Linglong smiled when she looked back at the two, obviously aware of what was happening, but did not do anything to break them apart.

　　"What's the plan?" Li Yiming asked. 'I hope that's it's not just busting into the museum with AK-47s. But then again, with Qing Qiaoqiao's blowing up the car last time, this might just be the plan.'

　　"Let's have a look inside first. We'll search for artifacts of interest and plan accordingly."

　　"Then we should hurry, the museum closes in two hours."

　　"Let's split up into pairs, shall we? We should avoid staying alone as much as possible," Grandma w.a.n.g proposed, prudent as she always was.

　　"How about I stay with sis Liu Meng? I'm having a fun time chatting with her." Qing Qiaoqiao voiced her opinion before Li Yiming could say anything.

　　"I also want to stay with Qiaoqiao. Is that okay?" Liu Meng asked Li Yiming.

　　Li Yiming did not know what to say. He had a bad feeling about the two teaming up, and, if it was up for him to decide, he would have kept them apart no matter what.

　　"It's a casual walk, just be a little careful, okay?" Qing Linglong did not mind the two.

　　"Alright. Yiming, will you keep an old lady company?" Curiously, a smile climbed up Grandma w.a.n.g's usually cold and gloomy face.

　　"Let's go then. Eyegla.s.ses?"

　　"Please don't lose this." Eyegla.s.ses took out some black cases from his silver suitcase. Li Yiming now finally knew where these came from, only this time it was without the gla.s.ses. "I didn't have time to resupply, so we're going to have to make do with this," Eyegla.s.ses added.

　　With Eyegla.s.ses' equipment in their ears, the group split into three pairs and each proceeded toward the gate of the museum. When Li Yiming and Grandma w.a.n.g reached the entrance, Li Yiming had to regretfully pull out three hundred yuan from his own wallet to purchase two tickets. After all, he could let not let someone older than his own mother pay for them. He was about to enter the museum with the tickets, but turned around when he realized that Grandma w.a.n.g was not following him. Instead, she stood still at the entrance.

　　"There are some wheelchairs there. How about we rent one so we don't have to wait in line?" Grandma w.a.n.g said without a hint of guilt.

　　A drop of cold sweat ran down Li Yiming's forehead. 'Wow, these people…'

　　Li Yiming pushed Grandma w.a.n.g into the "Green Corridor" for express entry. They b.u.mped into Eyegla.s.ses and Qing Linglong inside. Eyegla.s.ses actually had a disability card with him. 'I wonder how he would explain it to police if they ever catch him driving,' Li Yiming grumbled. ¹

　　Li Yiming walked past Qing Linglong, as if they did not know each other, and made for the fifth floor directly: they had split the work according to the floors of the museum. There were many visitors, and, of course, a kind grandson coming here with his grandmother would not be an unusual sight.