The cave General Qin Ke went to was actually another cave where Yan Ge had the Golden Python drill out. The gold pieces that he and General Qin Ke initially dug out were real, but they were buried in the soil beforehand. But the large piece of gold stone the soldiers later dug out was just an ordinary stone with one side covered in gold. So when Deputy General Shi picked up the stone, he discovered the truth.
Gao Yun said, “Boss, I have a question. The army of the Youji Kingdom has caused us to suffer more than a thousand casualties. Why don’t we just let the Golden Python destroy the cave and wipe out their thousand soldiers as payback?”
Gao Feng gave him a helpless look and said, “Use your brain. For General Qin Ke’s people to plunder our people within our borders is like slapping General Wei Chi in the face. This revenge opportunity should naturally be given to General Wei Chi to vent his anger. Besides, we still have matters to deal with here. If their general were to die at this moment, their emperor would definitely send people to investigate, wouldn’t we be inviting trouble?”
“Oh, right,” Gao Feng finally understood.
The group continued using their tools to excavate the gold stones. Yan Jin was also not idle. Although he didn’t help with mining, he occasionally handed them water or moved the small pieces of gold they dug out and placed them together. After moving them, he sat on a nearby blanket and enjoyed his snacks.
Yan Ge swung his spiritual sword to dig out a piece of gold, then sighed pretentiously, “I never thought that this young master would one day become a miner. Alas, how tragic.”
Gao Feng and Gao Yun thought to themselves, ‘From the way you and His Majesty easily mine gold as if cutting vegetables, you are probably the most relaxed miners in the world.’
Huangfu Yuchen kissed Yan Ge’s forehead, “My poor baby. This gold mine is within the territory of the Youji Kingdom, so it’s not convenient for our people to come here. Besides, I plan to keep this gold as secret reserve funds, not to be deposited in the national treasury. It may come in handy at a critical moment.”
“I don’t mind, but Gao Feng and Gao Yun have indeed worked hard. You should reward them,” Yan Ge said with a smile.
Gao Feng and Gao Yun both knelt down and said, “We dare not! Serving the boss and young master is our duty and our pleasure!”
“Such honest kids,” Yan Ge praised.
Huangfu Yuchen, Gao Feng, and Gao Yun all had helpless expressions.
Huangfu Yuchen said, “Xiao Ge is right. I will promote both of you to Deputy Guard Captains of the fourth rank.”
Gao Feng and Gao Yun happily looked at each other and said, “Thank you, Your Majesty!”
“Father, I also helped,” Yan Jin ran over to join in the fun.
Huangfu Yuchen glanced at him and said, “I will appoint you as first rank—”
Yan Jin’s eyes lit up. “First rank of what?”
“Of eating. What do you think?” Huangfu Yuchen finished speaking.
Yan Jin pouted.
Yan Ge, Huangfu Yuchen, Gao Feng, and Gao Yun all laughed.
With their profound cultivation, it took the group three days to dig out nearly three million taels of gold. Although many of the gold stones had impurities, even after refining, they would still have around 2.5 million taels, which was equivalent to 25 million taels of silver. It was a considerable wealth.
Huangfu Yuchen gave Yan Ge a gold stone that resembled a galloping horse and weighed about a thousand taels. He also gave Gao Feng and Gao Yun each a piece weighing around a hundred taels. Yan Jin also received a gold lump the size of an egg and he happily put it into his small pouch.
Yan Ge and Huangfu Yuchen used some spatial techniques to collect all the gold, which was actually stored in the system backpack. However, the space was highly confidential, and Yan Ge currently had no plans to let a fourth person know about it.
There were still some scattered small gold stones in the gold mine, but because Huangfu Yuchen couldn’t stay away from the palace for too long, they didn’t have time to dig them out. Yan Ge released the Golden Python and let it eat them, then the group left the cave, allowing the Golden Python to collapse it. Perhaps there was more gold inside, but it shouldn’t fall into the hands of the Youji Kingdom.
After disguising themselves, the group successfully left Lushan Town and returned to Nanrun City. They greeted General Wei Chi, Minister Luo Wei, and Deng Mande, and set off back to the capital with Deng Mande.
Standing at the entrance of Tenglong Palace, Yan Ge looked at Huangfu Yuchen by his side, and the corners of his lips curled up. It felt as if they had never been apart.
The guards of Tenglong Palace saw them return and they knelt down and saluted. “Greetings, Your Majesty. Greetings, Yan Shiqing.”
“Disp—,” before Yan Ge could say “disperse,” he suddenly felt something was wrong. Yan Shiqing? Did the guards make a mistake, or did he mishear it?
“Ding. Side mission—Return to the rank of Caiqing.
Mission time: six months. Mission success reward: 50,000 taels of silver, one storage ring. Mission failure penalty: deduction of 50,000 taels of silver. Accept the mission? ‘Yes’ or ‘No’.”
Yan Ge instinctively accepted the mission. First, he was informed of his demotion, and then he learned that completing the mission would allow him to obtain the legendary storage ring. He didn’t know if he should be frustrated or delighted. Like a tiger pouncing on its prey, he pounced on Huangfu Yuchen’s back, wrapped his arms around his neck, and demanded an explanation, “You demoted me to Shiqing?”
“Yes,” Huangfu Yuchen reached his hand behind him to support Yan Ge, calmly carrying him as they continued walking towards the palace.
The palace attendants lowered their heads respectfully.
Yan Ge gritted his teeth and said, “Didn’t you say you wouldn’t get angry with me?”
Huangfu Yuchen didn’t say a word and walked into the palace, placing Yan Ge on the bed and sitting beside him. “Baby, if you had told me properly that you wanted to go to the southwest, I might not have refused. I’m upset that you sneaked away without informing me. Do you know why I didn’t want you to leave the capital alone?”
He explained to Yan Ge the conclusion he had drawn earlier about Centipede, “When I found out that you had sneakes out of the capital, I was scared to death, fearing that Meng Xiaohun would come after you and harm you in a place unknown to me. So, this is my way of punishing you. Let’s see if you dare to be disobedient in the future.” He knew that Yan Ge cared a lot about his rank, so he used this method to teach him a lesson, so that his audacity wouldn’t grow.
Yan Ge wanted to cry but had no tears, yet he couldn’t say to Huangfu Yuchen: ‘Promoting my rank is my system mission, and it also relates to our cultivation. If you must punish me, at least find another method.’
“I left you a note, it’s not considered sneaking.” He tried to defend himself desperately.
“What note?” Huangfu Yuchen asked in confusion.
Yan Ge was taken aback. “Didn’t you see it? I pasted it on the top of the bed canopy.”
“On top of the bed canopy?” Huangfu Yuchen looked at him with a half-smile.
Yan Ge coughed lightly and turned his head.
Deng Mande whispered, “Yan Shiqing, please forgive this servant for being nosy. After you left, His Majesty didn’t rest on the bed at all. He was handling government affairs until almost dawn and only slept on the desk for a while. After arranging everything, he left the palace to chase after you.”
Yan Ge suddenly turned his head back. He didn’t say a word, but secretly reached out to hold Huangfu Yuchen’s hand, looking at him with apologetic eyes.
Huangfu Yuchen shook his head gently and leaned in to give him a kiss on the lips.
Yan Ge still felt a bit unwilling. “Centipede didn’t make a move, so maybe—”
“No.” Huangfu Yuchen rejected him outright. “However, it is indeed strange that the Centipede didn’t appear this time. Did it not receive news of our departure from the capital, or is there another plot?”
“Don’t change the subject—” Yan Ge emphasized each word.
Huangfu Yuchen patted his head, took off his outer robe, and prepared for a bath.
Yan Ge started looking for his pouch.
Huangfu Yuchen knew his intentions without looking and said leisurely, “Even if you bring out 200,000 taels, it’s useless.”
Yan Ge froze, then deflated and fell onto the bed.
Huangfu Yuchen walked up to him and half-dragged, half-carried him to the side of the bath, helping him remove his cloak. “Alright, baby, don’t be angry. As long as you behave, I will find a chance to restore your position.”
Yan Ge glanced at him with a sour expression but didn’t say anything. In his heart, he thought, ‘Once I get the storage ring, I won’t give it to you!’
Days passed with the two of them playfully teasing each other. By the time their cultivation reached the end of the Divine Transformation stage, it was already midwinter, with snow falling every two or three days.
The weather was too cold, and all construction work in the capital came to a halt. In addition, the common people began preparing for the Lunar New Year. Even in winter, the capital remained lively and people from nearby villages and towns flocked to the city to buy New Year’s goods. Various fragrances filled the streets, attracting not only children but also adults. After a year of hard work, it was time to reward themselves.
On the twenty-third day of the twelfth lunar month, the First Company began their holiday and would resume work after the fifteenth day of the first lunar month.
The managers and sales assistants of other stores watched the employees of the First Company as they took their families to the streets to buy New Year’s goods, watch performances, and listen to storytellers. They couldn’t help but feel envious and secretly sighed. Why wasn’t their boss as considerate and reasonable as Yan Shiqing?
Lu Shaoling was also one of the objects of their envy. After being polished by Yan Ge for several months, he had already transformed and become an assistant manager of the First Company. He walked confidently through the streets with his head held high.
“Oh, isn’t this Uncle Zhao? How have you been lately? I’ve been so busy that I didn’t have time to come and visit you. I heard that your leg has been bothering you again recently. I’ll have someone go to the Ping’an Pharmacy to get you some medicine. It’s guaranteed to work. I’m an employee of the company, so you’ll get a 20% discount on the medicine.”
“Oh, Uncle Li is here too? It’s so cold today, why aren’t you wearing a cloak? If you don’t mind, I can lend you mine. You can return it to me whenever you have the chance. If it fits you well, you can keep it.”
After Lu Shaoling left, Master Zhao and Master Li looked at each other, unable to express their feelings. This young master Lu seems to have changed completely. No wonder Duke Lu always has a smile on his face wherever he goes. Lu Shaoling used to be a useless dandy, but now he was a talented young man. As for their own sons, they used to be useless dandies, and they still were.
Maybe they should talk to Yan Caiqing and send their sons to the First Company for some training too? This thought floated through both men’s minds.
