Xiao Feng grinned: "That's right, a wise man adapts to circumstances; it's beneficial for both of us."

"Oh really?" Ninth Master snorted coldly, dissatisfied, "What's in it for me?"

Xiao Feng thought seriously for a moment, then said: "At the very least, you won't have to wear a silver bracelet, shave your head, wear an orange vest, live in a place without paying, and eat food without spending money."

"..." Ninth Master.

This is supposed to be a benefit?

Perhaps out of a guilty conscience, Xiao Feng felt a bit bad for treating an elderly man like this, so he said: "Actually, I think it's a waste for you not to pass on your skills. Why not..."

Ninth Master refused outright: "I will never pass on my skills; it's not helping others, it's harming them."

Xiao Feng frowned and said: "Hear me out, I'm not asking you to teach tomb robbery; teach it to legitimate archaeologists. This way, the skills aren't lost, they're used in the right place, and that's your contribution."

"You think I haven't considered that?" Ninth Master responded with a bitter smile: "I want to teach, but how do I explain where my skills came from then?"

Xiao Feng nodded, indeed, such skills can't be learned from books or simple home studies; they must be experienced personally, accumulating rich experience to achieve.

And for Ninth Master to prove his skills, he'd first have to explain how he learned them. At that point, people might suspect him of having been involved in tomb robbing, which could lead to unpredictable results upon investigation.

After pondering for a moment, Xiao Feng said: "I'll take care of this; once you help me, I'll find a way for you to teach at an archaeological team."

"Let's talk when I make it out alive..." Ninth Master sighed: "An oath is not child's play, I made a solemn vow."

Xiao Feng consoled: "Didn't you say, it's not a tomb? Since it's not a tomb, it doesn't count as breaking your oath."

"But my vow was not to enter underground anymore, so since then, I haven't even been in a basement." Ninth Master sighed again.

"..." Xiao Feng was speechless for a long time, couldn't help but reflect inwardly; when conditions allow, it's best to leave some leeway in words and actions.

Look at Ninth Master now; if he hadn't been so absolute when making his oath, he wouldn't be in such an awkward situation.

Just as he was about to speak, Ninth Master waved his hand: "At my age, I don't need a young lad like you to persuade me. Since I've agreed to join you on this venture, life or death will be left to fate; allow me two days to prepare."

Xiao Feng nodded: "It's settled then, I'll come find you when it's time to set out."

After speaking, he stood up and walked towards the door.

Ninth Master let out a long breath, stood up, eyes filled with complex emotions—would he be returning to his old ways again?

Just as he was about to get some liquor and peanuts to reminisce about the old days, he saw Xiao Feng return.

"There's something I'm curious about, how did you determine that's not a tomb without seeing it firsthand?"

His thoughts interrupted, Ninth Master angrily replied: "Lack of knowledge aside, one should have common sense, right? All major tombs are located in feng shui favorable places by mountains and water; in Jiuyou Town, the best you'd see is a seventh-rank official's tomb.

That place where Old Sun's ancestors supposedly buried treasure couldn't have worse feng shui; it's more like someone randomly picked a spot and dug down."

Xiao Feng didn't get angry, resolving his doubts, he turned and walked out the door again.

At that moment, Miao Ruifeng, hiding under the counter nearby, quietly poked his head out and walked up to Ninth Master, with a flattering smile: "Second Uncle, I heard everything you just said; are you planning a comeback?"

Seeing his nephew's ingratiating smile, Ninth Master didn't need to think much to know what he's up to. He snorted coldly and said: "I won't earn a penny this time, and even if I do, I won't give you any; you're beyond redemption... just pity Yue Yue and Xiao Hu, such good kids stuck with a rotten father like you."

Having said that, he turned and walked toward the liquor shelf.

Miao Ruifeng felt humiliated, and on top of that, was scolded harshly; his heart was filled with indignation.

Watching Ninth Master grabbing liquor, Miao Ruifeng couldn't hold back his rage, picked up a teacup from the table, and angrily strode towards Ninth Master, raising the cup to strike at the back of his head.

At that moment, a scream came from the door: "Watch out!"

Ninth Master's movement froze; relying on years of experience, he immediately sensed something was wrong.

He didn't turn back, instead took a side step directly.

"Clang!"

Miao Ruifeng missed and crashed into the liquor shelf, causing a dozen bottles to fall to the ground.

"Pop, pop, pop, pop!"

A string of crisp sounds of bottles hitting the floor echoed; Miao Ruifeng's heart was practically bleeding—already not earning much from the inn, now another few thousand gone in the blink of an eye. How could he bear it?

Suppressing the pain in his arm, he rose from the ground, looking towards the inn's door, recognizing Zhen Jinghan, who had just returned from late-night snacks.

"It's you again, you stinking woman. Today, I'll deal with you!"

With a furious roar, Miao Ruifeng grabbed a chair and stormed forward fiercely.

Zhen Jinghan was somewhat frightened, frozen in place unable to react.

She didn't understand when she had offended the Boss—was it because she just warned that unsuspecting elderly man?

In that moment of distraction, Miao Ruifeng had already reached Zhen Jinghan and swung the chair towards her.

"Ah!"

Zhen Jinghan screamed, closed her eyes, instinctively using her hands to protect her head.

Ninth Master rushed from beside the liquor shelf towards the door, intending to stop Miao Ruifeng's actions, but from the speed of it, clearly, he wouldn't make it in time.

However, just as he ran three steps, he heard a loud "bang", Miao Ruifeng swung the chair against the door frame, his whole body plunged forward due to inertia.

"Ah ah ah!"

A lamenting cry came from Miao Ruifeng's mouth; his front teeth hit the threshold, blood spewing from his mouth, while the arm pinned beneath him visibly seemed to be broken again.

Zhen Jinghan was petrified, standing there unsure what to do.

Meanwhile, Ninth Master was utterly speechless—first peeking at someone's bath led to a broken arm, now trying to hit someone led to a broken front tooth, a textbook case of reaping what you sow.

...

Elsewhere, Zhao Guo'an followed Xiao Feng back to the courtyard.

On the way, after listening to Xiao Feng's account, Zhao Guo'an couldn't believe it: "He agreed so easily?"

"What else?" Xiao Feng countered: "Do you think all those in the underworld are as unyielding as in TV dramas and novels?"

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