I am about to die of old age, and I have awakened the character of longevity.

Chapter 62 Fang Baiyu

Chen Mansion Ancestral Hall.

Several incense masters and more than ten deacons stood at the entrance of the hall, all holding swords, looking around, ready for battle.

Inside the hall of the ancestral hall, candlelight illuminated three people.

Two of them sat around a small table. Sitting to the left was the elder of the Chen family, dressed in a green robe and possessing a rather refined air. He was currently bending over to pour tea for the bald man across from him.

The Chen family was considered a wealthy family in Shuideng Town. On the surface, they were engaged in the business of collecting and reselling antiques, which was quite respectable. However, they were secretly engaged in tomb robbing.

The main reason is that the second and eldest uncles of the Chen family joined the army at an early age. Due to the shortage of military funds, they were ordered by the general to rob tombs and sell the silver to pay for the military expenses. Over time, they developed the skills of tomb robbing.

After resigning and returning to their hometown, they secretly resumed their old trade. This was a detrimental act, considered despised by others. However, the two masters of the Chen family still made a fortune by digging graves, becoming a wealthy family in Shuideng Town.

With money comes status, and criticism becomes less frequent. Furthermore, the Chen family's eldest son was a skilled businessman. Not only did he bribe the government, but he also occasionally donated money to help the poor and supplement the military expenses of the garrison. Not only did he curry favor with the government, earning him a plaque from the county government, but he also gained an excellent reputation in the local area.

Even though Mr. Chen was in great power for a while, he would never dare to offend the bald man opposite him.

It was nothing special. The bald man in black clothes sitting opposite him was Fang Baiyu, the head of Baiyu Hall.

He was truly a giant who dominated the six towns, and with the support of the Tiger and Wolf Sect, a powerful sect in the martial arts world. Not to mention the master of the Chen family, even the county magistrate would have to give face to Fang Baiyu.

"Master Fang, thank you for coming tonight. Otherwise, I don't know what kind of trouble the Plum Blossom Monster would have caused my Chen Mansion." The old man of the Chen family respectfully poured tea for the other party. At the same time, he handed the kettle to Chen Er standing behind him, indicating that he should boil water. In fact, he intended to let Chen Er leave so that he could have some private conversation with Fang Baiyu next.

Chen Er's eyes were fixed on an object wrapped in red cloth in Chen Da's arms, revealing greed. After hearing Chen Da's words, he withdrew his gaze and left.

Fang Baiyu sat upright, as tall and straight as a pine or crane, his aura as majestic as a mountain. Even the casual sip of his tea exuded a sense of oppression without anger. "Mr. Chen, you are being too formal. The Chen family sincerely supports our Baiyu Hall every year. Now that the Chen family is in trouble, I am extending a helping hand out of friendship. If the Plum Blossom Monster dares to come tonight, I will make sure he never returns!"

Master Chen bowed and said, "The safety of my Chen Mansion is entirely in the hands of Hall Master Fang."

"Sure, sure." Fang Baiyu exchanged a few pleasantries, then glanced at the object in Master Chen's arms. "Master Chen, is this the magical treasure that the Plum Blossom Monster repeatedly robbed your Chen Mansion for?"

Chen Da grabbed the red-wrapped object tightly with both hands. "Based on the information I know, this should be it. As long as Master Fang kills the Plum Blossom Monster and protects my Chen Mansion, I will definitely offer it to you with both hands."

Fang Bai's eyes narrowed as he looked at the red cloth, and after a while he looked away, "Hmm."

Fang Baiyu didn't know much about the fairy treasure. He just captured a few of the plum blossom monster's minions when he helped the Chen family fight against the plum blossom monster and learned the information about the fairy treasure fragments from them.

Fang Baiyu couldn't even be 100% sure whether the immortal treasure really existed.

Fang Baiyu had asked Chen Da about the fairy treasure many times before, but Chen Da had always rejected it.

With the recent Plum Blossom Monster targeting the Chen Mansion one after another, it finally forced Chen Da into a desperate situation. Chen Da then went to Shangfang Baiyu, admitted the matter of the fairy treasure, and was willing to use the fairy treasure as a bargaining chip to ask Baiyu Hall for protection and strangle the Plum Blossom Monster.

Therefore, the two sides set up a trap tonight: Fang Baiyu pretended to create an opportunity for the younger brother of the Plum Blossom Monster who was captured earlier to escape, and deliberately let the younger brother eavesdrop on the conversation of the incense masters - tonight Chen Dayao would hand over the magic treasure to Fang Baiyu.

To ensure the most effective performance, Fang Baiyu had brought all the senior members of Baiyu Hall tonight to provide support, acting as if to prevent any unexpected incidents. Furthermore, Fang Baiyu had carefully timed the release of the Plum Blossom Monster's minions, precisely two hours prior. He only gave them the opportunity to report the Plum Blossom Monster's actions, denying them time to verify the information and make careful arrangements.

After all, for the Plum Blossom Monster, once the fairy treasure falls into Fang Baiyu's hands, in order to retrieve it... he will have to face the entire Tiger and Wolf Sect, and the difficulty will undoubtedly increase a thousand times.

So, tonight was the perfect time for the Plum Blossom Monster to strike. Even though the risk was great, it was still worth a try compared to facing the entire Tiger and Wolf Sect next.

If the Plum Blossom Monster dares to break into this dangerous place tonight... then Fang Baiyu can be sure that the matter of the fairy treasure is a done deal.

If not for this, Fang Baiyu would definitely not come here to offend the Plum Blossom Monster just for a few dollars.

Fang Baiyu didn't take the plum blossom monster seriously, but behind the plum blossom monster was the Corpse Refining Hall.

This group of bandits had been hiding in the Great Yin Mountains for decades, and even the garrison and the county government were unable to deal with them, which shows how vicious the Corpse Refining Hall was. Even the Tiger and Wolf Sect found it difficult to suppress the Corpse Refining Hall.

Fang Baiyu did not report his involvement to the Tiger and Wolf Sect's higher-ups, as it was a personal act. He knew that if he did, the immortal treasure would no longer be his.

If the operation failed, he would inevitably be reprimanded by his superiors. But Fang Baiyu also had his own ideas - as long as he could obtain the immortal treasure unearthed from the ancestral tomb of the Corpse Refining Hall, not to mention being reprimanded, even being dismissed would be worth it.

According to the younger brother of Plum Blossom Monster, that was the most precious treasure that the ancestor of the Corpse Refining Hall had brought into the tomb. Others did not know who the ancestor of the Corpse Refining Hall was, but Fang Baiyu knew it clearly.

At this moment, a group of men in black climbed over the wall and came in.

The leading plum blossom monster immediately spotted the red box in the ancestral hall and immediately raised his sword: "Brothers, come on! Whoever brings back the immortal treasure will be rewarded handsomely!"

"You bold lunatics! Master Fang is here, how can I allow you to be so presumptuous!"

Zhang Hengshui, who was standing in the courtyard, was the first to step forward, leading his men to fight with swords drawn. He spoke loudly on purpose, as if intending for Fang Baiyu in the ancestral hall to hear.

With Zhang Hengshui taking the lead, the other incense masters and deacons also drew their swords and rushed forward to fight, each of them showing that they were extremely hard-working.

If Fang Baiyu hadn't been there, the incense masters and deacons probably wouldn't have fought so hard.

But now Fang Baiyu was in the ancestral hall, so they, as his subordinates, had to behave well. This would leave a good impression in front of the hall master, avoid being reprimanded, and facilitate future promotions.

In fact, this is common practice.

This is also why ancient generals were required to personally supervise battles at the front lines, including the emperor himself. Boosting morale was one thing, but more importantly, it gave his men the opportunity to demonstrate their abilities and win merit.

"Lin Yun, we are not as good as other incense masters. Don't be so aggressive later. Just shout louder so that the hall master can hear you." Wei Dian whispered to Lin Yun, then drew his sword and attacked.

"Don't worry, Master Xiang, I know what's going on." Lin Yun nodded. Ever since Wei Dian sent Xie An and Zhang Lin to the periphery, Lin Yun knew what Wei Dian was up to.

The family is poor and cannot withstand damage.

(End of this chapter)