Green Mountain
Chapter 177 - 132, Air leakage

Chapter 177: 132, Air leakage

Under the porridge shed.

Wang Daosheng was distributing porridge to the disaster victims.

Zhang Zhuo took a ceramic bowl and stretched it out brashly in front of Wang Daosheng.

Wang Daosheng calmly glanced at him and silently filled the bowl with a wooden ladle.

Zhang Zhuo tilted his head back and gulped down the thin porridge, then wiped his beard with the sleeve of his red official robe.

He carelessly tossed the ceramic bowl onto the green brick stove and curiously asked, "Didn’t you take my daughter to Lu Hun Manor for an educational trip? How did you end up here in the porridge shed? I heard that people from both Dao Courts of Huangshan Mountain and Laojun Mountain, as well as the high monks from Yuanjue Temple and Tuoluo Temple, have all arrived, and there are very exciting Debating Scriptures events every day. Why are you wasting time here with them?"

While continuing to serve porridge to the disaster victims, Wang Daosheng casually replied, "Life itself is the best scripture. Initially, the principles of scripture written by the sages were all learned from life. Instead of following the sages in books to study these principles, it’s better to learn directly from life, which gets straight to the core meaning."

Zhang Zhuo stroked his beard. "If only you spoke less of such heretical statements, Official Hu wouldn’t always be hard on you. A person should conceal his sharpness when necessary. We, as students, shouldn’t always go against our own master."

Wang Daosheng responded lightly, "Now you’re preaching to me in reverse."

Zhang Zhuo chuckled and nodded towards Chen Ji, "What do you think of that young man?"

Wang Daosheng replied calmly, "Why do you ask that?"

Zhang Zhuo raised his eyebrows, "Can’t I just ask?"

Wang Daosheng said casually, "Actually, you already have the answer in your heart. You’re asking me just to confirm what you already think, but what I have to say might not align with your expectations."

Zhang Zhuo grew impatient, "Then just say it!"

Wang Daosheng glanced at Chen Ji and turned to Zhang Zhuo, "That child has a murderous aura."

Zhang Zhuo was taken aback and looked intently at Wang Daosheng, "A man who has led troops does have something different about him for being able to notice that."

Wang Daosheng scooped a spoonful of rice porridge into the ceramic bowl of a disaster victim. "He was late twice within two days of enrolling, and when asked why he was late, he was unwilling to say. But every time he arrived, he brought with him a palpable murderous aura. He doesn’t seem like he’s here to attend school; rather, he resembles those infantrymen under my command who have just killed pirates and are still stained with blood."

Zhang Zhuo shook his head, "He’s not an ordinary foot soldier. A thousand troops are easy to find, a general is hard to come by. If you had worked with him, you would understand that he has the talent of a general."

"Your assessment of him is quite high," Wang Daosheng thought for a moment, "So, the person who delayed the disaster victims outside the West City Gate the other day was him?"

Zhang Zhuo quickly said, "No!"

Wang Daosheng smirked, "Someone you’ve worked with, who happened to be late on the morning of his first day of school and whom you hold in such high regard – if not him, then who?"

Zhang Zhuo warned him, "You better not be planning anything against him."

Wang Daosheng replied helplessly, "What could I possibly plan? I just planned to collect his tuition fee and teach him some principles, that’s it."

Zhang Zhuo suddenly asked, "Has your period of mourning ended?"

Wang Daosheng nodded, "Yesterday."

Zhang Zhuo continued, "What position has Official Hu arranged for you?"

Wang Daosheng said offhandedly, "Teacher hopes I return to the capital to serve as the Minister of War and concurrently as a Hanlin Academy Scholar."

"What?" Zhang Zhuo raised his voice.

Seeing that disaster victims were looking in their direction, he quickly lowered his voice, "How can you skip two ranks to become Minister of War? Does that mean you are going to enter the Court?"

Wang Daosheng didn’t answer the question but looked distantly at Chen Ji and suddenly said, "He does have a warm heart."

Zhang Zhuo also looked towards Chen Ji and after a moment expressed, "He’s being overly enthusiastic now; he’s not usually like this..."

At that time, Chen Ji was serving porridge to the disaster victims one by one.

In just half an hour, the cherry-red stove fire inside him had gradually turned pale red, and within the flames seemed to be nurturing a strand of yellow fire, as thin as a thread.

Chen Ji felt a surging vitality, as if he had been reborn, and even his breathing seemed to carry the flow of fire.

He suddenly realized.

The Mountain Lord swallows the dragon; the Dragon Energy on officials is the tangible form, while the roots of Dragon Energy are hidden in the hearts of the common people, which is what makes a country a country.

No wonder Old Yao, even after practicing the Mountain Lord Sect’s Scripture, still held on to his identity as an Imperial Physician. Presumably, when healing and saving lives, the stove fire inside him must undergo similar changes.

But why hadn’t his master told him this? Could it be that he didn’t want him to discover this secret?

No, there must be another reason.

...

...

Chen Ji was facing an empty large pot, which would take ten minutes to cook another batch of porridge. He looked at the disaster victims lined up in a long queue, each holding a brand-new ceramic bowl.

He came over to Bai Li and said, "You take a break for a bit, I’ll help you out."

Bai Li exclaimed joyfully, "Ah, really?"

Then, glancing at the others still busy, she hesitated, "But everyone else is still working; it wouldn’t be right for me alone to rest."

Chen Ji smiled and said, "It’s okay, just stand aside and rest stealthily."

Bai Li moved to the side a bit and hesitated before asking, "Why didn’t you go help my brother?"

Chen Ji explained, "The Princely Heir has more strength and can hold up for now. When he can’t keep up later, I’ll go help him."

Bai Li drew out her words, "Oh."

Chen Ji scooped up the wooden spoon and deftly ladled scoop after scoop of rice porridge for the disaster victims, the strand of yellow flame becoming more distinct, as if a golden dragon was swimming in the red fire.

When the large pot near Princess Bai Li was finished, he ran over to assist the Princely Heir.

The Princely Heir rubbed his arms and immediately raised his thumb, "Jianghu children, righteous!"

When the porridge in the Princely Heir’s pot was also distributed, Chen Ji leisurely made his way to Chen Wenxiao’s side.

Chen Wenxiao had been waiting for this moment for a long time, and when he saw him coming, he immediately handed over a wooden spoon.

Chen Ji raised his eyebrows, "What are you giving me the spoon for, handle your own matters."

Chen Wenxiao puzzled, "Aren’t you here to help?"

Chen Ji shook his head, "No, just watching."

Chen Wenxiao: "?"

As Chen Ji stood aside, with each scoop of porridge Chen Wenxiao served, the victims hurriedly thanked him, and Chen Ji would preemptively laugh and reply, "No need for politeness."

After saying it numerous times, Chen Wenxiao couldn’t help but question, "I am here serving porridge, what good guy are you pretending to be?"

But Chen Ji ignored Chen Wenxiao.

He had confirmed that even if he hadn’t served the porridge, as long as the disaster victims internally acknowledged his part in the benevolent act, the stove would transform a bit.

However, transformation had one condition: the beneficiary must know his identity.

Chen Ji took a deep breath, the essence of Mountain Lord Sect’s Scripture ran much deeper than he imagined.

But, what was the purpose of the transformed stove fire?

That, he feared he would have to ask Xuanyuan.

...

...

While pondering, Zhang Zhuo led the government officers over, cheerfully stating, "Thanks for your hard work, we’ve registered the disaster victims. We will take over serving the porridge now."

Wang Daosheng handed the spoon to a government officer, meticulously instructing, "Make absolutely sure no coercions or despicable acts like swapping children for food occur."

Zhang Zhuo laughed in response, "Rest assured."

After that, he seemed reflective, "If only I could set aside my burdens and go with you. In my youth, hearing people debating scriptures was immensely enlightening. If heard of a debate somewhere, I’d attend no matter the personal costs... But now I can’t get away."

"One cannot have both, fish and bear’s paw. What you are doing now is more important," Wang Daosheng beckoned to his disciples, "Let’s go."

Chen Ji, still reluctant, found no good reason to stay and had to leave reluctantly.

While passing Chen Wenzong, the man suddenly bowed to him, "Younger brother, seeing your tireless efforts serving porridge today, only then did I realize that I had many misunderstandings about you in the past. In the coming days, under Mr. Wang, the three of us brothers must support each other. If there’s scripture you don’t understand, you can always ask me. Although you missed this imperial examination, in three years, it will be your time to shine."

Chen Ji looked at him strangely and dismissively replied, "Alright."

This time, everyone walked behind the ox cart, even Chen Wenzong and Chen Wenxiao didn’t ride. On the cart, only Prince Jing remained, lowering his cap and driving the ox cart alone, isolated from everyone else.

After walking a few hundred steps, Bai Li suddenly said with sparkling eyes, "Since we are walking to Lu Hun Manor, why not let the ox cart and coachman return to Luocheng City? There’s no need for them to accompany us."

At this, Prince Jing’s whipping motion suddenly stiffened, and then he lashed fiercely onto the ox cart, pretending to have heard nothing.

Bai Li continued speaking to Mr. Wang, "They say reading thousands of books is not as good as traveling thousands of miles..."

Before she could finish, Prince Jing stopped whipping the ox, jumped off the cart, and swung his whip at Bai Li.

Bai Li quickly hid behind Chen Ji and the Princely Heir, pulling on their arms and peering through the gap with half of her face visible, "The coachman is hitting people!"

Prince Jing gritted his teeth, "You leaky little cotton-padded jacket!"

The Princely Heir, seeing the face under the hat, exclaimed, "Father?!"

Hearing the Princely Heir’s cry, Prince Jing immediately became infuriated and chased him around, "Just because you’re grown now, you think I can’t discipline you?"

The Princely Heir angrily said, "Bai Li got me into this!"

Chen Ji and Zhang Xia, watching dumbfounded, Zhang Xia turned to Chen Ji, "Is this how Prince Jing, the Princely Heir, and Commandery Princess usually interact?"

Chen Ji hesitated, "The Princely Heir and Commandery Princess aren’t usually this troublesome."

Wang Daosheng, with a bitter smile, stopped Prince Jing, "Really, you even kept me in the dark. What if we encountered villains. How would I explain to the Prince Mansion, to the court?"

Prince Jing, panting, stopped in his tracks and lamented, "Ultimately, it’s age catching up, can’t even discipline my own son anymore."

Bai Li cautiously approached, "Father, I truly didn’t want you to tour incognito alone. Yesterday, you caught a cold and were unconscious, Dr. Yao hurriedly entered the Prince Mansion and stayed by your side for six hours. Now that we are out, what if something happens and Dr. Yao is not by your side?"

Prince Jing raised his hand to stop her, "Look, isn’t your father fine now? I was just napping yesterday. It was your mother making a big deal out of nothing."

Bai Li skeptically sized him up, at the moment Prince Jing indeed looked ruddy, not at all like someone who had just been gravely ill.

She looked to Chen Ji for help, but Chen Ji didn’t utter a word.

He was pondering a question. If Prince Jing was truly just napping, why would his master have stayed in the Prince Mansion for six hours and not come out? Therefore, it was true that Prince Jing had been ill.

But since Prince Jing was ill, why did he insist on touring incognito?

Unless there was a compelling reason for him to come out.

Wang Daosheng thought for a moment and spoke, "Let’s get on the cart. Since we have already come out, there is no reason to turn back halfway. Take care not to reveal the identity of the prince to outsiders; just treat him as the coachman."