They continued on their journey and arrived at Black Pond, where there was only a single log bridge that had to be crossed one person at a time.
The ancient tomb was fraught with dangers and full of traps, and Shen Hongyang and his group were instructed to go first onto the log bridge.
This was no issue for Shen Hongyang, who knew that fortune came with risks. However, what annoyed Shen Hongyang was that he had been pushed to the very front by Ren Tianqing and the eldest brother.
Furious, Shen Hongyang contained himself, given that the three of them were after all in this together.
Stepping onto the log bridge, Shen Hongyang remained calm. He silently told himself in his heart that if he were to die, then so be it.
"Hongyang, make sure you walk carefully. Whether we live or die depends entirely on you," Ren Tianqing said from behind him.
Walking in front, Shen Hongyang felt a surge of anger. He could tolerate it earlier, but now he could not!
What brothers? They clearly didn’t care about him at all, thinking only of themselves, using him as a scout.
Could these people even be considered brothers?
Once Shen Hongyang’s stubborn anger flared up, there was no stopping him!
Shen Hongyang suddenly stood still on the log bridge, causing displeasure from the eldest brother and Ren Tianqing.
"Eldest brother, Second brother, this is the last time I’m addressing you . Let’s part on good terms." After saying this, Shen Hongyang no longer tread carefully as before; instead, he started running swiftly.
He wanted to sever ties with these two "brothers". Additionally, he wanted to prevent Fang Family from suspecting. He intended to run deeper into the tomb to make them think his death was certain.
Indeed, Shen Hongyang ran fast, vanishing in the blink of an eye. By the end, even he did not know where he had run to, only seeing a stone door ahead.
Since death was inevitable anyway, Shen Hongyang decided to push the stone door. Originally, he just gave it a try without much hope, but surprisingly, the stone door swung open like the revolving doors of some skyscrapers, and then Shen Hongyang saw a coffin.
Although Shen Hongyang was not a professional tomb raider, he recognized that the coffin was adorned with dragon patterns indicative of ancient true dragons and was extremely majestic, clearly belonging to a noble or royal.
"Since death is inevitable, I might as well struggle for survival!" At that moment, Shen Hongyang gritted his teeth and resolutely opened the coffin.
As soon as he lifted the lid, Shen Hongyang felt his hair stand on end, his scalp numbing, and his whole body as if plunging into an ice pit.
Inside the coffin lay a man whose face was eerily pallid, as if painted with powder, while his lips were crimson as though he had applied lipstick, his eyes closed, looking almost alive.
However, Shen Hongyang soon calmed himself, confirming that the person inside was indeed dead.
From the man’s attire, it was hard to tell who he was, but his status was clearly high-ranking, such that his corpse had been preserved uncorrupted, along with burial goods like pearl necklaces and gold and silver.
Shen Hongyang took all these burial items, and then he noticed that the man was holding a black wooden box in his hand. Initially, Shen Hongyang didn’t take it because it was tightly clutched, and he had to exert a lot of effort to pull out the black wooden box.
Then, Shen Hongyang prepared to leave.
It was also Shen Hongyang’s luck that he discovered a secret passage there. Mustering his strength, he crawled through this tunnel, and by the time Shen Hongyang emerged, he had already escaped far from that ancient tomb.
As soon as Shen Hongyang escaped, carrying the heirloom with him and fearing the Fang Family, he thought the further he ran, the better.
To Shen Hongyang’s surprise, the Fang Family didn’t come looking for him, not even Ren Tianqing or his elder brother. At that time, Shen Hongyang and Luo Sumei eloped.
With the items he took from the ancient tomb as initial capital, Shen Hongyang started a business that prospered incredibly well, gradually forming the embryo of Longtu Group,
but it was then that Ren Tianqing unexpectedly showed up.
Shen Hongyang was surprised, but he didn’t refuse him. Ren Tianqing came straightforwardly stating that his elder brother had died because of Shen Hongyang. If Shen Hongyang hadn’t panicked and run, his elder brother wouldn’t have died, and even he nearly met the same fate.
Although Shen Hongyang was annoyed by Ren Tianqing’s actions in the tomb, he still felt guilty, so he asked Ren Tianqing for his conditions. Ren Tianqing demanded a large amount, taking a million from Shen Hongyang directly.
You should know that a million in the nineties was equivalent to ten million now. However, as Shen Hongyang’s business had indeed taken off and he felt guilty, he gave Ren Tianqing the one million.
The main purpose was to keep Ren Tianqing quiet, fearing the Fang Family might come looking.
Yet still, the Fang Family never came looking for Shen Hongyang, which puzzled him greatly. Since Ren Tianqing had safely left the tomb and had seen him, how could the Fang Family let him live?
It wasn’t that Shen Hongyang was unduly worrying. As he expanded his business in Moon City, he gradually learned about rare and important information on the Fang Family. And with such knowledge, Shen Hongyang came to understand the profound and unfathomable depths of the Fang Family.
This situation persisted for a long time, until by chance, Shen Hongyang realized his worries were unnecessary, as Ren Tianqing hadn’t left the tomb with the Fang Family members.
Ren Tianqing, like him, had escaped from the tomb;; he as well feared the repercussions from the Fang Family.
Later, Shen Hongyang stopped worrying. As long as Ren Tianqing feared death and didn’t betray him, there was no need to be overly concerned. However, about half a year ago, this situation changed...
Ren Tianqing began to take actions against Longtu Group, targeting Shen Hongyang, thus the peaceful equilibrium was shattered.
What followed need not be elaborated by Shen Hongyang anymore; Fang Yi came and got involved.
This was an old story, a secret known to none but deeply involving the Fang Family, which was truly shocking.
According to Shen Hongyang’s estimation, the Fang Family was at least a First-class family in Tianjing, if not a super family.
"What was it that the Fang Family sought in the tomb all those years ago?" Fang Yi asked.
Shen Hongyang shook his head, "I don’t know. Over the years, I have been investigating secretly, but the Fang Family is terrifyingly influential; a force that covers the skies. It’s impossible for me to intercede with the Fang Family."
"If you don’t know, then Ren Tianqing surely does," Fang Yi said.
Shen Hongyang nodded, "Perhaps his turning hostile this time is because of ’that thing’."
"That thing" was the source of this entire episode. If it weren’t for "that thing," perhaps everything would have been different.
"Regardless, the situation is as it stands, and we can’t turn back now. Ren Tianqing wants to get that thing, but I won’t let him succeed," Fang Yi said, his tone calm but with a chilling intent.
Shen Hongyang said, "Ren Tianqing is a cunning old fox; it’s difficult to contend with him."
Fang Yi smiled, "Even the most cunning old fox has the weakness of pride and arrogance; it just depends on the individual. Uncle Shen, do me a favor; perhaps Binnan’s sudden attack can be used to arrange a major plan."
(4th Update! Please vote and leave messages, my fingers are sore, and I am busy typing. Thanks, everyone!)