Chapter 312: Unearthed

Xiao Ningxun carried his sister over, Tuan Tuan's eyes wide round: "Wow! Second Uncle, Seventh Uncle, you guys are awesome!"

Xiao Yue ran into the shed and flung herself onto a man sitting on the ground: "Brother!"

Xiao Ningxun looked around.

Over twenty artisans, sitting or lying, gazed at them in bewildered uncertainty.

Xiao Er shook his hand, looking at them: "Can you walk? If you can, stand up!"

No one moved.

Xiao Yue looked at her brother: "Brother! They're here to rescue us, hurry up!"

Wang Tiezhu looked doubtful at his sister, was the first to stand up, and pointed to the iron chain on his foot.

Xiao Ningxun lowered his head to ask his sister: "Tuan Tuan, can you help them undo it?"

Tuan Tuan untied the embroidered pouch at her waist and pulled out a broken small key, only half left.

She turned and flung herself into her brother's embrace, loosened her little hand, and muttered: "Open all the locks!"

A faint light flashed, and the key vanished.

A series of "click" sounds rang out, and the iron shackles on the artisans' ankles all sprang open at once!

Everyone was stunned.

Tiezhu stared in disbelief at his own ankle, then lifted his gaze to the little girl held in someone's arms, shocked beyond words.

Xiao Er hurried to the doorway, cocked his ear to listen outside, and urged loudly: "Don't delay! Those who can move, help those who can't—hurry up and go!"

The artisans then came to their senses.

Over twenty people supported each other and all stood up.

Xiao Ningxun held Tuan Tuan and stepped to the side, asking: "Do you know where the boat is?"

Tiezhu nodded firmly, raised his hand and pointed in a direction.

Xiao Yue understood her brother's meaning: "I know! Their boats are tied up to the east, there are several of them!"

"Good." Xiao Ningxun nodded, "Your movements must be light, don't let them notice."

"Get on the boat, head in a direction, paddle as far as you can, and you'll see the Canal Gang people—they'll meet you."

Tiezhu gave him a deep look, then gestured to his sister, asking where their father was.

Xiao Yue hurriedly replied: "Dad brought them food and drink, then went to the boat to wait for us!"

Tiezhu nodded, supported an elderly artisan beside him, and the group quickly headed out.

Xiao Ningxun looked at the empty shed and the scattered iron chains on the ground: "Let's go back to that shed and set it on fire again!"

"Once it's on fire, they won't be able to pursue with full force."

A few people returned to that shed, Lu Qi took out a fire striker, lit tinder at various spots, and soon the flames grew.

A few people quickly withdrew and hid behind a pile of debris far from the shed.

"What's that smell?"

"Smoke! It's on fire!"

"Hurry and save it! That's the last batch of medicine!"

"Captain! Oh no, terrible! Those mute workers, they've all run away!"

"They ran? How is that possible?"

"Quick, go after them!"

"This is serious! Tiechui, go quick! Report to Boss Shen!"

"Just then, in the midst of the chaos."

"Ga—!!"

"Gaga ga—!!"

A sharp, piercing hiss came over.

The several dozen fat ducks on the island all ran out.

The duck flock was clearly startled, flapping their wings, crashing about wildly.

Some panicked and rushed into the crowd; others flapped uselessly off the ground, but due to their bulk stumbled and fell, causing even more commotion.

Tuan Tuan, watching from afar, suddenly realized: "Oh! I meant to open all the locks! The ducks' door locks are open too!"

A few people glanced at each other and couldn't help laughing.

Jiangzhou City, Shen Mansion bedroom.

Shen Wanjin was leaning against the soft couch, looking at a ledger.

He was in a good mood.

Qixiazi was dead, his secret was safe.

As long as the final batch of arrow clusters is poisoned and shipped out, it will be a great achievement.

"Sir! Sir, something's wrong——!"

The steward's startled cry and the sound of panicked footsteps rushed in together.

Shen Wanjin frowned and looked up, seeing a drenched, soot-covered man follow the steward inside—it was the guard of Hei Wei Dang, Tiechui.

He burst in shouting incoherently: "Something's wrong! Boss Shen! The ducks have run! The artisans have run! Hei Wei Dang is in total chaos!"

Shen Wanjin seethed: "Report that the ducks ran? …Wait, the artisans ran?"

He rose to his feet, then immediately paused: "What's going on? Is someone attacking?"

Tiechui blinked: "No! It's just us—those artisans, before fleeing, even… even set fire to the shed where the poison was stored."

Shen Wanjin flew into a rage, slapped out: "Trash! Someone! Get the horses ready!"

He spurred his horse to the abandoned dock White Gull Ferry and boarded the small boat that man had arrived in.

The small boat shot forward like an arrow released from its bow, speeding swiftly toward Hei Wei Dang.

Hidden nearby, Luo Hongli looked at Shen Wanjin's small boat: "Those artisans have already been sent back to the city, all mute. That damned Shen Wanjin! Now it's our turn."

Luo Zhenjiang beside him nodded: "Don't rush, wait a bit longer; we can't follow too closely."

"Young Master Xiao said we must wait until he enters Hei Wei Dang before we can surround him; otherwise, Shen Wanjin will surely find an excuse and push all the blame away cleanly."

"Good."

Zhou Ping and Zhou An, standing behind the two, exchanged a glance: "Miss, you must be safe."

Before the boat had steadied, Shen Wanjin stepped onto the gangway and looked around.

The sheds on the island had burned down more than half; everywhere was blackened, thin blue smoke still rising, and several guards, faces smeared with ash, sat slumped on the ground panting heavily.

Those several dozen fat ducks were still scrambling across the island, their quacks rising and falling.

The shed that should have held the artisans had already burned to the ground, and the scattered iron chains on the ground were clearly visible.

Behind the debris pile, Xiao Ningxun whispered: "He's finally come; the Bridgehead Gang and the Canal Gang should be arriving soon."

Seeing this, Shen Wanjin's temples throbbed.

He let out an angry roar: "Zhou Mazǐ!"

Zhou Mazǐ came running, sliding and crawling, and fell with a 'plop' to his knees: "Shen, Shen boss!"

Shen Wanjin kicked him in the shoulder: "I ask you, where are the people?"

Zhou Mazǐ was knocked sideways to the ground by the kick, then scrambled up: "They ran, they ran! This fire must have been set by them!"

Shen Wanjin's voice hoarse: "The locks? Who opened them for them?"

"I don't know!" Zhou Mazǐ said with a mournful face, "All the locks were opened; I don't know how that bunch of mute fellows managed to open them themselves."

"Trash!" Shen Wanjin kicked again, "I left this place in your charge, and this is how you watch it for me?"

Zhou Mazǐ straightened his body and took the kick: "It's not that I'm negligent; the brothers have been guarding here day and night, loyal to you, boss!"

"Shut up!"

Shen Wanjin closed his eyes, took a deep breath, lifted his head, and pondered for a moment.

He opened his eyes: "Listen, load all the finished arrow bundles onto the ship."

"Yes! But… here?"

Shen Wanjin raised his hand, pointing at the duck shed: "Take a few people and dig up whatever is buried under the duck shed."

"Yes!"

Zhou Mazǐ dared not speak further, picked seven or eight strong guards, grabbed iron spades, and ran toward the duck shed.

The duck shed had long been empty; several people began digging at the dirt beneath it.

The iron spades came down together, sending soil flying.

After a moment, a dull 'thud' sounded as the spade struck something hard.

"Found it! We've dug it up!"

Only then did Zhou Mazǐ recall: "This is what the boss had buried when the island was built."

Several guards used both hands and feet to quickly scrape away the dirt.

Soon, several wooden crates were revealed.

The crates were not small, their surfaces coated with waterproof tung oil.

The guards lifted all the crates out and placed them on the open ground, a total of six.

Shen Wanjin ordered: "Open them, carefully."

Zhou Mazǐ pulled a dagger from his bosom, inserted it into the seam of one crate, and pried it open with force.

"Creak——"

The crate lid was lifted.

Inside the crate were thick oilcloth bundles, each the size of a pillow, wrapped tightly.

Zhou Mazǐ asked nervously: "What is this?"

Shen Wanjin reached out and carefully picked up the top bundle.

He weighed it, the corners of his mouth slowly curving: "Gunpowder."