Chapter 528: Awaiting to Start Anew |
In the dark night, the Turmoil of War wreaked havoc. The Secret Spy Division, Trouble-Resolving Guard, and Five Wards Military and Police Department came and went, flipping Capital City completely upside down.
Chen Ji rushed straight for Plum Blossom Ferry.
At this time Brother Pao was currently pacing back and forth inside the pavilion. Seeing him arrive travel-worn from wind and dust, he immediately welcomed up holding a bowl of water: "First drink a mouthful of water."
Chen Ji raised his head, drinking the clear water in the bowl completely dry in one gulp.
Brother Pao inquired probing: "How was it?"
Chen Ji handed the bowl back to Brother Pao: "The matter succeeded by half."
Brother Pao again handed the bowl to Er Dao behind him: "How did it only succeed by half?"
Chen Ji explained: "Must catch Lin Chaoqing. Only then can the matter be considered successful."
Brother Pao used his pinky finger to scratch his scalp: "Reasonably speaking, he wouldn't have had enough time to leave Capital City. I will scatter the Stick Bearers all out to find him..."
Brother Pao was troubled: "Then what to do?"
Chen Ji pondered for a moment: "Scatter the Stick Bearers out. Find the tracks and movements of Yun Yang, Jiao Tu, Jin Zhu, and Tian Ma, and return to tell me."
Brother Pao nodded his head: "Done."
Where to go to catch Lin Chaoqing?
Chen Ji also didn't know.
The Secret Spy Division and Trouble-Resolving Guard understood Capital City like the palm of their hands. If even they couldn't find him, then Chen Ji couldn't possibly find him either.
But this time Chen Ji didn't plan on replying on himself. He was already no longer that reckless youth who had initially arrived in Capital City.
One incense stick of time later, Brother Pao returned: "Jiao Tu and Yun Yang are in Xuanbei Ward searching temples. Jin Zhu and Tian Ma went to Chongnan Ward to search the Canal Transport Guild."
"Leaving." Chen Ji again hurriedly set off, rushing toward Xuanbei Ward.
...
Xuanbei Ward had numerous temples. Great National Gratitude and Compassion Temple, Good Fruit Temple, and Long Ailanthus Temple were all at this place. Among them, because praying for children at the Great National Gratitude and Compassion Temple was efficacious, its Incense was the most flourishing.
When Chen Ji arrived, the Secret Spy Division and Trouble-Resolving Guard were in the middle of searching household by household. He pulled back a secret spy, asking: "Where are Yun Yang and Jiao Tu?"
The secret spy looked at him with cold eyes: "Looking for the two lords for what matter?"
Chen Ji looked at the raw/unfamiliar face before his eyes, urging impatiently: "Speak quickly."
The secret spy was startled for a bit. After measuring up Chen Ji for a moment, he turned his body pointing at that seven-story exquisite wooden pagoda in the center of the Gracious Compassion Temple: "The two lords are up there."
Chen Ji gazed far away. He precisely saw Yun Yang standing at the highest place, both arms embraced tightly before his chest, overlooking the entire Xuanbei Ward like a falcon. And Jiao Tu was squatting on the wooden balustrade, propping up her chin with a single hand.
Both of them were in a suit of black tight-fitting martial attire, bearing the fierce and baleful appearance of being prepared to kill people at any time.
Chen Ji arrived beneath the exquisite wooden pagoda, raising his head to say: "Two lords, come down to converse."
Hearing the voice, Jiao Tu withdrew her gaze from the distance. When she lowered her head and saw Chen Ji downstairs, her eyes brightened, yet Yun Yang's face turned cold.
Jiao Tu said: "Quickly take me down."
Yun Yang said unwillingly: "You and I have already returned to the Zodiacs; what are we still paying attention to him for?"
Jiao Tu raised her brows: "Wunian Mountain's twenty-four wolf whelps are already on the road. It is said it is even Qiu Shu personally escorting them into the capital. Do you dare guarantee we won't have times of falling into distress again in the future? When the time comes wouldn't we still have to find him for help?"
Yun Yang pondered for a moment: "Fine, listen to you."
In the next moment, he grasped Jiao Tu's wrist and leaped down from the seven-story wooden pagoda. Yet the two of them landed lightly like pieces of paper, not even splashing up a tiny bit of dust.
Jiao Tu said with a face full of smiles: "Lord Chen has used up all the limelight today! The Official Ding we looked for for so long and still couldn't find, was actually pulled out by you. That Lin Chaoqing, Yun Yang and I have recorded hatred against him for a very long time. Every time there was a Property Confiscation we were stared at by him, and all the good things fell to the Trouble-Resolving Guard. Now seeing him like a stray dog who lost his home, we truly ought to properly drink a session... For what matter has Lord Chen come to find us two?"
Chen Ji stood still before the two people, getting straight to the point: "Two lords, the favor of returning to the Zodiacs ought to be repaid."
Jiao Tu looked at the sorry and disheveled youth before her whose whole body was smoke-smoked and fire-scorched. Slowly withdrawing her smiles, she said solemnly: "Lord Chen, this is an favor as massive as the heavens. Absolutely do not throw it away to waste over some chicken feathers and garlic skins trivial matter. You also know, Yun Yang and I might not be too proficient at other things, but our killing methods can still be considered passable. This favor of yours with me, perhaps could trade for the life of a Path-Seeking Realm Practitioner."
Chen Ji said calmly: "I know, but I have even more important matters."
Jiao Tu wrapped a hair strand around her finger, saying carelessly and abstractedly: "How does Lord Chen wish us to repay this favor?"
Chen Ji said with absolute certainty: "Catch Lin Chaoqing, hand him over to me. Between us it can then be considered settled and resolved."
Jiao Tu thought for a bit: "Come people!"
Following her single shout of command, over twenty secret spies converged over: "What instructions does Milord have?"
Jiao Tu pointed toward the Mahavira Hall: "Zhang Chao, you lead a squad of troops and horses to go pry open the back of the Buddha Statue. See if anyone is hiding inside. Li Dong, you lead a squad of troops and horses to pry open the floorboards of this exquisite pagoda. Enter the secret tunnels to search."
Chen Ji measured Jiao Tu up. The other party's heart was like a clear mirror. She clearly knew where in this Temple fleeing criminals could conceal themselves, yet regrettably just now had persistently been putting on an act to grind away time.
He asked bewildered: "Catching Lin Chaoqing is a matter of great merit. Why did the two of you not search earlier?"
"The two of us just returned to the Zodiacs. The Official Path Gateway we ought to take has also been obtained. Meriting further great accomplishments would also be impossible to ascend into the Top Three Ranks," Jiao Tu replied with a smile that wasn't quite a smile: "Moreover, Lord Chen, this place is but the territory of the Buddhist sects. It's not guaranteed what might be searched out from inside the secret tunnels. If not for you opening your mouth, my peers and I would absolutely not arbitrarily provoke them. They are very prone to bearing grudges."
Right as she spoke, the abbot of Gracious Compassion Temple rushed over hurriedly. Hearing the sounds of floorboards being pried inside the exquisite wooden pagoda, he instantly angrily rebuked Jiao Tu: "The Twelve Zodiacs act with Reckless Abandon! This old monk will report this matter up to Yuanjue Temple, and see how you all will end things!"
Jiao Tu pointed at Chen Ji with an innocent appearance: "Abbot wrongly accuses this little woman. It was Lord Chen who ordered the search."
Chen Ji raised his eyebrows.
Right at this time, a secret spy ran out of the exquisite pagoda: "Milord, the secret tunnel has been opened. Aside from twenty-one crates of gold and silver inside, there are no other clues."
Jiao Tu looked at Chen Ji with restless and eager desires: "Lord Chen, these twenty-one crates of gold and silver perhaps are stolen goods left behind by Lin Chaoqing. Why don't we confiscate them?"
Chen Ji turned his body and simply left: "If Lord Jiao Tu wants them, take them yourself. It has no relation to a certain Chen. Continue searching Xuanbei Ward. Once finding Lin Chaoqing's tracks and movements, immediately dispatch people to come to Chongnan Ward to seek me."
"Not even wanting gold! Thinking upon it, Lord Chen is already extremely urgent." Jiao Tu smilingly performed a Ten Thousand Blessings Greeting behind his back: "Obeying orders."
...
When Chen Ji arrived at Chongnan Ward, the sky was already approaching dawn. The hazy grayish skyline illuminated the river surface of the canal, raising a thin layer of water mist.
When Jin Zhu and Tian Ma emerged from the docks leading around a hundred secret spies, they saw Chen Ji and asked curiously: "Why have you come?"
Chen Ji asked in a low voice: "Have you found Lin Chaoqing's clues?"
Jin Zhu shook his head: "No. I've thoroughly searched the boats at the docks in their entirety. I only found a few small shrimp currently wanted by the royal court. These few unlucky wretches originally wished to borrow the Canal Transport Guild to flee to Jinling and hide their surnames and conceal their names. The result was they were privately detained in the docks by the Hall Master of the Canal Transport Guild, who then found their families to demand and extort money and wealth."
Chen Ji pondered and said: "If Lin Chaoqing wishes to exit the capital, where else can he depart from?"
Jin Zhu sighed with emotion: "He is the Trouble-Resolving Guard Commander. He is very clear on what we will do after he is exposed: comprehensively inspect civilian residences, search temples, seal off the sewage drainage ditches, search the Canal Transport Guild... The methods ultimately number only that many. What we know, he also knows. This kind of spy is precisely the hardest to catch. He is always able to be one step faster than us. Moreover, when I came out I had also asked the Trouble-Resolving Guard. After he left the Forbidden City at noon today, he never appeared again. I suspect that he quietly left Capital City before sunset."
Chen Ji's brows tightly locked... Had he left?
If Lin Chaoqing truly left, then how should he give the second life he owed the Inner Chancellor?
Jin Zhu comforted: "I know why you are anxious to find Lin Chaoqing, but do not be anxious first. Bai Long has already sent flying pigeons to the Nine Borders at the very first moment. Along the route, the troops and horses of our Directorate of Ceremonial absolutely will not let off any wind blowing or grass moving (signs of disturbance)."
Yet Chen Ji could not set his heart at ease. He had witnessed the fleeing methods of the Military Intelligence Division. Official Gui and Wu Hongbiao had also smoothly returned to the Jing Dynasty initially.
Jin Zhu patted Chen Ji's shoulder: "You've also been tired for a whole day today. Go back and take a bath. First go change this set of clothes that have burned into broken rags. Once there is news, I will immediately dispatch people to go tell you."
Chen Ji hummed an acknowledgement, departing alone.
Walking from Chongnan Ward toward Zhengyang Avenue, his heart suddenly stirred. He turned a corner and walked toward Sheep Rearing Alley.
That was the small residence Official Gui had once brought him to after Wang Daosheng and Mister Feng set out to war against Goryeo. That place seemed to hold some sort of special significance to Official Gui.
Chen Ji knew this trip was dangerous, but he did not dare to find Jin Zhu and Tian Ma to accompany him following along, because he had no way to explain how he himself knew of this residence.
Relying on his blurry memories, he circled and turned in the narrow alleys. Finally, as dawn broke, he found the front of the residence's doors.
The door leaves were left slightly ajar. From inside still drifted out the smell of burning things.
Chen Ji's heart turned cold with a shudder. Carefully and vigilantly, he pushed open the wooden doors. With a zhiya sound, he saw entirely clearly there was completely no one inside. Only within a dilapidated fire basin in the small courtyard were there still remaining some yellow papers left over from burning.
These yellow papers... it seemed someone had just sacrificed to and mourned dead relatives or friends at this place.
Chen Ji rapidly stepped walking into the middle of the courtyard. Extending a hand to touch the fire basin, it actually was still warm! It's Lin Chaoqing!
Lin Chaoqing had just come to this place. Perhaps it was mourning his own deceased colleagues, or perhaps it was mourning Lin Chaojing. The other party burned a stack of yellow papers here before leaving.
Lin Chaoqing still hadn't left Capital City!
Chen Ji wrinkled his brows rummaging and searching within the courtyard, attempting to find out other clues. Yet this residence's home possessed only bare walls. The courtyard was completely empty and desolate. Only possessing a broken clay vat half a human's height tall. The edge of the vat was missing a chunk.
On top of the broken wooden plank bed-couch inside the house was spread some straw. Beside the bed-couch was placed an Eight Immortals Table. One of its legs was padded using a piece of broken brick fragment.
He first moved the clay vat aside. Below it were only solid and sturdy floorboards.
He again entered the house and flipped overturning the Eight Immortals Table. The table was also merely an ordinary table.
Chen Ji ultimately flipped open the bed planks, yet stared blankly on the original spot.
Relying on the bright light transmitting in from outside the house, he saw on the back surface of the bed planks, there was someone using black charcoal writing dense and numerous words. The fonts were not all the same, seemingly written down together by many people.
A broadly-scrawled word/phrase wrote "Surviving a Great Disaster inevitably brings later blessings". Another crooked and twisted one wrote "Establish merit and found an enterprise, relieve and bring salvation to the common people", the 'cang' character for common people was even written wrongly.
Yet another person wrote: "Great wealth and great honor. Honored as a general and enfeoffed as a marquis!"
"Next life be born in a time of Peace and Prosperity to be a dog!"
Chen Ji continued to look downward, murmuring and muttering in his mouth: "Unite the rivers and mountains."
These four words were written the most vigorously and powerfully. The pen strokes were like the blades of knives.
Beneath this line of words, there still existed a line of extremely small, almost imperceptible graceful and elegant small regular script: "Wishing the four seas are clear and peaceful, and children all have candy to eat."
Even further down, was even messier handwriting, like it was written down by an intensely trembling hand: "Mother, son is unfilial."
Chen Ji's fingers lightly caressed across those traces of characters. The charcoal ash stained onto the tips of his fingers, ice-cold.
He suddenly understood what kind of place this was.
This was the first stop of numerous Military Intelligence Division spies arriving in the Ning Dynasty. Through long and distant years of time, one spy after another spy had come here to shelter from wind and evade rain.
Chen Ji carefully looked again. On the bed planks there actually still was someone writing a single poem: "Already become a guest resembling drifting weed, never having failed others. Wind and rain soak iron bones, bright moon illuminates lone souls."
Beneath the poem still existed three solitary, lone words: "Awaiting to Start Anew."
These three words were not known to be written by what person. Only having written down these three words, they stopped the brush.
(End of this chapter)