Chapter 419

The guide was a thin-built man.

He wore short water-resistant clothing, with a coiled cowhide rope around his waist; he was the Canal Gang's best swimmer in Jingcheng, and everyone called him Old Jiang.

The group walked swiftly along the shadow at the mountain's base, and soon a faint water sound came from ahead.

Old Jiang stopped, raised his hand in a gesture, and everyone followed him, crouching low.

A remote tributary of the Anding River made a sharp bend here, forming a shallow shoal,

Old Jiang stepped forward alone, bent down to feel along the water's edge for a moment, picked up a length of rope soaked in the water, and gave it three gentle tugs.

Immediately, a short man dressed in the same water-resistant gear came out, nodded at Old Jiang, and then clasped his fists toward Xiao Ningxun and the others.

He pointed to a collapsed stone wall on the bank covered with weeds and said in a low voice, "That is the entrance to the old river channel's sluice."

Everyone looked closely and saw a black crack in the stone wall.

The crack was about three feet wide, oozing a damp, chilly air and a foul smell mixed with silt and rotting matter.

Old Jiang said: "The water here isn't deep—mostly waist-high, chest-high for the short—but it's pitch black; you can't see your hand in front of your face."

"There are many branches inside; stay close to me, don't get lost."

He paused: "If you lose contact, carefully feel the right-hand stone wall."

"When we scouted the route, we carved a mark every ten steps with a knife; following the marks will also lead you out."

"At the end, you'll reach the murky water ditch of the old barracks."

Having said that, he pulled an oil-wrapped packet from his bosom containing several dozen black pills.

He distributed the pills to everyone: "These are the Doctor Mo's Impurity‑Warding Pills; hold them in your mouth, do not swallow. Remember, their effect lasts only one hour."

"Once it wears off, the decades‑old foul vapors will flood your lungs; even immortals could not save you."

Xiao Ningxun waved his hand, took out an identical oil‑wrapped packet from his own bosom: "I have some. Keep yours safe; you'll need them on the way back."

He opened the packet, first slipped a pill into the mouth of Tuan Tuan, who was slumped on Xiao Er's back, then handed a few to the people nearby.

Old Jiang blinked slightly, carefully put the packet back into his bosom, and said: "Third Young Master, you are most thoughtful."

Tuan Tuan pursed her lips: "The taste is truly awful!"

Divine Doctor Grandfather, what kind of skill is this! When we get back we'll have to give him a piece of our mind.

Lu Qi took out a prepared oilcloth and wrapped Tuan Tuan tightly: "Miss, hold tight to your second uncle, don't slip down."

"Mm." Tuan Tuan replied.

Xiao Ningxun clasped his fists toward the short man and said: "Brother, you've worked hard. I'll leave a few brothers here to stand guard with you."

"Once the people are sent out, I'll ask you to escort them back to Xuanqiong Temple; depart immediately, do not wait."

"All right, rest assured."

Everyone held the pills in their mouths; a spicy, cool aroma instantly spread in their mouths, rushing straight to their heads.

Xiao Ran grimaced and drew a breath.

Everyone donned a layer of oilcloth; Old Jiang led the way, bending to slip into the crack, and the others followed closely.

They had taken only a few steps when everything around turned pitch black.

A sudden wave of heavy, damp, rotting cold air hit them; even with the Impurity‑Warding Pills in their mouths, the smell shot straight up their noses.

Old Jiang struck a fire starter; a weak light flickered, and everyone followed him one after another.

Underfoot lay who‑knows‑how‑many years of silt, slippery and nauseating.

The river water was icy cold, piercing to the bone; sometimes it reached the knees, sometimes the waist.

The stone walls were wet and slick; from time to time a dangling spiderweb brushed across their cheeks.

Tuan Tuan shifted on Xiao Er's back; Xiao Er kept his footing and gave her a light pat on the back with his reverse hand.

The waterway alternated between narrow passages requiring a sideways squeeze and wider stretches like a small pond.

After an unknown amount of time, Old Jiang suddenly halted; the firelight trembled, illuminating a fresh scar on the stone wall.

"We've arrived; ahead is the outlet of the murky water ditch. The water will deepen—be careful, everyone."

Everyone's hearts tightened.

Sure enough, after a few steps the ground gave way beneath them and the water rose straight to their chests.

Xiao Er lifted Tuan Tuan up, steadied himself, and waded across step by step.

Fortunately this stretch wasn't long; soon light appeared ahead.

The group emerged from the river channel into a ditch, surrounded on all sides by various slimy, rotting matter.

Even with the Impurity‑Warding Pills in their mouths, they could not block that intense stench.

Old Jiang put away the fire starter, pointed to one side of the ditch where a few broken stone slabs lay askew, forming a gap.

He moved a wooden plank aside, was the first to slip through the gap, peered outside for a moment, then returned and waved to the others.

The party followed him out in single file, silent as shadows; the taste of the Impurity‑Warding Pills in their mouths had mostly faded.

Outside was a small courtyard piled with assorted junk, silent and lightless.

Old Jiang pointed at himself, then pointed toward the murky water ditch, indicating he would stand guard here.

Xiao Ningxun nodded, pointed to a few people, then pointed at Old Jiang, telling them to stay with him.

He took the lead in removing his oilcloth; Xiao Er set Tuan Tuan down and undid the oilcloth wrapped around her.

Tuan Tuan shook off her clothes, her hand still over her little nose, "What a horrible smell!"

Xiao Ningxun crouched low, led a few people to the courtyard gate, poked his head out to look outside, and waited silently.

Every quarter hour a patrol passed by with lanterns; the guard was indeed strict, fully comparable to a real army camp.

"Thud—thud thud thud!"

The watchman's knocking on the bamboo clapper came faintly.

Lu Qi whispered: "Third Young Master, the time has come."

Xiao Ningxun nodded; it was the fourth watch. We must rescue everyone and withdraw from Turbid Water Ditch within an hour.

Otherwise, once the fifth watch dawns, trying to escape under the cover of night will be as hard as climbing to heaven.

Not long after, a 'clang—' sounded.

In the distance, a clear gong rang out, tearing through the night sky of Jingcheng!

Immediately after, like lit firecrackers, the second, third sounds… more and more gong sounds, shouts, and chaotic footsteps mixed together, approaching from afar.

From the street came a shout: 'Catch the thief!'

'Where is the thief? Chase him quickly!'

Inside the camp, chaos gradually erupted:

'Another bandit coming? Are they going to let us live?!'

'Exactly! This every few days, what nonsense are they stirring up?!'

'Go go go! Let's see! Who assigned us duty today?!'

Xiao Ningxun pressed against the wall, watching the patrolling guards rush past the courtyard gate, heading toward the direction where the gongs were thickest.

He waited patiently.

Until the guards scattered far away, the distant clamor peaked, while the nearby courtyards gradually went unattended.

He turned and nodded at everyone.

Everyone took out a cloth soaked in medicine beforehand and covered their faces.

Xiao Er carefully tied the cloth for Tuan Tuan, covering her mouth and nose.

The guards pulled out several fist-sized round balls from their pockets and hurled them forcefully into every corner of the camp!

The balls traced a low arc and landed on the ground.

With a soft 'pfft', they spun rapidly, the wax seal burst, the paper casing peeled off, and a thick, pungent grey-white smoke shot out from the balls!

That smoke expanded on contact with the air, instantly spreading and rolling toward every part of the camp!

'Cough! What is this?!'

'My eyes! My eyes!'

'Enemy attack! Cough cough!'

Choking cries, startled shouts, and the clatter of panicked collisions immediately came from the smoke.

Xiao Ningxun barked low: 'Go!'

Everyone burst out running, charging into the thick mist.