Chapter 981: Is There a Treasure?

Chapter 981: Chapter 981: Is There a Treasure?

Ye Qingchen and Xiao Xiao walked along the street, and wherever they looked, they saw the warmest scenes of the human world.

Outside the teahouses in the small town, there were a few bamboo chairs placed, where several elders leisurely sat, sipping tea and discussing their family matters.

Some young scholars and poets gathered in groups in the tavern, engaging in high talk, their words imbued with an air of elegance.

Ye Qingchen smiled slightly, slowed his pace, and gently scanned the surroundings, seemingly infected by this rare peace and bustle.

He glanced back at Xiao Xiao beside him, noticing a hint of fatigue on her face, and gently said, "Xiao Xiao, we’ve been walking for so long. Let’s rest in the town."

Xiao Xiao’s previously tense expression relaxed upon hearing Ye Qingchen’s words.

She looked at this bustling small town, her mood brightening along with the surroundings.

A flash of joy passed through Xiao Xiao’s eyes. She nodded lightly and agreed with a smile, "Alright, young master, let’s go to that teahouse over there and take a break."

The two exchanged smiles and then headed towards a teahouse in the center of the small town.

Red lanterns hung at the entrance of the teahouse, giving it an extra warmth.

The attendant at the door enthusiastically invited them inside. The interior was already full of guests, with the fragrance of tea wafting through the air, mixed with melodious violin music, bringing a sense of tranquility to the heart.

Xiao Xiao looked around at the bustling crowd and lively streets, filled with curiosity.

Unable to hold back, she turned and asked, "Young master, why is this small town more lively than the places we’ve passed before?"

Ye Qingchen heard Xiao Xiao’s question, smiled slightly, with a hint of understanding in his eyes.

Looking at the busy street in front of him, he said softly, "Xiao Xiao, that’s because we’re already near the territory of the Jiang Ancient Clan. This small town is very close to them, so naturally, many merchants and travelers come and go. The Jiang Ancient Clan is powerful, and people around here like to come to do business or live, so the prosperity here far exceeds other places."

He paused for a moment and gently added, "Moreover, the territory of the Jiang Ancient Clan is always stable, and the surrounding people are willing to live and work here in peace, so the hustle and bustle is inevitable."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Xiao nodded, and her heart became clear.

She looked at the town, feeling that its liveliness was not just due to its proximity to the Jiang Ancient Clan, but also like a link between the outside world and the Ancient Clan, carrying the lives and hopes of many people here.

Ye Qingchen noticed her thoughtful expression, a hint of concern in his eyes, and suggested, "Xiao Xiao, we’ve been on the road for so long, let’s stay here tonight. Rest well and continue our journey tomorrow."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Xiao felt a warmth in her heart. She looked up at Ye Qingchen, showing a gentle smile on her face, nodded in agreement, "Alright, young master, as you say."

Once inside the teahouse, the two sat by a window. The teahouse’s decor was simple and elegant, with the hustle and bustle outside contrasting sharply with the tranquility inside.

On the table were a few plates of appetizers and a pot of hot tea, with the fragrance of tea soothingly spreading, relaxing the mind.

Not long after they sat down, Ye Qingchen and Xiao Xiao heard an intense discussion from the neighboring table.

Several Jianghu folks were seated there, dressed in various styles, with blades and swords placed beside them, looking somewhat weather-beaten.

Apparently, they had been drinking quite a bit of tea, emotions high, their words full of excitement and unease.

One of them lowered his voice, spoke mysteriously, "Have you heard? Just not far from this town, in the deep mountains, an ancient cave was discovered. It’s said that there’s an earth-shattering treasure inside, but so far, no one has been able to retrieve it!"

Another man snorted disdainfully, rebutting, "What treasure can make so many people helpless? I bet it’s mostly fake. Those who went exploring, didn’t all return empty-handed?"

"You don’t know this!" The first speaker continued undaunted, "It’s said that the cave is guarded by a very strong Formation, with strange powers contained within it, making it impossible for ordinary people to approach. Even more, rumors say this treasure is connected to some ancient power, some even speculate it might be relics of a mighty figure!"

Upon hearing this, another slender man at the neighboring table chimed in, "A few days ago, I met some adventurers who had returned from cave exploration; they all had strange expressions and spoke vaguely, as if they had encountered something incredibly terrifying. But none were willing to speak further, just hurriedly left. I suspect there’s truly some earth-shaking secret inside that cave, otherwise, why would they be so frightened?"

The people at the table discussed fervently, with the topic growing more mysterious and more exciting. Some mentioned the eerie glow outside the cave; others spoke of the eye of the Formation; still, others guessed that some ancient forbidden force might be hidden inside.

All these rumors made those around listen attentively, instantly tensing the atmosphere inside the teahouse.

Xiao Xiao and Ye Qingchen exchanged a glance and caught a trace of easy laughter in each other’s eyes.

Though maintaining calm expressions, they were not particularly interested in the intense discussion at the neighboring table.

Having traveled extensively, they had heard these sorts of rumors many times.

Whenever passing through a town or village, they’d always hear something about mysterious treasures, ancient caves, or mighty relics, but ultimately.

Most of these so-called chance encounters were nothing but baseless rumors or stories woven by ordinary people.

Ye Qingchen continued sipping his tea indifferently, his gaze calm, evidently not taking these rumors to heart.

He understood that in this continent, filled with adventure and miracles, the truth often differed greatly from the rumors.

Even if occasionally, a real treasure appeared, it was destined for only the chosen ones to obtain.

Besides, their goal lay far within the Jiang Ancient Clan, and there was no need to be distracted by a treasure that might not even exist.

Xiao Xiao also smiled slightly, with a knowing look in her eyes.

Her thoughts aligned with the young master’s and naturally understood what he had in mind.

She glanced at the bustling crowd on the street outside, having completely brushed aside what she had just heard.

To her, no rumored treasure could compare to the importance of her current task.

"Young master, we need not concern ourselves with these matters. We should rest early and continue on our journey first thing tomorrow," Xiao Xiao softly said.

Ye Qingchen nodded slightly, agreeing, "Indeed, these rumors are often difficult to discern between reality and fiction; it’s not worth expending energy on them."