Green Mountain
Chapter 171 - 126, Persistent

Chapter 171: 126, Persistent

Chen Ji was an obsessive man.

To achieve his goals, he could resort to any means necessary and would not turn back until he hit a south wall, even if it left him battered and bloodied. He read Shrouding Cloud over and over again, determined to manifest purple Qi in his meridians.

Yet, the sword Qi, as intense as the blazing sun, was even more relentless...

Chen Ji was seated cross-legged in the dimly lit apprentice dormitory, having recited for two hours, a total of twelve times.

The strands of purple Qi that emerged were, without exception, mercilessly severed.

"It’s strange," Chen Ji muttered to himself, "the Mountain Lord Sect’s Scripture and the Sword Seed Path can coexist peacefully, why not Shrouding Cloud?"

"Could it be because both the Sword Seed and Shrouding Cloud are part of the Sword Dao, so they cannot coexist? Let’s try again!"

Just as he was about to recite for the thirteenth time, he heard a rapid chirping from outside the courtyard.

Chen Ji recognized it as a copper whistle from the Spy Department, but while the usual chirping was crisp and cheerful like a magpie’s, this time it sounded frantic as if the bird’s nest was being raided.

He got up and walked out of the Medical Hall to see Lord Jin Zhu’s carriage parked diagonally across from the Medical Hall.

Chen Ji swiftly climbed into the carriage, but before he could speak, Jin Zhu, sweating profusely, grimaced and said, "If you can’t cultivate it, then just stop trying!"

Chen Ji was speechless.

Feigning confusion, he asked, "Lord Jin Zhu, how do you know I cannot succeed? Are you spying on me?"

Jin Zhu, realizing his slip, quickly wiped the sweat from his forehead and responded, "I was just worried that you might rush into the Cultivation Path after just receiving it, so I came to remind you. You must know, although the Cultivation Path can transcend the ordinary, you need to maintain a balance in your cultivation efforts, you cannot rush blindly."

Chen Ji acknowledged with an "Oh," "Thank you for your concern."

Jin Zhu’s eyes darted around, "By the way, have you encountered any doubts during your cultivation? Perhaps I could help clarify them."

Chen Ji shook his head, "No."

Jin Zhu looked distressed, "Think again carefully!"

Chen Ji glanced at him and explained indifferently, "My lord, as I practice this path, I feel as if a surge of Qi is about to emerge but doesn’t, elusive and untraceable."

After a moment’s consideration, Jin Zhu said with concern, "Maybe you’re just too exhausted these days, unable to calm down during cultivation. Think about it, you’ve only slept for three to four hours in total these past few days, how could you possibly cultivate properly? Why not get a good night’s sleep first?"

Chen Ji hummed in agreement, "Your words are reasonable, I’ll go back and get some good sleep."

Jin Zhu felt relieved, "Very good, go on then."

After Chen Ji alighted from the carriage, he collapsed against the interior of the vehicle, exhausted as if twelve bones had been magically drawn out of his body within two hours. Was this any different from torture?

At this moment, Jin Zhu sat alone in the dim carriage, enjoying a moment of quiet, without heart-wrenching pain or fear, feeling unusually relaxed.

After a brief rest, he muttered softly, "This lad is indeed diligent, even more so than the Heavenly Horse back in his early days. But what is really going on with his cultivation path? He clearly has a Class A talent, why can’t he get through the threshold? Could there be an issue with the cultivation path itself?"

He slapped the side of the carriage and called to West Wind, "Return to the inner prison, continue interrogating that Jing Dynasty traitor... Ouch!"

Jin Zhu’s expression changed drastically.

Didn’t you just agree quite readily, why aren’t you sleeping well after returning, but instead resuming your cultivation?!

Hearing his cry, West Wind quickly lifted the carriage curtain, poking his head in to ask, "My lord, what’s wrong, did you eat something bad?"

Jin Zhu gritted his teeth, "Blow the copper whistle, call Chen Ji out!"

As the bird chirping resumed, shortly after, Chen Ji re-entered the carriage and asked puzzled, "My lord, we just said goodbye, why call for me again?"

Jin Zhu asked sternly, "Do you remember my advice, to rest well?"

Chen Ji calmly responded, "I remember, I went to sleep as soon as I returned, and did not cultivate again."

Jin Zhu was speechless.

He knew well the allure of the Cultivation Path to a young man; hadn’t he himself racked his brain day and night when he first received the Cultivation Path, pondering how to cross that threshold?

He could understand the young man’s feelings, but he was really struggling to cope!

At this point, Chen Ji bowed and said, "My lord, if there’s nothing else, I’ll return to the Medical Hall to sleep."

Jin Zhu gripped Chen Ji’s wrist tightly, "No!"

Chen Ji raised an eyebrow, "Hmm?"

Jin Zhu slapped the wooden wall of the carriage, loudly instructed West Wind, "Return to the inner prison, Chen Ji and I need to interrogate the Jing Dynasty traitor once more!"

Chen Ji puzzled, "Didn’t you want me to rest well?"

Jin Zhu spoke earnestly, "I just remembered that the Jing Dynasty Cao must have more information to divulge, which could help with our analysis if he reveals something. If you want to sleep a little, just sleep in the carriage!"

Saying so, he actually took out a copper hand warmer from under his seat, carefully poured some charcoal powder and lit it with a fire inch, then tucked it into Chen Ji’s arms, "Hold this and sleep, it’s warm! Dealing with the Liu Family and the Military Intelligence Department are the priorities. Back then, to keep an eye on a Jing Dynasty traitor, I stayed awake for three days and nights without rest. Since you’ve joined the Spy Department, you’ll need to get used to it!"

Chen Ji thanked him and slowly leaned against the carriage wall, closing his eyes.

He had confirmed that the purple Qi he obtained during cultivation should be able to immediately affect Jin Zhu. And the act of the blazing sword Qi severing the purple Qi must have caused considerable harm to Jin Zhu, otherwise the latter wouldn’t be so vigilant and even afraid to let him out of sight.

He just didn’t know whether the energy from Mountain Lord Sect’s Scripture and the Sword Seed Path would also immediately affect Jin Zhu.

He had to try again to find out.

...

...

The carriage rattled and swayed on the cobblestone road, and Chen Ji seemed to be living a life of wandering, aimlessly roaming day in and day out, drifting with the tide.

Outside, the cries of peddlers walking the streets and alleys and the laughter of chasing children gradually faded away.

The carriage carried him into the remnants of the sunset, back into the world of Jianghu.

"Awake now," Lord Jin Zhu patted Chen Ji.

Chen Ji opened his eyes, disoriented, and asked, "My lord, have we arrived at the inner prison?"

Lord Jin Zhu replied with a complex expression, "It is indeed tough for you, so young and yet living a life on the knife’s edge, licking blood from the blade. Rest assured, once the Liu Family is overthrown, I will be in charge and grant you a long vacation."

Chen Ji smiled and jumped down from the carriage, "Then I thank you in advance, my lord."

The two ducked their heads under the iron door and walked deep into the inner prison.

In the deepest cell of the inner prison, Manager Yuan had changed into a clean set of white prison clothes, sitting beside a dark red Eight Immortals table, enjoying beef and sipping wine. His ten fingers, nails ripped off and flesh blurred, held the chopsticks in an awkward manner.

Hearing the cell door open, the chubby Manager Yuan looked up, smiling at Jin Zhu and Chen Ji, "My lords, how was your harvest last night? Judging by your expressions, you must have thwarted the Liu Family’s schemes."

Leaning against the door frame, Chen Ji was reluctant to draw near this master of the Jing Dynasty.

On the other hand, Jin Zhu, smiling, sat opposite Manager Yuan and pinched a piece of beef into his mouth, "We fight and scrabble outside while you enjoy a carefree life here."

Manager Yuan spread his hands, "I’m but a prisoner, where’s the leisure in that? My lords, did you capture the mastermind, Liu Mingxian? If you did, that would indeed be a great achievement. I should congratulate you both!"

Finished speaking, he pinched a white porcelain cup and drank it all in one gulp.

Jin Zhu calmly said, "Liu Mingxian is dead."

Manager Yuan puzzled, "Did my lord kill him?"

Jin Zhu answered, "No, the Liu family killed him."

Manager Yuan was stunned, then burst out laughing, causing the lamp on the stone wall to flicker.

Jin Zhu frowned, "What’s so funny?"

Manager Yuan gradually stopped laughing, "Liu Mingxian being killed by the Liu family means that from now on, you are not facing the inexperienced Liu Mingxian, but Official Liu, who has stood unyielding in the court for over thirty years."

"And what of Official Liu?"

Manager Yuan replied solemnly, "Emperor Ning despises the Liu Family to the bone, yet Official Liu has been able to control the Ministry of Personnel for fifteen years, managing Henan Province as secure as an iron barrel. Can you two prevail against such a titan?"

Jin Zhu pinched another piece of beef into his mouth, "The two of us are not fighting alone; behind me stands the entire Ritual Supervision, Lord Prime Minister himself. Don’t worry, you cannot scare me off, nor can Mr. Feng by Official Liu’s side."

At this point, Jin Zhu wiped the grease from his fingers on his robe and changed the topic, "Would you like to get out of the inner prison?"

Manager Yuan laughed, "Who wouldn’t want to? I disclosed the Liu Family’s plans to the both of you to exchange for my freedom."

Jin Zhu stared pointedly at Manager Yuan, "Then spit out more information, and I will plead for your merit before Lord Prime Minister."

"What if I refuse?"

"Do you have a choice?"

The cell fell silent.

Jin Zhu and Manager Yuan faced each other like two knife points meeting, neither willing to back down.

After a while, Manager Yuan softened his tone, "I have committed a great act for you lords, yet I have seen no sincerity from the Spy Department. To be honest, I need to see some hope."

Only then did Jin Zhu pull a scroll of golden silk-wrapped documents from his sleeve, "This is a handwritten order from the Prime Minister just arrived in Luocheng today. You should know my letter to the Prime Minister should have reached the Imperial Capital yesterday, yet his handwritten order arrived today in Luocheng. Do you understand what that implies?"

"What does it imply?"

"This handwritten order needed to be sent from the Imperial Capital before yesterday’s sunset, passing through Baoding, Hengshui, Handan, Hebi, Xinxiang, Zheng County—six stations—exchanging six war horses, without stopping..."

Chen Ji listened from the side, more and more familiar with it!

He couldn’t help but laugh and cry; Lord Jin Zhu always managed to give him a little shock inadvertently.

Across from him, Manager Yuan took the document, unfolded it, and looked at it quietly for a long time, his expression changing as if struggling.

He put down the handwritten order, looked up at Jin Zhu, "If I can indeed become a Hai Dongqing of the Spy Department, you will understand how correct today’s decision is."

Chen Ji was puzzled, not knowing what was written on the handwritten order that could make Manager Yuan change his stance on the spot.

Jin Zhu held the handwritten order, stood by the stone wall, and burned it to ashes with the flame of the lamp, "Tell us, what more can you do for us?"

Manager Yuan silently watched the burning order, struggled for a long time, and then said, "I have arranged to meet with Long Whale tonight, and he agreed."

Jin Zhu turned abruptly, "Is that true?!"

Then, shaking his head, "No, that’s not right. Now that Bailu Pavilion is destroyed and the battle at Mudan Bridge is widely known, why would Long Whale keep the appointment?"

Manager Yuan said, "But on the day of the battle at Mudan Bridge, everyone saw me jump into the river to escape, but no one saw me being captured on the shoals... What if he does keep the appointment?"

Jin Zhu’s expression flickered, "Where is the meeting?"

Manager Yuan calmly answered, "Take me with you tonight, and I will show the way for you, my lords."

Jin Zhu laughed, walking out, "West Wind, summon all the spies, no one is to act alone tonight!"

After the cell door closed, he turned to look at Chen Ji, "What do you think?"

Chen Ji pondered and then said, "My lord should see he is looking for a chance to escape. Otherwise, he wouldn’t need to lead us personally. However, his appointment with Long Whale should be genuine, and without someone to cause chaos, he won’t be able to escape."

Jin Zhu walked out with a cold smirk, "Then let’s go; I’ve been itching to find these scoundrels of the Jing Dynasty."