Chapter 164: Escape

Entrusting an orphan. The most profound trust between men. A person who cherishes their life like treasure solemnly entrusts it into the hands of another. From then on, regardless of war, chaos, disease, poverty, or wealth, that other person will cross three thousand li of knife mountains and three thousand li of fiery seas without hesitation. Is it worth it? Is it reasonable? No one considered worth or not, reasonable or not.

Before the Eight Immortals table, Chen Ji and Jing Wang looked at each other in silence. It wasn't until the waiter from Fu Lou Tea House placed the tea, preserved fruits, and melon seeds between them that the heavy atmosphere eased.

Once the waiter retreated, Chen Ji picked up the teapot and poured a cup of tea for Jing Wang. "Wangye, why me?"

Jing Wang picked up the teacup and took a shallow sip. "In terms of strength, you haven't even reached the Innate stage. I have many people under my command who are more powerful than you. In terms of wisdom, although you have a quick mind, you're not someone who can plan strategically."

Jing Wang continued, "But you seem different from others. You painstakingly made the cement, and you distributed the profits just like that. You jumped into the people's rebellion that others avoided like the plague. In Dragon King Village, where it was a matter of life and death, you didn't escape alone. Sometimes, I'm not sure if you're clever or foolish."

Chen Ji remained silent.

Jing Wang stared at the tea remaining in the cup, then glanced sideways at Chen Ji. "Leaving so much wealth to Bai Li might not be good for her. Although I really don't want to praise you, and in fact, I'm a little annoyed with you right now, I have to admit that if it were someone else protecting her, I wouldn't be at ease. If it's you, it's still acceptable!"

Chen Ji asked in confusion, "Wangye, why are you annoyed with me?"

Jing Wang grabbed a handful of melon seeds and glanced at Chen Ji. "Think about it yourself."

Chen Ji didn't dwell on this question but casually asked, "Wangye, aren't you planning anything for the heir apparent? You haven't mentioned him at all!"

Jing Wang was silent for a moment. "He has his own path to walk!"

Chen Ji thought for a long time and finally mustered the courage to ask, "Wangye, what exactly are you planning to do? Why entrust an orphan? What role are you playing in this change in the Liu family? Are you suppressing the rebellion or plotting it?"

Jing Wang didn't answer this question, only saying calmly, "The storyteller is here. Let's listen to the storytelling!"

At this moment, a white-haired middle-aged man was seen on the stage below, taking a deep puff of his pipe, then using the sole of his shoe to knock out the tobacco ash.

He slowly walked to the desk, heavily struck the gavel, and his opening words rang out sonorously: "Life in this world, day after day, sun and moon like a shuttle, year after year. Rich families have everything, poor people are cold and hungry. Rise in official position and get rich, acquire acquire acquire. Two legs one kick, finished finished finished."

"Storytelling and opera advise people to be upright, walk the middle of the three great paths. Good and evil will ultimately have their reward, the proper way for humans is vicissitudes."

"It is said that in the thirty-first year of Jia Ning's winter, in Lu Hun Mountain Villa, Buddha and Dao debated scriptures. A young man suddenly appeared, sitting in the middle of the yin-yang fish, questioning the Buddha's disciples: If there is no self, who is in reincarnation, and who needs liberation?"

Chen Ji was astonished. This segment of storytelling immediately placed him on the opposite side of the Buddhist gate, leaving absolutely no room for reversal.

Jing Wang cracked melon seeds and gloated, "Surprised? Now on An Le Street, nineteen out of twenty-one tea houses have to talk about this matter. The script was written by a master. As long as the storyteller tells it once, they can get a hundred wen copper coins."

Chen Ji was shocked in his heart. Someone wanted to use his debate to ruin the reputation of the Buddhist gate. "Who did it? No need to ask, it must be the work of the Dao Court!"

"You guessed right!"

Jing Wang laughed. "After the debate, Zhang Li led a group of young Taoists from Lao Jun Mountain Dao Court to Luo City. They are staying at Ying Xian Inn and wrote the script overnight. They are not only paying storytellers to tell stories but also finding bookstores to print the script."

Chen Ji frowned.

Jing Wang threw down a melon seed shell and laughed happily. "I guess in two months at the latest, storytellers from Jiangnan to Jiangbei will all have to tell your debate of scriptures story every day. By then, the Buddhist gate will get a headache just hearing the name Chen Ji. Eh, you don't seem panicked at all?"

Chen Ji lowered his head, feeling the furnace fire within his body jumping wildly. The Dao Court was using him to suppress the momentum of the Buddhist gate, yet he was also benefiting from it. If it was truly as Jing Wang said, and this story spread throughout Jiangnan and Jiangbei in the future, perhaps his furnace fire could borrow this to transform into bright yellow.

"Young man, what are you thinking about? Aren't you afraid the Buddhist gate will trip you up?"

Chen Ji lifted his head and said, "Wangye, I should first survive the current disaster. The Liu family regards me as a thorn in their side. It's not yet the turn of the Buddhist gate to look at me unfavorably."

Jing Wang sighed, "You indeed have many debts and are not burdened by them!"

As he spoke, the sound of neat military footsteps came from outside Fu Lou Tea House. The tea guests inside the tea house all turned to look outside, only to see a team of infantry wearing light armor, holding long spears, passing by the door.

Chen Ji's pupils slightly shrank. The Liu family army had entered the city. He turned his head to look at Jing Wang. "Wangye?"

"Once the Liu family no longer hides their private army, everything will be out in the open. Let's go, it's time to go back!" Jing Wang stood up and walked towards the outside.

Before going out, Jing Wang turned back to look at the storyteller in the tea house. The light from outside the tea house projected from his back, making him appear to be standing in his own shadow.

"Young man, how will they talk about me in the future storytelling stories?"

Chen Ji gazed at Jing Wang's outline. "Wangye, that depends on how you choose!!!"

Noon!

The winter sunlight was just right. Old Man Yao sat in a bamboo lounge chair in front of the door, covered with a blanket, swaying and resting with closed eyes. She Deng Ke, Liu Qu Xing, and Liang Mao Er sat on small stools in the courtyard, using scissors to cut the complete medicinal herbs into small segments.

The next moment, Feng Da Ban, rushing in a flurry, led the Wang Fu guards into the medical hall and finally stopped in front of Old Man Yao's lounge chair. He lowered his head to look at Old Man Yao and said in a soft voice, "Imperial Physician Yao, where is Wangye?"

Old Man Yao lifted his eyelids and slowly swept him with his gaze. "Wangye is resting at this time, it's better not to disturb him. She Deng Ke, be sharp, get a chair for Feng Da Ban."

Feng Da Ban frowned. "Wangye is not inside anymore?"

Old Man Yao sat in the lounge chair in front of the door, unmoving, and said with a surprised expression, "Where else could Wangye be if not inside? You have already sent soldiers to completely surround Taiping Medical Hall. Can Wangye fly away? I confirmed yesterday when I gave Wangye acupuncture, Wangye has not grown wings."

Feng Da Ban looked at the thick cotton cloth door curtain, always feeling something was wrong. "Imperial Physician Yao, forgive the offense." Saying that, he waved his hand towards the guards, "Please escort Imperial Physician Yao to the side."

Several guards surged forward, making a gesture to lift Imperial Physician Yao's bamboo lounge chair away. Liang Mao Er stood up and angrily shouted, "Stop!"

Liang Mao Er's burly figure rushed over and casually pushed, knocking the guards to the ground. Feng Da Ban was not angry either, only saying lightly, "Imperial Physician Yao, please tell him to stop. This official is also thinking for Wangye's safety and cannot delay."

However, just at this moment, Chen Ji supported Jing Wang and walked out of the room. Jing Wang said weakly, "Feng Da Ban, what happened?"

Feng Da Ban hurriedly bowed and cupped his hands. "Wangye, this official has come to escort you back to the residence!"

Jing Wang said curiously, "Feng Da Ban usually has the appearance of being as steady as Mount Tai, why is he so urgent today!"

Feng Da Ban glanced at She Deng Ke and the others, then turned to Jing Wang and said, "Wangye, this is not a place to talk!"

Jing Wang smiled, "But speak no harm!"

Feng Da Ban took a deep breath. "Wangye, the private army from the Liu family's Yan Shi large camp has already entered the city. They just completely surrounded the Luo City government office and are now coming towards An Xi Street! The Liu family seems to be rebelling!"

In the courtyard, She Deng Ke, Liu Qu Xing, and Liang Mao Er looked at each other. Liu Qu Xing's face turned ashen. "It was still peaceful yesterday, how could they rebel today?"

She Deng Ke said in a muffled voice, "What are you afraid of!"

Liu Qu Xing cursed, "This is a great crime of exterminating nine clans. I am damn it just in the nine clans. You say I'm afraid or not? Son of a bitch. Usually, I don't get half a benefit from the Liu family, but when something happens, I have to be implicated by them."

She Deng Ke stared blankly. Only then did he realize that if the Liu family's rebellion failed, Liu Qu Xing would also be implicated and beheaded. "Then... then if the Liu family succeeds?"

Liu Qu Xing subconsciously glanced at Jing Wang, then hurriedly twisted She Deng Ke's arm and whispered, "What nonsense are you saying!!!"

Feng Da Ban didn't pay attention to the conversation between the two. He heard the sound of horse hooves in the distance and said earnestly again, "Wangye, the matter is urgent, you should first follow this official back to Wang Fu. Wait until we send people with the tiger tally to summon the Wan Sui Army, perhaps there's still a chance to salvage things!"

Jing Wang thought for a moment. "Let's go. Back to the residence!"

At this moment, Chen Ji suddenly said to Old Man Yao, "Master, Wangye's illness cannot do without you, how about we also go to Wang Fu together?"

Old Man Yao frowned and thought for a moment, then agreed. "Good!"

Saying that, several people simply tidied up their things and followed Jing Wang towards the outside. At the door, everyone turned back to look, only to see a team of soldiers riding horses coming closer and closer.

She Deng Ke said in horror, "Quick, quick go. They are rushing to Wang Fu."

However, Chen Ji seemed to have just remembered something. "Master, you all go first, I forgot to take something!"

She Deng Ke walked and turned back, only to see Chen Ji dive headfirst into Taiping Medical Hall. He said angrily, "Chen Ji, hurry and follow us! What are you taking at this time? What is more important than life?"

She Deng Ke stopped and waited for several breaths, but he never received a reply from Chen Ji. A moment later, he gritted his teeth and wanted to go find Chen Ji, but was grabbed by the wrist by Imperial Physician Yao and forcefully pulled into Jing Wang Fu.

Before entering Wang Fu, he suddenly discovered that this first team of cavalry leading the way was not rushing to Wang Fu, but first completely surrounding Taiping Medical Hall. Everyone suddenly realized that these people were actually targeting Chen Ji.

In front of the door of Taiping Medical Hall, the Liu family soldiers jumped off their horses, drew their waist knives, and rushed in with surging killing intent to search everywhere! Kitchen, bedroom, main room, all empty.

A soldier stood in the middle of the main room, frowning and looking around. He had clearly seen Chen Ji return to the medical hall with his own eyes just now, how could he vanish into thin air? While thinking, his gaze fell on the bed. The next moment, the soldier pulled open the bed, revealing the dark tunnel below!

"He ran away?? Chase..."