Chapter 21

Su Ci didn’t dare to respond.

Damn, she didn’t even know how the conversation had veered into such an awkward and sensitive topic.

She didn’t dare to answer, but she couldn’t stay silent either. Finally, she forced herself to say in a small, flattering voice, “How could that be? Brother Yang is the most outstanding man I’ve ever met.” Unfortunately, he’s just not suitable for me.

Yang Yanzong didn’t say a word. In the darkness, she felt his gaze on her for a long time. Just as Su Ci’s ingratiating smile was about to falter, she heard him snort through his nose and continue walking. At least she managed to muddle through this awkward topic. Of course, Su Ci didn’t know more would come.

After traveling together and that rescue, they were much more familiar with each other than before. Now, Su Ci felt more at ease speaking and interacting with him. Of course, she couldn’t talk much now because Yang Yanzong was moving too fast. This man could see in the dark and navigate uneven terrain as if it were flat ground. Several times, she almost bumped her nose during sharp turns. Yang Yanzong urged, “Hurry up.”

If someone else got it, this trip would be in vain, and the consequences would be dire for him and their side.

Su Ci knew he was talking about the ledger. She thought it was unlikely but then realized that with such strong winds, there must be more than one exposed entrance.

Thinking this, she became anxious, too. “Yes, let’s go faster!”

They couldn’t fail now that they were so close!

They sped up even more. Ahead, the mine tunnel forked. Yang Yanzong squinted at it for a long time before choosing the upward path.

Su Ci didn’t know how he made his choice. It didn’t seem like he was going by instinct. This man had a wide range of knowledge – a military officer who had risen through the ranks by the sword, yet he even knew about mine structures. Indeed, he was remarkable.

After walking for a long stretch, sometimes going down and sometimes up, and possibly taking seven or eight big turns, Su Ci felt that the mine tunnel underfoot seemed to become wider and flatter. In some places, there were even tracks, with carts full of large chunks of ore. She squeezed past the mine carts with Yang Yanzong.

Su Ci felt that she should be near the belly or the edge of the mountain because she saw a crack—whether the previous explosion caused it or was already there, she didn’t know. It was noon outside, and a sliver of daylight shone through the winding, narrow crack, finally allowing Su Ci to see some things.

The mine carts were pitch black, piled high with various sizes of ore, and the characteristic silver sheen of silver ore was very obvious in the daylight.

They were huge! There were so many!

After years of friction, even the mine tunnel and the mine carts had a unique silvery metallic sheen — This was a rich mine with a very high silver content, a big mine. Having one would make you rich, and Liu Ying might have more than one!

Su Ci considered herself never short of money but couldn’t help swallowing at the sight, her heart racing. She suddenly understood Liu Ying’s brothers very well. The saying “people die for wealth, birds die for food” was no joke.

The crack above her head twisted forward, wider than before, extending ahead and seemingly splitting into two. Su Ci and Yang Yanzong silently moved along the mine carts. She peeked in the direction of the crack and saw what seemed to be a hall ahead. But just at that glance, she caught a glimpse of a shadow darting across the end of the mine tunnel, followed by another.

Su Ci’s heart tightened. Before she could turn her head to see clearly, her wrist tightened, and Yang Yanzong pulled her, quickly flipping her behind the mine cart.

There were people. Su Ci’s heart pounded wildly, and she held her breath, not daring to blink. In the extremely quiet and echoing mine tunnel, once it was silent, she could even hear footsteps. The sound was very faint, with a slight rush and the rapid fluttering of clothes in the wind.

Yang Yanzong placed his hand on the back of her head, pressing her face against his chest. Su Ci understood very well that if she could hear others so clearly, they could easily hear her breathing, too. She quickly covered her mouth and nose with her hand.

Without Yang Yanzong pressing, she buried her face deeply in his chest, trying to breathe as lightly and slowly as possible. Their bodies were tightly pressed together, squeezed in the narrow space between the mine cart and the tunnel wall.

Yang Yanzong slightly turned his body, his sharp eyes like a hawk’s, staring at the opposite side.

There were two groups of people, he judged. One group was Ji Yuanhao’s men, and the other was the emperor’s. These two groups seemed to have entered even earlier than they did and had already confronted each other.
Now, the situation has reached the most critical moment.

He squinted slightly, his expression stern. Su Ci placed her hand on Yang Yanzong’s waist to minimize her size. She felt something hard in the inner pocket on the left side of his narrow waist and couldn’t help but grasp it.

Yang Yanzong reached into his chest and took out the item. It was the bronze token they had obtained from Feng Shang. He rubbed it for a moment. Both Yang Yanzong and Su Ci were smart. After being in this mine tunnel for so long, they both suspected that this token was likely the key to opening some box or secret door to retrieve the ledger. Ji Yuanhao had captured Feng Shang. With his skills, he must have already extracted all the details about the ledger’s location and how to access it. And this key might not only be in Feng Shang’s possession. After all, the Liu Ying brothers had been captured before. But no matter what, now it was undoubtedly a race against time. Time was tight, and they only had one key as a bargaining chip. They had to follow!

With this thought, the two groups of people had already swiftly passed through the hall and rushed up a mine tunnel on the left.

Yang Yanzong immediately darted out. Su Ci took a quick breath, almost suffocating.

Yang Yanzong didn’t stop, his toes tapping as he darted towards the left mine tunnel, but his clothes were pulled. He turned back, and Su Ci lightly bit her lip, looking at him nervously.

Please, don’t leave her here alone, big brother!

But she also knew she couldn’t perform light body techniques or internal martial arts, so she couldn’t keep up in this situation.

Su Ci looked at him nervously. They stared at each other for a moment, and Yang Yanzong bent down, “Get on!”

Su Ci sighed in relief, quickly climbed onto his back, and tightly covered her mouth and nose with a handkerchief, not forgetting to flatter him in a small voice, “Brother Yang, you’re the best.” Truly a man who does great things, very magnanimous.

Nonsense.

Her tension vanished instantly, her tone light and quick, with an indescribable joy in her clear voice. As Yang Yanzong stood up, she automatically and tightly clamped her legs around his waist, her hands firmly around his neck, clinging to him like a sloth on a tree.

And now he was Brother Yang again, not the eldest young master. He would be driven mad by her sooner or later!

Yang Yanzong snorted through his nose, lifted her legs, took a breath, and swiftly darted forward. The wind whistled, and the speed was incredible. They didn’t hit any obstacles in the pitch-black darkness. This internal energy thing was truly amazing!

Su Ci was envious, but unfortunately, she was too old to practice it. No matter how much she admired it, it was useless.

Su Ci clung tightly to Yang Yanzong’s shoulder, her eyes wide open, staring ahead. After running for a while, they heard the sounds of fighting, and the two immediately stopped.

They stood still, listening intently. After a short while, Yang Yanzong smiled slightly, silently turned around, and led Su Ci back. The people ahead were baiting them, but he wouldn’t fall for it.

Su Ci didn’t dare to speak until they had left a long distance, and Yang Yanzong let her down and spoke first.

Yang Yanzong rubbed the key for a moment, “This key, there is probably only one.”

At least, neither of the two groups in the mine tunnel had it.

Su Ci, being very clever, immediately understood, “You mean that was bait to lure us out?!”

The fighting just now sounded very intense, with constant sounds of weapons hitting flesh, groans of pain, and people falling. Su Ci didn’t know how Yang Yanzong figured it out, but if he said so, it must be true.
“The place where the ledger is hidden must be nearby.”

Yang Yanzong’s voice was calm, and sternness flashed in his eyes. After speaking, he nodded his chin, signaling Su Ci to get on.

The second time was easier than the first. Su Ci quickly jumped up and adjusted her position in two or three moves. Yang Yanzong glanced at her, took a breath, and swiftly darted forward.

Yang Yanzong’s judgment was spot on. After about half an hour, they found a large hall. With the light filtering through the cracks, Su Ci could see it was very flat and clean inside, with no scattered ore debris or tracks. The ore didn’t come in and out through here. It was huge, likely a natural cave that had been converted. There were stalactites and stalagmites, various oddly shaped natural rocks, and even an artificial stone arch bridge. Below, there was the sound of rushing water and, at the end, the dripping sound of underground water. This seemed to be a hall used for offices or meetings, with long stone tables and chairs inside. Many lamps hung from the ceiling, but none were lit. People holding knives were silently hiding in the shadows of the stone pillars, one diagonally ahead and another on the left.

Yang Yanzong noticed them as soon as he arrived. He glanced at those two positions and smiled faintly. They had found the place. The hall was very windy, with passageways leading in all directions. From Su Ci’s angle, she could see seven or eight branches. Yang Yanzong squinted, his gaze finally settling on the triangular position where the two people were mutually supporting each other—behind the main seat of the long stone table on the stone wall. He withdrew his gaze, wrapped his arm around Su Ci’s waist, and silently left.

This place was too close to the bait point. Any movement here would be heard below, and the positions of the two people were too cleverly placed to be taken out in one strike. They had to lure away the people below first to get the ledger.

Su Ci whispered, “What’s wrong? Is there an ambush?”

Yang Yanzong said a few words calmly, and Su Ci suddenly understood. Then, her eyes turned, and her gaze fell on Yang Yanzong’s belt.

Yes, specifically the bronze buckle on his belt.

Yang Yanzong’s belt buckle was simple, clearly just a buckle, but she remembered that other people’s buckles were not so.

Su Ci glanced at his belt buckle, and Yang Yanzong also lowered his eyes to touch it. They looked up at each other in tacit understanding, and Yang Yanzong said, “Let’s go out.”

Without another word, he picked up Su Ci and quickly turned around. The mine tunnel had many twists and turns, and they had already forgotten the original path. But after circling around, Yang Yanzong quickly found the direction and exited from the original entrance. They headed straight to the other side of the mountain. At the explosion site on the mountainside, the people were gone. After identifying the remaining signals, they found that some people had retreated, while others had gone down the mountain in the direction where Yang Yanzong had disappeared. Liu Ying was also gone, likely taken by the former group.

Yang Yanzong immediately went down the mountain. Soon, they found A Kang, along with two young men named A Sheng and A Jiu. Only the three were uninjured, while the others had difficulty moving. They split into two groups, with the latter taking Liu Ying and retreating first, while the three of them quickly headed in the direction where Yang Yanzong and Su Ci had disappeared.

Su Ci went to look for Yang Yanzong, but he was nowhere to be found. To make matters worse, the three were anxiously searching among the rubble.

Yang Yanzong whistled, and the three of them were overjoyed to hear it. They quickly turned around and rushed over, quickly reporting the situation on the slope. Yang Yanzong nodded and then briefly explained the situation inside the mine. As soon as Su Ci saw them, her eyes immediately fell on A Kang’s belt buckle.

It was a bronze belt buckle with a dark luster, about half the size of a palm, and a double bat pattern. To be honest, even if the belt’s ears were knocked off and smoothed out, this thing looked very different from the key in terms of both pattern and style, and the size didn’t match either. But what did that matter? After all, those two groups hadn’t seen the exact appearance of the key.

After quickly dealing with the belt buckle, Yang Yanzong gave a few concise instructions, and A Kang and the other two solemnly accepted the orders. Then, with two in front and three behind, they quietly returned to the mine.
…

The same trick had been played twenty or thirty times already. The initially confident Chief Zhu Lianming was gradually becoming a bit impatient. He took a breath, restrained himself, and after carefully inspecting the powder at the entrances of the left and right mine tunnels and the situation in the hall above, he returned and gave Ji Yuanhao a cold glance: “Kid, don’t try to play tricks on me!”

Ji Yuanhao’s men had suffered quite a few casualties in the collapse, leaving only seven people, including some seriously injured. The imperial court’s people arrived a step later but fortunately missed the explosion, arriving intact. They rushed over and immediately confronted Ji Yuanhao, drawing their swords to surround him.

Ji Yuanhao didn’t waste any words and immediately expressed his desire to defect to the court and atone for his crimes. Zhu Lianming knew that Ji Yuanhao’s defection might not be sincere, but he urgently needed the information about the mine that the Fourth Prince’s Mansion had. So, he accepted Ji Yuanhao’s surrender.

Ji Yuanhao was skilled in strategy and then proposed a plan to capture Yang Yanzong and the key he held.

Zhu Lianming considered it and agreed. Initially, they were confident, but after so long, if Yang Yanzong was still alive, he should have found an entrance to the mine by now, right?

Zhu Lianming cast a questioning glance at Ji Yuanhao.

Leaning against the stone wall, Ji Yuanhao smiled slightly, “I have no reason to deceive the general, and the general has his own judgment.”
A sliver of light from a crack fell on him, highlighting his deep purple brocade robe stained with dust and blood. His hair crown was slightly disheveled, but his demeanor remained composed and noble. He showed no sign of distress, instead exuding a casual and unrestrained calmness.

Zhu Lianming snorted coldly, “It better be so!” He pondered carefully; the plan was indeed good. If Ji Yuanhao were to play tricks, it would only be when Yang Yanzong appeared to seize the key. There was no point in causing trouble now.

Zhu Lianming raised his chin, signaling his men to be ready: “Be careful. Let’s do it again.”

Just as the pursuit resumed, and they were chasing around the hall, entering a “combat state,” Zhu Lianming’s sharp ears caught the sound of small stones being stepped on amidst the clashing of weapons. At each mine entrance, besides powder, small stones were scattered. If someone approached, unless they didn’t inspect closely, they would surely be detected. Zhu Lianming and his trusted lookout at the mine entrance heard the sound and exchanged glances.

Zhu Lianming was overjoyed and rushed out like a whirlwind, “Who goes there?!”

Ji Yuanhao squinted his eyes and suddenly stood up, his figure shooting out like lightning. Almost simultaneously, everyone except those originally designated to hold the line to prevent a collapse rushed forward.

Three figures flashed in the mine tunnel, quickly turning and running. Zhu Lianming immediately shouted, “Where do you think you’re going?!” He raised his sleeve, and throwing stars shot out swiftly. An intense battle immediately ensued, and the three suddenly exposed were undoubtedly at a disadvantage. Fortunately, the mine tunnel was narrow, and the leader shouted in a low, slightly hoarse voice with a natural coldness, “Retreat to the left!”

Hearing this voice, Zhu Lianming and Ji Yuanhao were invigorated.

Zhu Lianming waved his hand and shouted, “Kill without mercy!!”

Ji Yuanhao had already launched a fierce attack. Zhu Lianming was also a top-notch expert. He coldly glanced at Ji Yuanhao but didn’t speak for the moment. The two joined forces and instantly forced Yang Yanzong back several steps. Zhu Lianming focused on Yang Yanzong’s waist and inner pocket, attacking several times in succession. On the last attempt, he finally succeeded.

Yang Yanzong’s chest and abdomen contracted, and Zhu Lianming shouted, his figure leaping up. Yang Yanzong was a fraction of a second too slow, and with a “ding——” sound, the sword tip finally touched a bronze object.

Under the combined efforts of Zhu Lianming and Ji Yuanhao, they finally managed to knock the bronze token into the air. The dark bronze token flew high, and Yang Yanzong, furious, took a deep breath. The three people opposite him simultaneously leaped to grab it.

Unfortunately, Zhu Lianming and Ji Yuanhao’s men were focused on this moment and launched indiscriminate attacks on the opponents.

Yang Yanzong’s side bore the brunt of the attacks. To persist in retrieving the token would likely result in serious injuries, forcing him to retreat. However, in the fierce struggle between Zhu Lianming and Ji Yuanhao, neither managed to catch the token. It was forcefully flung towards the end of the mine tunnel. Yang Yanzong and his two companions were overjoyed, immediately turning and rushing forward, grabbing the token and swiftly escaping!

“Chase! Quickly chase!!!” Zhu Lianming shouted, and forty to fifty people on both sides split into several groups and quickly pursued.

The shouts and sounds of the chase quickly faded away, and everyone disappeared. At the other end of the contested site, at the end of one of the mine tunnels, Su Ci and the real Yang Yanzong exchanged a glance, success!

Su Ci’s eyes curved with joy, almost overflowing from her brows and lips, and Yang Yanzong finally gave a faint smile.

Su Ci pointed towards the hall, mouthing: Shall we go?

Directed by Yang Yanzong and Su Ci, A Kang and the other two gave a stellar performance and successfully lured away most of the people.

There were still a few lookouts, but Yang Yanzong silently dealt with them. After that, they headed straight to the hall and dealt with the ambushers hiding behind the stone pillars.

Great, finally!

Yang Yanzong took out the key, and Su Ci lit the fire stick. She squatted down and fumbled several times around the dark stone wall behind the main seat. It didn’t take long for her to find the slot for the key.

She turned and took the key from Yang Yanzong’s hand, paused, and carefully placed it in the slot. There was no reaction. She pressed it and immediately heard a clear “click” sound.

“There’s a reaction!” Su Ci whispered and tried to turn it left and right gently. With a slight “creak” sound, a stone slab about a foot long and wide rose from the base of the wall. Su Ci looked down and saw a box lying quietly inside.

Finally, it’s done!

Su Ci was overjoyed and was about to reach for it, but as soon as she moved, she felt Yang Yanzong suddenly pause. Her heart skipped a beat. What’s wrong?

Yang Yanzong had already stood up and turned around.

Su Ci quickly turned her head and saw a figure stepping out from the dark passageway at the end of the hall, directly facing the long table. In the faint light from the cracks, the figure was tall and slender, wearing a blood-stained, deep purple robe. His eyebrows were distinct, his face noble, and his long fingers gently touched the sword at his waist, moving with the elegance of playing zither. A slight smile played on his lips as he glanced at Su Ci and the hidden compartment behind her, his smile deepening. His gaze then shifted to Yang Yanzong. Although he was smiling, a tense atmosphere suddenly arose between the two, like a storm about to break. In the vast underground stone hall, you could hear a pin drop!

It was Ji Yuanhao. He and Yang Yanzong had been deceiving and luring each other, tracking and intimidating each other, using their own methods, but in the end, neither had fooled the other.

Ji Yuanhao only had a few men. After shaking off Zhu Lianming, he immediately returned to the hall. Just as he had expected!