Chapter 178: Killing

The carriage sped straight to the East Market.

Chen Ji lifted open the carriage curtain, silently observing the desolate street. As the window curtain swayed, the light and shadow in his eyes constantly shifted.

Jin Zhu sat opposite him, hugging a copper hand warmer. He said warmly, "The County Lord is not skilled at lying. Pure-minded people haven't thought about human nature; their lies deceive no one but themselves."

Chen Ji asked without turning his head, "Master Jin Zhu, what do you want to say?"

Jin Zhu was silent for a moment. "The County Lord knows her situation very clearly. She said those words because she didn't want to implicate you. You are a smart person, I can see it, and you can definitely see it too. In the Wunian Shan Language Secret Agent Division, accustomed to seeing deceit and scheming, occasionally seeing a scene like this is bound to bring a sigh. But I must remind you, the general trend cannot be violated."

Chen Ji asked, "Master Jin Zhu, what is the general trend?"

Jin Zhu replied, "His Majesty wants King Jing to die, the Inner Minister also wants King Jing to die, the most powerful people in the Ning Dynasty all want him to die, and he will certainly die! This is the general trend!"

"Understood!"

Chen Ji suddenly remembered the divination his Master once did, saying that King Jing's residence was facing unavoidable calamity, which was heaven's will.

Jin Zhu said seriously, "Listen to my advice, turn around and forget them. Pretend as if you've never seen them!" He continued, "When I was first sent to Wunian Shan, I also had very good friends, and a girl I liked. At that time, I thought I would never forget them for a lifetime. But now when I think back, alas, I can't even remember their appearances."

Chen Ji smiled. "Master, rest assured, I understand."

Jin Zhu examined him with a mixture of belief and doubt, and in the end could only sigh. "If you can understand, that's good!"

Chen Ji looked outside the window and changed the subject. "Master, after catching Consort Yun, what are the plans?"

Jin Zhu thought for a moment. "Next is the matter of the White Dragon. It has nothing to do with us. The White Dragon should use the evidence, then..."

He looked at Chen Ji's expression. "Then confiscate their family's property and execute them!"

Chen Ji said nothing more.

Jin Zhu sat opposite him and sighed. "I don't know why this transportation fee was so alert, actually escaping before the Liu family's matter was raised. Someone must have tipped her off!"

Chen Ji put down the carriage curtain without moving. "Master, we've arrived!"

Saying so, he lifted open the door curtain and bent to get out of the carriage. The two *lifang* districts near Anle Street had already been sealed by the Troublemaker Guards, allowing no entry or exit.

The secret agents were searching house by house in the small alleys. All households were brought out of their houses and stood in rows in the small alleys waiting for interrogation.

In every household, all places where people could hide were turned upside down. Even the floors were carefully tapped with the handles of knives to see if there were any hollow places.

Chen Ji lifted his head to look, only to see Yun Yang in black clothes, standing with his hands clasped on the roof ridge of a wine house, his eyes like a hawk scanning the street.

Jiao Tu lay on the roof ridge beside Yun Yang, legs crossed, and somehow managed to find a bamboo hat from a Troublemaker Guard to cover her face. Her toes swayed idly and carefree.

Jin Zhu pursed his lips. "Pretending to be something."

He waved a hand at Xi Feng and the others behind the carriage. "Go in and search. If you find her, it's a great merit."

At this moment, Chen Ji's mood slowly sank to the bottom.

He originally thought that the White Dragon saying they had found a clue about Consort Yun was just a pretext.

Either to lure out the Master of the Luo Tian Sect, Han Tong.

Or to expose an internal ghost within the secret agent division.

But only he knew most clearly that this indeed was Consort Yun's hiding place. Given the thoroughness of the secret agent division's search, it was only a matter of time before Consort Yun was discovered.

However, what Chen Ji found strange was that Xi Tang's betrayal was very sudden.

Not a day earlier and not a day later.

Precisely today.

He inhaled deeply, taking the lead to walk towards the alley. "Xi Feng, you lead people to search the left side, I'll lead people to search the right side!"

Xi Feng subconsciously turned his head to look at Jin Zhu.

They were both Pigeon-level secret agents. By rank, it wasn't Chen Ji's turn to command him yet.

But Jin Zhu saw Xi Feng looking over and gave a slight, almost imperceptible nod, indicating that Xi Feng should comply.

Chen Ji led over twenty secret agents into the alley, searching door to door.

His gaze occasionally fell upon a certain household deep within the alley. His brows were tightly furrowed.

Wu Yun, huh?

According to what was said, Wu Yun should be responsible for guarding Consort Yun at this time, so why hadn't he seen any trace of Wu Yun?

Wait.

Since Wu Yun wasn't here, that meant Consort Yun wasn't here either.

Chen Ji glanced at the other secret agents and walked directly towards the household deep within the alley. He merely pushed the door lightly with his palm, and the door creaked open.

Inside, the door bolt hadn't been fastened. He walked in to look.

The vegetable basket that Consort Yun mentioned yesterday was placed on the eight-immortal table in the room, and in that vegetable basket, a page of paper was unexpectedly placed at an angle.

Chen Ji quickly stepped forward to unfold the page of paper. His pupils suddenly contracted.

On the paper, clearly and completely written was the content of when and where King Jing confessed to Consort Yun about connecting with the Jing Dynasty's military intelligence division. All the masterminds were King Jing, and Consort Yun was merely following orders.

What was going on?

Was this letter deliberately left by Consort Yun?

If so, then could Xi Tang suddenly informing the secret agent division also have been instructed by Consort Yun?

But why would Consort Yun do this?

If this letter fell into the hands of the secret agent division, King Jing would be completely defeated, with no way back.

Chen Ji stood in the room like a statue, letting the dust in the air slowly settle on his shoulders.

A moment of kindness had almost caused a huge mistake.

At this moment, Yun Yang on the high roof ridge suddenly said, "Hey, that kid Chen Ji suddenly went into a household alone and has been in there for a long time. Is there a problem?" Jiao Tu's face was covered by the bamboo hat, and she said slowly, "What problem could there be? Meng Ji has already tested him twice. If there was really a problem, wouldn't Meng Ji have said something? Besides, that old man Jin Zhu is so cautious, how could he leave a big problem by his side?"

Yun Yang furrowed his brow. "I always feel something is not right!"

Jiao Tu took off the bamboo hat, lay flat, and squinted at him. "If you ask me, we should honestly apologize to them. We can fight, he can use his brain. If we can work together, the Inner Minister will surely reward us with a lot of cultivation resources."

Yun Yang glanced at her. "Enmity has already formed!"

Jiao Tu smiled and squinted. "Just stabbed him a few times, that's all. What kind of enmity is that? In this world, there is only eternal interest, no eternal enmity. At most, I'll sacrifice a bit of my charm. How can this kind of young and vigorous young man withstand my kind of temptation?"

Yun Yang said definitively, "No way..."

Jiao Tu let out a sound and put the bamboo hat back over her face.

Yun Yang said in a low voice, "I'll go take a look."

Saying so, he jumped down. His body in the air landed lightly like a piece of paper.

Yun Yang quietly and without a sound came to the door of that household, then suddenly pushed the door open. "What are you doing?"

In the room, Chen Ji was knocking on the wall with his knuckles.

He saw Yun Yang push the door in and said in surprise, "I'm searching this household. Why has Master Yun Yang come?"

Yun Yang walked around Chen Ji a few steps, looking at him suspiciously. "Why have you been searching for so long?"

Chen Ji said helplessly, "Master Yun Yang, all colleagues are searching so meticulously. What's the problem with me doing so?"

The next moment, Yun Yang laughed coldly. "Stand still, or I'll take your life!"

He searched Chen Ji's clothes up and down, wanting to see if Chen Ji had hidden anything, but after searching for a long time, he found nothing.

Chen Ji laughed. "Master Yun Yang, there was a misunderstanding between us earlier, but now everyone is colleagues. Let's temporarily put aside our suspicions and work properly for the Inner Minister!"

Yun Yang also laughed. "Very well! You continue searching, I'll go look elsewhere."

He turned and walked out, exiting the door.

Inside the room, Chen Ji, and outside the room, Yun Yang, both wiped the smiles off their faces.

Winter days darken exceptionally early.

Pedestrians hurried home with lowered heads.

Jin Zhu cursed and muttered as he led Chen Ji into a noodle stall. He sat at the eight-immortal table, rubbing his cold hands. "Is the White Dragon reliable or not? It's so cold, and so many people have searched all day, but we haven't even seen Consort Yun's shadow. Clearly, it's a false lead."

Chen Ji took out his chopsticks and asked the shop owner for hot water to rinse them. "Master, calm down slightly. Searching for Consort Yun is the top priority now. Even if it's a false lead, it must be verified one by one."

After the shop owner brought the hot beef noodles, Jin Zhu put all the beef into Chen Ji's bowl. "Eat quickly. Finish eating and go home to rest. That White Dragon, who knows what tricks he'll play tomorrow."

Chen Ji said "Understood."

At this moment, Jin Zhu's action of eating noodles stopped. He lifted his head and glanced at him, suddenly reminding him, "Absolutely do not have any crooked thoughts. Remember what I said. Forget everything, forget everything. This is fate!"

"Fate?"

Jin Zhu smiled. "All things are fate, not a bit determined by people."

Chen Ji looked at the beef in the bowl in front of him. "Master Jin Zhu, if you could live again, would you choose to be a good person or a bad person?"

Jin Zhu thought for a moment. "A bad person!"

Chen Ji was doubtful. "Why?"

Jin Zhu suddenly laughed. "The thing I most want to do, a good person cannot do! Eat quickly."

Chen Ji said "Understood."

He lowered his head and finished the beef noodles in a few gulps. "Master, I'm going back. You should also go back and rest early!"

"Ah, you ate so fast!"

Jin Zhu lifted his head in astonishment, just seeing Chen Ji already standing up and walking alone into the night. Outside the door, the cold wind blew, and Chen Ji only felt that even the white breath he exhaled seemed to immediately condense into ice.

His stomach felt a bit full. The page of paper he had swallowed earlier couldn't be digested.

He tightened his collar, lowered his head, and walked against the cold wind towards the distance.

He didn't know how long he walked before he came to a dark alley. He said softly, "Nine Heavens Responding to Origin Thunder Universalization Heaven Revered!"

The next moment, Wu Yun in the shadow of the alley meowed, indicating for him to follow.

Chen Ji stood at the mouth of the alley, seemingly hesitant, seemingly tangled.

Finally, he still followed.

He stopped in front of a dilapidated wooden door.

He lifted his hand and lightly knocked on the door with his knuckles. "Madam, open the door a bit!"

The wooden door was suddenly pulled open. Consort Yun, in a neighbor woman's simple dress, had eyes full of coldness. "How did you find this place? Why don't you disappear like a ghost? Since your military intelligence division is so miraculous, why was it still exterminated by the eunuch party?"

Chen Ji lifted his head and looked directly at Yun Fen. "Madam, now in this Luo City, there is no one I cannot find. Hiding is useless. I've come tonight because I have many questions to ask you... Or let's go in and talk."

Consort Yun silently stepped aside and closed the door tightly again. Chen Ji stood in the small courtyard, his back to Consort Yun, and slowly began, "Madam, do you hate the Prince?"

Consort Yun's face was calm. "Hate him for what?"

Chen Ji thought and said, "Hate him for ignoring you year after year... That informer letter you left in Minzhong Alley, I secretly hid it!"

Consort Yun's face changed. "You hid it? What does this matter have to do with you? Why meddle in others' affairs?"

Chen Ji said lightly, "Do you know, if that letter of yours is found by the secret agent division, King Jing, the World Son, and the County Lord will undoubtedly die! Actually, the Prince knows the County Lord is not his biological daughter. The day he saw Han Tong's expression, he should have known all of this. You don't have to harm his life because of this!"

Consort Yun was silent for a long time, then laughed coldly. "He knows, of course he knows. Because after he married me into the Prince's residence, he never touched me once."

Chen Ji was stunned.

He had originally been bluffing Consort Yun, yet he never thought that the truth he bluffed out would be like this.

Consort Yun walked into the room and sat down. She stared coldly at Chen Ji. "I gave birth to Bai Li just to anger him, but I didn't think he wasn't angry at all. Instead, he treated Bai Li as his own. The most terrifying gaze in this world is not one that despises you, but one that is never willing to look at you."

Chen Ji was silently speechless. Consort Yun said coldly, "These years, the common people all say King Jing is a good prince. How do they know that the good prince in their mouths is nothing but the Ning Emperor's loyal thug? Back then, he married me for the Luo Tian Sect behind me. Now he is about to die, yet he wants to drag the Liu family and the Luo Tian Sect into the grave with him. On what basis?"

Chen Ji asked lightly, "Is the Prince going to die?"

Consort Yun covered her mouth and laughed. "It seems you only know some superficial things. Three years ago, Companion Feng brought the Birth Feather Pill from the capital, precisely the one granted by the Huangshan Dao Court to the Ning Emperor. Now the three-year period has arrived, and he is about to die!"

Chen Ji suddenly realized, no wonder King Jing didn't even look at the Birth Feather Pill that Consort Jing brought back.

Only because the other had already eaten one, and eating another would be useless.

Originally, King Jing was truly going to die.

But what about the World Son and Bai Li?

Consort Yun said slowly and methodically, "For so many years, I only had one wish, which was to give birth to a boy. I did so many things for him. Mobilized the Luo Tian Sect for him, gathered grain for him, raised military funds for him, but even if he is dying, he doesn't want to give me this opportunity." Chen Ji asked, "So you deliberately didn't inform the World Son and the County Lord about the ambush in Hongyi Alley, deceiving them into going to their deaths. Cutting off King Jing's descendants?"

Consort Yun examined him in surprise. "No wonder Zhu Yunxi and Bai Li are safe and sound. Originally, you interfered in the middle!"

Chen Ji didn't understand. "But Bai Li is your daughter."

Consort Yun laughed lightly. "In the Prince's eyes, there is only Bai Li. Now even in Han Tong's eyes, there is only Bai Li... But their retribution has come. The Prince believed the Ning Emperor would spare his descendants. But he didn't think that the Ning Emperor from the beginning wanted to cut the grass and root out."

"What wrong has Bai Li done?"

Consort Yun stood up and said hysterically, "What wrong have I done?"

Chen Ji looked at Consort Yun and said lightly, "Madam, I have been hesitating about what kind of person I should be. I asked my Master, and Master said the heart can be hot, but the blood must be cold. I went to ask Mister Wang, and Mister said to act according to one's conscience. Otherwise, a piece will be missing in one's heart."

Chen Ji continued, "Today, I've been thinking about what they said. Both teachers make sense. But Master Jin Zhu makes even more sense. The thing he wants to do, a good person cannot do, only a bad person can. I am also the same!"

He went on, "King Jing is not a good person. So many people were sacrificed for their schemes, but the County Lord shouldn't accompany you all to the grave. Today, when she closed the door at that moment, I was thinking, she must be allowed to live."

Consort Yun wrinkled her brow. "You want to kill me? I have already written down your Jing Dynasty thief identity. If you kill me, someone will naturally send that page of paper to the secret agent division."

"Probably can't send it!" As he spoke, Wu Yun bit a page of paper and jumped onto Chen Ji's shoulder.

It loosened its mouth, and the page of paper fell into Chen Ji's hand.

Chen Ji walked into the room. In front of Consort Yun, he put the page of paper to the candle flame. "Madam, is it this one?"

Consort Yun watched as the page of paper burned bit by bit. The firelight lit up her face, then gradually dimmed.

She suddenly lifted her head to look at Chen Ji. "I am Bai Li's birth mother. If you kill me, how will you face her afterwards? Even if she doesn't know, every day after, as long as you see her face, you will think of the fact that it was you who personally killed her mother."

Chen Ji loosened his hand, letting the page of paper burn into flying ash and scatter. The firelight in his eyes also gradually extinguished. "I know. As long as she can live, it's fine!"

Saying so, he drew a short knife from his sleeve. "Sorry, Madam!"

A moment later, Chen Ji pushed the door open and walked out step by step from the dim small alley.

Wu Yun jumped into his arms and lifted its head to look at him. "Are you okay?"

Chen Ji walked towards the direction of Anxi Street. He suddenly stopped and turned back, looking behind him.

The East Market, which should have been lit up everywhere, was now pitch black. The long bluestone street stretched to the end of the world, as if extending into the abyss.

"Wu Yun!"

"Hmm?"

"I probably can't become a good person anymore!"

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