Rebirth: The Time-locked Girl
Chapter 177 Coercion, Got the Dagger [1 Update]

Chapter 177: 177 Coercion, Got the Dagger [1 Update]

The man with silver-white hair appeared at this moment, like a cool breeze suddenly sweeping through the scorching summer or the bright moon breaking through dark clouds in the dead of night.

He was dressed in a plain white, modernized suit with traditional Chinese elements, standing quietly by the doorpost.

The light fell upon his brows and eyes as if casting a layer of cool frost.

Those who saw his face could not deny his beauty.

However, there was an extremely special aura about this man, like white mandrake flowers blooming along the banks of a black river, with "death" etched into the depths of perfect beauty.

Steward Xiang was startled and blurted out, "Young Master Yan?"

He remembered Yan Tingfeng as someone very close to Xiang Shaoyu, and he had good relations with several other members of the Xiang Family as well.

But Yan Tingfeng was always elusive, hard to meet unless one was close to him.

However, Steward Xiang was now somewhat confused; he remembered that seven or eight years ago, Yan Tingfeng looked exactly as he did now.

How had seven or eight years passed without his appearance changing in the slightest?

Could it be that this person never aged?

Even the strongest medical and aesthetic methods nowadays couldn’t possibly maintain such an unchanging effect.

Yan Tingfeng glanced at the young man sent by Fifth Uncle Xiang and asked with a light chuckle, "The dagger, was it they who took it?"

The moment the young man heard this, he became unhappy, "Who are you? What do you mean ’took’? That has always belonged to our Xiang Family—"

He couldn’t finish his sentence because a slender and cold hand had grasped his throat.

As his feet left the ground, the air in his chest gradually thinned.

"I don’t like it when people contradict me," Yan Tingfeng said indifferently.

"Bang!"

Yan Tingfeng let go, casually tossing the young man away.

Steward Xiang’s expression changed.

Having occupied the position of steward for fifteen years, he had seen Yan Tingfeng only a few times.

Whenever he saw Yan Tingfeng, he was always sitting quietly in the pavilion, sometimes engaging in a few games of chess with Xiang Shaoyu.

The whole person seemed serene, gentle, and delightful.

However, at this moment, Steward Xiang suddenly realized that his understanding of Yan Tingfeng was completely wrong.

To lash out at the slightest provocation, such a temperament was truly too ruthless!

"The dagger, hand it over," Yan Tingfeng finally turned to Steward Xiang, "I don’t like to repeat myself."

Steward Xiang frowned, "What dagger?"

Yan Tingfeng, an outsider, would he actually interfere with the affairs of the Xiang Family?

"Steward, that dagger originally belonged to my friend," Xiang Yuefeng also entered the conversation, "Since when has the Xiang Family resorted to the style of robbers? If Xiang Yannan takes things from others, should we truly keep them?"

"Master Yuefeng, what’s the use of telling me?" Steward Xiang let out a bitter laugh, "Please wait a moment while I consult with the Fourth Elder."

"Why is it the Fourth Elder on duty today?" Xiang Yuefeng scratched his head, "I hate this stubborn old man the most. No wonder he actually kept the dagger, the old thing is too shameless."

Yan Tingfeng sat in the guest seat, closing his eyes.

"I’m estimating the old man really won’t hand over the dagger," Xiang Yuefeng turned, "what do you plan to do?"

"Hmm," Yan Tingfeng said with his eyes closed, "I will ask Xiang Shaoyu if he would mind their family losing one more member."

"Stay calm, we must stay calm. Miss Ye has already said that compared to a bloodbath, it’s better to triumph without fighting," Xiang Yuefeng took a deep breath, "To tell you the truth, I’m not even clear on what hidden cards the Xiang Family holds. By the way, where is Miss Ye?"

Yan Tingfeng’s lips curved into a slight smile: "You’ll find out in a moment."

"What’s going on?" Xiang Yuefeng muttered, "So secretive."

Meanwhile, Steward Xiang relayed the events of the foyer in full detail.

"Shaoyu’s friend?" The Fourth Elder’s expression grew serious, "Where is Shaoyu now?"

"Young Master Shaoyu is currently attending an auction in the Starman Federal Empire. There are many cultural relics from Shenzhou at the auction, so Young Master Shaoyu rushed over there," Steward Xiang said, "He’s likely to stay there for a few more days."

"This dagger is made by the King of Yan, and the Xiang Family absolutely cannot let it go," the Fourth Elder’s eyes shifted, "The other members of the Elders Council are also occupied, and the Qianyuan Treasury can only be opened with the combined effort of seven elders. Alone, I have no way."

Steward Xiang understood: "I comprehend your meaning. Since he’s a friend of Young Master Shaoyu, we can’t afford to offend him. We have no choice but to stall for time."

"Mm," the Fourth Elder waved his hand, "Go on."

He was not afraid of his lie being exposed because no outsider could enter the Qianyuan Treasury.

Steward Xiang relayed the words of the Fourth Elder in full: "Young Master Yan, truly sorry, the dagger has already been sent into the Qianyuan Treasury, and currently the other elders are not around. You’ll have to wait a bit longer."

Yan Tingfeng didn’t speak and just quietly sat there.

"Brother Shaoyu, Tingfeng is sitting at your place right now. When exactly are you coming back?" Xiang Lefeng lowered his voice while on the phone, "If you don’t come back, these old geezers in your family won’t budge."

"I just finished the auction, you have to let me get on the plane first, right?" Xiang Shaoyu ruffled his hair, then suddenly felt something was amiss. "What do you mean ’your place’? Aren’t you and I from the same family?"

Xiang Lefeng was very candid: "On this matter, I’ve already counted myself as part of Miss Ye’s family. You better take care of yourself."

Xiang Shaoyu: "..."

Who exactly is this Miss Ye?

"Just wait a bit longer, just a bit longer. I’ll definitely be there by tomorrow morning," Xiang Shaoyu said. "For your sakes, I won’t make any transfers, I’ll come back right after buying the antiques."

At this moment, at another door of the vast Xiang family mansion.

Curator Xiang led Ye Wanlan into the Xiang home, arriving at the location of the Qianyuan Treasury.

"Miss Ye, please look around here, I’ll keep watch for you," Curator Xiang was somewhat nervous. "Frankly speaking, bringing you here actually violates the rules of the Xiang Family, but your contributions to the museum have been too significant for me to refuse you."

Another reason was that nearly every week people tried to sneak into the Qianyuan Treasury, unfortunately ending up either returning fruitlessly or losing their lives.

Curator Xiang then warned, "Please don’t touch those wall slabs, there are many hidden weapons inside. Once tripped, they won’t stop even with a key."

Ye Wanlan nodded: "Thank you for your instructions, I’ll go in now. Please wait for me here, I will come out soon."

"Alright, you go—," Curator Xiang had just nodded when he suddenly realized, "What did you say you wanted to do?"

When he turned around, Ye Wanlan’s figure had already disappeared.

Curator Xiang was horrified: "Miss Ye? Miss Ye!"

He feared that his voice might trigger the mechanical techniques here, so he dared only to close his mouth and wait honestly.

But... where was Miss Ye?!

At this moment, Ye Wanlan had already entered the first door and descended the stone stairs to the underground.

These seemingly ordinary stone stairs actually contained a trap on every level, with each step taken in a completely different position.

But there absolutely couldn’t be any deviation; any mistake would immediately trigger the traps.

The ninety-nine steps were the first deadly path of the Qianyuan Treasury.

However, for Ye Wanlan, it was a familiar route.

The real Qianyuan Treasury from history had a total of three hundred thirty-three steps, far more dangerous than the one the present Xiang family had emulated.

After the stairs, there was a long corridor ahead.

It was filled with formations, and any light would be swallowed, with only night vision to guide one’s path.

After the corridor, there were three more doors. It was not until Ye Wanlan reached the last door and slowly pushed it open that light flooded in, revealing the interior of the Qianyuan Treasury before her eyes.

"Wow!" exclaimed the Qingyun Pendant. "Ah, what a different fate for those of us who are cultural relics. They still have beds to sleep in while I was buried underground for so long!"

Ye Wanlan walked closer slowly; it was a vast treasury, with no end in sight.

Indeed, the Qianyuan Treasury was filled with numerous treasures, dazzlingly arrayed.

Yet Ye Wanlan didn’t look around but went straight for the dagger that belonged to her.

"Your Royal Highness the Princess, it seems the Royal Family did take precautions, leaving behind quite a few treasures," said the Qingyun Pendant, unable to help sighing. "A large portion of the Imperial Family’s assets are piled up here."

No wonder even after three hundred years, the Xiang Family was still the premier family of Yunjing.

Ye Wanlan said indifferently, "Things protected with lives are naturally precious, it’s just that too much time has passed, and some people’s integrity has rotted away."

"Your Highness shouldn’t blame yourself, this isn’t your fault," said the Qingyun Pendant. "If such people had dared to live in the past, Lord Prince Yan would have been the first to behead them!"

The dagger was not difficult to locate, and Ye Wanlan soon took possession of the dagger.

However, the way out of the Qianyuan Treasury was much more treacherous than the way in.

On her way out, Ye Wanlan saw many skeletal remains, extremely gruesome.

An hour later, just as Curator Xiang could no longer stand the wait, he finally saw Ye Wanlan’s figure again.

"Miss Ye!" Curator Xiang was already sweating profusely from fear. "You scared me to death, where on earth did you go? I’ve looked everywhere around here and didn’t see you. You really can’t run around in this place."

"Sorry," Ye Wanlan shook her head, "I’ve got what I came for. Curator Xiang, let us go."

Curator Xiang was stunned: "What item?"

Ye Wanlan opened her hand, and from the sleeve cuff emerged a dainty and exquisite dagger, radiating a faint chill.