Chapter 349: Chapter of the Hidden Artifact

Chapter 349: Found an… Artifact?!

“Found it?!”

Two National Security team leaders glared at the little guy as if he were a monster.

Their expressions said it all: “What, hero, are you pregnant?”

Faced with those stares and faces, Xiao Yu was at a loss for words.

He wondered if these two had lost their minds.

No, don’t go saying others are crazy.

After all, you need a brain to go crazy!

“I won’t know until I see it,” Xiao Yu shrugged.

Using his wits, he deduced two potential locations.

Just because you’re smart doesn’t mean you’re always right!

When your guesses work every time, it’s more a matter of calculation than raw brainpower!

Coming back to reality, Zhou Lie and Shen Mei nodded in agreement.

Their gaze on the little guy remained as if he were a creature from another realm.

Xiao Yu fell silent, silently flipping the middle finger.

He decided that after the case was wrapped up, he’d steer clear of these lunatics.

He planned to rest well and then head with his sister to a prosperous city.

Maybe even enjoy a few days of the mundane life of the rich…

……

City X.

A military helicopter slowly descended onto a pedestrian crossing at 157.

Xiao Yu stepped out and scanned the surroundings where police had cordoned off the area.

Then he joined Shen Mei and Zhou Lie as they climbed into a police utility van.

A crowd of clueless onlookers stared at them with wide, shocked eyes.

There’s something exhilarating about showing off your power in public—it feels pretty awesome.

In the nearby suburbs.

An industrial park.

A fleet of police cars forced their way in, terrifying everyone inside the factory.

Close behind, four military vehicles arrived.

Two hundred armed police descended like dumplings, completely encircling the industrial park.

Then two excavation vehicles drove into the factory.

No one dared to intervene.

Even the private factory owner could only tremble as Zhou Lie flashed his credentials and the armed police surrounded him.

“Rest assured. Any loss will be fully compensated,” an officer assured him.

Xiao Yu told the owner, “If anything is discovered here, congratulations, boss—you’re about to get rich!”

If a hideout is found within this industrial zone,

then it means the boss is about to strike it rich.

The state will seize the area and offer hefty compensation.

Any loss will be reimbursed at three to ten times its value.

Those in the know will understand!

Excavators started digging.

At one location, a seven-meter-deep passageway to a lower level emerged before everyone’s eyes.

“Really, here?!”

Zhou Lie and Shen Mei looked on in disbelief, not checking the passage but staring at Xiao Yu.

They eyed him as if he were an otherworldly spy leader.

A ventilation fan was brought in.

The underground passage was bound to suffer from oxygen shortage and might harbor toxic gases, much like mining or well-digging.

Without proper ventilation, anyone heading down would be in serious danger.

It’s the same with tomb raiding—you dig carelessly, and you’re as good as dead.

If you don’t clear out that foul air, you’re just asking for trouble!

After an hour of ventilation, professional bomb disposal experts arrived.

Another half-day passed.

The Ninth Hideout was completely opened!

Xiao Yu and his team stepped inside and were stunned.

Inside, it was utterly empty.

Why?

In the old days, it probably was never even used.

The three National Security team leaders felt as if someone had just fed them dog crap.

It was utterly disgusting!

Immediately, they headed for the second hideout in City X that Xiao Yu had deduced.

The same formula, the same scent—the hideout was found.

But when this hideout was opened,

the two-lived Xiao Yu was left utterly dumbfounded!

What kind of scene could leave him so stunned?

Xiao Yu saw a palace!

It was indeed a palace.

Inside, everything shimmered with resplendence, entirely crafted from gold.

Countless gold and silver artifacts accompanied a Dragon Throne and a set of Imperial Battle Armor.

However, this gold-made battle armor didn’t match traditional styles.

Instead, it resembled the samurai armor of a foreign design.

The golden glove of the armor even held an unassuming, ancient samurai sword!

Coming back to himself, Xiao Yu frowned.

Were those foreign powers and Wu Hanran really after this place?

Strolling through the small palace,

Xiao Yu scanned every detail inside.

There was nothing particularly noteworthy.

Gold and silver artifacts, when elevated to a national level, are nothing more than trash.

Is it really worth exposing our intelligence over mere junk?

The answer was clear… it wasn’t!

Something didn’t feel right.

Xiao Yu activated Falcon’s Eye and meticulously examined every item in the hideout.

Finally…

His gaze settled on the samurai armor and that unassuming ancient sword.

Could it be that sword?

Why this sword?

Because everything else was overly extravagant, this sword was the least conspicuous.

Yet, there it lay in the hand that symbolized imperial battle armor.

Wasn’t that odd?

Bending down, Xiao Yu fixed his gaze on the sword.

At first glance, it appeared to be an antique.

On a second look, something was off.

On a third glance…

Xiao Yu exclaimed in astonishment, “Yu God Sword?!”

What exactly is the Yu God Sword?

Such a sword is typically enshrined in a shrine by a certain country.

Since it’s not usually used in battle, many lack a hand guard.

It wouldn’t be wielded by that country!

Donning gloves, Xiao Yu removed the sword from the golden glove.

The sword measured about forty centimeters in length.

When drawn, its blade shone like a mirror.

Engraved on either side of the blade were patterns of plum blossoms and bamboo.

When he looked at the base of the blade,

Xiao Yu was completely stunned.

He noticed a pattern.

A sunflower motif—a three‑leaf sunflower!

Regaining his composure, Xiao Yu shouted, “Sister Shen, Brother Zhou, I think I’ve found something significant!”

“Huh?”

Shen Mei and Zhou Lie, who were investigating the hideout, joined him with puzzled expressions.

Upon seeing the sword in Xiao Yu’s hand,

they exchanged glances.

“That’s it?”

Xiao Yu’s expression turned bizarre as he declared, “Artifact!”

Zhou Lie: ……

Shen Mei: ……

Their glances toward the little guy shifted once again.

It was as if they were staring at a soulless creature.

The consequences of having no soul are twofold:

Either you’re a simpleton or practically a vegetable!

……

PS: Seven alarms. Little brother is at fault. I got up too late today—if you readers want to scold me, go ahead!