Green Mountain
Chapter 247 - 192, Marking the boat to locate a dropped sword

Chapter 247: 192, Marking the boat to locate a dropped sword

Outside Luocheng City’s Guangji Temple.

At midnight, inside the temple’s ’Jie Xu Hall’, a noise stirred as a wooden floorboard was pushed open, and She Dengke’s head emerged first from the tunnel, only to be startled.

Inside Jie Xu Hall, candlelight flickered, and two temple monks sat in meditation before the statue of Sakyamuni Buddha.

Hearing the noise, the two monks simultaneously opened their eyes to look, and then just as jointly closed them again, as if all things were void, paying no heed to She Dengke whatsoever.

She Dengke was initially frightened by the presence of the two monks, but once they closed their eyes, he hurriedly whispered to those still in the tunnel, "Come up quickly."

The Princely Heir, Liang Mao’er carrying Liang Gou’er, and She Dengke pulling Chunhua, all clambered out of the tunnel together.

She Dengke secured the floorboard back into place, then turned and led the group hurriedly past the temple monks, who did not give them another glance.

The Princely Heir, trailing at the back, suddenly asked in a downcast mood, "How are we to leave the Ning Dynasty?"

She Dengke explained, "By sea."

The Princely Heir sighed softly, "The ocean..."

She Dengke asked curiously, "Princely Heir, what’s wrong?"

The Princely Heir lowered his head and said, "We once talked at the Medical Hall about going to see the sea together."

She Dengke and Liang Mao’er were both taken aback; Old Yao had mocked them that day, saying they could go see the sea together if they were exiled. Although their current predicament wasn’t exile, it wasn’t much better.

Old Yao’s words had turned prophetic.

Only two people were missing from the group: Chen Ji and Bai Li.

It was as if they would forever remain on this land, with its springs and summers, autumns and winters.

The Princely Heir quietly asked, "How are we to save Bai Li? She’s still in the hands of the Eunuch Party."

She Dengke said with difficulty, "Princely Heir, I’m afraid we might not be able to save her. Look at Brother Gou’er’s condition..."

The Princely Heir thought for a moment, "I still have a few friends."

She Dengke shook his head, "Chen Ji said that as soon as the Prince Mansion was in trouble, all of your friends went into hiding."

The Princely Heir hummed in acknowledgment, "Then how are we to set sail?"

As they walked, She Dengke said, "Second Miss Zhang has arranged it. There is a small wharf right outside Guangji Temple, where a small boat is currently docked. We’ll head to Jinling first, and then switch boats to Zhenjiang, Jingjiang, Nantong, setting sail from Qidong, taking the sea route detour to the Northern Jing Dynasty, and disembarking at Lushun."

The Princely Heir, in a somber mood, casually asked, "Is this route viable?"

She Dengke elaborated, "Second Miss Zhang said that the Xu Family has always been using this sea route to trade with the Jing Dynasty. You’ll definitely make it through. At Qidong wharf, there will be Death Soldiers from the Zhang Family waiting to meet you."

At the gate of Guangji Temple, the Princely Heir suddenly halted his steps, and the heavy snow fell upon him, "We? You... you’re not going?"

She Dengke hesitated, and after a long while, he mustered up the courage to say, "Princely Heir, I’m sorry, it’s too dangerous to follow you. I’ve never even left Luocheng since I was young. The thought of going to the Jing Dynasty now... I fear I won’t cope well once there."

The Princely Heir softly asked, "What if the Eunuch Party hunts you down?"

She Dengke looked down at his toes and said, "The Eunuch Party probably doesn’t know I was part of the jailbreak. At most, they might be after Chunhua, but she’s not any significant figure. If she stays plain-faced day after day on the farm, the Eunuch Party won’t recognize her. My family and I have already arranged for me to flee and seek out my uncle in Mianchi tonight, to work the fields together."

As he spoke, She Dengke took Chunhua’s hand, "Once this blows over, I’ll use the silver that came from the cement deal to buy a few acres of paddy fields and live a peaceful life with Chunhua."

The Princely Heir hummed, "That sounds good, it’s just that I still don’t know how to repay you."

She Dengke added another line, "Princely Heir, you don’t have to thank me. I went to save Chunhua... After all, I’m just the son of a laborer family, not like you all, I can’t withstand the stormy seas."

Everyone fell silent.

The Princely Heir forced a smile, "Since you’ve worked it out with your family, you should hurry on your way."

She Dengke stepped backwards toward the temple gate, "Then we’ll be leaving. Princely Heir, Brother Mao’er, Brother Gou’er, take care of yourselves."

Having said that, he led Chunhua out of Guangji Temple.

Just as he stepped across the threshold, the Princely Heir suddenly raised his hand and called out, "She Dengke."

However, She Dengke led Chunhua by the hand, and upon hearing the Princely Heir’s voice, just halted briefly before continuing forward without turning back.

The Princely Heir’s hand slowly lowered, "... Thank you."

The next moment, he raised the back of his hand to wipe the corner of his eye and looked up at the night sky, taking a deep breath through his nose.

Liang Mao’er looked at the Princely Heir, "Princely Heir, shall we go?"

"Okay."

...

...

The remaining three began to walk toward the pier.

Having left the temple gate, they could see from a distance a black-awning boat docked by the riverbank.

However, there was someone next to that black-awning boat. Heavenly Horse stood in the snow, clad in white, appearing like a Banished Immortal. Yet, this heavenly figure was the one with the deadliest intent in the Spy Department.

The Princely Heir instinctively turned to go back to Guangji Temple for help. But as he turned, he saw the temple doors suddenly shut, casting the three of them out.

The Princely Heir saw Heavenly Horse signaling with a few hand gestures from afar, but no one could understand.

They gazed at each other from a distance.

The Princely Heir suddenly said, "Big Brother Mao’er, Big Brother Gou’er, you should go. They want to kill me, not you."

Liang Gou’er laughed, "At this point, where would I run to? If I have to die, at least I won’t be lonely on the road to the underworld. Of everyone from the Prince Mansion and the Medical Hall, you’re the only one who can hold his liquor. Mao’er, listen to me, put me down and you leave."

Liang Mao’er stubbornly said, "I won’t leave."

However, at that moment, laughter came from behind them amidst the heavy snowfall, "So touching. If this isn’t included in future stage plays, I won’t watch it."

The Princely Heir turned sharply, only to see Old Yao with his hands clasped behind his back, hunched over, slowly walking past them.

"Doctor Yao!" the Princely Heir exclaimed.

Old Yao did not respond to him but just waved at Heavenly Horse as he walked, "Go back, there’s nothing for you here."

Heavenly Horse hesitated for a moment, then signaled several more hand gestures.

Old Yao cheerfully replied, "He pretends to be divine and spews nothing but lies all day; he can’t control me. I’m entrusted by an old friend, none of these people can be touched. Go back to the Imperial Capital. If the Prime Minister asks, say I took these people away."

Heavenly Horse nodded, folded his hands in salute, and quickly walked away.

The Princely Heir stood in a daze.

Old Yao approached the edge of the boat and looked back, "Aren’t you getting on?"

"Coming, coming," the Princely Heir and his companions hurried onto the boat, Liang Mao’er helping Liang Gou’er sit under the canopy, then himself taking up the oars.

The sound of splashing water filled the air as the small black-awning boat slowly drifted away.

Old Yao stood at the boat’s gunwale, his back to the Princely Heir as he said without turning around, "Princely Heir, the day the Prince fell ill at the Medical Hall, the matter I spoke to you about—you haven’t forgotten, have you?"

The Princely Heir shook his head, "I haven’t forgotten."

Old Yao calmly said, "The Prince traded his life for our entry into the Jing Dynasty. This journey is treacherous; are you certain about this? I’m getting on in years and have become somewhat soft-hearted. If you truly have second thoughts, it’s still not too late to back out."

The Princely Heir shook his head again, "I won’t back out, but what about Bai Li?"

Old Yao casually said, "Leave it to their fate."

The Princely Heir, full of hope, asked, "Could you cast a fortune for them?"

Old Yao chuckled lightly, "My disciple believes not in fate, so casting fortunes would be of no use; heaven has not yet claimed him. Princely Heir, the road ahead is long, and we may not be able to return. You should bid farewell to the Prince."

Having said that, Old Yao turned and lowered his head to enter the canopy, leaving Prince Jing’s Heir standing alone at the ship’s rail, gazing at the river’s surface.

Tears suddenly streamed down the Princely Heir’s face, and he knelt at the rail, bowing three times towards the North – bidding farewell to his biological father and his homeland.

Snowflakes fell onto the water, hissing softly. It turned out that even when the world was silent, falling snow could make a sound – barren and profound.

The Princely Heir suddenly picked up a wooden oar and wrote on the water:

Youth lasts long when spent in light and wine, splashed upon the red-lit streets.

Power is like a brick wall, and profit as tiles, friends crowd around the tent.

Awakening with regret over shorter days, having turned twenty dreams.

Suddenly feel my companions are but few, with no more than two or three true hearts.

Ah, sitting on this lone boat amidst the snow, I watch the distant heaven and earth.

The Princely Heir wrote the first, hasty and cursory, poem of his life, and it was also the last. No one saw the poem; it vanished into the dark river, drifting down the Great River towards the East.

The next moment, he stood up and came to the middle of the boat, bowing down to Liang Gou’er: "Master, please teach me the Liang Family’s Saber Technique!"

The Princely Heir, who spent the first half of his life in wealth and honor, was brimming with the intent to wield a blade.

Liang Gou’er leaned against the interior of the canopy, silent for a long while, and then hoarsely asked: "Why do you want to learn my Liang Family’s Saber Technique?"

The Princely Heir said in a low voice: "To carry on my father’s will and slay immortals."

"Can you endure hardship?"

"Can I?"

"Do you dare to kill?"

"I dare!"

Liang Gou’er laughed heartily: "Good, good, good, I will pass on the Liang Family’s Saber Technique to you. It’s just that my Du Meridian is severed, and I’m afraid I won’t live to see the day you slay an immortal. If one day you really can kill an immortal, tell them for me: ’A clay chicken and pottery dogs, nothing more. Not even worth the little finger of my master.’"

The Princely Heir earnestly said: "Alright."

Liang Gou’er sighed: "Call me master."

The Princely Heir lay prostrated on the boat, thumping his head against it nine times. When he looked up, he said: "Master, it’s a pity there’s no wine or tea."

Liang Gou’er smiled, picked up a gourd beside him, and tossed it to the Princely Heir: "Children of Jianghu drift unpredictably, river water as wine is still wine."

The Princely Heir turned around, scooped a gourd of river water, and offered it to him. Liang Gou’er gulped down a mouthful of river liquid and shouted: "Exhilarating! You’re much more straightforward than that kid Chen Ji!"

Old Yao glanced at him: "Don’t court death."

Liang Gou’er pursed his lips and said nothing. He didn’t know what realm Old Yao was in, but anyone who could wave his sleeves and let a Heavenly Horse go wasn’t simple.

Old Yao took out a small wooden box from his bosom, plucked out a white, bloodstained pill: "Swallow this, Prince Jing’s Heir. This Life Feather Pill will aid your cultivation."

The Princely Heir was taken aback: "Life Feather Pill? Why don’t you keep it for yourself, your longevity..."

Old Yao smiled: "Don’t worry, having accepted a good disciple before I die, I leave without regrets."

"And Chen Ji..."

"His path is tougher than yours."

...

...

to 7 AM.

As the snow ceased, the sky was about to clear.

Chen Ji returned to Anxi Street on horseback; the seal of the Prince Jing Mansion was already whited out, and its door front scattered with disorderly white papers, which the breeze would flip and rustle.

Arriving at Taiping Medical Hall, he pushed open the main doors: "Master, I’m back!"

But the Medical Hall was already empty.

Chen Ji walked in: "Master?"

"Where are you, Master?"

"Master..."

Chen Ji stood in the courtyard, lost, the little Taiping Medical Hall cold and silent, devoid of life... Everyone had left.

He went under the apricot tree and plucked off the red cloth strips one by one.

The ones written by the Commandery Princess were first, wishing for peace, joy, smoothness, and no worries.

Chen Ji then unfolded another, written by Liu Quxing, "Long life and good health to Master," followed by She Dengke’s "May Master live forever." In his ears, it seemed as if the laughter and banter beneath the moonlit night returned.

For a moment, he seemed to see She Dengke and Liu Quxing chasing each other around the apricot tree again.

But in the blink of an eye, the people of old were gone.

That’s memory for you, punishing only those who cling to the past.

The next moment, Chen Ji turned around, carrying the remaining strong liquor from the Medical Hall out the door, mounted his horse, and sped toward the drum tower.

As he raced, he drank and turned his head to gaze at the faraway sky.

By the time he arrived at the drum tower, Chen Ji gave the soldiers on guard some silver peanuts, climbed the wooden steps, and reached the top.

He held a jug of liquor and sat on the edge of the railing, teetering in the cold wind as if he might fall at any time.

Drunk, Chen Ji looked to his side: "Liu Quxing, what do you want to do in the future?"

The wind carried a voice: "I want to continue my master’s legacy and become an Imperial Physician!"

Chen Ji laughed loudly: "Good, from now on you are the Imperial Physician of Prince Jing Mansion!"

He shouted again: "Liang Mao’er, what do you want to do in the future?"

Another voice answered through the wind: "I want to own a few acres of land."

"Good, I’ll give it to you tomorrow!"

Chen Ji asked again: "Princely Heir, what do you want to do in the future?"

"I want to become a great knight! I’ve only just realized that those scriptures are useless; from now on, I’ll read whichever page the wind flips to, and tear out whatever page is too difficult! Strike the drum!"

An angry voice from the wind said: "Brother, have you thought it through? The moment you strike it, the soldiers guarding the drum tower will be sentenced to military servitude!"

"Then I won’t strike."

The sun emerged.

Chen Ji looked up only to see a red sun slowly rising at the world’s end, cloudless, its orange-red light gradually shining on his solitary figure.

Like flowers in a mirror, the moon in water, a dream within the human realm.

In the rising sun, Wu Yun nimbly walked along the wooden railing, wriggled into Chen Ji’s arms to look up, and Chen Ji stroked his fluffy head as his gaze extended towards the distant horizon.

Wu Yun meowed and asked: "Chen Ji, what are you doing here?"

"Marking the boat to find a lost sword."

...

...

Book Three, Marking the Boat to Find a Lost Sword, the end.