Green Mountain-Chapter 597 - 454: Husband and Wife

The atmosphere inside the dimly lit Vermilion Bird Tent was subtle.

Unexpectedly, the caravan that Ah Sheng mentioned, which had quite a few connections during the Jing Dynasty, turned out to be the caravan of Lamp. Not only was Third Elder Hu present, but the borderline person Little Nine, who had previously gone to Meihua Ferry Crossing to sell the salt permit, was also there.

But Chen Ji did not rush to recognize Third Elder Hu, and Third Elder Hu also tactfully kept silent, as if they were meeting for the first time.

In the silence, Third Elder Hu turned to Ah Sheng, with a nonchalant expression: "Why bring a stranger here?"

Ah Sheng clasped his fists and explained, "Third Elder, this is the new Night Patrol Chen Ji from Chongli Pass, not an outsider." 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

Night Patrol?

Third Elder Hu showed interest, took a bite of his pastry and mocked, "I didn’t know you had this new person at Chongli Pass. They say that to be a Night Patrol, you need to have descendants. He looks so young, like a child himself—how can he be a Night Patrol?"

Ah Sheng lied without even blinking, "He just arrived a few days ago. It’s normal that Third Elder doesn’t know."

Third Elder Hu jokingly examined Chen Ji, "Hey, kid, are you married and already a Night Patrol?"

Chen Ji raised an eyebrow, "Married, with eight children."

Third Elder Hu laughed heartily: "You must be quite capable, then. Who’s the bride, someone with the surname Zhang? I might know her."

Chen Ji was puzzled, wondering why Third Elder Hu suddenly started joking.

Before he could answer, Ah Sheng quickly interjected, "Third Elder, please don’t joke. This person is trusted by Mr. Hong."

Third Elder Hu swallowed his pastry and mumbled, "If Mr. Hong trusts him, then I trust Mr. Hong. So, what do you want with me?"

Ah Sheng hesitated for a moment, then softly said, "Third Elder, I have a favor to ask, but it’s a serious matter. Could you clear the area so I can speak in private?"

Third Elder Hu glanced at him, "That important?"

Ah Sheng affirmed, "Important."

Third Elder Hu gave a signal with his eyes, and the men beside the hearth stood up and left the Vermilion Bird Tent.

When the Vermilion Bird Tent was empty, Ah Sheng was about to speak but found that there were still three people who hadn’t left.

These three were not near the hearth; they were behind Third Elder Hu, facing away from everyone, packing their belongings. After chatting for so long, they were still packing.

Ah Sheng looked carefully and found that one of them kept taking a package of pastries out of a bundle and putting it back in, repeatedly.

He clasped his fists again for emphasis, "Third Elder, please have everyone leave."

Third Elder Hu glanced back at the three figures and smiled, "You three not leaving?"

The three remained, pretending not to have heard anything.

Chen Ji squinted as he looked, feeling more and more familiar with the backs of the figures.

He took a deep breath and slowly said, "Third Elder, are these three hard of hearing? Can’t hear?"

The little monk said, "Yes."

Xiao Man turned her face and glared at the little monk, stomping on his foot.

The little monk sucked in a breath of cold air, holding his foot, not daring to cry out. He was wearing a gray cloth outfit, his hair had not been shaved for some time, and stubble had grown.

Xiao Man turned around with a slightly guilty smile, "We were busy packing up and didn’t catch what you were saying."

Chen Ji frowned slightly. Encountering Third Elder Hu here was understandable, but Xiao Man and the little monk had clearly been settled in the Chongnan City God Temple by him. Why would they appear together in Third Elder Hu’s caravan?

Xiao Man didn’t dare meet Chen Ji’s gaze, staring at her toes. She stealthily tugged at the little monk, whispering through clenched teeth, "Say it was your idea in a moment."

Chen Ji looked away from Xiao Man, turning his gaze on the last person.

The curtain of the Vermilion Bird Tent was blown open by the wind, a sliver of light streaming in from outside, illuminating the back of the third person. She wore a white archery uniform, her hair neatly secured atop her head with a silver hairpin.

The curtain was blown back, darkening the tent again.

Zhang Xia was silent for a few seconds, then turned to Chen Ji with a smile, "We’ll just step outside, not to disturb your discussions."

She led Xiao Man and the little monk outside. Chen Ji watched the trio feign ignorance of him as they exited the tent. Ah Sheng glanced at Zhang Xia’s retreating back, then at Chen Ji, "You all..."

But Third Elder Hu interrupted, "Alright, the outsiders are gone, go ahead."

Ah Sheng refocused, solemnly bowing with clasped fists, "Third Elder, five Night Patrol members need to head to Baidadan City in the Jing Dynasty. Please have your caravan help conceal them."

Third Elder Hu furrowed his brows, "Things in the Jing Dynasty are unstable lately. Why are you going there?"

Ah Sheng earnestly replied, "Third Elder knows the rules of us Night Patrols—we can’t disclose what we’re doing. Of course, we also know Third Elder’s rules. You are a businessman, and we’ll exchange with something valuable."

Third Elder Hu’s eyes casually flickered toward Chen Ji, noticing Chen Ji subtly shaking his head from his position behind Ah Sheng, instantly understanding.

Stuffing the pastry into his mouth, Third Elder Hu wiped the crumbs off his hands, nonchalantly stated, "What can Night Patrol offer in exchange?"

Ah Sheng pondered briefly, "A piece of information."

Third Elder Hu picked up another toasted pastry from beside the hearth, sneering, "What information is worth the risk of taking five Night Patrols to Baidadan City?"

Ah Sheng sincerely said, "As Third Elder knows, we Night Patrols never betray our own."

Third Elder Hu didn’t commit, "Let’s hear the information first."

Ah Sheng lowered his voice, "Last year, I went with Mr. Hong to a mountain east of Baidadan City, investigating the Jing Dynasty’s grain routes. During this, while searching for a water source to water the horses, we stumbled upon gold sand at the bottom of a small river in the mountains. Not just gold sand, but thumb-sized nuggets."

Chen Ji’s heart was stirred.

Gold, over time, is washed downstream by rainwater and rivers, gradually settling in the riverbed. Finding gold sand in the riverbed could lead upstream to the gold mine itself.

This is a common method for prospecting gold.

The value of a gold mine goes without saying, but Third Master Hu was unmoved and sneered, "Since you know there’s a gold mine, why don’t you go and dig it up?"

Ah Sheng shook his head, "Third Master, you’re joking. How would we dare to dig it?"

Third Master Hu sneered again, "Indeed, you don’t dare, but would I dare? East of Baidadan City is the vanguard camp of the Tiger and Leopard Cavalry. Digging for gold there is no different from seeking death. A gold mine that cannot be mined is worthless."

Ah Sheng said earnestly, "But Third Master can take this information to the Jing Dynasty in exchange for a great favor. I’m sure some nobles will be interested. As Third Master plans to head a trade caravan to the Jing Dynasty, building connections is the most important."

Third Master Hu impatiently waved his hand, "What does a little brat know about business and connections? Go wherever you want, I’m not doing this business."

Ah Sheng asked in a deep voice, "What does Third Master want?"

Third Master Hu took a bite of his biscuit, "I want nothing, now leave quickly."

Chen Ji breathed a sigh of relief.

It was as he wished, stopping the Night Patrol was the best outcome.

He initially thought blocking the Night Patrol would be quite troublesome, but now that Third Master Hu was overseeing the caravan, the other party selling him a favor was something he could repay slowly.

At least the Night Patrol was blocked.

However, just then, the curtain of the Vermilion Bird Tent was lifted, and a beam of strong sunlight shone in.

Chen Ji turned back to see Hong Zuer hobbling into the Vermilion Bird Tent.

Hong Zuer sat by the campfire, "Third Master is always steady, reserved, and low-key. Why have you gotten so angry with a child today? Ah Sheng, apologize to Third Master."

Ah Sheng hurriedly clasped his fists, "Forgive me, Third Master. It was my poor choice of words."

Third Master Hu put away his playful thoughts and gazed at Hong Zuer with his gray eyes, "For Mr. Hong to come personally despite injuries, it must not be a trivial matter. But Mr. Hong, if you try to smuggle into Baidadan City using my caravan and fail, I’ll lose an entire trade route. It’ll be hard to reestablish. You know, I’m just a shopkeeper, I can’t make such a big decision."

Mr. Hong pondered for a moment, "The gold mine I mentioned before is at Shizui Mountain east of Baidadan City. I’m giving this information to Third Master."

Third Master Hu said calmly, "There’s no need for that, Mr. Hong. I’ll pretend I didn’t hear anything."

Mr. Hong said slowly, "Then I’ll give Third Master a piece of information that cannot be refused. Last year, I captured seven Jing Dynasty spies. Originally, there were twelve, they infiltrated the Ning Dynasty for eight years. Their mission was to map the surroundings of our Imperial Capital and record the timing of Five Cities Military Department guard shifts, then secretly take that back to the Jing Dynasty."

"Why is Mr. Hong mentioning this?" Third Master Hu relaxed his body, leaned back in his chair, "We’re mere businessmen. What do Jing Dynasty spies have to do with us?"

Mr. Hong waved his hand, "Everyone else, leave."

Chen Ji and Ah Sheng exchanged a glance and walked out of the Vermilion Bird Tent, leaving only Mr. Hong and Third Master Hu inside.

"They came twelve and left seven, the whereabouts of the other five are unknown," Mr. Hong smiled slightly and continued, "The seven captured Jing Dynasty spies only knew that the other five had a different mission and parted ways early on, but didn’t know what their mission was. However, one of them said he saw his missing colleague in the Imperial Capital’s Bianyifang Restaurant, where his colleague was working as a waiter."

Third Master Hu’s expression changed, "Who is it?"

Mr. Hong remained silent, picking up a hot biscuit from the campfire and eating it slowly.

Third Master Hu frowned and thought for a long time, his gaze inadvertently sweeping over Chen Ji at the entrance of the Vermilion Bird Tent, then sighed, "I have suitable passage documents to send you into Baidadan City, but you must bring your own caravan to follow behind us, and you must not have any interaction with us. If something happens to you, it has no connection to us. If you are caught by the Jing Dynasty and anyone reveals our dealings, I will kill everyone closely related to you. Trust me, I, Hu, mean what I say."

Mr. Hong put down the biscuit, "Deal. This person goes by the alias Zhang Xiang."

Third Master Hu suddenly stood up and walked out of the Vermilion Bird Tent. He beckoned a man over, whispered to him, and moments later, the man led two skilled individuals to mount and gallop toward the Imperial Capital.

Third Master Hu returned to the campfire and sat down again, "The Night Patrol lives up to its name, and Mr. Hong, you’re remarkable too, with great strategy. Even in this remote place of Chongli Pass, you have knowledge of Imperial Capital affairs."

"Chongli Pass is not far from the Imperial Capital, a fast horse can reach it in three days, it’s just easily forgotten," Mr. Hong laughed, "Don’t worry, I haven’t told anyone else and I’m not concerned about why Jing Dynasty spies are infiltrating your Bianyifang Restaurant."

With that, he called out loudly, "Everyone, come in."

The people outside the tent came in one after another, Mr. Hong looked at Third Master Hu, "Tell me, how do we enter Baidadan City."

Chen Ji’s heart sank, what kind of information did Mr. Hong have that Third Master Hu couldn’t refuse?

What to do? Although Chen Ji had some friendship with him, they each have their own missions. He couldn’t force Third Master Hu to go back on his word.

What a trouble.

Third Master Hu thought for a moment and then said to Chen Ji, "That boy, help call the three who just left back in."

Chen Ji turned and called Zhang Xia, Xiao Man, and the little monk inside.

Third Master Hu found several passage documents in a wooden box at the edge of the tent, "Here are seven passage documents from Shangjing Liaoyang Prefecture to Baidadan City: one for a young couple, one for a young brother and sister, one for a father and son, and one for a forty-two-year-old widower. Mr. Hong, I don’t need to explain further. You know it takes more than documents to enter Baidadan City."

Mr. Hong nodded, "I know. I will instruct them on how to deceive the authorities, but we only have five people, so we won’t need all seven documents..."

"No," Third Master Hu pointed to Zhang Xia and the others, "These three were deals I promised a long time ago to take along, and they will go with you, taking three of the documents, leaving four for you to divide among yourselves."

"Is it necessary?"

"It is necessary."

Mr. Hong closed his eyes and pondered for a moment, "Star, you will stay at Chongli Pass."

Star hurriedly said, "Mr. Hong, I must..."

Mr. Hong frowned, "Stay!"

Star shrank his neck, "Alright."

Mr. Hong closed his eyes again to think, "Couple, siblings, father and son, widower, how should we arrange the identities?"

He opened his eyes, looked at Zhang Xia, Xiao Man, and the little monk, and hesitated, "You guys..."

Xiao Man’s eyes rolled, and suddenly pointed to Zhang Xia and Chen Ji, "Let them play the married couple!"