Chapter 28 The Box

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He hid until the latter half of the night.

After confirming the surrounding area was safe, Chen Sansi blended into the darkness and returned home before dawn.

Without disturbing Sister Lan, who was fast asleep, he quietly took out the box by the bedside and examined it carefully.

On the surface, it appeared to be just an ordinary sandalwood box, devoid of any decorative patterns and utterly barren, save for a strangely shaped keyhole.

They called this thing "Immortal Treasure."

What did that mean?

Could it possibly be a relic left behind by an immortal?

Chen Sansi's curiosity was intense.

He didn't have the key, so he tried to force the box open, but it wouldn't budge.

Effortlessly he could pull apart dual-stone crossbows and even muster his Qi-Blood, yet the box remained unyielding.

In the end, it was still made of wood and could definitely be smashed open directly.

But Chen Sansi was not foolish enough to actually do that.

There could be some mechanism hidden inside, and brute force was likely to damage the "Immortal Treasure" within.

Resigned, he could only put the item away for now, planning to take the opportunity to understand the box's mechanism and what could be used to open it later.

"Huff..."

Chen Sansi exhaled deeply.

This night had indeed been a busy one.

But now that Qin Feng was eliminated and Qi-Blood was the first to be mastered, perhaps life would be a little more comfortable after his upcoming promotion to small flag and obtaining the Selected Point qualification?

As these thoughts wandered through his mind, he used Gu Xinlan as a soft pillow, pressing her beneath him and drifted comfortably into a deep sleep.

The next day.

Chen Sansi got up early and went to the military barracks.

He hadn't even entered when he overheard everyone in the camp discussing last night's events.

"You didn't go last night, so you don't know how chaotic the city was. I saw it all with my own eyes right next to it!"

"Even Households Commander Xiang had to take action personally, working with the masters of Tianyuan, Tai Lei, and Zhao Martial Arts Halls to corner that barbarian assassin in an abandoned courtyard."

"Just as they were about to capture the barbarian alive, a group of masked assassins emerged!"

"Although their faces were covered, by the styles of martial arts they used, they seemed to be barbarians as well, and even more formidable ones at that, each skilled in Bone Training and above! One even managed to exchange blows with Households Commander Xiang."

"They seriously injured the master of Tai Lei Martial Arts Academy and escorted the assassin out through the city gate."

"Of course, they also lost more than half of their own men."

"..."

Listening to their discussions, Chen Sansi realized that the city must have experienced intense fighting last night.

And something didn't sound quite right.

The assassin was rescued?

Then how did he end up dead from severe injuries?

Could it be that the masked assassins had also come for the "Immortal Treasure" and had turned on each other after leaving the city?

The barbarian assassin fortuitously escaped but was mortally wounded and just happened to be encountered by him?

If so, was it possible that the reason the box couldn't be opened was that the key was in the hands of the other group they mentioned?

This matter was truly very complex.

Arriving at the barracks, Chen Sansi saw that Wang Zhi hadn't arrived yet, so he decided to practice for a while in the Martial Arts Arena.

"Chen Sansi."

He had just picked up the plum blossom spear when someone called out his name.

Turning around, he saw it was Song Yan's second uncle, Luo Dongquan, Hundred Households Luo.

Hundred Households Luo gestured to him with a smile, "Come over here for a moment."

"Master Luo."

Chen Sansi planted his iron spear into the ground, standing his ground, "If you have something to say, say it here."

"Alright."

Luo Dongquan, unbothered, clasped his hands behind his back, "I have a favor to ask of you."

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A hundred households officer having something to ask for?

Chen Sansi didn't overthink it and said, "Hundred Households Luo may speak freely, but I'm afraid I am of low status and might not be able to help much."

"You have great talent, the best I have seen in all my years of practicing martial arts,"

Luo Dongquan sighed, "My nephew, he can't compete with you. But don't get me wrong, I have no intention of making things difficult for you. If one is inferior in skills, one should concede."

"I want to ask you to give up your opportunity for the Selected Point in the first half of next year to Yan'er, and you take part in the second half instead."

"Of course, I wouldn't ask you to do this for nothing,"

He produced a silver note, "This is a silver note worth a hundred taels, which can help you buy plenty of Blood Replenishing Soup and Beast Meat to increase your cultivation speed. It's just a delay of half a year, should be quite a good deal, right?"

There are two Selected Points every year, one in the first half and one in the second half.

Each Households commander can only send one person at most each time.

On the surface, half a year's delay doesn't seem like much.

But why doesn't he let his own nephew delay for half a year?

Only a fool would believe that.

Chen Sansi wouldn't delay his own advancement over such a small amount of silver, "Thank you, Hundred Households Luo, but I think there is no need for this. Song Yan has good talent; he will certainly have no problem in participating in the Selected Point in the second half of the year."

Hundred Households Luo kept his smile: "Fine, business not done, courtesy remains. Since you are unwilling, let's leave it at that. Don't take today's matter to heart…"

"Old Luo, you're quite a character!"

A plump hand suddenly flashed by, snatching the silver note directly.

Wang Zhi appeared silently at some point, with a grin that could not be concealed, "You were planning to give this as a congratulations gift to Sansi, aren't you? My, my, a hundred taels, you're so generous? You really are the wealthiest!"

"Damn it, Wang!"

Luo Dongquan reached out to grab the silver note back.

Wang Zhi, quick as lightning, kept backing away while pocketing the silver note, "Since you've given a gift, how can you take it back?

"Or is old Luo not really giving a gift, are you trying to coerce and bribe him?"

"Shall we inform Households Commander Xiang about this?"

"You…"

Luo Dongquan was speechless for a long while, eventually sneering and walking away.

Chen Sansi watched, utterly dumbfounded.

What skill Hundred Households Wang had, to make a hundred tales with just a few words!

"What did old Luo want from you?"

Wang Zhi spit after Luo Dongquan's departing figure.

Chen Sansi reported truthfully.

"Such a crafty mind,"

Wang Zhi scoffed, "Do you know why he wants you to participate in the second half of the year?

"Rumor has it Supervisor Sun is getting on in years, and the first half of next year will be the last time he personally selects his direct disciples for the Selected Point.

"Starting from the second half of the year, it will be someone else teaching!"

Chen Sansi wasn't too surprised.

"Very well, try to avoid dealing with old Luo from now on,"

Wang Zhi said, "Just wait here, Households Commander Xiang and County Magistrate Zhang have arrived. They'll be blowing the assembly call soon to gather and inspect your batch."

He began explaining the next steps.

Selected Point is usually chosen only from the newest recruited soldiers of that year.

Only those who show talent in a short period of time imply high potential and are worth cultivating.

In a while, Households Commander Xiang Tingchun will personally check the cultivation levels, then the County Government's County Chief will confirm the time of enlistment and whether there are any instances of favoritism or fraud.

Once verified, it will be reported up to the Liangzhou Governor's Mansion.

After that, the Governor Mansion will send a dedicated Selection Officer later on to personally confirm there's no deceit.

Only then will it be time to go to the Eight Camps in Liangzhou to participate in the true Selected Point to determine future status and position within the Eight Camps.

"Buzz—"

Hundred Households Wang finished talking.

The assembly call just then sounded.

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