Chapter 352 Young Master Xiao, are you willing to do this?
The saying "treasures move people's hearts" is equally true in any era, any place, and for any person. There is no human heart in the world that is unmoved by wealth.
However, some people don't have such great greed, but others' greed is often greater than their abilities.
Within Wanggangzhai, the latter group clearly outnumbered the former.
Upon hearing about the treasure, especially the treasure within Zuo Gong's tomb, the followers who had been glaring menacingly at Yuwen Ye and Shen Wuzheng all had their eyes gleam with greed. Some even turned to look at Xiao Yuansui beside them.
At this moment, Xiao Yuansui's face had turned completely gloomy.
After a long silence, he spoke, his voice filled with a fierce, teeth-gritting malice: "So, it was you—"
Although the sentence was left unsaid, it didn't need to be between the three of them. Xiao Yuansui clearly understood why Wang Quyi had rushed to recall him from Luoyang this time, even going so far as to ambush him with axemen in the stronghold, as if he were ready to fight him to the death—even though the two of them were already like tigers that cannot share the same mountain.
It was the "treasure" in Zuo Gong's suspected tomb that made his greed uncontrollable.
Therefore, he had no choice but to take himself down.
Although he had successfully killed Wang Quyi and captured Wanggang Village by a narrow margin, Xiao Yuansui felt a surge of anger when he thought that his actions were entirely within someone else's calculations. In particular, the man in front of him seemed to have everything under control.
He stared at Yuwen Ye and said coldly, "Aren't you afraid that you won't be able to leave alive?"
As soon as the threat was uttered, the people around seemed to receive a command, and they all reached for their swords. Although the swords were not yet drawn, the surging killing intent seemed to materialize and rush towards Yuwen Ye and Shen Wuzheng.
Even the fresh wind in the mountains, carrying the scent of earth and leaves, seemed to carry the stench of blood at this moment.
The other side, even just at the main gate, had already gathered over a hundred people.
Moreover, there are countless soldiers lurking in the village behind them, out of sight of them. If they were to rush in, even if the two of them turned around immediately, they would have no chance of escaping.
However, neither Yuwen Ye nor Shen Wuzheng trembled even slightly in their hands holding the reins.
Yuwen Ye glanced at the group of murderous followers around Xiao Yuansui, then smiled calmly and said, "Young Master Xiao has fought with me before, so you must know me somewhat."
Xiao Yuansui replied, "Of course."
"Then you should have heard about my achievements in Yanmen County and the battle at Jiangdu Palace a few days ago."
"..."
Xiao Yuansui didn't speak, but his brows slowly furrowed.
Yuwen Ye looked at his sinister gaze, then glanced down at the longsword in his hand, and calmly said, "I, Yuwen Ye, alone cannot withstand a thousand troops, but I can take the head of a general amidst ten thousand soldiers—"
At this point, his gaze shifted from the blade to Xiao Yuansui's face, and his eyes seemed to reflect the sharpness of the blade.
Then, he said, word by word: "Easy, like, turning, palm."
"...!"
Xiao Yuansui's face immediately darkened.
He understood, of course, that this was a threat from Yuwen Ye, a blatant threat, without any beating around the bush or concealment.
Because he truly possesses such strength.
Not only did he wound Ashina Shali with an arrow amidst thousands of troops in Yanmen County, repelling them, but also in the Battle of Jiangdu Palace this time, even though Wang Shao and his brothers only emphasized the matter of Lady Yuwen's regicide in their announcement to the world, those who understand military affairs know that Yuwen Ye rescued Shang Ruyi from the encirclement and attack of the well-equipped and valiant Imperial Guards.
Therefore, it wouldn't be difficult for him to kill someone in Wanggangzhai if he were to risk his life.
Absolute strength can sometimes be a threat that makes people afraid to resist. As soon as he said this, Xiao Yuansui did not react immediately. In fact, those around him seemed to feel an invisible deterrent force. Even with swords in hand, they suddenly felt a weight many times heavier.
After a long silence, Xiao Yuansui sneered, "Yuwen, Second Young Master, are you willing to die here?"
He emphasized the word "Yuwen," seemingly to tell Yuwen Ye that as the young master of the Yuwen family, with Yuwen Yuan now occupying Daxing City and supporting a new emperor, what he would do next was something many people understood, even if he didn't say it aloud.
The second son of the Yuwen family—at this moment, was already of immeasurable status.
Would he be willing to die here?
Yuwen Ye smiled faintly, still looking at his gleaming, cold-looking Mo Dao, and said calmly, "I had already given it up when I went up the mountain."
After saying that, he suddenly looked at Xiao Yuansui: "But Young Master Xiao, are you willing to give it up?"
Xiao Yuansui frowned.
Yuwen Ye continued, "In the end, we came up the mountain just for those two maps. If Young Master Xiao is willing to return them, we won't have to fight each other at all. Besides, perhaps Young Master Xiao already knows the answer to what's on those maps, doesn't he?"
Upon hearing this, Xiao Yuansui did not react, but the expressions of those around him clearly changed again.
Even from inside the gate behind him, some restless sounds could be heard.
At this moment, Xiao Yuansui also noticed that Yuwen Ye and Shen Wuzheng kept mentioning Zuo Gong's suspected tomb and treasure, and hinted several times that the treasure was related to him. Now that he had just killed Wang Quyi, the people in Wanggang Village were not stable. If such a thing was mentioned again, it would be easy for some people to have second thoughts.
Thinking of this, he said coldly, "You keep talking about Zuo Gong's suspected tomb and treasure, but what do these things have to do with me?"
"..."
"Moreover, even the emperor couldn't find Zuo Gong's suspected tomb, so where did you get the map to find that place?"
"..."
"Or are you just spouting nonsense, trying to make those who hear this news lose their lives for something you've fabricated?"
His words shocked everyone around him once again.
But Shen Wuzheng immediately said, "Others may not know, but as the strategist of Zuo Heng's rebellion, Young Master Xiao should have heard Zuo Heng say that before his death, Xiao Shan Gong asked someone who was proficient in Yin and Yang and the Five Elements to find a treasure to build his tomb."
Xiao Yuansui said, "So what?"
Shen Wuzheng said, "My master is the one who is proficient in Yin and Yang and the Five Elements."
Xiao Yuansui frowned: "Your teacher is—Li Tong?!"
Shen Wuzheng said, "Exactly."
Xiao Yuansui couldn't help but gasp.
He had certainly heard of the great Confucian scholar from Hedong, the contemporary Guiguzi, but he never expected that Shen Wuzheng was actually his disciple. If that were the case, even if he denied it now, the matter of Zuo Gong's suspected tomb and treasure had already left a deep impression on the people around him, and everyone would naturally assume that he knew the whereabouts of the suspected tomb.
After all, it's easy for a person to prove they have something, but it's very difficult to prove they don't!
At this moment, Yuwen Ye said again, "Young Master Xiao now occupies the Eastern Capital, owns a mountain stronghold, and has his sights set on the world. It would be a pity if he were to lose his life here for two maps."
"..."
"So, this question should be asked of you—Young Master Xiao, are you really willing to do that?"
"...!"
Xiao Yuansui frowned again.
Willing to part with it? Of course he's unwilling!
He was born into a prestigious family, but because of a prophetic song, he was neglected by the court. With nowhere else to turn, he joined Zuo Heng in a rebellion. However, the rebellion failed, and he wandered the world, where he was hunted down by the court. He finally found Wanggang Village and was taken in. He gradually built up his own power. Now he has finally returned to the Eastern Capital to avenge his family and even took over the entire Wanggang Village.
Now is the time for him to realize his grand ambitions and soar to great heights.
How could he possibly bear to do that?!
However, at this point, even if he really handed over the two maps that put Li Wenyang and Wu Gan to death, it would be useless, because everyone in Wanggang Village would believe it even more. Once Yuwen Ye and Shen Wuzheng left, this suspected tomb and treasure would become the powder keg that ignited the entire Wanggang Village.
By then, it will be even harder to win back people's hearts.
And this is probably why these two people risked going up the mountain.
Therefore, he couldn't let these two people leave, especially Shen Wuzheng, because as Li Tong's apprentice, he could take his place as the focus of the search for Zuo Gong's suspected tomb!
But--
Just as Yuwen Ye said, he had already learned about this person before the last encounter at Xingluocang. Yuwen Ye became famous at a young age. Although he was the second young master of the Duke's mansion, he grew up on the battlefield. He always took the lead in every battle. He was the one who single-handedly charged into the million-strong army of the Turks to resolve the crisis in Yanmen County. And this time, during the Jiangdu Palace mutiny, he only led a team of men and rescued Shang Ruyi from the encirclement and attack of the Imperial Guards.
This man was never afraid of death when he fought, but fate just wouldn't let him die!
Therefore, when he says he's willing to give it up, he truly is.
At this moment, Xiao Yuansui couldn't help but feel a pang of regret. When he learned that the two had come up the mountain, he shouldn't have been too cautious and suspected that they must have a backup plan, so he didn't immediately send his men to surround and kill them. Later, when he sent people to observe along the way and found that there were really only the two of them on the mountain, he was too confident and thought that even if the two of them were really skilled in martial arts, they were not a threat. He was even more curious about what they wanted to do on the mountain.
Now, we've ended up in this situation.
Seeing his furrowed brows and somewhat gloomy expression, Shen Wuzheng calmly said, "Young Master Xiao, there's no need to be upset."
Xiao Yuansui looked up at him.
Shen Wuzheng said, "Perhaps you regret being too cautious, too confident, and too curious just now. But caution, confidence, and curiosity are all good things for people living in this chaotic world. Young Master Xiao, please don't change."
"..."
After a long silence, Xiao Yuansui slowly raised his head.
His bright eyes flashed with a sharp, even cold light, and he suddenly sneered, "It seems that you two have figured me out completely."
"..."
"So, have you figured out Wanggang Village thoroughly?"
Yuwen Ye raised an eyebrow slightly and exchanged a glance with Shen Wuzheng beside him.
Xiao Yuansui said, "The Second Young Master Yuwen is indeed brave and skilled in battle, and it would be easy for him to take the head of a general in the midst of ten thousand troops. Fortunately, there are also such people in my Wanggang Village."
"..."
"If you want to kill me, why don't you get past him first?"
Although he had remained calm throughout, Shen Wuzheng still took a deep breath upon hearing these words.
He said in a deep voice, "Can you deal with Shen Tu Tai?"
Yuwen Ye didn't speak, but just stared ahead. He saw Xiao Yuansui slowly turn to the side, and someone walked out from behind him.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com