Chapter 84: Chapter 84: Turning Gold into Air!
 

Qi Yue’s heart instantly began to thump wildly.

She had actually become entangled with the Guyang Bandit Gang?

Guyang is a place name, but also the surname of two people.

It was rumored that the Guyang Bandit Gang originated in a place called Guyang, and its two founders were sworn brothers, one surnamed Gu and the other Yang.

These two men had exceptional martial skills and were enthusiastic about doing justice, robbing the rich to help the poor. Initially, there were only the two of them, but as the world deteriorated and the Emperor of Beiyuan’s tyranny spread, many people who had benefited from their deeds joined them.

In just 30 years, they had grown into a very large organization.

For decades, the Government Office deployed tens of thousands of soldiers to exterminate them, but they couldn’t even find their foothold, let alone capture anyone.

Gradually, there arose numerous rumors saying that every member of the Guyang Bandit Gang could walk on walls and seize objects from afar; anything they set their sights on, no matter where it was hidden, would be stolen. This caused much headache for the corrupt officials and wealthy gentry.

Nowadays, the power of the Guyang Bandit Gang has spread across the four great nations, not just Beiyuan, but traces of them could be found in Nanyue, Western Chu, Donggao, and others, truly making them a giant thieving force.

Although these people were thieves, they only stole from corrupt officials and local gentry, which is why they were quite propagated by the common folk.

This time, the gold that Gensheng’s father stole came from the Yongzhou Government Office, prepared by the Prefecture to offer to the Grand Tutor for his seventieth birthday.

Due to an internal problem with the Guyang Bandit Gang, they had long been lying in wait, and Gensheng’s father and elder siblings fell right into the trap. Even so, these three had actually managed to carry away three chests of gold.

Qi Yue felt a sense of admiration for such formidable people, but this did not affect her demand for consultation fees.

In fact, she had calculated that even if she did not take it, the gold would ultimately be confiscated by the soldiers. After all, with such severe injuries and still needing to escape, Gensheng would not be able to carry it while taking care of them.

After treating all three and leaving behind some medicinal powder for their wounds, Qi Yue prepared to leave.

“Good-hearted sister, let me help carry the gold to the inn for you! It may not look like much, but it’s really heavy!”

Now that his family was out of danger, Gensheng’s gratitude towards her was immeasurable.

Seeing his eagerness, if it weren’t for the fact that his father still needed care, the boy would have followed her and worked like an ox or horse to repay her.

Qi Yue waved her hand.

“No need, just find me a larger bag.”

Though Gensheng looked perplexed, he obediently found a large bag.

Watching Qi Yue pack the three chests of gold into the bag and then pick it up as if it were a balloon, Gensheng stood there stunned.

At that moment, Qi Yue was unaware that the internal problems of the Guyang Bandit Gang had something to do with what she had told Qian Faliang.

It was because Qian Faliang had exaggeratedly claimed that the treasures from Ducal Mansion of Zhao and the Emperor’s private gold stash had been moved by the Guyang Bandit Gang, which alarmed the Grand Tutor.

Grand Tutor thus believed that the Guyang Bandit Gang had become a significant threat and left unchecked, would lead to great disaster. So, he ordered the vile ones to destroy the Guyang Bandit Gang at all costs.

Once the vile ones took action, they made full use of all means and soon dealt with a middle-level bandit, and, with his betrayal, they had already killed many members of the Guyang Bandit Gang.

Of course, Gensheng’s father was unaware of such matters; otherwise, Qi Yue’s task of taking the gold would not have been so straightforward.

After leaving the residence, she instantly stored the gold in her space and quickly returned to the inn.

An entire Shichen had passed, and she worried that Zhang Fang might suddenly knock on her door.

True enough, she had barely warmed her seat when Zhang Fang came knocking again.

“Doctor Qi, a notice just came out saying we’re forbidden to travel tomorrow morning; we might be delayed a few more days.”

“Why?” Qi Yue pretended to be oblivious.

“It’s said that the Yongzhou Prefecture has set up numerous traps to capture the Guyang bandits, which is why the city gates have been closed.”

Seeing Zhang Fang’s concern over not being able to get the White Rhino Horn on time, Qi Yue comforted him a few words.

“As soon as the city gates open, we can travel overnight and won’t be too late.”

After exchanging a few words in the hall, they each returned to their room to sleep.

Back in her room, Qi Yue lay on her bed, still dressed, and continued to ponder about the White Rhino.

Her consolation to Zhang Fang was, in reality, also a comfort to herself.

It was only at this juncture that she realized there were many uncontrollable factors in the world, and it was hard to predict what might happen on the journey ahead.

Initially, she was quite confident about obtaining the White Rhino Horn, feeling that as long as she safely entered that area, she would have a way to get the item. However, on their way, she discovered too many people were heading west.

She feared some of them were also after the White Rhino.

After all, the rhinoceros horn was not only rumored to be a miraculous medicine for healing wounds but could also be used to refine the toughest weapons in the world, especially its skin, which was the best material for making war drums.

If during a battle, one side sounded a drum made of White Rhino skin, its thunderous noise could pierce the sky and crush the clouds, instantly suppressing the morale of the opposition.

With such a coveted item, how could no one else want it!

She suddenly remembered the words Huang Zai’an told her when she was leaving.

“The people entering the western part of Longnan Ridge are more terrifying than the ridge itself.”

It seemed her opportunistic Grand Tutor had already anticipated the difficulties she would face, which was why he had involved Hu Chengxuan’s men.

At this thought, she couldn’t help but grow intensely curious about this old man who had insisted on becoming her Grand Tutor.

Why? Why did he do this?

A series of questions darted through Qi Yue’s mind, but she also knew that what she needed to do right now was to get to the western part of Longnan Ridge as soon as possible and obtain the White Rhino Horn.

When it was time to sleep, as usual, she locked the doors and windows and returned to her own space for the night.

As expected, the gates of Yongzhou City did not open the next day. Qi Yue went out for a walk and, seeing the soldiers running around in disarray, knew they had not found Song Gensheng and his family.

In the evening, while dining on the ground floor of the inn, she overheard many people discussing the Guyang Bandit Gang.

“I bet these soldiers won’t find the Guyang Bandits!”

“Of course, they won’t. The Guyang Bandits come and go without a trace; how could the soldiers possibly find them?”

“The Guyang Bandits are in trouble now; they actually dared to steal the Grand Tutor Lin’s birthday gift. If you ask me, the soldiers won’t rest until they catch them.”

“Indeed, I heard that the one who stole the gold was injured and might not be able to get away.”

“…”

Qi Yue also suddenly realized that as long as the Guyang Bandits were not caught, the gates of Yongzhou City would remain closed; others might be able to afford the delay, but she could not.

She had to resolve this matter quickly!

She hurried upstairs, planning to find Zhang Fang, but he was out of ideas as well.

These people, within the boundaries of Longnan County, were in charge and could act as they pleased, but this place was already in the central part of Beiyuan, where nobody cared if you were the esteemed Prefectural Magistrate of Longnan County!

So, they had to come up with their own solutions.

Qi Yue threw herself onto the couch in her room, tossing and turning for quite a while, unable to come up with a good plan.

As her frustration rose, she simply decided to make a trip to the Yongzhou Government Office and claim the remaining gold for herself.

Wasn’t it said that the Guyang Bandits were extraordinarily capable? She might as well solidify that reputation and give these corrupt officials a good scare.

The Grand Tutor Lin’s birthday gift, huh?

She’d see how she could turn the gold into thin air!

She heard from Song Gensheng’s elder brother that this time, the Yongzhou Government Office had received more than thirty boxes of gold just as tributes, not to mention the countless precious antiques, jade ware, and pearls. They had only taken a single box of gold each.

Once she decided on this course of action, Qi Yue immediately began to prepare.