C10 A Black Treasure

After stepping out of the store, Huang Feng made a beeline for home, now certain that the shoes he had weren't from that shop. He had his suspicions earlier, and the confirmation from the shop assistant only solidified his belief.

What's more, Huang Feng had noticed something peculiar: the line of text on the shoes was visible only to him. The salesperson couldn't see it, which likely meant that it was invisible to others as well.

The theory that the shoes had been switched with a counterfeit seemed increasingly improbable. Firstly, it would be foolish for anyone to swap a quality item for a knockoff. Secondly, since purchasing the leather shoes the day before, they hadn't left his sight except when he was asleep, eliminating any opportunity for a switch.

The shoes had undeniably altered in appearance. Whether the change had occurred on the original pair or they had been swapped out entirely, the transformation had taken place. Considering the timing, it must have happened while he was asleep, as that was the only time he wasn't watching them. He had stored them in a storage box during the night, pinpointing when the change must have occurred.

Back at his rental, Huang Feng promptly retrieved the storage box from the corner. It contained several books he had picked up from Jiang Prefecture University—just a collection of odds and ends. The chubby student who had left them in the box hadn't cared much for their value, so they ended up with Huang Feng, along with a few magazines he had bought himself.

Besides the books, Huang Feng had also placed some freshly laundered clothes and a few hangers in the box. He hadn't had the chance to organize his belongings yet.

Methodically, Huang Feng began removing the items one by one. The clothes were just as he had left them, devoid of any mysterious text, and the books were equally unremarkable.

Despite his reluctance to concede, a second inspection yielded no surprises.

"Could I have been wrong? Is the storage box really not involved?" Huang Feng mused, a tinge of disappointment in his thoughts. He had been so thrilled at the prospect of stumbling upon the kind of enchantment found in novels. But it seemed he might have let his imagination get the better of him.

Huang Feng returned the items to the storage box with a tinge of disappointment before washing up and lying down on his bed. He had no desire to play with his phone; his thoughts were still consumed by the shoes.

He was now convinced that these shoes were no ordinary pair; they were incredibly powerful, significantly boosting his running speed along with possessing numerous other features.

Yet, this remarkable pair of shoes couldn't alter his current life. Compete in them? Even if he were eligible, wearing these shoes in a race would surely raise suspicions. While it's unlikely anyone could prove anything, it would undoubtedly be a hassle for him.

What Huang Feng was most eager to uncover was what had transformed his ordinary knockoff leather shoes into these extraordinary ones. Only by understanding the cause could he plan his next steps.

He had entertained the notion that the storage box might be the key, given his fondness for novels since his university days at Jiang Prefecture University, and his continued occasional reading had strengthened his receptiveness to the bizarre. His shoes had been stored in that box right up until he wore them, fueling his suspicions.

But upon inspection, everything else in the box remained unchanged, which left him feeling deflated.

"It's so frustrating. What exactly is happening? This isn't the kind of thing you can easily consult others about," Huang Feng mused with irritation. Had the shoes not changed, he wouldn't have given it a second thought. But now, faced with the possibility of something that could shift his current circumstances, even his future life, how could he not be concerned?

Regardless of his concern, it seemed futile; he couldn't pinpoint the source of the transformation.

As Huang Feng lay on his bed, wrestling with the mystery, the storage box in the corner emitted a faint glow once more. The light was so subtle that without close inspection, it was nearly imperceptible.

Meanwhile, in the world of "The Deer and the Cauldron," the young Emperor Kangxi had cunningly laid a trap to capture Oboi, with Suo Tu and Wei Xiaobao carrying out his orders to raid Oboi's residence.

"Lord Suo, Eunuch Gui, a hidden treasure trove has been discovered in Oboi's bedroom," reported a soldier, just as Suo E'tu was ingratiating himself with Wei Xiaobao by offering him a share of the loot.

"Let's check it out."

"Wow, can there really be this many treasures?"

Upon entering Oboi's treasure vault, Suo E'tu and Wei Xiaobao were instantly captivated by the wealth within. They sprawled across the mountain of treasures, eagerly picking through the hoard.

"Wow, what's this? It's so heavy." Wei Xiaobao stumbled upon a dagger in the vault. Finding it too cumbersome, he tossed it aside, only to watch in astonishment as it flew through the air and impaled a nearby table, piercing it clean through.

"There's something odd about this dagger." The two men exchanged a glance, then tested its edge against a soldier's blade, finding it sliced through the metal effortlessly.

"Duke Gui, congratulations on acquiring a dagger that slices through iron as if it were mud," Suo E'tu said, buttering him up.

Wei Xiaobao, grinning, gladly accepted the formidable weapon.

"What's this? But surely, if it's kept here, it must be valuable." Suo E'tu's attention was drawn to a nondescript black vest amidst the treasures.

"Eunuch Gui, care to try it on?" he suggested, handing the vest to Wei Xiaobao.

"Why not?" Wei Xiaobao agreed without hesitation.

"It's surprisingly comfortable." He was quite pleased with the fit.

The looting spree went on, and they uncovered many more treasures. By the time they finished, both Wei Xiaobao and Suo E'tu had helped themselves to a significant haul.

Back at the palace, Wei Xiaobao didn't rush to see the Emperor. Instead, he went to his quarters to stash away some of the treasures, including the unassuming black vest.

"What exactly is this thing? It's quite unsightly, but if it was stored in the vault, it must be valuable. I'll test it with the dagger," Wei Xiaobao mused.

Yet, the dagger that had effortlessly cleaved through iron left not a single mark on the vest. Despite exerting his full strength, Wei Xiaobao couldn't inflict the slightest damage, not even a scratch.

"This is truly a treasure. No, I must keep it on me at all times for safekeeping," Wei Xiaobao exclaimed with delight.

Yet, before he had the chance to don it, a knock at the door interrupted him.