Green Mountain
Chapter 231 - 179, Alcohol

Chapter 231: 179, Alcohol

"The air is dry, be careful with candles and fires... young man, go home early and rest, don’t let your family worry."

"Alright, thank you, Uncle."

During the first watch of the night, the aged night patrol, his strength waning, holding a white paper lantern, brushed past Chen Ji.

Chen Ji, cradling the sleeping Wu Yun in his left arm and a jar of liquor in his right, pushed open a crack in the wooden door of Taiping Medical Hall as he passed through Anxi Street.

He hesitated for a moment, as warm orange light spilled through the crack in the door like a rare warmth in the winter days.

Behind the counter, Old Yao was fiddling with an abacus for accounting; the long-absent Crow had returned to the Medical Hall and was standing on his shoulder.

Old Yao glanced over at Chen Ji and asked indifferently, "Why didn’t you say ’I’m back’ today?"

Chen Ji entered, smiling, "Uncle Crow, long time no see."

Crow lifted its wings, as if to say hello.

Old Yao looked toward the jar of liquor in Chen Ji’s hand, his gaze inscrutable, "You needn’t fetch water tomorrow morning."

Chen Ji placed the jar on the counter, curiously asking, "Why is that?"

Old Yao offhandedly said, "Remember, after killing someone, don’t go to the City God Temple, don’t look into the well, bad feng shui."

Chen Ji paused slightly, not understanding the implication, but he still responded, "Alright."

Old Yao asked, "Any regrets?"

Chen Ji thought for a moment, "No regrets."

It turned out Old Yao hadn’t been sleeping; he knew what Chen Ji had experienced that night and so was waiting for him.

Just like his first impression upon entering Taiping Medical Hall, it seemed as soon as he set foot inside, everything outside could be momentarily forgotten and let go.

This cantankerous old physician, though his blood was cold, his heart was warm.

Old Yao broke the seal of the liquor jar and sniffed, frowning at the smell, "How heavy must one’s troubles be to buy such strong liquor? Go get two bowls."

Chen Ji complied, fetching two ceramic bowls from the kitchen.

Old Yao poured himself a shallow bottom of liquor and brought it slowly to his lips for a sip.

Chen Ji asked curiously, "Master drinks alcohol as well? I thought you never did."

Old Yao watched the flame on the counter, "I loved drinking when I was young, then I stopped."

Chen Ji puzzled, "Why did you stop?"

Old Yao thought about it, "As I got older, the alcohol started to taste bitter."

He looked down at the liquid in his bowl shimmering under the light, "The longer you live, the more you ponder the whims of fate; is it time or destiny? Tonight’s killing isn’t about whether the Commandery Princess knows the truth, but whether you can get over the hurdle in your heart."

Chen Ji remained silent.

Old Yao looked at him, "But fortunately, you’ve finally understood a principle: one who can’t give up anything won’t be able to change anything."

Chen Ji pondered these words and poured himself a bowl of liquor, not much, just a shallow bottom.

He took a light sip and then exhaled a rich, sharp breath of alcohol.

By then, Wu Yun had also woken up and, poking its head out, licked the liquor in Chen Ji’s bowl, immediately recoiling with a spicy burn, amusing Crow, who pointed at it and laughed silently with its feathers.

Frustrated, Wu Yun started chasing Crow around the room.

Old Yao watched the cat and bird frolic, casually asking, "You now have the Ice Flow from Princess Consort Jing and Consort Yun, taking two ginsengs daily, aren’t you afraid Lord Jin Zhu will suspect your rapid progress in cultivation?"

Chen Ji thought for a moment and explained, "Master, I can’t wait any longer."

The Ice Flow provided by Princess Consort Jing and Consort Yun was more than he had ever received from anyone else, roughly enough to assimilate more than twenty ginsengs. It was just unfortunate that Official Liu was on bereavement leave from his post, without access to Ice Flow. Otherwise, the Ice Flow created by an official of the court would likely be more than that of both Prince Consorts combined.

Old Yao sighed, "The Mountain Lord Sect’s Scripture fears haste the most; if someone sees through it, the whole world will not tolerate you."

Chen Ji responded, "Master, I have the Cultivation Path from the Spy Department as a cover, even if Lord Jin Zhu suspects my speed of cultivation, he won’t know I’ve practiced the Mountain Lord Sect’s Scripture. Besides, in this world, only interests can firmly bind people together. Although I don’t know what significant things Lord Jin Zhu is planning to do by laying low in the Spy Department, they must be momentous."

Chen Ji continued, "He needs strength. The faster I cultivate, the more he relies on me. If you ask me now who is the last person who would want me dead, it would undoubtedly be him."

Old Yao raised an eyebrow, "What if he finishes his business and no longer needs you? What then?"

A mist flickered past Chen Ji’s eyes as he murmured, "That won’t happen."

Old Yao examined him for a moment, then said with relief, "You’re finally no longer an outsider."

Chen Ji’s gaze solidified; those words seemed to carry the weight of a thousand catties.

The aged physician and the young lad faced each other across the counter, piercing through the unspoken barrier for the first time.

Chen Ji had wondered whether Old Yao knew he was from the Forty-nine Heavens, hence his change of character was never questioned.

On the night of his arrival, Old Yao had mentioned "auspicious divination" as the reason for going to Zhou Mansion. But looking back, it seemed more likely that he was worried Chen Ji wouldn’t find his way home, ending up a lonely ghost, and thus had gone to lead him back.

Had Old Yao not been there to guide him that night, Chen Ji, after leaving Zhou Mansion, would not have known where to go.

Old Yao expressed his sentiment, "I don’t know where you lived before to nurture such a naturally compassionate heart. But in today’s world, good people don’t last long. Your blood has cooled down now, that’s good – otherwise, I would even worry about you outliving me."

Chen Ji remained silent.

Old Yao looked at him and said, "But I still have another piece of advice for you."

Chen Ji asked, "What is it?"

Old Yao slowly said, "Blood may be cold, but the heart must stay warm."

The same eight characters, but now the master had changed their order when saying them.

"This should be given to you as well," Old Yao took out an object from his sleeve and pushed it across the counter towards Chen Ji.

Taking it in his hands, Chen Ji saw that it was an ivory white waist tag carved with an Eight Diagram Pattern. There wasn’t a single word on the tag, only three divination symbols.

He asked in confusion, "Master, what is this?"

Old Yao spoke nonchalantly, "Originally, I didn’t want to give it to you, fearing that you might die even faster with it. As for what it is, I cannot say, nor do I want to. You’re a smart man; when the day comes that you need it, you’ll understand on your own."

Chen Ji then asked, "Why are there only three divination symbols on this waist tag out of the Eight Diagrams?"

Old Yao casually replied, "Open Door, Rest Gate, Sheng Gate – the Three Auspicious Gates. It’s nothing special, just a wish for good luck."

Chen Ji made a sound of acknowledgment and tucked the waist tag into his chest, "Master..."

Old Yao waved his hand impatiently, "I don’t have time to chat with you; I’m going back to sleep. And don’t bother carrying water tomorrow morning. Don’t keep crowing like a rooster every day; it disturbs my sleep."

Chen Ji: "..."

Old Yao downed the wine in his bowl in one gulp and then looked at Chen Ji, "You bought the wine, how come you’re not drinking?"

Chen Ji paused, "Master, I didn’t buy this wine to drink."

Old Yao looked suspicious, "Isn’t it to drink away sorrows?"

Chen Ji couldn’t help but smile wryly. He went to the kitchen to get charcoal, crushed it, mixed it with the Fire Saber spirit, spread it out, and waited for it to evaporate, "Master, this process is just to purify the charcoal, to make the... in short, it is to create what you referred to as a robust and forceful substance."

Old Yao’s eyes widened, and then he swung his sleeve and walked towards the backyard, "I worry about you too much for nothing!"

Chen Ji smiled faintly, focusing on crushing the black charcoal and mixing it with the spirit, then spread it out to dry.

After finishing all the preparations.

Chen Ji silently blew out the oil lamp and sat behind the counter, lost in thought, letting darkness engulf him.

...

...

Dawn broke.

The smell of water and fish drifted through the mist, as soft moss seemed to grow in the air.

Chen Ji led his warhorse that had been tied to an apricot tree into the mist on the cobblestone path, the clip-clop of hooves echoing far in the empty street.

He first went to East Market to buy fresh pastries from Zhengxin House, then left through the South City Gate and hurried toward the Liu Mansion.

Now, with Consort Yun gone, the Spy Department would naturally be unable to nail Prince Jing with evidence of wrongdoing. They would probably keep the Princely Heir and the Commandery Princess under house arrest for a while and then have no choice but to release them.

However, when Chen Ji arrived in front of the Liu Mansion, he hesitated upon seeing the red-painted doors.

On the way, he had only thought about finally freeing Prince Jing Mansion, but now that he was at the gates, he faltered.

After a moment of silence, Chen Ji dismounted and knocked on the great door.

The red-painted door creaked open from the inside just a crack, and a young spy poked his head out. Seeing Chen Ji, he asked in confusion, "Mr. Chen, what brings you here?"

Chen Ji offered the pastries, "Please, deliver these to Prince Jing; I won’t be entering."

The spy replied, "Mr. Chen, you’ve brought these to the wrong place."

Chen Ji frowned slightly, "What do you mean? Did Lord Jin Zhu give some instructions?"

Knowing that Chen Ji was a favorite of Jin Zhu’s and had achieved much, possibly even rising to Hai Dongqing’s level of a great spy someday, the young spy quickly explained, "Early this morning, Lord Bai Long personally took people to escort Prince Jing, the Princely Heir, and the Commandery Princess to the inner prison. So your pastries should go to the inner prison."

Chen Ji, showing no change in expression, asked, "Why did Lord Bai Long take them to the inner prison?"

The spy offered an apologetic smile, "I’m not quite sure about that, sir. You might have to see for yourself at the inner prison."

Chen Ji stood at the door for a long time, silent as the cold, fierce wind blew his hair to the east.

Chen Ji tossed the pastries in front of the door, mounted his horse, pulled the reins to turn the horse around, and hunched down as he galloped in the direction of the inner prison.

He suddenly remembered Jin Zhu’s words – if the most powerful people in the Ning Dynasty hoped for Prince Jing to die, then he must die; that was the grand trend.

Chen Ji finally understood.

The Spy Department, with the arrow on the string, could not but release it; without Consort Yun, they would fabricate other evidence until Prince Jing was completely dead and no longer a concern for the future.

Prince Jing had trusted the wrong people. His own death was his own affair, but what about the Princely Heir and Bai Li?

Chen Ji dismounted in front of the inner prison, steadied his breathing, and then calmly knocked on the iron door.

A prison guard peeked through a small window behind the door and, seeing Chen Ji, quickly opened it, "Oh, it’s Mr. Chen."