Chapter 1566: Returning Empty-Handed

"You're too kind." Seeing that Chen Yu did not want to talk, Huang Hong stopped wasting his breath. He sat down, took a sip of tea, and said to Qishu, "Qishu, you've been out for quite a while this time. I wonder if you managed to get your hands on any good goods?"

"Why don't you take them out and let everyone broaden their horizons?"

As Huang Hong spoke, he rested one hand on the table, tapping it rhythmically. He looked at Qishu with a sidelong glance, his meaning already very clear.

Everyone knew that Qishu was a descendant of the Mojin Sect and that his skills were extremely high; as long as he went out, he would never return empty-handed.

Whether it was going to a great tomb or some Secret Realm, he would always have good things in his hands whenever he returned. Therefore, the purpose of Huang Hong's visit this time was very clear: if there were good things, he should bring them out so everyone could benefit.

Qishu cursed inwardly, then gave a bitter smile: "It's a bit embarrassing to say, but I failed this time. I didn't get any good things out there. However, President Huang, please rest assured; I have prepared a piece of Ming Dynasty calligraphy and painting to present to you as my harvest from this trip."

"Bring the item out." Qishu glanced at his disciple, signaling him to go get it.

Qishu's disciple understood and hurried into the room. A moment later, he came out holding a scroll of calligraphy and painting.

This was a Tiger Roaring Painting, from the hand of a great master of the Ming Dynasty. You couldn't call it expensive, but you couldn't call it cheap either; it was worth one or two hundred thousand.

"I know Elder Huang likes calligraphy and painting. This item was collected by one of my disciples from within the country and has great collection value. I hope President Huang will not look down on it," Qishu said with a smile.

Huang Hong glanced at the painting and then laughed: "Qishu, you're holding out on me."

"How could I? In front of President Huang, how would I dare to hold out?" Qishu hurriedly denied it. He smiled bitterly: "To be honest with you, President Huang, I encountered some special circumstances while out this time, and I nearly lost my life there."

"So this time, I really did return empty-handed. Sigh, I'm old, and my luck isn't what it used to be. I plan to retire in the future; guarding an antique shop and living out my days is fine too," Qishu sighed.

It was true; the problems he encountered on this trip were not small, and he had nearly lost his life there. If he hadn't met Chen Yu, he really didn't know if he would have been able to return. After this incident, he had thought it through: even if there were good places in the future, he wouldn't go. His life was more important.

"Heh, Qishu, you are a descendant of the Mojin lineage. Your eye is sharp, your professional knowledge is strong, and every time you return, you have a full harvest. You were gone for over half a month this time, yet you say you didn't get anything? Why do I find that hard to believe?" Huang Hong stared at Qishu and sneered.

"President Huang, I am truly telling the truth. This time, I also owe a lot to Mr. Chen. If it weren't for Mr. Chen, I'm afraid I wouldn't even have been able to return," Qishu complained.

"Oh, is that so? Then it seems this Mr. Chen is not simple." Huang Hong grinned and shifted the focus onto Chen Yu: "Mr. Chen, is what Qishu says true?"

"It is indeed true. The place we went to this time was not some great tomb, but a Seal Land. I won't even mention how terrifying the things inside were; Qishu truly escaped death by a hair's breadth," Chen Yu nodded slightly and said: "So, we really didn't manage to get any good things."

"Why do I still not believe it?" Huang Hong laughed. He turned his head to stare at Qishu and said: "I heard that the one who invited Qishu to go over this time was a leader of the Red Skull."

"This leader is very famous in their local area. He has a Treasure Map in his hands. What's inside might not be treasure, but it is said to be related to the secret of immortality. Qishu, my old man is already eighty years old and has been looking for a way to live a few more years."

"If you discovered anything this time, you must not hold out on me."

"President Huang, if I had made a harvest, I certainly wouldn't hold out. Besides, Elder Huang is in good health and will surely live to be a hundred. But this time, I really came back with nothing," Qishu gave a bitter smile. How was he supposed to explain it for the other party to believe him?

"Fine, heh." Seeing that Qishu refused to say anything more, Huang Hong couldn't help but laugh. He stood up and said: "In that case, I won't disturb you any further."

"President Huang, why not have a simple meal before leaving?" Qishu was startled and hurriedly stood up.

He knew Huang Hong best; the expression on this guy's face showed he didn't believe for a second that Qishu had come back empty-handed this time.

Moreover, this guy held a grudge. If this matter wasn't explained clearly, he might have big trouble in the future.

"No need for a meal. Qishu, you'd better think carefully about whether you had any harvest this time. Once you remember, contact me at any time," Huang Hong sneered, then stood up and left with his people.

"What a piece of work." After Huang Hong left, Qishu looked at his back and cursed through gritted teeth.

Truly, this grandson Huang Hong was usually insatiably greedy, but for the sake of survival, Qishu had just endured it.

Every time he returned from a trip, one-third of the items he obtained ended up in Huang Hong's hands.

This time he really had come back with nothing, but after returning, he had still prepared items to give to Huang Hong.

But this time Huang Hong was not satisfied. Qishu knew this guy's character; he would definitely come back.

"He is not satisfied with this answer," Chen Yu said with a smile.

"Yes, very dissatisfied, and I feel he could come back at any time," Qishu said with a worried look.

"What is his background? Who is his father?" Chen Yu asked.

"Huang Lao, a figure with a very stable status among the Chinese," Qishu sighed and said: "His reputation is also high. A large part of the reason Huang Hong is like this is that he has a good father who laid the foundation for him."

"He wants to live forever?" Chen Yu asked.

"Yes. When Huang Lao was in his seventies, he fell ill. Before he got this illness, he was actually very good and devoted himself to the Chinese people, but after he got sick, he changed," Qishu shook his head.

"It's human nature. That illness must have been very serious, serious enough to almost cost him his life?" Chen Yu asked.

"Correct, that illness was very serious and almost cost him his life. But later, a doctor saved him. Ever since then, his temperament changed drastically. He tries every way to nourish his life every day, even believing the words of some alchemists to take medicine, and even using young girls to nourish medicine for him, as his Cauldron," Qishu shook his head: "I can't understand it. A perfectly good person..."

"Yes, a perfectly good person," Chen Yu frowned and said: "Did he obtain something?"