The reason it was said that at least it could be read smoothly was because he could not quite understand what it meant.
The sentence consisted of only eight characters: To obtain longevity, the land of the same cave!
To obtain longevity was easy enough to understand. But what did the land of the same cave mean?
Not sure if this was not the intended sentence, so he continued to rub the folded calligraphy and painting with the hidden characters. After completing one set of overlaps in one direction, he did it again in the reverse direction.
He kept at it until mid afternoon. His completely natural body had changed colour from the sun exposure before he had tried every possible combination.
There was not even one smooth sentence. The only one that counted as smooth was still just those eight characters.
In fact it was just to rule out other possibilities. After confirming there were no other possibilities, he became excited again.
Because just the phrase to obtain longevity was enough. It must be related to an immortal family cave mansion.
What did the land of the same cave mean?
He jumped down from the tree and wandered around the mountain top, pondering it carefully for a long time.
Following normal logic, people share a bed in life and share a grave in death. Could the so called land of the same cave refer to a tomb?
According to Zhong Su, that treasure map came from an ancient tomb called something like Guan Feng Yang.
Could it be that ancient tomb?
Thinking again, it felt wrong. The treasure map coming from that ancient tomb did not mean the land of the same cave referred to that ancient tomb.
Besides, the Sinan Prefecture had carried out large scale excavations there at the time. Whether it was a land of longevity had obviously already been verified, so it could be ruled out.
That meant, to solve the hidden eight characters on the treasure map, one still needed to know the origin of this treasure map.
At the time he was in a hurry to flee the capital. Zhong Su had explained unclearly. He did not know if Zhong Su knew the origin of the treasure map. Could he go back to the capital to ask him?
After thinking about it, he rejected this idea. He was somewhat unwilling to touch the capital again.
He thought of another person, Ah Shiheng!
That fellow had clearly hidden the secret of the treasure map from him. Since Ah Jie Zhang and the others had been able to go excavate that ancient tomb back then, they obviously knew the origin of the treasure map. That meant Ah Jie Zhang had very likely told Ah Shiheng!
Yes, looking for Ah Shiheng was the most reliable!
With a goal to strive for, Yu Qing immediately tossed the matter of the sixteen thousand taels of silver to the back of his mind. In fact he did not want to think about it anymore and tried hard to forget it!
He turned back, put on his sun dried clothes, packed his things, ran into the muddy area again, and sprinted forward all the way. He came back to life.
One day later, he ran out of the disaster area on foot, found a place to wash up, located the subordinate of Tao Yongli who was waiting outside the disaster area for contact, ambushed him from behind, knocked him out, robbed his money, and now had travel funds. Then he took his own green horse and ran off.
This counted as completely parting ways with this gang. He clearly did not want to mix in the human trafficker circle anymore.
Half a month later, after a long journey, Yu Qing finally returned to Liangtao County and back to Jiupo Village.
He returned secretly and did not dare show his face in Jiupo Village. Under the moonlight he quietly slipped into the Linglong Temple where he had grown up, crept towards the room with the lights on, which was his little martial uncle’s room.
When he reached the window and was just about to pry it open to peek inside, a foot suddenly kicked him hard on the butt.
He was kicked so hard he jumped up alive. Turning back, under the dim light from the window he could see it was a very handsome man. It was little martial uncle himself, though he had now changed into a Taoist robe, giving him another kind of handsome charm.
Their eyes met. Little martial uncle snorted, walked to the door, pushed it open, and went in first.
Yu Qing, kicked without any temper, followed him inside. Before closing the door he looked around outside.
Little martial uncle said, Since you are back at your own home, do not act like a thief. Those three guys are practising their skills and have no time to mind you.
Only then did Yu Qing close the door with relief.
The two faced each other. Little martial uncle spoke again, Did I not tell you not to come back right after resigning from office? If you were followed by someone, would that not bring trouble to Linglong Temple? Do you not know the sect rules? No matter how stormy it is outside, do not bring trouble home.
Speaking of this, Yu Qing got a bit angry. He sat on the other side of the tea table. Martial uncle, you still have the face to say that. I listened to you and resigned from office. I was almost killed by the pit you dug. He then chattered on and told the story of being surrounded and hunted.
Little martial uncle chuckled. I did not force you. If you have the guts, do not resign. Go write poems and compose fu.
Yu Qing curled his lips. Forget it, he would not mention this. He changed the subject. Where is Ah Shiheng?
Little martial uncle, He left.
Yu Qing was shocked. He returned to Jiupo Village?
How could he not be afraid? If Ah Shiheng returned to Jiupo Village and outsiders recognised that the Ah Shiheng in the capital was fake, what then?
He is not as stupid as you. He left. After the news of your resignation came back and he confirmed you were fine, he left. He probably will not come back again. You can rest assured about your identity too. He asked me to tell you that from now on you are the real Ah Shiheng. You can use this identity freely outside. He will change his identity.
This, the matter of becoming the top scholar in the metropolitan exam, I did not do it on purpose. Did you explain it clearly to him?
I did. He said since it was an accident, he does not blame you. He said he had already implicated you. He specially asked me to tell you that it is fine. Since things have come to this, he has instead been freed.
Freed?
Yes. He said he had been forced by his father with sticks since childhood to walk that path. In fact he had long felt annoyed and tired. But he had promised his father before he died. Now things happened suddenly and were destined to be this way. He said he has been freed just in time.
Could it be just to comfort us?
I thought so at first too. He seemed to see through it. Later he revealed some of his heart. I think he is probably really freed.
How so?
In his view, this imperial court is already beyond saving. This court is not worth his service. He thinks being loyal to such an emperor has no meaning. As long as such an emperor exists and such a court exists, even if the Sinan Prefecture is eradicated it would be useless. He said his mother’s death, his brother’s death, and his sister’s death, even if not killed by the emperor himself, the emperor cannot escape responsibility. He thinks his father’s loyalty to the emperor was too pedantic. He said he cannot do that kind of foolish loyalty!
Yu Qing fell silent.
Little martial uncle did not speak either. He trimmed the lamp wick and let him digest it slowly.
After a good while, Yu Qing asked again, How is his arm?
After I returned I checked it. The problem is not too big but not too small either. It was a bit late when I got back. The broken bones in his elbow grew in an abnormal way. To heal it, they would need to be broken again. I do not have the ability to treat it. But there are experts in the cultivation world for this. If the right person is found, it should still be recoverable. I offered to find a way for him, but after he understood his injury he refused. He said he would handle it himself.
How can he handle it himself?
He should have his own methods.
Where did he go?
I do not know. He would not tell me where he was going, nor what he would do in the future. But we do not need to worry too much. That kid is smart and should have his own plans. I sent him a letter to the county town. Later a carriage came to the mountain pass to pick him up and he left. That is how it was. He just disappeared like that.
Alas! Yu Qing felt a bit melancholy.
Not to mention anything else, he had rushed back from thousands of miles away and still wanted to find Ah Shiheng to learn about the treasure map. In the end the person had left and he had made the long trip for nothing.
Little martial uncle suddenly sneered, He can casually scatter over a hundred thousand taels of silver to save disaster victims. He is quite rich. Yet on the other side he robs his own senior brothers of a mere few hundred taels of silver. That is a bit too much.
Yu Qing immediately covered his face with both hands, looking like his teeth hurt unbearably. Do not mention this matter again. Wait until I swallow this breath!
Seeing him look like he had lost his parents, little martial uncle knew there was probably more to the story. Besides, this kid was the type who could sleep hugging money like hatching eggs. How could he believe he would donate over a hundred thousand taels of silver? Where did he get so much money anyway?
Yu Qing suddenly said in surprise, You were staying in the mountains. Where did you hear about this?
Little martial uncle chuckled, Your fame has grown huge. You are almost becoming a living immortal who saves the suffering. Even the old man selling vegetables in town is discussing you.
Alas! Yu Qing sighed again. He found that this news had really grown wings. He had rushed back right after the events, yet the news had arrived before him.
He stood up, took the oil lamp and placed it on the big table, then took out the treasure map, spread it on the table, and beckoned back. Martial uncle, come over. There is a great fortune to share with you.
Do not use all kinds of ways to ask me for money. I have no money. Little martial uncle gave a warning first before slowly walking over.
Yu Qing said, What you said, really, look, this is a treasure map!
Little martial uncle leaned in to look, then said disdainfully, Trying to fool ghosts? A thing drawn less than three months ago, and you dare say it is not with ulterior motives?
Yu Qing was instantly amazed. Martial uncle, you even have this appraisal skill? How come I never heard you mention it before?
Slap! Little martial uncle gave him a smack on the back of the head and pointed at the signature date left by Zhong Ruochen on the painting. Appraise my ass! Do you think I am blind or stupid? You dare bring this out and call it a treasure map?
Yu Qing broke into a small sweat. He had forgotten. Forget it, he would let facts speak first.
He first folded the painting, then rubbed it against the lamp fire. After bringing out the eight characters, he indicated for him to look.
Little martial uncle stared and muttered, To obtain longevity, the land of the same cave, what does it mean? He also felt that the sect leader doing this seemed to have some deeper meaning.
When I went to the capital in place of Ah Shiheng, to make it convenient for someone to receive and look after me, Ah Shiheng once gave me half a calligraphy and painting as a token to enter the Zhong mansion. Yu Qing roughly explained the course of events and the origin of the calligraphy and painting. The focus was of course on how he had unintentionally seen through the secret of this copied painting.
Hearing that this was the case, little martial uncle also became interested. He picked up the calligraphy and painting again, compared it against the lamp fire, brought out the eight characters, and muttered once more, To obtain longevity, the land of the same cave.
Yu Qing said, Clearly, this land of the same cave is the key to the location of the immortal cave heaven blessed land. An immortal family’s cave heaven blessed land, martial uncle. As long as we find it, we will strike it rich.
Little martial uncle glanced at him. Look at your little prospects. It clearly says longevity on it. Are you blind and cannot see? Compared to this, what is money?
Yu Qing was unconvinced. Martial uncle, what use is longevity without money?