Imperial Treasure
Chapter 248 - 180: Sheepskin Scroll, A Chinese Treasure?_2

Chapter 248: Chapter 180: Sheepskin Scroll, A Chinese Treasure?_2

As they were all laughing, someone suddenly interjected, "Can I sleep with you guys too?"

The delicate-looking young man, with a bamboo basket on his back, was acting coy.

Lin Yun: "..."

Alright, it finally dawned on her that someone new had joined them.

Sui Yi had long been aware of the young man following them and simply glanced at him, saying, "Sure, join us."

This meant he was welcome to stay. After all, the boy was not bad by nature, just too naive. He seemed to trust creatures like the Giant Fox very much, but his strength was formidable, so keeping him around should be of some utility.

"Great, let’s sleep together; you really are a good person," the young man agreed readily.

Sleep together? Sui Yi remained silent; that’s not what she meant.

Li Jingyan raised an eyebrow at Lin Yun, "..."

Where did this kid come from? His brain must be too thick, and now he’s gotten the wires crossed.

Although Old Lady Mao San’s house was quite large, there were only two rooms in it. One wasn’t really tidied up, but after a little cleanup with some of the women, it was habitable. Old Lady Mao San and Xiao Dao shared a room. Originally, Sui Yi was supposed to share with Lin Yun. Sui Yi herself didn’t mind, but the villagers automatically treated her like a daughter from a rich family and couldn’t afford to neglect her, so they arranged for Lin Yun to stay with another household. In fact, Lin Yun also didn’t dare to share a bed with his boss; he knew Sui Yi was easy to get along with but also knew she was naturally reserved, so he didn’t dare get too close.

As for Li Jingyan and Wei Huan, they were naturally sent to stay in another house below, which was Mao Gang’s home.

Yes, Wei Huan was the name of the young man.

In the evening, a lavish and lively dinner at Mao Gang’s house was very pleasant. Freshly dug bamboo shoots were mixed with various wild vegetables to make a delicious soup, and the freshly caught game meat was, needless to say, full of mountain flavor, whetting the appetite of the busy Lin Yun and Li Jingyan throughout the day.

After eating and drinking their fill and with nightfall deepening, Sui Yi and the others discussed and agreed upon some procurement and cooperation deals with some households. After they were finished, everyone returned to their assigned accommodations.

Sui Yi went home with Old Lady Mao San. Along the way and seemingly without intention, Sui Yi brought up the topic of Bamboo Carving skills and inquired about Master Mao San.

Old Lady Mao San had no suspicions, as everyone in the village knew she had learned her skills from her husband.

Thinking of her husband, even after so many years, her feelings had mostly settled, leaving only memories. "My man, his skills were much better than mine... Back then, he was the leader in the village... But his greatest talent wasn’t Bamboo Carving... Not to hide it from you, miss, he used to handle cannons, set up all sorts of traps, dig tunnels, and never missed when catching wild boars. When the People’s Liberation Army came to our place, they valued him very much."

Sui Yi was now certain that the man in the cave was Master Mao San. The so-called disappearance might have been his involvement in a skirmish between the People’s Liberation Army and the Japanese Army... The origin of the skirmish might just be in the sheepskin scroll in her pocket.

After returning to where she was staying, Sui Yi warmed some water to wash her face and feet, tidied herself up, and due to the location’s constraints, had no pajamas to change into, so she took off her coat and sat on the bed barefooted.

In the moonlight and lamplight, she took out the sheepskin scroll from her coat pocket.

Although the lighting wasn’t particularly bright, it was clear enough to see the intricate black lines on the blood-red imprint.

A map.

Clearly, it depicted the terrain of Mao Bamboo Mountain.

Having chased the Giant Fox over most of the mountain that day, Sui Yi had an image of the terrain in her head, and upon looking at this map, she felt it was drawn quite accurately. However, there was a mark on one part of the mountain.

What did that signify?

Sui Yi’s gaze drifted downward, and at the bottom right corner of the sheepskin scroll, she saw a line of small characters.

"Ancient Hao’s text! And the arrangement of the Eight Gates Escape Armor... Perhaps Master Mao San feared that the Japanese would get their hands on this scroll and intentionally wrote in Ancient Hao’s text," Sui Yi remarked on Master Mao San’s capabilities—gunpowder, Trapping Technique, and understanding of Ancient Hao’s text suggested he was no ordinary man back in the day. However, during those times of national turmoil, many remarkable and unusual people had no choice but to hide in the mountains; a Master Mao San really wasn’t too extraordinary.

Sui Yi meticulously pondered these words and eventually deciphered a message.

"My name is Mao Sanqing. Skilled at Trap Mechanism Technique and entrusted by the Third Platoon of the Third Unit of the People’s Liberation Army, I resided deep in the mountains to protect a national treasure from being seized by the enemy. Unfortunately, the enemy chased us up the mountain, and we had no choice but to use clever tricks to trap them and attempt to destroy them with an explosive mechanism on The Gate. Doing so would likely mean mutual destruction, and I feared that other comrades might encounter mishaps, causing the treasure to be lost to the world forever. Hence, I leave this scroll as a message to the future generations of China, to remember to protect our national treasures. As for the map above, it indicates the location of another hiding place I created. Take the key from the pit below the right side of the cliff to open it... I die without regrets, only remorse for not fulfilling my duty as husband and father. I hope my family is well and can forgive me."

Reading through the lengthy message, Sui Yi was silent for a moment before letting out a long sigh.

Little did Mao Sanqing know that the cave never got blown up, but today, a fox had discovered the mechanism, destroyed his remains, and harmed his granddaughter.

And the villagers never imagined that the Mao Sanqing of yesteryears wasn’t doomed by a Demon Fox or another eeriness but had to leave because of a cause for the nation and its people. He probably didn’t tell Old Lady Mao San to keep her from being implicated.

Old Lady Mao San single-handedly upholding the entire household was indeed full of iron-willed integrity. If possible, Sui Yi would do more to help in the future, to honor Mao Sanqing’s loyalty.

Folding up the sheepskin scroll, Sui Yi didn’t ponder any further and lay down to sleep.

The night grew deep, and it seemed as if all the people on Mao Bamboo Mountain had gone to bed.

Thus, when a tiger-like shadow snuck down the mountain and into Old Lady Mao San’s yard—its gleaming green eyes shining in the moonlight, horribly eerie—no one noticed.

It glided into the house like a specter, peering left and right, sniffing the air, then drifted towards Sui Yi’s room... (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to cast your recommendation votes and monthly tickets at Qidian (qidian.com). Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please read on m.qidian.com.)