The Magnificent Son-in-law

In Ninth Master's view, if they had the blueprint of the underground chamber as a reference, the safety of this expedition would undoubtedly be greatly improved.

To put it bluntly, it's like following a guide while playing a dungeon. Although it might seem brainless, at his age, the desire for adventure has long disappeared, and safety is the most crucial.

Xiao Feng understood these principles, but he didn't hold much hope for this because even if there was a blueprint, nine out of ten it had already been burned to ashes in that great fire, unless it was hidden separately.

But that was obviously impossible. If there was a blueprint, Sun Shijie would have taken it out long ago.

Sure enough, Sun Shijie replied, "There definitely is a blueprint, but it hasn't been passed to me. The old mansion was demolished long ago, and I burned the new house too, so there's nowhere to find it."

"Old Sun, if I don't make it out this time, please take care of my grandchildren. You don't need to bother with that bastard Miao Ruifeng; he's a lost cause in this life. This is the one thing I can't let go of, consider it as a favor from your younger brother."

Ninth Master said earnestly, then raised his cup and drank two shots of liquor.

Sun Shijie's face turned solemn: "Saying that really leaves me ashamed, old brother. It's enough that you're willing to help this time. Also, we'll all make it out safe and sound this time.

I've tried, the traps in the underground just aren't that formidable, my ancestors weren't specialized in designing traps, so they can't be that strong."

Ninth Master gave a bitter smile. Having worked in this field for most of his life, how could he not know that the power of traps doesn't lie in whether they can claim lives instantaneously?

For instance, directly blocking the exit and then releasing poison gas, can you say that's not powerful?

Taking a step back, even without any poison gas, in the pitch-dark underground, after consuming all the food carried along and with no water source found, how many days could one last?

But it was obviously useless to say these things, as in the face of unknowns, any assumption could be valid, but likewise, all were meaningless.

Xiao Feng shook his head and walked out of the room. It seemed impossible to get more useful information, so he could only play it by ear and take one step at a time.

...

Zhao Guo'an at this moment had a genuine urge to cry. Watching Zhen Jinghan carefully apply ointment on his face, he cautiously confirmed, "You're really not angry anymore, right?"

"Mm." Zhen Jinghan nodded, "Actually, I also believe you don't have anything with those two girls, but seeing them come looking for you, it still made me feel a little bad."

"Don't feel bad, please don't feel bad!" Zhao Guo'an pleaded while silently adding in his heart: If you feel bad in your heart, then physically, I'm the one who'll feel worse.

Suddenly, Zhao Guo'an thought of a love phrase he'd seen online, which said, meeting you in this lifetime has used up all my luck!

Previously, Zhao Guo'an would've thought this was cheesy, the epitome of pretentiousness and the sick lament of literary sissies.

However, at this moment, he felt this was astonishingly accurate!

He even wondered if this saying was written based on his own personal experiences.

Ever since meeting Zhen Jinghan, he couldn't help but have no luck, only being careful and unlucky.

"I want to ask you something." Zhao Guo'an spoke softly, "Regarding the two previous fiancé candidates you had, before they met with accidents, did they do anything that really displeased you?"

Zhen Jinghan frowned, "Why do you ask that?"

Seeing Zhen Jinghan frown, Zhao Guo'an instinctively trembled all over, his heart filled with anguish again. He hadn't even started dating, yet had developed such a severe psychological shadow.

Imagine if they got married and had children…

Dear God!

How would his days go on!

"I was just asking casually, you don't have to force yourself to answer if you don't want to." Zhao Guo'an said fearfully.

Seeing his demeanor, Zhen Jinghan couldn't help but cover her mouth and laugh: "Actually, there's nothing I can't talk about. They were both great, although not entirely satisfactory, but where in the world is there a perfect person? At least they didn't have any intolerable defects."

Zhao Guo'an concluded deep down that it seemed the fate of those two was not because of something they strongly displeased Zhen Jinghan.

Realizing this, Zhao Guo'an continued, "If, I mean if… should there be a day I just disappear without a word, how would you react?"

Zhen Jinghan's face reddened. This sounded like a playful question to enhance a romantic relationship, but thinking Zhao Guo'an might be speaking his mind under the guise of a joke, she asked, "Did I do something wrong?"

"No, no, it's just a hypothetical question, just speak your true thoughts."

"If you really disappeared… I would do my utmost to find you."

"And if you couldn't find me?"

"I'd keep looking; if alive, I'd see you, if dead, your corpse!"

Upon hearing this firm response, Zhao Guo'an almost felt like shedding tears. This must be what they call inevitable doom!

"Since that's the case, I'll speak frankly, after tomorrow, I'll be managing some task, and it might be a while before I can return." Zhao Guo'an confessed.

He had to be honest, because if he set off into the underground chamber without saying a word, and Zhen Jinghan couldn't find him and began to resent him inwardly, wouldn't the odds be that he would encounter mishaps?

This journey was already fraught with uncertainty and danger. Should he offend Zhen Jinghan, who was definitely someone not to cross, Zhao Guo'an felt he might not even need to step on any traps, and the mental pressure alone could frighten him to death.

"What kind of task can't you take me with you?" Zhen Jinghan asked directly, clearly already considering herself as his girlfriend.

Zhao Guo'an shook his head, "No, this affair is very dangerous, and it's not just me; Xiao and Mu Shihan will also be going with us."

Upon hearing this, Zhen Jinghan remained silent for a long time, then said, "You're so vague about this, I don't feel reassured. Can you explain it in detail?"

Zhao Guo'an thought for a moment and decided there was no harm in telling Zhen Jinghan, so he explained everything in detail.

Zhen Jinghan fell silent once more because there was too much she hadn't anticipated involved.

For instance, she didn't expect the innkeeper-like Ninth Master to be a renowned expert in tomb raiding.

Or that Su Yuzhuo and Fujiwara Keiaki, who both spoke fluent Mandarin, weren't actually from Huaxia.

After a while, Zhen Jinghan took a deep breath, gathered her courage, and said, "You need to handle your business, I won't stop you. But before you leave, just one question… What is our relationship, now?"

Zhao Guo'an inwardly sighed; what was meant to come had finally arrived. This was yet another tricky question.

"Fri, fri, fri…"

Just as the word 'friend' was about to be spoken, a sudden "rumble" sounded, and even the windows vibrated along with it.

From the courtyard, a young girl's voice exclaimed: "What the heck, how can it thunder and rain in the middle of winter when I was planning to go out shopping!"