"Yes, a little to the left."
Su Wending watched the house number of his own home, directing the workers to hang it properly.
At the same time, he posted a notice in front of the door.
"This residence has changed owners. Visitors at night may knock to inquire."
Su Wending was very satisfied with his handwriting.
He pasted it on the main gate with paste.
To make it widely known.
Lest uninformed people come unannounced.
"Su Dage, Su Dage."
Song Shiqing lifted the curtain of the carriage and quickly stepped down.
He was full of anxiety.
"Shiqing, what a coincidence, come and see if my calligraphy has improved?"
Su Wending looked at his Slender Gold script, quite satisfied.
Song Shiqing hastily said, "Su Dage, I was wrong, I made a mistake."
"What did you make a mistake about?"
Su Wending said in surprise.
"This Hundred Household's true identity, I made a mistake."
Song Shiqing was so anxious he was almost crying.
"Are you talking about Tieren Tu?"
Su Wending chuckled.
He could tell that Song Shiqing really didn't know that this Hundred Household's name was Tieren Tu.
Tieren Tu? What immense Evil Qi.
"Yes, yes, yes." Song Shiqing immediately reacted, "Wait, how did you know?"
"Because last night a Masked Heroine visited my bedside, held a sword to my throat, and told me."
Su Wending shrugged.
He looked around the street; many passersby with sharp eyes inadvertently looked at him.
"Masked Heroine?"
"Yes, a Masked Heroine from Jiangnan. I just arrived in Yinchuan Ancient City, bought this house, and knew nothing. She was quite kind; after hearing what I said, she vanished with a 'whoosh'."
Su Wending's voice unconsciously grew a little louder.
He just wanted to spread the news.
"She didn't make things difficult for you? No, what else did she say?"
"She was looking for Tieren Tu. Didn't you tell me that the previous owner had already died? His family had already returned to Jiangnan, so I told her truthfully. I estimate this Masked Heroine has already returned to Jiangnan."
Su Wending said nonchalantly on the surface.
But his eyes inadvertently looked at a few burly, steady-walking fellows.
When they heard that Tieren Tu was dead.
They showed very surprised, very shocked expressions.
"That's good, fortunately you're fine. Su Dage, I plan to take this house back and find another one for you."
Song Shiqing made up his mind.
His father didn't say much.
But Song Shiqing understood that leaving this house in Su Dage's hands would definitely be a misfortune.
"No, no, I'm very satisfied with this house. Moreover, I don't know the previous owner. If they really come looking for him and don't believe me, I'll just open the door and let them search."
However, a treasure hunting hint flashed in Su Wending's mind.
The treasure hunting hint had already told him that this Suspended Mirror Division Hundred Household had hidden some important treasures in this house.
If he left now, he would miss out on a great treasure.
"Su Dage, you're so bold."
Song Shiqing said with a wry smile.
"Shiqing, whether it's a blessing or a curse, one cannot escape it. I believe in Opportunity. Since I bought this house, this is my home in Yinchuan Ancient City, and I will not move."
Su Wending's expression was firm.
Are you kidding? How could I abandon this house before the Treasure Trove is in hand?
I still owe you a large sum of money!!
He saw the people who had been paying attention to the street hastily leave.
"Moreover, this house was sold to me by the Yaren. I'm more worried about your Yaren being implicated."
Su Wending said with a solemn expression.
Song Shiqing patted his chest and said, "Don't worry, our Song Family in Yinchuan Ancient City, while not a renowned family, is not someone ordinary people can provoke."
Song Shiqing was very confident.
How could someone who runs a Yaren in Yinchuan Ancient City be simple?
This is a border ancient city.
It is an important garrison area where border troops are stationed.
How many complex forces are within the city.
Yet the business the Yaren does involves dealing with all these forces.
"Shiqing, thank you. Don't worry about me. My life is cheap; I'm not worth their trouble."
Su Wending said with a serious expression.
Song Shiqing nodded, "Su Dage, if anything happens, please tell me."
"Haha, I won't be polite."
......
"All six rooms have been searched, and no traces of hidden compartments have been found."
Su Wending murmured.
"Give me another hint, please?"
He mumbled to himself, but it was directed at his mysterious Golden Finger.
But this treasure hunting hint seemed to have run out of energy and fallen into a deep sleep.
Su Wending was also very helpless.
Sitting on a mountain of treasure but not knowing how to get it.
It seemed he would have to painstakingly dig three feet into the ground to find the hidden treasure spot.
"It seems you are looking for something."
A pleasant voice came from behind him, a graceful figure appearing like a ghost, looking at Su Wending with a frosty expression.
Su Wending's hair stood on end, goosebumps erupted, and a chill shot straight from his tailbone to the top of his head.
"Masked Heroine, good afternoon. I'm just doing a thorough house cleaning."
Su Wending forced a smile.
He didn't turn around, standing stiffly.
"I'm giving you a chance to rephrase."
The cold voice made Su Wending feel a strong sense of malice.
She would kill him!!!
"I confess."
Su Wending raised his hands in surrender.
"Speak? What do you know?"
The female voice carried a hint of anticipation.
"I don't know anything."
Su Wending answered truthfully.
Except for the Golden Finger's treasure hunting hint.
"Are you toying with me?"
The female voice was angry; Su Wending felt a sharp, hard object pressing against his back.
He dared not move at all.
"Masked Heroine, I really don't know. I was just wondering, if the previous owner was a Hundred Household of the Suspended Mirror Division, and his family left in such a hurry, would they have left behind some money or valuables hidden in this house?"
Su Wending decided to persuade the woman behind him.
"Oh? You think so too?"
The female voice showed a subtle change.
Although Su Wending couldn't see the other party's expression, he already understood that this Masked Heroine was also looking for something.
Tieren Tu was dead.
This Masked Heroine traveled thousands of miles from Jiangnan to the border of Yinchuan Ancient City; it couldn't be to meet Tieren Tu.
"No, no. Masked Heroine, you misunderstood. This actually has to do with a sum of money I accidentally acquired, which is the source of the money to buy this house."
Su Wending understood that the best way to completely gain the trust of the Masked Heroine behind him was to find a reasonable starting point.
"I'm very interested now."
The Masked Heroine said meaningfully.
"My parents were herb gatherers and were killed by monsters."
Su Wending started by playing the victim.
"I'm not interested in those things."
The Masked Heroine interrupted Su Wending from continuing to play the victim.
"The village chief exploited the family, and a funeral ate up all the money my parents left behind. I starved for three days and almost died. Later, a murder occurred in the village, and I sold the house in the village to the village chief, then came to Yinchuan Ancient City yesterday."
"If you talk any more nonsense, my longsword will be merciless."
The Masked Heroine said impatiently.
"Masked Heroine, a story needs to be complete. I found the silver the village chief buried under the tree roots, a full one hundred and twenty taels. I also pretended to sell the house to him so I could escape Su Family Village."
Su Wending continued, "So, based on my preconceived notions, like those local tyrants, I think the previous owner of this house might have hidden some silver, just like the village chief."
The Masked Heroine behind him was instantly unfazed.
"Then did you find it?"
"Found nothing."
Su Wending was like a deflated balloon.
The Masked Heroine snorted coldly, "Do you know why this Hundred Household is called Tieren Tu?"
"I don't know."
"Five years ago, Tieren Tu suddenly led a cavalry unit deep behind enemy lines into the grasslands, killing for five days and five nights, destroying eight grassland tribes, and slaughtering tens of thousands."
The Masked Heroine's voice was incredibly cold.
"Holy crap, a hero!"
Su Wending blurted out.
"Hero? Humph."
The Masked Heroine scoffed in response.
"Serving the country, going deep behind enemy lines, slaughtering the enemy's den—isn't this the act of a hero? Or is my understanding flawed?"
"What you said is interesting." The Masked Heroine was very surprised by what the young man in front of her said. "You're right, that's why he's called Tieren Tu. A body like iron, extremely brutal in his methods."
"He's a soldier. How can a soldier be described as brutal? This is a misunderstanding by the world."
Su Wending's temper flared.
He felt that Tieren Tu's actions were flawless.
It's just, going deep into the grasslands, killing tens of thousands behind enemy lines.
Why had he never heard of such a major event?
With such a record, he was simply Huo Qubing reborn!!!
"The world? How would the world know about these things?"
The Masked Heroine had now opened the floodgates.
"He is a demon slave, possessing extremely powerful demon arts. Everything he did in the Northern Barbarians was to sacrifice to the Demon King under Barbarian God Mountain."
Su Wending's heart trembled slightly, and he tilted his head, wanting to turn around and look at the Masked Heroine.
But he forcibly twisted it back halfway.
"Masked Heroine, why are you telling me this...? I'm timid and can't handle scares."
Su Wending said with a trembling voice.
Monsters were already that powerful.
Now you're talking about a Demon King?
How could he not be afraid?
I'm just a small scholar; I only hope to live a peaceful life, earn some money, get rich, marry three or five wives, and enjoy the pleasures of a man, a small commoner.
"Are you scared?"
Su Wending nodded.
"You help me find something Tieren Tu left behind, and I'll give you a great Opportunity."
"Really?"
"A gentleman's word is his bond."
But you are a woman!!!
"I'll do my best."
Su Wending nodded.
His life was in someone else's hands; his spine couldn't be stubborn. Only those who know the times are heroes.
"You need to be quick. Many forces in the Northern Barbarians have learned about this. The news of Tieren Tu's death was unexpectedly spread by you today. If the Northern Barbarians don't get the demon king blood pearl, they will never give up."】}
The Masked Heroine decided to give Su Wending a bit of pressure, and this had to be done before her Junior Sister reacted.
Su Wending gulped.
“If I return to the village now, Masked Heroine, do you think that would be alright?”
“The Suspended Mirror Division didn’t thoroughly clean house. Do you think they’ll let you off?”
“Doesn’t that mean I’ll die unjustly for no reason?”
“The only way to save you is to find the relics Tieren Tu left behind, and I’ll carry them out of Yinchuan Ancient City. All the hidden forces will then focus on me.”
The Masked Heroine looked at Su Wending, who was in a predicament, her thoughts becoming clearer.
This was a good chess piece.
“Doesn’t that put you, Masked Heroine, in danger?”
Su Wending retorted.
“Danger? Me? Why not them?”
The Masked Heroine scoffed with disdain.
So, a powerful individual was here!!!
Su Wending felt much more relaxed.
“I’ve already searched the house once and studied its structure. Tieren Tu couldn’t have hidden the things you mentioned inside the house.”
Su Wending recalled the conclusions he had reached from his study today.
“So, you’re useless now?”
“No, quite the opposite. By eliminating all impossibilities, the areas that need to be searched become narrower. If Tieren Tu really hid the items inside this house, the only possibility is underground.”
Su Wending lifted his foot and tapped forcefully on a stone brick.
A treasure hunting hint: there was a Treasure Trove hidden inside this house.
Then there must be a Treasure Trove hidden.
The interior of the house was ruled out.
The only remaining possibility was underground.
“The structure of this house has a very solid foundation. I estimate the stone base and wooden pillars go four or five feet underground. Therefore, ruling out a dungeon beneath the house, the only remaining places for a dungeon are the central courtyard and the backyard.”
Su Wending said with certainty.
The Masked Heroine was very surprised.
This young man’s mind was agile, and his way of doing things was very methodical.
It was quite unexpected for her.
“Unfortunately, I haven’t found the entrance. However, we can make an assumption. Assuming there really is a dungeon, and for convenience of access, it’s buried directly underground, it would be very inconvenient to dig up soil to open a secret door and then bury the soil to remove traces every time. I believe Tieren Tu wouldn’t do that.”
“So, if Tieren Tu set up a dungeon, he would definitely choose some buildings to conceal the traces of the dungeon.”
Su Wending’s mouth curled into a proud smile.
When you know the result,
Treasure Hunting actually becomes simple.
“This is getting more and more interesting. It seems I must, by hook or by crook, give this great Opportunity to you.”
The Masked Heroine retrieved her sword.
Su Wending turned around and finally saw her attire clearly.
Her tall figure, wearing a fox mask, exuded an enchanting beauty that captivated all, just from her physique and temperament.
This was a beautiful woman.
From her smooth, moist skin exposed to the light, it could be judged that her age was not very old.
Most likely, she was a girl in her twenties.
“Let me start with the backyard. The backyard has a latrine, a well, a stable, a kitchen, and a training ground.”
“It couldn’t be the latrine.”
“Although the training ground has buildings, it’s impossible to set the secret door of the dungeon there.”
“So, that leaves the stable, kitchen, and well.”
“Why the well?”
“I observed it. The water level in the backyard well has always remained five meters below the wellhead.”
The Masked Heroine nodded after hearing this.
“However, it’s very likely not the well. According to the growth of moss on the well wall, the moss has not been damaged for a long time and has grown very evenly.”
Su Wending tried his best to recall the situation of the well.
The Masked Heroine smiled, and Su Wending saw the smile in her bright eyes.
“You are indeed a very meticulous and careful person. I retract what I said last night; if you were to study, and pass the imperial examinations in the future, you would definitely become a capable official.”
This was already the greatest praise for the young man before her.
“Unfortunately, my aspirations are no longer here,” Su Wending sighed.
He did not want to return to school.
“Then only the stable and the kitchen are left.”
The Masked Heroine’s eyes grew brighter.
Su Wending sighed inwardly, his life was held in the other party’s palm.
He could only implore the other party to keep her promise.
As for the Treasure Trove, it had long been cast aside.
“And the central courtyard.”
“The entrance, rockery, pond, trees, well—do you think Tieren Tu would set up a dungeon at his doorstep?”
The Masked Heroine retorted.
“Most people wouldn’t, but there are exceptions.”
Su Wending said confidently.
“Then include the central courtyard, and let’s start searching.”
The Masked Heroine’s figure faded, turning into green smoke and disappearing.
Such miraculous ability left Su Wending deeply shaken.
Su Wending started from the central courtyard.
From the entrance wall, to the rockery, well, central courtyard trees, pond, etc., he didn’t even miss any traces on the flagstone-paved floor.
Knowing the result, Treasure Hunting was just a process.
And since it was his own house, Su Wending was determined to dig three feet deep to find it.
Backyard.
The donkey, having eaten its fill of fodder, stared at Su Wending with clear, foolish eyes.
Su Wending ignored the little donkey.
The stable’s trough was filled with clean water and fodder, enough for the donkey for three days.
“Hee-haw~ Hee-haw~~”
The donkey brayed happily, showing its large teeth.
This immediately ignited an unprovoked anger in Su Wending.
He began to inspect the stable.
It was a simple wooden structure, with a shed, a water trough, and a feed trough.
The training ground was just compacted lime soil.
One look was enough to rule it out.
The well had already been searched.
He looked towards the kitchen.
The latrine was automatically ignored.
Only the kitchen remained.
Hundred Household Tieren Tu was not from a prominent family.
But he was also not an ordinary person.
From the room layout, two rooms were for servants.
Besides the main room, he should have two children.
The remaining room was a guest room.
The master bedroom had already been turned over.
Even the floor had several plates of clear water poured onto it by Su Wending.
He observed the traces of water seeping into the floor.
The conclusion was that there were no gaps under the floor.
As for the secret compartment.
There was indeed a secret compartment.
The space was only large enough for two people to stand.
From the spatial structure of the master bedroom wall, it couldn’t accommodate a larger secret compartment.
The found secret compartment had already been emptied.
This indicated that the mistress of the house knew about this secret compartment.
The treasure hunting hint said that the previous owner of this house had a Treasure Trove hidden here.
Since it wasn’t the master bedroom’s secret compartment, then there must be another secret room for the Treasure Trove.
“A three-room kitchen.”
“The woodshed.”
“The utility room for miscellaneous items and water jars.”
“And the kitchen with the stove for cooking.”
Moving the water jar, he found no traces of a secret door.
The stove was built with bluestone bricks, plastered with a layer of lime.
It was seamlessly fitted.
No traces were found.
“Only the woodshed is left.”
Su Wending smiled.
He pushed open the woodshed door.
On the left, neatly stacked wood chips were piled, and on the right, there was still two-thirds of the space.
But Su Wending saw several huge logs pressing down on the bottom layer.
One person couldn’t even embrace them.
Why were logs pressing down on the bottom layer?
Su Wending squatted down and examined them carefully. The purple, fine wood grain, and its oily sheen made his eyes widen.
Zitan wood.
From its outline, it was at least a thousand years old.
The bottom layer was fifty centimeters thick.
“Are these meant to be coffin planks? But why are two perfectly good logs sawn into three sections?”
Su Wending noticed the clue: each section of zitan wood was half a zhang long.
“The upper layer of firewood was stacked by servants and was always in use. The zitan logs pressing down at the bottom, a servant might not even be able to lift one.”
Su Wending walked to the very back of the woodshed.
He moved the two neatly stacked rows of wood blocks from the top.
He placed them at the very back against the wall.
From the wood chips left on the floor, it could be seen that the rightmost wall was often used to store firewood.
He moved the firewood from on top of the last section of zitan wood, then pushed out the two zitan logs.
He then saw a small door pressed beneath the zitan logs, with two ropes on the small door.
It was about one meter long and one meter wide.
Su Wending pulled the ropes.
Immediately, a black deep pit was revealed.
“So, it was to prevent servants from discovering the underground secret room.”
“Very good. You deserve this great Opportunity.”
A pleasant voice sounded by his ear.
It startled Su Wending.
The Masked Heroine, dressed in black and wearing a fox mask, appeared beside him again.
“Masked Heroine, next time you appear, could you give a heads-up? Scaring people to death is no joke.”
Su Wending complained.
The Masked Heroine sneered, “My apologies, I forgot you, little thief, are as timid as a mouse.”
Su Wending’s old face flushed, and he bluffed, “The village chief’s silver was ill-gotten gains. This isn’t stealing; it’s borrowing.”
“Borrowing? Do you want me to borrow your head for a bit?”
“No, Masked Heroine, please. I have not failed your trust. Hundred Household Tieren Tu’s deeply hidden lair has been dug out by me.”
Su Wending stepped on the zitan wood and retreated to the wall.
“Get out, close the woodshed door, and wait for me in the main hall.”
The Masked Heroine said in a deep voice.
Su Wending bowed slightly, yielding his position: “After you.”
The Masked Heroine leaped, jumping from the small door into the dungeon.
“Aren’t you afraid I’ll close the small door and press it down with the zitan wood?”
Su Wending muttered softly.
“Go ahead and try. Can I break through the earth and emerge?”
A faint female voice came to his ear, making Su Wending shiver.
He quickly exited the woodshed.
He closed the door.
He glanced at the donkey, only to see it staring at him and the woodshed with clear, foolish eyes.
Su Wending put a finger to his lips, making a shushing gesture.
“Hee-haw~~ Hee-haw~~~”
The dumb donkey brayed happily.