Chapter 379: Chapter 379. The Mole
Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
Ji Shuisheng and Su Qing entered the city at night because it was not safe to walk in the day with three carriages of weapons. During their few days away, Mo City had been snowing heavily again. The entire city was draped in white feather clothes, and snowflakes flew all over the sky when the wind blew. As soon as their carriages arrived at the city, the soldiers guarding the city noticed them and shouted,
“Who are you?”
“It’s me, Ji Shuisheng.”
Ji Shuisheng raised his head and replied to the soldiers on the city wall. When they heard that Ji Shuisheng had returned, the soldiers on the city wall hurriedly ran down to open the door.
“Young master, you’re finally back. Something big has happened in the city.”
The team captain guarding the city reported to Ji Shuisheng when he saw him. He looked anxious. The city had been heavily guarded for the past two days. Only entry was allowed, but no exit was allowed. This was because something important had been lost.
“What happened?”
Ji Shuisheng’s head hurt when he heard that. He had only been gone for ten days, so how could something have happened? However, he did not think it was a big deal. The city gate did not seem to be attacked. It was not a big deal since other countries did not attack it.
But who knew that when he heard the report of the squad leader, his expression also changed drastically.
“The four soldiers guarding the weapon were poisoned to death, and the weapon disappeared.”
Losing a weapon of ma.s.s destruction was a big deal. Everyone had seen its power. Last time, they used a weapon of ma.s.s destruction to repel the Tartan soldiers. If this thing fell into the hands of the enemy, it would be a disaster for them.
“How did you lose it?”
Su Qing got out of the car and walked quickly to the captain.
Previously, because someone had come to s.n.a.t.c.h the detonator, they had already moved it to a secret place. There were no more than ten people who knew about it. Even the soldiers guarding the area had been closely inspected. Two shifts did not come into contact with the outside world to prevent anyone from stealing the detonator.
They were so strictly guarded, yet they were still lost? There must be a mole.
“Two days ago, when the soldiers who took over the shift went to change shifts, they found that the four guards had been poisoned to death. Commander Cheng checked overnight and found that the killing weapon had been stolen.”
After listening to the captain’s report, Ji Shuisheng and Su Qing did not stay any longer and went straight to Cheng Yu.
Cheng Yu hadn’t slept well for two days, and his eyes were bloodshot. When Ji Shuisheng and Su Qing arrived, he was looking at the topographic map of Mo City.
“Uncle Cheng.”
Ji Shuisheng strode into the house and greeted Cheng Yu.
“Shuisheng, Su Qing, you’re finally back.”
Cheng Yu looked at Ji Shuisheng with guilt in his eyes.
“I didn’t keep an eye on the weapon, and it was stolen.”
“No clues?”
Ji Shuisheng waved his hand to stop Cheng Yu from blaming himself. Now was not the time to pursue responsibility. He had to quickly find the great killing weapon and not let it leave Mo City.
“I have no leads at the moment. I have investigated all the people who know where the great killing weapon is stored. 1 have also searched these few houses first, but 1 have not found it yet.”
Cheng Yu shook his head in shame. For the past two days, he had ordered the army to search the city all day. No one was allowed to leave Mo City to prevent the great killing weapon from being transported out of Mo City.
He was most afraid that the great killing weapon would be used to destroy Mo City. That would be dangerous.
“Where’s Yongkang?”
Ji Shuisheng asked Cheng Yu. After he left, Qui Yongkang said that he would defend Mo City, but such a big mess had happened.
“He brought people to search day and night. He kept saying he had let you down and had to find the great killing weapon. Otherwise, he would be too ashamed to see you.”
Cheng Yu sighed. It wasn’t just Yongkang who was too ashamed to face Ji Shuisheng; he was too.
“I’ll go and take a look.”
When Ji Shuisheng heard that Qiu Yongkang had been searching day and night, the dissatisfaction in his heart lessened a little. No matter what, this matter could not be blamed on Yongkang. He did not want this to happen either.
Ji Shuisheng wanted to go to the secret place where the weapon was stored. They had held the weapon in an abandoned restaurant near the military camp. There was a tunnel under the kang of this restaurant.
The restaurant was close to the military camp, and the main door was usually closed. The guards all went through the back door, and they were all dressed in casual clothes. Outsiders could not discover this secret place at all.
Ji Shuisheng wanted to see if the enemy had dug a secret pa.s.sage and entered from inside. Otherwise, the military camp would immediately know if there were guards and a fight broke out.
“I’ll go with you.”
She asked Xiaoying to stay at his grandfather’s place for the night before she followed Ji Shuisheng to the restaurant where the detonators were stored.
The four soldiers had been poisoned to death, and the person who had made them eat the poison must be someone familiar. Su Qing wanted to see what kind of poison it was. To uncover the traitor through poison.
Ji Shuisheng nodded. With Su Qing following, the two of them had something to discuss.
“I’ve already asked people to protect that area. The snow footprints are obvious.”
Cheng Yu followed Ji Shuisheng and the others into the restaurant. The streets were deserted in the middle of the night. No one was on the road, and the houses on both sides were pitch-black.
During this period, there was a serial murder case. The officers and soldiers searched the entire city in panic. After a few days of peace, they started searching again. The ordinary people were afraid and went home early at night to close their doors and windows.
When they were about to reach the restaurant, they heard someone shout,
“Who?”
Immediately after, a group of soldiers surrounded them. Cheng Yu said in a deep voice, “It’s me.”
Hearing the commander’s voice, the soldiers retreated. Qiu Yongkang came over with a torch. When he saw Ji Shuisheng and Su Qing beside Cheng Yu, he guiltily greeted them,
“Shuisheng, Su Qing.”
Qiu Yongkang lowered his head after greeting them, not knowing how to explain to Shuisheng.
Ji Shuisheng noticed that Qiu Yongkang’s white chin had grown a half-inch-long beard and dark circles under his eyes, making him look haggard.
“You already know? It was my fault for not looking after Mo City.”
Seeing that Ji Shuisheng was looking at him without saying anything, Qiu Yongkang raised his head and reflected on himself.
“Go home and rest first!”
Ji Shuisheng did not say anything when he saw his accusatory look. He let him go back and rest first.
“I’m not tired. 1’11 go with you.”
Qiu Yongkang shook his head stubbornly. He wanted to make up for his mistake and accompany Ji Shuisheng into the house.
“You can go back. You don’t have to do this.”
Su Qing blocked Qiu Yongkang and coldly asked him to leave.
H H
Qiu Yongkang looked at Su Qing angrily. Why was she treating him like he was a thief? This made Qiu Yongkang very uncomfortable.
“Yongkang, you must be tired. Go back and rest well.”
Ji Shuisheng saw that Su Qing’s att.i.tude was a little hurtful. Yongkang’s pride was very strong, and he was afraid he would be embarra.s.sed, so he patted Yongkong’s shoulder to let him return first.
“Alright then!”
Qiu Yongkang didn’t insist. Su Qing didn’t give him any face. If he didn’t leave, she might say something to embarra.s.s him.
After Qiu Yongkang left, Su Qing ordered the soldiers he brought to guard the restaurant’s entrance, not allowing them to follow them in.
Ji Shuisheng was about to walk into the house when Su Qing stopped him.
“Don’t ruin the scene.”
After saying that, Su Qing raised the torch and looked at the footprints on the ground. If only Xiao Qi were here, she could copy the footprints..