Treasure

After surveying the surroundings of the hall, everyone's gaze turned to the four brocade boxes on the table and the flat box on the long table. They all knew that these were the focus of the mission, the treasures of this secret realm.

However, they couldn't help but wonder. It was a coincidence that four factions had arrived, and there were exactly four brocade boxes on the table. If one faction had gotten lost in the dense forest earlier, or if only three factions had come, would there have been one fewer box on the table? These were just fleeting thoughts. These boxes had been here for over three hundred years; how could they suddenly disappear and reappear?

Hermit Yanming, maintaining his cautious demeanor, approached the square table. He didn't rush to take the boxes but instead meticulously examined the area around them. He tapped the chairs with his dagger, even knocking the cushions to the floor. Then, he shifted the brocade boxes with his dagger, but nothing happened. Finally, still uneasy, he went to the wall on his right, lifted three paintings, and checked behind them, finding no mechanisms. Only then did he approach the table and say to everyone, "It seems there are no mechanisms here. What do you all think?"

The remaining individuals had followed Hermit Yanming since entering the secret realm. In the hall, they stood still, afraid to move. The martial world had always spoken of formations, but in their era, formations had become mere legends. The occasional formation masters were only known through word of mouth; no one had heard of a formation master trapping someone with just bamboo pieces and stones, let alone using an entire sour jujube forest as a grand formation. This was clearly the work of a master from centuries ago. Their minds were already shaken, and they had obediently followed their Master's instructions, looking to Hermit Yanming as their leader. Now that he asked for their opinions, how could they object? They all nodded in agreement.

Hermit Yanming was pleased with their attitude and said with a smile, "The martial world is an unpredictable place, so a little caution is always good. You all can look around as well and see if there are any other mechanisms in the hall. This is also your opportunity; any discoveries will be your own benefit."

They exchanged glances and then dispersed to search different parts of the hall. They couldn't help but wonder if Hermit Yanming had some ulterior motive, like swapping the brocade boxes. However, the hall was small, and any movement would be visible to everyone, so they weren't afraid of him making a move. Perhaps the elder truly had the intention of looking out for the younger generation; after all, looking around wouldn't hurt.

As expected, within moments, everyone had finished their search without any findings. It seemed these boxes were the only treasures in the hall.

Seeing everyone return, Hermit Yanming cleared his throat and said, "According to our prior agreement, all four factions can choose one brocade box. Although Gang Leader Situ is part of the Fierce Tiger Gang, he is aligned with Young Hero Ma's faction and is not considered a separate faction. Does Gang Leader Situ have any objections?"

Situ Ping's expression remained calm as she replied, "I have no objections."

Indeed, how could she dare to object? Her life had just been saved by others.

Hermit Yanming continued, "Then, we will proceed by the order of holding the hides, following the map from left to right, and top to bottom, to take the boxes. Whatever you receive will be your destiny." With that, he stood to one side of the table.

According to the order, the Misty Sect should have been the first to take a box. Wen Wenhai pondered for a moment before stepping forward. He carefully examined the four brocade boxes on the table. They were identical, with no discernible differences, and all were covered in a layer of dust, indicating they had been there for a long time. After a moment of thought, he took the second box from the left. Just as he was about to open it, Hermit Yanming stopped him. Hermit Yanming said, "The boxes surely contain treasures, and there are exactly four, one for each person, so everyone will have a gain. However, the contents of each box may not be the same; there might be differences. If everyone knows what the others have, it's inevitable that some will covet more. Why don't we all maintain the mystery and not open the brocade boxes here? We can decide what to do after we leave."

Everyone nodded in agreement. Wen Wenhai put the brocade box into his embrace and returned to his original position.

Next was Ma Xiangyang of Ten Thousand Sword Peak, followed by Hermit Yanming, and finally Tan Wu took the last brocade box. None of them looked inside, and they all put the boxes into their bosoms.

After the distribution, everyone's eyes turned to the flat box on the long table.

Hermit Yanming walked to the far end of the long table and picked up the box. It felt hard and quite heavy in his hand. Upon closer inspection, it appeared to be carved from a single piece of stone. It seemed to be for storing treasures, but why was it placed on the other end of the long table instead of on the table?

Hermit Yanming brought the box to the table and passed it around for everyone to examine before placing it back down. He then quietly watched everyone and said, "This is the only box left in this room, and it cannot be divided equally. What do you say we use rock-paper-scissors, as we discussed earlier, to decide who gets it?"

They looked at each other, finding the situation somewhat absurd. Martial artists were going to use a children's game to decide something so important. However, without this amicable method, facing such coveted treasures, who would hold back if swords were drawn? It was hard to say who might end up benefiting.

They had no choice but to agree. At this point, Ma Xiangyang spoke up, "Elder, I have a suggestion."

Hermit Yanming, with an expression of no surprise, said, "Young Hero Ma, please speak."

Ma Xiangyang said, "We all agree with the rock-paper-scissors method. However, I have a small request: whoever obtains this box, I hope they will open it for us to see what's inside. What do you all think?"

Hermit Yanming pondered for a moment and nodded in agreement. The others felt the same way. They would naturally know what was in their own treasures when they returned, but the contents of this box might not be theirs, so they definitely wanted to see.

Then, Hermit Yanming arranged the order for the rock-paper-scissors match. It was the same order as taking the brocade boxes: the Misty Sect and Ten Thousand Sword Peak would be one group, and Hermit Yanming and the Tan Family would be another.

Wen Wenhai of the Misty Sect exchanged a look with Xue Qing. Wen Wenhai nodded at Xue Qing, smiling encouragingly, but also with a hint of embarrassment. Xue Qing stepped forward and approached the square table. Only she knew why her Senior Brother looked so embarrassed. Anyone who had played this guessing game with her since childhood, losing every time, would feel awkward whenever it was mentioned.

Ten Thousand Sword Peak only had Ma Xiangyang present. He naturally wouldn't feel at ease letting Situ Ping participate. In fact, even if he had felt at ease letting Situ Ping play, Gang Leader Situ would not have dared to.

Seeing the two step forward, Hermit Yanming announced, "The rules of rock-paper-scissors are: rock crushes scissors, scissors cuts paper, and paper covers rock. Before we begin, everyone will have their eyes covered with silk scarves. When I count to three, everyone will throw their hand simultaneously. Then, we will remove the scarves, and we will all see who wins and who loses."

In the first round between Xue Qing and Ma Xiangyang, both threw scissors. In the second round, Xue Qing still threw scissors, but Ma Xiangyang threw paper. When Ma Xiangyang removed his scarf for the second time, he retreated with regret.

The match between Hermit Yanming and Tan Wen was decided in one round. Hermit Yanming threw rock, and Tan Wen threw scissors.

The final round was the crucial one. Hermit Yanming pondered for a moment and signaled Situ Ping to cover his and Xue Qing's eyes with silk scarves. After Ma Xiangyang counted to three, he threw scissors. Upon removing the scarf, he found that Xue Qing had also thrown scissors. He then had his eyes covered again. After a moment of thought, when the count of three was finished, he threw scissors again, only to find that his opponent still had scissors. He couldn't help but be stunned. In fact, Hermit Yanming had proposed this game with his own ulterior motives. He was proficient in various miscellaneous arts from a young age, such as guessing games and gambling, winning more often than losing. However, in martial arts, due to his broad dabbling, he hadn't reached the pinnacle. At this critical moment, discovering that his opponent was also skilled, his heart trembled, and he became even more serious. However, in the third round, Hermit Yanming threw paper, while Xue Qing, the chivalrous woman, still threw scissors, with no change. As Hermit Yanming pulled off the scarf, he couldn't help but sigh inwardly, "I've dug my own grave. It would have been better to have a martial arts duel."

Putting aside Xue Qing's excited expression, Wen Wenhai took the box and was about to open it when Hermit Yanming stopped him, "Wait, place it on the table, and use your sword to pry it open from a distance, to prevent any mechanisms." Wen Wenhai placed it on the table as instructed and poked the box a few times with his sword tip, but couldn't find the lid. He picked up the box again and examined it closely, only then realizing that the box was completely sealed. He then tried to pry it open with force, but it wouldn't budge. The others also couldn't open it. Hermit Yanming, disregarding Wen Wenhai's gaze, even tried to cut the box with his dagger, but it didn't leave any marks.

He finally understood why this box had been thrown to the far end of the long table.

He casually handed it back to Wen Wenhai, who carefully tucked the box into his embrace.

With nothing left in the hall, everyone's thoughts turned to the medicine garden. Hermit Yanming led them to the medicine garden and said, "You all are not fully prepared and I don't know if you can take more medicinal materials. I suggest we take some mature, storable medicinal materials this time, four portions each, one portion for each faction. As for transplanting seeds and other matters, we can discuss and decide after our four factions meet. What do you all think?"

Naturally, no one had any objections. Then, led by Hermit Yanming, they collected medicinal materials plot by plot, taking four portions of each mature medicinal material and packing them into four bundles, one for each faction.

Finally, Hermit Yanming said to everyone, "Since everyone did not have their own opportunities, we can only find some comfort here in the medicine garden. What we just collected are for our respective sects. From now on, each person is only allowed to collect three mature medicinal items for personal use."

With that, Hermit Yanming led them through each medicinal field again. They collected medicinal materials according to their individual needs. In fact, they all recognized similar medicinal herbs, mostly hundreds-of-years-old ginseng, fo-ti, Panax Notoginseng, mountain spirits, and so on.

After finishing these tasks, the light in the secret realm had already begun to dim. It was estimated that it was well past noon outside. Only then did everyone remember the matter of leaving. It had taken a long time to enter; wouldn't it be night by the time they left? Hermit Yanming smiled and comforted everyone, "To get out, just find any path and walk straight, and you will be able to exit. However, judging by the sky, it is indeed time to leave. Let us depart now."

With that, everyone picked up their bundles and followed Hermit Yanming to the two jujube trees in the middle of the sour jujube forest, walking straight ahead.

Little did they know that as soon as they entered the sour jujube forest, a monster head resembling a snake's head emerged from the alarmingly hot lake. It stared intently in the direction they had gone before retracting into the water, leaving only ripples on the lake's surface.