Chapter 104: The Master

By The Talking Pig's Trotter

A large family gathered around a small Eight Immortals table, each person holding a small ceramic bowl in one hand and chopsticks in the other, creating a lively atmosphere. Nearby, an apricot tree was adorned with red cloth strips, on which wishes for peace, joy, health, and longevity swayed gently in the breeze.

"Is this 'Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea'?""Yes!"

"I've never seen these ingredients before," She Dengke said, looking at Chen Ji. "Chen Ji, why aren't you eating? Don't let that fellow Liu Quixing eat it all by himself."

Liu Quixing rolled his eyes. "Didn't you eat? Why are you saying I ate it all by myself?"

Chen Ji explained with a smile, "I'm not used to eating 'Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea.' I'll have something else."

Liu Quixing pouted. "You're missing out! The ingredients for 'Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea' are transported from the sea by the漕帮 (Grand Canal Gang). Even the Yingxian Tower can't get fresh ingredients every day. Whether you get to eat it depends on your luck."

Chen Ji smiled and did not refute.

The so-called "Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea" is a dish stewed with shark fin, sea cucumber, abalone, fish bone, fish maw, shrimp, asparagus, and ham. For the people of Luocheng in this era, these ingredients might be something they would never see in their entire lives. However, Chen Ji had already eaten these many times, so he only served himself one bowl and left the rest for others to try.

Liu Quixing suddenly asked, "Hey, what do you all think the sea looks like?"

Bai Li raised his hand. "I know! My father said the ocean is boundless, and the water is all blue. There are also very beautiful seashells and starfish on the shore, pushed onto the beach by the waves. Large ship owners along the coast also go whaling. It's said that a huge fish called a whale can be as big as a building!"

Liu Quixing's eyes widened. "You're exaggerating, right? Can fish really grow that big?"

Bai Li was displeased. "Who's exaggerating? My father said so!"

Liang Gou'er, dragging a jar of Shaoxing Huadiao wine, asked, "Has the Prince ever been to the seaside?"

Bai Li hesitated. "No, but our Ning Dynasty has fleets that go out to sea; they've seen it!"

The Young Master, with an excited expression, suggested, "How about we make a pact to go see the seaside together someday? I heard that it only takes three months of travel by carriage to reach the coast. When we get there, we can buy a boat from a boatman, go fishing, and even cook 'Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea' right on board."

Everyone exchanged glances, their eyes sparkling brighter and brighter. She Dengke couldn't help but ask, "Can we really go to the seaside?"

Old Man Yao put down his chopsticks and slowly said, "What's so hard about seeing the ocean? If you go smash the plaque of the Luocheng Prefecture Office today, you'll see the sea every day after you're exiled to Lingnan next month."

The Young Master: ...Bai Li: ...

Chen Ji sighed, "Master, you certainly know how to ruin the mood."

The Young Master changed the subject, looking curiously at Chen Ji. "By the way, Chen Ji, where did you go yesterday? You didn't come back all night. If you're in any trouble, you must tell us. As friends, we'll go through fire and water for you."

Chen Ji fell silent. Everyone knew he didn't want to return to the Chen Residence, and as a mere apprentice at a medical clinic with nowhere else to go, he couldn't explain his whereabouts.

Liu Quixing asked, "Has your family ever arranged a marriage for you?"

Chen Ji also shook his head. "I haven't heard of anything."

He couldn't tell the Young Master that he was actually part of the eunuch faction, which the Young Master despised, nor could he tell everyone that he had actually spent last night clearing the Young Master and the Princess's names. There's no true secret keeper in this world; secrets you tell others always leak out unwittingly.

In the silence, Liu Quixing mumbled, "He didn't go gambling again, did he? I see his eyes are bloodshot; he must not have slept all night."

She Dengke stepped on his foot under the table. Liu Quixing raised his voice, "Why did you step on me? I was just saying it offhand! I believe Chen Ji isn't that kind of person."

At this point, Bai Li, recalling Chen Ji's mysteriousness, immediately said, "Alright, stop asking. Everyone has their secrets. If he needs help, he'll surely tell us. Maybe Chen Ji has a girl he likes, and he just got a promise of a share of the profits yesterday, so he's going to tell her the good news? Right, Chen Ji!"

When Liu Quixing heard the gossip, he immediately perked up. "Really?"

Chen Ji explained with a smile, "I spend every day at the clinic dealing with patients; where would I find a girl I like?"

Liu Quixing cheerfully said, "I have one!"

She Dengke sighed helplessly, "Who asked you?"

Liu Quixing continued, "My mother arranged a marriage for me. Her father is a scholar who now handles lawsuits at the prefecture office. Our families are considered well-matched. Both families agreed that once I become a court physician and attain a rank—even if it's just ninth rank—we'll get married." As he spoke, his gaze kept drifting towards Old Man Yao.

Old Man Yao glanced at him. "Are you hinting at me?"

Liu Quixing quickly said, "No, no."

Just then, a meow came from the eaves. Chen Ji looked up and saw Wuyun leap from the eaves and land naturally in Old Man Yao's arms. Old Man Yao picked up the bowl of "Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea" from in front of him and held it to Wuyun's mouth. "Eat."

Liu Quixing was startled. "Master, such an expensive dish, and you're feeding it to a cat?"

Old Man Yao shot him a sidelong glance. "He's much more precious than you."

After speaking, Old Man Yao turned to Liang Gou'er. "We had an agreement back then: you can stay here, but on the condition that you teach my apprentice swordsmanship. Let's start; no one gets to be lazy."

Liang Gou'er reluctantly put down the wine jar. "Alright, Young Master, Liu Quixing, She Dengke, come here and practice your swordsmanship."

Chen Ji watched as the Young Master and the others assumed their horse stances in the courtyard, while Liang Gou'er pulled Liang Mao'er aside and whispered to him. Wuyun stopped eating the "Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea" and instead sat obediently on Liang Mao'er's shoulder, ears perked.

He looked at Wuyun, then at Old Man Yao, and suddenly had a very absurd guess: "Is Master helping Wuyun secretly learn the Liang family's swordsmanship?"

"Master, this is..."

Old Man Yao looked at him. "Go to sleep. Don't worry about Wuyun. Come back alive every day first, then we can talk."

"Oh!"

Old Man Yao sneered, "Risking your life every day, I don't know what you're after."

"Master, you said fate can be changed.""Hm?""I want to try."

***

Late at night, when all was quiet, Chen Ji emerged from his dream, breathing lightly. Liang Gou'er's snores filled his ears, and the room was thick with the scent of alcohol from his breath, so potent it felt as if a single whiff could make one drunk. If possible, it would be nice to be as carefree and unburdened as Liang Gou'er, a happy-go-lucky wanderer.

Chen Ji looked at the room full of sleeping people, smiled silently, and quietly got out of bed. He went under the apricot tree and gazed at the red cloth strips covering it, suddenly lost in thought. He was home. It seemed that simply by returning here, his restless heart, verging on madness, could find peace again. He just hadn't figured out how to explain breaking his promise. Or perhaps he didn't need to explain?

Chen Ji stepped over the threshold, then his face showed confusion. Knock, knock, knock. A gentle knocking came from outside the door, but Chen Ji ignored it. It wasn't until the knocking grew urgent that he glanced again at the two red cloths at the very top of the apricot tree, then turned and walked to the main hall. "Who's there?"

Jin Zhu said, "It's me, open the door."

Chen Ji unlatched the door and pulled open the two wooden panels, allowing Jin Zhu to slip inside. "Lord Jin Zhu, any progress?"

Jin Zhu, wearing a conical hat and straw sandals, disguised as a tenant farmer, said solemnly, "Nothing."

"Oh?" Chen Ji asked curiously, "No movements from the Liu family?"

Jin Zhu frowned. "The old secret agents transferred from the capital arrived today. I ordered them to guard the Ministry of Works' warehouse and the archives, respectively."

"And then?"

In the main hall of the medical clinic, only an oil lamp flickered on the counter. In the faint lamplight, Jin Zhu stared intently at Chen Ji. "I can guarantee that no one broke into the Ministry of Works today, nor did anyone take anything related to firearms from it. Someone did buy saltpeter and sulfur in the East Market, but a thorough check showed no issues. You don't seem surprised?"

Chen Ji calmly replied, "My Lord, I don't need to show all my emotions on my face."

Jin Zhu walked around Chen Ji twice. "Are you pretending to cooperate with me, but secretly tipping off the Liu family?"

Chen Ji asked, puzzled, "My Lord, overthrowing the Liu family is the most important thing right now. We're on the verge of success; why be suspicious of each other? It won't be too late to suspect me after you've brought down the Liu family; I can't run away."

Jin Zhu observed Chen Ji's expression, which didn't seem feigned. He had waited from morning till evening, and from evening till late night, watching hope slowly fade away, finally turning into anger. Last night, he had almost believed he was just one step away from overthrowing the Liu family, but today, that single step seemed to have become an insurmountable chasm again.

But Jin Zhu knew that Chen Ji hadn't been wrong about one thing: this medical apprentice couldn't escape, and it would never be too late to deal with him. His expression softened, and he clapped Chen Ji's shoulder, smiling. "Don't mind it, Doctor Chen. Our Secret Service has had internal moles more than once or twice. Almost half the time, our Sea Eagles are busy purging their own ranks to prevent infiltration by Jing Dynasty traitors. This is just a suspicious habit I've developed over the years; I mean nothing by it."

Chen Ji, in turn, consoled him, "Lord Jin Zhu's single-minded pursuit of revenge is understandable."

Jin Zhu analyzed, "There are two possibilities now. The first is that Liu Mingxian has re-established contact with the Jing Dynasty traitors, confirmed our identities with them, and discovered we're faking it. The second is that time is too tight, and Liu Mingxian didn't dare take the risk, so he didn't act today." He looked at Chen Ji. "Which do you lean towards?"

"The other party didn't act within the Ministry of Works but instead found another way, abducting the Deputy Supervisor who had returned home for his day off."

Jin Zhu said gravely, "It's over a thousand miles to Jing Dynasty, with seventeen checkpoints in total. Smuggling a person out is as difficult as ascending to heaven."

The old man chuckled, "That's beyond our control."

"My Lord, have you sent anyone to keep an eye on the Liu family?"

"The three people accompanying Liu Mingxian are all expert officials. Ordinary secret agents can't keep track of them."

Chen Ji thought for a moment. "My Lord, let's still go to Peony Bridge and check it out. Regardless, we need to verify it to know for sure."

Jin Zhu pondered for a moment and then asked, "Where is Lord Liu? Is he in the carriage? Please ask him to step down for a chat."

The old man replied, "Lord Liu? What Lord Liu? This was all done by me, Zhang Guo'er, alone. I don't know any Lord Liu. Besides, I've done what your department asked. When can I meet the Director?"

Just as Jin Zhu was about to answer, Chen Ji spoke first. "We need to transport the person to Kaifeng Prefecture first. In three days, we'll meet again at Peony Bridge. However, at that time, it won't be up to you to decide. Send someone who can make the decisions."

Jin Zhu gave Chen Ji a deep look. "Then let's go see."

They exited the door, and Chen Ji turned back to close the main gate. The wind outside the door made the kerosene lamp on the counter flicker.

"Lord Jin Zhu, what's the background of the old man who was toying with copper coins last night?" Chen Ji asked, sitting at the carriage door and pulling back the curtain, addressing Jin Zhu who was driving.

"That old man is named Zhang Guo'er, and the copper coins in his hand are called 'Mountain Flower Ghost Coins'."

Jin Zhu replied casually, "He was once a member of the Beggars' Sect. Later, he disappeared, and the imperial court searched for him for a long time. It turns out he had fled into the Liu family."

"Fled?"

The next moment, the old man pulled back the carriage curtain and, single-handedly carrying a burlap sack, jumped out of the carriage. Rough hemp rope was wrapped around the opening of the burlap sack. As the old man jumped down, the sack suddenly struggled and shook violently.

The old man walked onto the bridge, chuckled, and tossed the burlap sack onto the ground. While looking at Jin Zhu and Chen Ji, he unwound the coils of hemp rope from the sack. "I've brought the goods you wanted."

The sack was untied, revealing the terrified face of a middle-aged man. Jin Zhu's body moved slightly, as if to take action, but Chen Ji suddenly gripped his wrist and said, "This is not what we wanted."

The old man knocked the middle-aged man unconscious, then rubbed the 'Mountain Flower Ghost Coins' at his waist, chuckling, "Due to urgent circumstances, and the Secret Service watching closely, what you wanted couldn't be stolen from the Ministry of Works." As he spoke, he tapped the middle-aged man's head with his finger. "But what you want is all in his head. This person is the Deputy Supervisor of the Ministry of Works. If you can transport him back to Jing Dynasty, what could you not build?"

The bridge fell silent, and the moonlight was veiled by clouds. Behind his mask, Chen Ji quietly took a breath. Neither he nor Jin Zhu had expected Liu Mingxian to be so audacious.

Chen Ji frowned. "The Beggars' Sect traffics people?"

Jin Zhu scoffed, "Do you think the Beggars' Sect lives by begging and acts chivalrously, like in storytellers' tales? They're nothing more than a group of vicious criminals. Not only do they traffic people, but they also blind and cripple children they kidnap but can't sell, sending them out to beg. The money they earn is no less than that of brothels."

Jin Zhu continued, "'Mountain Flower Ghost Coins' were originally Taoist talismans used for warding off evil, but some nefarious cultivator transformed them into a sinister cultivation method. Practitioners of this method must remain virgins, deceive women into falling in love with them, then kill them on their wedding night and absorb their souls into the 'Mountain Flower Ghost Coins' for nourishment."

Chen Ji's heart turned cold.

Jin Zhu chuckled, "Speechless, are we? There are even more sinister practices in the Southwest. I've seen things like skulls and leg bones used as magic artifacts."

Chen Ji was silent for a moment, then asked, "My Lord, why are you so knowledgeable about 'Mountain Flower Ghost Coins'?"

Jin Zhu replied cheerfully, "More than one person has practiced this method. Our Secret Service alone has killed two such practitioners. In the underground secret chamber of our Jie Fan Building, we even have two 'Mountain Flower Ghost Coins' that have been nurtured for hundreds of years. The longer these things are cultivated, the redder they become. The one in our Jie Fan Building, tsk, tsk, it's practically blood-red. If you're interested, when you're promoted to Sea Eagle, I'll request His Excellency the Minister to bestow this cultivation method upon you."

Chen Ji lowered the carriage curtain. "Thank you for your kindness, Lord Jin Zhu, but there's no need."

"We're here."

Jin Zhu parked the carriage in a small alley about a *li* away from Peony Bridge. The two put on their ox and tiger masks and slowly walked onto Peony Bridge. No sooner had they arrived than a carriage slowly approached from a distance. The driver's seat of the carriage was empty, yet the reins moved on their own.

Jin Zhu narrowed his eyes slightly. Liu Mingxian had actually come again? He had thought the other party wouldn't return. "It seems we can rule out the first possibility. If Liu Mingxian had already re-established contact with the Jing Dynasty traitors, he shouldn't have come tonight."

However, the one who alighted from the carriage was not Liu Mingxian, but the old man toying with the 'Mountain Flower Ghost Coins'.

Zhang Guo'er cupped his hands. "Understood. This old man will take his leave."

Jin Zhu gazed at the gradually departing carriage and sighed softly. "I misunderstood you earlier. It wasn't your leakage of information that prevented Liu Mingxian from acting against the Ministry of Works. Rather, this person is simply too audacious."

Chen Ji said softly, "Those who aren't bold enough wouldn't dare commit treason."

Jin Zhu turned and walked off the bridge, beckoning into a small alley. Xi Feng, dressed in black, swiftly emerged. Chen Ji looked closely and saw the alley was filled with dense ranks of secret agents, their hands resting on their waist sabers.

He asked, puzzled, "My Lord, this is..."

Jin Zhu sighed, "We originally planned to arrest Liu Mingxian tonight and interrogate him in the internal prison, but we didn't even see a shadow of him. What do we do now?"

Chen Ji, wearing his mask, lowered his head in thought. When he looked up again, he turned to Jin Zhu. "My Lord, are these secret agents trustworthy?"

Jin Zhu stated confidently, "They are trustworthy. These are the ones I selected time and again, and I even spent a hefty sum to have them interrogated by 'Dream Chicken.' There won't be any problems."

Chen Ji looked at Xi Feng. "Starting today, you are the Director of the Military Intelligence Department."

Xi Feng: "Huh? Me?"

End of Chapter.

***

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This enthralling and captivating masterpiece, "[Title Missing]," is by the author, "The Talking Pig's Trotter."