Chapter 216 A Narrow Path Leads to Unprecedented Wealth

"It's alright, look, there's another path here." Zhao Ximo, afraid that Lin Luoxi wouldn't believe him, pointed to a narrow path at the edge of the cliff.

The narrow path along the cliff edge was clearly visible to everyone under the moonlight.

However, the narrow path stretched downwards, with no end in sight, and the dark shadows of the forest below the cliff were quite frightening under the moonlight.

"I was trying to escape, but I stumbled upon this place and saw a small path. I thought it led down the mountain, but who knew..."

Back then, I was only thinking about escaping and didn't feel it was that scary. Now, revisiting the place late at night, it looks quite terrifying. Looking back, I don't know where I got the courage.

Lin Luoxi quickened her pace and looked in the direction Zhao Ximo was pointing; it was indeed a narrow, winding path.

Could this path be the passage through which she heard the sound of gold bars being hammered in the underground treasure vault?

Regardless, since they were already there, Lin Luoxi had Zhao Ximo walk behind her, while she led the way.

If a bandit suddenly appeared ahead, Zhao Ximo would be doomed if she were in front of him. It would be best for her to go first.

"Then I'll walk behind." Lin Jize saw through Lin Luoxi's intention at a glance, letting the four girls walk in front while he walked behind.

The sisters Zhao Ximo, Tang Chuxia, Yang Keyi, and Yang Kexin were treated like human beings for the first time since they joined the bandits' den, and they were very grateful to have met Lin Luoxi, their good master.

If it were anyone else, unaware of the danger ahead, they would definitely be sent ahead to act as human punching bags.

The narrow path carved into the edge of the cliff is only wide enough for one person to pass through. If you are not familiar with the road conditions, you will definitely fall to your death if you are not careful.

No wonder the government troops couldn't take them down after so many years of fighting; these bandits are indeed quite capable.

“Be careful, if you’re scared, just wait for us up here…” Lin Luoxi said to the four thin girls.

“No, we’ll be wherever our master is!” Zhao Ximo answered without hesitation.

The bandit stronghold is now in chaos, and they may not be safe up there.

If we go down with Lin Luoxi, there might still be a glimmer of hope.

"Alright, then be careful." Lin Luoxi produced a long, thick hemp rope as if by magic.

"Hold on tight, all of you. If you slip and fall, I can catch you." Lin Luoxi carefully instructed the four girls to hold onto the rope to prevent them from losing their footing and falling, so that she could rescue them in time.

"Thank you, Master." Zhao Ximo and the others thanked Lin Luoxi gratefully and obediently held onto the rope that Lin Luoxi handed them.

Lin Jize was pulling the last end of the rope from behind; he was a man and very strong.

After taking safety precautions on the cliff, the group slowly began to climb down the narrow path.

As she walked along the road, Lin Luoxi really wanted to use her light-footed skills to fly directly to her destination, but with four frail women following behind her, she could only slow down and walk slowly.

Zhao Ximo and the others were afraid of implicating Lin Luoxi, so they walked very carefully, not daring to make any mistakes.

After walking for about fifteen minutes, we finally saw a platform in the middle of the cliff.

The platform wasn't large, just big enough for five or six people to stand in. Lin Luoxi reminded Zhao Ximo and the others before letting go of the rope and jumping down first.

After catching Zhao Ximo and the others and getting them all standing on the platform, Lin Luoxi finally turned her attention to the area around the platform.

"It seems there are still people inside." Lin Luoxi saw a circular cave carved out of the cave wall. Just as she stood at the entrance of the cave, a gust of wind blew in, and she heard a familiar voice coming from inside.

It seems that this is the place where she heard the hammering sound of metal being struck in the underground treasure vault.

"Then what are we waiting for? Let's go in and take a look." The place was so well hidden that Lin Jize's curiosity was piqued, and he couldn't wait to go into the cave ahead of Lin Xi.

"Good!" Seeing that the sky was beginning to lighten, she knew the soldiers should be on their way, so she had to hurry and go in to check.

The cave wasn't dark inside; on the contrary, it was brighter inside than outside.

"Who are you people?" As soon as Lin Luoxi and her companions entered the cave, they saw a group of men with bare arms, busy hammering gleaming gold bars in their hands.

The burly men also saw Lin Luoxi and her group, and they all put down their tools, looking at Lin Luoxi with wary expressions.

"That's a question I should be asking you."

"Don't you know that unauthorized gold mining is punishable by the extermination of nine generations of your family?" The imperial law is strict: once unauthorized gold mining is discovered, everyone involved will be imprisoned.

No wonder these bandits guarded Bear Ridge so closely; it was because Bear Ridge had a gold mine, and having tasted its sweetness, they were unwilling to give up such immense wealth.

"Are you people of the imperial court?" Does that mean the imperial court has finally conquered this place, and that they are about to regain their freedom?

"Hmm!" Considering the identity of that sickly man and the background of Lin Jize beside him, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that they were from the imperial court.

"Please, sir, save us! We were forcibly brought here by these bandits; we didn't want to!"

"Yes, if we don't listen to the adults, they will kill our whole family. We have no choice but to do it."

"Please, Your Honor, spare us and let us go home to reunite with our wives and children." The goldsmiths inside the cave all knelt down before Lin Jize.

In their view, if Lin Jize were truly an official appointed by the imperial court, his demeanor would be quite fitting, and with maids accompanying him, his official rank must be considerable.

"Lord Lin, look, they've come begging to you. Why don't you spare their lives?"

Seeing that these goldsmiths were so perceptive as to know that Lin Jize held an official position among them, Lin Luoxi thought they were smart enough to wink at Lin Jize.

"Hmph, empty words are no proof. You say you're innocent, but I don't believe you."

"I will make a decision after I have investigated them one by one." Lin Jize would not believe that these people were truly innocent just because they said they were innocent. He kept a serious face.

Not to mention, Lin Jize had a fierce face and a powerful aura, exuding a murderous aura, just like the aura of a general who had fought a bloody battle.

Lin Luoxi's heart pounded as she stared intently at Lin Jize; he was a living, breathing hero!

No, he is a general, so it's normal for him to have a murderous aura.

"Yes, we will obey your orders, sir." Upon hearing Lin Jize's words, the goldsmiths no longer objected. Instead, they believed that Lin Jize was indeed a high-ranking official who had come to save them from their predicament.