Having lots of money is indeed good, except it is too heavy. The higher one’s cultivation, the more they carry on their back, pressing a group of cultivators into walking step by step. The distance to the endpoint, clearly not far, had become somewhat drawn out.
They had rushed here already without worry of getting out before sunset, yet now they were somewhat anxious, quickening their pace as much as possible.
Ning Chaoyi pushed off the ground with both hands and leaped, actually much faster than the burdened group.
Thud! A basin-sized lump of gold hit the ground, followed by a figure jumping down from Wu Hei’s head.
Little Black had jumped down from a height, rolled upon landing, reached the basin-sized gold lump, picked it up, hoisted it onto his shoulder, and marched forward with head held high, barefoot and not fearing the rough ground. He put on an adult-like manner, striving to keep up with the group.
He was quite strong. One should know, a basin-sized lump of gold was not light. An average adult would struggle to move it.
Seeing his son insist on this, Wu Hei did not interfere. It was clear he was often raised this ruggedly.
The group crossed the Gobi, passed through the jungle of the lowland, and finally reached the golden platform. Seeing the swirling void waves, everyone grew excited.
Ning Chaoyi was the first to leap into the void waves, voluntarily scouting the path for everyone.
He came back shortly after, telling everyone that everything outside was normal.
The red sunset already hung at the horizon. The group dared not hesitate further and passed through the void waves one after another.
The scene of the Grand Rift Valley at Rift Valley Manor appeared before them once again. The gold they had carried out was immediately thrown to the ground with rumbling thuds. The unconscious Yu Qing was also tossed to the ground. With the entrance unsealed, Nan and Mu dared not let him wake up.
The two knew very well that if they woke him up early, Yu Qing would run back inside.
Everyone was exhausted, especially Nan Zhu, Mu Aotie, and Shen Qingcheng, who were almost sprawled on the ground gasping for breath.
Ning Chaoyi climbed to the mountaintop to keep watch for everyone.
“We’re finally out.” Nan Zhu, lying on the ground, caressed his chest in relief, then suddenly sat up and patted Mu Aotie’s arm. “Old Nine, look at the direction we came from. It is exactly where the sun is setting. That means, from the giant’s perspective, there is still some time until sunset. We should be able to make another trip.”
Mu Aotie, who had sat up with him, immediately lay back down upon hearing this, pretending not to hear.
Shen Qingcheng, wiping sweat with her sleeve and catching her breath, advised, “Brother Nan, do not take the risk. Relying on guesses about another person’s thoughts is the most unreliable thing. Enough people have died already. It is not worth getting sealed inside for a bit of money.”
Wu Hei merely glanced over this way twice and said nothing. If Nan Zhu truly wanted to go back in, he would not dissuade him.
When they had entered earlier, these people had saved him. Afterwards, he had more or less repaid the favour. Whether on the sea or land on the way back, he had cleared away the gold monsters blocking the path the entire way. He could have returned earlier, but he had escorted them the whole way.
To him, he had already done his utmost. Once out of the Gold Ruins, everyone owed each other nothing.
A single log cannot support a roof. Nan Zhu looked left and right, saw no one responding, and had no choice but to give up.
However, it was Wu Hei who broke the silence. He took the initiative to ask Nan Zhu, “With so much gold, how will you take it away?”
This question was indeed asked of the right person. The three fellow disciples had long worn out their faces over this matter of making money, dreaming about it before.
Nan Zhu immediately said cheerfully, “Sir, you are actually worried about having too much money to carry? Rest assured, rest assured. Even ten times more could be easily taken away. We only hate that there is too little. I will definitely help you arrange everything properly later.”
As they chatted and laughed, the sky gradually darkened. Everyone rested where they were, not hurrying to leave.
With the Gold Ruins entrance unsealed, they dared not leave lightly…
Above the lowland jungle, a figure flew in. It was Old Master Wu. Seeing the golden platform in the middle of the lowland, he immediately relaxed and swiftly dove towards it.
However, just as he approached, a streak of golden light flashed beneath the afterglow of the setting sun, swift as heavenly thunder. It abruptly stopped on the golden platform, hovering before the swirling void waves. It was a massive, inverted, spinning golden sword, blocking the exit.
Old Master Wu, who had halted in mid-air, turned pale with shock upon seeing this sword. He quickly looked all around. Though he saw no one, he was so frightened that he swiftly darted backwards into the jungle, fleeing to who knew where.
Not long after he disappeared, a flying insect waving black cloth-like wings darted out from the jungle. It was the cane insect of Old Lady Shu.
The insect carefully approached the golden platform, slowly circled around the giant golden sword, and then entered the swirling void waves and vanished.
When it emerged from the void waves, the insect clearly had not expected a group of familiar faces waiting outside. It immediately flapped its wings to fly high.
Unfortunately, everyone had already spotted it.
“Father!” Little Black pointed. “Want.”
Wu Hei sprang up, reached out in mid-air, and grabbed the insect by the neck, pulling it back to the ground for his son to play with.
Little Black immediately grabbed the insect’s two wings and rode on it, wrestling with it. The boy and insect tumbled about together.
This scene made the others’ hearts leap with fear. Such a dangerous thing was being given to a child as a toy. Were they not afraid the insect’s two sickle-like sharp forelimbs would harm the child?
On the contrary, Wu Hei seemed indifferent. If the insect broke free from Little Black and ran, he would help his son catch it again.
Just as the afterglow in the sky was about to fade, the air currents in the rift valley suddenly had a pulling sensation. Everyone’s gazes fixed on the swirling void waves. The void waves abruptly contracted, shrinking to the size of a fist, then dispersed like a gentle breeze.
Nan Zhu got up and walked over, going back and forth several times, practically proving that the Gold Ruins entrance had vanished.
Then the air currents in the rift valley returned to normal, and wind began to whistle through the canyon.
Everyone breathed a sigh of relief, but also felt somewhat lost. Some faces would remain inside forever, never to come out again.
On the way, they had asked Wu Hei many times why his father did not come out. Wu Hei never answered.
The moon climbed up, shining on Ning Chaoyi sitting at the cliff top.
Nan Zhu also woke Yu Qing. He and Mu Aotie were both prepared to be scolded, and explained the situation to Yu Qing.
Yu Qing ran back and forth through the canyon like a madman several times, only collapsing to the ground after confirming they had truly returned to the Grand Rift Valley of the Gold Ruins entrance.
He understood. Qiao Qie’er’s remains would forever remain in the earthly spring of the Immortal Palace.
Seeing the situation was under control, Nan Zhu called everyone to work, telling them to transport the gold to the wine cellar of Rift Valley Manor.
Ning Chaoyi was left on site to accompany Yu Qing, who sat on the ground in a daze. Nan and Mu were not afraid that Old Fifteen would run back to the Immortal Palace.
After the gold was delivered to the manor’s wine cellar, the group began wielding swords and blades to chop the gold. Gold was inherently quite soft. With their cultivation, they could cut it however they wished. In short, they chopped it all into gold bars.
The chopped gold bars were packed into wine barrels.
Before dawn, Nan and Mu went to the village to contact the villagers, asking the village to organise horse carriages.
Horse carriages were essential to Rift Valley Manor. They were normally used to transport wine out, and there were quite a number of them. Basically, every ten households had to look after one carriage.
These past days, the villagers had also sensed something was amiss. After all, the cultivators of Rift Valley Manor had all disappeared, and the manor had remained pitch black at night.
Nan Zhu reassured them, saying the others would return in a few days. He believed those people were unlikely to abandon their homes here forever. Without the three manor lords, would the others simply stop living?
Of course, he also used those people’s names to command the villagers, gathering them to organise a batch of carriages.
By the time the sun rose, all the gold had been loaded onto the carts.
A batch of villagers were also changing clothes, putting on more presentable attire. These were clothes Nan and Mu had taken from the manor. After all, they would need people to help drive and watch over the goods along the way. Two people per carriage was the standard.
Outside the manor was a scene of bustling activity. Shen Qingcheng also went to the rift valley to bring Ning Chaoyi back.
The two of them did not plan to participate in what remained, preparing to part ways with this side.
Yu Qing also came back from the rift valley with the two of them.
Nan and Mu carefully observed Yu Qing’s reaction. Apart from looking somewhat haggard, and his small moustache seeming to have gained some vicissitudes, there was not too much abnormality.
As Ning Chaoyi bid farewell to everyone, Shen Qingcheng also led over two horses and handed a sanxian lute to Ning Chaoyi. She said, “I fixed the lute for you. Check if the tuning is accurate.”
The original lute had been smashed inside the Gold Ruins. What was carried back was only the remnant that could hide a sword. She had spent the night repairing it for him.
Ning Chaoyi smiled. “If you repaired it, there is definitely no problem.” He slapped the stone platform he sat on with one hand, soared into the air, and landed on the horse’s back. His missing two legs were very conspicuous.
Shen Qingcheng held the reins and also mounted her horse. On the horse’s back hung the packed remains of her maternal grandmother, which her mother had hidden outside before entering the Gold Ruins. She had retrieved them. As for her mother’s remains, they would forever remain inside the Immortal Palace.
The two cupped their hands on horseback, bidding farewell to everyone.
When Yu Qing cupped his hands in return, he asked, “Where do the two of you plan to go?”
Ning Chaoyi lifted his chin towards Shen Qingcheng. “She says she wants to go with me to Blue Gem Lake to herd sheep. Where else could we go? If you have time, you might as well come to Blue Gem Lake for a visit. The scenery is not bad, and there will definitely be excellent mutton to entertain you.”
Yu Qing was astonished and doubtful. “Returning to Blue Gem Lake? The intentions of the person behind the scenes are still unknown. If you return to Blue Gem Lake directly, I am afraid there will be danger. Perhaps the surroundings are already filled with murderous intent.”
Ning Chaoyi said, “It does not matter anymore. At worst, we will fight with our lives.”
Yu Qing reminded, “Your families are still in others’ hands.”
Ning Chaoyi said, “Could those people still leave our families alive? We will wait for them to come find us, but do not even think of threatening us again! Tanhua Lang, everyone, farewell.”
Yu Qing said, “If you two have the leisure, you may come find us at Miaoqing Hall in Youjiao Port.”
Ning Chaoyi nodded with a smile, holding the lute in hand, and strummed the strings with a leisurely air.
Shen Qingcheng urged her horse forward, also leading away Ning Chaoyi’s mount. The two of them slowly rode off into the morning sun.
Compared to their relaxed departure at this moment, everyone seemed to see again the difficult scene of the graceful, delicate-looking Shen Qingcheng stubbornly carrying Ning Chaoyi back.
No one knew why Shen Qingcheng would go with Ning Chaoyi to herd sheep at Blue Gem Lake. Had the two of them not only been acting when living together before? Had something truly happened between the man and woman?
The three fellow disciples were too embarrassed to ask this question out loud.