TGCFNM -Chapter 278 We’ve Struck It Rich

Uncle Wu looked at the two of them with heartache. The moment they entered the room, he made them sit down and forbade them from moving. Then he bustled about—bringing hot water, brewing hot tea.

Su He lit every lamp that could be lit. The whole room became brightly illuminated, making it easier for everyone to examine their injuries.

Chu Ling first checked Wan Sanjin’s pulse. Then she took out one of the divine medicines Bai Su had given her and handed him a pill to swallow.

“It’s fine. Don’t worry. The rest are just superficial wounds. A few days of rest will do,” Chu Ling reassured.

Uncle Wu said anxiously, “Tomorrow we’ll go down the mountain and return to the inn. Recover fully before we leave.”

Chu Ling said meaningfully, “Yes, we definitely need to recuperate for a few days before leaving.”

Xiao Hua carefully wiped Chu Ling’s face and hands with a damp cloth. Over there, Su He was also wiping Wan Sanjin down—though far more casually.

Chu Ling leaned weakly against the chair back. After murmuring a thank you, she raised an eyebrow at Wan Sanjin.

Wan Sanjin looked at the crowd, the corners of his lips curling up proudly, like a peacock spreading its tail. “This time, we’ve gained quite a lot.”

Uncle Wu looked puzzled. “Huh?”

Wan Sanjin struggled to reach into his robes and pulled out two bottles of Divine Water. Then two more. Then three more… He kept taking them out until the entire tabletop in front of him was covered before he finally stopped.

Uncle Wu clutched his chest and stared at him in agony. “Young master… you really, really stole them…”

Wan Sanjin nodded. “Yes. It’s just a pity—we originally planned to frame Zhang Zhenfeng, but it looks like he got buried inside.”

At that moment, Chu Ling slowly straightened up and pulled out bottles of Divine Water from her own waist pouch as well. One bottle. Two bottles. Five bottles… Then she placed them on the table.

“Besides his sword, Zhang Zhenfeng’s usual weapon is a small curved blade. So when I cut those few people, I deliberately left traces. And before going up the mountain, he even showed off that blade, so there will definitely be people who suspect him,” Chu Ling said smugly.

Yan Sheng and Cao Tong stood on either side, silently counting the bottles of Divine Water the two had brought back. Then they exchanged a glance and stared at them in shock.

“Should we go down the mountain tonight and flee overnight?” Cao Tong asked in fright.

Yan Sheng nodded frantically, panic-stricken. “You two are carrying thirty-eight bottles of Divine Water! How dare you?!”

At this, Wan Sanjin grew annoyed. “Those greedy people insisted on staying behind. But when the ground started shaking, there was no way to grab more.”

Chu Ling sighed as well. “Such a pity. They all sank down.”

Uncle Wu suddenly braced himself against the table and shouted, “No. Tomorrow morning we go down with everyone else, then stay at the inn to recuperate. After resting a few days, we leave. That’s the normal way.”

Yan Sheng and Cao Tong quickly realized he was right. If they left immediately, wouldn’t that make them look suspicious? Staying a few days would actually be safer.

But carrying thirty-eight bottles of Divine Water while remaining in Tianjian City still made them uneasy.

Chu Ling leaned back in her chair again and said to the others, “That mountain of gold, that mountain of gems—piles upon piles of rare treasures, aged medicinal herbs—all of it sank… The Wu Clan no longer exists. Even their possessions are gone.”

At that moment, Wan Sanjin suddenly tapped the table lightly.

Chu Ling looked at him. “What is it?”

Wan Sanjin took several pouches from his sleeve and pushed them to the center of the table.

Uncle Wu immediately opened them and poured out the contents. Then he picked up a somewhat darkened, stiff stalk and asked, “Snow Silkworm Grass?”

Wan Sanjin shook his head, looking completely blank. “Don’t know.”

Chu Ling’s eyes, meanwhile, were shining as she stared at the gems and gold. She asked in delight, “When did you take these?”

Wan Sanjin slapped the table proudly.

“When I was fighting Bai Zhuoxing, didn’t he hit me with a palm strike and send me flying? My chest hurt and I couldn’t get up. Just then, some people were scrambling to grab things, so I simply lay there picking up gems and gold. I’d already snatched quite a few money pouches earlier, so I just stuffed them in one by one. By the time I’d packed almost everything, the two people fighting over the loot ended up mortally wounding each other. So I took their pouches too—they’d grabbed medicinal herbs.”

Uncle Wu felt like he was about to have a heart attack. “Because medicinal herbs are the most important—and the most valuable!”

“Really?” Wan Sanjin asked. “There’s not that much gold, but these gems are excellent quality. You can tell at a glance they’ll sell for a good price.”

Chu Ling nodded happily. “Gold and gems just make you feel happy when you look at them.”

Uncle Wu was about to speak when Xiao Hua suddenly grabbed his arm. Her eyes were wide with excitement as she looked at everyone.

“Your Excellency, Master Wan, Forensic Su, Big Brother, Uncle Wu, Brother Yan, Brother Cao—we’ve struck it rich!”

“We finally have money! We don’t have to rely on Master Wan’s older brother to support us anymore!”

Uncle Wu suddenly realized how overly bright their courtyard was. He rushed outside, only to find both sides dark. Either no one had come down, or they had already left. Relieved, he hurried back, shut the doors tightly, and extinguished several oil lamps.

When he finally let out a breath and turned back to look at them, he was met with pairs of innocent, clueless eyes. His chest tightened again.

“The things—put them away. Put them away,” Uncle Wu said, lifting a hand toward Yan Sheng and Cao Tong, the only two with a bit of sense. “Hurry and pack them up.”

Yan Sheng and Cao Tong quickly began gathering everything.

Wan Sanjin looked at everyone smugly. “Who’s the number one capable person in our county yamen? Me! The gems and gold I picked up this time will last us for quite a while.”

Yan Sheng paused. “A while?” Were they planning to spend it that extravagantly?

Chu Ling also felt a wave of relief wash over her. She looked at them and said, “Once this job’s done—ah, I mean, once this matter’s settled—and Bai Zhuoxing is dead, and everything’s resolved, we can finally return to Sishui County.”

Zhang Dong looked a little emotional. “We can finally go home.”

Xiao Hua beamed. “The butcher’s wife in the county always gives me extra meat, and she doesn’t even charge much!”

Su He revealed a faint smile. He, too, wanted to go back and check on his mortuary.

Wan Sanjin looked at Cao Tong and Yan Sheng. “It’s not a big place, but His Excellency manages it well. There’s food and drink. How about joining us?”

Yan Sheng and Cao Tong exchanged a glance. If they returned to the county… would they be constables?

Uncle Wu watched their happy faces. Though he couldn’t bear to dampen their spirits, he still tapped the table and looked at them seriously, if somewhat helplessly.

“My lord, Young Master, if you want to turn these into money, you can only go through the Wan family.”

Chu Ling didn’t quite understand. “Huh? Why?”

Uncle Wu picked up a gem helplessly. “The gold is one thing. But the quality of these gems is rare on the open market—and you have two full pouches. The moment these circulate, you’ll definitely attract attention. Second, these medicinal herbs are extremely valuable. Not only do martial artists prize them, even people in the imperial court want them. If you don’t keep them for yourselves, you’ll have to sell them—but that’s dangerous too. So only the Wan family can purchase them.”

Chu Ling understood now and smiled at Uncle Wu. “Then we’ll trouble you to handle it for us.”

Uncle Wu pressed a hand to his forehead and closed his eyes briefly. Finally, he gave them his conclusion.

“If you don’t want to go to the capital, then we’ll make a trip to Ningzhou. The largest branch of Tiansheng Grand Bank is there, and there’s a chief manager who can handle these goods.”

“And I will go with you until we reach Ningzhou. After everything is settled, I’ll come back.”

Otherwise, he truly couldn’t rest at ease. These people simply gave him no peace of mind at all!