This move left Shi Jing Tian dumbfounded. He knew that Qiu Guo Dong was always proud and had never bowed so deeply to anyone. In his youth, it was said that while delivering goods for a businessman in Yun Jin City, he encountered bandits on the road. He alone, with his pride and courage, had scared those scoundrels into soiling themselves.
Ren Yuan Hao wasn't a simpleton either. Since the most influential person in the village had acted this way, even if he had reservations, he had to show some respect. He immediately mimicked the gesture and bowed in return.
"Brother, I've come today first to apologize, second to offer some medicinal herbs from my family's collection. Of course, this is a bit like showing off in front of an expert. Third, to repay your kindness, I've had some small gifts prepared. I hope Brother Ren won't refuse."
As he spoke, more than a dozen people behind him brought in extremely valuable herbs, tonics, jewelry, gold, silver, and fine wines. At the same time, he took out a bank card from his pocket and said slowly, "Brother, these items will greatly benefit your health. This card contains ten percent of my Qiu family's shares, estimated to be around five million. I hope you won't decline."
All eyes immediately fell on Ren Yuan Hao.
Ren Yuan Hao walked to the central courtyard, picked up the precious items with obvious excitement, and examined them closely. The crowd was somewhat surprised, but then they saw him holding a bottle of Huoshao Dao and two rhinoceros horn cups.
After pouring two cups of wine for Qiu Guo Dong, he smiled and said,
"People die for wealth, birds die for food. I, Ren Yuan Hao, was once a struggling wage earner, and I know the benefits of these things well. I will accept them."
"Ren Yuan Hao! Do you have no principles? Their family has done many wicked things, and you've been bought off like this! I'll teach you a lesson!"
Shen Lan Ni, her red hair like rosy clouds and flames, was about to rush out of the hall when she heard Ren Yuan Hao say,
"Don't rush. The money in this card will be divided equally among Gan Lao San's brothers. As for the gold and silver jewelry, they will be given to the women your bastard son bullied. The medicinal herbs and tonics will be sent to Bai Fu and Gan Lao San's family. As for this fine wine, I, Ren Yuan Hao, will accept it on behalf of my friends."
Ren Yuan Hao raised the rhinoceros horn cups in his hands, filled with great spirit. Qiu Guo Dong also raised his cup and tilted it back, downing the heart-burning Huoshao Dao in one gulp!
The women's eyes sparkled. After drinking the cup of wine, Qiu Guo Dong quickly reprimanded those around him, "What? Haven't you understood Brother Ren's words? Why aren't you hurrying to follow his instructions?"
After everyone had carried away the items according to the instructions, Qiu Guo Dong was still insistent, saying,
"Brother, you've distributed everything to everyone. Actually, I had guessed long ago that these things wouldn't catch your eye. This morning, when I rushed back, my servants were raving about how your swordsmanship was even superior to Qiu Ru Hai's. Since your skills are so impressive, I believe our family's treasure vault should have something that would appeal to you."
As soon as he said this, the three women simultaneously stood up, their cold eyes meeting.
"Don't worry, I, Qiu Guo Dong, am sincerely impressed by you. This is definitely not a trap or a feast of treachery."
Qiu Guo Dong laughed heartily, his demeanor much more generous and forthright than that scoundrel Qiu Yang.
"It just so happens that my Cun Xue sword was taken, and I feel something is missing. It would be great if I could find some suitable weapons or martial arts manuals there. It wouldn't hurt to go."
Thinking this, Ren Yuan Hao also laughed heartily, "Alright, being hesitant is not my style, Ren Yuan Hao. You all wait here for me. I'll be back shortly with this elder."
...
A moment later, led by Qiu Guo Dong, Ren Yuan Hao passed through several extremely concealed doors and squeezed through several dimly lit passages before arriving at a bronze door.
"It doesn't look like a treasure vault; it looks more like a tomb," Ren Yuan Hao couldn't help but sigh.
"Brother, you have extraordinary courage. Most people would have begged to go back halfway," Qiu Guo Dong said, walking alongside Ren Yuan Hao. The more he looked at this man, the more he admired him, thinking that if he were his own son, the ancestral graves of the Qiu family would truly be blessed.
"If it's not ordinary treasure, it naturally needs to be kept in a safe place. If I'm guessing correctly, this place is probably twenty to thirty meters below ground?"
"Yes, Brother, your perception is sharp and admirable," Qiu Guo Dong replied, placing his hand on a stone trough imprinted with a handprint. The ancient mechanism suddenly made clanking sounds. He then said, "Brother, you've guessed correctly. It is indeed a burial site, but it is the public cemetery of the Qiu family's ancestors. Only Qiu family blood can open the mechanism, and I will also be buried here after I die."
Qiu Guo Dong took out a handkerchief and wiped the blood from his palm. The bronze door slowly slid open to both sides along the stone trough, scattering dust and releasing a strong musk scent.
"Brother, don't be afraid. To ensure the cleanliness of the tomb, we regularly check the musk levels, so the smell is naturally a bit strong."
Qiu Guo Dong stepped through the bronze door, first bowing respectfully in three directions before signaling Ren Yuan Hao to enter.
At the end of the tomb, there were two bronze palace lanterns. On both sides, like shelves, were arranged urn after urn. On one side of the urns, there were even portrait paintings, which looked somewhat eerie under the dampness.
"These are the ashes of our ancestors from generations past. The treasure is hidden here."
At this point, Qiu Guo Dong and Ren Yuan Hao had reached the middle of the tomb, but Ren Yuan Hao looked around and saw nothing.
"Brother, look up."
Ren Yuan Hao understood and looked up. He saw eight vine-like chains extending from eight directions, wrapping around a large chest in the center. The chest was about two people wide and one person long, intricately carved with wood grain patterns, gilded lacquer, ancient and profound.
"Holy cow, being locked up with so many chains, could it be some kind of red-haired zombie or evil creature inside? When the chest opens, will it fly out and bite my neck?"
While he was lost in thought, the chains slowly relaxed, and the chest slowly descended with a clanking sound. After landing steadily, Qiu Guo Dong placed his hand on the handprint in the center of the chest. The chains on the chest slipped off one by one, and the top cover also slid open to both sides along the groove!
Ren Yuan Hao had originally expected that such a large chest would contain many treasures. He didn't expect that once the groove opened, it contained nothing but a scroll of bamboo slips embedded in a jade trough. There were no red-haired zombies or evil ghouls, only unrealistic figments of imagination.
"Brother, take a look."