Chapter 42: Treasure Mine Gold Seeking Insect, A Woman Flees By Night
When Fang Shu and his Second Uncle Yu Le met, there was a pavilion on the hill next to them.
A burly man with a full beard stood with his hands behind his back, dressed in a brocade robe, with a red flower in his hair, exuding a crude yet leisurely and elegant demeanor.
On his left and right sides, there were Fox Demons, Bei Demons, Rabbit Demons, and other monsters attending to him meticulously.
The monsters included both males and females, fanning him, offering wine, all extremely flattering, and their behavior seemed specially trained by someone, without any wild monster habits, extremely human-like.
Among them, a Bei Demon wearing a large headscarf rested its paws and looked at Fang Shu and his uncle, clicking its tongue:
“What deep uncle-nephew affection. It’s been so long since our mine has seen such a good thing.
But Master, you’re really just letting that kid take the man away so easily?”
The burly man with the full beard sat back down in the armchair casually, legs spread wide, and as he slightly closed his eyes, a Fox Demon smiled seductively and leaned behind him, using its large fox tail as a pillow and helping to massage his shoulders.
Without needing to speak, a Rabbit Demon offered grapes, feeding them delicately into his mouth.
After enjoying this for a while, the burly man with the full beard finally spoke:
“They are a dojo’s prized disciple and brought money to redeem the man. It’s reasonable and proper. What can you do if you don’t allow it? Do you dare to offend them?”
The Bei Demon’s eyes flickered as it leaned close to the burly man and scolded the other monsters: “Go go go, I need to talk business with Master.”
After driving away the miscellaneous monsters, the Bei Demon then said in a low voice:
“It’s precisely because the visitor is a dojo’s prized disciple that I’m afraid.
I’m worried that the old thing who came to our place is a spy, and the young one is here to test us.
If the Precious Medicine mine in the mine field is discovered, Master’s peaceful days will be… If that’s really the case, I suggest Master make a big haul and run away early!”
The burly man with the full beard first looked helpless, then his brows furrowed, clearly showing reluctance, and after pondering:
“Second Master Bei has a point. If it’s really like that, we do need to plan early. But if it’s not, leaving directly would mean handing over the Treasure Mine for nothing.”
After thinking it over, he said sullenly:
“Think of a plan for me. We’ll test that kid too. Try to outsmart him. Even if we fight, we can’t force it directly. We must first lure the kid into the mine tunnel before making a move.”
A glint appeared in the burly man’s eyes: “After all, there’s something off about the scent on that kid. Clearly, the old thing has some backup plan. If we act outside the mine tunnel, nine times out of ten he’ll escape.”
Hearing this, the Bei Demon immediately started flattering:
“Ah! Master is wise and decisive. Lure the kid into the cave, and then no matter what tricks he has, we block the entrance and burn him to death.”
This man and demon immediately whispered privately as master and servant, while constantly keeping an eye on Fang Shu and his uncle’s movements.
When the uncle and nephew walked toward the pavilion, the master and servant had already devised their plan, called over the other little demons to help serve, set up a banquet, planning to treat them to a meal.
But Fang Shu only glanced at the fruits and vegetables in the pavilion before cupping his hands toward the burly man with the full beard in the pavilion:
“Many thanks to Mine Owner Cao for your help.”
He took out one tael of Spirit Stones from his sleeve.
Before he could hand it over, the burly man laughed loudly: “No need to be polite. Your uncle coming to my mine is a sign of respect.
Now that Brother Fang has taken the Dojo Master of Du Gu Guan as his master, we haven’t even sent a congratulatory gift, how can we accept your interest money!”
He beckoned to the Bei Demon beside him, and the Bei Demon nodded and bowed obsequiously, handing over a contract.
“Brother Fang, take a look. If it’s this contract, just take it directly, no need to say anything else!”
Unable to refuse, Fang Shu smiled, inspected the contract, and handed it to his Second Uncle.
After some more pleasantries, he planned to take his Second Uncle and leave.
But at that moment, Mine Owner Cao suddenly dismissed the surrounding demons, leaving only the Bei Demon, then said softly:
“Since Brother Fang has come, it’s fate.”
The man pointed at the Bei Demon beside him and said bluntly: “To be honest, this bunch of monsters are all damn useless, only good as foremen. As for the more powerful monsters, the town doesn’t allow us to keep them in the mine field.
I have something here and want Brother Fang to help out. It’s a good thing!”
Hearing this, Fang Shu’s eyes narrowed slightly.
He listened without a change in expression.
After a long while, he spoke:
“There’s suspected Gold Seeking Insect, a kind of Treasure Bug, appearing in the mine field? Possibly a Treasure Mine. Mine Owner Cao wants to share the wealth with me?”
“Yes yes!” Mine Owner Cao nodded and pointed at his Second Uncle Yu Le beside him:
“In our Qian Shan, over a dozen mines occasionally find Treasure Mines like this. They’re good stuff. You can ask your Second Uncle.
Even stepping back, if there’s nothing, we’ll still pay the wages due!
You’re from Du Gu Guan. Even if nothing else, you can at least help us identify the traces in the tunnel, to see if they’re really left by Gold Seeking Insects.”
Second Uncle Yu Le heard this and grinned, but said nothing.
But secretly, Fang Shu clearly felt his heel being stepped on by his Second Uncle.
“Such a coincidence, Gold Seeking Insect?”
Fang Shu smiled faintly and asked Mine Owner Cao.
The man replied casually and frankly: “Who can be sure? I haven’t gone down into the mine myself. It could be nonsense from the people under me. After all, miners often claim to have found suspected Treasure Mines, but when we send people to check.
Heh, nothing there at all.”
But Fang Shu didn’t circle around with him anymore and cupped his hands directly:
“I’ve just entered the sect and won’t disturb you. Mine Owner Cao should find someone more capable.”
With a flick of his sleeve, the one tael of Spirit Stones he had put away flew out and landed perfectly on the tea table in the pavilion.
“Farewell.”
Fang Shu resolutely took his Second Uncle and headed toward Gu Ling Town.
Mine Owner Cao pretended to chase a couple of steps, then stopped on the hilltop, letting the uncle and nephew leave.
Seeing that Fang Shu didn’t take the bait at all and was even on guard, the man felt not anger but a slight relief.
He joked to the Bei Demon beside him:
“Looks like it’s just a coincidence.”
The Bei Demon beside him also relaxed.
Earlier, as soon as they mentioned the Treasure Mine, Fang Shu showed no joy or feigned calm, but vigilance, and directly left.
Such behavior was probably not someone probing for the Treasure Mine. If it were, he would at least play along and ask more.
Even so, the Bei Demon wasn’t fully reassured and muttered to its master: “But it can’t be ruled out that he’s pretending to leave. We’ll see next if anyone comes to our mine field looking for that damn Gold Seeking Insect.
If there is, or if strongmen come sniffing around in the next few days, I still suggest Master, before the other dojos close in, hurry up and slip away.”
Hearing such spineless words, Mine Owner Cao didn’t refute, merely muttering:
“Overthinking it. In this world, where are there so many meticulous schemers? You and I just keep mining peacefully.”
………………
Meanwhile, on the other side.
After Fang Shu and his Second Uncle left the mine, they immediately applied Light Body Talismans and raced back to Gu Ling Town like smoke.
Upon entering the marketplace, they both breathed a sigh of relief.
Fang Shu pondered the mine’s affairs, his gaze flickering slightly.
Second Uncle Yu Le thought he was still thinking about the so-called Treasure Mine and immediately shook his head at him, writing on his palm to warn him to forget it completely.
Then, Fang Shu found a tavern to welcome his Second Uncle’s return, and Second Uncle specially fetched paper and pen to write him a message.
It turned out that in the mine field, people often claimed to find suspected Treasure Mine traces, and some even faked them to get rewards from the mine owner or trick suckers into mining.
So forget about worm tracks supposedly left by Gold Seeking Insects—even Gold Seeking Birds or Gold Seeking Fish, the miners dare to fake them, very convincingly.
There were even miners who swore they personally saw a dragon in the mine tunnel and tricked an Immortal Sect into sending people to investigate!
As for the final result, it was naturally ridiculous— not a single hair found.
These suspected Treasure Mine traces trick the greedy and the naive.
Especially since Treasure Mines not only appear deep in mine veins, but the tunnels dug are narrow and small.
Once someone goes in to investigate, unless it’s the son going in with the father guarding outside, or a Refining Qi Immortal who knows earth escape.
Otherwise, once the person is inside, the outsiders don’t even need Poisonous Smoke—just seal the mine vein, and suffocation will kill the person inside.
Second Uncle warned solemnly:
“Never take risks on such things!”
Fang Shu nodded solemnly and exhaled: “Got it.”
Seeing he wasn’t just humoring him, Second Uncle Yu Le relaxed and began eating and drinking with relish.
What Fang Shu didn’t tell Second Uncle Yu Le was that what he was pondering wasn’t the Treasure Mine mentioned by Mine Owner Cao.
But the mine map he obtained from Cheng Guanzi after killing him.
Based on the terrain seen today.
The mine field on the mine map was the largest Qian Shan Mine within hundreds of miles. Its specific location wasn’t in Mine Owner Cao’s mine field, but not far off.
After all, the dozen or so large and small mine fields were all on one mine vein.
And what Fang Shu was considering was whether to find time to personally explore the Treasure Mine.
Perhaps deep in that mine tunnel, more Purple Lead Mica Milk had accumulated, and now he happened to have the Treasure Gu given by the Dojo Master of Du Gu Guan, with a trump card in hand.
But after silently considering, Fang Shu suppressed the thought.
Now that he had just entered the sect and was highly valued, it was time to advance boldly in cultivation and practice, not to covet Precious Medicine and risk his life.
Doing so would be putting the cart before the horse.
Besides, even if really going to investigate the Precious Medicine, it should be with full preparation, or even openly mining it!
Otherwise, if something went wrong, yesterday’s Shi Hou would be tomorrow’s him.
Fang Shu inwardly warned himself.
After the meal.
Fang Shu didn’t take his Second Uncle home but continued dragging him to stroll the marketplace, arriving at an old-established shop.
Second Uncle Yu Le was initially puzzled, but when Fang Shu pointed at the Demon Tongues in the porcelain jars, Second Uncle Yu Le immediately understood.
It turned out his nephew wanted to buy him a Demon Tongue to sacrifice and refine into a Magic Tool to cure his speech disability.
Actually, it was more than that—Fang Shu had directly asked the shop owner if there was a Long Tongue Sword Magic Tool for sale, to save his Second Uncle the effort of Essence Blood and energy in sacrificing and refining.
Unfortunately, the Long Tongue Sword wasn’t a common Magic Tool on the market. After asking several shops with no stock, he could only bring his Second Uncle to buy a Demon Tongue.
Seeing this, Second Uncle Yu Le didn’t even want a Demon Tongue and kept refusing.
Under Fang Shu’s persistent persuasion, Second Uncle Yu Le finally agreed to buy one Demon Tongue, but only a second-hand one, firmly refusing to spend an extra penny of Fang Shu’s money.
The guy argued eloquently, writing things like “Second-hand is old but more spiritual,” “For Magic Tools, nurturing matters more than new or old.”
Helpless, Fang Shu couldn’t outstubborn his Second Uncle, so he had an idea and directly led him to the paper meat shop they had visited before.
Next door to this shop was the pawnshop where he had pawned the Soul Suppressing Bell Talisman Tool.
He called out the paper meat shop owner and had him carefully introduce the second-hand, even third-hand, fifth-hand tongues in the shop.
Second Uncle was initially looking with interest, but when he saw that the shop’s high-quality, cheap tongues were dismantled from the mouths of paper meat people painted with red lips and green dots, Second Uncle finally paled and stammered before yielding.
“How about… another shop?” he wrote.
Second Uncle Yu Le began actively urging Fang Shu to change shops and find a new, cheaper tongue.
Seeing the uncle and nephew about to leave, the paper meat shop owner called out in a shrill, eunuch-like voice:
“Hey! Gentlemen, don’t go. Our shop’s tongues are guaranteed clean, each thick and plump, sure to satisfy!
If you don’t believe, come try them directly?”
Hearing this, Second Uncle Yu Le shuddered and hurried toward the door, jumping out of the shop threshold.
Seeing they really weren’t buying, the shop owner irritably said from inside:
“Pah! Two grown men, embarrassed to come to our shop just to buy tongues, and only one.
Aren’t you ashamed!”
Clearly, the guy had completely misunderstood their intentions.
Second Uncle Yu Le heard this and felt a chill run through him.
Fang Shu, trailing behind, couldn’t help but hold back laughter, nearly bursting into guffaws.
………………
After the shopping.
Fang Shu forcibly bought his Second Uncle a bunch of Medicinal Herbs and Pills for cultivating Magic and nourishment at home.
To prevent his Second Uncle’s already depleted body from worsening due to sacrificing and refining Magic, shortening his lifespan.
And all this didn’t cost much, just a few thousand Talisman Money.
Facing why Fang Shu had so much Talisman Money and where it came from, Second Uncle Yu Le was surprised but didn’t ask, just comfortingly patted Fang Shu’s shoulder with an emotional expression.
Finally, with big and small packages, the uncle and nephew leisurely returned to the paper workshop.
Back at their dusty paper house, Second Uncle Yu Le immediately bustled about energetically, setting up a small stove, killing fish, washing vegetables, lighting the fire, and cooking.
He insisted Fang Shu stay for a meal before leaving, and wrote:
“Restaurant food may be fragrant, but home-cooked is the most comforting.”
But for this reunion meal, before the rice was even done, people kept coming to visit.
“Yo! Congratulations, you two are just starting to cook?”
“We’ve been waiting for your return, Master Yu, good fortune!”
It turned out the paper workshop neighbors saw them return and came one after another to congratulate.
Gradually, the eastern neighbor brought meat, the western brought fish, and other neighbors brought pots and stoves or called women and daughters to help wash rice and cook.
Even Talisman Master Li Yuan carried out a basin of Tofu from his house to add to the meal.
Neighbor Dou Su Fu acted like the housekeeper, helping to organize everyone.
Thus, the uncle and nephew’s simple meal turned into a banquet in the paper workshop.
At the table, neighbors either congratulated Second Uncle Yu Le on escaping death and returning safely, or on raising such an outstanding nephew.
“I say, from the moment Fang Shu came to our paper workshop, I knew he’d achieve great things!”
“Of course, look at who his uncle is—our Master Yu!!”
Fang Shu felt little about it, just that it was lively.
But Second Uncle Yu Le, seated in the host position by the crowd, saw the neighbors fawning, full of auspicious words.
He was delighted, beaming with joy, grinning ear to ear.
He deeply felt that the paper workshop neighbors valued him, Yu Lao Er, and admired his character so much—everyone was a good person!
Just… why weren’t they like this before?
After the feast, as night fell, the neighbors finally left reluctantly.
“Take care, take care.”
“No need to see us off, rest first.”
As for the leftovers, pots and pans, fruits and paper scraps on the ground, the uncle and nephew didn’t need to clean—the neighbors had already tidied up early.
During this, Fang Shu also met many elders and friends, some even relatives, calling him “nephew” one after another, which surprised him.
Upon closer inquiry, they turned out to be Second Uncle’s former “sworn brothers,” who rushed over overnight upon hearing the news to celebrate and rekindle ties.
Because night had fallen deep and he was truly happy to see his Second Uncle today, Fang Shu gave up the idea of rushing back to the dojo at night.
Anyway, he didn’t have a separate room arranged in the dojo yet. Going now, he’d either squeeze in the bunk room with the tuition disciples or disturb Senior Sister Yu Er to arrange bedding.
Better to stay in the paper workshop and properly accompany his Second Uncle.
As night deepened.
As the uncle and nephew were about to sleep, a shadow moved at the door, and another guest quietly came.
The person didn’t speak but didn’t seem like a villain.
Cautiously, Fang Shu peeked from the window and recognized the figure from earlier that day.
So with a strange expression, he opened the paper door.
As the door opened, a familiar face appeared, and a white expanse was visible in front.
The visitor was Su Qin Gao, who had been quite reserved at the evening banquet, always keeping her head down and not daring to look; the aloof woman who had come by boat with Fang Shu and others before.
She had come at night, disheveled, her face smeared with white wall plaster from who knows where, lips coated in blood, a careful but shabby disguise.
Without a word, Su Qin Gao thudded to her knees inside the paper house.
Even more disheveled, she looked up, pleading fawningly at Fang Shu:
“Brother Fang, does your family lack a woman?
As long as you say the word, this slave will come over.”
