As the sun sank in the west, Hu Xiaotian went with Liang Dazhuang and Liu Kuohai to the paupers' graveyard at Yang Family Slope. He had kept this from Murong Feiyan because she had, after all, come from the Capital Prefecture, and she also knew the true significance of the Iron Deed of Redemption. Murong Feiyan had always been someone who would not tolerate even a grain of sand in her eyes, and she could be rigid and old-fashioned in handling many matters. Hu Xiaotian had to conceal certain things from her. The Hu Family's very survival was at stake, and he dared not be careless in the slightest.
Following Hu Jinniu's directions, they easily found Hu Bucheng's grave. Weeds covered the mound; clearly, no one had cleaned it or paid their respects for some time. The stone serving as a headstone was covered in moss, and the two characters Hu Jinniu had carved into it had blurred after years of wind and rain. Hu Xiaotian first bowed three times before the grave, silently saying, Uncle of my clan, I have no wish to disturb your peace, but the Iron Deed of Redemption is of vital importance. The Hu Family's future survival depends on it, so I can only trouble you today. He had Liu Kuohai open a jar of wine, then personally poured it around the grave mound.
Liu Kuohai moved the stone aside, and he and Liang Dazhuang picked up their tools and began digging. Hu Xiaotian told them to be extremely careful and not damage anything beneath the soil. After they had dug three feet down, Liang Dazhuang's hoe struck something hard with a clang. The two men set aside their tools and dug with their hands instead. Before long, they unearthed a black iron plate that