Green Mountain-Chapter 560 - 422: Chen Ji’s Jianghu
The courtyard quieted down, but Bai Long didn’t leave.
Treasure Monkey asked in a low voice, "Sir, just letting them go like this, how will we justify it to the court?"
Bai Long was indifferent, "As long as we can explain it to Lord Prime Minister, there’s no need to explain to others. Strange, why is Xuan Snake so slow?"
He extended his hand, "Give it to me."
Treasure Monkey obediently handed over the bamboo sticks and tattered bamboo paper. Bai Long casually said, "Bamboo paper can’t make a kite; it’ll fall apart with the wind. Use silk cloth instead."
"Oh," Treasure Monkey climbed over the wall to the next door and returned with a stack of colorful silk cloth used for wiping the coffins in Ning’s Imperial Tomb.
The bamboo sticks came alive in Bai Long’s hands, and in just ten breaths, he had woven them into the outline of a baby monkey. Bai Long picked a red thread from the sewing box and threaded it through the needle.
Treasure Monkey watched Bai Long make the kite eagerly, and at that moment, movement finally came from the secret passage.
Spies emerged in single file, holding waist knives, alert to the surroundings. When they saw Bai Long seated in the courtyard, they were shocked, "Sir, we were chasing the wanted criminal here..."
Bai Long continued sewing the kite without looking up, "You catch criminals at such a turtle’s pace that they have time to go home, eat a meal, take a bath, change clothes, and escape."
The spies were panicked and knelt on the ground, "We deserve to die a thousand deaths!"
Bai Long ignored them, simply picking up the red kite in his hand, "All done!"
He handed the kite to Treasure Monkey and finally looked at the spies, "Where is Xuan Snake?"
The spy whispered, "Sir, he’s still back there."
"Then let’s wait for him."
After 15 minutes, Xuan Snake jumped from the secret passage with his arms hanging down. As soon as he saw Bai Long, his face turned ashen.
Why was Bai Long here?
Xuan Snake made a move to salute, but Bai Long nonchalantly waved him off, teasingly, "I know your hands are inconvenient, no need to salute."
"Thank you, sir." Xuan Snake bowed his head.
In that instant, various thoughts flashed through his mind, as if connecting everything together.
He had originally been misled by clues and had chased towards Guyuan, only to be called back by Bai Long.
Upon returning, his trusted subordinates had been killed, and even he had inexplicably encountered and fought two Seeking Dao Realm Grand Officials, losing both arms, suffering heavy losses!
Looking back now, it was clearly Bai Long who deliberately made him return, using others to punish him.
Xuan Snake looked up at Bai Long.
Bai Long smiled gently, "Have you figured it out?"
Xuan Snake hesitated for a moment, "I have figured it out, sir..."
Bai Long said indifferently, "I told you not to rush, but you didn’t listen. Around Your Majesty, the brush has been changed time and again, but when has the seal of the Ritual Supervision been changed?"
Xuan Snake trembled, "I know my mistake."
The next moment, from beneath Treasure Monkey’s wooden monkey mask came a god-like resonating voice, "Kill or not!"
Treasure Monkey turned to Bai Long, "Sir, those who betray, kill or not!"
The neutral, grand voice seemed like a Hong Bell ringing, causing the spies to cover their ears in pain.
Xuan Snake dared not lift his head, now a fish on the chopping board ready to be slaughtered, "I know my mistake!"
Bai Long raised his hand to stop Treasure Monkey’s words and spoke sincerely to Xuan Snake, "Don’t rush to become a turncoat. Someone once told me that in this Imperial Capital, rules aren’t important, profits aren’t important; who you belong to is important. Xuan Snake, considering the significant contributions you’ve made to the Prime Minister, this time I’ll spare your life. Next time, you won’t be so lucky." 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺
Xuan Snake knocked his forehead heavily on the ground, "Thank you, sir, for sparing my life. Thank you for not killing me! I will go kill Wu Xuange immediately, to give you and Lord Prime Minister an account!"
Bai Long shook his head, "With your hands now, who can you kill? Speak less idle words and do more real work for Lord Prime Minister, that’s the proper way."
Xuan Snake dared not refute, only trying tentatively in a low voice, "Is Chen Ji the person you planted in the Chen family?"
Treasure Monkey played with the kite while sneaking looks at Bai Long, the other spies stood in the courtyard with heads bowed, not daring to look up.
Bai Long stood up slowly, looking down at Xuan Snake from a height, "When did it become your turn to speculate about me?"
Xuan Snake hurriedly said, "I meant no harm, it’s just that Wu Xuange parted ways with me after leaving Changping County. He didn’t go to Guyuan but led over a hundred Jiefan Guard to guard outside the Imperial Capital... If Chen Ji wants to clear his grievance, he must bring back Liao Zhong to the Imperial Capital. As long as he waits outside, he will eventually catch him."
Over a hundred Jiefan Guard, not something Chen Ji alone can fight against.
He would certainly die.
Xuan Snake’s question was actually very crucial.
If Bai Long cared whether Chen Ji lived or died, then Chen Ji was important to Bai Long, suggesting Bai Long’s true identity; if Bai Long didn’t care, then Bai Long’s previous confrontations with the Crown Prince and Jiefan Guard were merely to thwart the Crown Prince and Wu Xiu by using Chen Ji’s matter.
Xuan Snake tried probing, "I shall lead people to rescue immediately..."
Bai Long laughed slightly, turned, and walked out, "My Spy Department is not a servant to the Chen family, why care about him. Everyone, stay in Changping and clean up this place, extinguish the fire, don’t let the Imperial Censor catch any evidence."
Xuan Snake was stunned, unable to understand Bai Long’s intentions, unable to discern truth from falsehood.
Bai Long exited, mounted the horse, turned and headed leisurely towards the city.
When Bai Long had gone far, a spy wanted to help Xuan Snake up from the ground, but Xuan Snake sent him a cold glance that scared the spy into retreating repeatedly.
Xuan Snake rose alone, letting the spies brush off the dust from his knees. He watched the backs of Bai Long and Treasure Monkey leaving, his eyes calm like a deep pond, wondering what he was thinking.
In Changping County, Bai Long slowly patrolled the streets, unhurriedly.
Treasure Monkey rode alongside Bai Long, a hoarse voice beneath the mask spoke steadily, "Sir, does the Prime Minister know you are working with Lamp? The Prime Minister has always disliked Jianghu, those who break the martial prohibition..."
Bai Long shot him a sidelong glance, "When did the Prime Minister start disliking Jianghu?"
Treasure Monkey recalled, "The Prime Minister once said he wanted to cut out nine parts of the world’s chivalry."
Bai Long said meaningfully, "Yet he left one part, right?"
Treasure Monkey was taken aback.
Bai Long laughed heartily, "You all do not understand the Prime Minister. A Jianghu where pretenders and fame-seekers are all eradicated is the Jianghu he desires."
A woman’s voice from behind the Treasure Monkey mask asked, "Sir, are you truly not going to save that boy? We can go in your place, and ensure Xuan Snake remains unaware. You said that we are your friends."
Bai Long turned his head and gazed at the Treasure Monkey for a moment, then calmly said, "No need, he has his own Jianghu."
...
...
Chen Ji went south along the official road.
Liao Zhong was still lying on the saddle unconscious, and Chen Ji, with two horses, was returning to the Imperial Capital at the fastest speed, traveling from morning till noon, and then from noon until the sun hung low in the west.
Just as the outline of the city appeared on the horizon, dozens of people lined up blocking the official road, wearing straw coats and bamboo hats, as black as mountains.
Jiefan Guard, Wu Xuange.
The fierce gaze of the Jiefan Guards was hidden under their bamboo hats, like knives in their sheaths.
Chen Ji slowed down his horse, quietly watching the "mountain" in front of him. One of the Jiefan Guards took out a copper whistle and blew an eagle’s cry. He looked back, hearing hoofbeats from afar, a line of black pressing from the horizon.
Wu Xuange had set an inescapable trap here, never intending to let Chen Ji return to the capital alive.
Chen Ji turned his warhorse, surveying the terrain around him back and forth on the official road.
Over a hundred Jiefan Guards.
He was but one.
Wu Xuange calmly and loudly said, "Mr. Chen, cease this futile struggle and surrender. No matter how you resist, the outcome will not change."
Chen Ji paid him no mind, slowly sitting on his horse, silently looking up at the sky.
Sometimes, he didn’t know if it was an illusion or reality. He always felt the sky above the Imperial Capital wasn’t as blue as that above Luocheng City, nor were the clouds as white.
Overall, not as beautiful.
Should have asked for that lance...
Chen Ji silently lowered his head, using his left hand and teeth to tighten the bandage around the wound on his forearm.
In the next moment, he unexpectedly spurred his horse, charging towards the dozens of men in front of him.
Wu Xuange sat still on his horse, quietly watching the imposing sight of Chen Ji charging, squinting slightly. He suddenly drew a waist knife from under his straw coat, raising it to point at Chen Ji, "Take him down, no exceptions!"
Yet at this moment.
Hoofbeats also sounded behind Wu Xuange, he turned to see over fifty men in plain clothes, wielding bamboo poles, galloping towards him.
On the official road, dust rose high into the sky behind the men.
The speed of these men was astonishing. As they neared, Wu Xuange saw it was clearly Li Xuan, Qi Zhenzhuo, Duobao, Lin Yanchu, and others.
The Yulin Army are the Imperial Guard; arming themselves without permission is a crime of treason. But Li Xuan and the others came in plain clothes, evidently abandoning their Yulin Army identities.
Wu Xuange snarled, "Jiefan Guard catching wanted fugitives, unrelated people should retreat!"
Li Xuan shouted, "Lord Wu, we are merely passing by, the horses were startled, we cannot rein them in, move aside quickly!"
Wu Xuange pointed with his long knife, furious, "One more step, and I will show no mercy! How dare the Dandy Army test my mettle?"
Qi Zhenzhuo spurred his horse to speed past Li Xuan, shouting angrily at Wu Xuange, "Try it! Qi’s head is here, take it if you can!"
The distance of a hundred feet closed in an instant, and over fifty Yulin Army reached the front line before Chen Ji.
Wu Xuange snarled, "I don’t believe they dare harm Jiefan Guard! Seize them all..."
Before he finished, Qi Zhenzhuo had already charged into the Jiefan Guard formation!
With a booming sound.
The two horses collided, both neighing and collapsing, Qi Zhenzhuo leapt into the Jiefan Guard ranks.
The warhorses of the Yulin Army didn’t pause, continuously crashing into the Jiefan Guard’s horses, like tidal waves clashing, turning the battle formation into chaos!
Both sides simultaneously chose to dismount and fight on foot, a Jiefan Guard swung his knife, but Li Xuan caught the blade with both hands, "Let go!"
The blade was wrenched right from the Jiefan Guard’s hands!
Li Xuan seized the knife and charged into the formation, completely disrupting the Jiefan Guard ranks, entering with the prowess of the Seeking Dao Realm Executive Officer as if in an unoccupied land.
Behind him, Duobao and Lin Yanchu, unarmed, could only grab the weapon-wielding hands of the Jiefan Guards, pushing them to the sides of the official road.
Wu Xuange suddenly realized, the Yulin Army intended to forcibly push back the Jiefan Guard to carve a path for Chen Ji.
Ignoring the Yulin Army, he rushed towards the official road to block Chen Ji’s path. But before taking two steps, he found himself unable to move, surprised to see Li Xuan in the crowd holding onto the back of his garment.
At that moment, Chen Ji, with two horses carrying Liao Zhong, arrived, watching the Yulin Army and Jiefan Guard battle, creating a path for him, "You all..."
Li Xuan, holding Wu Xuange, shouted to Chen Ji, "Don’t mind us! Go! Today, make your name known to the world!"
Chen Ji was slightly stunned.
These were words he had said to Li Xuan in Guyuan, now returned to him unaltered!
And more.
The roar seemed to carry with it a great wind and strong wine.
"Thank you!" Chen Ji didn’t stop as he rode through the battlefield.
Wu Xuange couldn’t break free from Li Xuan, furiously threw his long knife at the hooves of Chen Ji’s horse, the knife spinning through the air, slicing through its foreleg.
The horse lost its foreleg, toppling forward.
In a split second, Chen Ji pushed off the saddle, somersaulting through the air onto Liao Zhong’s horse, riding off without looking back.
