TGCFNM -Chapter 469 Half Moon Mountain

At some point, a strange rumor began circulating in the capital. Anyone of some influence or standing secretly heard it.

At first, people didn’t believe it, but as the saying goes, “Three men can make a tiger,” and the more the rumor spread, the more credible it seemed. Soon, everyone believed it.

By the next day, people in the capital began leaving the city one after another, claiming they were going to the estates in the suburbs to relax.

Only, there were perhaps too many people going to “relax.”

Meanwhile, Chu Rou, having received the news, grew restless. She decided to approach Xiao Lengjue, revealing that Chu Yue might be seeking revenge, and also mentioned the weapons cache hidden in Half Moon Mountain.

Xiao Lengjue’s first reaction was to immediately seize that location, and Chu Rou wanted to take this chance to eliminate Chu Yue as a threat.

The two were immediately in agreement and began planning.

Chu Yue, having obtained these pieces of information, sneered as she watched them go one by one, then ordered everyone to start preparations.

This time, she intended to eliminate all future trouble permanently.

Three days later.

Tiansheng Grand Bank.

Uncle Hong brought over a bowl of medicine. Wan Xing took it and asked, “How’s it going?”

“Almost ready,” Uncle Hong replied softly. “After Lord Chu and his group found out, it seems they made some other preparations. In the past two days, the young master has been sneaky—no one knows what he’s been up to.”

Wan Xing chuckled lightly. “Don’t worry about them. They’ll have a way to protect themselves.”

“What about Half Moon Mountain?” Uncle Hong asked, looking puzzled. “Is the Wan family really not going to get involved? Not send anyone to protect Lord Chu or the young master?”

Wan Xing shook his head. “No need. Chu Rou and Young Lord Xiao will definitely take action. The Wan family only needs to spread the news that there’s a gold mine there. The more people, the easier it will be for them to act.”

Uncle Hong acknowledged and stepped back to follow the order.

After finishing the medicinal broth in his hand, Wan Xing took a jade pendant from his waist. He rubbed it carefully, his eyes revealing an emotion hard to discern, before he put it away.

In the suburbs of the capital, at one of the estates.

Steward Liu arranged for guards around the estate and had someone boiling medicine in the courtyard. The aroma of the herbs wafted over the walls.

Chu Ling and the others were tucked into a small courtyard at the back, anxiously watching the gate.

Wan Sanjin, torn between worry and anticipation, said, “Master, do you think Su He can make it?”

“I’m not worried whether he can make it,” Chu Ling replied worriedly, “I’m worried he won’t be able to control the dosage properly.”

“Master, you’re afraid Su He might accidentally poison someone to death?” Wan Sanjin asked.

Chu Ling shook her head slightly, concern written on her face. “I’m worried the poison will be too strong. We haven’t even started yet, and someone could die from it first.”

Wan Sanjin let out a soft whistle. “That would be quite troublesome…”

Xiao Hua interjected, “Then I can sew some gloves for Master and Mr. Wan. Mr. Wan can just pay me.”

Wan Sanjin considered it and thought it feasible.

At that moment, the gate opened.

Wan Sanjin saw the faintly excited look on Su He’s face and sighed, shaking his head. “Looks like gloves won’t help. We’ll have to rely on luck.”

Chu Ling nodded: she had never seen Su He look so happy before!

“Su Forensic Officer, how’s it going?” Chu Ling asked cautiously.

“Done. Take a look, my lord,” Su He said, handing a thin incense stick to Chu Ling. “Once this incense is lit, as long as it keeps burning, it will continuously dispense the medicine.”

Chu Ling carefully held the incense between her hands. “And once someone falls… what stage will they be in?”

“Sleep for a few days and nights, I suppose,” Su He admitted, not entirely certain.

Chu Ling exhaled. “As long as it doesn’t kill them, that’s fine. But isn’t this incense a bit too thin?”

“This is just a sample,” Su He replied, gesturing toward the room. “The ones inside haven’t been brought out yet. I plan to toss them into the tunnel once we find it. Once lit, it should be hard to extinguish.”

Chu Ling tilted her head, sensing a bad premonition.

Wan Sanjin had already gotten up and started walking toward the room, then paused at the doorway, his voice slightly trembling: “My lord! Coroner Su has gone mad! The incense he made is as thick as an arm! No wonder it took him three days!”

“Whoa!” Chu Ling stared at Su He, astonished. “How did you make this?”

“Steward Liu and Zhang Dong helped,” Su He said. “But not too many, just over twenty. Everyone should use them sparingly.”

Chu Ling: “…”

Wan Sanjin quietly stepped back. “My lord, there are five of us, plus Han Jin and the other four. That’s three sticks each.”

Chu Ling swallowed hard. “I’ll pair up with Xiao Hua.”

Wan Sanjin snorted coldly. “My lord, forget it. You said it’s not easy to find the passage, so everyone has to split up.”

Chu Ling: “!”

He had really lifted a rock only to drop it on her own foot!

“My lord, are we acting tonight?” Su He asked.

Chu Ling shook her head, grinning excitedly. “It seems the other side has almost finished their survey. Chu Rou and Young Master Xiao are also there; I guess they’ll sneak in during the night while things are relaxed. We’ll wait until there’s some commotion, and then at dawn, we’ll look for the passage.”

Everyone nodded in agreement, sensing no flaws in the plan.

So they ate when they should eat, rested when they should rest, took medicine when they should take medicine, and didn’t wander around. After nightfall, they even extinguished the lights and went straight to sleep.

This puzzled those who had been keeping an eye on them.

Were these people too carefree?

Or did they have no idea what had happened at Half Moon Mountain?

Suspicion aside, they still had to keep watch. But soon, they didn’t have time—more and more people were heading toward Half Moon Mountain, and they had no choice but to follow.

On the dark path, the lanterns people carried flickered like dim ghostly flames, swaying with the cold mountain wind.

Heavy footsteps were not even consciously hidden, and the swords at their waists were already drawn.

Some even carried baskets with hoes, appearing to be honest farmers. But a closer look revealed they were all martial practitioners.

Tonight, whether the so-called gold mine was real or not mattered little—but the fact that so many had mobilized was real, and everyone shared a single goal.

Chu Rou, face covered, let out a faint scoff as she raised her sword. “How can there be so many fools?”

Xiao Lengjue glanced at her, his gaze slightly cold. “They aren’t fools. Hardly anyone believes in that gold mine. Those who came here at this hour must have received other information.”

Chu Rou frowned. “Other information? From whom?”

Xiao Lengjue scoffed coldly. “How would I know?”

Chu Rou instinctively closed her mouth, stealing a glance at Xiao Lengjue’s profile. Hesitantly, she said, “I’m worried Chu Yue might set a trap. After all, she let someone die because you favored a noble. Someone so ruthless—if she can foresee like I can—would definitely want to kill you.”

Xiao Lengjue gave a soft acknowledgment but didn’t respond as he used to.

In the past, he would have thought, “She’s just a woman, talentless and worthless. Let her go.” But knowing that Chu Yue could also foresee the future, and that her love-turned-hatred affected him, stirred unexpected ripples in his heart.

If he could get her back… it might not be so bad.