Chapter 960 - 960: Secret of the Mine (2)
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Su Xiaoxiao, Wei Ting, Mei Ji, and Yuchi Xiu sat in the central room for a meeting.
Mei Ji asked, “Those old fellows left just like that. Could it be that they really plan to take out 100,000 gold each to redeem the hostages? Will they play any tricks? For example… find some experts to snatch people and steal the books?” Wei Ting said, “Feng might have this intention, but Xue won’t.”
Although he had not appeared just now, he had actually been observing outside the back door.
Among the three of them, Xue Ping was the most cunning. Feng Aozhu was impulsive, and Mu Tan was junior; he did not show his strong side for the time being.
Feng Aozhu listened to Xue Ping in everything. Mu Tan could not dissuade the two of them alone, so he could only follow Xue Ping’s lead. Mei Ji nodded. “Why are the three of them so close? Look, the Cheng family, the
Ji family, the Yue family, and the Yin family are not united.”
Su Xiaoxiao said, “They have a common interest. Everyone is involved and can’t protect themselves. They can only hug each other tightly.”
Mei Ji was deep in thought.
Su Xiaoxiao looked at Wei Ting. “What would you do if it were you?”
Wei Ting met Su Xiaoxiao’s gaze. “Are you referring to the ransom? I’ll try my best to stall for time and see if there’s any room for negotiation. I might even contact the Holy Maiden Temple and ask the Saintess to appear. The Saintess is a one in a million expert. If she comes to snatch the hostages and steal the books, she probably won’t fail.”
Su Xiaoxiao nodded. “That’s right. This is what they should think. If they really pay the ransom on time, it can only mean one thing.”
“What?” Mei Ji asked curiously.
Su Xiaoxiao said seriously, “They want to end this quickly and send us down the mountain to prevent us from digging out a secret that is more valuable than 300,000 taels of gold.” “What secrets are hidden in the mine?”
Mei Ji was extremely curious!
Wei Ting looked at Yuchi Xiu. “It’s been a few days since Fu Su came to the mine. Did he say that you found anything when you went to see him last night?”
Fu Su was their informant in the mine.
When they heard Uncle Quan mention that the Cheng family had a mineral vein, Su Xiaoxiao and Wei Ting had asked Fu Su to pretend to be “sold” to the mine as a slave.
Yuchi Xiu said, “The range of his activities is limited. He hasn’t come into contact with any suspicious places for the time being.”
“Dark… dark..
Cheng Sang’s suppressed and frightened voice came from the house.
Su Xiaoxiao hurriedly went to her room.
“Mother, what’s wrong?
Cheng Sang had already gotten up from the bed and was sitting on a chair. Her fingertips were drawing on the table as she muttered, “Dark… dark..
Su Xiaoxiao thought for a moment and took out a charcoal pen from her pouch for Cheng Sang to hold.
She took another piece of white paper and laid it flat on the table.
“Mother, do you remember where it’s dark? Can you draw it?”
Cheng Sang’s hands trembled slightly in fear.
Su Xiaoxiao couldn’t bear to let her remember, but in order to unravel all the mysteries and let her recover as soon as possible, she had to be ruthless.
“Scared… scared…
Cheng Sang felt wronged.
Su Xiaoxiao squatted down and looked at her. She said softly, “Weiwei is with Mom. Mom, don’t be afraid. Mom, think about where that place is. Weiwei will light an oil lamp.”
Cheng Sang said awkwardly, “An oil lamp?”
Su Xiaoxiao smiled. “Yes, oil lamps. If one isn’t enough, there will be two. If two aren’t enough, there will be many, many. They will definitely light up that place!”
Cheng Sang muttered in a daze, “It will be bright.”
Su Xiaoxiao nodded. “Yes! It will be brighter than this room! What do you think?”
Cheng Sang looked around.
There was plenty of light in the day, and the house was bright.
“Okay, Weiwei is going to light an oil lamp…” Cheng Sang was convinced and began to draw crookedly.
She drew attentively.
Su Xiaoxiao, Mei Ji, Wei Ting, and Yuchi Xiu didn’t disturb her.
The few of them just watched quietly.
Sunlight shone in and landed on Cheng Sang’s silver hair.
She had the clear eyes of a child.
It seemed to cleanse one’s heart.
Finally, she finished drawing and fell asleep in Su Xiaoxiao’s arms.
Mei Ji walked over and carried her back to the bed, covering her with a thin blanket.
No matter how curious Mei Ji was, she didn’t look at the map at first glance. Instead, she took care of Cheng Sang first.
Su Xiaoxiao took out the map.
The four of them stared at the map and were dumbfounded.
Mei Ji said, “This painting… seems a little casual.”
Cheng Sang had not held a pen for too long and was no longer good at writing.
Where it should be straight, it was bent. Where it should be bent, it was even more bent.
“This is the entrance,” Wei Ting said as he pointed at a big black dot on the portrait.
Yuchi Xiu said, “Can you actually recognize this?”
Wei Ting carefully observed the pattern of Cheng Sang’s writing. He took another piece of paper and repaired the map.
Yuchi Xiu was enlightened. He pointed at the last passageway and said, “Ah, I recognize this place! I went there last night! It’s an abandoned mine! It’s said that many people died inside, so it was sealed.”
“How did they die?” Mei Ji asked.
Yuchi Xiu said, “I’m not sure. There were no illnesses or disasters, nor was there a mining disaster. He died just like that. It’s quite strange.”
Su Xiaoxiao paused and said, “Perhaps it’s just a rumor they released to prevent people from approaching this place.”
Mei Ji asked, “Shall we explore when it’s dark?”
Su Xiaoxiao shook her head. “We can’t wait until it’s dark.”
“Why?” Mei Ji didn’t understand.
Su Xiaoxiao explained, “We’ll get the ransom at night. If we continue to stay, they will definitely sense that we have another motive and might strengthen the defense there.”
Wei Ting agreed. “I’ll go now.”
Su Xiaoxiao said, “I’ll go with you.”
Wei Ting pursed his lips.
Su Xiaoxiao said, “I have ways to protect myself. Don’t worry about me.”
Wei Ting knew that he could not persuade her. Once she made up her mind, she would go secretly.
Su Xiaoxiao said to Mei Ji, “If the three of them arrive and I’m not back yet, Mei
Ji, help me stall for time.”
Mei Ji patted her proud chest.. “Don’t worry, leave it to me!”