Green Mountain-Chapter 593 - 445: Survival

"How much farther is it?"

"Not far, just over that ridge in front."

Chen Ji looked at Ah Sheng with a blank expression, "This is the fourth time you’ve said, just over that ridge."

The mountains of Da Ma are vast, mostly covered with pine, birch, and poplar trees. The mountain roads are rugged and difficult to traverse, and they occasionally had to wade across rivers. Fortunately, the rivers were not deep, with the deepest barely reaching waist-high.

Each time Chen Ji asked, Ah Sheng would say it wasn’t far and that they just needed to cross the ridge, but after crossing three ridges, they still hadn’t seen even a trace of the Willow Trench.

They had set out at dawn and walked until the sunset slanted across the sky.

Chen Ji looked down at the grass shoes on his feet; the coarse shoelaces seemed ready to snap, likely not able to last the return trip. If it weren’t for his knowledge of the Mountain Lord Sect’s Scripture, his ankles might have already been chafed, and the soles of his feet blistered.

Ah Sheng finally appeared a bit embarrassed, cautiously observing Chen Ji, "I was just worried you wouldn’t want to go. Young Master, Uncle Baisi and Xingxing are in grave danger. Only we can save them. I also brought an extra pair of grass shoes you can wear."

"No need, my grass shoes haven’t fallen apart yet," Chen Ji said as he walked past him, "Just make sure this is the last ridge, and if after crossing we still haven’t reached Willow Trench, I’m turning back."

Ah Sheng hurried to follow behind, "I’ll keep the grass shoes for you, don’t worry, we’re really close to Willow Trench now."

As they continued their journey, Ah Sheng’s grass shoes broke halfway, so he simply tossed them aside and walked barefoot. The young man walked along the mountain path barefoot, showing no sign of discomfort, even when stepping on stones.

The grass shoes he promised to save for Chen Ji were strapped to his back, truly not swapping them for himself.

Chen Ji glanced sideways at him, "What’s your executive officer realm?"

Ah Sheng replied, "Houtian seventh level. I started training three years ago. Mr. Hong said I was naturally suited for this. He even said before I turn eighteen I could become Innate. Sometimes when he’s drunk, he apologizes for not finding me a scripture with fewer common pathways, saying if he had, I would’ve reached the Seeking Dao Realm... Young Master, you’re an Innate Official, right? How long did it take for you to cultivate to Innate?"

Chen Ji paused, "Eight years."

Ah Sheng quickly responded, "Then you’re impressive."

He picked two bunches of red berries from a nearby tree and handed them to Chen Ji as they passed, "Have some, Young Master, to quench your thirst. These are called ’Wineberry’. Mr. Hong and I would bring some back when returning empty-handed to brew wine. Eating them is sour and sweet, and can relieve thirst."

Chen Ji looked back at Ah Sheng, who was barefoot and eating the berries, "How old were you when you started following Mr. Hong across the pass?"

Ah Sheng answered, "When I was nine. That time Mr. Hong wanted to go to Baidadan City, and it’s easier for the Jing Dynasty’s people to let their guard down if he takes a child, so he brought me along. After that, he took me every time he crossed the pass."

Chen Ji remained unmoved, "You dare to venture into the cities of the Jing Dynasty?"

Ah Sheng responded matter-of-factly, "Even the Night Patrols have been there."

Chen Ji asked curiously, "What was the purpose of going to Baidadan City then?"

Ah Sheng recalled, "Mr. Hong heard from a merchant passing through Chongli Pass that a noble of the Jing Dynasty wanted a hundred bolts of Yun Jin before the Lantern Festival, and had ordered an Imperial Capital craftsman to make a pure gold peach the size of a palm to send to Baidadan City. He guessed that the City Lord’s father was celebrating a birthday, surely inviting guests. So Mr. Hong and Uncle Baisi decided to poison the banquet, killing dozens of guests..."

Chen Ji raised an eyebrow, Hong Zuer was bold enough to bring a nine-year-old child along for such a thing?

Just at that moment, a rustling sound came from afar.

Chen Ji and Ah Sheng simultaneously ducked behind trees, peering out cautiously.

Was it the Life-catcher General, or the Night Patrol?

Or maybe Zhang Baishi and Xu Xingxing were being chased here?

In the next moment, a Life-catcher General, wearing leather armor, dashed through the forest, heading towards Chen Ji and Ah Sheng. He kept glancing behind him, his expression hurried.

This Life-catcher General had blood on him, and his limping gait signaled he was severely injured.

With a swoosh, a feathered arrow flew towards him from behind.

The Life-catcher General tilted his head, and the arrow just grazed his ear, embedding with a thud into the tree where Chen Ji was hiding, vibrating continuously.

Chen Ji pulled back his head, pondering silently. Someone was chasing a Life-catcher General from the Jing Dynasty? Could it be the Night Patrol from the Imperial Three Camps?

Outside, more bowstring twangs echoed. When Chen Ji peered out again, under the dim sunset, he saw the fleeing Life-catcher General pinned to the ground by three arrows.

Chen Ji exchanged a glance with Ah Sheng, both recognizing that the feathered arrows were not of Ning Dynasty’s make. They didn’t act rashly.

A few breaths later, five Life-catcher Generals appeared from the forest, approaching their fallen comrade’s body. Four held bows on alert while one stripped the leather armor and tokens from the corpse.

Chen Ji’s pupils contracted, an internal conflict among the Life-catcher Generals.

Why?

The Life-catcher Generals stripped the corpse bare, one retrieved the arrows, cleaned them, and placed them back into his quiver. An arrow’s cost was over seventy coins, equivalent to a carpenter’s daily wage, so they recovered them if possible.

Chen Ji lay hidden behind the tree, holding his breath, listening to the approaching Life-catcher General’s steps.

Three sword seeds silently swam from the patterns, hidden in his sleeve.

If discovered, there would undoubtedly be a deadly battle with the five Life-catcher Generals. He might survive, but Ah Sheng would surely die.

He turned to look at Ah Sheng, who also gripped his knife hilt, not daring to breathe. Ah Sheng knew well not to make a mistake now, for a mistake would mean death.

The footsteps finally stopped behind the tree. The Life-catcher General plucked the arrow from the tree and then retreated step by step towards his comrades in the forest, "Let’s go."

The five moved together towards the north, their figures blending into the forest shadows.

The sun had set.

...

...

Ah Sheng was gasping heavily, sweat dripped down his hair, and the clothes on his back were soaked through with sweat.

After waiting for a full ten minutes, flocks of birds startled from the treetops in the distance, Chen Ji finally walked out from behind a tree and approached the corpse: "Has the Life-catcher General ever had any internal conflict before?"

Ah Sheng followed behind him: "Never. I’ve been with Mr. Hong for so long, and I’ve never seen the Life-catcher General fight internally before."

Chen Ji squatted beside the corpse, the skin on the Life-catcher General’s face was actually peeled off, as if the assailant feared the deceased would be recognized.

Chen Ji forced open the person’s mouth: "Older than thirty-five, a veteran soldier."

Ah Sheng blinked: "Can you tell age from teeth, Young Master?"

Chen Ji casually explained: "Around twenty years old, the tips and edges of teeth begin to show slight wear. At thirty, the tips flatten, revealing one or two enamel wear points. After thirty-five, three to four wear points merge into patches... but this can only be roughly judged, not precisely."

Ah Sheng secretly took note.

Chen Ji frowned and muttered to himself: "Under what circumstances would the Life-catcher General turn against each other?"

Ah Sheng interjected: "The Life-catcher Generals are very coordinated with each other. If there isn’t a major issue, they would never turn against each other. Moreover, the injuries on this Life-catcher General came from behind, clearly attacked by someone he deeply trusted."

Chen Ji suddenly remembered the internal conflict between the two factions of spies within the Military Intelligence Department... so, after Yuan Cheng was captured alive, the internal purging of the Jing Dynasty began?

Was it that someone wanted to intercept an envoy for Lu Jin, and others wanted to exchange for Yuan Cheng, leading to huge conflicts and struggles? Perhaps the Life-catcher Generals are a microcosm of the Jing Dynasty court.

Chen Ji looked north: "These Life-catcher Generals came from Liutiao Valley. If your Uncle Baisi and Star are really in that direction, they probably won’t survive."

Ah Sheng’s face darkened.

Chen Ji turned to him: "Still going?"

Ah Sheng pondered for a long time: "You go back first. I’ll go collect the bodies of Uncle Baisi and Star. People say fallen leaves return to their roots, I can’t watch as they’re carried off by wolves in the wilderness, unable to reincarnate."

The people of this era believed in these things, even Chen Ji gradually began to believe.

He considered for a moment: "I’ll accompany you."

Ah Sheng was taken aback by these words: "Really?"

He then knelt and bowed three times to Chen Ji: "Young Master Chen, your kindness and virtue, Ah Sheng will never forget, if you need help in the future, Ah Sheng is at your disposal."

Chen Ji shook his head: "No need for that. I just have something that requires you to lead the way later, can’t let you die here."

Just as the two were about to head to Liutiao Valley, footsteps suddenly echoed through the forest.

Chen Ji pulled Ah Sheng back, retreating quickly behind the tree where they had hid before.

The footsteps were few, slow and seemed slightly fatigued.

Chen Ji and Ah Sheng didn’t dare to peek, but they heard a voice suddenly say: "After you return, do not mention today’s events to anyone. If asked, direct them to me, understood?"

Someone responded: "Understood, Master."

Ah Sheng was startled, unable to hold back a breath.

The newcomer was extremely vigilant: "Who?"

Ah Sheng and Chen Ji exchanged a glance, Ah Sheng took a deep breath and stepped out: "Star, Uncle Baisi? Are you okay? I thought you were all dead in Liutiao Valley! Mr. Hong was worried sick last night, went out the pass to find you, but was ambushed by the Life-catcher Generals."

Chen Ji squinted slightly.

The newcomers were actually Zhang Baishi and Xu Xingxing? No wonder Ah Sheng lost composure upon hearing their voices.

He did not rush to step out, these two came from the north at Liutiao Valley, precisely the direction where five Life-catcher Generals went; if they survived, it could only mean one thing... these two have defected.

Chen Ji hid behind the tree, peering out quietly to observe if Zhang Baishi and Xu Xingxing would attack Ah Sheng.

Zhang Baishi appeared like a middle-aged man, with temples graying similar to Hong Zuer, both exhibiting a seasoned appearance.

Xu Xingxing was about the same age as Ah Sheng, only slightly more taciturn.

These two did not attack Ah Sheng, only somewhat surprised to see him there.

Zhang Baishi hesitated for a moment, testing: "Ah Sheng, why are you here? Did you encounter any danger?"

Ah Sheng replied: "I just encountered the Life-catcher Generals in conflict internally, they just left, and upon investigating, I heard your footsteps..."

Zhang Baishi frowned: "Hong Zuer wouldn’t let you come alone to find me, who came with you?"

Ah Sheng didn’t rashly get too close, nor did he disclose details about Chen Ji: "No one, just me. Mr. Hong got an arrow wound, the arrow was poisoned. I asked Brother Zhang Tonggou to take him back, that’s why I came to find you alone."

Zhang Baishi ignored Ah Sheng and instead tiredly spoke towards the tree where Chen Ji was hiding: "Come out, friend. We’re our own people."

Chen Ji knew he was being tricked.

But after weighing the situation, he stepped out from behind the tree, slowly walked into the moonlight, and cupped his hands in greeting: "Lord Zhang."