Chapter Eight: The Heavenly Mystery Blind Box

[Entrance to Hundred Flowers Valley]

“Tang Xie! Draw your sword!” Tang Cai grabbed Chu Linfeng’s neck with a joint lock, ordering Tang Xie to unsheathe her blade. Without hesitation, Tang Xie drew her sharp sword and thrust it straight at Chu Linfeng.

At the critical moment, Chu Linfeng dropped to his knees. Though it is said a man’s knees are worth their weight in gold, having stormed out of the academy in anger, he now understood that gold could never compare to the value of life. Before understanding the situation, his first priority was to lower his head, submit, and apologize—only then might there be a sliver of hope.

Not to mention the onlookers, Chu Linfeng himself was utterly bewildered by what was happening!

Half an incense stick earlier…

“Not far ahead is the entrance to Hundred Flowers Valley. Beyond it, two miles east, lies the valley! Hehe~” Tang Cai gently hooked Chu Linfeng’s hand and whispered.

Hearing this, Chu Linfeng’s heart sank further. “Once I enter the Tang family gate, bound and tied, we’ll be married in the ancestral hall, and the matter will be done—no chance to negotiate dowry! Though I am not greedy, I only have five baskets of buns and some spare change. If I marry into the family so cheaply, how will I hold my head up in my in-laws’ house? No, when we meet the parents, I must at least negotiate a bride price, a tea ceremony fee, a change-of-name fee—I’ll start by asking for a betrothal gift now.” Suddenly struck by an idea, he reached out his hand: “Give it to me!”

“Huh? I already gave you all the money—what else do you want?” Tang Cai asked suspiciously.

Chu Linfeng smiled slyly: “The key that almost cost me my life! Yes, that one—give it to me!” He thought to himself, this item might be worth two thousand gold pieces; he’d risk everything for it. Surely it was the key to some treasure chest, priceless!

“Tang Xie! Draw your sword!”

...

“Speak! Are you a spy for the Xuanming Sect?” Tang Cai demanded.

Chu Linfeng, kneeling on the ground, rolled his eyes and coughed twice, vigorously slapping the jade hand choking his neck to signal her to loosen her grip.

Tang Cai exchanged a glance with Tang Xie, who then placed her sword against Chu Linfeng’s neck and gradually released him.

“Huff—hmph—huff—hmph!” Chu Linfeng gasped deeply for air, finally recovering enough to say with pursed lips, “This matter should be handled amicably. If it comes to it, I’ll just walk away. No need to be so forceful! If every family-in-law was like you, everyone would marry, and the world would have no Double Eleven Festival!”

“What nonsense are you babbling? Speak plainly!” Tang Cai snapped.

“I’m being plain! I think giving you five baskets of buns and this little pocket change is too much. That key must be very important to you. Why not ask for more? Don’t worry, I’m alone and helpless, just looking out for face. The treasures in that chest, after all, belong to your Tang family...”

“What rubbish! Watch the sword!” Tang Cai drew her blade to strike, only to be blocked by Tang Xie’s sword.

Tang Cai looked at Tang Xie in confusion.

Tang Xie sheathed her sword and covered her mouth to stifle a laugh. “I was wondering on the road why you’d take those small coins—you’re not greedy for pocket change. It turns out you took sister’s casual words seriously, thinking she spent a hairpin to redeem your body. The more sister held your hand, the more you sighed. Sister thought you were discouraged, but you were actually upset about being forced to marry in and the dowry being too small!”

Tang Cai blushed deeply, sheathed her sword, and tried to grab Tang Xie’s ear. “You brat, you heard that too!”

Tang Xie covered her ears and dodged. “Hey, he heard it! Why didn’t I? The dowry belongs to the lover—it’s your fault for being shameless first!”

Just saved by Tang Xie’s intervention, Chu Linfeng looked at the two sisters playfully bickering and sighed to the sky, “Only my little sister-in-law truly understands me!”

Then, as if realizing something, he knelt silently and pressed his hand to his neck, feeling the pain. After thinking it over, the sisters had only teased him verbally, but he had indulged in fantasies—his greedy, wicked thoughts had led him straight into this predicament!

“Hey, freeloader, what nonsense are you spouting? Who’s your little sister? You lecherous scoundrel, do you want a beating or not?” Tang Cai said, raising her little fists to punch his chest, but was stopped by Tang Cai’s protective intervention...

“Um, Chu Linfeng, shall I help you up?” Tang Cai blushed and smiled shyly, looking at the kneeling Chu Linfeng, unsure what to do. After a moment, seeing he still did not move, she bit her lip and knelt beside him, then whispered shyly into his ear: “From now on, you are my husband and I your wife. Everything in the valley that I own will be yours.”

Tang Xie could not bear to watch and ran a few hundred meters ahead before calling back, “Hey! Are you two planning to perform a wedding ritual here? Let’s go!”

What was this key, really? Chu Linfeng grew more curious, but dared not utter another word, lest the sword return to his neck.

...

“Welcome back, Eldest Miss and Second Miss, to the valley!” The gathered crowd lined up on both sides, mostly women, with only a few men—a stewardly old man accompanied by two children, one with one eye, the other with a missing arm.

“Grandfather Mo, where is my mother?” Tang Cai asked.

“Replying to Eldest Miss, since your departure to the Xuanming Sect several days ago, the valley master’s illness has worsened. She cannot leave her bed and spends all day guarding the Celestial Mechanism Box, waiting for the return of the two ladies,” the old man said tearfully.

The two sisters, hearing this, no longer cared for propriety. Their spiritual energy surged as they strode with long steps, three steps advancing every one, charging straight into the depths of the valley!

In the upstairs chamber, a noblewoman lay half-reclined on the bed, her face pale as death. She occasionally wiped blood from the corner of her mouth with a handkerchief, clutching tightly to a celestial iron box inscribed with the words “Celestial Mechanism Box.”

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“Mother!” The two young women burst in, one after the other, then knelt beside the bed.

“Xie’er! Cai’er!” The noblewoman’s dazed expression brightened slightly as she reached out trembling hands to touch their foreheads.

“Mother, we’ve been away from the valley for only a few days—why... why...” Tang Cai’s tears fell.

“Alas, my tuberculosis worsened rapidly these last few days. Thankfully, you two returned in time!” The noblewoman’s face gained warmth and a faint blush.

At that moment, several people galloped outside. Chu Linfeng, panting, rushed into the hall and plopped down in the main seat, grabbing a ceramic pot and taking a hearty gulp.

“No!” The old steward’s voice was firm, but Chu Linfeng spat out the bitter tea. “Walmart! This tea is so bitter!”

The steward hurriedly took the pot away, displeased. “This is the valley master’s medicine, of course it’s bitter. What sort of brat are you? You look respectable, but your manners are so wild!”

“Ahem, who’s making noise outside?” The noblewoman inside lifted the curtain slightly and looked out.

“Quick, the valley master calls for you.” The steward hurriedly ushered Chu Linfeng into the inner room.

Chu Linfeng stood before the bed, locking eyes with the noblewoman and her daughters, his gaze fixed unwaveringly on the box she clutched.

“Mother, this is what we found outside... Oh, I’ll explain later. Let’s open the box and get the medicine first!” Tang Xie wanted to explain but decided saving her was the priority, stamping her foot anxiously.

“Yes, yes! Mother-in-law... ah, let mother open the treasure... the medicine box first,” Chu Linfeng stammered, staring intently at the box.

The noblewoman hesitated, her eyes still fixed on Chu Linfeng as if a mother-in-law appraising a prospective son-in-law.

Seeing this, Tang Cai quickly stood and urged Chu Linfeng and the others, “You all wait outside in the hall!” The steward and his group then dragged the still-gazing Chu Linfeng out of the inner chamber.

“I don’t know if that so-called immortal mother mentioned is genuine or trickery. Mother, do you understand how much hardship my sister and I endured? We nearly lost our lives!” Tang Cai said.

Hearing this, the noblewoman, who had just taken the key from Tang Cai, paused and looked at Tang Xie. “What happened? Was there an accident?”

Tang Xie stomped her foot in frustration. “Oh, I really can’t explain! Let sister tell you.”

“The Xuanming Sect’s Uncle Lu is nothing like I remembered from childhood. He seems like a different person. Now I realize that when he named us specifically to exchange the key, he had ill intent!” Tang Cai thought aloud.

“That Uncle Lu is a scoundrel. When sister and I went, he insisted on taking us to see flowers and birds. I said there are plenty in Hundred Flowers Valley, but he flew into a rage and threatened not to exchange the key if we didn’t come! Only when we went did we find out... he wanted us to see the ‘flowers’ and ‘birds’ on his own body!” Tang Cai burst into tears.

“Lu Yufei? How could he! He was your father’s sworn brother!” The noblewoman suddenly sat up, coughing violently, then spat out a mouthful of black blood.

Tang Cai hurried to pat her back to help her breathe. “Mother, don’t worry, we didn’t let him succeed!”

“Yes, luckily sister and I were clever, we feigned compliance and agreed to exchange the key first, then confirmed it was genuine before kicking him hard below the belt,” Tang Xie said, biting her teeth in regret that she hadn’t used her full strength—else the kick would not have felt like hitting a toothpick.

“Many people chased us afterward. Sister and I dared not take the seldom-trodden Xuanwu Floating Peak path, only heading south to the capital, circling back through the imperial area, which delayed us a day,” Tang Cai added.

Inside, the three spoke in turn, recounting their trials. Outside, Chu Linfeng did not idle. Seeing everyone bowed low and depressed, he wanted to say a few words but felt the atmosphere was too solemn. He leisurely looked around.

“Oh? These vases are exquisite.” Glancing sideways to ensure no one noticed, he quietly lifted one to peek at the bottom.

“Made during the Ming Xuande period! This must be a treasure! It could buy a house in Peach Blossom County, ha ha~”

“Tang Cai said everything in the valley that she owns is mine. The two sisters might split the treasures, so I might only get one vase. One vase might not be enough to buy a house!”

“Made during the first year of the Daguan era! Which dynasty was that? Since I’ve never heard of it, it must be valuable. I’ll take it to the imperial auction house later to verify.”

“Hehe, this is a wealthy family, living off others! Perfectly matched! No chopping firewood or feeding horses for me—we have so many servants, I’m supposed to just conserve my energy without doing manual labor!”

“Mother, you said the box was given by an immortal twelve years ago. Did you meet him? I never trusted it. It’s all so mysterious, with two boxes and two keys swapped,” Tang Xie asked suspiciously.

“I never met him either, but the immortal is said to be supremely powerful. The day Lu Yufei visited, the immortal descended from the heavens, giving us the Celestial Mechanism Box and keys, instructing our sect and valley to hold them separately. After twelve years, in autumn, we could exchange and retrieve them. Presumably, the immortal foresaw my candle burning out and left these pills to save my life. It’s strange though, Lu Yufei’s body was unharmed, yet he took medicine!” the noblewoman explained.

“That’s because of my kick! He definitely needed medicine!” Tang Xie said angrily.

“Mother, please open it quickly. Stop talking. We don’t know if it’s pills or herbs inside—maybe it needs to be brewed!” Tang Cai urged.

The key turned in the lock, and a spiritual aura like a ward dissipated. The box opened, revealing nothing but a folded paper. The noblewoman froze. Could this be a talisman to dispel illness? Trembling, she unfolded the paper and read four lines of small characters:

“Autumn ends, winter hides the hundred flowers,

Oil spent, lamp exhausted, what remedy remains?

Seeing you must be the day of parting,

The jade tree stands tall, entrusted to the blossoming youth.”

Seeing the noblewoman’s dimmed gaze, Tang Cai felt a chill and quickly took the note to read.

“Pfft!” The noblewoman could not hold back and spat blood onto the bedding.

“Mother!” The two girls cried in alarm, rushing to support her.

Hearing the cries, those outside hurried in. Seeing the blood-stained quilt, they knelt down in panic, wailing, “Valley master! Valley master!”

Everyone bowed low. Chu Linfeng felt awkward—kneeling was unfamiliar, but standing felt out of place.

Meanwhile, the noblewoman, now catching her breath and wiping her mouth, noticed a conspicuous lump.

“Mother, it’s just some trickery from a magician playing pranks. We shouldn’t take it seriously or lose heart,” Tang Xie said tearfully, reaching to snatch the note from Tang Cai.

“Xie’er! Give me that paper!”

“Mother!”

“Be obedient, here—cough, cough—give it here!”

Heartbroken for her mother, Tang Xie reluctantly returned the note.

The noblewoman glanced at the note again and read softly, “Seeing you... the day of parting, the jade tree stands tall... entrusted to the blossoming youth.” Then, she slowly raised her hand and beckoned, “Child, come forward.”

All eyes turned toward the noblewoman’s raised hand. In a room full of kneeling people, who else could she be calling?

“Me?” Chu Linfeng exclaimed in surprise, thinking, “I’m no physician—please don’t make me diagnose! If I screw this up, it’ll be the end of me.”

“Yes, you—come here so I can take a look!” the noblewoman said gently.

“Oh—” Resisting was futile; this was his first visit to meet his mother-in-law. He stepped forward.

“Child, what is your name? How old are you? You look familiar,” she scrutinized him.

“Chu Linfeng, just turned eighteen.”

“Chu Linfeng... Chu Linfeng,” the old woman pondered, then exclaimed, “You are the Peach Blossom War God, ranked second on the Celestial Heroes list!”

Seeing the frail noblewoman suddenly energized, Chu Linfeng shivered and stepped back nervously. “That was in the past. I’ve lost my cultivation now, heh heh.”

“How could you have lost it? Such a gifted child,” the noblewoman lamented.

“Mother, don’t say that,” Tang Cai soothed as she patted her chest. “Rest well and recover. Sister’s right—this is trickery. Don’t believe the note’s nonsense.”

Tang Cai did not understand the note fully, but words like “hundred flowers hidden,” “oil spent, lamp exhausted,” and “day of parting” were hardly auspicious.

When a son-in-law first visits the parents, what is the unbreakable rule? Show vigor and resilience! No matter how poorly one is doing now, one must appear full of potential and boast!

Chu Linfeng sensed the slight disappointment from his mother-in-law. Opening his mouth, he recited from Xu Xiake’s “Aspiration to the Blue Clouds”: “No one supports my blue cloud ambition; I tread through snow to the mountain’s peak! If fate denies me this path, I will still ascend alone to the immortal’s summit.”

He disliked the word “Kunlun” and had altered the verse. “Even if I’ve lost my cultivation now, I, Chu Linfeng, will never fall! Even if heaven grants me only five seconds, I will be the true man who never backs down!”

“Well said! Such spirit! Truly the Peach Blossom War God—makes this old man admire you!” The noblewoman smiled warmly, then removed a seven-colored gem-studded diamond ring and offered it to Chu Linfeng. “I wish to trouble you, War God. My body is weak; please come forward.”

A gleam lit Chu Linfeng’s eyes, his smile barely contained. He thought, “Charm the mother-in-law, be the king at home! The ancients did not lie!”

This bride price was coming—wearing the ring must be a precious keepsake! Wonderful! Wonderful!

Then, as if possessed by stars like Ronaldo, Messi, Robben, and Chiesa, he slid forward on one knee...

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