Chapter 188: Mr. Feng

Chen Ji knew that from now on, he could only rely on himself.

In the heavy snow, he moved further and further away from the gazes of Yu Dengke, the Crown Prince, Liang Gouer, and Liang Maoer, until the black night held only him alone. It was as if he had stepped off a glorious stage and run into the darkness beyond.

Chen Ji felt as if he had returned to that midnight when he first arrived in this world. He was standing behind the counter of the Taiping Medical Hall, alone, cramming the general outlines of medical techniques. Then he wrote down ten words: "Life between heaven and earth, suddenly like a traveler far away."

Coming out of the inner prison, Chen Ji finally understood many things:

He hadn't come to this world by accident. Jing Wang, Shifu, and Li Qingniao had planned it all, intending to use him as their most important chess piece.

Jing Wang, knowing his life wouldn't be long, had used the entire Jing Wangfu as the price to give him Bingliu. Under the guise of cement, he provided him with silver, specifically to help him grow quickly.

The other side seemed to have arranged an extraordinarily difficult destiny for him, which was why they had said "sorry" to him twice.

It was also precisely because this destiny was too bitter that when he wanted to follow Wu Hongbiao and Si Cao Gui to leave the Jing Dynasty, Shifu, moved with compassion, advised him to leave.

At that moment, Shifu had hoped he would just leave.

If he had left that day, perhaps he would have jumped off the chessboard. From this, he could guess that Jing Wang did not know he still had the Jing Dynasty as a retreat route, and the other side did not know his relationship with Lu Jin, so they never exploited it. Shifu helped him keep the secret.

That sharp-tongued, cold-blooded, but warm-hearted little old man had ultimately helped him.

So, what exactly did Jing Wang want him to do? Chen Ji only knew it was related to the unification of the Jing and Ning dynasties, and related to the immortals of the Forty-nine Heavens. The other side needed him to bear the increasingly strong pressure from the Mountain Lord Gate. As for the rest, he still couldn't guess.

Whether it was Jing Wang or Ning Emperor, they were both cold and powerful political figures. Ordinary people couldn't thoroughly understand their intentions. But what about Bai Li? Why did Jing Wang want Bai Long to take Bai Li away?

How should he save Bai Li? Rob the prison again? Snatch Bai Li from Bai Long's hands?

Bai Long was a high official at the peak of the Seeking Dao realm. He, a minor official who had just stepped into the Innate realm, definitely couldn't kill him. Now without any helpers, Chen Ji couldn't possibly rob the prison again either.

It was a dead end.

Chen Ji suddenly remembered Shifu's words: If he was smart enough, he should just leave.

He carried the Sword Seed Gate, and the Jing Dynasty still had a high-ranking uncle looking out for him. As long as he went to the Jing Dynasty, he would have enough time to wait, like Wu Miao Mountain Chief Lu Yang, until he became strong enough to overlook the world.

Ten years. Twenty years.

He was still young, he could wait... but he didn't want to wait.

At this moment, on the long street in the black night, a Jie Fan Wei rode a galloping horse, iron hooves stepping on the accumulated snow, splashing snow waves.

In that instant, the Jie Fan Wei saw Chen Ji, decisively drew the long knife from his waist, leaned down, and attacked.

Chen Ji did not retreat but advanced. As man and horse crossed paths, the Jie Fan Wei on the horse chopped from the left, but Chen Ji precisely pulled the horse's reins and flipped up, kicking the opponent flying out from the right side, and landing on the saddle himself.

He didn't linger in battle, just pulled the reins. The swift horse was pulled by the reins, front legs reared up, and it turned direction.

When the Jie Fan Wei struggled to get up from the snow, Chen Ji had already ridden far away. Time waited for no one!

Two incense sticks later, Chen Ji looked at the dim Huan Jing Hutong before him.

This was originally the yamen of the Luo City Secret Spy Department, but the secret spies always preferred to handle cases in dark, unseen places like the inner prison, so the proper yamen was left idle... until Bai Long appeared, and this yamen was reused.

Chen Ji pulled the reins in front of the yamen, took a deep breath, and dismounted.

He strode meteorically into the yamen. Snow had completely covered the empty courtyard. In the courtyard, there was a faint floating smell of Chinese medicine, like sandalwood and also like musk.

Deep in the yamen, a lamp was burning. Bai Long, wearing a mask, sat upright behind the redwood desk, seemingly reviewing documents.

In the boundless black night, only this one light remained.

In the main hall, Bai Long heard the footsteps and looked up at Chen Ji, then lowered his head again. While reviewing documents, he casually said:"So late coming to the Secret Spy Department yamen for what?"

Chen Ji passed through the courtyard, stepping on the accumulated snow, one step on each stair:"Mr. Feng, is our agreement still effective?"

In the main hall of the yamen, Bai Long's cinnabar pen in his hand suddenly stopped, as if the snow outside the yamen also stopped in mid-air.

After a moment of stagnation, Bai Long's cinnabar pen in his hand moved again. He sat behind the desk and marked the documents with cinnabar, then lightly said:"How could this seat be Mr. Feng?"

At this time, Chen Ji looked around the main hall. He saw two teacups on the desk, the tea still steaming, both only half full... indicating that just now Bai Long had had a guest here who had just left, and this guest was someone who could make Bai Long take off his mask to drink tea.

Chen Ji's gaze returned, and he answered:"Ever since Bai Long appeared, Mr. Feng has disappeared."

Bai Long said slowly without lifting his head:"This seat has to wait in the Inner Court, Mr. Feng has to stay in the Liu family all the time. How can we two be in two places at once?"

Chen Ji answered:"Whoever wears the mask, that one is Bai Long. I think Jiang Yan is just your puppet, and you are the great official who practices the Yan Sheng technique."

Bai Long seemed to be amused by Chen Ji:"Young man must have drunk fake wine. Who gave you the guts to come in front of this seat and talk nonsense?"

Chen Ji thought and said:"I took Jing Wang's blood letter to the Qian Sui Army to plot a prison robbery, and came back safe and sound. The Qian Sui Army also didn't chase and kill me. I thought about it, and only Mr. Feng would take action to protect me. Thank you, Mr. Feng."

Bai Long said lightly:"Coming in front of this seat in the dead of night to talk nonsense, be careful your head falls off."

Chen Ji said calmly:"Mr. Feng, Wangye has already told me your identity."

Bai Long was slightly startled, then reacted:"Boy, are you bluffing me?"

Chen Ji shook his head and said sincerely:"Not bluffing. Wangye, before dying, already revealed his plan and told me to assist you..."

Before he finished, Bai Long laughed heartily, as if he had heard a big joke:"Boy, to bluff me, you even dare to make up such a big lie. Are you really not afraid this seat will kill you now? Truly bold!"

Chen Ji suddenly said:"Mr. Feng, my Shifu said if I encounter great trouble, then come find you."

Bai Long smiled and placed the cinnabar pen on the pen rack. He took off his mask, revealing Mr. Feng's appearance:"This seat is too lazy to listen to your nonsense. If I listen any longer, this seat is afraid I cannot help but kill you."

Chen Ji was silently.

Bai Long said with a smile:"This seat once repeatedly asked you whether you wanted to follow me to do things. You all refused. Now how have you suddenly thought it through?"

Chen Ji answered:"Naturally, I am planning to abandon darkness and turn to light."

Bai Long lazily waved his hand:"I know why you have come, and I also know what you are thinking in your heart. But now is different from the past. The thing you seek, I can't do anymore. Please go back."

Chen Ji stood opposite the desk and asked:"Mr. Feng knows what I seek?"

Bai Long picked up the teacup and took a shallow sip, casually saying:"In this world, there are not many things that can make people risk life and death, so it's not hard to guess. But now the Princess is trapped in a major rebellion case. This matter is directly decided by the Emperor, and others dare not say much. Not to mention me, even the Inner Minister, Master Wu Xiu, also dare not plead for her."

Chen Ji was silent for a long time, finally bowing and cupping his fists, bending down:"If Mr. Feng does not abandon me, this humble official is willing to go through fire and water for Mr. Feng without hesitation. Mr. Feng's scheme is very big and needs someone to do things for you."

Bai Long stood up and looked down at Chen Ji's back, smiling but not smiling:"For such a small matter, you have bent your waist. How can you achieve great things?"

Chen Ji did not stand up, and said again:"I hope Mr. Feng will fulfill my request. This humble official is willing to be Mr. Feng's horse and vanguard."

Bai Long said casually:"You also saw, this seat's side has strong soldiers and horses, followers like clouds. Why would I lack you, a small young man, to help me do things?"

Chen Ji straightened up and looked directly at Bai Long:"Since Mr. Feng has followers like clouds, why is Mr. Feng's side empty at this moment?"

Bai Long's eyebrows slightly raised.

Chen Ji said:"Because they were led away by me."

Bai Long was startled, then cried and laughed:"I didn't realize your face was so thick in the past. Good, good, good. Even if this is also your ability, do you think you can send the Crown Prince out of Luo City? How about we make a bet? With tonight's midnight as the boundary, if you can truly make me unable to catch the Crown Prince and Liang Gouer, this seat will count you as winning, and you will be qualified to do things under this seat. If you lose..."

Chen Ji said confidently:"I will not lose."

East Market, Cao Transport Wharf.

In the past, even when snowing, there were trackers and laborers busy at night. Goods from the south and north gathered here, making it one of the world's hubs.

As the saying goes, hundreds of goods piled like mountains, sails like forests, daily thousands bow hands, nightly ten thousand lamps bright – it was very lively.

But at this time, the entire wharf was quiet. Many large ships had dropped anchor and stopped on the black river surface, unwilling to dock for a long time, waiting for the Luo City storm to subside.

Snow fell on the lake surface. Han Tong, wearing a bamboo hat, shuttled and jumped between the decks of one ship after another, as if walking on flat ground. Some ships' decks had night watch sailors who, seeing him, only slightly nodded and did not speak, letting him enter like a ghost into empty land.

Han Tong came to the edge of a ship, took out a fire inch strip from his sleeve, pulled open the wooden cover, and phosphorus fire burned out red sparks.

He raised the fire inch strip and shook it in the air three times, paused for three breaths, then shook it five times. After a moment, a double-masted fast ship in the river center silently raised anchor and approached the wharf.

When the ship docked steadily, someone jumped down from the high ship side:"Sect Master, why suddenly dispatch this ship? This ship is going to Yangzhou."

Han Tong's voice sank:"Do not ask what should not be asked, do not drop anchor for the ship, prepare to leave the wharf at any time. Tonight you need to smuggle a few people. Is the secret room inside empty?"

The middle-aged man said:"There is a Jianghu guest hiding inside. It's said he slept with a young lady of an official noble's family in the capital. The family invited Lamp people to chase and kill him. Without our Cao Gang cover, he will definitely die..."

"I'm not asking you about these." Han Tong interrupted. "Do not leave other people in this ship's secret room. The people I send on the ship absolutely cannot have affairs. Remember, if you have affairs, they absolutely cannot have affairs."

The middle-aged man smiled honestly:"Okay, then I will go later and kill that Jianghu guest. He should be carrying two small yellow fish."

However, at this moment, a ship's sail at the very edge of the wharf suddenly rose halfway. Han Tong suddenly turned back to look. This was a secret signal between the Cao Gang!

The middle-aged man behind him lowered his voice:"Sect Master, the court has hounds coming. Quick, leave!"

Han Tong's eyes slightly narrowed. How did the Eunuch Party chase him here?

"Sect Master, did someone sell you out? You quickly follow me and leave. This place is not suitable to stay long."

The middle-aged man said and wanted to board the ship again, shouting for the sailors to set sail, but Han Tong grabbed his wrist and condensed his voice:"I will lead the Eunuch Party away for you. You stay here to receive the people!"

The middle-aged man was startled:"Who exactly are you sending? Are they that important?"

Han Tong looked at him:"More important than my life."

The middle-aged man was silent for a long time:"Understood... Still haven't found A Yun?"

Han Tong shook his head:"No, she's hidden. I don't know where she's hidden. She doesn't believe anyone."

While speaking, footsteps were already approaching from a distance. Someone was stepping on the wharf's wooden boards, thumping as they approached. There were many people.

Han Tong no longer hesitated, turned and jumped onto another ship's deck, grabbing the rope on the mast like an ape and swinging into the distance. One rope after another on the masts became his leverage.

Beside him was the canal. If he was truly in danger, he could immediately jump into the water. With his water skills, even if many Jie Fan Wei came, they couldn't catch him in the water.

However, just as Han Tong wanted to escape, he saw a team of people openly approaching with torches in the distance.

He stood on the top of a mast, narrowed his eyes to look, and when he clearly saw the people, his face changed!

He saw Yun Yang in black clothes standing in the heavy snow at the wharf, holding a torch in his left hand, and pushing Bai Li with both hands bound behind her back with his right hand.

Yun Yang held the torch and waved to Han Tong, smiling and shouting:"Han Sect Master, surrender with your hands tied. Otherwise, the Princess will meet her tragic end tonight."

(There is still an update later)