Green Mountain
Chapter 407 - 324, Jianghu is not worth it

Chapter 407: 324, Jianghu is not worth it

The carriage of the Zhang Family slowly made its way toward the inner city.

Inside the carriage, someone was enthusiastically singing in chorus: "Outside the Imperial Capital, blades sweep up snow, the Divine Machine’s cannons shatter the sky. Every shout of ’Long live’ burns fiercely, flags crushing countless enemies. War drums urge spirits to break, the Five Armies ignite the wolf smoke. I dare to ask, can the bandits’ heads hang at Chongli Pass?"

"The red armor reflects the cold light, victory reports spread across the Nine Border. Warm wine inside the camp, outside, sacrifices to loyal heroes. The living collect broken spears, the dead entrust to cuckoos. May this body and bones once more defend the Society in peace!"

A carriage crowded with eight people, smelled overpoweringly of sweat.

Chen Ji leaned against the carriage wall and noticed, surprisingly, even Li Xuan at his age was quietly singing along.

Curious, he asked, "The lyrics all mention the Divine Machine Camp, Longevity Army, and the Five Armies Camp, but not the Yulin Army. What are you all singing?"

Qi Zhenzhuo replied a bit embarrassedly, "This is our Daning’s triumphant song, ’General Order.’ Everyone sings it like this. But only the Imperial Three Camps could sing it before; we wouldn’t dare. When they sing, it’s grand and the people clap and cheer, but if we were to sing, we’d be laughed at... we just won a victory, so we are singing too."

Indeed, the spirit and morale of the military are nourished by victory.

Duobao leaned against the carriage wall, peering outside through the swaying curtains: "Before going to Guyuan, I was eager and ambitious, thinking I could finally accomplish great deeds. But upon reaching Guyuan, I understood the harshness of war. While killing the enemy, I wished the war would end soon. Yet, back in the Imperial Capital, I often dream that I’m still in Guyuan, a long spear piercing the chest of a Jing Dynasty traitor, blood flowing down the spear shaft onto my hand. It’s both frightening and nostalgic."

Qi Zhenzhuo teased, "Why didn’t you stay in Guyuan then?"

Duobao glanced at him sideways, "Why didn’t you stay in Guyuan? What nonsense are you talking?"

Qi Zhenzhuo glared back, "Previously, it was me who was incompetent, you didn’t regard me as a Deputy Commander; I didn’t argue with you. Today I saved you several times with my Iron Wolf Brush, and you still talk to me like this?"

Duobao opened his mouth, then changed the topic: "Instructor, did you come up with this array? Back in Guyuan if we had this tactic, perhaps half of my 500 Yulin Army could have survived."

Chen Ji was silent for a moment: "It was because I often remembered the battles in Guyuan after coming back that I came up with this array."

Duobao realized, "So that’s why."

Off to the side, Zhang Zheng said sourly, "I’ll go to Panjia Garden’s Ghost Market tomorrow to buy an official door and join the Yulin Army for some fun."

Qi Zhenzhuo sneered, "Didn’t you use to look down on us Yulin Army?"

Zhang Zheng laughed coldly, "You’ve grown so full of yourself just after one victory?"

Chen Ji, tired of hearing their argument, interrupted, "Where’s Second Sister?"

Zhang Zheng explained, "She said she had arranged to go listen to opera with her girlfriends at the Inner City North Music Bureau today, so when she saw you all safe, she left early."

Chen Ji was puzzled, "Listen to opera?"

Zhang Zheng confirmed with a hum, "There’s a new opera called ’Bianliang Record’ that’s been exceptionally popular in the Imperial Capital recently."

Chen Ji curiously asked, "Did Second Sister leave any messages, like whether any adjustments are needed for the array?"

"No," Zhang Zheng shook his head, "She said you only need to improve your coordination and chemistry; this is a process that cannot be rushed. Oh, and she told you to be cautious of that Master Qian, Qian Ping."

"Oh?"

"She found out that he’s from the Longevity Army, decisive and capable, not someone simple."

...

...

Master Qian, dressed in a long black robe, walked through the narrow alley.

Beside him were gray-tiled blue bricks, overhead hung high lanterns.

He had walked these alleys for twenty years, familiar enough to navigate with his eyes closed.

Watching as, over these twenty years, Rouge Alley’s top courtesan changed from Little Fengxian to Sai Jin Hua, and from Sai Jin Hua to Little Li Hua. The operas that guests loved to listen to shifted from ’Dingxi Mountain’ to ’White Boat Record,’ then from ’White Boat Record’ to the current ’Four Dreams of Jinling.’

People came and went, yet these alleys, twenty years ago were like this, and twenty years later, remained unchanged. And what he loved, was always ’Dingxi Mountain,’ fully listened to for the first time outside the brick walls when he first came to the Imperial Capital.

Master Qian walked into Baishun Alley, where indecent words and phrases diminished, replaced by a sense of simplicity.

He arrived at the White Jade Garden and cupped his fists in respect to the man standing at the door: "Please inform, Heji’s Qian Ping, visiting to pay respects to Qigong."

The left hand open, fingers together and straight, as the "Five Lakes"; the right hand a fist, four fingers clenched tight, as the "Four Seas."

Master Qian raised the salute above his forehead, as a gesture of respect to an elder.

The man glanced at him, returning the gesture with his fists at chest level: "Please wait."

With that, he turned and limped into the White Jade Garden.

A moment later, the man returned, politely saying, "Master Qian, Qigong invites you in."

The man led Master Qian into the White Jade Garden, through the winding paths lined with pavilions and towers, crossing a Han Baiyu bridge, where Qigong sat by the pond feeding fish.

Hearing the footsteps, Qigong did not rise, only asked casually without turning: "The Qian Family kid encountered some difficulties?"

Master Qian cupped his fists again: "Dare I ask, Qigong, the people appearing in the Imperial Capital these days, are they from the Three Mountains Association?"

Qigong picked up a pinch of red worms and tossed them into the pond. Moonlight illuminated the koi, swimming and sucking the worms into their mouths.

He calmly replied, "Why do you suspect the Three Mountains Association?"

Master Qian pondered for a moment: "This group has seen blood, presumably has killed people. Though not perfectly harmonious in battle, they follow orders well. As an expert, you naturally know that riffraff from the fighting profession can’t achieve that level... but the Three Mountains Association can."

Qigong chuckled, "The Three Mountains Association is merely a group of old soldiers, not worthy of such praise. Let me ask, were those people physically impaired?"

Standing behind Qigong, Master Qian shook his head, "No."