TGCFNM -Chapter 84 Drugging the Entire Place

Chu Ling and Su He entered from another side. When they reached the sentry post, Chu Ling made a silencing gesture, and the two of them slipped inside together.

“From now on, Changzhou will be under Magistrate Sun’s command.”

“Of course.”

“You didn’t see it today—our Lord Sun directly drove out that county magistrate from Sishui County~ hahaha!”

“Hahahahaha, just a dog with its tail tucked between its legs.”

Chu Ling suddenly appeared, smiling faintly at them like Yama himself descending to the mortal world. “Oh? Is that so?”

“You—!”

With a flick of her wrist, several silver needles shot out at once. Immediately after, Su He followed up with a burst of medicinal powder, and in an instant, a large group collapsed.

Chu Ling plucked the silver needles out one by one. “Practicing against stones all this time, I couldn’t see the results. Now it seems I’ve trained quite well.”

Su He glanced down. “Each person has a single bloody hole, straight through the forehead. Your aim is very precise, my lord.”

“Forget about them. As long as they don’t die, that’s fine. Let’s keep going.” Chu Ling stepped over the fallen bodies and continued down along the stone steps.

Along the winding staircase, large fire basins were mounted on the walls, flames crackling as they illuminated the steps below.

Bai Su scouted ahead. Chu Ling followed carefully behind. When they reached a corner, Bai Su suddenly paused, then moved behind Chu Ling. “Now.”

Not knowing how many people might appear, Chu Ling fired over a dozen silver needles at once. After hearing the sounds of bodies hitting the ground, she cautiously stuck her head out to check, then hurriedly retrieved the needles.

Su He followed behind, scattering medicinal powder as he went. Once done, he chased after Chu Ling again.

All the way forward, Chu Ling used her silver needles, growing more and more adept the further they went.

Suddenly, she heard a burst of noise. Listening closely, it sounded like people running a gambling game. Frowning, she carefully made her way toward the sound.

Inside one room, dozens of men had gathered. Through the window, she could vaguely see that they were the very soldiers assigned to guard the city. They had removed their armor and hats and were crowded together, gambling enthusiastically.

And leading them was none other than Sun Wu.

Sun Wu laughed heartily, shaking the dice. “You’ve all won quite a bit of silver today, haven’t you? Let’s play a big round. There’ll be more people on duty tomorrow anyway.”

“Hahaha, Magistrate Sun is right, absolutely right!”

“Magistrate Sun, bet on big! Don’t forget about me!”

“I spotted something small and quite nice today, but it stayed in the back and didn’t come in. Tomorrow, none of you are allowed to fight me for it!”

“Tch, fine—but you’d better watch yourself.”

“Yes, Magistrate Sun.”

Su He gritted his teeth and pinched up a packet of medicinal powder. Chu Ling immediately pulled him down into a crouch. Then she gathered several packets of powder together in her hand and silently asked him with her eyes: the stronger kind?

Su He immediately took out another packet—this one wrapped especially in red paper.

Holding her breath carefully, Chu Ling mixed the powders together, then crept to the door. Suddenly she stood up and leaned in slightly. “Magistrate Sun?”

Sun Wu jumped in fright.

With a single palm strike, Chu Ling sent the medicinal powder scattering inside, then decisively locked the door.

Meanwhile, Su He stripped off his outer garment and stuffed it into the window to block it.

Three, two, one!

“Have they fallen?” Chu Ling asked.

“They must have,” Su He said confidently. He removed his outer garment but didn’t dare put it back on. Instead, he tossed it into the fire basin to burn. “My lord, shall we continue searching for the others?”

“Sun Wu is here. We’ll use him as bait,” Chu Ling said. Holding her breath, she dragged Sun Wu out and took his whip, using it to tie him up securely.

“My lord, what about the others?” Su He asked.

A brilliant idea suddenly struck Chu Ling. At once, she and Su He split up to look for hemp ropes.

By the time Zhang Dong and Xiao Hua reached the base of the city wall, they happened to see Chu Ling and Su He struggling to drag something out. They hurried forward immediately.

Xiao Hua leaned in for a look. “My lord, this tying method is so fun! It’s like firecrackers—everyone’s strung together on one rope.”

“Tie yours the same way,” Chu Ling said between breaths, handing the hemp rope to Zhang Dong.

Xiao Hua happily prepared to help.

“Xiao Hua, open the city gate first and let the people in. Then find Master Wan to help your brother with the tying,” Chu Ling said, leaning against the wall.

“Got it!” Xiao Hua answered cheerfully. She tucked the fire poker into her waistband, removed the massive wooden beams propping up the gate one by one, pulled out the bolts, and yanked the city gates open with force.

Wan Sanjin shot up from the ground and looked at Xiao Hua in delight. “Drugged them all?”

“Mm. Master Wan, come help.”

Wan Sanjin excitedly shouted behind him, “The gates are open! Follow me in! This is the new magistrate of Changzhou—Magistrate Chu said so!” Without waiting for a response, he led Zhuifeng straight inside.

Old Uncle Wu, leading Wu Xiaoxiu by the hand, followed closely behind.

The others had long since been awakened, but they only looked at each other and slowly stood up—none daring to be the first to step forward.

After quite a while, a sturdy middle-aged man suddenly rose. Carrying a child on his back and pushing a handcart, he firmly took his wife’s hand and slowly walked toward the city, his heart pounding like a drum.

At that moment, Chu Ling was inside the city walls. After Wan Sanjin and Zhang Dong worked together to finish tying up another group, she turned to Xiao Hua and asked, “How is it? Can you pull them?”

Xiao Hua gave it a try and said easily, “I can.”

“That’s good.” Chu Ling straightened her back and turned to Old Uncle Wu. “Where’s the liveliest place in Changzhou?”

Old Uncle Wu froze, unsure how to answer.

Wu Xiaoxiu spoke instead. “Wang Mazi said Star Lake is the liveliest, especially at night.”

Zhang Dong said, “My lord, I’ll go ask for directions.”

Chu Ling adjusted her clothes, removed her face covering, and waved behind her. “Come on—follow this official to set a fire!”

The burly man who had just entered the city halted in his tracks. Set a fire? What fire?

Xiao Hua looped the hemp rope around her arm and effortlessly dragged the people along, skipping after Chu Ling. Zhuifeng neighed and trotted behind them.

Wu Xiaoxiu’s eyes widened. “Sister Xiao Hua is amazing.”

Old Uncle Wu nodded dumbly, then quickly pulled Wu Xiaoxiu along behind them.

The burly man, not knowing what else to do, followed as well.

And the bold townsfolk who had risen behind him also trailed after those in front. In no time, a huge crowd had formed behind Chu Ling—so many that from a distance, there seemed to be no end in sight.

With Zhang Dong leading the way, the group finally arrived near Star Lake.

Across the vast lake floated numerous boats. Some guests were composing poetry and sipping tea; others discussed literature over wine. Certain wealthy young masters, affecting elegance, were accompanied by several ladies—one playing the zither, another singing. It was a scene of lively festivity.

Beside Star Lake stood a grand restaurant, brightly lit and still full of patrons. The people inside were now craning their necks to look outside, their faces full of shock.

Fu Qingyu was on the second floor. When he saw Chu Ling’s imposing figure below—and Wan Sanjin at her side, looking exceedingly pleased—he couldn’t help but chuckle softly.

“Young Master Fu, do you know them?”

“Yes. The newly appointed magistrate of Changzhou, Magistrate Chu—and Wan Sanjin, the second young master of the wealthiest Wan family in the Great Zhou.”