Chapter 79: Until We Meet Again

By The Talking Elbow

The reins were in Chen Ji's hands, the ox cart stopped on the road heading south.

It was snowing quietly at midnight, the snowflakes landing on the three people, caught in their hair.

Sicao Gui, who was driving the cart from the front, turned to look at Chen Ji and asked gravely, "You're going back to Taiping Medical Hall? Don't you trust me and Wu Hongbiao? Don't you want to leave with us?"

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

Sicao Gui asked gravely again, "Then do you know that if you stay, you're very likely to be targeted by Lu Guanwu's people?"

Chen Ji slowly loosened the reins. "Now, among those in the Military Intelligence Department who know my identity, some are dead, others have left. Even if a new Department Head or Sicao comes to Luocheng, they won't trouble me again."

Sicao Gui fell silent.

Chen Ji said with a solemn and righteous expression, "I've finally managed to stay in Prince Jing's residence, and I've finally infiltrated the Ning Dynasty's Conspiracy Bureau. I absolutely cannot leave Luocheng just because I'm afraid."

He added, "The firearms I used tonight to blow up the Golden Pig and kill Manager Yuan were obtained from that important figure in the Prince's residence. If I can get firearms this time, next time I can get formulas, blueprints, and military formation maps. My staying here will be more useful!"

Wu Hongbiao said with respect, "Your conviction is far stronger than mine!"

"Sir," Chen Ji paused, then looked at Gui. "After you left, Sicao Xin also died. Who will take over Luocheng in the future?"

Gui mused for a moment. "There were rumors earlier that Manager Yuan once contended with Ding for power in Luocheng. Most likely, Ding will take over."

"What kind of person is he?"

"I don't know," Gui said calmly. "Sicaos do not meet each other. If Xin and I weren't old acquaintances, we probably wouldn't recognize each other. No matter who takes over, do not try to contact them yourself; it's very dangerous."

Chen Ji asked again, "Who will be the next Department Head?"

Gui answered directly, "This is the highest secret of the Military Intelligence 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 staying here is more impactful, you would be safer returning to Jing Dynasty. No one can harm you when you're with your uncle."

Chen Ji slowly jumped off the cart, bowing his hands in farewell to the two amidst the falling snow. "I'm returning to Taiping Medical Hall. After this separation, we'll be in two different dynasties. I don't know when we'll meet again. See you again sometime!"

He looked at Sicao Gui on the cart; the latter's face was thin and angular. Wu Hongbiao, still recovering from his injuries, looked a bit weak.

His acquaintance with these two was not deep, yet one was willing to risk his life to warn him, and the other was willing to give up the chance to escape far away to come back and save him.

When Chen Ji faced them, despite feeling much gratitude, he still added silently in his heart, "We may never meet again."

At that moment, Wu Hongbiao did not bid Chen Ji farewell directly. He looked at Sicao Gui and said, "Sir, could you wait for me?"

Sicao Gui frowned. "You may."

Wu Hongbiao, dragging his injured body, searched around until he finally found a closed tavern.

He went around to the back and quietly climbed in. A short while later, he emerged carrying a small jar of wine. "This should be chrysanthemum wine the shopkeeper didn't sell during the Double Ninth Festival; it smells so fragrant. Chen Ji, after this parting, I don't know when we'll meet again. Let's drink this wine as a send-off for us."

Chen Ji was startled for a moment. He broke the clay seal of the wine jar, took a large mouthful of chrysanthemum wine, and handed it to Wu Hongbiao.

Wu Hongbiao took the small jar, took a big gulp, and then offered it to Sicao Gui.

Sicao Gui hesitated repeatedly, but finally took the wine jar and took a small sip. "I still need to sneak out of the city later; I must stay sober. Drinking could cause trouble."

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

With that, he took another large gulp of wine, placed the jar firmly on the ox cart, bowed his hands, and said, "See you again sometime!"

Sicao Gui and Wu Hongbiao also bowed their hands together, "See you again sometime!"

The ox cart slowly started moving again, its wooden wheels clattering on the flagstone road as it moved further and further away.

The snow gradually grew heavier, falling in larger and larger flakes, as big as goose feathers.

Chen Ji stood in the wind and snow.

He remembered the martial artists who had abandoned the young prince and fled earlier, then looked at the two Jing Dynasty spies gradually disappearing into the distance.

Chen Ji suddenly felt that *this* was the true martial world...

"The morning rooster crows, early to bed and early to rise!"

An old, impoverished night watchman, carrying a lantern, braving the wind and snow, slowly walked down the long street, beating his copper gong.

The watchman's calls changed with each watch:For the first watch, he'd chant, "Dry weather, be careful of fire!"For the second watch, he'd call, "Close doors and windows, guard against thieves!"For the third watch, he'd shout, "No sickness, no disaster, all safe and sound!"For the fourth watch, he'd call, "Cold weather, icy ground, watch your step!"For the fifth watch, he'd shout, "The morning rooster crows, early to bed and early to rise!"

The city's residents could tell which watch it was just by hearing the watchman's call.

After the watchman left, Chen Ji slowly emerged from the narrow alley, stumbling his way back to Taiping Medical Hall via a roundabout route.

The courtyard was empty; even the crow was gone, leaving only a bare apricot tree.

Chen Ji stood in the snow, letting the heavy flakes fall on his head and shoulders. He felt a sudden sense of relief, as if he could finally relax as soon as he stepped back into the medical hall.

Instead of going back to his room to sleep, Chen Ji, with a slight tipsiness, went to the water vat and removed his clothes.

Standing amidst the pure white snow, he poured scoop after scoop of icy water over his head, washing away the bloodstains, dust, gunpowder smell, and his own agitation, until his entire body was red before he dried himself.

Chen Ji returned to his room to change into dry clothes, then lit the stove in the kitchen and threw his old clothes into the fire.

He sat on a small bamboo stool in front of the stove, letting the warm, orange-red firelight envelop him. The dry kindling crackled in the stove, creating a profound sense of peace.

Wuyun stepped over the light snow in the courtyard and came into the kitchen. It lightly jumped onto Chen Ji's lap, curling up warmly. "So cold! I followed Gui and Wu Hongbiao, and only came back after making sure they got out of the city safely."

"How did they get out of the city?"

Wuyun replied, "Gui has subordinates in the Luocheng Military Affairs Department who secretly let them pass. I heard them still talking on the way, saying it would be very dangerous if you stayed. Aren't you considering going to Jing Dynasty with them? It feels like these two new friends really care about you."

Chen Ji smiled, stroking Wuyun's head. "I don't seem to be very good at making friends. Every time I make a friend, I lose them quickly."

Wuyun thought for a moment. "I'll stay with you."

Chen Ji pondered for a moment. "Now, only Concubine Yun in Luocheng knows my identity as a spy. I need to figure out how to keep it a secret."

"Concubine Yun," Wuyun bristled at the mention of her. "She's the one who brings Bai Banruo to Wanxing Garden to beat me up every day! So annoying!"

Chen Ji chuckled. "Later, we'll figure out a way to get revenge! However, she's somewhat different from Concubine Jing; she should be someone we can deal with."

"Why?"

Chen Ji analyzed, "Concubine Jing and Concubine Yun are two completely different types of people. When you were with Concubine Jing, if you couldn't beat Bai Banruo, you wouldn't even get food and would be scolded by Chunrong. Look how long you've been away from Wanxing Garden, and she hasn't sent anyone to look for you. Such a person is very dangerous because she only cares about herself."

"What about Concubine Yun?"

Chen Ji recalled and said, "If Bai Banruo gets hurt, she'll call a doctor for her. She leaves persimmons on the persimmon tree in her courtyard for the birds to get through winter. She leaves room for others in her actions. Also, Princess Baili was raised by her. I don't think a mother who can raise a daughter like Princess Baili could be evil to the core."

"That's true."

Sounds came from outside the courtyard. Chen Ji poked the unburnt clothes further into the stove with an iron poker, then hid his dagger in his sleeve and slowly walked out of the kitchen to check.

The next moment, he froze.

He saw Baili, already perched on the courtyard wall early in the morning, smiling and greeting him, "Good morning!"

Baili swayed slightly, standing on the young prince's shoulders. Her hair was re-tied, and the red carp collar pendant hanging from her collar button looked exceptionally vibrant against the white snow.

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

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

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

Baili looked suspicious. "Really?"

"Yes."

Baili asked again, "You didn't go out last night, did you? Don't lie to me; most people can't fool me."

As her voice faded, the young prince, from the other side of the wall, interrupted their conversation. "Baili, can you please climb over first before chatting every time? My shoulder is killing me! Little Monk, come let her step on you for a bit!"

"Young Prince, how can I have physical contact with a woman?"

"Back in Red Clothes Alley, when those ladies touched your face, you didn't refuse!"

Baili propped herself up with both hands, flipped over the wall, and then descended rung by rung down the ladder.

She didn't care if the young prince had climbed in; she just circled Chen Ji, examining him up and down, even leaning in slightly to sniff his scent.

Chen Ji smiled helplessly. "Princess, what's wrong? Did something happen last night?"

Baili pouted. "Fine, don't admit it!"

Chen Ji shook his head. "Princess, I truly don't know what you're talking about."

Baili suddenly sniffed the air. "What's that smell? Burning wood doesn't smell like this, does it?"

Saying that, Baili turned to walk towards the kitchen, but Chen Ji quickly stepped in front of her to block the doorway. "Princess, the kitchen is smoky and dusty. Your white clothes will get dirty if you go in."

"I'm not afraid. It'll be clean after I wash it."

"Smoke stains are hard to wash out."

"Oh," Baili turned and walked away, but after two steps, she turned back again, hoping to catch Chen Ji off guard, but he still blocked her with outstretched arms.

Baili gave a cunning smile, then suddenly bent down and peeked into the stove fire from under Chen Ji's armpit.

In the orange-red stove fire, Chen Ji's clothes from last night had completely burned away, but there were still some recently charred scraps of fabric remaining.

Baili stood up and triumphantly tapped Chen Ji's collarbone with her finger. "Don't worry, my lips are sealed!"

Chen Ji: ...

Someone knocked on the medical hall door. At that moment, the young prince, who had just climbed into the courtyard, said, "I'll get it."

When the medical hall door opened, the wind and snow poured in. Liang Gou'er stood slovenly at the entrance, his hair messy like a bird's nest.

Everyone was stunned. Liang Gou'er had disappeared after the Golden Pig incident, and Chen Ji had thought he'd gone carousing in Red Clothes Alley, but now it didn't seem so.

Liang Gou'er strode into the small courtyard and slipped a small porcelain bottle into Chen Ji's hand. "I went to Mount Laojun to ask Daoist Head Cen Yunzi for this medicine for you. It's the 'Soft Jade Ointment,' refined by the medicinal officials of Mount Laojun. It can heal knife and sword wounds in three days; it's miraculous."

The young prince and Baili's eyes lit up.

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

Liang Gou'er rolled his eyes. "What else? Though I can't help you fight against the eunuch faction, I'm certainly not someone who lacks loyalty. Three hundred li of mountain roads there and back, I'm exhausted!"

The young prince asked curiously, "Brother Gou'er, you have a connection with Daoist Head Cen Yunzi of Mount Laojun? Medicines from there are hard to come by."

Liang Gou'er said nonchalantly, "My father has a connection with him, I don't."

As they spoke, the Little Monk slowly and awkwardly climbed onto the courtyard wall.

Before he could climb down the ladder, the young prince suddenly bent down and rolled a large snowball, then burst out laughing as he hurled it at the Little Monk's bald head.

"Ouch!" The Little Monk was sprawled on the wall's edge, caught between a rock and a hard place.

Taking advantage of Chen Ji's distraction, Baili secretly made a snowball and shoved it down the back of his collar.

Seeing Chen Ji grimace from the cold, Baili laughed heartily, but she didn't expect Chen Ji to grab a handful of snow and shove it into her mouth.

Liang Mao'er, She Dengke, and Liu Quxing were also awakened. The three of them, wrapped in padded jackets, joined the fray. Before anyone knew it, the courtyard had turned into a chaotic snowball fight.

Liang Gou'er stared dumbfounded at this group of "children," then chuckled to himself and bent down to make a few snowballs.

He then threw a snowball that hit She Dengke's face with a 'thud.' This snowball, imbued with a gentle internal energy, made She Dengke stumble.

Then he threw another snowball that hit Princess Baili on the shoulder, making her lose her footing and fall into the snow.

Everyone was dumbfounded. Who had ever seen a snowball like that!

Amidst the falling snow, the young prince grabbed Liang Gou'er's waist and roared, "Everyone, run!"

Clouds rolled and unfurled in the sky, drifting away, then drifting back.

Volume One, First Acquaintance, End.