Chapter 78: Farewell

With the reins in Chen Ji's hands, the ox cart stopped on the road leading south.

In the silent snow falling at midnight, snowflakes landed on the three people, caught in their hair.

Si Cao Gui, who was sitting at the front of the cart driving, turned back to look at Chen Ji and asked seriously, "Why do you want to go back to Taiping Medical Hall? Don't you trust me and Wu Hong Biao? Aren't you willing to leave with us?"

Chen Ji shook his head. "I trust you. You could have gone far and wide this evening, yet you risked your lives to save me. If it weren't for you, I might already be in the inner prison."

Si Cao Gui asked solemnly again, "Then do you know that if you stay, it's very likely that Lu Guan Wu's people will settle accounts with you?"

Chen Ji slowly loosened the reins. "The people in the Military Affairs Department who know my identity are either dead or gone. Even if a new Si Lord arrives in Luo City, they won't trouble me again."

Si Cao Gui was silent.

Chen Ji's expression was serious as he said righteously, "I've finally managed to stay in Jing Wang Manor and finally infiltrated the Ning Dynasty's secret operations department. I've decided not to leave Luo City just because I'm timid."

He added, "The firearm I used tonight to bomb the golden pig and kill shopkeeper Yuan was obtained from that important figure in the manor. If I can get a firearm this time, next time I can get formulas, blueprints, and military formation maps. If I stay, my role will be bigger!"

Wu Hong Biao said with solemn respect, "Your faith is much firmer than mine!"

"My lord, after you leave," Chen Ji thought for a moment and looked at Gui, "Si Cao Xin also died. Who will take charge in Luo City in the future?"

Gui pondered for a moment. "There was a rumor earlier that shopkeeper Yuan once competed with Ding' for the power in Luo City. Presumably, Ding' will take over."

"What kind of person is he?"

"I don't know," Gui said calmly. "Si Cao's don't usually meet each other face to face. If Xin' and I weren't old acquaintances, we probably wouldn't recognize each other either. No matter who takes over, don't actively contact them. It's very dangerous."

Chen Ji asked again, "Who will be the next Si Lord?"

Gui answered directly, "This matter is a top secret of the Military Affairs Department. Not only do I not know, but even if I did, I couldn't tell you."

"Understood."

Gui hesitated repeatedly, but still advised, "Although your role will be bigger if you stay, you will be safer if you return to the Jing Dynasty. Stay by your uncle's side, and no one can do anything to you."

Chen Ji slowly jumped down from the cart and, in the falling snow, cupped his hands to bid farewell to the two. "I want to go back to Taiping Medical Hall. After this separation, you and I will be in two different dynasties. I don't know when we can see each other again. We'll meet again someday!"

He looked at Si Cao Gui on the cart. The other man's face was thin and sharp, and Wu Hong Biao, whose injury hadn't healed, seemed a bit weak.

His friendship with these two wasn't deep, but one was willing to risk death to warn him, and the other was willing to give up the opportunity to go far and wide and come back to save him.

As Chen Ji faced them, although he felt much gratitude, he still added in his heart that they might never meet again.

At this moment, Wu Hong Biao hadn't directly bid farewell to Chen Ji. He looked at Si Cao Gui. "My lord, can you wait for me for a while?"

Si Cao Gui frowned. "Yes."

Then, Wu Hong Biao, dragging his injured body, searched everywhere and finally found a closed wine shop.

He went around to the back yard and quietly flipped in. Not long after, he came out carrying a small jar of wine. "It should be chrysanthemum wine that the shop owner didn't sell out during the Double Ninth Festival. It smells very fragrant. This separation from Chen Ji, who knows when we can gather again? Let's drink this wine as a send-off for us."

Chen Ji was startled for a moment. He opened the mud seal of the wine jar, took a big gulp of chrysanthemum wine, and handed it to Wu Hong Biao.

Wu Hong Biao hugged the small jar and also took a fierce gulp, then lifted it to Si Cao Gui.

Si Cao Gui hesitated repeatedly, but ultimately took the wine jar and shallowly sipped a small mouthful. "I still need to blend in to get out of the city later. I must stay sober. Drinking will delay things."

Under the moonlight, fine snowflakes drifted into the wine jar. Chen Ji suddenly smiled and took the wine jar. "I'll drink your share for you!"

Saying that, he took another big gulp of wine, patted the wine jar on the ox cart, and cupped his hands, saying, "We'll meet again someday!"

Si Cao Gui and Wu Hong Biao also cupped their hands together. "We'll meet again someday!"

The ox cart slowly moved again, the wooden wheels pressing on the stone road, creaking as they went far away.

The snow gradually became heavier, falling thicker and thicker, as big as goose feathers.

Chen Ji stood in the wind and snow.

He thought of those Jianghu people who had thrown down their heir and run away earlier, and then looked at these two Jing Dynasty spies who were gradually moving away.

Chen Ji suddenly felt that this was the Jianghu...

"Morning chicken crows dawn, early sleep and early rise!"

An old poor watchman, carrying a lantern and braving the wind and snow, walked slowly through the long street, knocking a copper gong.

The words the watchman shouted at each time of the day were different.

At the first watch, he recited, "Heaven is dry, everything is dry, be careful of fire and candles."

At the second watch, he shouted, "Close doors and windows, guard against theft and thieves."

At the third watch, he shouted, "No illness, no disaster, peace matters."

At the fourth watch, he shouted, "Heaven is cold, the ground is frozen, be careful of slippery roads."

At the fifth watch, he shouted, "Morning chicken crows dawn, early sleep and early rise."

As long as the common people in the city heard what the watchman was shouting, they could tell which watch it was.

After the watchman left, Chen Ji slowly walked out of a narrow alley, staggering back to Taiping Medical Hall.

There was no one in the courtyard, not even a crow. Only the bare apricot tree was left.

Chen Ji stood in the snow, letting the heavy snow fall on his head and shoulders. He felt himself suddenly relax, as if as long as he returned to the medical hall, his heart could settle down.

Chen Ji didn't go back to his room to sleep, but with some drunken intent, he came to the water jar and took off his clothes.

He stood in the pure white snow, pouring scoop after scoop of ice-cold water over his head, washing away the bloodstains, dust, gunpowder smell, and restlessness from his body, until his whole body's skin was red. Only then did he dry himself.

Chen Ji returned to his room, changed into a set of dry clothes, lit the stove in the kitchen, and threw the old clothes into the fire.

He sat on a small bamboo stool in front of the stove, letting the orange-red warm firelight envelop him. The dry wood in the stove fire made crackling sounds, which was especially peaceful.

Wu Yun, stepping on the floating snow in the courtyard, came to the kitchen. It lightly jumped onto Chen Ji's knee and nestled warmly. "It's so cold! I followed Gui and Wu Hong Biao to make sure they got out of the city safely before coming back."

"How did they get out of the city?"

Wu Yun replied, "There was a subordinate of Gui's in the Luo City soldiers and horses department who secretly let them pass. I heard them saying on the road that if you stay, it will be very dangerous. Why didn't you consider going to the Jing Dynasty with them? I feel that these two new friends really care about you."

Chen Ji smiled and stroked Wu Yun's head. "I don't seem to be very good at making friends. Every time I make friends, I lose them soon after."

Wu Yun thought for a while. "I'll accompany you."

Chen Ji pondered for a moment. "Now, only Yun Fei knows my spy identity in Luo City. I have to think about how to keep it a secret."

"Yun Fei," Wu Yun thought of Yun Fei and immediately got angry. "She's the one who brings Bai Ban Ruo to Wan Xing Yuan every day to beat me! It's so hateful!"

Chen Ji laughed. "Later, we'll think of a way to get revenge! However, she's a little different from Jing Fei. She should be manageable."

"Why?"

Chen Ji analyzed, "Jing Fei and Yun Fei are completely different kinds of people. When you were with Jing Fei, if you couldn't beat Bai Ban Ruo, you wouldn't even have a meal, and you'd still be scolded by Chun Rong. You see, you've been away from Wan Xing Yuan for so long, and she hasn't even sent anyone to look for you. This kind of person is very dangerous because her heart only contains herself."

"What about Yun Fei?"

Chen Ji said as he recalled, "If Bai Ban Ruo is injured, she'll invite a doctor for Bai Ban Ruo. She'll leave some persimmons on the persimmon tree in her courtyard for the birds to get through the winter. She does things leaving room for others. Also, Bai Li County Lord was also taught by her. I think a mother who can raise a daughter like Bai Li County Lord won't be completely bad."

"That's true."

Sounds came from outside the courtyard. Chen Ji used an iron poker to push the unburned clothes back into the stove fire, then hid the short knife in his sleeve and slowly walked out of the kitchen to check.

The next moment, he was startled.

He saw Bai Li lying on the courtyard wall early in the morning, smiling and squinting as she greeted him, "Good morning!"

Bai Li swayed on the heir's shoulder, her hair re-tied. The red fish pendant hanging from her collar button was particularly bright reflected in the white snow.

Chen Ji hesitated for a while. "Good morning."

Bai Li asked curiously, "Why are you in the courtyard? Did you not sleep all night?"

Chen Ji was silent for a moment. "No, I slept very early last night. I just woke up."

Bai Li was suspicious. "Really?"

"Yes."

Bai Li asked again, "Didn't you go out last night? You can't deceive me. Generally, people can't deceive me."

As soon as she finished speaking, the heir on the wall opposite interrupted their conversation. "Bai Li, you can't just flip over and start chatting every time! My shoulder is killing me! Little monk, you come here and let her step on you for a while!"

"Heir, how can I have physical contact with a female body?"

"When those sisters touched your face in Hong Yi Xiang, you didn't refuse!"

Bai Li supported herself with both hands and flipped onto the wall, then walked down the ladder step by step.

She didn't care whether the heir flipped in or not. She just circled around Chen Ji, looking him up and down, and even leaned in slightly to smell his body.

Chen Ji smiled helplessly. "County Lord, what is this? Did something happen last night?"

Bai Li pouted. "If you don't admit it, so be it!"

Chen Ji shook his head. "County Lord, I really don't know what you're talking about."

Bai Li suddenly sniffed the air. "What's that smell? It shouldn't be the smell of burning firewood."

Saying that, Bai Li turned to walk towards the kitchen, but Chen Ji quickly stepped in front of her, blocking the door. "County Lord, the kitchen is smoky and hot. You'll get your white clothes dirty if you go in."

"I'm not afraid. I can wash it off when I get back."

"Smoke stains are not easy to wash off."

"Oh," Bai Li turned to leave, walked two steps, then turned back, wanting to catch Chen Ji off guard, but Chen Ji still spread his arms and blocked her.

Bai Li smiled slyly, suddenly bent down, and looked into the stove fire from under Chen Ji's armpit.

She saw that in the orange-red stove fire, Chen Ji's clothes from that day were already completely burned, but there were still some charred fabric pieces left from what had just burned.

Bai Li stood up, proudly pointed at Chen Ji's collarbone, and said, "Don't worry, my mouth is very tight!"

Chen Ji: ......

Someone knocked on the medical hall door. The heir, who had just flipped into the courtyard, said, "I'll go open the door."

When the medical hall's main door was opened, the wind and snow poured in. Liang Gou Er stood sloppily at the door, his hair messy like a bird's nest.

Everyone was startled. Liang Gou Er had disappeared since the last time the golden pig came over. Chen Ji had thought he had gone to Hong Yi Xiang to fool around, but now it didn't seem like it.

Liang Gou Er strode into the small courtyard and stuffed a small porcelain bottle into Chen Ji's hand. "I went to Lao Jun Mountain to find Daoist Master Cen Yun Zi to ask for this medicine for you. It's the 'Soft Jade Ointment' directly refined by the medicine official of Lao Jun Mountain. General knife and sword wounds can heal in three days. It has a miraculous effect."

The heir and Bai Li's eyes lit up.

Chen Ji looked at the porcelain bottle in his hand and then at Liang Gou Er. "This is for me?"

Liang Gou Er rolled his eyes. "Otherwise? Although we can't help you be an enemy of the eunuch faction, we are definitely not that kind of person who doesn't talk about righteousness. I walked over three hundred li of mountain roads and was exhausted!"

The heir asked curiously, "Does Brother Gou Er have a friendship with Daoist Master Cen Yun Zi of Lao Jun Mountain? That medicine might not be easy to obtain."

Liang Gou Er said carelessly, "My father has a friendship with him. I have no friendship with him."

As he spoke, the little monk slowly and clumsily climbed onto the courtyard wall.

He hadn't been able to climb down the ladder yet when the heir suddenly bent down, rubbed a big snowball, and laughed as he threw it at the little monk's bald head.

"Ah!" The little monk lay on the eaves of the wall, in a dilemma of advancing or retreating.

Bai Li took advantage of Chen Ji's attention being drawn away and secretly rubbed a ball of snow and stuffed it into the back of his collar.

Seeing Chen Ji grinning from the cold, Bai Li laughed until she bent over, but she didn't guard against Chen Ji grabbing a handful of snow and stuffing it into her mouth.

Liang Mao Er, She Deng Ke, and Liu Qu Xing were also awakened. The three people wearing cotton jackets joined the battlefield. No one knew when the courtyard had turned into a snowball melee.

Liang Gou Er looked at this group of "little children" dumbfounded and also smiled "hey hey", bending down and rubbing up several snowballs.

He threw a snowball with a "bang" and it smashed on She Deng Ke's face. This snowball was wrapped with a trace of soft true qi, knocking She Deng Ke into a stagger.

He threw another snowball that smashed on Bai Li County Lord's shoulder. Bai Li County Lord couldn't stand steady and lay in the snow.

Everyone was stunned. Who had ever seen a snowball like this!

In the flying snow, the heir hugged Liang Gou Er's waist and roared, "Run quickly, everyone!"

The clouds in the sky rolled and relaxed, drifting away and drifting back again.

Volume One, Initial Knowledge, Complete.