Free Web NovelChapter 784: Chapter 789: After Waiting So Long, Don’t Disappoint Me
Chen Mo hurriedly bent over with a smile and approached: "Eh? Gentlemen, what brings you here?"
Five official soldiers scrutinized Chen Mo carefully. Then, an older soldier said righteously, "An hour ago, a thief resisted arrest and killed many of our men. This is a routine inspection. Have you been home the whole time? Is there anyone else here? Have you seen any suspicious figures?"
"Ah? Who would be so bold, daring even to kill official soldiers, they must have eaten a bear’s heart and a leopard’s guts." Chen Mo spoke while carefully pulling on his outer robe, reaching into his sleeve, pulling out the lease written by the landlord, and throwing it to the soldiers, adding, "Gentlemen, we just moved in a few days ago. There are my wife and two elders, but they went out shopping, so it’s just me at home, and I haven’t seen anyone suspicious."
The soldiers looked at Chen Mo, noticing his pale face and timid appearance, determining that he didn’t seem like someone who would harbor criminals. One of them took the lease, checked it, and after confirming it was a normal residence, said, "Apologies, just standard procedure."
Then he waved his hand, "Search."
Leaving one to watch Chen Mo, the other four soldiers split up and began searching the house.
Soon, a soldier found broken silver inside a wardrobe.
They were bullying the weak.
Seeing that Chen Mo was a tenant and wasn’t renting any luxury estate, coupled with his timid demeanor, they presumed he had no connections and directly took all the broken silver from the wardrobe.
After leaving the house, they shook their heads at the soldier watching Chen Mo and stealthily gestured to him.
The soldier watching Chen Mo immediately understood, glanced around the yard, and said, "Is there a cellar in this yard?"
"We just moved in and aren’t sure. There should be, right? Let me look for you, sir."
Saying this, Chen Mo genuinely started searching in front of them.
Fearing that Chen Mo would notice the missing silver from the wardrobe, the soldier who took the silver quickly said, "Boss, I looked carefully just now; there’s no cellar. Let’s go, we still have to visit the next house."
The other soldier raised his hand, "Yeah, boss, let’s go."
The leading soldier took a couple more serious glances, and after confirming there was nothing unusual, waved his large hand, "Let’s go."
This sort of city-wide search was a thankless task that easily offended the nobility, so they didn’t hope to be too diligent. Having acquired some ’benefits’ here, they naturally didn’t want to linger.
After leaving, they even closed the courtyard door.
But with Chen Mo’s perception, he realized they hadn’t gone far, so he went inside the house, then pretended to shout after a moment, "My silver..."
Then he quickly ran outside.
Outside, hearing the commotion from within, one soldier whispered, "Let’s go, he noticed."
...
"Heavens curse them." After leaving the courtyard and seeing no one in sight, Chen Mo shouted a few more times, beating his chest and stamping his feet.
After waiting for half an hour, Chen Mo closed the courtyard door, sighed in relief, then moved the large stone covering the cellar, and lifted the wooden board from the cellar entrance, "Miss Lin, come out quickly, they’re gone."
Lin Xuelan and the others emerged from the cellar one by one. The cellar in this house was cramped and sultry, and in just a short while, the three women were already drenched in sweat.
Especially Lin Xuelan, with her fair skin, red and radiant, her forehead beaded with sweat, her clothes soaked a little, tainted by the cellar’s soil, she now resembled a tormented pure maiden.
Yuzhu appeared even more fiery.
"Thank you, Young Master Mo, you’ve saved our lives again." Lin Xuelan bit her red lips, looking at Chen Mo, thinking this kindness might never be repayable.
Shuang’Er showed a guilty expression, "It’s my fault for dragging you into this. I’ll leave now. Don’t worry, even if I’m captured, I won’t give you away."
Shuang’Er indeed felt guilty, thinking it was all due to her.
But as she took a step, she collapsed to the ground, fainting.
Her injuries weren’t healed, needing careful treatment and rest, but the recent exertion must have reopened her wounds.
Chen Mo sighed, "Miss Lin, Miss Yuzhu, help me take her inside, please."
...
Elsewhere.
The city-wide search by the soldiers had aroused public anger.
The likes of those dirty-handed soldiers Chen Mo encountered were not few.
Even worse, not only did they take the civilians’ silver, but seeing a pretty housewife, they’d even take advantage, causing wails among the population, even involving some nobility.
Petitions were sent to the residence of the Third Prince.
Though the Third Prince used his power to suppress them all, the fruitless searches couldn’t continue indefinitely. Xingyin realized that extending the search would yield no results.
Unless the entire Capital City was turned upside down, but that would only increase civilian complaints, detrimental to his rule, so another strategy was needed.
At this moment, the housekeeper He proposed using Lin Kong, who was in prison, to lure the person out.
Xingyin found it feasible and instructed Housekeeper He to proceed.
...
In a valley twenty miles outside Capital City.
Though referred to as a valley, the vegetation here wasn’t dense; instead, patches of sand without cover could be seen. ƒгeewebnovёl.com
Surrounding it lay scattered bones, distinguishable between human and various animals.
This place was far from the main road, devoid of human presence.
But as dusk fell, a shadow appeared within the valley.
He reached a somewhat sunken sandy area, pressed a spot, and with the sound of mechanisms, a half-meter opening appeared before him.
He glanced into the pitch-black opening where a hissing sound emanated, exuding an air of terror and seriousness.
He took out a flint, sparked a faint light, and headed towards the opening, a staircase leading downwards appeared. As he stepped onto the stairs, the mechanism activated, the hole above closed, and lights lit up along both sides, brightening the interior.
Despite this not being his first visit, he was still somewhat horrified and nervous.
The walls were crawling with venomous spiders, ants, and other poisonous insects.
Each step on the staircase was littered with venomous snakes.
Some snakes reared up, flicking their tongues toward him.
If it was someone’s first time here, the sight might frighten them to death.
Fortunately, these creatures recognized him and did not attack. After a moment, they cleared a path.
He breathed a sigh of relief and continued downward.
After descending, he entered an underground palace.
Every corner was lit by everlasting lamps, scattered bones served as habitats for various poisonous creatures. A snake emerged from a skull, nearly startling him.
In the palace’s depths, there was a pool, half filled with blood, the other half with flowing mercury, the two strangely not mixing despite lacking a barrier. In the center, on their convergence, sat a naked middle-aged man with extremely pale skin, eyes closed.
As the shadow approached, the middle-aged man slightly opened his eyes.
"High Priest, someone left a new mark at the tavern, signaling a desire to purchase Immortal Powder," the shadow rasped.
"Oh?" The middle-aged man expressed surprise, knowing he hadn’t engaged in external trade for some time, and acquaintances in the Western Regions should be aware. He then asked, "Where’s the mark from?"
"The Great Song Dynasty."
"Great Song? The Liang Family..." The middle-aged man immediately thought of something, pondered for a moment, then said, "Proceed with a normal transaction."
"Understood."
The shadow said and then withdrew.
Once the shadow left, the middle-aged man rose from the pool, muttering to himself, "Great Song? After so long, don’t let me be disappointed..."
