Chapter 459: Chapter 428: Found the First One
Daohua carefully examined the four drenched men pressed to the ground, his gaze wandering among them before finally settling on the one at the very edge, and asked with some surprise, “Why is it you?”
Hearing this, the four captives, as well as Xiao Yeyang and the others, all looked towards Daohua.
Xiao Yeyang asked in astonishment, “What, you know these people?”
Daohua pointed to the man on the side and said, “Do you remember? Last time during the Jiguang flood, when I jumped into the river to save Master and Granny Gu, someone helped me. It was him.”
As soon as he said this, Sun Changze, who was being pressed by the bodyguards and rapidly pondering how to save himself, suddenly brightened his eyes and quickly looked towards Daohua.
Xiao Yeyang glanced at Sun Changze and nodded, “There was such an incident.” But he, himself, did not remember the person.
...
Daohua said to the bodyguard detaining them, “Let them go for now, I have some questions to ask.”
The bodyguard did not move, turning to look at Xiao Yeyang, who nodded before they released their hold.
Sun Changze straightened up, looked at Daohua, then at Xiao Yeyang, and the surrounding bodyguards, knowing they had encountered some troublesome people this time.
Daohua looked at Sun Changze and asked, “What are you doing here?”
Sun Changze appeared hesitant, not too keen on revealing the secret of the gold mine.
After a moment of silence, the bodyguard behind him kicked him to the ground and said sternly, “We are asking you a question, answer properly!”
Daohua hurriedly intervened, “Don’t be rough! How can I ask questions if you hit him like that?”
No sooner had his words fallen than Xiao Yeyang gave a glance at the bodyguard who had just made a move.
The bodyguard immediately bowed his head.
Sun Changze straightened up again and looked at Daohua, knowing their only chance to survive might lie with this young man before them, “We’ve come here to pan for gold.”
At these words, the expressions of everyone present shifted.
Daohua raised an eyebrow, “How did you know there was gold here?”
This time, Sun Changze did not hesitate, “This year, last year, and the year before, I found gold dust downstream in the river. I once heard from the elderly in our village that some river sources might have gold deposits. That’s why we came here looking.”
Xiao Yeyang sneered, “You dare to eye the gold mine?”
Sun Changze shook his head repeatedly, “We didn’t plan to take much, just wanted to pan some to improve our lives.”
At this, Xiao Yeyang was completely unconvinced; human greed is endless, “If you truly found a gold mine, could you actually stop yourselves?”
Sun Changze paused for a moment, “I am not ignorant. I know that mining gold on one’s own is a capital offense. We came here with dual intentions. If we found a little gold dust, we would use it ourselves. If it was more, we would report it to the Imperial Court, maybe even receive a reward.”
Daohua, “So, have you found it?”
Sun Changze shook his head, “The River Valley is too vast. Today was only our third time here; we haven’t found it yet.”
Daohua pressed on, “Did you come to search on your own, or were you commissioned by someone else?”
Sun Changze quickly replied, “We came on our own. Something like this we’d rather hide, how could we tell others?”
Daohua looked towards Xiao Yeyang.
Xiao Yeyang, “What do you want to say?”
Daohua pulled Xiao Yeyang aside and whispered, “What are you going to do with those people?”
Xiao Yeyang, “It’ll only be clear after taking them back for interrogation.” He said, looking at Daohua with a smile, “Why, you want me to let them go?”
Daohua shook his head, “I don’t know their exact circumstances, so how could I suggest you release them on my own? However, that man did help me once. If, and I mean if, they are not involved with any other powers and won’t interfere with you, just ordinary people, could you consider letting them off?”
Xiao Yeyang smiled and nodded, “It’s possible, yes, but not before we find the gold mine.” News of a potential gold mine under the mountains and River Valley could absolutely not be leaked out at this time.
Daohua smiled, “You do what you think is best, just don’t delay your business.” He said, glancing at the sky, “Now that we’ve come all this way and there is still some time before dark, shall we continue exploring forward?”
Xiao Yeyang, too, wished to find the gold mine soon, and thus nodded his agreement.
Daohua pointed to Sun Changze and the others, “Let them change out of their wet clothes.”
Xiao Yeyang looked at the bodyguard, who immediately threw dry clothes to Sun Changze and the others, taking them behind a large tree to change.
Xiao Yeyang and others left first. Given the difficulty of the mountain paths, Xiao Yeyang took Daohua’s hand directly, planning to lead her, but as soon as he grasped her hand, he felt it was exceptionally cold, and his brows furrowed instantly, “Why is it so cold?”
Daohua rubbed her hands together, “The temperature in the mountains is lower than outside.”
Xiao Yeyang quickly took off his indigo half-sleeve Crane Cloak and slipped it on Daohua.
Daohua immediately stepped back, “I’m not cold, and you’re injured. Don’t catch a cold yourself.”
Xiao Yeyang ignored her, forcefully dressing her in the cloak, and whispered, “You’re a lady, your body isn’t like a man’s, how can you withstand the cold? I know my own body, I won’t catch a cold. Don’t believe me? Feel my hand, isn’t it warm?”
Unable to win against Xiao Yeyang and not wanting to argue in front of so many people, Daohua had no choice but to put on the clothing.
After she was properly dressed, Xiao Yeyang took Daohua’s hand again, “Let’s go, if we dawdle any longer, it will be dark.”
The group hurried toward the upper reaches of the River Valley.
The River Valley had many twists and turns, and along the way, Daohua keenly sensed the fragrance of grass and trees in the air, occasionally directing Xiao Yeyang to proceed in the direction she indicated.
As they progressed, the bodyguards were surprised to find an increasing amount of Jing Cao along the way.
As dusk barely touched the sky, Xiao Yeyang and his party arrived at a riverside thick with Jing Cao.
Defu was full of amazement, “Good gracious, we’ve been wandering around for such a while and didn’t realize there was such a place hidden in the valley.”
Surprised as well, Sun Changze had visited this part of the River Valley several times before, but had never ventured to this side. After quickly contemplating, he took the initiative to speak to Xiao Yeyang and Daohua, “We’re willing to go into the river to pan for gold for you. If we find a gold mine, could you spare our lives?”
Xiao Yeyang looked at him but did not immediately respond.
Seeing him not speaking, Daohua kept silent as well.
Sun Changze continued, “The four of us grew up by the water; we’re all very good swimmers. If we can’t find anything at the bottom, it’s even less likely for others.”
Xiao Yeyang still did not react much, but glancing at the thriving Jing Cao along the riverbank, he already had a suspicion. Looking at the endless River Valley, he thought it wouldn’t be bad to have a few more divers, so he finally said, “Go and check in the river.”
Sun Changze’s expression lit up. He quickly called the other three, shed their outer garments, and with a splash, they jumped into the river.
Xiao Yeyang watched Daohua crane her neck to peer into the river, eager to get closer to the edge, and quickly pulled her back, “Settle down, eh? If you fall into the river in the middle of winter, that would be a real ordeal.”
Having no other choice, Daohua could only watch from a distance.
Soon, Sun Changze emerged from the water, excitedly holding a clump of river mud wrapped in clothing. He hurried ashore, dumped it on the ground, and quickly spread out the river mud. In no time, a gleam of gold shone through.
Daohua immediately rejoiced, “Xiao Yeyang, look quickly, there really is gold!”
Xiao Yeyang, too, was a bit excited and promptly directed several bodyguards, “You all go down as well.”
The appointed bodyguards did not hesitate, shed their clothing, and leapt into the river.
“Master, there’s gold dust here.”
“I’ve found some over here too.”
Seeing the bodyguards find gold in several places in the river, Xiao Yeyang exhaled in relief and looked at Daohua with a smile, “You truly are a lucky star.”
They had searched for the gold mine for so long, and this person had found it upon her arrival.
Daohua tilted her chin up, smiling somewhat smugly, “Of course. Are you going to write to the Emperor now?”
Xiao Yeyang thought for a moment, then shook his head, “We need to notify Mr. Wu first.”
Daohua looked worried, “Will he take credit for our discovery?”
Xiao Yeyang laughed, “With me here, are you still afraid someone will steal your credit?”
Daohua thought it over and relaxed, “Then notify him quickly.”
Xiao Yeyang immediately summoned a bodyguard, gave a few instructions, and sent him away. Then, looking at the darkening sky, he said to Daohua, “We need to wait here for a while. Once Mr. Wu arrives, I’ll take you back.”
Daohua nodded, looking around at the surroundings. As it had gotten dark, it was hard to make out the scenery. After some thought, she said, “Bring me back here tomorrow to take a look.”
Xiao Yeyang smiled, “What else do you want to see?”
Daohua fell silent for a moment, “I won’t tell you until it’s confirmed.” Most places where placer gold forms tend to have lode gold as well.