Chapter 163: Capture

Cheng Maoming let out a chuckle, waiting for Qi Shuo to explain his purpose.

He wanted to see exactly what the Prince Jing's Heir intended to do.

"That day, when I went to Jinxiu Street, I noticed several people acting suspiciously, coming and going as if they were casing the area. I thought to myself, Jinxiu Street is considered one of the faces of the capital among its many streets, and it is to be showcased to the Yuliu envoys in a few days. If these people were to cause any destruction, wouldn't it make the Great Zhou a laughingstock to the whole world..."

Cheng Maoming's temples throbbed.

Just what was the Prince Jing's Heir trying to say? He hadn't realized before that the boy was such a chatterbox!

As for the suspicious behavior Qi Shuo mentioned, Cheng Maoming didn't take it to heart.

The capital was prosperous and wealthy; were there really no petty thieves looking for easy gains?

That was something the Five Cities Military Command should handle; it wasn't worth the attention of the Jinlin Guards.

Qi Shuo finally finished his preamble, took a sip of tea to moisten his throat, and said indifferently, "Since I happened upon them, I couldn't just turn a blind eye. I arranged for guards to follow them, and to my surprise, there was a startling discovery. These people have actually hidden a large amount of gunpowder in their residence—"

"Pfft!" Before Qi Shuo could finish, Cheng Maoming sprayed a mouthful of tea out.

He choked for a moment, coughing until tears came to his eyes, and asked with reddened eyes, "What did the Heir say they were hiding?"

"Gunpowder."

Cheng Maoming was both shocked and speechless.

How could the Prince Jing's Heir say such words in such a flat tone? It left him with absolutely no mental preparation!

"Is the Heir certain it was gunpowder?"

Qi Shuo nodded. "Certain. Judging by the estimated weight of that gunpowder, once ignited, the consequences would be unimaginable."

"Where are they staying?"

"They are staying near Changchun Street, making it extremely convenient to reach Jinxiu Street."

Cheng Maoming's gaze darkened.

If casualties truly occurred when the Yuliu envoys arrived, it would be a world-shaking catastrophe.

But he still had many doubts.

"Heir... why did you tell me about this?"

Qi Shuo looked surprised. "The first person I thought of was the Grand Commander. Or is there another office more suited to handle this matter?"

Cheng Maoming fell silent for a moment.

He actually felt a bit moved.

"So, the Heir believes they intend to blow up Jinxiu Street?"

Qi Shuo said seriously, "I am merely guessing they might commit an evil act. Blowing up Jinxiu Street is one possibility, but I might be wrong; perhaps they just like hoarding gunpowder for fun."

Cheng Maoming: "..."

After a long while, he said, "It is no small feat for the Heir to have discovered this."

Recalling Lin Hao's explanation, a smile played on the corners of Qi Shuo's lips. "It was purely a coincidence."

Cheng Maoming silently averted his eyes.

The Prince Jing's Heir's smile was so strange!

Qi Shuo picked up his teacup and took a sip, his tone nonchalant. "I just feel there is no harm in paying more attention. If I'm wrong, I can just offer an apology. But if these people truly have ill intentions and are thwarted in advance by the Grand Commander, that would be a great achievement."

Cheng Maoming's heart stirred, but he remained composed on the surface. "That would also be the Heir's credit."

Qi Shuo smiled. "I am just a leisurely and wealthy little Prince. What need have I for credit? Grand Commander, don't try to scare me."

Cheng Maoming gave Qi Shuo a deep look. "If there is any development, I will inform the Heir promptly."

The Prince Jing's Heir was becoming more and more impressive in his eyes.

Thinking about the public's impression of the Prince Jing's Heir, Cheng Maoming felt a sense of lamentation.

Indeed, one could not judge people or matters by their surface appearance.

But what did that have to do with him? It was clearly not a bad thing to be on good terms with a clever person like the Prince Jing's Heir.

"Then, my thanks to the Grand Commander." Qi Shuo rose and left.

Cheng Maoming immediately arranged for his most trusted subordinates to lead a raid on the residence of Chen Mu and his companions.

According to the information provided by Qi Shuo, these people mostly went out during the day, leaving two behind to guard the place. To catch them all in one net, they naturally had to wait until those people returned.

Dozens of Jinlin Guards hid quietly nearby, waiting patiently.

The sun moved westward bit by bit, and the sky gradually darkened. People began to enter that unremarkable residential house one after another.

"How many are there?"

"Six. It seems one is still missing."

"Then wait a little longer."

They waited for another half-hour.

The twilight had already draped a dark veil over the houses and streets, and the lurking Jinlin Guards grew anxious.

"Boss, do we wait longer?"

The lead Jinlin Guard stared grimly at the door and whispered, "Cast the net!"

Giving the agreed-upon signal, the Jinlin Guards hidden in various spots gathered together and kicked open the courtyard gate.

It was just the time when cooking smoke rose and dinner was being prepared; several people were sitting around a stone table in the courtyard chatting leisurely. The sudden noise startled them, causing them to spring up.

A squad of Jinlin Guards surged in, long blades in hand, looking aggressive.

"Who are—"

To maintain their cover, these Jinlin Guards were all in plain clothes.

"Jinlin Guards investigating a case." The lead guard flashed his waist token and strode inside.

"My Lord, is there perhaps a misunderstanding? We are all law-abiding citizens—"

"Arrest them," the lead guard said coldly.

To the Jinlin Guards, it didn't matter if they arrested the wrong person; if they truly did, they would just release them. Would the arrested person even go around crying injustice? If they hadn't arrested the wrong person, then it was perfect.

Therefore, arresting them first was the most effortless and efficient way.

The men did not expect there to be no room for negotiation at all. Hearing the lead guard's command, their expressions changed, and they bolted in all directions to escape.

Seeing them flee, the lead guard became even more certain and shouted, "Don't let a single one escape!"

There were eight people in the courtyard, while the Jinlin Guards numbered in the dozens. This meant each person would have to face three or four Jinlin Guards.

Even though these eight were exceptionally skilled, they gradually fell into a disadvantage.

The sounds of fierce fighting spread out with the night. Neighbors poked their heads out to look, but upon seeing the Jinlin Guards patrolling the perimeter with long blades, they didn't dare to breathe loudly.

Amidst this chaos, a man hid in the shadows, staring at the scene with a cold face, his fists clenched tightly.

These soldiers had arrived without warning; how on earth had their tracks been leaked?

Du Qing—

A sharp glint flashed in Chen Mu's eyes as he retreated step by step.

"Stop!" A sudden, harsh shout rang out as someone rushed over with a blade.

Chen Mu bolted.

"There's another one here!" the pursuing Jinlin Guard shouted loudly.

Chen Mu simply turned around and ended the pursuing guard with a single strike.

Blood sprayed from the young body. Chen Mu deftly dodged and plunged into the night, the dull thud of a heavy object hitting the ground echoing from behind him.

More footsteps sounded, accompanied by continuous shouts.

He did not stop, the wind whistling in his ears. Though it was clearly the spring breeze that brings life to the world, to him, it was a biting, freezing wind that turned his heart to ice.

A frantic knocking came at a door, followed by an inquiry from within: "Who is it?"

Chen Mu gritted his teeth. "It's me."

After a brief hesitation, the door was pulled open.

Chen Mu slipped inside.

Du Qing slid the bolt into place, looking somewhat shocked at Chen Mu's disheveled state. "How did you—"

A hand, fast as lightning, lunged toward his throat.

In a short span of time, they exchanged several moves. Du Qing was both angry and startled. "What madness has taken you?"

Chen Mu was even angrier, his strikes showing no mercy. "I should be asking you—why did you inform on us!"

(End of Chapter)