Chapter 45, True Brothers

Translator: Raznick

 

“I suspect there is a vein here that can yield Scarlet Glow Iron!”

 

When Zhou Chun spoke his guess aloud, Zhou Zhengyong immediately felt a chill run through him and looked at Zhou Chun with a shocked expression.

 

“Thirteenth Brother, you’re not kidding, right?”

 

“Do you know what you’re talking about? A vein containing Scarlet Glow Iron ore.”

 

“We can’t be jumping to conclusions.”

 

Zhou Zhengyong was shocked speechless, his face filled with amazement as he stared at Zhou Chun, struggling to get a word out.

 

“Brother Yong, do you think I’m the type to exaggerate? I can assure you, what I say is backed by actual findings.”

 

Zhou Chun calmly responded to Zhou Zhengyong’s questioning, his tone unwavering.

 

After he finished speaking, upon seeing Zheng Yong still in a state of shock and disbelief, he paused for a moment before nodding slightly and said:

 

“However, Brother Yong’s concerns are not without reason. Perhaps this place is merely coincidentally harboring some Red Glow Iron ores and isn’t part of a large vein. As for the specifics, once we return and report to Clan Leader, he will naturally have ways to verify.”

 

Upon hearing these words, Zhou Zhengyong snapped back to attention, quickly nodding in agreement as he respectfully stated, “That’s correct. We just need to truthfully report the situation to Clan Leader himself.”

 

“So let’s just go out first. The Purple Flame Marten’s corpse has been collected, so you can rest assured, Brother Yong.”

 

Zhou Chun snapped his hand at the storage bag at his waist and spoke words that astounded Zhou Zhengyong.

 

Immediately, they put some Scarlet Glow Iron ore into their storage bags as evidence and brought them back along the same path quickly, returning to the surface.

 

Once on the surface, Zhou Chun’s first action was to block and cover the entrance to the cave to prevent anyone from accidentally discovering it while passing by.

 

After finishing the concealment work, he quickly summoned back the Rock Turtle that had been on guard on the ground and then headed together with Zhou Zhengyong to the outskirts of Crimson Pine Forest.

 

“Uncle Sun, this is the corpse of the Purple Flame Marten; please take a look.”

 

Outside the Crimson Pine Forest, Zhou Zhengyong, in front of Sun Lianzhong’s family of three, reached out and slapped the storage bag once. Instantly, he retrieved the corpse of the Purple Flame Marten that had been slain by Zhou Chun, which was still oozing blood and emitting a strong smell.

 

Back then, the Purple Flame Marten’s final desperate attack did not inflict any real harm on Zhou Chun.

 

It was after the explosion of the fireball that caused part of the cave to collapse and send pieces of the Scarlet Glow Iron ore falling down that he made an unexpected discovery.

 

At this moment, Sun Lianzhong cast a glance at the maimed body of the Purple Flame Marten and couldn’t help but shake his head slightly, uttering a word of regret: “Too bad.”

 

Then he nodded to Zhou Zhengyong and said, “It is indeed the Purple Flame Marten’s corpse; you have passed this test. Next, have your family’s Senior come to Sun Clan for the betrothal.”

 

Upon hearing his words, Zhou Zhengyong’s face was filled with joy.

 

As Sun Yujiao stood by, her face flush with embarrassment. She stamped her foot in mock anger, reproaching Zhou Chun: “Father, how could you sell your daughter off in one fell swoop like that? I haven’t even consented yet!”

 

Unexpectedly, as soon as she opened her mouth, before Sun Lianzhong could say anything, Zhou Zhengyong hurriedly shouted: “Jiaojiao, how can you say that? We said we wouldn’t talk about this. You…”

 

As the sentence was unfinished, Zhou Chun suddenly covered his mouth and whispered something in his ear, snapping him to attention.

 

He was also a man of words, with a natural talent for charming women.

 

His face flickered with various expressions before he suddenly broke into a playful grin and said, “Hee hee hee, Jiaojiao, you mustn’t take it that way! It’s just that I was so overwhelmed. You can rest assured, my promise to you remains ever-binding—I will always have eyes only for you!”

 

“Humph!”

 

Sun Yujiao turned her cute, blushing face toward him and teasingly bit her lips, but then grew shy and said no more.

 

This way chatting and laughing, they returned to the Sun Clan estate.

 

After returning to the Sun Clan, Zhou Chun and Zhou Zhengyong meditated to restore their spiritual power. Once they had recovered, they hastily bade farewell to Sun Lianzhong’s family and departed.

 

“My esteemed nephews, do you two plan not to rest for even two days?”

 

Within Sun Lianzhong’s courtyard, Sun Lianzhong looked at the two members of the Zhou Clan who were obviously exhausted yet eager to depart, their faces filled with surprise.

 

“We appreciate Uncle Sun’s goodwill; however, our Clan Leader had instructed before we left that if this mission goes smoothly, we will return as soon as possible to report the good news.”

 

Speaking of which, Zhou Chun couldn’t help but glance at Zhou Zhengyong beside him with a slight smile and remarked, “Moreover, Brother Yong also hopes to embrace his beauty as soon as possible!”

 

“Hehehe…”

 

With a cheerful smile on his face, Zhou Zhengyong joined Zhou Chun in alleviating Sun Lianzhong’s concerns.

 

Sun Lianzhong saw this, indeed did not inquire further, because of which he had a better impression of Zhou Zhengyong.

 

He still felt that Zhou Zhengyong did not align as closely with his preferences as Zhou Chun did, but Zhou Zhengyong’s affection for his daughter was enough to compensate for any shortcomings, and she should not suffer as a result of the union.

 

At that moment, he nodded slightly and said, “If that is the case, you may go on your way. Be sure to stay safe on your journey.”

 

“I respectfully take my leave.”

 

Zhou Chun and Zhou Zhengyong clasped their hands together in a gesture of respect, then mounted the Horned Goat, which was kept in the Sun Clan’s beast enclosure, to return to the Zhou Clan.

 

On this leg of the journey, they hurriedly drove the goat once more, and it still took over a day to return to Nine Peaks.

 

After returning to the clan, the two of them placed the exhausted and nearly collapsing Horned Goat in the mountains and headed straight for Pagota Peak.

 

“How about it? Looking at the two of you, I’d say the trip must have been fairly smooth, right?”

 

In the Central Palace, after receiving Zhou Chun and his companion, Zhou Daoyi gave a slight smile and inquired about the outcome of their journey.

 

Hearing these words, the two exchanged a glance before Zhou Zhengyong respectfully cupped his hands and replied in accordance with the clan’s customs: “Clan Leader, please understand. It is all due to Thirteenth Brother’s blessings that I was able to pass Senior’s tests this time. He has already agreed to our union with Miss Yujiao and instructed me to select a Senior from our clan to approach Sun Clan for the betrothal.”

 

Zhou Daoyi, upon hearing this, immediately smiled and said, “That’s excellent! I will hereby offer my congratulations.”

 

He paused for a moment, then continued, “As for the matter of proposing marriage, it would be appropriate to send Jiapeng as the Male Senior from our side to visit Sun Clan at that time. I will also write a letter for him to deliver to Sun Zhongping, the Clan Leader.”

 

Zhou Zhengyong immediately expressed his excitement and gratitude by hastily bowing and thanking. “Your kindness, Clan Leader, is immeasurable. I am overwhelmed with gratitude.”

 

“This is something I, as Clan Leader, should have done. You don’t have to be so formal.”

 

Zhou Daoyi waved his hand, then turned to Zhou Chun and said, “As for you, Zhengchun… I’ll reward you…”

 

Before the Clan Leader could finish offering Zhou Chun his reward, Zhou Chun suddenly became serious and performed a cupping hands gesture before him, saying, “Please allow me to explain, Clan Leader. I have an important matter to report.”

 

Zhou Daoyi wore a look of astonishment on his face as he directed his gaze at Zhou Chun.

 

Upon seeing Zhou Chun’s grave expression, he narrowed his eyes and nodded solemnly, saying, “Speak.”

 

So Zhou Chun told Zhou Daoyi about his discovery and speculation, and took out the excavated Scarlet Glow Iron ore from the storage bag and gave it to Zhou Daoyi for identification.

 

As Zhou Chun reported to him, Zhou Daoyi’s expression kept changing.

 

After he had scrutinized Zhou Chun’s presented ore for a moment, his expression became complex as he looked at the ore in his hand and sighed deeply. “Although its quality isn’t particularly impressive, there’s no doubt it’s the Scarlet Glow Iron ore!”

 

After saying that, he took a deep breath and seriously looked at Zhou Chun and another individual, slowly stating, “You did the right thing in doing this. If such a mine of exists, its value would be enormous—so great that even our entire Zhou Clan couldn’t monopolize it!”

 

“From now on, the two of you must keep this matter a secret and never mention it to anyone else.

 

“Regarding the rewards for both of you, after this matter is completely settled, I will discuss with Grand Elder.”

 

His manner and tone clearly show how much he values this matter.

 

However, Zhou Chun and his companion were well aware of how significant the matter was. If news of this were to leak, it could mean certain death for them.

 

Therefore, he hastily pledged in front of Zhou Daoyi to ensure he would never reveal the matter to anyone else.

 

Zhou Daoyi, seeing the two recognize the situation for what it was, felt reassured and his heart settled. He immediately waved his hand and said, “Enough for now; you two can return to rest. Once I’m ready, I will send for Zhengchun to show the way.”

 

“Yes, we will take our leave.”

 

Zhou Chun and Yong quickly left Pagoda Peak and returned to Ganoderma Peak.

 

Along the way, they spoke no words. Upon reaching Zhou Chun’s courtyard, Zhou Zhengyong turned serious and addressed him, saying: “This time’s success was only thanks to Thirteenth Brother’ help. Words aren’t enough to show my gratitude; in the future if you have anything that I can do for you, don’t hesitate to ask!”

 

Zhou Chun heard this and immediately waved his hand, saying, “Brother Yong, you’re too polite. Since we’re brothers, there’s no need to thank me for such a thing.”

 

With a gentle smile, he added, “Junior Brother, I’ll be eagerly awaiting the joy of drinking your wedding wine!”

 

Zhou Zhengyong saw this and felt even more grateful.

 

But said no more in thanks, merely laughed aloud, “Ha ha! You’ll be drinking it sooner than you think!”

 

Then he nodded firmly at Zhou Chun and left without uttering a word.

 

While Zhou Chun watched Zhou Zhengyong’s departing figure, he also revealed a smile.

 

He knew that with Zhou Zhengyong’s personality, after this, he would have his first true brother in the Zhou Clan who was willing to fight for him.