People in Qin Dynasty: Opening the treasure chest, I took off!

Chapter 9 Undercurrents

For the next few days, Handan was unusually quiet.

The people from the General's Mansion did not cause any more trouble, and Zhao Heng also disappeared without a trace, as if the previous conflict had never happened.

Xia Bing remained vigilant.

He knew this calm was only temporary. The situation in Handan was complex, and the General's Mansion was just one force among many. Other powers would notice him sooner or later.

These past few days, he has been collecting treasure chests within the territory of Zhao.

In his mind, the treasure map showed that there were three more ordinary treasure chests scattered in various places in the Zhao Kingdom: a deserted village thirty miles north of the city, an ancient temple fifty miles east of the city, and a mountain stream eighty miles south of the city.

Instead of rushing to retrieve it, he chose to stay at home and accompany his mother in her spiritual practice.

Xia Yufang made rapid progress.

After stabilizing the sixth level of the Mingyu Divine Skill, her aura grew stronger and stronger, and her complexion improved significantly. The frequency of her cold symptoms decreased markedly, from once a month to once every two months.

"Bing'er," Xia Yufang finished her practice and opened her eyes, "I feel that in another month, I will be able to break through to the seventh level."

Xia Bing nodded: "No rush, let's proceed steadily."

The seventh level of the Bright Jade Divine Skill, Frost Condensation on Cold Jade, permanently freezes one's appearance. In other words, a mother's appearance will remain at its most beautiful age and will never age again.

More importantly, after the seventh level, her strength will reach the threshold of the Innate Realm.

"Mother, I'm going out for a few days to collect some things." Xia Bing stood up. "You stay home and focus on your cultivation; don't go out."

Xia Yufang nodded: "Be careful."

......

The next morning, Xia Bing left Handan City and headed to a deserted village thirty miles north of the city.

He unleashed his "Ascension Steps" with lightning speed, arriving at his destination in just half an hour.

The abandoned village was deserted, and the dilapidated houses were overgrown with weeds, making it look very desolate.

Xia Bing sensed the location of the treasure chest and arrived at a dilapidated house at the entrance of the village.

The ordinary treasure chests are hidden in the cellar inside the house.

He pushed open the door, went inside, lifted the cellar cover, and jumped down.

[Open a regular treasure chest]

[Obtained: The complete version of the Yi Jin Jing]

[Received: Small Rejuvenation Pill x2]

[Received: Thirty taels of gold]

Yi Jin Jing!

Xia Bing's eyes lit up. This technique could refine the bones and muscles and improve aptitude; it was a top-tier internal skill in the martial arts world.

System notification: The Sacred Heart Technique has absorbed the essence of the Yi Jin Jing, resulting in a further improvement in physical constitution, stronger meridians, and smoother internal energy circulation.

Xia Bing carefully put away the Lesser Rejuvenating Pill and hid the gold in her bosom. She jumped out of the cellar and was about to leave when she suddenly stopped.

Someone is coming.

He held his breath and hid in a corner of the dilapidated house.

A moment later, the three men entered the village.

Two men and one woman, dressed in black, possessed considerable power. The man in the lead was at the Great Perfection of the Acquired Realm, while the other two were also at the First-Class Acquired Realm.

"Search it around here!" the leader ordered.

The three men spread out in the village, seemingly searching for something.

Xia Bing squinted.

These three people weren't after him, but their target also seemed to be the deserted village.

He decided to wait and see.

......

A moment later, the woman stopped in front of a dilapidated house, squatted down, and picked up a piece of rag.

"Brother, someone's been here!"

The leader of the group walked over, took the rag, and his face darkened. "He's one of our men... He was here, but he didn't leave anything."

"Could it have already been taken?" another man asked.

"Impossible. Only we know its location, and it's protected by a restriction." The leader shook his head. "Something must have gone wrong."

Xia Bing's heart skipped a beat.

Could what they're looking for be a treasure chest?

But he quickly dismissed this guess. Only he could see the treasure chest; no one else could sense it.

So, what are these three people looking for?

Just then, the woman suddenly turned her head and looked in the direction where Xia Bing was hiding.

"Come out, I see you."

Xia Bing did not hide; she stepped out from the corner, her expression calm.

"Who are you three? And why are you here?"

The leading man sized up Xia Bing, his gaze wary: "Our affairs are none of your business. Who are you?"

"Just passing by," Xia Bing said calmly. "I only came to this deserted village to take a look, but I didn't expect to run into three people."

The three exchanged a glance.

"How long have you been here?" the woman asked.

"I just arrived."

"Did you see anything?"

Xia Bing shook her head: "I didn't see anything."

After a moment of silence, the man in the lead spoke, "In that case, you should leave. This is not a place for you."

Xia Bing didn't move, but looked at them: "Are the three of you looking for something? Perhaps I can help."

"No need." The man's tone turned cold. "I've said it before, this isn't a place for you. Get out!"

Xia Bing glanced at them, then turned and left.

When he reached the village entrance, he looked back.

The three people were still in front of the dilapidated house, seemingly discussing something.

Xia Bing squinted and memorized their appearance.

Then, with a flash, he disappeared into the wilderness.

......

It was already late when we returned to Handan.

Xia Bing didn't go straight home, but instead went to a restaurant in the east of the city to inquire about news.

Restaurants are the best places to get information; you can find out anything by spending a little money.

He found a corner to sit down, ordered a pot of tea, and listened intently to the conversations around him.

"Have you heard? Things have been unsettled outside the city lately; several groups of people are looking for something."

"What are you looking for?"

"I don't know, but I've heard it's very important. Some say it's treasure, others say it's a secret manual."

"Treasure? Where is it?"

"I'm not sure, but it seems to be in the north of the city."

Xia Bing's heart skipped a beat.

North of the city...a deserted village?

Those three people were indeed no ordinary people.

He continued listening and heard some more news.

"The General's residence has been rather unsettled lately; I heard that Young Master Zhao Heng has been placed under house arrest."

"Serves him right! He's always been arrogant and domineering; someone should have taught him a lesson long ago."

"Shh, keep your voice down, don't let anyone hear."

Xia Bing smiled, put down the tea money, and got up to leave.

Zhao Heng was confined to his quarters; it seems Zhao Mu truly taught him a lesson.

That's good, it saves us one more problem.

......

When Xia Bing got home, she pushed open the door and saw her mother meditating in the yard.

"Mother, I'm back."

Xia Yufang opened her eyes and nodded: "Have you eaten?"

"I've eaten." Xia Bing walked over. "Mother, I'm going on a long trip for the next few days, to visit the east and south of the city."

"Going out again?" Xia Yufang asked with some concern. "You've been running around these past few days, aren't you tired?"

"I'm not tired." Xia Bing smiled. "Don't worry, Mother, I'll be back soon."

Xia Yufang sighed and said nothing more.

She knew her son had his own things to do, and all she could do was focus on her cultivation and not worry him.

......

At night, Xia Bing lay in bed, staring at the ceiling.

The three people in the deserted village caught his attention.

What were they looking for? Why did they miss it even though they were just one step away?

Furthermore, despite their considerable strength, they failed to discover the treasure chest.

This means that only he could see the treasure chest.

This put his mind at ease.

But the origins of those three people remain a mystery.

He decided to go to the ancient temple in the east of the city tomorrow and investigate the matter while he was there.

If possible, he wanted to find out what those three people were looking for.