I'm Already the Richest Man, Why Did My System Just Arrive?

Chapter 310: Chapter 183: Secret

As for Xie Luohe’s specialty of brute-force lockpicking, that was out of the question. The box was lined with white phosphorus powder, which is highly flammable. Any violent attempt to open it would risk igniting the phosphorus inside.

The box was pitch-black and seamlessly forged, looking as if it were a single, natural piece. A row of hair-thin holes was faintly visible on its surface. If Zheng Xiu guessed correctly, these holes were likely meant to provide oxygen if ’ignition’ was required. Such masterful craftsmanship could only have come from Hidden Sword Manor.

When Dugu Xiang and Bai Xiaosheng came down, Zheng Xiu, Cheng Xiao, Xie Luohe, and Xiaotao were waiting by the box.

Zheng Xiu stared wide-eyed at ’Bai Xiaosheng,’ finding it hard to believe. ”Are you really Bai Xiaosheng?”

”As real as it gets.”

Bai Xiaosheng pointed at the eight characters on his fan.

The corner of Zheng Xiu’s mouth twitched. ”I used to have a fan just like that.”

Bai Xiaosheng was suddenly speechless.

At their side, Xiaotao tilted her head in confusion. ”I’ve heard the legends of the Jianghu. They say Bai Xiaosheng is handsome and dashing, but eccentric; immensely knowledgeable, but arrogant. He was born with a discerning eye and a photographic memory, having read countless secret manuals and studied military strategy both ancient and modern. He can identify any form of Martial Arts under Heaven, understands the geography of the mountains and rivers, and knows of all things past, present, and from beyond the seas. Using this vast knowledge, he wrote the *Weapon Manual*, detailing the techniques, strengths, weaknesses, and personality of everyone on its list. Because of this, he is revered by many Martial Artists, and just as naturally, hated by many others.”

Zheng Xiu’s face was deadpan. ”Pardon my bluntness, but if what Xiaotao said is true, the very first part is a complete lie.”

Bai Xiaosheng spat. ”You don’t know shit. It’s called being half-truth and half-lie. If I were really that easy to find, my enemies would’ve hacked me to pieces long ago. But my friends in the Jianghu show me some respect, so the latter half of the legend is mostly true. If you people really want to find Nie Gong’s Treasure Vault, you’ll need my connections and intelligence.”

At this moment, Dugu Xiang’s tightly clenched fists were trembling slightly.

He suppressed his excitement, his expression calm as he looked at Zheng Xiu.

”I long suspected you weren’t Xiao Buping, but I never expected you to be a descendant of the Gongsun Family. No wonder you could tell the authenticity of the calligraphy at a glance. Can it be that you really know the location of Nie Gong’s Treasure Vault?”

Zheng Xiu didn’t answer. He just looked at Xie Luohe.

’It’s best to let Xie Luohe take the lead right now.’

Xie Luohe extended her hand toward Zheng Xiu, beckoning with two slender, pale fingers. Zheng Xiu understood instantly. He took the last two painting scrolls from his robes and, right in front of Dugu Xiang, handed them to Xie Luohe.

Xie Luohe held the scrolls and smiled faintly. ”I’ll have to trouble Hero Dugu to open the lock.”

Cheng Xiao silently pressed the *Spring Pond Willow Swallow Map* onto the table.

Dugu Xiang looked at the two unopened scrolls in Xie Luohe’s hand, his eyelids twitching.

In that instant, many thoughts flashed through his mind.

’Is Xie Luohe playing the same trick I did, using fake paintings to scam me?’

’Or maybe one is real and the other is fake.’

’Or maybe they’re just two corncobs, and the moment I take the real painting out of the box, they’ll attack and snatch it.’

But Dugu Xiang banished all these speculations from his mind when he recalled the astonishing martial prowess Xie Luohe had displayed.

Xie Luohe seemed more like a hunter who had made all the preparations for a kill—composed and serene.

Gathering all four paintings had indeed been Dugu Xiang’s goal, but attracting Xie Luohe’s attention was an unexpected complication.

Dugu Xiang silently stepped forward and began to work the Nine-Orifice Exquisite Lock. CLICK. As the nine orifices slid into place, the Linglong Lock let out a soft CLICK, and the core popped out.

He carefully lifted the heavily wrapped *Plum Blossoms in the Snow* from the black box and turned to face the others.

”Before we admire the painting, let me get the unpleasantries out of the way,” Dugu Xiang said. ”To avoid any bad blood and to ensure fairness, I propose that whatever we find in Nie Gong’s Treasure Vault, we divide it all into four equal shares, one for each of our four parties.”

”It seems I’ll have to add a line to Hero Dugu’s page in the *Weapon Manual* later: Don’t judge a book by its cover.” The portly Bai Xiaosheng licked his dry lips and chuckled, spreading his hands. After making this ambiguous remark, which clearly unsettled Dugu Xiang, he added, ”I’m not actually interested in Nie Gong’s Treasure Vault.”

Hearing this, Zheng Xiu asked curiously, ”Then why are you here?”

”A secret,” Bai Xiaosheng said, his eyes narrowing into a grin.

”Hypocrite,” Zheng Xiu said.

”Not so!” Bai Xiaosheng, knowing Zheng Xiu had misunderstood, glared and explained, ”What I meant is that I am only interested in ’secrets’ themselves! The location of Nie Gong’s Treasure Vault is the greatest ’secret’ in the Jianghu right now! To know what no one else knows, to understand what no one else understands—that, to me, is a ’priceless treasure’ far more valuable than any gold or jewels!”

”Impressive!” Zheng Xiu looked at the stout man with new respect. But just as he offered his praise, Bai Xiaosheng added, ”However, since we’re splitting the spoils, it would surely make the rest of you uneasy if I took nothing. So, a four-way split... I agree.”

Cheng Xiao, cradling his saber, said coldly, ”I only want a blade.”

After Bai Xiaosheng and Cheng Xiao had stated their positions, Dugu Xiang looked at Xie Luohe, waiting for her answer.

Unexpectedly, Xie Luohe looked at Zheng Xiu and asked with a smile, ”What do you want?”

Zheng Xiu shook his head.

He seemed to have no desire for the so-called Nie Gong’s Treasure Vault.

Zheng Xiu knew he was inside a phantom memory. Throughout this experience, he had often found it difficult to distinguish reality from illusion. But when it came down to it, he knew who he was and what he was doing.

Therefore, he had no desire for anything in Nie Gong’s Treasure Vault.

”How about this,” Xie Luohe leaned in, her breath a sweet fragrance by his ear. She smiled, her voice a whisper only he could hear. ”Find Nie Gong’s Treasure Vault, and I’ll return... *her*... to you. What do you say?”