True Brothers

I suspect there is an ore vein here that can yield Crimson Radiance Iron Ore!

When Zhou Chun voiced his guess, Zhou Zhengyong jolted all over and stared at him with a face full of shock.

"Thirteenth Brother, you're not joking, are you?!"

"An ore vein containing Crimson Radiance Iron Ore—do you know what you're saying?"

"Th-this can't be concluded so lightly, can it?!"

Zhou Zhengyong was so shocked that his tongue nearly tied itself in knots. He stared at Zhou Chun in astonishment, stammering out one question after another.

"Brother Yong, do I look like the sort of person who likes to boast? Since I dared say it, I naturally have actual findings to support it."

Zhou Chun calmly answered Zhou Zhengyong's doubts, his tone exceptionally firm.

Yet when he saw that Zhou Zhengyong still wore an incredulous expression, Zhou Chun pondered briefly, then nodded slightly.

"Still, Brother Yong, your concern is not without reason. Perhaps there are merely some Crimson Radiance Iron Ore deposits occurring alongside something else here by chance, rather than a large ore vein. As for the exact situation, once we return and report it to the Clan Chief, he will naturally have a way to verify it."

Only after hearing this did Zhou Zhengyong come back to his senses. He hurriedly nodded along. "That's right. We only need to report the situation truthfully to the Clan Chief!"

"Then let's head out first. This younger brother has already put away the Purple Flame Sable's corpse, so Brother Yong, you can put your heart back in your stomach now."

Zhou Chun patted the Storage Bag at his waist and spoke words that delighted Zhou Zhengyong beyond measure.

The two immediately packed some Crimson Radiance Iron Ore into their Storage Bags as evidence, then retraced their route and quickly returned to the surface.

Once above ground, the first thing Zhou Chun did was block and conceal the cave entrance, lest someone passing by accidentally notice anything.

After finishing the concealment, he put away the Rock Earth Turtle that had been standing guard on the ground and headed with Zhou Zhengyong toward the outskirts of the Red Pine Forest.

"Uncle Sun, this is the Purple Flame Sable's corpse. Please inspect it."

Outside the Red Pine Forest, Zhou Zhengyong patted his Storage Bag before Sun Lianzhong's family of three and took out the Purple Flame Sable corpse that Zhou Chun had slain with his Moon Blade.

The Purple Flame Sable's final desperate attack had not caused Zhou Chun any real harm.

Instead, after that fireball explosion collapsed part of the cave, the falling Crimson Radiance Iron Ore had led him to an unexpected discovery.

Looking at the Purple Flame Sable's mangled corpse on the ground, Sun Lianzhong could not help but shake his head slightly and sigh, "What a pity."

Then he nodded at Zhou Zhengyong. "It is indeed the corpse of a Purple Flame Sable. You have passed this test. Next, have an elder from your family come to the Sun Family to propose marriage!"

Naturally, Zhou Zhengyong's face lit up with delight upon hearing this.

Sun Yujiao, meanwhile, flushed with embarrassment and could not help stamping her foot as she coquettishly complained, "Father, how could you sell your daughter off in a single sentence? I haven't even agreed yet!"

Unexpectedly, before Sun Lianzhong could say anything, Zhou Zhengyong anxiously cried out, "Jiaojiao, how can you say that? Didn't we agree already? You..."

Before he could finish, Zhou Chun covered his mouth with one hand and whispered a few words into his ear, setting him straight.

Zhou Zhengyong was also a smooth talker with a considerable talent for coaxing women.

After his expression changed several times, he put on a cheeky grin as though nothing had happened. "Hehehe, Jiaojiao, don't misunderstand. I was just too excited. Don't worry, my promise to you will always stand. There will only ever be you in my heart!"

"Hmph, aren't you pleased with yourself!"

Sun Yujiao spat lightly at him, her pretty face blushing with shy allure. Yet she was too embarrassed to say anything more.

Amid laughter and chatter, the group returned to the Sun Family's mountain gate.

After returning to the Sun Family, Zhou Chun and Zhou Zhengyong meditated to recover their spiritual power, then hurried to bid farewell to Sun Lianzhong and his family.

"Are you two worthy nephews truly not resting for another two days?"

Within the Sun Family's courtyard, Sun Lianzhong looked at the two Zhou Family members, who were visibly weary yet eager to depart, his face full of puzzlement.

"We appreciate Uncle Sun's kindness, but before we left, the Clan Chief instructed us that if this trip went smoothly, we were to return as quickly as possible with the good news."

At this point, Zhou Chun glanced at Zhou Zhengyong beside him and smiled lightly. "Besides, Brother Yong also wants to bring his beauty home sooner!"

"Hehehe..."

Zhou Zhengyong grinned merrily, cooperating with Zhou Chun to dispel Sun Lianzhong's doubts.

Sure enough, Sun Lianzhong asked no further questions, and his favorable impression of Zhou Zhengyong increased by another degree.

Although he still felt that Zhou Zhengyong did not suit his heart as well as Zhou Chun did, Zhou Zhengyong's feelings for his daughter were enough to make up for certain shortcomings. His daughter likely would not suffer any loss by marrying him.

He immediately nodded lightly. "In that case, be on your way. Remember to take extra care on the road."

"This junior takes his leave."

Zhou Chun and Zhou Zhengyong clasped their hands in salute together, then mounted the Great Horned Green Sheep they had left at the Sun Family's Beast Garden and returned to the Zhou Family.

They urged their sheep onward at a gallop the entire way, taking more than a day to return to Nine Peaks Ridge.

Upon reaching the Lineage, they released the Great Horned Green Sheep, which were so exhausted they were nearly foaming at the mouth, into the mountains and rushed straight for Pagoda Peak.

"How was it? Judging by the two of you, this trip should have gone fairly smoothly."

Inside Zhongping Hall, Zhou Daoyi smiled faintly after receiving the returned pair and asked about the outcome of their journey.

Upon hearing this, the two exchanged a glance. Then Zhou Zhengyong clasped his hands in salute and replied, "The Clan Chief's insight is unmatched. Thanks to Thirteenth Brother, this junior was able to pass Uncle Sun's test. He has agreed to the marriage between Yujiao and me and instructed this junior to find an elder from the clan to go to the Sun Family and propose marriage."

Zhou Daoyi immediately smiled and praised, "Good! Then I shall first offer you my congratulations."

After pondering for a moment, he continued, "As for the marriage proposal, Jiapeng will go to the Sun Family as the groom's elder when the time comes. I will also write a letter for him to deliver to Clan Chief Sun Zhongping."

After hearing this, Zhou Zhengyong immediately revealed a grateful and delighted expression, hurriedly saluting him. "For the Clan Chief's great kindness, this junior is endlessly grateful."

"This is what I ought to do as Clan Chief. There is no need for such courtesy."

Zhou Daoyi waved his hand, then looked at Zhou Chun. "As for Zheng Chun, your reward will be..."

But before he could finish speaking of Zhou Chun's reward, Zhou Chun suddenly clasped his hands with a solemn expression. "The Clan Chief's insight is unmatched. This junior has another important matter to report."

Hm?

Zhou Daoyi looked at Zhou Chun in surprise.

When he saw Zhou Chun's grave expression, his eyes narrowed. He nodded at once and said in a deep voice, "Speak!"

Thus, Zhou Chun immediately revealed his discovery and speculation, taking out the Crimson Radiance Iron Ore they had mined from his Storage Bag and presenting it to Zhou Daoyi for appraisal.

As Zhou Daoyi listened to Zhou Chun's report, his expression changed again and again.

After holding the Crimson Radiance Iron Ore presented by Zhou Chun and examining it for quite some time, he finally looked at it with a complicated expression and let out a deep sigh. "Though its quality is not particularly good, it is indeed Crimson Radiance Iron Ore!"

After speaking, he drew a deep breath and slowly addressed the two with a solemn expression. "You handled this matter very well. If there truly is a Crimson Radiance Iron ore vein, the value it contains will be enormous—so enormous that the Zhou Family alone simply cannot swallow it!"

"Therefore, from this moment onward, the two of you must keep your mouths shut about this matter. You must not tell a fourth person!"

"As for your rewards, once this matter has been fully confirmed, I will discuss with the Grand Elder how to reward you."

Everything in his bearing and tone showed how seriously he regarded this matter.

Zhou Chun and Zhou Zhengyong also understood the gravity of the matter. If word leaked out, they might face the calamity of death.

Thus, they hurriedly swore before Zhou Daoyi that they would never reveal this matter to anyone else.

Seeing that the two understood the stakes, Zhou Daoyi was reassured. He immediately waved his hand. "All right, return and rest for now. Once I have made preparations here, I will have Zheng Chun come guide the way."

"Yes, this junior takes his leave."

Zhou Chun and Zhou Zhengyong saluted, then quickly left Pagoda Peak and returned to Precious Lingzhi Peak.

They spoke not a word along the way. Only after reaching the outside of Zhou Chun's courtyard did Zhou Zhengyong look at him seriously and say, "This time, everything succeeded only because of Thirteenth Brother's help. Great favors need no words of thanks. In the future, whatever you need this elder brother to do, just say the word. I guarantee there will be no second word from me!"

Zhou Chun immediately waved his hand. "Brother Yong, you are too courteous. Since we are brothers, what is there to thank each other for over something like this?"

Then he smiled lightly. "This younger brother will be waiting to drink your wedding wine!"

Seeing this, Zhou Zhengyong felt even more grateful to him.

Yet he said no more words of thanks, merely laughing aloud. "Hahaha, you'll definitely get to drink it very soon!"

Then he nodded heavily at Zhou Chun and left without saying another word.

As Zhou Chun watched Zhou Zhengyong's departing back, a smile also appeared on his face.

He knew that after this, he had likely gained his first brother in the Zhou Family who would risk his life for him!