I'm Already the Richest Man, Why Did My System Just Arrive?

Chapter 332: Chapter 192: In a Single Thought

THUD.

Xie Luohe knelt on the ground in despair, motionless as a stone statue.

She knelt for a long time.

Admittedly, Zheng Xiu’s anticipation for Nie Gong’s Treasure Vault didn’t match Xie Luohe’s.

But he had been hopeful, nonetheless.

He had thought the key to escaping the Cannibal Painting was within reach. He had even endured a Severe Hemorrhage to unleash a powerful technique.

But after fighting off the Divine Martial Army and entering the vault, he was met with this crushing discovery.

The treasure vault was empty.

Empty.

Everyone’s chase, this whole treasure hunt, had all been for naught.

Zheng Xiu silently stepped past the motionless, kneeling form of Xie Luohe to investigate the chamber.

Empty chests were piled haphazardly on the floor.

There were drag marks on the floor.

A layer of dust covered the marks.

By the light of the Everlasting Lamp, Zheng Xiu noticed round indentations dotting the walls, as if something once inlaid there had been pried out.

In the distance, a hole just large enough for one person to pass through had been bored into the wall. The faint sound of wind drifted from it, seeming to lead to the outside world.

"Grave robbers," Zheng Xiu murmured. "They must have emptied the vault, who knows how many years ago."

It all became clear to him.

’No wonder Ba Mountain is riddled with so many caves and secret tunnels. It was those who came before, constantly digging, searching for the location of Nie Gong’s Treasure Vault.’

’They didn’t use the underground river to get in. They dug their own tunnels to reach this place.’

The vault was terrifyingly silent.

Only Xie Luohe’s deep breaths and Zheng Xiu’s own silence remained.

As Zheng Xiu inspected the vault’s interior, Cheng Xiao, Bai Xiaosheng, and the others crawled through the opening one by one, quickly making their way up the slope to the entrance.

Everyone was interested in the secrets of Nie Gong’s Treasure Vault.

Whether for a legendary blade, for riches, for secrets, for a chance to become Human again, or for their own soaring ambitions.

Even the dying Xie Yunliu was no exception.

Chu Chengfeng crawled into the cavern, supporting Xie Yunliu, whose head was caked in blood. Xie Yunliu was delirious, his eyes sealed shut, yet he repeatedly murmured two words: "Treasure vault..."

When they saw the empty vault, their reactions were varied.

Chu Chengfeng stared at the completely empty vault, unable to hide the disappointment in his eyes. His lips twisted into a grimace, and then he burst into self-deprecating laughter.

Xie Yunliu’s eyes flew open for an instant before rolling back, and he passed out cold.

Bai Xiaosheng stood stunned in the distance. After a long moment, he took out his fan, began to wave it, and smiled in resignation.

Cheng Xiao stood at the entrance, cradling his Broken Saber. The vault’s emptiness was clear at a glance. He stood there for a moment, then, stone-faced, he pulled the Four Seasons Map—the very one he had suffered so much to obtain—from his robes. He tossed it into the air. With a flash of his blade, Cheng Xiao sliced the map to ribbons.

Zheng Xiu moved to stop him, but Cheng Xiao’s Sword Technique was too fast, too sudden. By the time Zheng Xiu could even open his mouth, the Four Seasons Map had become a snowstorm of paper scraps, fluttering to the ground.

Having vented his frustration, Cheng Xiao stared at the Broken Saber in his hand. After a long moment, with a sharp CLICK, he sheathed his weapon and departed without a word.

Zheng Xiu returned to Xie Luohe’s side. She was still kneeling, head bowed, clutching her bow tightly. He couldn’t tell what she was thinking. He wanted to offer some words of comfort, but looking at her, he didn’t know where to begin.

Just then, Bai Xiaosheng walked over and patted Zheng Xiu’s shoulder. "Try to look on the bright side. Because of this damn vault, Hidden Sword Manor was wiped out and Dugu Xiang lost his head. Ever since the secret got out, people have been dying and getting crippled left and right. Who knows how many people in the Jianghu have died, in the open or in the shadows, all for those four scraps of paper. Compared to them, we just came up empty-handed. At least we’re still alive. We should be grateful!"

"I’m taking Old Xie back to town to get his wounds treated!"

Chu Chengfeng said with a dry laugh, hoisting Xie Yunliu onto his shoulder and walking out of the vault.

Bai Xiaosheng watched the two of them leave and sighed. "Ah, well. Since the ’secret’ turned out to be so utterly dull, it’s time for me to be on my way as well."

He took a few steps, then stopped and turned back. Forcing a smile and rubbing his hands together, he said, "Little Brother Gongsun, this empty vault has left me heartbroken. I was wondering... could Younger Brother Gongsun perhaps satisfy my curiosity on one matter? That way, this old man’s journey won’t have been a complete waste."

Zheng Xiu was puzzled. "I’m completely broke. What could you possibly want from me?"

Bai Xiaosheng raised a single index finger with an air of mystery.

The gesture made Zheng Xiu’s eye twitch. He barely restrained the urge to punch him.

Bai Xiaosheng said, "I only seek a little clarity. In exchange, I won’t record the matter between you and her in the Weapon Manual. What’s more, I’ll help you both keep... your ’secret’."

Zheng Xiu was unconcerned. "Everyone saw. It’s not a ’secret’ anymore."

He was referring to the fact that he had used his Miracle Technique in front of so many people.

"Not so," Bai Xiaosheng said, shaking his head. "Seeing isn’t always believing. Even if they tell people what they saw, a story that bizarre... no one in the world would believe them. They’d just dismiss it as a joke."

Zheng Xiu asked, "What do you want to know?"

Bai Xiaosheng lowered his voice. "Who... are you people, really?"

Zheng Xiu froze for a second, then relaxed. ’Knowing Fatty Jiang’s personality, it’s a miracle he managed to hold that question in for this long,’ he thought.

After a moment’s thought, Zheng Xiu decided there was no point in hiding it any longer. "Mystics."

Hearing this, Bai Xiaosheng’s expression froze for a moment before he started chuckling. "Mystics... Mystics... ’those who are different.’ A fitting name indeed, ’Mystic’!" After this emotional outburst, Bai Xiaosheng shook out his robes, clasped his fist in his hand, and gave Zheng Xiu a deep, formal bow—a gesture of great respect. Zheng Xiu quickly reached out to lift him by the elbows.

Bai Xiaosheng said, "Thank you!"

Zheng Xiu shook his head. "Fatty Jiang, you’re being too formal."

Bai Xiaosheng feigned anger. "Who are you calling ’Fatty Jiang’? I am Jianghu Bai Xiaosheng! The all-knowing, all-seeing, universally admired Jianghu Bai Xiaosheng!"

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