Chapter 184: Firelight

From the Drum Tower in the East Market came urgent, rapid drumming, the eight hundred beats of the evening drum signaling the arrival of night. Outside the Yingxian Lou, the setting sun had sunk behind the city moat. The immortal crane sculpture, hot from the day, cast a shadow that gradually lengthened, then disappeared from view.

Chen Ji stood outside the entrance, welcoming guests. Today, the Yingxian Lou only had one table of guests for him. Originally, over ten tables had been booked for a banquet, but when people heard that the recently promoted Hai Dongying of the Secret Agent Department was holding a celebration banquet here, they flocked to cancel their reservations.

Because of this matter, the entire Baiyi Lane was quiet. Outside Baiyi Lane, a carriage slowly drove in.

Jin Zhu lifted the carriage curtain and jumped out with Xi Feng. He circled Chen Ji with a strange expression, examining him. Just now, his cultivation realm had suddenly risen, and in his sight, the Distance Seeking Realm was only a step away.

Jin Zhu had never heard of such cultivation speed.

Chen Ji asked with a smile, "Lord Jin Zhu, why are you looking at me like that?"

Jin Zhu hesitated for a moment, finally not asking about his cultivation. "Nothing, nothing. You're wearing new clothes today, you look much more heroic than before. The tailor's craftsmanship is good. Where did you get your clothes made? I'll go get two sets too."

Chen Ji laughed and said, "Li Ji in front of the South City Gate..."

Before he could finish speaking, he saw Yun Yang and Ming Tu coming side-by-side in black tight clothing. Behind them were actually several dozen Secret Agents.

Jin Zhu's face sank.

Chen Ji was puzzled. "Lord Yun Yang, Lord Ming Tu, why are you bringing so many people? My pocket is shallow, I only booked one table, there isn't enough space for so many people."

Yun Yang smiled and said, "Don't worry, these people aren't here to eat."

With that, he waved to the Secret Agents behind him. The Secret Agents, with their hands on their waist knives, swarmed into the Yingxian Lou like locusts.

After all the Secret Agents had entered, Yun Yang explained casually, "There are still remnants of the Liu Family causing trouble in Luo City, it's giving people a headache. As the saying goes, a centipede dies but never falls, tonight the three zodiacs of our Secret Agent Department are gathered in one hall, so we naturally must be careful to prevent any Liu Family remnants from hiding in the Yingxian Lou. If the three of us were to be harmed, it would be a loss for the Secret Agent Department."

Chen Ji said without changing his expression, "Three people? Didn't Lord Bai Long and Lord Meng Ji come?"

Ming Tu narrowed his eyes and smiled, "Lord Bai Long never attends banquets, after all, wearing a mask makes it impossible to drink or eat. Meng Ji was originally with us, but suddenly had a temporary matter and returned to Kaifeng Prefecture. Don't worry, you don't need anyone else. If you want to drink wine, I'll drink with you."

Yun Yang's face sank. "I'll drink with him, that's fine."

Ming Tu rolled his eyes.

At this time, the Secret Agents who had searched the Yingxian Lou filed out one by one. One of them silently shook his head at Yun Yang.

Yun Yang thought for a moment, still somewhat uneasy. He looked at Chen Ji, "The dishes at this Yingxian Lou are all gimmicks, not actually delicious. How about we change to the Green Bamboo Garden in Baiyi Lane? I've tasted their fermented goose feet and duck tongue there, truly a delicacy."

Chen Ji slightly frowned, "Lord Yun Yang, I've booked a table at the Yingxian Lou, it's not good to just change, is it?"

Yun Yang retorted, "Could it be that you've arranged something inside the Yingxian Lou, that's why you're unwilling to change places?"

Chen Ji looked at Jin Zhu, who for once did not speak up to refute Yun Yang, but simply lowered his head in silence.

Chen Ji took a deep breath, "What could I possibly arrange inside the Yingxian Lou? Lord Yun Yang is overthinking. If Lord Yun Yang insists on changing places, this humble one will naturally follow orders."

Yun Yang laughed, "Then let's go, Green Bamboo Garden isn't far."

With that, he led the way forward for several dozen steps, stopping outside a courtyard. The sound of a pipa came from within the Green Bamboo Garden. Yun Yang casually waved, "Have everyone inside leave."

Within a short incense stick's time, the guests in the garden fled in a panic.

Yun Yang waved his hand again, and several dozen Secret Agents suddenly dispersed, guarding the Green Bamboo Garden. Carriages passing by the entrance were also blocked and driven away one by one.

Yun Yang looked into Chen Ji's eyes, "Now it's good, presumably no one in Luo City can ambush us. Chen Ji also doesn't need to overthink, this is also to protect you."

"Oh?" Chen Ji said curiously, "How do you say?"

Yun Yang said playfully, "Our Secret Agent Department has always had a bad reputation. Now, few people outside know that you are our Secret Agent Department's Hai Dongying. It's better to keep it a bit of a secret. Furthermore, you stabbed Prince Jing in the back, betrayed the Crown Prince and the County Princess... with Prince Jing's prestige in the Jianghu, if those Jianghu people knew your appearance, perhaps you wouldn't even be able to eat a bowl of noodles peacefully outside. Today someone puts poison, tomorrow they release a hidden arrow, how could you possibly live?"

Chen Ji said without changing his expression, "Lord Yun Yang is absolutely right. Thank you for your protection, please come in and take a seat."

Yun Yang laughed heartily and led the way into the Green Bamboo Garden.

Chen Ji was about to walk in, but was held by the wrist by Jin Zhu. "Brother, you can't go against the great trend!"

Chen Ji pretended not to understand, "What are you saying, sir? What great trend is being violated on such a happy day?"

In the dim light where night and dusk intertwined, Jin Zhu stared carefully at the young man in front of him. Only he knew that Chen Ji's cultivation realm had suddenly and violently risen this evening.

Although he didn't know how Chen Ji had done it or what price he had paid, he knew that today was certainly very important for Chen Ji.

Chen Ji grasped Jin Zhu's wrist in return and said warmly, "Lord Jin Zhu, in this Jianghu, how many people are true-hearted and how many are false-intentioned? Who can see clearly? You and I are now in the same boat, don't be afraid."

Jin Zhu watched Chen Ji's back enter the Green Bamboo Garden, bit his teeth, and followed him in. At the same time, Hei Yun, leading over a dozen strong Li Hua cats, silently snuck into the back alley of the Green Bamboo Garden, each biting a bamboo tube in their mouths. Over a dozen cats huddled in the dark, eyes closed, quietly waiting.

The next moment, a calico cat crawled out from the dog hole at the base of the wall and meowed. Hei Yun suddenly opened her eyes, bit the bamboo tube, and darted in like flowing water.

In the pavilion on the second floor of the Green Bamboo Garden, dishes were served in a continuous stream: wine-brewed clear-steamed duck, shrimp ball chicken skin soup, rouge goose breast, cream pine nut roll crisp - all rarely seen.

A clean maid, veiled, approached with a pipa, but was blocked by a Secret Agent. "The lords are drinking and talking, idlers should not approach."

At the table, Yun Yang sat opposite Chen Ji, picked up a chopstick of duck meat, and asked curiously, "Chen Ji, I heard your friendship with Prince Jing, the Crown Prince, and the County Princess is very deep. At Lu Hun Mountain Villa, you once argued on behalf of the County Princess and expressed your anger, and when you left, you even held her horse for her, like immortal couples in storybooks... The storytellers throughout the Great Jiangnan and North must all thank you, this story is enough for them to tell for a month without getting tired."

Chen Ji took a sip of wine, "What does Lord Yun Yang want to ask?"

Yun Yang narrowed his eyes and smiled, "I'm curious whether you planned to betray them from the beginning, or only betrayed them later to protect yourself? What do you think, how will the Jianghu tell your story in the future?"

Chen Ji smiled, "Lord Yun Yang is joking. You and I both serve Lord Nei Minister, where does affection between men and women come from? Since Prince Jing committed the great crime of rebellion, we are naturally duty-bound. In front of the country and family, there is no personal emotion."

Yun Yang praised, "Well said!"

Jin Zhu said coldly, "That's enough. Haven't you betrayed others these years? When you were Hai Dongying a year ago, Ye Yang believed your news and was ambushed by thieves from the Middle Jing Dynasty. If not for that, how would the position of Yang have become vacant for you?"

Yun Yang didn't care, "At that time, when I got the news, how could I know if it was true or false? Moreover, that group of Jing Dynasty thieves finally died in our Secret Agent Department's encirclement and annihilation. Lord Ye Yang also died in the right place. I know Ye Yang helped you at Wu Nian Mountain, but his death truly has nothing to do with me."

Jin Zhu let out a cold laugh and drained the strong wine in his cup in one gulp.

Ming Tu said casually, "Stop drinking all the time. Why mention Wu Nian Mountain at such a happy time? Could it be you still have feelings for that place?"

Chen Ji said curiously, "What kind of place is Wu Nian Mountain exactly?"

Ming Tu turned to look at him and said happily, "You only need to know that not going to Wu Nian Mountain is your good fortune in this life. Don't ask about anything else. Drink wine, drink wine. You and I will have a cross-cup drink."

Chen Ji quickly stood up, "Everyone, please take your time. I'll go change clothes. I'll be right back."

Ming Tu muttered, "No fun!"

Changing clothes was a euphemism for going to the toilet; saying "going to the toilet" at the table would affect the appetite. However, just as he stood up, Yun Yang also stood up. "I'll go with you."

Chen Ji smiled, "Then let's go together."

Jin Zhu watched the two of them leave their seats, his face slightly nervous. If Chen Ji wanted to make a move, it should be now. He looked around, but didn't find anything unusual.

A moment later, Chen Ji and Yun Yang returned together. He smiled and said, "Lord Yun Yang clearly didn't need to change clothes but still accompanied me. I suppose he was afraid I would be ambushed. Or, he was afraid I would harm him."

Jin Zhu stood up with disdain, "He's a small-minded person. He thinks about harming others every day, so he also worries about others harming him every day... I'll go change clothes too."

He slowly left his seat, subconsciously turning his head to look as he left. He only saw Chen Ji lowering his head to drink wine, his eyes hidden in the shadow.

Jin Zhu hesitated as he walked down the pavilion stairs. When he had walked down several steps and turned his head again, he saw Chen Ji smiling and talking to Ming Tu, with no abnormality.

He let out a sigh of relief: they had already changed the drinking place, and there were several dozen Secret Agents guarding them. He thought Chen Ji really wouldn't do anything more tonight.

Jin Zhu walked out of the pavilion and into the toilet not far away, pinching his nose to untie his pants. Only he knew that Chen Ji was the same Chen Ji from Hongyi Lane who used firearms! Chen Ji had firearms!

Just now, when Chen Ji went to change clothes, he almost thought Chen Ji was going to make a move, thankfully he didn't.

Jin Zhu muttered to himself in a low voice, "This is just right... I'll forget it... I'll forget it."

However, just at this moment, with a dozen booms, a huge air wave flipped the toilet over, and the brick wall pressed him beneath it.

In an instant! Fire bloomed!

The wooden base of the pavilion on the second floor of the Green Bamboo Garden was destroyed by the fire, the entire pavilion collapsed with a boom like a disassembled frame, turning into a huge ruin.

Jin Zhu's ears were ringing. He struggled to dig himself out of the toilet ruins and stared blankly at the ruins in front of him.

Why? Why?

Chen Ji himself was clearly still inside, why would he detonate firearms?!

Jin Zhu murmured, "So you, from the beginning, already intended to die, to leave Yun Yang and Ming Tu here..."

Too much time had passed, even Yun Yang had almost forgotten the obsession in Chen Ji's eyes when he first saw him.

From the moment he walked out of the Pingyi Tang, he had not expected to survive.

At this time, the sound of shouting and killing came from outside the Green Bamboo Garden. He didn't know who had killed their way to the front.

With a snap, a hand stretched out from the ruins. That arm slowly struggled to open the broken wall ruins.

The ruins slowly arched up. Finally, Chen Ji stood up from within, his body's internal furnace fire burning fiercely, letting the heavy snow fall on him.

In the firelight, Chen Ji panted and looked at Jin Zhu.

Jin Zhu was silent for two breaths, then lay back down and closed his eyes.

Chen Ji looked around as he shouted loudly, "Enemy attack! Quick, come save Lord Yun Yang and Lord Ming Tu! Lord Jin Zhu, Lord Jin Zhu, where are you?!"

He originally wanted to search for traces of Yun Yang and Ming Tu, but now it was a complete ruin, he simply didn't know where they were buried.

As he was thinking, a nimble middle-aged man wearing a bamboo hat killed his way in. Mantis legs, worker bee waist, covered in blood, extremely fierce.

Chen Ji rushed out of the ruins, "You thief seeking death!"

The middle-aged man did not want to fight, turned his head, and left. The two chased each other into the black, bottomless snowy night.