CMWKSD -Chapter 203 Sifeng Pass

The sky, freshly washed by the heavy rain, seemed even clearer and brighter than before.

Jiu Yue sat astride her tall horse, riding at the very front, leading the way.

Yet anyone who caught sight of her back couldn’t help but feel something inexplicable—

The Commandery Princess was in a very good mood. Her high ponytail swayed back and forth, practically dancing in the air.

Jiu Yue was happy, and those following behind her were happy as well.

From Lingshu County to the capital, if nothing unexpected happened, the journey would take no more than five or six days.

But they had just encountered heavy rain, and on top of that, they were transporting nothing but heavy loads of silver along the entire route.

Naturally, the journey was slowed.

They traveled safely for two days without incident.

Seeing that they were nearly halfway through the journey, the tightly wound tension everyone had been holding onto finally eased by half.

In just a few more days, they would reach the capital.

Shao Qing rode his horse forward from the rear with members of Dark Moon Pavilion, quickly catching up.

His brows and eyes were filled with gravity.

When Shao Qing arrived, Jiu Yue raised her hand, signaling the convoy to halt.

Everyone immediately and orderly unloaded unnecessary items and rested on the spot.

Even the civil officials obeyed the orders without the slightest hesitation.

Every time the Ministry of Revenue officials saw Jiu Yue like this, they couldn’t help but feel as if she were drilling troops.

Yet the various suggestions Jiu Yue made along the marching route—

They quietly recorded every single one.

Once they returned to the capital, this would undoubtedly count as another merit credited to Jiu Yue.

After stopping,

Ji Yiqing, Ji Chaomian, and several leading officials quickly gathered at Jiu Yue’s side.

At the same time, the two or three scouts from the vanguard all returned as well.

Seeing that the convoy had stopped here, they first let out a sigh of relief.

Then they stepped forward to salute Jiu Yue.

There was no helping it—She was the only First-Rank Commandery Princess here.

If they didn’t listen to her, they might as well be waiting to die.

Jiu Yue looked toward Shao Qing. Shao Qing nodded.

He immediately spread out the map on the ground. “We’re here now.”

Everyone’s gaze followed the movement of Shao Qing’s finger.

The lead scout nodded. “If we continue forward, the next area is called Sifeng Pass. It’s a gourd-shaped choke point.”

Shao Qing added a few words.

Jiu Yue’s expression turned grave. “You mean that if there really is an ambush along this route, it would definitely be there?”

Shao Qing nodded. “That location is not only easy to defend and hard to attack, it’s also extremely suitable for an ambush.”

The scout continued, “We’ve already scouted it. There are traces of the ground having been cleaned up afterward. We only discovered it after a very careful search. So ahead—there must be an ambush.”

This was already the route they had chosen after scouting again and again, being cautious upon cautious.

But no matter which route they took, they couldn’t guarantee there wouldn’t be even the slightest danger.

Just like those decoy routes—

Each of them was fraught with difficulties.

Jiu Yue stared ahead. “If we set off now, would we arrive right at the mouth of Sifeng Pass?”

The scout replied, “Yes. If someone pushes boulders down from above, we might…”

Be completely wiped out.

“Find a place to rest first. Make some preparations. We’ll move again after daybreak tomorrow.”

There’s no thief who steals for a thousand days, but there is no one who guards against thieves for a thousand days either.

As long as they passed Sifeng Pass, the remaining journey would be much safer.

With visibility obstructed at night, Jiu Yue didn’t want to charge in recklessly.

With this much silver, as long as the ambushers weren’t idiots,

There would be at least a hundred people lying in wait.

Jiu Yue was an assassin, not a killing machine.

One person against a hundred—

Unless she had supernatural abilities, she would be severely constrained.

So everyone immediately found a relatively flat area and began resting.

Jiu Yue summoned Ji Youqin, Ji Xiaoya, and Ji Xiaoyu—the three young girls.

“Did you manage to buy the medicinal ingredients I told you to get from Shao Qing earlier?”

Ji Youqin hurriedly nodded. “We did.”

“Brew them. Two or three batches. Then make sure everyone drinks a bowl—force them if you have to.”

The reason she added that last part was because that detoxifying soup…

The taste was truly the kind that left you speechless after one sip.

Meanwhile, Jiu Yue rummaged through the small pouch she carried on her body.

Ji Yiqing and Ji Chaomian, after settling everyone else, quickly came over to help.

Though they didn’t know what exactly they could do at this moment.

But seeing Jiu Yue in full battle-ready mode,

Everyone did their utmost to ensure they wouldn’t become dead weight.

Jiu Yue only instructed them to gather all the silver and valuables into the very center.

Everyone had to move in pairs—no one was allowed to act alone.

This was also to guard against the possibility of internal spies, or cowards who might drag others down.

…

Before long, the camp was filled with the smell of medicine.

Anyone who caught a whiff felt like gagging.

Ji Yiqing retched until his eyes turned red. “Jiu Yue, Youqin said you told her to brew this.”

“Ugh—what on earth is this?”

Jiu Yue stuffed several pills into a bundle of dried grass, casually tying it into a straw flower. “Antidotes.”

Ji Yiqing stared at the pills. “Poi… poison?”

Jiu Yue shrugged. “No. It just makes people’s limbs weak and their minds fuzzy.”

But since this wasn’t a sealed space, the effects of the drug would definitely be greatly reduced.

Jiu Yue had never planned to go scout the path herself either.

After all, she was alone, unfamiliar with the terrain—going up there might not be scouting but outright suicide.

She cherished her life very much. Whoever died, it wouldn’t be her.

As long as she could escape, there was no reason to risk her life scouting ahead.

Night fell.

Ji Yiqing brought over a cloak and saw Jiu Yue leaning against a tree with her eyes closed.

He walked over slowly. This entire journey, Jiu Yue had been tense the whole time.

Ji Yiqing felt she’d grown a bit thinner.

It broke his heart.

There were still several steps between them.

But Jiu Yue’s eyes suddenly snapped open—

Those fierce, razor-sharp eyes made Ji Yiqing’s heart skip a beat.

Though completely inappropriate for the moment, Jiu Yue’s gaze—Was seriously cool.

Seeing her eyes open, Ji Yiqing moved forward with the cloak.

But Jiu Yue abruptly stood up.

She raised her hand, stopping Ji Yiqing’s movement.

Then she dropped straight to one knee, pressing her ear to the ground.

After just two breaths—“We’re about to be dumpling-wrapped.”

Ji Yiqing’s expression changed instantly.

The soldiers around Jiu Yue immediately went on high alert.

One hand to another’s shoulder—within just a few breaths,

Everyone was awake.

The civil officials, along with the silver and jewels, were surrounded in the very center.

From afar, Ji Yiqing and Ji Chaomian could only see Jiu Yue’s back, clad in dark brocade.

Their eyes were filled with worry.

At the start, not all soldiers were convinced about Jiu Yue leading them back.

She was just a young girl, after all.

Not everyone had seen Jiu Yue kill or fight.

But along the way, Jiu Yue’s professional judgment and fierce presence made everyone obey her without question.

Perhaps it was also because of her status as a Commandery Princess.

Either way—

Nothing had gone wrong the entire journey.

But now, seeing Jiu Yue’s slender figure standing at the very front, Looking at that delicate, beautiful little Commandery Princess, No one knew why, but their hearts clenched painfully.

How could they possibly let Jiu Yue stand alone at the front?

Just as this thought arose, several soldiers drew their sabers, intending to step forward and stand before Jiu Yue.