Green Mountain
Chapter 283 - 225, border town

Chapter 283: 225, border town

The city gate no longer bristled with drawn swords and readied crossbows; each border army soldier had swapped faces, cheerily saying, "So sorry for the offense, hurry into the city and escape the cold."

Chen Ji bowed to the field officer, then finally mounted his horse. He pulled up a scarf to cover his mouth and nose and rode back to the end of the camel caravan to rejoin Zhang Zheng and Zhang Xia.

Wang Gui knelt beside the camel, allowing Chen Liqin to step on his back to climb up again.

As Chen Liqin set one foot on Wang Gui’s back, he couldn’t help but turn his head and look at the silhouette of his bastard son.

Amid the swirling sands, Chen Ji’s scarf around his neck was whipped about by the wind, a long red scarf fluttering with it.

Chen Liqin felt as if he had come to know this bastard son all over again today.

Wang Gui knelt on the ground without daring to urge him, until after a long while, Chen Liqin came back to his senses and climbed onto the camel.

At the end of the caravan, Xiao Man looked at Chen Ji with concern: "Young Master, you, who couldn’t even truss a chicken, had better not try to act the hero again in the future. What if these soldiers hurt you?"

Chen Ji responded with a smile.

Zhang Zheng and Zhang Xia exchanged glances, both hiding smiles in their eyes.

Xiao Man changed her tone to praise: "But Young Master was truly valiant just now, daring to ride forward in the face of so many long spears. If you act like this at the Chen family in the future, they surely won’t dare to bully you!"

Zhang Xia teased: "Do you think your master compares to that general clothed in silver armor? Is he as valiant?"

Xiao Man whispered, "He’s perhaps a little short of that person..."

Chen Ji laughed heartily, "Let’s go, into the city!"

The long camel caravan moved slowly, the sound of the camel bells wafting through the city gate like ringing through the portals of ancient temples.

Once inside the gate, the camel bells grew quieter and human voices gradually rose to a clamor.

The cityscape was completely different from the outside.

Yellow clay brick structures lined the sides of the road, with fabric tents set up and stalls laid out, squeezing the undulating dirt path until only three or four people could pass through at a time.

Peddling merchants and passersby bustled incessantly through the narrow gap, shoulder to shoulder.

Chen Ji instinctively looked back at the desolate, yellow earth outside, then turned to the bustling Guyuan City inside, feeling as if he had accidentally triggered a mechanism and entered a paradise lost to the world.

Without the sandstorm, even the temperature in the city seemed to rise a few degrees.

By the road, belly dancers exposed their midriffs even in winter, the shiny silver chains on their bellies trembling as they waved to the newcomers from the Chen family, "Gentlemen, come in for a drink."

The dress code in Guyuan City differed from the Central Plains; the locals liked to wear brightly colored stones on their foreheads, ears, and necks, as warm as a ball of fire.

Chen Wenxiao was spellbound by the scene, only snapping back to reality with a cold huff from Chen Wenzong.

Chen Ji also turned to look at the dancers, and Xiao Man, riding a small horse, hurried forward trying to block his view, but she was too short to accomplish anything.

She reminded him: "Young Master, you must not let those barbarian dancers bewitch you. Before you marry a legitimate daughter from the capital, you need to protect your reputation; otherwise, the legitimate daughters will all avoid you."

Chen Ji was at a loss for words, as Xiao Man seemed more concerned about his marital prospects than he was, as if it were an obsession.

Zhang Xia chuckled, "Your master already has someone in his heart; you needn’t worry needlessly."

Xiao Man exclaimed, "Someone in his heart? Who is Young Master’s beloved? Which family’s noble daughter, and how prominent is her family?"

Zhang Xia did not answer the barrage of questions.

Xiao Man’s eyes darted about: "It seems Second Miss Zhang knows quite a bit about our Young Master?"

Zhang Xia responded nonchalantly, "Somewhat."

Xiao Man pouted: "Why is everything so mysterious?"

Her gaze shifted between Chen Ji, Zhang Zheng, and Zhang Xia, feeling that there were many secrets between the three that she did not know.

As she pondered, a sudden commotion started.

Up ahead in the caravan, a rough-looking man, grabbing the collar of a fragile youth, shouted angrily, "You dare to steal from me? Tired of living, are you...?"

Before he could finish, the skinny thief drew a short knife from his waist and stabbed it into the man’s belly.

The man staggered back a few steps; the thief did not even want the knife anymore, turning to vanish into the crowd. The man slowly fell over, with crimson blood mingling with the dirt, turning a purple hue.

A nearby stallkeeper just muttered "bad luck" before continuing to sell beside the body: "Top-quality tea bricks, tea bricks from Yunzhou!"

All of this was like a pebble tossed into the ocean, causing only a slight ripple before everything returned to normal.

The maids and servants in the caravan turned pale, as Guyuan suddenly tore away its colorful veil to reveal its fangs.

Chen Ji quietly instructed Xiao Man, "Watch your belongings; there are many thieves here."

Xiao Man clutched her wallet tightly, eying everyone with suspicion. Her whole fortune was in that wallet; if targeted, she would have to fight for her life.

At that moment, a group of eight or nine-year-old children approached the caravan. Holding baskets, they said to Chen Wenzong, "Mister, buy some raisins."

Chen Wenzong impatiently said, "Go away, I’m not buying!"

No sooner had he spoken than a child snatched the jade pendant from his waist and disappeared into the crowd.

Chen Wenzong shouted angrily, "Thief, stop right there!"

He leaped down from his camel to chase, but the children selling raisins crowded around him, making it impossible to break through.

More and more children pressed forward, like vultures on the grassland scenting blood, even snatching his white jade neck pendant and golden hairpin, leaving him disheveled and standing in place.

Had it not been for the servants protecting him promptly, his very clothes might have been stripped away.

Street vendors along the road jeered loudly, "Look at this fool from the Central Plains daring to jump off the camel to chase. If he hadn’t jumped down, that thief wouldn’t even be able to reach the hairpin on his head!"

"The fat sheep from the Central Plains always have to learn this lesson."

On both sides of the street, people crossed their arms and leaned against the walls to watch the excitement, as if they had long been accustomed to such sights.

At this time, beside the stand selling spices, a young man with his face covered by a scarf spotted the Jade Pendant on Zhang Xia’s waist and immediately blew a whistle.

The children turned their heads toward the source of the whistle. The young man gave a signal, and the children instantly understood and surrounded Zhang Xia.

Just as they were about to stretch out their hands to snatch the Jade Pendant, they saw Chen Ji pull out the Whale Blade wrapped in cloth from the front of his saddle and viciously struck a child’s wrist.

"Ah!" The child cried out in pain and withdrew his hand. He looked up at Chen Ji but Chen Ji wasn’t looking at him; instead, he calmly stared at the young man not far away.

The child hesitated for a moment before reaching for the Jade Pendant again. Chen Ji did not spare him a glance, his scabbard as if a shadow on their form, striking the child’s wrist once more.

The child felt as if his wrist was about to break and turned to look at the young man.

The young man locked eyes with Chen Ji for a long while before eventually shaking his head slightly to the children, who then scattered in a swarm and began to tear at the bundles carried by the servants and Maids.

They clung desperately to their bundles, but the thieves cut them open with blades, and jewelry, Silver, and Copper Coins scattered on the ground, making them the target of a mad scramble.

A servant holding a whistle attempted to contest with the thieves but received a long gash on his arm and could only retreat in fear.

Chen Wenxiao murmured, "Decay of rituals and music! This place is where the rituals and music have decayed! Dad, you must report to the Crown Prince and have all these ruffians killed!"

Chen Liqin frowned and hissed, "Hold your tongue!"

In just a short distance of one mile, the bundles of Maids and servants were plundered clean, and years of savings dissipated into nothingness.

The Maids cried as they walked, eliciting raucous laughter from the bystanders.

Xiao Man discreetly observed Chen Ji from behind. She had little experience, merely engrossed in cultivating her own skill. But the way Chen Ji struck the children earlier was nothing like what she remembered of the Third Young Master of the Chen Family.

Something was amiss!

While she was lost in thought, Wu Yun meowed, and the Chen Ji in front suddenly looked back. Xiao Man hurriedly withdrew her gaze.

But Chen Ji did not look at her; he was looking toward the moving crowd behind them.

On the narrow dirt road, the young man who had instigated the children to steal remained standing under the shadow of a cloth canopy, staring directly at him. Only when Chen Ji returned his gaze did the young man turn and leave.

...

...

Lord Li, leading the Chen Family’s caravan, arrived at Guyuan Inn, seemingly oblivious to the events that had unfolded behind him, as if he had neither heard nor seen anything.

After settling the Chen Family members in the inn, he quickly left with Chen Liqin—now dressed in an official’s red robe—to go to the Governor’s Mansion of the Guyuan City, Dusi Prefecture.

Inside a second-floor room, Chen Ji stood by the window and pushed open a crack to sneak a peek outside.

Outside the inn, people came and went. A spice vendor occasionally eyed the inn’s main gate without crying his wares. Even when customers approached to ask for prices, he seemed distracted.

Zhang Xia and Zhang Zheng finished putting away their belongings and, while dusting off the sand on their clothes, came over to join Chen Ji.

Chen Ji whispered, "This Guyuan isn’t peaceful. There are quite a few people watching us. I don’t know if they’re from the border army or Jing Dynasty spies... but they should be from the border army."

Zhang Xia asked in confusion, "Why do you say they’re from the border army?"

Chen Ji explained, "You see how unconcernedly they stare. They clearly feel untouchable. If they were Jing Dynasty spies, they wouldn’t be so brash."

Xiao Man’s eyes darted about as she mumbled, "It’s as if the young master has seen Jing Dynasty spies before..."

At that moment, there was a knock on the door. Chen Ji immediately became alert and closed the window, "Xiao Man, go open the door."

When she opened the door, she saw several border army soldiers bringing in a large silver plate covered with a silver lid.

Chen Ji asked, "What is this?"

The soldiers smiled and said, "This is General Zhou’s order. He had the best mutton prepared to be sent to you. As Mr. Wang’s Direct Disciple, you are naturally the most honored guest of our Guyuan borderland! Have a taste. Mutton is common, but white mutton isn’t, and ordinary people can’t get their hands on it."

Chen Ji inquired, "What about the other rooms?"

The soldiers chuckled, "Other people aren’t our honored guests in Guyuan. You should enjoy it yourself. Also, General Zhou asked me to remind you... not to get involved in anything between the Crown Prince and the border army. It’s very complicated, too complex for outsiders to understand."

Chen Ji thanked them, "Please return and tell General Zhou I’ve taken note, and thank him for me."

After the soldiers took their leave, Xiao Man exclaimed, "This is a silver plate! After eating the mutton, can we take the plate with us?"

Chen Ji could only laugh helplessly, "What are you thinking?"

He lifted the cover and inside the plate lay freshly cooked mutton. Grabbing a piece and biting into it, he found that even without any spices, it had no gamey taste at all.

Chen Ji called Zhang Zheng and Zhang Xia over, "Come fill your bellies."

Xiao Man stuffed her mouth with meat, mumbling as she chewed, "Young Master, I’ve got a bit of a headache now. Could you take my pulse later? You’ve studied medicine at the Medical Hall for two years, and I’ve yet to see you use it since you’ve been back."

Chen Ji glanced at her indifferently, "Studying medicine is a long-term endeavor; you can’t learn much in two years. During that time, I was an apprentice; it wasn’t time for me to see patients yet, so I haven’t learned to take pulses."

Xiao Man looked skeptical, "So what did you learn at the Medical Hall?"

After a moment of thought, Chen Ji replied, "I learned some pharmacology, remembered the cold and hot properties of various herbs and food ingredients, and the principles of what complements and what conflicts."

Xiao Man, cheeks bulging like a hamster, was puzzled, "What does that mean?"

Chen Ji reminisced, "For example, pork can’t be eaten with water chestnuts; it causes stomach pain. Potatoes can’t be eaten with bananas; it causes facial spots. Onions can’t be eaten with honey; it hurts the eyes. Softshell turtle can’t be eaten with pigweed; it’s poisonous..."

Xiao Man gave an "Oh," her mouth stuffed full as she vaguely asked, "So that’s what you learned... Young Master, what can’t this mutton be eaten with?"

Chen Ji looked down at the plate, noting that half the mutton had already made its way into Xiao Man’s mouth, he said wistfully, "This mutton... it can’t be eaten with you..."