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"I’ve always wondered, how much treasure can one place hold? Even though he was a Saint, shouldn’t he have had limits to his rights?" Yan Xiaobao asked Lan Feng, but his reply was a dismissive sneer.
"A Saint isn’t just dead," Lan Feng said, as though explaining sothing to a child. "It’s possible he lived a life of great passion. During that life, he collected many things, and when he gathered them, he stored them in this tomb. In the beginning, it was his ho. He must have created everything within and based his life around it, but I do wonder if this is truly the tomb of a Holy Na Expert." Lan Feng’s contemplation made Yan Xiaobao raise his eyebrows in surprise. If it wasn’t the Saint’s tomb, then what could it be?
Before he had ti to ask Lan Feng, Cou Ling returned. Her cheeks were flushed, and she carried a storage stone filled with gold coins in her hands. "I’ve collected everyone’s money and brought it back," she said quickly, sitting down beside Yan Xiaobao. "They were very grateful, so even overly so," she remarked, her face reddening more, but Yan Xiaobao pretended not to notice. With a gentle smile, he nodded toward her.
"I’ll guarantee your safety until we reach the tomb," he said with a smile to his two friends. "Then we’ll head directly back to Muchuan City. I believe the Royal Family will send people to protect rchants and craftsn. When it cos down to it, you both are extrely important to the Sun Royal Kingdom." He said, and Cou Ling nodded in agreent. It made perfect sense.
Yan Xiaobao said nothing, but he prepared to ask Shao Ye to help protect Cou Ling and Fang Wei on the return journey to Muchuan City. There was no reason not to use the benefits he gained from offering up the Golden Root. After all, the Prince should perish within the tunnels.
As Yan Xiaobao thought about the Third Prince, the warmth and clarity in his eyes abruptly turned cold and sharp. Fortunately, none of his friends noticed anything, and he quickly forced himself to revert to his usual expression. Until the ti was right, no one was allowed to know anything.
He sighed, gazing up at the sky as he lay on the grass. A soft smile appeared on his face as he allowed himself to bask in the comforting presence of his friends. Then he slowly pulled his body into a cultivation posture and began drawing Yin Energy from the moonlight.
The Blood Vulture family wasn’t the only group trying to extort money from the rchants and craftsn who followed the cultivators toward the mysterious tomb. Yet, whenever they confronted Cou Ling and demanded paynt, Yan Xiaobao showed no sympathy or rcy, dealing with one group after another.
Each ti, he returned the money to those who had been robbed, then handed the remaining gold coins to Cou Ling to share among the other rchants. Yan Xiaobao kept all the storage stones for himself. By the ti they were halfway to the tomb, he had amassed quite a collection of treasures. Shortly afterward, he opened a small stall to sell weapons, armor, and other items. Any pills he found, however, were kept exclusively for himself; while the martial arts skills he discovered were sold off. None of them could even compare to the skills Yan Xiaobao had learned from Lan Feng.
At first, the rchants stared in confusion at the young man who abruptly set up a stall from several small branches, but when they saw what he was selling, they couldn’t help but chuckle. Although the items he sold were highly useful to other experts, they were of little significance to Yan Xiaobao. Therefore, selling them beca an efficient way to pass the ti during the journey.
His friends noticed him selling and ca over to chat. Everyone was pleasantly surprised to learn that all these items were spoils from Yan Xiaobao’s efforts to protect Cou Ling. Even the Prince who visited the stall couldn’t help but laugh at how Yan Xiaobao had acquired the goods.
This was also the mont Yan Xiaobao requested soone to escort Cou Ling safely back to Muchuan City. The Prince imdiately agreed. He explained that he couldn’t bear to see any harm co to the rchants or craftsn, as they were indispensable to trade within the Capital and required special attention.
Upon hearing this, Yan Xiaobao felt greatly relieved. Although he knew the Prince’s primary reason for sending his personal guards was the gift sent earlier, he didn’t mind. As long as Cou Ling arrived safely, that was what mattered most—especially since this ensured the Third Prince would be less vigilant around him. Everything else was simply a bonus.
Ma Kong, Gao Yan, the Rong twins, and Deng Wu visited the stall briefly but didn’t stay long. They were all part of other groups they needed to interact with, leaving little ti to spend with Yan Xiaobao. When they did et, Yan Xiaobao made a point to emphasize the value of their lives, warning them not to be blinded by treasures due to their worries.
A few days later, even Sha Yun and Wang Julong ca to see him. Sha Yun behaved as strangely as before; she greeted Yan Xiaobao casually but didn’t stay long and made no effort to introduce him to the people she was with.
Wang Julong ca one night and greeted him quietly. She reminded him to be cautious in the tomb and told him to find her if he ended up injured. When she finished speaking, her face was bright red, and even her ears seed afla as she rushed back into the crowd, clearly mortified.
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