stand back, let me come

Chapter 1503 Chapter 1502: Finale (V) [Seeking monthly votes]

Shen Tang analyzed the situation carefully: "We know the clues. This coffin was dug out by a tomb robber and sold along with me to Mr. Shen, who collects antiques. In other words, the coffin was in the hands of the Shen family at that time. Calculating the series of events that happened back then, it was only a few days from the time he bought the coffin to the time the Shen family was confiscated and exterminated. Mr. Shen should not have had the opportunity to resell the coffin or destroy it..."

The confiscated property was eventually returned to the national treasury.

In other words, it fell into Zheng Qiao's hands?

"It is very likely that Zheng Qiao's inheritance will be divided up and plundered by the various princes who crossed the Miao River and invaded Qianzhou. Of course, it is not ruled out that someone took advantage of the fire to rob the national treasury and ran away. But that was a coffin..." If it was really a desperate criminal who wanted to extort money, he would only steal small and valuable things in a panic, which would be more cost-effective. No matter how precious the wood of the coffin was, it would be difficult to take.

In summary--

Shen Tang was more inclined to believe that the coffin fell into the hands of the princes.

The ones who survived the Qianzhou melee to the end, not counting Shen Tang's group, were less than a handful at most. The ones who preserved their strength the most were Huang Lie, Wu Xian, and Zhang He. "Gu Ziyi died at the hands of Huang Lie, and the latter and Zhang He lost to Wu Xian and me. If the coffins had not flowed into the hands of the people, they would have been with Wu Xian or me, or given away as a reward?"

The Gao Kingdom established by Wu Xian was annexed by her.

Shen Tang planned to use a stupid method to check all the accounts.

As long as it is registered, it will leave a trace.

Gong Xichou's intelligence was rarely outstanding: "... But this doesn't prove anything. During the Gao Kingdom period, it was possible that Wu Zhaode gave it to him as a reward. Coffins made of precious materials are very popular among military generals. The Gao Kingdom's account books that were confiscated... After so many years, are there any backups? Even if there were, corruption would easily breed if the national treasury was not managed strictly, and embezzlement would be common."

The most brutal operation is to replace the real thing with a fake one, or report it as scrapped when re-registering it, publicly saying that it will be burned, but secretly taking it out to sell or collect, or directly faking a fire...

The national treasury/granary is often visited by thunder and fire.

Shen Tang: "...Indeed, there are many variables."

But, we should try our best to save the situation.

If we don't follow the clues, where should we start looking?
Gong Xichou: "Why do we have to start from the beginning and end?"

You can also stroke from the tail towards the head.

"You mean...tail?"

A flash of inspiration came to Shen Tang's mind.

Thinking of the details that I had just analyzed but overlooked, "Yunda most likely didn't go to the Four Pillars through the National Seal... so that means the coffin? In other words, the last person to handle the coffin might be him? If so, wouldn't Yunda's legacy be in the hands of his disciples? Besides Zigu, it's Yuanmou. Even if it's not them, he can contact other disciples through the two of them?"

This clue is obviously clearer than investigating the booklets of previous years.

Shen Tang: "Send an order, let Yuan Mou come to see me!"

When Yun Ce received the order and rushed over, he was a little worried. He had not forgotten what Gu Chi had told him not long ago, that the master had been in a bad mood recently. He maintained the most stable expression, but in his heart he was reviewing whether he had done anything wrong recently.

"I have seen you, my Lord."

"No need to be so polite, Yuanmou, take a seat."

When Yun Ce sat down, he caught a glimpse of the golden teacup that was crushed by Shen Tang. The finger marks on it were clearly visible. He couldn't imagine what kind of anger the master had to make it look like this. He looked normal: "I wonder what the master wants to summon me for?"

Shen Tang said: "I'm looking for a coffin."

A look of confusion appeared on Yun Ce's face, which was colder than ice and snow.

"Looking for a coffin?"

Call him here just to find a coffin?
He thought of the Huangchangtichou that Wei Shou had been thinking about: "I wonder what the coffin that the master found looks like?"

Shen Tang said: "I don't remember either."

After all, I haven't seen it.

Most people who have seen the coffin in this world are dead. Gong Xichou and Jimo Qiu have never seen it either. There are only some fragmentary records of text and pictures. Finding a coffin based on this information is harder than finding a needle in a haystack.

If you're looking for something, you shouldn't ask him.

Just when Yun Ce was trying to express his inability in a tactful way, Shen Tang said, "I have a great use for this coffin. I guess it may fall into the hands of your master Yun Da. When you were handling Yun Da's funeral, did you see a similar coffin?"

Yun Ce suddenly understood why the master wanted to find him. He recalled carefully: "As for coffins, Master has more than 20."

Shen Tang: "..."

The hobbies of the martial artists are really the same.

When people see good wood, they like to use it to make their own coffins.

Which kind person would store more than 20 coffins at home at once? Coffins are not clothes that can be worn in rotation when going out. After a person dies, only one coffin is needed. It is no wonder that many literary scholars and warriors are abnormal and their mental state is indeed unhealthy.

"I don't remember seeing such a plain coffin."

The starting price of each coffin of Yunda is thousands of gold. Not only is the wood material used precious, but the inside and outside are inlaid with real gold, silver and various gems. Just a little bit can make an ordinary person live comfortably for a year. Different coffins have different themes and series.

He was sure that the coffin his master was looking for was not among them.

The value of the coffin is not enough for the master's collection.

Shen Tang: "Then what about these coffins..."

"I'll make the decision and share it with my fellow disciples."

Whether they took the coffin home as a souvenir to remember their master, or used it as their own house after a hundred years, or sold it to support their family, Yun Ce would not interfere. These were all the legacy left by the master, and all the fellow disciples had a share.

Yun Ce left behind a coffin with the theme of ice, snow, silver dragon, and floating stars and flowers.

The aesthetic is very suitable for me, and I plan to keep it for myself to live in a hundred years later.

Shen Tang: "..."

After all these years, I still cannot understand these abstract cultures.

"I would like to ask, what does the Lord want with it?"

Shen Tang did not hide it from Yun Ce, he was also half an insider: "Do you still remember your master and I made a twelve-year agreement? He said that within twelve years, the whole territory would be unified, and if all the national seals were collected, he would change his mind and stop destroying the world. I received news not long ago that your master's backup plan was launched ahead of schedule, and even Zhai Xiaofang in the Southeast Continent sent his national seal to me, which shows how serious the situation is. The key to solving the problem lies in that coffin."

Shen Tang didn't say anything more.

It’s not that she’s stingy, but she’s not in the mood.

Yun Ce's pupils trembled slightly.

"Earlier?"

Shen Tang sighed deeply: "Yeah."

One word made Yun Ce feel confused and his mind was a mess. Countless thoughts were flying around but he couldn't make any sense. The more he tried to calm down and think about countermeasures, the more confused he became. Yun Ce said that his brain was not enough and he needed to find some help.

Xian Yujian rushed over after half a day's rush. Before he could even catch his breath, Yun Ce grabbed his shoulder and asked him if he remembered such a coffin. Shen Tang was also anxiously waiting for news. If both of her brothers said no, she could only ask someone to look through the registration books of spoils of war over the years. Even if the water in the four seas was drained, this needle at the bottom must be fished out!

"The Lord and Brother summoned me for this matter?"

"Zi Gu, this is very important!"

Xian Yujian frowned and forced himself to recall the details of that year.

"...After so many years, it's just another worthless coffin. Who would remember it?" Wudan warriors are very picky about coffins. Even if the superiors want to reward coffins, they will not reward this kind. This kind of coffin is at most rewarded to soldiers and generals of the middle and lower ranks.

Shen Tang: "..."

Just as her face became worse and worse, Xian Yujian suddenly said "Oh". He couldn't organize his words for a while, so he could only turn his head and ask Yun Ce for a hint: "... I have some impression, do you remember the last words of Master before he died?"

"Last words?"

Of course Yun Ce remembered the contents of the will.

In addition to the letter that Yun Ce and the others had to pass on to Shen Tang, there were also brief arrangements for his disciples and his own affairs after his death. Yun Da wanted to return to his roots and hoped to be buried next to Amu Qing. Amu Qing had been buried for many years, and Yun Da did not want to disturb her peace after death. Yun Ce and the others did not need to open the coffin to bury them together, but only needed to dig a new pit next to Amu Qing's grave and bury them.

The dead are the greatest, so Yun Ce and the other two naturally agreed.

Xian Yujian added: "It's not those, it's a simple burial."

Yun Ce murmured to himself: "Simple burial?"

He once again thought carefully about Yunda's last words. Born in the Northern Desert, Yunda had no clear hobbies in his life. Although the coffins he collected looked rich, they were different from the traditional sense of extravagance. He had never been extravagant during his lifetime, and he did not seek wealth after his death. In addition to some requirements for the burial site, there were no other requirements. He also asked Yunce and the others not to put any burial objects for him.

Letting it go would benefit future generations who know how many years from now.

Of course, Yun Ce couldn't just pull a thin mat to bury Yun Da in the ground, so he naturally followed Yun Da's wishes and used the coffin that Yun Da had prepared early in the morning... Thinking of this, Yun Ce's pupils dilated. Shen Tang knew there was a clue when he saw his reaction: "Did you think of it?"

Yun Ce said in embarrassment: "If we really talk about a coffin that meets the requirements, it seems that the only one that Master used after his death is..."

The coffins used by military commanders would have a certain amount of space left according to their body size, which was more than enough to fit two or three ordinary people. The coffin was too small, and Yunda seemed very cramped to put in it, but there was no energy to prepare a better one at that time, so Yunce and the others chose to respect their master's last words. At first glance, the coffin was just ordinary wood painted with a few layers of brown-black wood paint, which was very common among the people.

Shen Tang: "..."

I didn't dare open my eyes, hoping it was just her hallucination.

I hope so, but I also hope not.

"Time is running out. We'll know if it is true or not once we dig it out." Gong Xichou had no idea of ​​Shen Tang's inner struggle, and he threatened to dig up Lao Deng's grave in front of Yunda's apprentice, and maybe even open the coffin manually.

Xian Yujian: “Isn’t this inappropriate?”

No matter how many mistakes the master made during his lifetime, he is dead now. The dead are the most important. If you open the coffin hastily, you should also consider the feelings of Yunda's disciples. It is a bit absurd to dig up Yunda's grave because you suspect the coffin he used after his death.

Yun Ce raised his hand to stop him: "Then go and take a look."

Only after watching it can you feel completely at ease.

Based on Yun Ce's understanding of his master, it is impossible for him to make a twelve-year agreement and then break it halfway. Crazy as he is, he is as arrogant as anyone else and would never do such a thing. Digging a grave is nothing in the face of a world-destroying crisis.

Purity after death or something...

When a person dies, it is like a light going out. Who knows if there is peace after death?

Shen Tang: "I'll go there myself."

Yun Ce: "This is not possible. The Lord is the backbone of the three armies. How can he leave so easily? Just let Zi Gu handle this matter."

"I asked the incarnation Wuyou to stay and take charge. It won't have any impact."

Before the action was taken, he called all his trusted aides to hold a short meeting.

Everyone tried to dissuade him at first, but Shen Tang had to do it himself, and no one else could replace him. There was also the incarnation Wuyou who took over the command of the three armies, and the incarnation could also control the battlefield through the perspective of the incarnation Wuyou. After some consideration, he could only choose to agree. However, for the safety of the master, in addition to Yun Ce who led the way, the brothers Gong Xichou had to accompany him to ensure that everything was safe.

"We still need to be prepared for both situations."

Shen Tang and others finalized the matter that evening.

Qi Shan was worried: "What if that coffin isn't..."

"So we must be prepared for both situations and not waste time." Shen Tang ordered Ning Yan, who was in charge of the rear, to retrieve the registration books of those years and find out where each coffin went. Although the coffins were not found, some garbage borers that were hiding deep were cleared.

Well, some people’s household registration books have been cancelled by the Biosphere.

The incarnation Wuyou changed into the original Shen Tang, and with Qishan's help, except for a few people who knew about it, no other civil and military officials in Shen Tang's camp noticed it. The Central Allied Forces were chased away by Kangguo and fled in a hurry, leaving behind tens of thousands of refugees and hurriedly crossing the river, and they had no energy to pay attention to this. Therefore, until Shen Tang and his group arrived in Beizhou, a total of ten days had passed, and no one noticed these things.

Under the governance of Kangguo, the population of the two states was replanned. After years of hard work by local officials, visible changes have taken place in the environment, one of which is that the water and grass have become more lush. Because of the population transfer, the area near Yunda and Amuqing's tombs has become an uninhabited area with few people. Animals and plants grow wildly here, and the scenery here also has a unique natural and unrestrained flavor.

Yun Ce found his destination based on his memory.

There were two tombs, one new and one old, and now both are old tombs.

"My Lord, this is it."

When he thought about what he was going to do, Yun Ce apologized to his master in his heart and bent down to light a few incense sticks. Yun Ce's fellow apprentices had gone out to fight in the war, and he hadn't had a chance to visit their graves in the past few years, but the graves were very clean, and there were two dry, uncorrupted tributes in front of the tombstone.

It was obvious that someone had visited the grave recently.

"You are... Senior Brother Yuanmou? When did you return triumphantly?"

Yun Ce turned around and said, "Junior brother?"

Yun Da often went to the mountains to pick up orphans when he was alive, and many of Yun Ce's fellow disciples came this way. The one in front of him was one of them. He was not very talented in martial arts, so he went back to his hometown to make a living after going down the mountain. This time, he came to pay tribute to his mentor while passing by on business.

"Brother Yuanmou is here to pay tribute to Master as well?"

This junior brother only asked Yun Ce, not curious about the identities of the people traveling with him. That kind of aura is only possessed by people who have been in high positions for a long time. It would not be good for him, an ordinary person, to know too much. Yun Ce's brain turned quickly and he thought of an excuse: "Ten days ago, I received a dream from my master saying that the grave was cold and seemed to be flooded... The war in front has calmed down a little, and I came to take a look when I have nothing to do for the time being."

He came to dig up his master's grave.

The junior fellow didn't suspect anything.

A quarter of an hour later——

The fellow student standing at the edge of the pit stared at Yun Ce, whose expression was distorted at the bottom of the pit, and was dumbfounded: "This, this, no wonder Master had a dream! This is not water entering the tomb, it's clearly that the tomb has been robbed... God damn it, which wicked tomb robber would not even let this go?"

Both the person and the coffin are missing!

(￣┏∞┓￣)
If I can finish this series in my lifetime, the last book will be The Way of Heaven.

(End of this chapter)