Green Mountain
Chapter 211 - 166, mask

Chapter 211: 166, mask

The sun had sunk below the horizon, the fire-clouds at the edge of the sky blazed like flames in the firmament, eventually dying down bit by bit.

Chen Ji, wearing a conical bamboo hat, stood beside a snack shop just outside Cuiyun Lane, pretending to pick out pastries while surreptitiously scanning the alley from the corner of his eye.

The housekeeper of Chen Mansion was standing at the entrance, shouting loudly, "Hurry, hurry, hurry, get that chest onto the carriage! There’s no telling when the Liu Family’s troops might arrive—we absolutely can’t let them have it!"

Two servants carried out a large chest, and as they crossed the threshold, one of them tripped by accident, causing the chest to fall and spill gold and silver across the ground, among which a ’Phoenix Crown Blue Flower Head’ was particularly eye-catching.

The housekeeper’s complexion changed as he cursed and rushed forward to pick up the valuables and return them to the chest, "Are you trying to get yourselves killed? Even with your lives, you couldn’t afford to pay for any damage!"

Chen Ji counted out twelve Copper Coins from his sleeve and handed them to the shopkeeper, all the while chewing on a paper bag filled with deep-fried golden twisted dough sticks and looking expressionlessly at the alley.

At that moment, a heavy sound of hooves approached from the distance.

Chen Ji turned his head to look and shockingly, it was Zhang Xia riding Zaozao at a gallop, thunderously turning into Cuiyun Lane. He slightly lowered his head to avoid being recognized.

Zhang Xia reined in her horse in front of Chen Mansion and curiously looked at the housekeeper and others, "What are you all doing?"

The housekeeper replied awkwardly, "There’s been trouble with soldiers in the city, and we’re hastily packing up our valuables to move them elsewhere to prevent any harm from the soldiers."

Sitting atop Zaozao, Zhang Xia raised an eyebrow, "Now that Mr. Chen and my father are under house arrest at the government office, you aren’t trying to rescue them but instead are busy packing up your valuables?!"

The housekeeper’s face twisted in distress, "Second Miss Zhang jests. How can we, servants with no power to truss a chicken, hope to rescue anyone? Preserving the valuables for our master’s family is all we can do."

Zhang Xia snorted, "As you wish!"

After that, she spurred her horse to the entrance of the Zhang Mansion in Cuiyun Lane, handed the reins to a servant, and hurriedly entered through the door.

The whole lane originally had twelve residences, but after Zhang Zhuo and Chen Liqin came to Luocheng City, they gradually bought up the other estates to consolidate them, leaving only four residences belonging to noble and influential families.

Chen Ji, unable to find Jin Zhu or leave Luocheng City, could only seek counsel with Zhang Zhuo. Little had he expected that the Liu Family would act even quicker, putting Zhang Zhuo and Chen Liqin under house arrest at the government office, rendering them immobile.

He turned to leave but then saw at the end of the street a dark mass of cavalry rushing towards him.

This group of horsemen was entirely different from the earlier Elephant Armor Soldiers who were on foot; each one wore black heavy armor, donned iron helmets with white plumes that waved in the wind, and their faces were obscured by pitch-black masks, exuding an air of menacing splendor.

These were the Tiger Armor Iron Cavalry raised by the Liu Family.

Chen Ji stood his ground without moving, watching as the cavalry rushed into Cuiyun Lane, brandishing long spears and brazenly herding the commoners out of the way.

A servant spread his arms in front of a horse, "What are you doing? This is the residence of the Luocheng Prefect, you can’t just act as you please here!"

One of the Tiger Armor Iron Cavalry spurred his mount forward and without warning, ran the servant through with a spear, then trampled right over the fallen body. The housekeeper, scared out of his wits, quickly ducked to the side.

The leader of the Iron Cavalry halted in front of the Chen Mansion, not even glancing at the fallen gold and silver. A cold voice came from behind the mask, "Search, take all the relatives of Zhang Zhuo and Chen Liqin into custody—leave alive witnesses!"

As the words fell, the Tiger Armor Iron Cavalry split into two groups; one charged into Zhang Mansion, the other into Chen Mansion.

Chen Ji hesitated for two breaths before tossing the twisted dough sticks in his hand and turning to depart.

He arrived at a small alley outside the back courtyard of Zhang Mansion, looking up at the high gray-tiled white walls. In the narrow alley, he leaped onto the opposite wall and lightly flipped over it using the recoil.

In the courtyard, shrieks and wails rose and fell, with servants, maids, concubines, and relatives running in all directions, the place in utter chaos.

Chen Ji crouched low behind a rockery, observing quietly. He saw a figure in fiery red chased by an Iron Cavalry into the back house—it was Zhang Xia.

Chen Ji closed his eyes to think for a moment then when he reopened them, he had already stealthily moved closer, taking advantage of the night’s cover.

Inside the back house, Zhang Xia was looking back in panic while fleeing, the Black-armored Warrior behind her, although clad in heavy armor, ran even faster than her.

Left with no choice, in her frantic state, she could only dive into one of the Covered Buildings.

Zhang Xia quickly closed the door behind her and dragged an eight-immortal table over to barricade it.

Before she had a chance to catch her breath, a Black-armored Warrior outside kicked heavily against the door. With a thunderous noise, the door burst open, and Zhang Xia was knocked to the ground by the table that had rebounded!

She looked up in shock, only to see the Black-armored Warrior standing solemnly outside, moonlight streaming into the room, revealing only the silhouette of her assailant.

Zhang Xia spoke with feigned composure, "According to the eighteenth volume, first article of the Daning legal code, anyone plotting rebellion shall be executed without regard for whether they are principal or accessory—all severed at the waist without mercy! Grandchildren, children, siblings, unrelated uncles, and brothers—all executed!"

The Black-armored Warrior, as if deaf to her words, with a covered face that showed no expression, approached step by step, spear in hand.

Zhang Xia continued tremblingly, "Anyone plotting rebellion, their mothers, daughters, wives, and sisters shall all be sold to the Imperial Music Bureau as slaves! Anyone aware who does not report, one hundred strokes of the cane, and exile three thousand li!"

The Black-armored Warrior didn’t stop, his shadow slowly covered Zhang Xia’s face.

But at that very moment, he suddenly noticed something extra in the shadow cast by the moonlight...

Upon closer inspection, it seemed as though there were slow, writhing black shapes growing out of the sides of the head of his own shadow, like two hands sprouting next to his head.

Something was wrong—there was someone behind him!

The Black-armored Warrior instinctively attempted to swing his spear backwards to sweep at his assailant, but it was already too late.

From behind, Chen Ji stretched out both of his hands, clamping around the Warrior’s neck with forceful twist. A crisp snapping sound ensued, and the Black-armored Warrior slumped down towards the ground.

Chen Ji supported the black-armored warrior as he slowly laid him down on the ground, Zhang Xia, still in shock, whispered, "Chen Ji, what are you doing here?"

He softly explained, "I came to discuss matters with Lord Zhang, and just happened to see the Liu Family’s private army charging into Zhang Mansion."

Zhang Xia asked, "So, you came in to save me?"

"No."

Zhang Xia was taken aback, "Ah?"

In the midst of speaking, Chen Ji lifted the black lacquered mask from the corpse’s face, revealing cheeks that were youthful and immature, at most only twenty-one or twenty-two years old.

He stood up and began to remove his outer clothes, stripping down to his white undergarments.

Zhang Xia asked anxiously, "What are you doing?!"

Chen Ji did not answer, simply squatting down to remove the armor from the body.

Zhang Xia immediately realized what he was doing and helped him peel off the black-armored warrior’s heavy armor, the helmet, shoulder armor, body armor, chest armor, front armor, arm armor, and leg armor, laying them out on the ground piece by piece.

She asked with concern, "You’re going to blend in with them? What if they find out?"

Chen Ji explained, "Only by blending in can we possibly find a chance to rescue Lord Zhang. He’s an important figure, smarter than you and me, and knows better how to deal with this mutiny."

He picked up the arm armor to wear, but the armor of the Ning Dynasty was complex in structure, requiring three straps just for a single piece of arm armor.

Zhang Xia pursed her lips and finally, gathering her courage, picked up the body armor, "You’re wearing it wrong, you should put on the body armor first, then the chest armor, front armor, arm armor... Spread your arms, I’ll help you."

Chen Ji stood still, arms outstretched.

Under the moonlight, Zhang Xia, restraining her fear, helped him put on each piece of the armor, fingers trembling slightly.

As she fastened the straps of the armor, she asked, "Chen Ji, why aren’t you afraid?"

Chen Ji calmly replied, "I am afraid, but fear is useless."

Zhang Xia pressed on, "Once you’ve mixed in, what’s the plan?"

Chen Ji thought for a moment, "No plan, just follow them. As for where, I can’t decide."

Zhang Xia acknowledged with a hum.

The room fell silent, the sound of the iron armor plates rubbing against each other being the only noise.

After a moment, Zhang Xia stepped back to look Chen Ji over, confirming everything was in place before speaking, "You’re all set."

Chen Ji picked up the helmet from the ground and put it on his head, "Stay hidden in this room, and don’t go out. After the Liu Family’s private army has withdrawn, climb out the window behind you, make your way to the southwest corner behind the rockery; there you’ll find a spot to leverage yourself out of the estate. Remember to change your clothes; what you’re wearing is too conspicuous."

After speaking, Zhang Xia saw Chen Ji fasten the black lacquered mask and, hoisting his spear, turned and strode away. She opened her mouth to speak but said nothing.

However, shortly after Chen Ji left the house, he saw a group of black-armored warriors approaching from afar.

As they came closer, the leader’s voice sounded from beneath the mask, low and deep, "Why were you gone so long? Did you find Zhang Zhuo’s relatives in the Covered Building?"

Chen Ji clenched his spear and mumbled a reply, "No."

The black-armored warrior in front of him fell silent, the eyes behind the mask seeming to stare intently at him.

The black-armored warrior glanced at Chen Ji, then at the Covered Building, "Are you sure?"

"Positive."

The black-armored warrior sneered, "Step aside, I’ll see for myself."

With that, he pushed Chen Ji’s shoulder, moving him aside, and led a dozen or so black-armored warriors toward the Covered Building, their iron armor rattling with noise.

Chen Ji’s gaze slowly turned icy. It was too late to deal with the bodies in the Covered Building. If the other side went in, they would discover the corpse and Zhang Xia, and he would lose his chance to infiltrate the Liu Family’s private army.

Chen Ji silently counted the backs of the black-armored warriors: one, two, three, four... twelve black-armored warriors, impossible for him to kill them all.

At this critical juncture, a commotion arose from the flower bed outside the Covered Building, the tall bushes shaking incessantly.

In an instant, all the black-armored warriors raised their spears, shouting angrily, "Who’s there? Come out!"

A flash of red dashed out from the flower bed, fleeing frantically into the distance.

Chen Ji was startled, how did Zhang Xia end up there?

Wait, the girl must have heard the noise outside and, worried that the black-armored warriors discovering the bodies inside might ruin her plan, she stealthily crawled out of the window, diverting their attention away from him.

Chen Ji took a deep breath and followed the black-armored warriors, chasing after Zhang Xia. They scattered throughout the courtyard, abounding with rockeries, to pursue and encircle her.

Zhang Xia looked back as she ran until she, as if in panic, unwittingly ran towards Chen Ji’s direction!

As they met, Chen Ji grabbed her hands, twisted them behind her back, and announced loudly, "I’ve caught her!"

Then, before the other black-armored warriors converged, he whispered a question, "Aren’t you afraid of dying?"

Zhang Xia, facing away, lowered her gaze, "Please, you must find a way to save my father, I beg you."

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