The treasure emerges

A fine late-autumn rain fell into the quiet courtyard, bringing a touch of chill.

Tap, tap-

Shielding a rolled secret dispatch with his sleeve, Tan Luzi hurried through the rain with a grave expression. He entered the courtyard, stopped outside the inner residence, and cupped his hands. "This subordinate pays his respects to the superintendent!"

"Come in."

After a brief silence, Yu Huatian's indifferent voice sounded from inside.

Tan Luzi immediately pushed the door open and entered. Yu Huatian had just emerged from meditation. Seeing Tan Luzi's grave expression, he rose unhurriedly, walked over to a chair in the hall, and sat down. "Speak. What did you find?"

Knowing the superintendent's aversion to dirt, Tan Luzi dared not offend him. He first went aside to wash his hands and carefully dried them before taking the intelligence report from his sleeve and respectfully presenting it. At the same time, he reported:

"Superintendent, the scouts we sent out discovered that the recent disturbances in the martial world, and the arrival of martial artists from other countries in Ming territory, are all because of a treasure!"

"A treasure?"

Yu Huatian's gaze shifted slightly. He opened the scroll and asked as he read, "What treasure?"

Tan Luzi replied, "Apparently, a treasure is about to emerge in the northwestern desert. Rumors in the martial world say it holds wealth to rival a nation. Whoever obtains it will have the resources to contend for dominion over the realm!"

Yu Huatian could not help giving a derisive laugh.

Since ancient times, no nation had ever been founded merely on some unsubstantiated treasure.

Rumors like these were often the most laughable things in the martial world!

"Have you established what sort of treasure it is?"

Yu Huatian continued questioning him, but his gaze soon sharpened. Looking at the report in his hands, he said each word distinctly, "The Great White Upper Kingdom?"

Tan Luzi nodded. "Indeed. Though many rumors are circulating, according to our scouts, the most credible account is that this desert treasure is very likely what the Great White Upper Kingdom left behind when it fell three hundred years ago."

Yu Huatian said nothing, but his thoughts had already drifted far away.

The northwestern desert lay beyond Dragon Gate Pass on Ming's northwestern frontier. It was not Ming territory, but part of the Great Yuan Dynasty.

Three hundred years ago, however, a small nation called the Great White Upper Kingdom had established its capital there, in a place called Blackwater City.

Later, the Great Yuan Dynasty sent troops to destroy the Great White Upper Kingdom. Before Blackwater City fell, some of its remaining soldiers sealed the elderly and children inside, and they all died for their nation. Then, in a single night, windblown sand swallowed Blackwater City, burying the Great White Upper Kingdom's imperial treasury deep underground.

From then on, a legend circulated through the martial world: a black sandstorm appeared in the desert once every sixty-year cycle. When it came, it would scour the desert open, revealing the buried imperial treasure. Whoever obtained it would possess wealth to rival a nation.

This plot had also appeared in the original Flying Swords of Dragon Gate.

In the original story, Yu Huatian had been killed by Zhao Huaian and his companions inside Blackwater City's palace, then buried beneath the windblown sand.

But now, Yu Huatian had long since slain Zhao Huaian, the original owner of his body's destined nemesis. He had thought this part of the plot would never happen, yet what was meant to come had come all the same.

Moreover, word had spread throughout the martial world, even drawing martial artists from other countries.

Their purpose was the same: to obtain the Great White Upper Kingdom's treasure!

Seeing Yu Huatian's dark expression, Tan Luzi hesitated before asking, "Superintendent, this may only be a smokescreen someone put out. It may not be true. Should we investigate more carefully?"

"I know what this is about. There is no need to investigate."

Yu Huatian waved a hand.

Though he did not know who had spread the news so widely, the emergence of the Great White Upper Kingdom's treasure was indeed real.

To be honest, Yu Huatian did not want to get involved.

Now that news of the treasure had spread, it would certainly attract plenty of people with ulterior motives, possibly including Grandmasters and even Great Grandmasters.

With his current strength, getting involved would be far too risky.

But this was not his decision to make.

After a moment's thought, Yu Huatian rose. "I will report this to His Majesty in the palace. Let him decide what should be done."

He had no intention of concealing it. Since the affair had grown so large, the emperor would find out sooner or later.

Deceiving the emperor now would only create trouble for himself.

"Yes."

Tan Luzi hurriedly bowed to see him off.

But just as Yu Huatian stepped outside, a young eunuch suddenly ran in and saluted. "Eunuch Yu, Her Highness the consort requests your presence."

This young eunuch served in Consort Wan's palace.

Yu Huatian's mouth twitched, and anger flashed through his eyes. "Get out!"

"Uh..."

The young eunuch jumped in fright and stood rooted to the spot, unsure how to respond.

Yu Huatian walked out with an icy expression. He was already troubled enough. That lustful wench simply would not stop, and now she was adding to his frustrations.

Yet upon reaching the gate, Yu Huatian forced himself to calm down. He stopped and said coldly, "Inform Her Highness that I will pay my respects at Cining Palace after I have seen His Majesty."

With that, he left without looking back.

The young eunuch immediately breathed a sigh of relief and bowed. "This servant obeys."

It was not yet the hour of the dragon, and morning court had not ended.

After entering the palace, Yu Huatian waited outside the Palace of Heavenly Purity for a while. Only when the bell signaling the end of court rang did he see the Tianqi Emperor approach.

Cao Zhengchun had only just taken over as superintendent of the East Depot and was busy with official duties. The one accompanying the emperor now was a young eunuch from the Directorate of Ceremonial.

Seeing Yu Huatian waiting at the entrance, Zhu Youxiao showed no displeasure. He waved a hand. "Come in."

Yu Huatian waited until Zhu Youxiao entered the hall before following him inside.

Zhu Youxiao went straight to the dragon throne in the Palace of Heavenly Purity and sat down. Only then did he look at Yu Huatian in the middle of the hall. "Speak. What is it?"

Without hesitation, Yu Huatian cupped his hands. "Your Majesty, this servant has gotten to the bottom of the matter you ordered me to investigate."

He then told Zhu Youxiao everything about the Great White Upper Kingdom's treasure, leaving out not a single detail.

After hearing him out, Zhu Youxiao immediately looked excited. "The Great White Upper Kingdom's treasure still exists? The Great Yuan Dynasty never took it? Are you certain this is true?"

Yu Huatian replied solemnly, "Many people know of this. Even a little inquiry would uncover it. This servant believes it is very likely true. Otherwise, it would not have drawn martial artists from other countries."

"Hahaha! Wonderful! Heaven blesses Ming!"

Zhu Youxiao burst into laughter, utterly delighted, his eyes filled with covetous desire for the Great White Upper Kingdom's treasure.

He could hardly be blamed for being so excited.

Ming had simply been too poor these past years!

Though Ming ranked among the six great dynasties of the Divine Land, it was not without rivals. The Great Yuan Dynasty to the north, Great Qing to the east, and Great Song to the west had always eyed Ming like hungry tigers.

The Great Yuan Dynasty, in particular, had spent these years trying to bite a chunk of flesh from Ming.

It was not that Ming lacked the will to fight. To defend against the Great Yuan Dynasty, Emperor Chengzu had moved the capital directly to Beiping and established Shuntian Prefecture. The message was that "the Son of Heaven guards the nation's gates," demonstrating Ming's resolve to fight.

Unfortunately, its economic strength could not keep pace. Even with the will to fight, Ming lacked the means.

War was not merely a contest of military strength. It burned money, too!

Thus, Ming had suffered repeated humiliation at the hands of the northern tribes over the years. Seeing that Ming lacked money, they frequently sent raiders through the passes to plunder its people. Every raid left countless families shattered and lives lost, but when Ming prepared to strike back, they fled.

Over hundreds of years, no one knew how many innocent people had died at the hands of the northern tribes. Every citizen of Ming hated them enough to grit their teeth.

Had its national strength not been insufficient, Ming would long since have sent troops north to wipe out those damned bandits.

That was why no one else could truly understand how desperately Ming's successive emperors pursued wealth.

Every one of them wanted to be a good emperor who dared to fight and struggle, whose name would endure for generations. Yet their economic strength simply would not allow it!

Now that the Great White Upper Kingdom's treasure had emerged, and so close to Ming, how could Zhu Youjian not feel excited?!

Zhu Youxiao immediately turned to Yu Huatian. "Have the courts of other countries intervened, or is it only people from the martial world?"

Yu Huatian considered for a moment before replying, "We have not yet heard of any foreign court taking action. It should only be martial artists drawn by the news, but we cannot rule out the possibility that other courts have secretly sent people."

Zhu Youxiao narrowed his eyes slightly, his gaze gleaming.

After pondering for a moment, he said slowly, "Since the other dynasties have not intervened directly, it would be inappropriate for Ming to send troops either. This matter must still be left to you."

Yu Huatian sighed inwardly. He had known it would turn out this way.

The East and West Depots had originally been established to deal with the forces of the martial world.

But an imperial command could not be defied, and Yu Huatian had no right to refuse. He could only cup his hands. "This servant obeys Your Majesty's decree."

Zhu Youxiao glanced at him. "Cao Zhengchun has only just taken charge of the East Depot, and its situation has yet to stabilize. It is not suited to taking action. Besides, when I leave the palace on inspection tours, someone must remain to guard it. Your West Depot will handle this. I will have the Dragon Guard Mountain Villa assist you."

"If the courts of other dynasties dare to intervene directly, I will also send an army beyond the pass to aid you. No matter what, you must bring back the Great White Upper Kingdom's treasure!"

With a heavy heart, Yu Huatian cupped his hands and replied, "This servant accepts Your Majesty's decree."

(End of chapter)