The Shrinking Little Treasury (Part 2)

"Xiao Dezi, go fetch Haitang. We're heading to the Treasure Gathering Pavilion."

It was only halfway there that Chu Xuanao remembered Haitang.

Ever since Dragon Guard Manor had been established, Zhu Wushi and the others had managed everything—the day-to-day operations and expansion alike. He had never asked about any of it.

An intelligence organization like this burned through money. A great deal of money.

Especially with spies scattered everywhere—recruiting experts from all sides and disciples of major sects required real investment.

Gold, silver, treasures, miraculous pills, martial arts manuals—if he wanted to move people and make them risk their lives for him, he needed strength, influence, capability, and wealth.

And the people he had summoned were utterly loyal to him, brothers of his own. That made it even more unacceptable to shortchange them.

His brothers were walking the razor's edge between life and death, risking exposure at any moment, their heads practically tied to their belts as they served him.

If he could not even ensure they were fed, or give them enough money to enjoy themselves now and then—

What kind of boss would that make him?!

Though Zhu Wushi had never come to him over such matters, he could not afford to remain ignorant himself.

Dragon Guard Manor already stretched across Jingzhou, Taizhou, and You Province, and it still had to keep expanding.

To spread throughout Dagan and keep every rustle of wind and blade of grass within sight—the expense involved was beyond measure.

Nor could such a thing be achieved overnight.

Even though Dragon Guard Manor had already formed its own industrial chain, it could probably only maintain itself. If it continued expanding, its expenses would exceed its income.

So he still had to provide the support that was due.

By the time he reached the Treasure Gathering Pavilion, Xiao Dezi and Haitang were already waiting outside.

"Your Highness."

"Come on. No need for formalities. Let's go in!"

The open doors told him Qiuyue was still inside, and he strode into the pavilion.

Chu Xuanao did not pause, heading straight for the left side of the first floor. Xiao Dezi, meanwhile, walked to a chessboard in the center of the Treasure Gathering Pavilion and pressed down on the black piece placed at the tianyuan point.

The floor on the left slowly split apart, revealing an underground passage.

"Maternal Grandfather, Maternal Aunt, let's go. There's nothing much to see upstairs. The good stuff is all below."

Chu Xuanao led the group directly underground.

The Treasure Gathering Pavilion had six floors in total, four aboveground and two below.

The four upper floors mostly held gold and silver, with the occasional weapon or strange curiosity mixed in.

Either it was bizarrely shaped and grotesque-looking—well, ugly things were out, but anything ugly in an extraordinary way deserved a look.

Or it happened to suit Chu Xuanao's tastes and pleased his eye, which was why it had been displayed there.

But most of the things on the upper four floors were ordinary goods, nothing truly valuable.

The real treasures were on the two underground floors. That was Chu Xuanao's little treasury.

Once everyone had gone down, the floor closed again and returned to its original state.

Qiuyue, who was on the first underground floor, heard the disorderly footsteps and turned toward the entrance. Before long, she saw Chu Xuanao striding down with great sweeping steps.

"Your Highness."

"Mm. Have you found everything?"

Seeing several boxes arranged beside Qiuyue, along with a number of bottles and jars, he knew she had likely found the items for Menban, Ghost Servant, and Sledgehammer.

"Your Highness, everything has been found. But this is...?"

Looking at the people Chu Xuanao had brought with him, Qiuyue was somewhat puzzled. Ordinarily, only her master, Xiao Dezi, Qiuyue, and Shuangxue came to the lower levels of the Treasure Gathering Pavilion.

Aside from transporting goods, it was always just the few of them whenever anyone came down. There really were quite a few people here today.

Xiao Dezi and Shuangxue did not really count.

Xiao Dezi was normally responsible for the manor's daily affairs and personnel arrangements, essentially serving as its steward.

Qiuyue had always managed the Treasure Gathering Pavilion and the little treasury.

Shuangxue, meanwhile, was in charge of some of the Prince's Manor's businesses outside the estate.

"Qiuyue, Maternal Grandfather and Maternal Aunt have come to pick out a few things. Haitang will also be taking a batch later. Once they're done, sort through what remains and put it in order. We'll be taking all of this away eventually."

Qiuyue nodded after hearing that.

"Come on, Maternal Grandfather, Maternal Aunt, have a look. There's another level below, and the real good stuff is down there. For now, see if there's anything useful here. Pick out a few pieces as you like."

As he waved his hand, Chu Xuanao seemed to gain an especially carefree, bold, and generous air.

Bai Feiyu, meanwhile, was already dumbstruck.

Within the several-hundred-square-meter underground space, large chests were piled everywhere the eye could see. All manner of rare treasures sat upon cabinet after cabinet, while sealed jade bottles and jade boxes gave off a rich medicinal fragrance that rushed to meet the nose.

The scent alone made it clear that the things within were worth a fortune.

On racks not far away, all sorts of extraordinary weapons and sharp blades were arranged neatly. Under the light of the ever-burning lamps, they gleamed with cold radiance—swords, spears, sabers, halberds, axes, battle-axes, staffs, and clubs, each different in form, numbering more than twenty in all.

At that moment, Bai Feiyu suddenly felt that the Star Point Sword in her hand no longer seemed so appealing. Every weapon stored here was of the Treasure Tool grade.

However, most were other kinds of weapons. There were only three swords, all of the same grade as the Star Point Sword in her hand.

"These are all things used by those who have stepped into the Three Realms of Earth, though most are items for the Transcendent Realm and Manifestation Realm."

"Maternal Grandfather, Maternal Aunt, come on, let's go downstairs! There's a sword below that Maternal Aunt should like."

With that, Chu Xuanao headed downstairs. He had personally inspected and counted every item here. This was his little treasury, and he knew it like the back of his hand. Every month, he came to look through it once.

It hadn't been easy to amass such a family fortune.

He knew exactly what he had here. He believed his Maternal Aunt would definitely like that sword downstairs.

As they entered the second floor, which was only a little over eighty square meters, Bai Yi was startled by the sight before him. He had thought the things upstairs were already about all his grandson had.

He had not expected the real bulk of it to be below. Spirit Refining Pills, Seven Treasures Great Pills, Blood Jade Spirit Ginseng—any one of them would be eagerly fought over even by Ascension Realm experts if taken outside.

There was even a Demon Eye Fruit. No wonder his grandson had previously asked the Bai Family to inquire about Marrow Cleansing Flowers. Unfortunately, the Bai Family's Marrow Cleansing Flower had already been used.

Purple Blood Fine Copper, Black Gold, and the like were piled into small heaps. There were even five whole pieces of Thunder Refined Crystal.

Good grandson, if word got out about this pile of yours, Bingwu Mountain would come knocking on your door.

That pack of master blacksmiths.

If they saw such fine materials piled here like garbage, lump after lump, they would go mad!

Which of these was not a material for forging fine weapons? There was enough here to make several Famous Weapons. At Bingwu Mountain, every piece would be enshrined in its own place, tended and guarded by dedicated personnel. Even using a little would require filing a report.

Yet here, they were casually piled into lumps on the ground, already covered in dust.

The upper floor won by sheer quantity—an abundant supply, its value already far from insignificant.

But down here, every single item was a treasure of the highest quality, taking the high-end route. Even Bai Yi found himself coveting most of what he saw.

"Ah!"

As though she had spotted some delightful surprise, Bai Feiyu cried out and darted toward one spot.

Bai Yi was not surprised. The moment he saw that sword, he knew his daughter would react like this. He knew the little padded jacket he had raised since childhood far too well.

Bai Feiyu had already arrived before the sword. Her right hand stroked its blade, and the joy on her face was impossible to hide.

Chu Xuanao also smiled. He knew his Maternal Aunt would definitely take a liking to that sword. Well, she was probably the only one who would.

At the very least, Chu Xuanao did not dare wield that sword.

If he took it out, he would be laughed at for the rest of his life.

It was a sword forged especially for girls.

The sword looked far too adorably fierce.

Bai Feiyu stroked the plump blade before her, her face full of fondness.

Seeing the two characters engraved on the blade—the sword's name—Bai Feiyu murmured softly.

"Gentle Sword."

Bai Feiyu turned around and looked at Chu Xuanao. Her little face appeared somewhat pitiful as she coaxed him sweetly.

"Little Ao, this sword..."

"The sword is Maternal Aunt's now."

Mm, Chu Xuanao had originally intended to give this sword to his Maternal Aunt anyway. Otherwise, it would only gather dust in the residence, mainly because no one else could use it.