Chapter 2529: The Little Thief

"Well, I just happened to see this rare thing called red-thread herb, so I came in to tell you." Zhu Xiuer's last sentence was said to He Lingchuan.

He Lingchuan hummed and nodded. Then the little spider slipped out again.

Bai Song City was expanded only ten years ago, and they brought in hundreds of thousands of young citizens, offering all kinds of jobs—truly a place of little work, much pay, and close to home, worthy of being called the peaceful city most longed for in chaotic times.

He Lingchuan had never been to Ducheng, the capital of Song State, but he imagined the residents' sense of happiness there would not surpass that of Bai Song City.

Any observant person could see at a glance that surrounding cities had been supplying it with materials. Clearly its output and input were not proportional, so why would Song State go to such trouble to build such a Bai Song City?

Given that it lies right beside Yanxia Bay, He Lingchuan naturally concluded that the strangeness here must be related to the demon's experimental site.

Now Zhu Xiuer has also discovered red-thread herb. Given its planting density, filling Bai Song City with fragrance is no problem, and red-thread herb can truly be called a merciless blooming machine, flowering all year round.

Hundreds of thousands of healthy young men and women, with a gentle, non-harmful aphrodisiac fragrance……

These two factors colliding together make it hard not to let the imagination run wild. Is it intentional or not?

Dong Rui interjected: "Let's get back to the main point—we need to think of a way to sneak into Yanxia Bay."

"These years, we and Ling Mountain have dismantled not a few demon puppet experimental sites, so defenses in these places have become increasingly strict. Not to mention this is also the hiding place of the Hidden God Lord. If there are demons guarding it, I also find it perfectly reasonable." He Lingchuan spoke solemnly, "The noodle shop's shopkeeper has a few friends who are warehouse laborers. According to them, the supplies sent to Yanxia Bay have dedicated personnel, so it's not their turn to intervene. Bai Song City only handles repackaging, and Yanxia Bay's own troops come to inspect the supplies, then escort them back."

"So over all these years, no one in Bai Song City has entered Yanxia Bay, nor do they know what it looks like inside."

Dong Rui chuckled: "The more mysterious it is, the more people want to go, especially these energetic young men and women with nothing to do."

"That's right—there really have been people who went missing near Yanxia Bay, but it also came to nothing." He Lingchuan pointed, lightly tapping the small sand table, "Bai Song City has long warned: strangers must not approach the spacetime rift, and we bear no responsibility for any incidents."

"Also, when the noodle shop's shopkeeper returned home, his wife mentioned in idle chat that her friend had again developed a 'peach blossom mark' and would go to the pharmacy tomorrow to buy some medicine..." He Lingchuan hadn't finished speaking when the little spider slipped in again, whispering to him, "Thieves have come."

"Huh?"

"A little brat about eleven or twelve climbed in over the back wall, sneaking around beside the cart, even lifting the curtain to look at the goods. The carter nearby had drunk some wine and fallen asleep, so he didn't notice. I wanted to see what he was trying to steal, but he climbed back over the wall and left."

He Lingchuan and Ling Jinbao both gave an "oh":

"So the footsteps outside the courtyard earlier were his."

They had both heard the faint footsteps just now, but since the inn's courtyard where the caravan stayed is constantly busy, and there are even dedicated carters on watch, they just didn't bother to think further.

Dong Rui, however, said: "That was him casing the joint—he'll be back, believe me."

Considering what he used to do, He Lingchuan believed him.

After five watch periods, the sky will lighten, and then the caravan will set off.

He Lingchuan looked at the sky—this whole city's residents must be about to fall asleep, right?

"I'll go find the local official to gather some information; you two stay here and wait like a watcher by a tree for a rabbit."

……

The other party's arrival speed was faster than Dong Rui had anticipated.

Less than half a watch period later, someone climbed over the wall into the inn's backyard again.

"This brat really can't sit still."

It's not even midnight yet, and he's already here?

This person tiptoed toward the wagon in the rear shed, but found the carter leaning against the wall had been replaced, so he instinctively stopped.

The carter scratched his face, shifted position, and slept even more soundly.

This person observed him for ten or so breaths, seeing he truly hadn't woken, then continued forward. Among the forty wagons, he didn't pick a fully loaded one nor an empty one, but chose a wagon loaded with ore.

He had come by before and taken a look, so he knew the return wagons were all spacious, not fully loaded, leaving room.

Just as this person's foot touched the wagon, his neck tightened—he was actually pulled down by someone!

He instinctively cried out, but before he knew it, a hand reached out from behind and poked his neck—he was rendered mute.

Someone behind him complained: "Finally waited for you—I almost really fell asleep."

After saying that, Dong Rui yawned again.

Earlier he had come to find the night-watch carter, proposed to swap places with him, and the carter looked at him like he was a big fool, repeatedly thanking him while getting up to go back inside to sleep.

A good bed not slept in, but he insists on sleeping on a pile of straw.

This little thief is truly cunning, choosing this time to sneak in when the carters' guard is lowest.

Taking advantage of the deserted surroundings, Dong Rui hauled him back to the guest room, where Ling Jinbao was already waiting.

"So it's you, brat."

As Zhu Xiuer said, this youth is under fourteen. The two felt he looked familiar, because they had seen him in the noodle shop just that evening—

He was the noodle shop's assistant.

The assistant also recognized them, his face turning ashen.

"Why did you climb onto the wagon?" Dong Rui asked him, "You couldn't possibly be stealing ore, could you?"

Ore is heavy and bulky, usually not a thief's first choice. This convoy also carries other more valuable goods, like embroidery, like herbs and pelts. Why did this brat insist on climbing onto the ore wagon?

The assistant kept his mouth shut, not uttering a word.

"If you won't speak, we'll have to hand you over to the officials." Ling Jinbao tapped his head, "You know what fate awaits you."

This was just a threat, but the assistant's face showed fear.

"Confess obediently, and maybe we'll let you go."

The assistant blurted out: "Really?"

"Reporting to the officials is a hassle, we don't want to bother with a little brat." Dong Rui pulled a stalk of wheat from his hair, "Don't force us to get industrious."

Ling Jinbao then asked him: "What's your name?"

"Zheng Dalong." The assistant pursed his lips, "My friends all call me 'Little Dragon'."

"You climbed onto our wagon—what are you trying to do?"

"I want to leave the city, but I can't get past the city gate guards myself, so I can only hitch a ride with your convoy." Little Dragon replied, "I used to have two friends who left this way."

"Do you still keep in touch with them?"

Little Dragon shook his head: "After they escaped, contact was cut off."

Ling Jinbao sat down: "Then how do you know they succeeded? They just disappeared."

Xiaolong pursed his lips: "I have to try to find out if I can make it."

"After leaving the city, where are you going?"

"Where is your convoy headed?"

This kid even threw the question back. Dong Rui smiled without smiling: "Tuocheng."