Green Mountain
Chapter 302 - 242, Secret Passage

Chapter 302: 242, Secret Passage

Next to the window lattice, Chen Ji’s expression was grave.

The siege of Jing Dynasty is imminent, but the secret passage is just a ruse used by Dragon Gate Inn for backstabbing, leaving no way out.

At this moment, Xiao Man and Zhang Zheng were still bickering, and Zhang Xia, unable to persuade them, simply stood up and moved farther away.

She approached Chen Ji and asked curiously, "What are you thinking about?"

Chen Ji suddenly asked, "Second Miss Zhang, after Jing Dynasty breaches the city, is there a possibility of a massacre?"

Zhang Xia was silent for a moment: "Jing Yuan Sect once personally led troops to Guyuan and was ambushed at Long Mountain, shot by an arrow and fled. The arrowhead was poisoned, and even the monks from Kujue Temple couldn’t save him, passing away two months later. On his deathbed, he left an edict ’If heaven favors my son, he must take all of Guyuan’s land, exterminate the survivors, construct imperial temples, and let their bones cover the fields, rendering a thousand miles of red earth.’"

Chen Ji felt a chill in his heart, even Xiao Man and Zhang Zheng stopped bickering, looking towards Zhang Xia with unease.

Xiao Man looked towards Chen Ji worriedly, "My lord, Guyuan has never been lost for hundreds of years. It should hold this time too, right?"

Chen Ji did not answer, nor could he.

The events that occurred in Luocheng City seemed like a distant past, but Prince Jing’s death was like a butterfly flapping its wings on the other side of the ocean, stirring up a storm towards the unknown. He did not know how many within the Guyuan Border Army wanted vengeance for Prince Jing, and how many were scheming treason or conspiring with the enemy.

Guyuan had never been breached before, but now no one dared to be certain.

Xiao Man asked in a low voice, "If Jing Dynasty really massacres the city, how many could survive in Guyuan?"

Zhang Xia stood next to the window lattice, turned to look at her and said, "Hardly one or two out of a hundred."

Xiao Man then asked, "Is there a way to survive?"

Zhang Xia recalled, "An Executive Officer who surrenders can live, but must tattoo the word ’surrendered’ on his face, cutting off any thoughts of returning to the Ning Dynasty."

Xiao Man puzzled, "With such humiliation, who would want to surrender to them?"

Zhang Zheng chuckled, "Better to live ignobly than to die with honor."

Xiao Man glared at him, "If Jing Dynasty breaches the city, you’d be the first to surrender! Too bad you’re not an Executive Officer; they wouldn’t want you!"

Zhang Zheng raised his eyebrows, "I would rather die than surrender!"

Xiao Man sneered, "Do you have the spirit to rather die than surrender?"

Zhang Zheng laughed, "If I were to surrender, my father, the official fanatic, would definitely be dismissed and investigated by Your Majesty. I can’t sink him."

Xiao Man ignored him, turned her head toward Zhang Xia, "Isn’t Jing Dynasty afraid that the tattooed Executive Officers would seek revenge later?"

Zhang Xia sighed, "In fact, those tattooed Executive Officers are even more ferocious than Jing Dynasty people when killing their own. There was a tattooed surrendered general in the Jing Dynasty Heavenly Strategy Army who killed many from the Ning Dynasty and disappeared after the battle of Quwu Mountain."

Xiao Man lowered her head, pondering something.

Seeing the tense atmosphere, Chen Ji tried to reassure with a smile, "Maybe it’s just a false alarm. Let’s all rest early, we still have important matters to attend to tomorrow. Xiao Man, you take the second half of the night watch."

"Oh..."

The night was deep and silent.

Xiao Man, keeping watch by the window lattice, quietly looked around. Chen Ji and Zhang Zheng spread their bedding in the outer room, while Zhang Xia was alone in the inner room, separated by a curtain.

She turned her head, suddenly startled when she saw Wu Yun squatting on the windowsill, staring coldly at her.

Xiao Man suddenly felt it strange; as Wu Yun breathed, the rhythm of his body fluctuated, sometimes fast, sometimes slow, as if following a certain rhythm, with hands tucked as if hiding a dagger.

She shook her head, what was she thinking? It was just a cat.

Xiao Man tiptoed out the door, careful not to make a sound.

She descended the stairs to the lower floor but saw a candlestick burning on the counter, with the Shopkeeper registering accounts with a brush.

Seeing her come down, the Shopkeeper curiously asked, "Are you looking for hot water, Guest? You can find Xiao Wu in the back."

However, Xiao Man suddenly flipped her palm to reveal a Lamp Copper Coin, "Shopkeeper, have you ever seen this?"

The Shopkeeper narrowed his eyes slightly, "Since you are a colleague, when I asked ’do you use copper coins or silver taels’ earlier, why didn’t the guest speak up?"

Xiao Man came to the opposite side of the counter, calmly stating, "The others are not aware of my identity, so I did not reveal myself."

The Shopkeeper uttered an "oh," "It seems the other three guests have nothing to do with ’Denghuo.’ Guest, since you’ve shown the copper coin at Denghuo Inn, what do you seek?"

Xiao Man asked in a low voice, "Does this inn really have a secret passage to leave Guyuan?"

The Shopkeeper hesitated.

Xiao Man asked calmly, "Even hiding it from a fellow colleague? Denghuo Inn, present a copper coin, and your request shall be granted!"

The Shopkeeper smiled, putting down the brush in hand, "Naturally there is. Our Dragon Gate Inn has two secret passages. Come with silver taels to buy your way, and you’ll leave empty-handed; come with a copper coin, and you may pass unhindered."

"Where do they go?"

"To Jing Dynasty, the Western Capital Road, Fengsheng State."

"Only this one route?"

"Just this one."

Xiao Man suddenly felt relieved, "How much is the fee for passage?"

The Shopkeeper picked up a bamboo stick and brightened the wick before replying methodically, "Two copper coins per person."

Xiao Man hesitated. She only had two copper coins, yet there were four people needing to leave.

The shopkeeper put down the bamboo tally stick and asked with a smile, "Guest, when do you plan to leave?"

Xiao Man was silent for a moment before asking, "I only have two copper coins. If one copper coin can be exchanged for two hundred silver taels, can I spend one thousand two hundred taels to buy passage for three more people through the secret passage out of Guyuan?"

"There’s no such rule," the shopkeeper looked at Xiao Man with suspicion. "Are you really one of us from Denghuo Inn? How come you don’t even understand these rules? Where did you get these copper coins from?"

Xiao Man quickly said, "Why are you asking about this... Can I give the Lamp Copper Coin to someone else to use?"

The shopkeeper said meaningfully, "Guest, whose life is more important than your own? You’re willing to spend two Lamp Copper Coins to purchase life for others, but do you think others value your life at two copper coins? In today’s Jianghu, one must look out for oneself or face annihilation from heaven and earth."

Xiao Man was slightly taken aback, "That’s true."

The shopkeeper smiled and said, "The secret passage is available at any time, but you must remember, this matter cannot be told to anyone else. Otherwise, Denghuo Inn can’t accommodate you."

"I know the rules!"

Having said that, Xiao Man lifted her skirt hem and hurriedly ran up the stairs. Not until she entered the room, did she lean against the closed door, taking a long sigh of relief.

A moment later, she composed herself and tiptoed to the wardrobe, quietly searching through Chen Ji’s clothes. The next moment, she pulled out two strings of Buddhist Treasure from the wardrobe, all of Chen Ji’s worldly possessions.

Biting her lower lip as if struggling, she first looked at the Buddhist Treasure in her hand and then at the sleeping Chen Ji on the ground, seemingly hesitant about something.

In the end, Xiao Man let out a soft sigh and put the Buddhist Treasure back into Chen Ji’s sleeve.

...

...

Early in the morning, no dogs barked, no roosters crowed.

The nights in Guyuan were restless, with dancers and singers showing off their beauty and the noise of people; the mornings were quiet as if the morning fog had cut off the sounds from far away.

In the Superior A Room, the warmth of the charcoal fire was still lingering.

Chen Ji sat up from the ground bed and turned his head towards Xiao Man, who had been keeping watch by the window.

At this moment, Xiao Man’s face was marked with worries, and she was muttering something under her breath.

Chen Ji glanced at Zhang Zheng and Zhang Xia, who were still asleep, and asked quietly, "Xiao Man, what are you muttering?"

Startled by his voice, Xiao Man jumped, "Ah, you’re awake, young master? I... I wasn’t muttering anything."

Observing her suspiciously, Chen Ji said, "If you weren’t, then why are you panicking?"

Xiao Man promptly stood straight, stubbornly saying, "I’m not panicking."

Chen Ji smiled and did not expose her.

Xiao Man hesitated for a moment before asking, "Are you going to sell the news of Jing Dynasty’s siege today, young master?"

Chen Ji hummed in acknowledgment.

Xiao Man stared straight at Chen Ji, asking, "Could you give me one thousand silver taels? No no no, five hundred taels would be enough."

She quietly observed Chen Ji’s expression. Seeing that he was unmoved, she changed her request, "Even four hundred taels would do."

Curious, Chen Ji asked, "What do you need so much silver for?"

Xiao Man spoke softly, "It’s nothing, just pretend I said something silly in a moment of confusion."

Having said that, she bowed her head and walked out, "I’m going to ask the waiter for some hot water for you to wash up, young master, please wait a moment."

Chen Ji called out to her, "Xiao Man."

Xiao Man turned her head with curiosity, "Hmm?"

After a moment of contemplation, Chen Ji took out a string of Buddhist Treasure from his sleeve, "This is one thousand and one hundred silver taels."

Xiao Man stood there stunned, "Young master, are you not afraid that I might run away with so much silver in my possession?"

Getting up, Chen Ji adjusted his clothing and said casually, "All of Guyuan City is sealed off, where could you possibly run?"

Looking at the Buddhist Treasure in Chen Ji’s hand, Xiao Man’s eyes flickered with uncertainty, "But what if I really ran away?"

After pondering, Chen Ji replied, "I promised you before that once we arrive at the Imperial Capital, I would obtain your indenture from Lady and prepare a dowry for you. If you run away, consider this your dowry in advance."

Xiao Man, unable to hide her excitement, nevertheless whispered a complaint, "Even if you prepared a dowry for me, young master, it didn’t have to be so much. A fifty tael dowry for a maid is already considered very generous by wealthy families. You’re really extravagant, giving over a thousand taels like this, a real spendthrift!"

Pretending to take back the Buddhist Treasure, Chen Ji said, "If you don’t want it, forget it."

"I want it, want it," Xiao Man snatched the Buddhist Treasure, turned around, and took her light green jacket from the wardrobe to put on.

Curious, Chen Ji asked, "Are you going out?"

"Yes."

Confused, Chen Ji inquired, "Where are you going?"

"You’ll know later," Xiao Man said mysteriously, "Young master, don’t start selling information until I return. You must wait for me!"

With that, she left the room without looking back.

But as soon as the door closed, Xiao Man pushed it open again and poked her head out from outside, "Young master, you must wait for me to come back. Keep your word!"

Chen Ji replied impatiently, "Go on with what you need to do."