Chapter 81: Goo-goo Is Home!

Tuan Tuan lifted his head and looked up: "Goo-goo! Is there another way into that cave here? Will you take us? I have jerky for you!"

Several people looked up, but the pitch-black treetop revealed nothing clear.

Suddenly, a large-bodied owl flew down silently, circled a few times, then landed on the lowest branch.

A pair of round, glowing eyes in the darkness precisely fixed on Tuan Tuan.

Tuan Tuan patted Third Brother's shoulder: "Third Brother, take me over."

Xiao Ningxun carefully carried his sister as he approached the branch where the owl had landed.

Tuan Tuan opened the sachet on his person, took out a piece of jerky, placed it in his palm, and gently raised it overhead: "Goo-goo, here you go!"

That was because she always kept it on hand to go see the snow leopard whenever she wanted.

The owl tilted its head, glanced at the jerky in her hand, and snatched it away with a pak-da.

Tuan Tuan laughed: "You promised! After eating my jerky, you have to listen to me!"

The owl gulped down the jerky with a gulp, then silently took off and flew toward another mountain base.

"Follow!" Xiao Yuanhang gave the order, and the group swiftly followed like ghosts.

The owl perched on a tree.

Xiao Er keenly surveyed the surroundings: "Prince, this place seems to be behind that cave."

The night was as dark as ink, only the cold moonlight filtering through the intertwined branches cast mottled, broken spots of light.

Through the faint light, one could see the cliff face covered with thick withered vines and dark green moss, swaying slightly in the night breeze like a natural barrier.

Everyone examined carefully, but there was no entrance!

Tuan Tuan looked up and asked the owl: "Goo-goo! Where is the entrance? I can't get in!"

The owl seemed to understand, letting out a low gugu twice from its throat, gracefully turned a circle in the air, then immediately folded its wings and, without hesitation, flew straight at the vine wall that looked impenetrable.

In everyone's astonished gaze, its silhouette instantly vanished behind the dense withered vines, as if swallowed by the mountain, leaving only a few trembling leaves.

Everyone: "!!!"

Xiao Yuanhang's pupils constricted slightly, Xiao Ningchen's eyes widened, and Xiao Er almost cried out.

"Goo-goo is home!" Tuan Tuan exclaimed happily, pointing with his small hand at where the owl disappeared: "Father! The entrance is right in Goo-goo's home!"

A sharp light flashed in Xiao Yuanhang's eyes as he lowly shouted: "Xiao Er!"

"Yes!" Xiao Er immediately stepped forward, leading two guards as he carefully pulled apart the layer upon layer of withered vines that had accumulated over who knows how many years.

To the touch, it was damp and slick, exuding a rotten odor.

As the withered vines were pulled apart bit by bit, a hidden, seamless cave mouth suddenly appeared before their eyes!

The opening was small, barely allowing one person to pass; its edges were rough stone, looking more like an abandoned beast's nest or a natural fissure in the mountain.

Xiao Er led the way inside.

"Prince, there really is a cave! It's unfathomably deep!" After a moment, his voice came from inside.

Who would have thought that the Wei family's heavily guarded, intricately designed treasure vault would actually contain such a "back door" that even they themselves didn't know about!

And this back door was actually an owl's nest!

Xiao Ningchen drew a cool breath, glanced at the little child on his younger brother's back.

All one could see was the little tot's face saying, "See? I told you I knew."

"Tuan Tuan!" he murmured softly, then his gaze hardened: "Father, I'll go with Xiao Er to scout the path; you all wait here."

He then looked at the remaining guards: "The rest of you, keep watch outside!"

"Yes!"

Xiao Yuanhang nodded, giving his son an approving look: "Fine, these days haven't been wasted in the camp; you've learned something!"

Moments later, several returned: "Prince, it's safe! The interior is narrow but passable, seemingly leading into the mountain's interior!"

Xiao Yuanhang gave a solemn order: "All follow! No noise! Move!"

The group filed in single file; though the entrance was narrow, the interior was deeper and drier than imagined.

The further they went, the more spacious it became; no one expected that such a narrow opening would lead to an extraordinarily vast natural stone cavern.

After passing through a wide area, the group entered another low opening; when their vision brightened again, the sight before them was enough to make even Xiao Yuanhang, accustomed to grand scenes, catch his breath.

One after another, heavy wooden boxes of various sizes were neatly arranged.

Many of the box lids were not fully closed, and through the gaps gleamed a dazzling, shifting light in the firelight: it was all gold and silver!

Boxes of gold ingots, silver ingots! Moreover, many boxes held glittering jewelry and antique jade ware!

The sheer quantity and value far exceeded Xiao Yuanhang's imagination.

Several people exchanged glances; it seemed that all the wealth the Wei family had extorted from the people over the years was right here.

Xiao Er stepped forward quickly, casually inspected a few boxes, his voice trembling: "Prince, it's all genuine gold and silver! How... how much could there be......"

Xiao Yuanhang's expression remained composed as he picked up a heavy gold ingot, surveyed the vast treasury, then glanced back at the narrow passage, his brows quickly knitting.

"Father, we're rich! His family's gold and silver are enough for you to give to those refugees!" Tuan Tuan happily tugged at his sleeve.

Xiao Yuanhang, however, felt no joy at all.

He slowly shook his head, his tone grave: "So much gold and silver—its weight is staggering, the target enormous."

"Not to mention moving it out in a single night; even transporting it out of the mountains would be impossible to sneak past scrutiny. The garrison at every gate of Jingcheng is no mere decoration—they will certainly inspect."

Upon hearing this, everyone exchanged looks; yeah, who would have imagined there was so much! How to get it out?

Xiao Er felt somewhat anxious: "Prince, what should we do? Could it be... we just give up?"

"Give up?" Xiao Yuanhang's lips curled into a cunning smile—the sort he only shows on the battlefield when facing a strong foe, a hunter's grin—"How could one spit out meat that's already reached the mouth?"

"We won't move it!"

Everyone was stunned—"Not move it?"

"Xiao Er, you take people and immediately inventory all the boxes and baskets, inspect every part of the stone cavern, ensure there are no other hidden exits!"

The rest of you, obey my command! Open all these boxes! Take the gold, silver and jewels inside and move them all, piling them in the low‑lying area at the deepest part of the cave where we arrived!

"Huh?" Everyone looked bewildered.