Chapter 287: The Rabbit and the Sheep

As the sun began to rise, Chen Ji walked through the thin morning mist.

He took one step forward, then another, carefully avoiding the corpses on the ground. Sometimes, he also had to dodge puddles of blood and mud mixed with yellow soil. Eventually, he stopped trying to dodge because there were too many bloodstains to avoid.

The gentle night had hidden the fresh blood and bodies in unseen places. Only when the sky brightened could one clearly see the tragedy of the war.

On the dirt road, border army infantry shuttled through the corpses. They piled the bodies of civilians, border soldiers, and Tian Ce soldiers onto wooden carts and pulled them away.

As the corpses piled high on the wooden carts, arms, legs, and heads hung down powerlessly, lifeless and without dignity.

A veteran border soldier spotted some suitable boots and immediately sat beside a corpse. With a grin, he stripped off the corpse's boots and put them straight onto his own feet.

The veteran border soldier said cheerfully, "They fit well. These Jing Dynasty thieves are surprisingly good. They sent boots thousands of miles… comfortable."

Someone laughed and scolded him, "Why the hell don't you wash them before wearing them?"

The veteran border soldier grumbled back, "If I wash them and hang them outside the tent, who knows which grandson will steal them! Back in the twenty-fifth year of Jia Ning, I finally managed to get a pair of boots from Qu Wu Mountain. Before they were even dry after washing, Old Yao was already wearing them!"

As he was talking, the veteran border soldier suddenly remembered that Old Yao wasn't here anymore. He had just been taken away on another wooden cart!

In silence, someone patted his shoulder. "Find another pair of boots to burn for Old Yao!"

The veteran border soldier put on the boots, patted his backside, stood up, and forced a laugh. "Nonsense. What would a dead person do with such good boots? If I find another good pair, I'll hide them to change into later."

His laughter was uglier than a cry.

Chen Ji didn't go back to rendezvous with the others but came to the place where the owner of Longmen Inn had died. He was still sitting on the ground opposite, maintaining the appearance he had at the moment of death.

He thought for a moment, then carried the owner's body towards the inn.

He didn't know what nerve he had, but he just felt he couldn't leave the person like this.

On the way, some surviving civilians from Gu Yuan ran past him frantically, brushing shoulders with him.

Some stood dazed in front of their burned-out homes, while others threw themselves onto a corpse and wept bitterly.

Chen Ji walked past them silently, feeling as if everything had passed, yet also feeling as if it hadn't.

War would leave scars on everyone, if not on the body, then in the heart.

Arriving in front of Longmen Inn, Chen Ji shouted inside, "Anyone there?"

No one answered.

Little Five, Little Six, and the others were nowhere to be seen.

Chen Ji was silent for a long time, then gently put the owner down, making him lean against the right side of the doorframe. He himself leaned against the other side, staring blankly at the desolate street of Kucha.

He said softly, "In the winter of the fourteenth year of Jia Ning, General Wen Tao was jointly framed by the Chen family and the Xu family and executed by Lingchi. Afterward, his subordinate Hu San Ye and his sworn sister killed the original owner and waiters of Longmen Inn overnight for revenge, hanging them on the twelve Jing Biao signboards, right?"

The owner's eyes were closed, forever unable to answer Chen Ji's question, but Chen Ji also didn't know who else he could ask.

He only continued to speculate to himself, "Several years later, Hu San Ye and the others discovered that the main culprits were not those owners and waiters, so they resigned from official positions and secretly entered the capital for revenge. General Wen Tao's sworn sister pretended to marry into the Chen family, and after setting a scheme, killed the Minister of Household Affairs of the Chen family and brought his head back to the Jing Dynasty, right?"

Still no one answered.

Chen Ji sighed. All this was just his guess, and only this guess could make many things make sense, but even so, many things still didn't make sense.

Should he investigate or not?

Chen Ji didn't want to investigate.

What did a wrongful case from many years ago have to do with him? He only needed to rescue the princess, and then, whether taking the princess far away to the Jing Dynasty or sailing away, the rest had nothing to do with him.

He didn't know how long had passed before Chen Ji came back to his senses. He climbed to the third floor and retrieved their luggage.

He took a clean change of clothes from his luggage and went to the backyard. Taking off his ragged clothes, he stood in front of the water tank in the yard and poured ladle after ladle of cold water over his head.

The mud and bloodstains on his body and in his hair were washed away by the ice-cold water.

Only at this moment did Chen Ji feel like he had come back to life.

However, just at this time, the sound of loose tiles transmitted from afar.

He picked up his clothes and flashed into the stable, quickly putting on his clothes. When he came out again, he saw Jiao Tu in black clothes, leaning diagonally on the corner of the Longmen Inn's second-floor eave, her little legs swinging lightly outside the eave corner.

Yun Yang stood beside her, his hands clasped in his sleeves, his expression cold.

Seeing Chen Ji come out, Jiao Tu covered her mouth and laughed, "Adult, why are you so stingy? You won't even let people see your body! Hearing us coming, you actually quickly hid in the stable!"

Yun Yang said coldly, "What is there good to see about him?"

While tying his belt, Chen Ji said as if nothing had happened, "Do you two have any noble business?"

Jiao Tu sat up straight and said meaningfully, "Naturally, we came to ask if Adult has any merits that can be shared with us, so we can return to our zodiac positions early! Has Adult forgotten what you promised?"

Chen Ji tied his belt, leaned against the stable, concentrating his guard, yet said leisurely, "Such an important matter as Gu Yuan was left for you two to handle. This shows that Inner Prime Adult trusts you two. Returning to your zodiac positions is just a matter of time, sooner or later!"

Jiao Tu said carelessly, "That suddenly appearing Mister Feng is gaining momentum. He lurked in the Liu family for seven years, and now he's in charge of the overall situation in Gu Yuan. Perhaps after returning to the capital, he'll replace us and become the new zodiac!"

Chen Ji was inwardly surprised that Jiao Tu and Yun Yang still didn't know that Mister Feng was Bai Long.

He said without changing his expression, "Why not, on the way back to the capital, you two secretly kill him? That way, he won't be able to replace you two!"

Jiao Tu wrapped her onion-white finger around her hair and squinted with a smile, "Chen Adult has no good intentions, oh, trying to trick us into going to our deaths? That Mister Feng is unfathomable, we might not be fooled!"

Chen Ji spread his hands, "I'm just suggesting something… however, you two adults don't need to worry about this Mister Feng. Perhaps he simply looks down on ordinary zodiac positions."

Jiao Tu was startled, "You mean?"

Chen Ji said casually, "Didn't they all say that Sick Tiger Adult wants to retire? Perhaps Mister Feng will take the Sick Tiger's position when he returns to the capital."

Jiao Tu and Yun Yang subconsciously exchanged a glance, both feeling that what Chen Ji said was more likely.

However, Yun Yang said in a low voice, "Don't waste time with this kid. He's ghost-clever, you can't believe a word he says. Who knows what purpose he hides in saying these things? Let's talk about the proper matter!"

Jiao Tu said seriously, "Chen Adult, we two came this time just to dispel any misunderstanding between us! If we offended you earlier, we hope you, as an adult, won't hold a grudge against a villain!"

After speaking, she stood up and curtsied on the corner of the eave.

She turned her head and saw that Yun Yang hadn't moved. She pulled his sleeve, and only then did Yun Yang reluctantly give a bow.

Chen Ji didn't answer, not knowing what trick they were playing.

Jiao Tu continued, "Adult is also returning to the capital soon, yet still doesn't know the dangers of the capital. As subordinates, we naturally want to inform you one or two... Would Adult like to listen?"

Chen Ji said casually, "Jiao Tu Adult has changed her nature and started doing good deeds? Then I'll listen and see!"

Jiao Tu shook her head, "I don't talk for free. How does Chen Adult plan to repay me?"

Chen Ji asked, "What does Jiao Tu Adult want?"

Jiao Tu squinted with a smile and said, "Chen Adult takes off his clothes and lets me see, then I'll tell Chen Adult!"

Chen Ji raised his eyebrows, yet heard Yun Yang say angrily, "What's there to see about him?"

Jiao Tu laughed until she trembled, "What are you so anxious about?"

Chen Ji looked at Jiao Tu, then looked at Yun Yang, "If Jiao Tu Adult wants to use me to provoke Yun Yang Adult, there's no need!"

Jiao Tu shouted, "Why provoke him? It's no fun."

She sat back down on the corner of the eave, her expression becoming indifferent. "Si Li Lin is a place where Gu are raised, and it's common for people to come and go, but there are two people you absolutely cannot provoke. One is Shan Niu, and the other is Wu Xiu!"

Chen Ji said, "Oh?"

Jiao Tu lazily looked at her nails and said slowly, "Shan Niu guards around Inner Prime Adult inside Jie Fan Lou. He doesn't contend with the world. Provoking him is provoking Inner Prime, so there's naturally no good end!"

Chen Ji nodded, "Who is Wu Xiu?"

Jiao Tu slightly narrowed her eyes, "Wu Xiu is the Bing Bi Eunuch of Si Li Jian. He is currently favored by the emperor and attends by His Majesty's side! This person is sinister, ruthless, and eager to eliminate us. He just divided the authority of the Jie Fan Guard from Inner Prime Adult's hands. Chen Adult must absolutely not have any leverage fall into his hands!"

Chen Ji said carelessly, "Jiao Tu Adult is truly kind-hearted to remind me."

Just as Yun Yang was about to open his mouth, Jiao Tu raised her head and glared at him, and Yun Yang closed his mouth again.

She smiled and said to Chen Ji, "What I said today is just to tell Chen Adult that not only do we need you, but you also need us! Chen Adult, the capital is dangerous, we must protect and help each other. Absolutely do not forget the agreement between us!"

Chen Ji cupped his hands and said, "Dare not forget!"

Jiao Tu said with a smile, "That's good. When we return to the capital, I and Yun Yang will await Adult's dispatch. We two will respectfully wait for Adult in Si Li Jian!"

Just at this time, a rustling sound came from inside the stable.

Chen Ji turned around and suddenly saw Little Five poke his head out of the secret passage, with some straw still stuck on top of his head.

Little Five saw Chen Ji and asked curiously, "Guest official, you... what are you doing here?"

Chen Ji turned his head to look towards the eave corner. Cloud Yang and Jiao Tu were no longer there.