Green Mountain-Chapter 737 - 588: The Crossdraft (Part 3)

Chen Ji climbed out of the carriage and stood beside Lü Qi, making three gestures toward Lin Yanchu from a distance.

In the next moment, Lin Yanchu unexpectedly turned his horse around and called out loudly, "Open the city gate."

The infantrymen exchanged glances, and a Hundred Households official from the Five Cities Military Department stepped forward: "Commander Lin, are you really going to open the city gate? The curfew drum has sounded, and opening the gate rashly could lead to removal from office and investigation."

Lin Yanchu firmly replied, "Open it!"

Upon receiving the order, the infantrymen of the Five Cities Military Department immediately removed three rows of caltrops. The heavy city gate at Anding Gate was slowly pulled open, leaving only a gap wide enough for the carriage to pass through.

Everybody on the carriage looked toward Chen Ji, no wonder he insisted on leaving through Anding Gate, he had already prepared a backup plan there.

Every step tonight seemed to be pre-calculated by Chen Ji, deploying soldiers to counter soldiers, using earth to contain water, nothing could stop him from sending Bai Li away.

Chen Huainan was so shocked that he was at a loss for words: "Why would the Deputy Commander of the Five Cities Military Department obey you? Did you know beforehand about the curfew and lockdown? When did you plan this?"

Chen Ji remained silent.

Since when?

He had prepared for this day for a long time, exchanging interests with the Prime Minister, holding the Sick Tiger waist card, Lin Yanchu biding his time...

He was no longer the newcomer from a foreign land, now he knew how to make his moves on this chessboard, each move pointing towards leaving the Imperial Capital, but he could not leave himself.

Once at the city gate, Chen Ji climbed into the carriage and pressed something he was clenching in his hand into Bai Li's hand.

For the first time in the quiet carriage, he looked at Bai Li, those eyes no longer held a flickering flame, no sunrise glow, nor evening dusk: "Take care."

Bai Li opened her palm and gazed down at the six golden melon seeds in her hand.

When she looked up again, Chen Ji had already leapt off the carriage, striking the horse hard, then watched the carriage pass through the city gate gap. Bai Li turned her head to lift the curtain behind her, watching Chen Ji standing in the shadows of the city gate tunnel, like a stone sculpture, growing distant.

Lin Yanchu rode up beside Chen Ji, dismounted, and stood shoulder to shoulder with him watching the carriage fade into the distance: "Sir, is it worth it?"

Chen Ji did not answer this question, simply saying calmly, "Thank you for your hard work."

Lin Yanchu grinned and said, "Sir, you're being too polite. If not for you, I fear I would have long been dead in the inner prison or reduced to feeding horses and sweeping floors while being ostracized by those rich kids in the Yulin Army. Coming to the Five Cities Military Department is much more comfortable than being in the Yulin Army, only Qi Zhenzhuo and his group mocking me whenever they see me makes me a bit uncomfortable. Remember to tell them tomorrow, I'm not truly a traitor."

Chen Ji looked outside the city gate: "Are your parents settled?"

Lin Yanchu nodded, "They've all been sent to Guyuan."

Chen Ji took a letter and a string of Buddhist Treasure from his bosom and handed them to Lin Yanchu: "The letter is for Hu Junxian. If you're willing to fight for it, he'll provide a good future. The Buddhist Treasure contains four thousand seven hundred taels of silver, enough for you to settle down in Guyuan."

Lin Yanchu pondered for a moment, accepting only the letter, not the Buddhist Treasure: "Sir, a letter is enough."

Chen Ji stuffed the Buddhist Treasure into his arms: "The Jianghu road is long, having Silver Coin on hand makes the journey smoother, take care."

Lin Yanchu no longer declined, bowed deeply to Chen Ji: "Sir, may you achieve success and fame across thousands of miles. When we meet again, may it be in glory and prosperity! Take care!"

With that, Lin Yanchu led his horse to Anding Gate, hung his Vice Commander's Seal and Tiger Talisman on the vermilion gate, mounted his horse, and galloped away.

The winding wind in the city gate tunnel whistled past, making Chen Ji's clothes flutter.

Chen Ji did not leave immediately, just like anyone about to turn away, he stood in the wind for a long time.

Not until the sound of Lin Yanchu's hooves could no longer be heard, not until the carriage completely merged into the night, did Chen Ji take out a strip of red cloth from his bosom, the writing on it blurred sometime before, no longer legible.

It seemed to say, year after year, the flowers are similar, but people change year after year.

Chen Ji raised his hand, letting the winding wind take the red cloth strip away.