Chapter 15
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Chapter 15: Treasure
After surveying the surroundings of the hall, everyone’s attention focused on the four brocade boxes on the square table and the flat box on the long table. Everyone knew that these were the focal points of their mission, the treasures of this secret realm.
However, doubts lingered in everyone’s minds. It seemed quite coincidental that there were four factions present this time, and there were exactly four boxes on the table. If, hypothetically, one faction had gotten lost in the dense forest or if only three factions had arrived, would there have been one less box on the table? These were just thoughts running through everyone’s minds. After all, these boxes had been sitting here for over three hundred years, how could they suddenly disappear or appear out of nowhere?
Yanming Hermit remained cautious, approaching the square table without rushing to grab the boxes. Instead, he carefully observed from all angles, tapping on the chairs with his dagger, and even knocking the cushions to the ground. Then, he rearranged the boxes using his dagger but detected no signs of disturbance. Still not entirely reassured, he walked to the wall on the right, lifting each of the three paintings to check behind them for mechanisms. Finding none, he returned to the table and addressed everyone, saying: “It seems there are no traps here. What do you all think?”
The remaining members had been following Yanming Hermit closely since entering the secret realm. Upon entering the hall, they stood still, hesitant to move. In Jianghu, there had always been talk of formations since ancient times, but in their era, formations were more legend than reality.
Occasionally, there were discussions about formation masters, but it was mostly hearsay. None of them had heard of a formation expert setting up a formation with a few bamboo pieces or stones, let alone a grand formation formed by an entire grove of sour jujube trees. This was clearly a grand formation from hundreds of years ago. Their minds were already in awe. They were obediently following the instructions of their master and followed Yanming Hermit’s orders. When he asked for their opinion, how could they disagree, they all nodded in agreement.
Yanming Hermit was very pleased with their attitude and said with a smile: “The Jianghu is an unpredictable place, it’s always better to be cautious. Take a look around the hall and see if there are any other mechanisms. This is also your opportunity, it might bring you some unexpected gains.”
As they exchanged glances, everyone dispersed to inspect various areas of the hall. There were murmurs of doubt among them. Could Yanming Hermit have some ulterior motive? Was he planning to exchange the boxes? However, the hall was not very large, and everyone could see each other’s movements clearly. They were not afraid of any foul play. Perhaps the elder really had the juniors’ best interests at heart. Besides, it wouldn’t hurt to take a look around.
Sure enough, in no time, everyone had finished searching and found nothing. It seemed that the treasures in the hall were indeed contained within these few boxes.
Seeing everyone return, Yanming Hermit cleared his throat and said: “According to the previous agreement, each of our factions can choose one box. Although Gang Master Situ is from the Evil Tiger Gang, it should be attributed to Young Hero Ma’s faction, so it doesn’t count as a separate faction. Does Gang Master Situ have any objections?”
Situ Ping replied calmly: “I have no objections.”
Indeed, she wouldn’t dare to object. Just a moment ago, her life was saved by them.
Yanming Hermit continued: “Then, according to the order of the leather pieces you hold, follow the map from left to right, top to bottom, to select your boxes. Whatever you find inside, accept it as fate.” With that, he positioned himself at one end of the table.
Following the order, the first to select a box was the Piaomiao Sect. Wen Wenhai pondered for a moment, then stepped forward to examine the four brocade boxes on the table. They were identical, covered in a layer of dust indicating their long placement. After some contemplation, he chose the second one from left to right.
Just as he was about to open it, Yanming Hermit intervened, saying: “The boxes surely contain treasures, one for each of you. However, the contents may differ. If you all know what’s inside each other’s boxes, envy might arise. How about everyone keeping it secret, not opening the boxes here, and making plans once outside?”
Everyone nodded in agreement, and Wen Wenhai also placed the brocade box into his bosom before returning to his original position.
Next was Ma Xiangyang from the Ten Thousand Swords Peak, followed by Yanming Hermit, and finally Tan Wu stepped forward to take the last brocade box. None of them looked inside, instead, they all tucked the boxes into their bosoms.
With the distribution settled, everyone’s eyes turned toward the flat box on the long table.
Yanming Hermit walked to the far end of the long table, picked up the box, and felt it was hard and heavy. He carefully examined it, it seemed to be carved from a single piece of stone. It appeared to be for holding treasures, but it was unclear why it wasn’t placed on the table and instead was thrown at the other end of the long table.
Yanming Hermit walked to the square table and handed the box to everyone to inspect. Afterward, he placed it on the table and quietly watched everyone, saying: “This room only has this one box left, which cannot be divided equally. Do you agree to decide its ownership through the game of rock-paper-scissors, as we discussed before?”
Everyone exchanged glances, feeling a sense of absurdity in their hearts. They couldn’t believe they, people of the Jianghu, were resorting to a child’s game to decide such an important matter. However, faced with such a tempting treasure, who would refrain from resorting to swords if not for this gentle method? It was hard to say who would ultimately benefit from it.
Everyone could only silently acquiesce. At this moment, Ma Xiangyang spoke up: “Elder, I have a suggestion.”
Yanming Hermit, with an unsurprised expression, replied: “Please go ahead, Young Hero Ma.”
Ma Xiangyang said: “While I have no objection to using the rock-paper-scissors method, I have a small request. I hope that regardless of who receives this box, they will open it for us to see what’s inside. What do you think?”
Yanming Hermit pondered for a moment, then nodded in agreement. The others shared the same sentiment, while they knew what their own treasures were once they went back, the contents of this box might not belong to them, so it was crucial to see what was inside.
Then, Yanming Hermit arranged the order for the game of rock-paper-scissors. Following the sequence of selecting the brocade boxes, it was decided that the Piaomiao Sect and the Ten Thousand Swords Peak would form one group, while Yanming Hermit and the Tan Family would form the other.
The members of the Piaomiao Sect, Wen Wenhai and Xue Qing, exchanged a glance. Wen Wenhai nodded encouragingly at Xue Qing, smiling awkwardly. Xue Qing stepped forward and came to the front of the square table. Only she knew why her senior brother had such an embarrassed expression. Playing rock-paper-scissors since childhood, he always felt embarrassed whenever the game was mentioned due to his consistent losses.
From the Ten Thousand Swords Peak, only Ma Xiangyang stepped forward. Naturally, didn’t feel comfortable allowing Situ Ping to participate. In fact, even if he trusted Situ Ping enough to let her participate, Gang Master Situ would not dare to do it.
Seeing the two step forward, Yanming Hermit spoke up: “The rules of the game are simple: Scissors beat paper, paper beats rock, and rock beats scissors. Before we begin, we blindfold each participant with a scarf. Wait until I call one, two, three, and then everyone reveals their hand simultaneously. Then, take off the blindfolds, and we’ll see who wins and who loses.”
In the first round between Xue Qing and Ma Xiangyang, both chose scissors. However, in the second round, while Xue Qing stuck with scissors, Ma Xiangyang chose paper. When Ma Xiangyang removed his blindfold the second time, he regretfully stepped back.
The match between Yanming Hermit and Tan Wu was quickly decided with Yanming Hermit winning the round with showing rock, while Tan Wu chose scissors.
In the crucial final round, Yanming Hermit thought for a moment. He gestured to Situ Ping to blindfold both himself and Xue Qing. When Ma Xiangyang finished counting, he chose scissors. Upon removing the blindfold, he discovered that Xue Qing also chose scissors. Surprised, they were blindfolded again, then he thought for a moment, and after counting to three, he pulled out scissors again. To his surprise, Xue Qing still chose scissors. Yanming Hermit couldn’t help being stunned. In fact, he had suggested this game with his own agenda.
He was skilled in various miscellaneous tricks since childhood, such as playing rock-paper-scissors and gambling, and he often won more than he lost. On the contrary, because he dabbled too much his martial arts skills did not reach the top. Now, realizing that his opponent was also a master, he felt a sense of urgency. In the third round, Yanming Hermit chose paper, but Xue Qing, Heroic Lady Xue, remained steadfast with scissors. After removing the blindfold, Yanming Hermit couldn’t help but sigh inwardly. He had trapped himself, he wished he had chosen a straightforward martial arts competition instead.
Without mentioning the excitement on Xue Qing’s face, Wen Wenhai took the box and was about to open it, but Yanming Hermit intervened: “Wait, put it on the table, use a sword from a distance to open it to prevent any traps.” Wen Wenhai followed his advice, placed it on the table, and poked at the box with the tip of his sword several times, but couldn’t find the lid. This time, he picked up the box again, examined it carefully, and discovered that it was actually sealed. Then, he tried to pry it open with force, but to no avail. The others also failed to open it. Yanming Hermit even picked up his dagger and tried to pry it open, but it had no effect. Finally, he completely disregarded Wen Wenhai’s gaze and actually used the dagger to hack at the box, but it left no trace on the box.
He finally understood why the box had been casually thrown to the far end of the long table.
He casually returned it to Wen Wenhai, who carefully carried the box in his arms.
Seeing that there was nothing left in the hall, everyone’s thoughts had already flown to the medicine garden. Yanming Hermit led everyone to the herb garden and said: “Our preparations are not sufficient, and we do not know if we can take away more medicinal materials. I suggest that this time we take some mature and preservable medicinal herbs, four portions in total, with each faction taking one portion. As for matters such as transplanting seeds, we will discuss and decide together later. What do you all think?”
The crowd naturally had no objections. Then, led by Yanming Hermit, they gathered the mature medicinal herbs piece by piece, dividing each type into four portions, and packing them into four parcels, one for each faction.
Finally, Yanming Hermit addressed everyone: “Since none of us had any opportunities individually, we can only find some solace for ourselves here in the herb garden. What we gathered earlier is meant for our respective sects. From now on, each of us is allowed to gather only three mature medicinal herbs for personal use.”
Afterward, Yanming Hermit led everyone through each medicinal field once again, gathering the medicinal materials according to their respective requirements. In fact, most of the medicinal herbs they collected were more or less the same, ginseng, Fo-Ti, Tianqi, Mountain Essense, and the like, most of which were hundreds of years old.
[TL_Note: Mountain Essense is kinda like Chinese yam and Fo-Ti is Chinese Knotweed]
By the time they finished this task, the light in the secret realm had dimmed considerably. It was estimated that it was already well past noon outside. Then did everyone think that they had been inside for quite a long time since their arrival, and now, if they were to leave, wouldn’t it be close to nightfall? Yanming Hermit reassured everyone with a smile, saying: “To leave, just walk out in any direction. As long as you walk straight, you’ll find your way out. However, looking at the sky, it’s about time we left, so let’s leave go.”
After finishing, everyone picked up their parcels and followed Yanming Hermit, who found two jujube trees in the middle of the sour jujube forest and walked straight ahead.
Little did they know, as soon as their group entered the sour jujube forest, a snake-headed beast poked its head out of the frightening hot lake, gazing in the direction they were walking for a moment before retracting back into the water, leaving only ripples on the surface of the lake.