Chapter 531: Only Half an Hour to Save the Princess

Gold!

Over 100,000 taels.

And another 200,000 taels in silver notes. If found, the people living near Yunhang could be saved.

"I don’t know where it is, but there’s a person who definitely can. You only need to take her, sneak out of Qixia Temple undetected, and she can surely help you find the gold!"

"Really? Who is this person? Where is she? I’ll go get... wait a minute..."

Dugu suddenly realized something. He widened his eyes, staring at Ji Youze.

"Don’t tell me that these three thousand elite soldiers are part of some plot between you and the Emperor?"

Ji Youze shook his head. "Not at all. I had guessed that the Emperor would send troops, but I didn’t expect him to send you. I also never thought he would act so quickly. You know, if you had arrived an hour later, Liao Kong would have escaped."

"Liao... Liao Kong? The Emperor sent me here for him?"

Dugu looked at Ji Youze in disbelief.

Ji Youze nodded gently. "That’s right!"

"But I heard that Liao Kong is the foremost Buddhist master in the Jianghu; there aren’t many who can detain him!"

"That’s why the Emperor sent you," Ji Youze said, then added, "And you’ve got one thing wrong. Liao Kong is not the foremost Buddhist master; he’s the foremost Buddhist master in the Central Plains."

"Ah, I don’t care if he’s the foremost Buddhist master of the Central Plains or the West... Wait... what did you just say? Liao Kong’s running away? Why would he do that?"

"Don’t worry about why he’s running. Your only objective right now is to find a child. She’s about four and a half years old and should be locked in a secret room inside Qixia Temple. Once you find her, take her away immediately. Tell her that her Eighth Uncle needs her to lead you to the gold to help the disaster-stricken people near Yunhang. She’ll listen to you."

"Eighth... Eighth Uncle... I remember you have a niece. The ’Eighth Uncle’ you mentioned—that’s you, right?"

Dugu only now remembered that Ji Youze had a niece, and she was the Princess personally enfeoffed by the Emperor!

"Wait... Qixia Temple has imprisoned the Princess?"

Dugu was aghast, his face paling. His voice, after suddenly rising, dropped low as he repeated in disbelief, "Qixia Temple has imprisoned the Princess?"

"Mm! So, you and Youzhi need to cooperate! Rescue the Princess, find the gold, and distribute disaster relief!"

After Ji Youze spoke, Ji Youzhi stepped out from nearby.

"I’ve found the secret room; it’s beneath Mingwu Building. Liao Kong and the Abbot are both in Mingwu Building right now, so it’s not the best time for us to go in!"

Seeing him, Dugu stood up, beaming, and warmly greeted him.

"Youzhi, you’re here!"

"I didn’t expect the Emperor to send you. Guard Qixia Temple well; don’t let even a mosquito fly out!"

"Don’t worry! My men are absolutely trustworthy. By the way, you mentioned wanting to go to that secret room. The best opportunity will be in about two hours. The Empress Dowager’s Phoenix Vehicle will arrive at Qixia Temple then. Liao Kong, the Abbot, and the Temple’s High Monks will be at the entrance to welcome them. That will give us only one hour."

"One hour won’t be enough. I’ve scouted it secretly. That secret room has a mechanism. It will take me two hours to disarm it, and even then, I can’t guarantee success!"

Ji Youzhi’s words made Dugu’s heart sink.

"Just because you can’t deal with the mechanism doesn’t mean others can’t!"

From the side, Ji Youze’s voice came coolly!