Chapter 255: Yellow Cornmeal Buns

Chen Ji silently looked at the handful of yellow soil and ashes on the ground, pinching the corner of the yellow paper talisman in his hand.

Whose talisman was this... Bai Long? He wasn't sure.

Chen Ji had seen a yellow paper talisman in Bai Long's hand before, but Bai Long wasn't the only practitioner who used yellow paper talismans. Meng Ji used them, and the Dao Court also used them. Practitioners who branched out from the Dao Court paths all used yellow paper talismans.

But for some reason, he had a vague feeling in the back of his mind that the owner of this yellow paper talisman must be Bai Long.

When he first arrived in Guyuan, the station attendant had said that the Secret Spy Agency's people had withdrawn because it was too difficult here... This didn't make sense.

How could a spy city, where good and bad were mixed, lack such an important role as the Secret Spy Agency? One by one, the secret spies were seeing achievements like crazy, wishing they could catch Jing Dynasty spies every day. This place should have had a large number of secret spies!

Initially, the Si Li Jian, to make the Liu family drop their guard, had deliberately exiled Jiao Tu and Yun Yang.

Now, the situation in Guyuan was strikingly similar to that initial situation.

When Chen Ji realized that Bai Long "might" be behind this matter, his heart involuntarily sank.

He subconsciously looked around, worried that if he turned his head, he would see "Mr. Feng" in the distance looking at him with a half-smile.

Fortunately, he didn't.

But there was still one question: exactly who killed the thirty-four people in the Chen family?

Was it Bai Long? Certainly not.

If it hadn't been for the border army sending mutton that day, Chen Ji and the others might have been hit too. Bai Long had gone to great lengths to let him lurk back into the Chen family; how could he kill him again?

Since it wasn't Bai Long, who was it then?

Who would benefit from killing the Chen family?

The border army, Jing Dynasty spies, the Crown Prince...

As he was thinking, footsteps sounded from outside the alley. Someone from a distance said: "My lords, just now there were wails coming from this direction, it sounded very scary!"

An old man leading a team of border army soldiers quickly walked over. When they turned the corner, they only saw ashes on the ground. Chen Ji was nowhere to be seen.

A border army soldier squatted on the ground, picking up a little bit of the yellow soil and rubbing it carefully in front of his eyes: "It's bone ash."

Another person doubted: "It can't be bone ash. Even if you burn someone on firewood for a day, they might not turn to ash."

Chen Ji stopped and walked along the street, raising his head to look for signs until he saw the three large characters "Yuan Cao Tang." Only then did he lift his foot and go inside the shop.

Deer antler, bear gall, bear paw, snow frog, and ginseng smuggled from the north were first transported from Changbai Mountain to Longhua State in Tokyo Dao, then from Longhua State to Zhongjing Dao, and then south from Fengsheng State in Xijing Dao, entering Guyuan.

Finally, they were transported to this Yuan Cao Tang for various brokers and merchants to choose from.

As Chen Ji stepped over the threshold, he actually saw a familiar figure, wearing a lambskin coat with a noticeable section of leopard print on the sleeve, standing at the counter talking to the shopkeeper.

Hu San Ye!

He only heard Hu San Ye, with his back to Chen Ji, calmly say: "Shopkeeper, Guyuan is already surrounded by the Tian Ce Army. The city will be broken in the next few days, and your ginseng won't be worth anything anymore."

The shopkeeper smiled without panic or hurry: "San Ye, you know how my Yuan Cao Tang operates. Even if the Jing Dynasty attacks, I have acquaintances who can speak for me. I don't know what will happen to others, but my Yuan Cao Tang will definitely be fine."

Hu San Ye touched the stubble on his chin, turned around, and said: "Let's not talk about breaking the city for now. We still don't know how long the Jing Dynasty will surround Guyuan. Now that the granary is burned, every family is short on grain. Everyone is rushing to buy grain and won't come to buy your ginseng. You might as well sell it all to me for a bit cheaper."

The shopkeeper said with a forced smile: "San Ye, we are old acquaintances, no need for empty talk. Given that Guyuan is isolated without aid and the Tian Ce Army could break the city at any time, many practitioners want to buy ginseng to improve their realm. How could I sell it to you cheaply?"

Chen Ji frowned slightly. Hu San Ye actually thought the same as him. With someone competing, the price would naturally rise with the tide.

He didn't go forward, only listened silently from behind.

At this moment, he heard Hu San Ye say: "I've been in Guyuan for so many years, so I naturally know what's expensive and what's cheap at this time. It takes a practitioner at least five days of tempering to digest one ginseng. After five days, Guyuan might already be broken. What's the use of temporarily embracing Buddha's feet? Moreover, one or two ginseng pieces won't improve the realm much. Shopkeeper, those who have grain in hand are the big shots right now. Ginseng won't sell for a good price."

The shopkeeper raised his eyebrows: "Even so, you just said eight taels per jin for ordinary wild mountain ginseng and ten taels per piece for fifty-year-old ginseng. I really find this price difficult to accept. Even if it all burns, I won't give it away so cheaply. You say, isn't that right? Hu San Ye is also a respected figure in Guyuan. You surely don't intend to strong-arm me into buying, do you?"

Hu San Ye smiled and said: "Harmony brings wealth. Shopkeeper, no need to say such harsh words. You are reluctant to burn those ginseng. If you feel my price is too low, how about exchanging it for grain? Your Yuan Cao Tang supports over a hundred people. Your whole family, young and old, has over thirty mouths to feed. If the grain supply is cut off, your seven precious sons and over ten rooms of concubines might all starve to death."

The shopkeeper smiled slightly: "That's none of San Ye's concern."

"Oh." Hu San Ye asked with interest: "It seems the shopkeeper has hidden grain. Could it be that the border army didn't search thoroughly?"

The shopkeeper shook his head: "San Ye, no need to probe my words. I plan to let my entire family, old and young, all starve to death."

Hu San Ye laughed heartily, cupped his fist, and said: "Then I won't disturb the shopkeeper. I will come back and ask you in ten days."

The shopkeeper casually cupped his hand: "San Ye, please go."

Hu San Ye turned around and actually saw Chen Ji standing not far away. He was slightly startled, then pretended not to know him and went out.

The shopkeeper looked at Chen Ji with a smile: "Guest, what do you need?"

Chen Ji asked: "How much is a fifty-year-old ginseng?"

The shopkeeper held up three fingers: "Thirty taels of silver per piece, no cheating children or the elderly."

Chen Ji turned around and left. There was no need to even bargain at this price.

He went out the door, turned silently towards a small alley, and quietly waited at the corner. He slowly drew out a short knife from his sleeve.

The next moment, Hu San Ye turned in. Chen Ji put the short knife against the opposite person's neck and calmly asked: "San Ye, what are you following me for?"

Hu San Ye slowly raised both hands and said with a smile: "Don't worry, I have no ill intentions."

Chen Ji didn't understand. Given Hu San Ye's jianghu status, his practitioner realm was presumably not low. Even if they were more familiar with each other, ordinary practitioners wouldn't casually put their lives in someone else's hands.

But this Hu San Ye didn't show any intention of resisting and just let him put the short knife against his neck.

Chen Ji thought for a moment but didn't put down the short knife: "San Ye, what do you want with me?"

Hu San Ye looked at Chen Ji with his one remaining good eye: "You also want to buy ginseng, what is your current strength realm for cultivation?"

Chen Ji was confused by this series of questions: "San Ye, why do you care about these things?"

Hu San Ye was silent for a moment: "If you want to buy ginseng, I can help you."

Chen Ji sized up Hu San Ye from head to toe: "San Ye, don't you also want to buy ginseng? Why help me?"

Hu San Ye smiled: "I have traveled north and south, and there are many opportunities to get cheap ginseng. If you are urgent, I can give it to you first. Just consider it forming a good karma."

Chen Ji hesitated. A stranger's goodwill always made people vigilant.

Hu San Ye didn't mind his vigilance and asked straightforwardly: "How much ginseng do you want to buy?"

Chen Ji gripped the knife handle tightly: "How much ginseng is in Yuan Cao Tang?"

Hu San Ye thought: "That could be a lot. There are several thousand jin of ordinary wild mountain ginseng, and probably six or seven hundred pieces of fifty-year-old or older ginseng. They are all waiting for spring to be transported to the Ning Dynasty inland for stock."

Chen Ji replied: "I want all of the fifty-year-old and older ones, but his price is too high, I can't afford it."

Hu San Ye's pupils shrunk slightly: "Why do you want so many? Although old ginseng is good, it also emphasizes gradual progress. You should slice the old ginseng, divide it into thirty portions, and steam two slices each morning, noon, and evening to drink the water. Absolutely do not rush for quick success, otherwise, your meridians won't be able to bear it."

Chen Ji remained silent.

Seeing that Chen Ji didn't answer, Hu San Ye softened his tone: "Since you want to buy, I will help you. Come back to Yuan Cao Tang in five days, and you will get what you want. Remember, at that time, pretend not to know me."

After saying that, he slowly backed away, his neck gradually leaving the short knife.

After exiting the small alley, he turned and left quickly, leaving Chen Ji full of doubts: Could it be that he had unintentionally saved a relative of Hu San Ye's before, but he didn't know it?

But what did Hu San Ye want so much ginseng for? Not for making money. If it was for making money, selling grain was more profitable than selling ginseng.

Behind Hu San Ye, there were still many practitioners who needed ginseng for cultivation!

Chen Ji returned to the Longmen Inn, lifted the thick cotton cloth curtain, and saw several middle-aged men carrying packages gathered at the counter, anxiously saying: "Shopkeeper, quickly arrange for us to leave Guyuan. We really can't stay in Guyuan for even a moment longer."

The shopkeeper said unhurriedly: "You all know the rules for sending people away from my Longmen Inn, right?"

The middle-aged men patted their backs: "Understand! Understand!"

The shopkeeper slanted his eye to look at one of them: "Li Lao Qi, how come I remember you still have a wife in Guyuan? Why aren't you bringing her along?"

Li Lao Qi shrunk his neck: "She can't bear children anyway, what's the point of bringing her? With silver, where can't I find another wife?"

The shopkeeper stroked the abacus beads at his fingertips: "I see you just don't want me to earn an extra two hundred taels of silver, you stingy thing. You've earned so much money but aren't willing to spend two hundred taels of silver to buy your wife's life."

Li Lao Qi stiffened his neck: "Second Master, why are you even managing my family affairs?"

The shopkeeper smiled: "Okay, I won't manage. Go stay in the shared room for commoners. I'll send you off the day after tomorrow."

Li Lao Qi was stunned: "How can I stay in a commoner's room? Give me a room for the earth class, that's fine too."

The shopkeeper said impatiently: "The earth class rooms are all full. The shared room for commoners was just vacated last night. Are you staying or not? If not, go stand aside."

Li Lao Qi hurriedly took out a string of Buddha coins and stuffed them to the shopkeeper: "Stay, stay, stay... Can I get a meal? Even bran rice is fine, I'm really too hungry to stand it."

The shopkeeper sneered: "My Longmen Inn also has no extra grain. Go find a way yourself. You're so stingy, you might as well pick some skin off your own feet to eat."

Chen Ji: "......"

At this moment, Wang Gui carried a tray from the backyard into the room. There were more than ten yellow flour nests on the tray.

He saw Chen Ji face to face and turned away in a panic, worried that Chen Ji would see what he was carrying.