Chapter 347: Trap

"What are the Four-Nine Heavens?"

"Eastern Kunlun, Western Kunlun, Jade Capital Mountain, North Kuru Continent, Jambudvipa, Great Western Heaven, Lesser Western Heaven, Five Turbid Realms... Uncle Xu mentioned them, but there were too many for me to remember."

Chen Ji asked curiously, "Isn't there any record in Yuanjue Temple?"

The young monk explained, "Records related to the Four-Nine Heavens should be on the seventh floor of the Scripture Repository, which is the most important. They don't let me in there normally, nor do they allow me to ask about it."

Chen Ji sat on the grass, leaning against a thick bamboo. "Did Uncle Xu say how to return to the Four-Nine Heavens?"

The young monk replied as if it were obvious, "He did."

Chen Ji suddenly sat upright. "How?"

The young monk lowered his head, stroking the blades of grass on the ground, his fingertip slowly gliding over them. "You only need to cultivate to the Divine Path Realm to return to the Four-Nine Heavens."

Chen Ji was astonished. "It's that simple?"

The young monk looked up in surprise. "It's not simple at all; cultivating to the Divine Path Realm is incredibly difficult."

"No, no, no, I mean, the method to return to the Four-Nine Heavens is so... straightforward," Chen Ji said, furrowing his brow again. "Wait, wait, if cultivating to the Divine Path Realm allows one to return to the Four-Nine Heavens, then why are Lu Yang of the Jing Dynasty Military Shrine and the Apostle from Yellow Mountain Daoist Court still in the human realm?"

The young monk said, "Oh, you need to achieve 'Harmonization with the Dao' first. As long as there's still someone in this world who cultivates the same path as them, their cultivation isn't complete, and they can't ascend."

Chen Ji murmured to himself, "No wonder it's called the Divine Path Realm... these Divine Officials are already living immortals."

Now that he knew the method to return to the Four-Nine Heavens, he realized that to return to his homeland, he would have to cultivate to the Divine Path Realm, and then kill Lu Yang or the other Mountain Lords.

Before he could speak, the young monk cautiously reminded him, "That Mountain Chief Lu Yang from the Military Shrine might be a bit difficult to kill..."

Chen Ji was startled.

This feeling of having all his secrets seen through was indeed uncomfortable.

The young monk saw Chen Ji's expression and realized he had been responding to Chen Ji's inner thoughts.

He slowly lowered his head. "I try my best not to reveal my thought-reading ability so that you won't worry, but I just can't help it..."

Chen Ji patted his shoulder with a smile. "Anyway, you won't tell anyone. Don't worry, I'm not afraid."

The bamboo grove swayed.

In the cool breeze, the young monk turned to look into Chen Ji's eyes. Most people in this world say one thing but mean another; what they say is one thing, and what they think in their hearts is another.

But Chen Ji was sincere.

The young monk brightened. "You're really not afraid!"

Chen Ji said with a smile, "Why are you so happy? Prince Jing, the Crown Prince, and the Princess aren't afraid of you either."

The young monk shook his head. "They are shielded by the dynasty's destiny, so they don't worry. But you're different; you're truly not afraid."

At that moment, the sound of dry bamboo leaves being crunched underfoot came from behind them.

The sound was faint and particularly abrupt.

Chen Ji whirled around, only to see two figures in the distance quietly approaching, holding up their skirts.

He slowly stood up and casually snapped off a bamboo branch. "Who's there?"

Once discovered, the newcomers stopped hiding and swaggered through the bamboo grove to Chen Ji.

Qi Zhaoning, accompanied by her maid, stood a step away from Chen Ji, sizing him up. "Hey, I heard my brother say you're proficient in all eighteen weapons. Is that true?"

Chen Ji took a step back. "Miss Qi, you are a lady of the Qi household, and I am an outsider. It's better if we don't meet privately."

Qi Zhaoning shrugged carelessly. "This is my Qi Mansion; who would dare to spread gossip? I'm asking you, are the military merits written in Crown Prince Brother's memorial true?"

Chen Ji calmly replied, "No, they're false."

Qi Zhaoning was slightly disappointed. "Oh, they're false..."

She then thought, "But it's okay, it doesn't always have to be about fighting and killing. My brother-in-law comes back from training every day drenched in sweat, and you can smell the stench from far away; it's so uncivilized. I'm asking you, in the 'Four Dreams of Bianliang,' it sings about you and Princess Baili..."

Chen Ji lowered his gaze slightly. "That's also false."

The young monk turned to look quietly at Chen Ji.

It turned out that a great mountain wasn't that tall from the first day; instead, it was built bit by bit, day by day, from small, rough stones, until it became a towering mountain.

Qi Zhaoning was surprised. "Ah, is that a story made up in a novel? But everyone says you led the Princess's horse."

Chen Ji explained, "That day, Prince Jing wanted to lead my horse to thank me for saving the Crown Prince at Dragon King Village. How could I, a mere apprentice from a medical clinic, truly let a Prince lead my horse? So I turned around and led Princess Baili's horse instead, allowing everyone to save face."

Qi Zhaoning's eyes lit up. "So that's how it was! But don't call him 'Prince' in front of outsiders anymore. The rebel has already been stripped of his title by His Majesty. Calling him 'Prince' again would be tantamount to complicity in rebellion. And as for Princess Baili, she's not a princess anymore; she's just a female Daoist priest in Jingyang Palace and won't be able to leave for the rest of her life."

Chen Ji suddenly tightened his grip on the bamboo branch.

Fearing trouble, the young monk quickly pulled Chen Ji's arm. "Let's go, your colleagues are waiting for you. Don't make them wait..."

Before he could finish, a young servant came running hurriedly along the winding path, calling out from afar, "Young Master Chen!"

Chen Ji frowned and looked. "What is it?"

The servant, out of breath, reached him and said, "Young Master Chen, the Grand Uncle sent someone to relay a message. He said that today, after the imperial court refused to send troops to Koryo, all one hundred and seventeen Koryo envoys in East River Rice Lane swallowed poison and committed suicide to show their resolve. Now, the Secret Service is investigating who supplied the poison to the Koryo envoys and has arrested many scribes from the Six Ministries and common people. Something big is about to happen in the capital; all Feathered Forest Army soldiers must return to the Commander-in-Chief's Residence immediately to await orders, so as not to give anyone any leverage."

The "Grand Uncle" referred to Qi Xianshu, the head of the main branch of the Qi family, father of Qi Zhenzhuo and Qi Zhenwu, and father-in-law of Li Xuan.

A bronze bell seemed to clang loudly in Chen Ji's mind.

"Committed suicide by poison?"

This was no suicide by poison; it was a poisoning by the Jing Dynasty Military Intelligence Bureau!

Only now did Chen Ji realize that the wooden box he had given to the scribe contained the poison meant to kill the Koryo envoys.

Strange, the Secret Service had searched everyone at the time and found no one carrying anything. How had the scribe managed to bring the poison back to the Protocol Office?

What puzzled Chen Ji even more was why the Jing Dynasty Military Intelligence Bureau wanted to kill the Koryo envoys.

Wait!

Chen Ji's heart jolted, and he turned to leave. "Young monk, you go back to Yuanjue Temple for now. I'll find a way to get you out another day."

When Chen Ji rushed outside Hanbi Mountain Villa, he heard Qi Zhenzhuo inside the main hall animatedly describing, "Then the Buddhist child Wuzhai spat out a mouthful of blood and immediately fell from the Path-Seeking Realm..."

Chen Ji abruptly pushed open the door, interrupting, "Everyone, follow me!"

At the banquet, the Feathered Forest Army soldiers turned to look.

Qi Zhenzhuo asked, puzzled, "What's wrong, Master?"

Chen Ji said in a grave voice, "All the Koryo envoys have committed suicide by poison. We must return to the Feathered Forest Army Commander-in-Chief's Residence now to await orders!"

Li Xuan's expression changed, and he immediately stood up and headed out. "Let's go!"

The Feathered Forest Army soldiers hastily stood up, knocking over several tables, sending wine and dishes scattering across the floor.

They streamed out from the side gate of the Qi Mansion, turned onto Chang'an Main Street along Fuyou Street, and ran wildly. Duobao, who couldn't hold his liquor, squatted on the bluestone street halfway and started vomiting.

Li Xuan growled, "Carry him!"

More than thirty people hurried along. Before they reached the Feathered Forest Army Commander-in-Chief's Residence, over ten Jie Fan Guards, wearing bamboo hats and straw cloaks, rode up to meet them on horseback.

On Chang'an Main Street in the dark night, the shoulder-level python insignia beneath the Jie Fan Guards' cloaks were faintly visible. The leader, with his hand on his saber hilt, demanded sharply, "Who goes there?"

Li Xuan produced his Feathered Forest Army tally tablet. "Feathered Forest Army!"

The Jie Fan Guard narrowed his eyes to examine the copper tablet. Once confirmed, he scanned their flushed faces, scoffed, and spurred his horse aside to clear the way. "Proceed quickly to the Commander-in-Chief's Residence and await orders. No one is to leave the camp without a summons!"

Just then, the garrisons at the nine gates of the capital simultaneously beat their drums, the sound echoing throughout every corner of the city. Cavalry from the Five City Garrison dashed through the inner city, shouting with all their might, "By Imperial Edict, clear the streets immediately! Violators will be arrested!"

Curfew.

The capital had not had a curfew in a long time.

The Feathered Forest Army soldiers bowed their heads and hurried into the Commander-in-Chief's Residence. As they entered the main gate, they saw Wu Xuange already leading the entire Left Valiant Guard, fully clad in silver armor, cleaning their weapons on the drill ground.

The white plumes on the helmets of the Left Valiant Guard Feathered Forest Army swayed in the breeze, and the cold gleam of their spears was illuminated by the moonlight.

Wu Xuange heard footsteps and looked up. "Minister Li certainly has good taste. If Jing Dynasty envoys were to head south someday, Minister Li could indeed go challenge them to a drinking contest. If you won, it would bring honor to our dynasty."

Just as Qi Zhenzhuo was about to retort, Li Xuan forcefully pulled him into the Commander-in-Chief's Residence's armory.

Duobao, barely holding himself up, said, "Commander, he's just a commander..."

Li Xuan turned back and glared. "Was he wrong? Regardless of Wu Xuange's intentions in coming to our Feathered Forest Army, *he* is the true elite of our Ning Dynasty. Don't be resentful. If you make a mistake, correct it. If you're inferior to others, learn from them. Today's mistake is mine, not yours; I will reflect on it."

The Feathered Forest Army soldiers were silent.

Li Xuan put on his body armor, breastplate, and arm guards. As he fastened the straps, he suddenly said, "Everyone, from today on, abstain from alcohol. Break your vow only after a great victory. Forget the military merits we achieved in Guyuan. Be more ambitious; don't let anyone look down on you again!"

The Feathered Forest Army soldiers' spirits lifted. "Yes, sir!"

Li Xuan turned to Chen Ji. "What do you make of tonight's events?"

Chen Ji shook his head. "I don't know either. We'll wait for the imperial decree."

He put on his armor, carried his spear inverted, walked out of the Commander-in-Chief's Residence, and stood alone before the main gate.

Chen Ji's gaze passed through the northern Heavenly Gates and stretched towards the vermilion Meridian Gate in the distance, where countless Jie Fan Guards could be seen on the watchtowers. On Chang'an Main Street in front of the Heavenly Gates, hundreds of Jie Fan Guards, clad in python robes, stood in formation, holding torches high.

The torches, like dragons, separated north and south.

The fiery dragons illuminated officials' palanquins rising and falling before the Meridian Gate, as stream after stream of high-ranking officials were summoned into the palace.

All hell had broken loose.

Li Xuan came to Chen Ji's side. Chen Ji asked in a low voice, "Minister Li, what's your take on this matter?"

Li Xuan pondered for a moment before replying, "It's either the Chen family or the Xu family."

Chen Ji was surprised. "Why do you say that?"

Li Xuan considered. "For the past few days, only two Grand Secretaries in our Ning Dynasty have actually wanted to send troops to resist Jing: Grand Secretary Chen and Grand Secretary Xu. This is because the Chen family controls Dongying Port, and the Xu family controls Qidong Port. Their merchant ships sail across the sea, using Koryo as a springboard to trade with Japan, extracting silver from Japan that flows into the Ning Dynasty."

Li Xuan continued, "Koryo has always maintained an ambiguous relationship with both our dynasty and the Jing Dynasty, and in earlier years, they even betrayed our dynasty. After all, they are separated from us by sea and not connected by land. Therefore, Grand Secretary Qi and Grand Secretary Hu don't care about Koryo's fate; only the Chen and Xu families insist on saving Koryo."

Chen Ji's heart sank. No wonder the imperial court debates had yielded no results these past few days.

Yet now, everyone believed the Koryo envoys committed suicide by poison. Only Chen Ji knew that this had nothing to do with the Chen or Xu families; it was the Jing Dynasty Military Intelligence Bureau that wanted to poison the Koryo envoys!

Chen Ji's brows furrowed tightly, and a sense of crisis lingered in his mind.

This time, what Si Caogui made him do was not only a loyalty test from the Jing Dynasty Military Intelligence Bureau but also a demand for him to present his pledge of allegiance. With this incident hanging over him, Chen Ji could absolutely not betray Jing and surrender to Ning, or it would be a dead end.

Not only that, but this ploy also made the court officials suspicious of one another; even the Chen and Xu families would likely suspect each other.

Chen Ji slowly closed his eyes, replaying the events.

He had personally handed the poison to the Protocol Office scribe. Would the investigation trace back to him?

No.

At this moment, everyone believed the Koryo envoys committed suicide by poison to force the Ning Dynasty to send troops to Koryo.

Although Chen Ji was also a member of the Chen family, even if people suspected the Chen family, they wouldn't suspect him. After all, everyone knew his discord with the Chen family was openly apparent; not even the most naive person would suspect him.

Furthermore, there were at least eight hundred, if not a thousand, people on Chessboard Street and East River Rice Lane at the time, all recently dismissed officials and scribes from the imperial court. Everyone was a suspect. Given the Secret Service's usual methods, they would definitely re-screen everyone present, but Chen Ji was not among them.

After finishing his contemplation, Chen Ji slowly opened his eyes.

So, the question was: Why did the Jing Dynasty poison the Koryo envoys? There was only one reason: the Jing Dynasty wanted to force the Ning Dynasty to send troops.

Chen Ji took a deep breath.

It was a trap.

The Koryo envoys wanted the Ning Dynasty to send troops to resist Jing, but the Jing Dynasty did the opposite, turning their plan against them, also wanting the Ning Dynasty to send troops.

There must be a trap awaiting them.

Just then, rapid hoofbeats came from the distance.

Chen Ji stood at the main gate and looked up, seeing Xuan Snake leading over a hundred secret agents, riding furiously on horseback, heading straight for the Feathered Forest Army Commander-in-Chief's Residence!

His heart jolted, and he instinctively tightened his grip on his spear, his mind racing as he wondered what oversight of his could have led Xuan Snake here.

The next moment, Xuan Snake, with a grim expression, rode his horse into the Feathered Forest Army Commander-in-Chief's Residence.

Behind him, the secret agents dismounted immediately after entering the main gate and closed the doors of the Commander-in-Chief's Residence. "Seal off the Feathered Forest Army Commander-in-Chief's Residence! No one is to escape!"

Chen Ji cupped his hands and asked, "Lord Xuan Snake, may I ask what offense our Feathered Forest Army has committed?"

Xuan Snake glanced at him disdainfully, sneered, but did not reply.

The drill ground was silent. He, draped in a black cloak, slowly rode his horse among the Feathered Forest Army. His horse's hooves clop-clopped unhurriedly, yet each sound seemed to land heavily on everyone's heart.

As Xuan Snake passed by Li Xuan, he sneered condescendingly, "Minister Li is truly bold. What, just returning from a drinking session?"

Li Xuan was silent for two breaths. "Xuan Snake, if there's any matter, it's about me alone. Whether it's exile or imprisonment in the Imperial Prison, it concerns only me and no one else."

Xuan Snake said in a soft, low voice, "Such a significant matter, I'm afraid Minister Li cannot bear it alone."

The Feathered Forest Army was on high alert. Qi Zhenzhuo said in a grave voice, "We've been thrown into the Imperial Prison twice already; we're not afraid of a third time. But if you try to frame us without giving a reason, my Qi family will not let it rest."

Xuan Snake casually glanced at Qi Zhenzhuo. "The Qi family certainly wields great authority. You've almost frightened me. However, my presence here has nothing to do with you. Move aside."

Qi Zhenzhuo was startled.

Xuan Snake declared loudly, "Detain Wu Xuange and all others from the Feathered Forest Army's Left Valiant Guard separately within the Commander-in-Chief's Residence and interrogate them one by one!"

Chen Ji's hand, gripping the spear, slowly relaxed. Wu Xuange angrily said, "Xuan Snake, what are you doing?"

Xuan Snake smiled. "When the incident occurred, you were the first to arrive at East River Rice Lane. There's something suspicious about that. I suspect the poison the Koryo envoys took was delivered by you."

Wu Xuange frowned. "We are the Imperial Guards. When someone deliberately caused trouble on Chessboard Street, it was our duty to immediately go and quell the disturbance. What fault is there in that?"

Xuan Snake reached out from under his black cloak, casually lowering his head to examine if his fingernails were neatly trimmed. "I, too, want to believe Commander Wu is innocent..."

At this point, he looked up and smiled chillingly at Wu Xuange. "But I trust the confessions I extract more."