Green Mountain
Chapter 160 - 118, Defection

Chapter 160: 118, Defection

Bailu Pavilion’s doors and windows were tightly closed, leaving the room in disarray.

The strong scent of Chinese medicine wafted through the air, as a ray of sunlight penetrated through the crack of the door, illuminating the floating dust particles.

Chen Ji looked down at the wooden box in his hands, where the ginseng was hastily stuffed together in a tangled mess, resembling worthless twine. Yet, the restless Ice Flow within his body confirmed that this ginseng was indeed the real deal.

He looked up at Jin Zhu, "Lord, do all cultivation paths require ginseng?"

"Not exactly," Jin Zhu explained patiently, "Half of the cultivation methods overseen by our Ritual Supervision don’t require ginseng, but the path that I’ve sought for you does."

Chen Ji closed the small wooden box and held it in his arms, asking indifferently, "Lord, how can you be certain that I can embark on the cultivation path? What if I lack the potential of an executive officer? Wouldn’t that waste all your effort?"

Jin Zhu let out a chuckle, "Meng Ji wrote in the secret report to the Prime Minister after his first interrogation of you, professing that you possess the potential of an executive officer and would require a Class A Dream. Set your mind at ease; you were born for this role."

Chen Ji was suddenly enlightened.

So, Jin Zhu had set his sights on him from that moment, no wonder after Yun Yang and Jiao Tu were thrown into prison, he had visited the Taiping Medical Hall at the first opportunity.

Just then, a spy pushed the door open, and the afternoon sunlight fiercely streamed into Bailu Pavilion.

Jin Zhu’s expression changed, "Are you looking for death, barging in at this time?"

The spy in black knelt on one knee, "Lord, news has arrived from the inner prison. That Jing Dynasty Cao has spoken; he says he has intelligence on the Liu Family and Prince Jing Mansion that he wants to convey to you in person."

Jin Zhu’s expression turned solemn, "Let’s set off for the inner prison now!"

Chen Ji looked at Jin Zhu, "Lord, you must have been up all night as well. Don’t you need to rest?"

Jin Zhu earnestly replied, "The Prime Minister always provides the cultivation paths in stages, and only when you become one of the Top Three Zodiacs, you get the complete cultivation path. In the days to come, I eat the meat, and you drink the soup. We can’t miss any opportunity to achieve merit!"

"Chen Ji, the Liu Family and Prince Jing Mansion are your ladder to the skies on your swift ascent."

...

...

Inside the swaying carriage, a copper stove warmed the air, as if bathing in warm water.

Chen Ji hadn’t slept all night and finally couldn’t endure any longer, leaning against the carriage wall and falling into a deep sleep.

He had a dream.

He dreamt that his identity as a Jing Dynasty spy was exposed and he was fleeing for his life.

While trying to escape by blending in with a caravan to pass through Chongli Pass’s Azure Dragon Sect, he was shot through the chest by an arrow from Heavenly Horse atop the city walls.

As twilight fell, at the imposing foot of Chongli Pass, Jin Zhu kneeled beside his corpse in utter grief, imploring him not to die...

"Wake up, we’re almost there."

"Wake up!"

Chen Ji slowly opened his eyes, and instinctively touched his chest, which bore no scars.

Jin Zhu sat opposite him, smiling and asking, "Having a nightmare?"

Chen Ji hummed in affirmation.

Jin Zhu teased, "Having nightmares is nothing shameful. When I first learned to kill, I was trembling with fear. Unlike you, you seem naturally suited for this line of work."

Chen Ji lifted the curtain, allowing the cool air from outside to rush in, and instantly became more alert, "Lord, how old were you when you first killed someone?"

"Ten," Jin Zhu replied with a profound gaze. "Orphans like me, Yun Yang, Jiao Tu, Heavenly Horse, Prisoner, after being taken in by Lord Prime Minister, were all sent to the same place. Only after learning to kill and understanding to never trust anyone again could we start to work."

"What if one cannot learn?"

"Those who couldn’t learn have died in there."

"What is that place called?"

"We call it Wunian Mountain, a mountain once you leave, you will never yearn for again."

Chen Ji curiously asked, "Lord, I’ve heard that the scoundrels from the Jing Dynasty are tough, why is this Cao willing to speak? Could there be deceit?"

Jin Zhu laughed, "The lower-rank spies often have the toughest bones, but once they become petty officials and realize they’re just tools in the hands of greater powers, their bones soften. If we catch a lowly spy, I’m too lazy to even interrogate; but for someone of Cao’s stature... it’s worth discussing."

The carriage slowly came to a stop, and the West Wind knocked upon the iron gate.

Behind the iron gate, foul smells along with curses and wails emanated from the long corridor and stairway below.

Descending the stone steps, Chen Ji saw the cells were filled with prisoners, some wailing that they were mere foot soldiers following orders; others cursed the Eunuch Party, spitting towards Jin Zhu.

Jin Zhu moved further away, looking towards the prison guards with a smile, "You can let spit dry on your own faces; I certainly cannot."

The guards’ faces changed, and they quickly brought buckets of icy river water from the bottom of the inner prison and splashed them through the iron bars into each cell.

Jin Zhu walked through this living hell, hands clasped behind his back, his face beaming with a smile.

He walked deep into the inner prison and saw Manager Yuan hanging his head down with both hands nailed to a wooden rack, his fingernails on both hands completely pulled out.

Lord Jin Zhu stood before Manager Yuan and said in a leisurely manner, "Speak quickly if you have something to say. I’ve captured all your people from Bailu Pavilion; if you don’t talk, someone else will."

Manager Yuan slowly raised his head, his eyes flashing fiercely, "How could they know as much as I do? If I spill what I know, I’m afraid I could help you achieve another stunning feat. But if I do speak, what can you give me?"

Lord Jin Zhu replied with a warm smile, "I can spare your life, is that not enough?"

"Not enough," Manager Yuan snarled, "I want the identity of Hai Dongqing from your Spy Department, officially sealed by the Ritual Supervision and proclaimed to the twenty-four inner court offices through the official gazette!"

Lord Jin Zhu, intrigued, said, "You certainly know how to ask for the moon. But I can easily summon Meng Ji here, and then, I won’t have any trouble asking what I want to know."

Manager Yuan burst into loud laughter, "I guess Meng Ji isn’t omnipotent. If he could always interrogate me, why didn’t he finish it at the riverbank? There must be unknown limits to his dreamscapes. Lord Jin Zhu, there’s no need for pretense. I have been with the Military Intelligence Department for twenty years, I’ve seen my share of ups and downs; you can’t bluff me! If Meng Ji really can interrogate me thoroughly, I will concede!"

Lord Jin Zhu was not irritated, but instead shifted his tone, "You must be aware that to become Hai Dongqing, it requires the personal authorization of the Prime Minister. Pigeons take half a month to travel to and from the Imperial Capital. If I wait that long, your accomplices will have escaped."

Manager Yuan stared at Lord Jin Zhu, "No need for such complications. I can give you a taste of sweetness first. Once I’m done speaking, you’ll know my worth."

Despite being drenched in blood and nailed to the rack, Manager Yuan was alarmingly lucid.

Lord Jin Zhu pondered for a moment, then spoke, "Let’s hear what you have to say first."

Manager Yuan said with labored breaths, "There’s someone from the Military Intelligence Department lurking within your Spy Department, right in Luocheng City, codenamed Long Whale! The news about your encirclement of Hongyi Lane was passed on by him!"

Long Whale.

Chen Ji heard this codename again.

Lord Jin Zhu’s pupils narrowed slightly, "Long Whale is in Luocheng City? What’s his real name and identity? If you can give him up, I’ll write to the court for you right now!"

Manager Yuan laughed heartily, "So, Lord Jin Zhu has heard of the codename Long Whale. Who gave up this name? Let me guess, Li Baoyu, Wang Chuan, Tian Ji..."

Chen Ji looked at Lord Jin Zhu, who patiently explained, "Long Whale has infiltrated our Ritual Supervision for at least eight years. He has sabotaged our plans multiple times. If not for him, we might have even captured the Division Head. In Jinling, the Imperial Capital, Yangzhou, Suzhou, he seems able to be in multiple places at once, everywhere."

Chen Ji analyzed with his head bowed, "The city’s spies each have their responsibilities. Those who can be frequently dispatched to places like Jinling and the Imperial Capital are few, their identities should be easy to check."

Lord Jin Zhu nodded in agreement, "But after checking, we’ve ruled out everyone."

Chen Ji suddenly asked, "Have you checked the Fish-Dragon Guards from the Criminal Justice Department?"

Lord Jin Zhu shook his head, "How could we overlook the Criminal Justice Department? After checking there, we also ruled out everyone. Within the entire Ritual Supervision, no one has traveled to all those places. Under the codename Long Whale, there must be more than one person."

He looked toward Manager Yuan, "Reveal Long Whale, and I guarantee you the position of Hai Dongqing."

Manager Yuan shook his head, "I don’t know. Long Whale’s rank is even higher than mine. Had he not voluntarily disclosed your siege of Hongyi Lane, I wouldn’t have known he was in Luocheng City."

"How do you communicate messages?"

"We at Bailu Pavilion deliver medicinal materials to Fangping Clinic every day. The doctor there is one of us. Go ahead and capture him."

Lord Jin Zhu ordered loudly, "West Wind, capture the people at Fangping Clinic!"

After speaking, he surveyed Manager Yuan, "This clue is probably not enough to catch Long Whale. If you want me to write to the court for you now, you’ll have to cough up something more substantial."

Manager Yuan remained silent.

Lord Jin Zhu’s eyes flickered, then he said to someone outside, "Liu Tiao, quickly take Manager Yuan down and dress his wounds!"

Two spies helped Manager Yuan onto a table and meticulously used strong alcohol to clean his wounds.

As the strong alcohol was poured on the wound, Manager Yuan screamed in excruciating pain.

In the dimly lit cell, Lord Jin Zhu took the opportunity to whisper in Manager Yuan’s ear, "I know you’re trying to prove your worth with these little baits, but if that’s all you know, I can’t help you."

Manager Yuan’s lips trembled slightly, "I have plenty of information, you’ll see how valuable I am later. Let me give you another piece of news: The Liu Family intends to cause a stir tonight, they plan to drive Zhang Zhuo and Chen Liqin out of Henan Province and reclaim the positions of Luocheng City Prefect and Magistrate of Luocheng."

Lord Jin Zhu’s eyes blazed with a fierce light, "Who is he?"

Manager Yuan did not answer.

Lord Jin Zhu pressed urgently, "Who is that high-ranking person in Prince Jing Mansion? Prince Jing? Consort Yun? Princess Consort Jing? The Princely Heir? Commandery Princess?"

Manager Yuan chuckled, "You go and request the decree. When I see the red-sealed official report from the twenty-four inner court offices, it won’t be too late to tell you."

Lord Jin Zhu’s breathing grew slightly heavier, his eyes filled with doubt and astonishment. This was an immense achievement; if he could help the Prime Minister take down Prince Jing, Chen Ji was sure to ascend to Hai Dongqing!

However, Chen Ji was the only one in the cell who knew: Manager Yuan was bluffing.

If the opponent knew his identity, he would have given it away at the riverside. There was no need to wait until now.

But what Chen Ji was uncertain of was whether Manager Yuan knew about Consort Yun’s identity?

Currently, Consort Yun was the sole flaw in his secret identity. If Consort Yun was captured and brought to justice, he too, could not escape.

Lord Jin Zhu’s laughter interrupted Chen Ji’s thoughts, "I don’t believe you. If this is the only information you are willing to give, then you might as well die in this inner prison."

Manager Yuan suddenly spoke up, "I’ll give you a piece of news. I know the Liu Family is planning something big tonight. They intend to oust Zhang Zhuo and Chen Liqin from Henan Province, seeking to regain the positions of Luocheng City Prefect and Magistrate of Luocheng."