AQR1: A Peerless Genius from Two Cities [COMPLETED]

9: Hidden Treasures

One month later...

Emy and Franco continued their Level Three in Ming Academy. Tatlong linggo na rin magmula ng magresume ulit ang klase and they only have two more months para sa pinakahuling pagsusulit ng taon.

Most of the students are busy now sa pag-aaral. Emy, on the other hand, met with Liu Fu and Choi Kang to plan their next mountain trip.

Sa totoo lang, ayaw ng sumama ni Choi Kang. But Emy tempted him with an offer na hindi niya kayang tanggihan. She gave Liu Fu and him free armors and promised to give the rest of it once they finished doing what she wants them to do.

It was really not a bad offer. In fact, nasibukan na nila Liu Fu at Choi Kang ang tibay ng armor ni Emy. It was high class and one of a kind.

They don't know where she got them but surely, because of it, they are willing to do any favor from her.

"Let's go over the mountain next weekend. You've got to be early though. You need to get a package for me from Master Lino. Alam niyo naman siguro kung saan yon."

They knew where it is, of course. Pero hindi nila inaasahan na papapuntahin sila nito doon.

"Lia, my maidservant, will meet you there. Ako naman ay didiretso na sa may bukana ng bundok at doon maghihintay sa inyo."

"And we have to go to the mountain for ten consecutive days, right?" Verify ni Liu Fu. Hindi kasi talaga niya maisip kung anong ipapagawa sa kanila doon ng dalaga.

"Yes." Emy tilted her head saka siya nginitian. "Don't get too excited, Liu Fu. You'll know your task once we get there. I have to warn you though. Don't bring anything that might cause explosions."

***

And that's exactly what had happened when that day comes.

Liu Fu and Choi Kang both went to Master Lino and took some package for Emy. Hindi na nagtanong ang matanda. He immediately gave them the package without asking at saka sila umalis na. Emy's maidservant followed them.

Pagdating nila sa may bukana ay naroroon na si Emy. Gaya noong una ay nakapanlalaki na naman siya na damit. Actually, even her maidservant was also wearing one.

Agad nilang tinahak ang bundok and faster than the last trip they had, they reached the place na sinabi noon ni Emy na babalikan nila.

To Liu Fu's and Choi Kang's surprise, they saw digging tools nearby. Mukhang handang handa ang dalaga.

"I had my maidservants bring those tools day by day. Going up is already an effort, I don't want you to waste too much energy. Our task here is not going up but this."

Saka niya itinuro ang pinaglalagusan ng tubig.

Liu Fu and Choi Kang didn't have to hear from her na kailangan nilang maghukay. Both of them immediately took a shovel. And to their surprise, ganun din sila Emy at ang maidservant.

Agad na nilapitan ni Liu Fu si Emy at kinuha ang pala mula sa kamay nito.

"Kaya na namin ito ni Choi Kang. You don't have to help pati ang maidservant mo."

Emy looked at him for a moment. At nang makita niyang seryoso ang binata, she let go of the shovel.

"Then, I will be walking around with Lia."

"Don't go too far." Paalala naman ni Choi Kang.

***

Araw araw ay naging ganoon ang sistema nila. Aakyatin nila ang bundok at saka maghuhukay ang dalawa. Si Emy naman ay mag-uumpisa ng mag-ikot upang tumingin ng mga naroroon sa gubat na maaari niyang mapakinabangan.

Everyday, she discovered wonders at kung kaya niyang makakuha ng marami nun ay gagawin niya. Some plants she got are good as herbal medicines. There are also some chunks of stones na ginamitan pa niya ng martilyong pangmina para lang makuha.

Emy took a lot and various things from that forest that she can experiment with.

On their seventh day there, Liu Fu and Choi Kang finally finished the digging. It was earlier than Emy had expected. But she wasted no effort at siya na mismo ang nag-install nung special na tubo na pinagawa niya kay Master Lino. It needs to be connected with one another first bago niya mailagay.

Pero dahil prototype niya ang pinagbatayan ng device na iyon, it was an effortless for her to assemble it.

"What is that?" Liu Fu asked curiously.

"Just wait 'til I finished it."

And that's what he did.

Nang matapos ni Emy iyon ay tinulungan nila siya na ilagay iyon doon sa butas na hinukay nila. It fits the whole perfectly.

Emy did something at maya maya lang ay may likido na ang umabot hanggang sa bunganga noong tubo. Liu Fu immediately recognized it.

"Is that black liquid?" Manghang tanong ni Liu Fu.

Emy smiled.

"Black liquid? Do you mean the one na ginagamit nila sa mga lampara at torch?" Tanong naman ni Choi Kang.

"Yes. And it's a lot of them." Emy said. "Deep below is that black liquid. Dahil may daanan din ng tubig sa ibabaw nito, it was mixing with the black liquid kaya naman yung stream na pinagkukunan niyo ng tubig ay kayang magfuel ng apoy.

"But by using this pipeline, we can separate the two and maximize the use of pure black liquid."

Both lad were speechless. Black liquid is still being exported from Grey to Ming kaya naman mahal nila iyong nabibili. But with this source, siguradong makakamura na sila.

"What do you plan to do with it?" Tanong ni Choi Kang.

"This is for Ming Province. Hindi naman ako permanenteng naririto kaya alangang ariin ko ito? I've just tried one of my experiments and luckily, it turned out fine.

"As of now, I want the two of you to sell this to the people of Ming sa mas mababang presyo kesa sa exported galing sa Grey. Yung kikitain niyo ay paghahatian nating tatlo.

"Bukod pa syempre yung mga pangako kong set ng armor para sa inyo."

"That's too much." Liu Fu said.

"Yes. It is. Yung kikitain nito ay paniguradong sobra sobra para sa atin. How about telling it to the Chief?"

"Temporary lang nating pagkakakitaan ito. I plan to donate this to the Ming Province when the day comes. Pero hanggang hindi pa nadating ang araw na iyon, let's use the black liquid for our personal use."

They both trusted Emy's word. After all, hindi naman siya mukhang yung tipo ng tao na bumabali sa pangako niya.

***