Tuck scratched his head in frustration, his gaze drifting back to the small thorn grove with a glimr of excitent in his eyes.
“We’ve found one mirror, but where are the other antiques?” he muttered.
While wiping the sweat from his brow with a white towel, Rhett kept a close eye on the thorn grove, his gaze sweeping across the area. During the soil-moving process earlier, he had noticed that none of the soil carried any hidden antiques.
Now, the thorn grove resembled a large shallow pit, and as Rhett’s gaze swept over it, he caught sight of an oval-shaped object. It wasn’t a clump of dirt, nor was it a thorn tree. Bathed in the light, it even revealed red and blue hues.
It was certainly an antique, but from this angle, Rhett couldn’t quite make out what type it was. Half-buried under the soil and crushed by fallen thorn trees, only a small part of it was visible. Rhett narrowed his eyes and approached it himself.
Tuck’s expression sharpened, and he quickly followed. Drawing his longsword, he took large strides ahead of Rhett, cutting down any obstacles in their path.
These annoying thorns looked sharp, and even a knight without proper defense would have them pierced into his flesh.
“Father, it seems there’s an antique here! Did you spot it beforehand?” Tuck called out as he hacked through another thorn tree, his gaze suddenly locking onto a corner of the ground, eyes gleaming with excitent.
“Indeed. Now that you’ve seen it, go ahead and pick it up,” Rhett replied.
“Father, this antique is covered in dirt. Let carry it for you, and we can clean it up once we return to the castle,” Tuck offered. He examined the antique from all angles, but couldn’t find any inscriptions. He wasn’t worried, though—his previous experience taught him that the secrets might be hidden within, waiting for the right thod to be revealed.
The thought of possibly gaining another combat technique or so other unknown reward filled Tuck with excitent.
anwhile, watching from behind, Rylee mused, “We’ve already uncovered a breathing technique. Could this one have a magic record? It can’t be that all the luck goes to my big brother, can it?”
Unfortunately for him, that seed to be the case.
Rhett patted Tuck on the shoulder, smiling silently, before turning in a circle to survey the area. According to the simulation, three more antiques would be found, including the mirror Kootin had already discovered and this oval vase. This ant only one more antique remained buried sowhere in this soil.
After circling the area with Tuck, Rhett’s sharp eyes picked up so suspicious traces. Perhaps the final antique from the Golden Kingdom was hidden beneath these corners or mounds of dirt. With so deeper digging, it could be found.
However, continuing to pinpoint the antiques so accurately might make his actions seem overly prescient. To avoid suspicion, Rhett decided against searching for the last antique himself. Instead, he frowned, scanning the area with a disappointed look, before exiting the small thorn grove.
As he passed by Kootin, the foreman congratulated him, “Congratulations on finding two more antiques, my lord!”
“Thank you. The rest is up to you now. I have other matters to attend to shortly. Keep digging—there may still be more antiques hidden here. If you make any new discoveries, be sure to deliver them to Deep Rock Fortress imdiately,” Rhett instructed with a smile, giving Kootin an encouraging pat on the shoulder. “There will be rewards; I’ve been watching your hard work.”
“It’s our duty to serve you, my lord!” Kootin proudly thumped his chest.
Under Rhett’s watchful eye, Kootin quickly turned and headed back into the thorn grove, shovel in hand. He called out to the other woodcutters, “Let’s get back to work, everyone! Whoever finds an antique before nightfall gets three days off!”
The honest woodcutters, thrilled at the prospect of rest, cheerfully dove back into the pit, resuming their digging with renewed energy. The thorn grove once again buzzed with activity.
At the entrance to the grove, Kootin paused and pulled out an egg from his pocket, peeling it before popping it into his mouth. He chewed twice and swallowed with so saliva—he was starving.
Rhett didn’t pay any attention to this detail. Instead, he remained focused on the mirror and the vase in his hands, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.
It had been a productive trip so far, with two antiques already uncovered. As Rhett stood nearby, he pondered silently. It seed that tomorrow would be the right ti to set off with the caravan.
...
By dusk, the winter sunset brought a unique sense of romance. The sky was painted with the remnants of the day’s blood-red sun, and clouds gathered in strange formations, like shy spirits dancing on the horizon. A soft red glow bathed the faces of several “spectators,” making their cheeks resemble ripe apples.
They were the male and female servants of Deep Rock Fortress, whispering to one another in delight as they admired the stunning view. After a day of hard work, they found themselves savoring the peaceful evening, their spirits uplifted by the scene.
Downstairs, a sense of tranquility and enchantnt reigned.
Upstairs, in the fifth-floor hall of Deep Rock Fortress, the three sons of the house sat by the blazing hearth, their faces flushed in the firelight as they gathered around Rhett.
Tuck, frustrated, scratched his head as he pointed to a clean, polished mirror. “Could it really just be an ordinary mirror? We’ve tried every thod, but nothing’s worked!”
At their feet lay a square vase, an oval vase, and a black leather pouch, all neatly placed together. The only item separated from the others was the brightly colored mirror, resting flat on the ground, drawing the four pairs of eyes toward it.
Even Rhett was lost in thought.
Each antique had revealed its secrets: the two vases and the leather pouch had yielded a Silver Elephant Breathing Technique, a Cross Slash Technique, and a Gale Thrust Technique through various ans—water imrsion, fire, and cutting to expose hidden layers.
But the mirror had resisted all attempts—water, fire, corrosion, and light—leaving the group with nothing to show for their efforts.
Rhett glanced at his sons, noting their faces—filled with doubt and resignation after so many failed attempts, they were beginning to believe it was just a simple mirror.
Yet Rhett remained convinced that the mirror held sothing within, sothing they had yet to uncover. He just needed to find the right thod to reveal it.
Sitting back in his chair with his legs crossed, Rhett calmly said, “Let’s take a break. Sotis after resting, inspiration strikes, and the solution becos clear.”
Rylee sighed, his face betraying his frustration as he shifted his seat, ready to head downstairs for dinner.
Tylers followed his second brother’s lead. He had approached the situation with a playful attitude, eager to witness the magic of the antiques.
“Big brother, co on. Let’s go down too. I heard Cook Maru is preparing a roast lamb tonight—we’re in for a treat!” Tylers said cheerfully, tugging on Tuck’s arm.
At the ntion of delicious food, Tuck’s frustration over the mirror lted away, replaced with a sparkle of interest. He turned away from the mirror and took a big step toward the door.
Then, sothing unexpected happened!
In the hall, there was a large window. Tuck, standing between the mirror and the window, had blocked most of the light with his sturdy fra.
As Tuck moved aside, the beautiful evening light shone directly onto the now-polished mirror.
A faint red glow was reflected from the mirror, casting a delicate beam onto the ceiling of the hall.
...
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