Chapter 57

Outside Chao Cang Gambling House, after the rain, Hongyi Alley was quiet as a quail.

Inside the black night, the lights of Luò City were already extinguished, only more than a hundred secret agents holding torches, sealing off Hongyi Alley, searching for the whereabouts of the Jīng Cháo spies.

At this time, that originally arrogant and unbeatable walking official was wrapped and tied with finger-thick iron chains, kneeling on the ground.

This person’s horizontal training kung fu was astonishing. Being surrounded and attacked by more than a hundred secret agents, he was still able to fight fiercely for half an hour.

However, just as Old Man Yào said, in this world, no matter how fierce a walking official is, they are still afraid of military formations. Do not think that being fierce makes you invincible. Power is the fiercest thing at this time.

Jīn Zhū lifted up the hem of his clothes, picked up the damaged large blue cloak from the ground, put it on for this walking official, and squatted down opposite him with a smiling squint in his eyes: "Hézhōu Zhào family's world-renowned walking official, Zhào Zhōng. I remember you were once a guard for a young master of the Xú family. Now how did you end up selling your life to Jīng Cháo again? Or are you saying... the Xú family was also involved today?"

Zhào Zhōng's face was ashen: "Eunuch faction, running dogs, pah..."

He spat a mouthful of saliva towards Jīn Zhū's face. Jīn Zhū seemed to have prepared early, taking out a folding fan from his chest and opening it to block in front.

Jīn Zhū was not angry, only smilingly said: "The esteemed Zhào family's walking official is now just a prisoner under the steps. Take him to the inner prison. Sooner or later, we will make you spit out the cultivation path for Inner Prime Minister Dà Rén. Take him away..."

After speaking, he really stood up and looked at the secret agents who were standing quietly holding torches: "Today is a great victory. After the brothers escort the people to the inner prison, get some early rest. When you wake up tomorrow, I will invite everyone to the Eight Immortals Building to eat the best feast in this Luò City."

A trusted secret agent beside him reminded in a low voice: "Dà Rén, Chén Jǐ was chased out and hasn't been seen since."

Jīn Zhū patted his forehead and said loudly: "Aiyō, I almost forgot about him. A small medical hall apprentice being chased by spies will most likely die. Inner Prime Minister Dà Rén just promoted him to the Secret Service Department, and the next day he died at my hands. If others knew this, they would think I was jealous of talent. Quickly go find him, his life must be saved!"

However, just after saying it loudly, Jīn Zhū turned around and instructed the secret agent beside him in a low voice: "Although he desperately hugged the spy and fell from the second floor, there was no problem. But after that, he didn't think about circling back to the gambling house to meet us. Instead, he ran towards the outside. Now, even if someone said he went to report to the Jīng Cháo Military Intelligence Department, I would believe it. We must send people to find him tonight. See him alive, or see his corpse dead."

"Dà Rén, if he is still alive?"

"Then let him explain clearly what he did tonight and why he didn't come back to meet us."

"Dà Rén, if he is dead?"

"Dead is dead, bury him properly!"

The secret agent was puzzled: "Dà Rén, you don't want to invest in his mother?"

Jīn Zhū rolled his eyes at his trusted subordinate: "Investing is of course genuine investment. Don't you know the gold content of being personally selected into the Secret Service Department by Inner Prime Minister Dà Rén? But I can't invest in a Jīng Cháo spy or a dead person."

In the air after the rain, there was a unique smell of earth.

Chén Jǐ was quietly sneaking along, hugging the shadow of a gray wall and gray tiles.

His whole body was already soaked by the rain. He only felt his wet clothes sticking to his body, and the more he wore them, the colder he became.

He opened his wound dressing and saw that the skin around the wound was already soaked white by the water. If he didn't treat it in time, it would likely lead to a serious illness.

But where was the time to treat the wound now?

After escaping from the gambling house, no matter how well he acted, Jīn Zhū would inevitably have doubts.

If his whereabouts were not explained afterward, it would be truly fatal.

At this moment, Chén Jǐ did not return to Tài Píng Medical Hall but wanted to return to the small alley where he killed the Jīng Cháo spy, forge the fight scene, and pretend to have fainted there after the fight.

Wait...

Chén Jǐ suddenly stopped in his tracks. He always felt like he had missed some detail.

This detail was extremely likely to expose him.

What is it?

What exactly?

Chén Jǐ suddenly lowered his head to look at the wound on his chest. Only then did he realize what detail he had missed!

He picked up the long knife of the Jīng Cháo spy and carefully cut open a wound on his right thigh before continuing on his hurried journey.

Chén Jǐ staggered, having to avoid the night watchmen passing by from time to time.

He only felt himself getting weaker and weaker, so weak that he could barely open his eyes.

At one point, he thought, was it worth risking his entire body's injuries tonight and still not being able to solve the hidden trouble?

That Wú Hóngbiāo, like he jumped out of a stone, suddenly appeared, making him somewhat caught off guard.

Did Wú Hóngbiāo lie?

Chén Jǐ was inclined not to.

Both sides met and immediately fought. At that time, Wú Hóngbiāo still had the fighting strength and absolutely did not need to disguise himself.

But after he recognized Chén Jǐ, he immediately relaxed, fell to the ground, and even threw away his knife. This was tantamount to handing his life over to Chén Jǐ.

Even though Chén Jǐ had never known the other party and had no emotional connection, he still could not bring himself to turn in someone who had risked death to give him a tip.

Guards worry morning and morning, the strong bully sing night and night.

Although this era was sick, he was ultimately not a person of this era.

The small alley was getting closer and closer.

Just as he was still one street away from the small alley, Chén Jǐ saw firelight coming from the distance, as if someone was holding torches searching for something.

He quickly hid in the shadow under the wall and quickly thought of a countermeasure.

The incoming people must be from the Secret Service Department. If he just walked past like this, he would certainly collide with them.

Want to retreat directly?

No, he must return to that alley. Only then can the matter tonight be brought to a close.

Chén Jǐ struggled to climb onto the roof, carefully crouching to avoid the search.

Several times, secret agents looked up at the roof. He would lie down first and slowly crawl forward.

Time passed by minute by minute, second by second, and Chén Jǐ's physical strength was also running out.

Finally, the small alley was near.

He clung to the wall and quietly slid down.

But when he landed, he only felt soft ground under his feet and fell into a puddle.

Too much blood loss, exhausted.

Chén Jǐ struggled to stand up, dragged the Jīng Cháo spy out of the junk pile, and forged the traces of the fight around.

Then he arranged the Jīng Cháo spy's corpse, returning both sides to the posture where he had strangled the other party with a knife sheath, lying on his back on the ground, pretending that he had fainted there after killing the person because of his heavy injuries.

But his injuries were still not heavy enough, not enough to eliminate Jīn Zhū's doubts.

A trace of determination flashed in Chén Jǐ's eyes. He held the dagger in the Jīng Cháo spy's hand, then held the Jīng Cháo spy's hand himself, and fiercely swung the knife to stab at the earlier cut wound on his thigh, until the dagger went in all the way to the hilt.

In an instant, excruciating pain struck.

Chén Jǐ's entire body convulsed, and cold sweat on his forehead also fell like soybeans.

But from beginning to end, he gritted his teeth and did not make a sound.

Not only that, Chén Jǐ also used his hand to scoop up the puddle water on the ground and continuously pour it on the wound. This way, the blood seeping out of the wound would not show the difference between before and after the rain.

Chén Jǐ strongly supported himself to finish all this until he vaguely saw the firelight gathering and moving outside the alley. Only then did he slowly close his eyes, relax his heart, and truly faint.

He didn't know how long had passed. Under the guidance of a secret agent, Jīn Zhū came to Chén Jǐ's side and squatted down to check.

He first pried open Chén Jǐ's eyelids and took a torch to swing in front of Chén Jǐ's eyes: "The eyelids don't shake, the pupils contract slowly, he really fainted!"

Jīn Zhū touched the wound on the Jīng Cháo spy's neck again: "Strangled to death with a knife sheath. Before he died, he still stabbed this kid in the thigh with a knife. I didn't expect this kid could actually kill a spy alone. I underestimated him!"

Jīn Zhū's words changed: "But Jīng Cháo spies are far more skilled than ordinary people. How did this kid win? Could it be that lucky people have heaven's help!! Wait... Undo all of Chén Jǐ's clothes. I want to check his wounds. It's very possible that he left halfway and then came back to supplement his injuries."

The next moment, the secret agent tore open Chén Jǐ's pants and upper clothes, exposing the knife wounds inside. Two knife wounds were swollen and white due to being soaked in water for a long time.

Fortunately, Chén Jǐ had cut open a wound on his leg in advance and let it soak in water and swell, otherwise, if Jīn Zhū had discovered at this time that this wound was a new wound, he would inevitably be exposed.

This was the detail that Chén Jǐ almost missed.

The secret agent said to Jīn Zhū: "Dà Rén, the knife wounds have been there for a while. It's not fake. With such a knife wound on his leg, he couldn't move freely. He should have fainted here after fighting with the spy."

Jīn Zhū breathed a sigh of relief: "It seems there is no problem. Could it be that I am too suspicious?"

"Dà Rén, what should we do now? Do you want to send him for treatment?"

"No!" Jīn Zhū shook his head, "Lift him to the inner prison. Please a doctor to treat him in the inner prison. If he wakes up, tell me immediately. I still have some things to ask him. People are most likely to tell things when they are weak."

"Understood!"

However, at this moment, a sound came from outside the alley: "Various adults, have you seen my apprentice? Tall and thin, wearing a black outfit."

Jīn Zhū narrowed his eyes slightly and looked towards the alley entrance. He saw Old Man Yào with a white mustache standing at the alley entrance, asking the secret agents.

While asking, Old Man Yào turned his head and looked towards the box inside, frowning: "Master Jīn Dà Rén, why have you come to Luò City too?"

"Imperial Physician Yào, good evening. Are you looking for your apprentice this late at night?" Jīn Zhū smiled and squinted his eyes, taking a step forward, blocking Chén Jǐ behind him.

Old Man Yào walked over step by step and asked: "Have you seen my apprentice?"

"No!" Jīn Zhū shook his head: "Imperial Physician Yào, go look elsewhere."

"Who is behind Master Jīn Dà Rén?" Old Man Yào had already walked closer and looked at Chén Jǐ lying on the ground: "Isn't this my apprentice? Master Jīn Dà Rén, why are you lying? Why is he lying here?"

Jīn Zhū said awkwardly: "Ha ha ha ha, so he is your apprentice. I didn't know earlier. He was injured by a bad person from Jīng Cháo. I just wanted to send him for treatment."

Old Man Yào nodded: "Then I will trouble Dà Rén to send two secret agents to carry him back to Tài Píng Medical Hall!"

Jīn Zhū subconsciously said: "No."

Old Man Yào was puzzled: "Is there anywhere in this Luò City that is better at treating illnesses than my Tài Píng Medical Hall? Could it be that my apprentice committed a crime?"

Jīn Zhū hesitated for a moment: "He didn't commit a crime. Instead, he has merit."

Old Man Yào breathed a sigh of relief, but his tone was heavy: "If he committed a crime, Master Jīn Dà Rén can handle it as he pleases, but if he didn't commit a crime, then I want to write a letter to Inner Prime Minister Dà Rén and ask him the reason why the Secret Service Department is detaining my apprentice!"

Jīn Zhū was silent for a long time, finally waving his hand to a secret agent: "Help Imperial Physician Yào carry Chén Jǐ back!"

He stood in the small alley, watching Old Man Yào walk back into the distance, frowning.

A moment later, Jīn Zhū murmured to himself: "I always feel like something is wrong!"

In a coma, Chén Jǐ swayed in the carriage, as if he was drifting on the sea in a boat.

The sixteen lamps near his Dāntián swayed constantly, as if the oil in the lamps was exhausted and they would go out at any time. The ice flow that had been silent in his body for a long time was eager to move.

Chén Jǐ seemed to be swept by the ice flow to the sea of black clouds again, like a solitary boat floating on a leaf, not knowing how long he had drifted, and then drifting onto that ancient battlefield again.

The sound of shouting and killing, the clash of metal and iron, like immortal fighting. Chén Jǐ saw countless ancient birds circling in the sky, dragging long and gorgeous tails.

Chén Jǐ saw on the ground, human war formations constantly advancing, human cavalry sitting on tall war horses.

To be precise, they were no longer horses.

Below eight Chǐ is a colt, above eight Chǐ is a dragon.

On the other side of the human war formation, countless giant beasts seemed to be surrounding something, constantly wailing.

Chén Jǐ fell down from the sea of clouds, falling onto a green mountain on the edge of the battlefield. He saw a tall figure in the middle of the battlefield, wearing golden armor, holding a king's flag, walking step by step firmly among the ten thousand armies.

Beside him, a green light shadow surrounded him like a meteor, penetrating attacking enemies one by one.

After a long time, Chén Jǐ finally saw clearly that the brilliant meteor was actually a sword without a handle.

However, at this moment, that tall and majestic figure suddenly looked towards Chén Jǐ on the mountain: "Return my divine path."

"Return my sword seed."

"Return my green mountain."

"Otherwise, take your life."

The next moment, the sword light that covered the sky and hid the sun spread over like a tide, suppressing people and making it impossible to breathe.

The mountain wind howled, blowing Chén Jǐ's clothes and making a flapping sound.

But this time, Chén Jǐ was not afraid. He faced that majestic body, that overwhelming sword tide that covered the sky and the ground, and calmly asked: "By what right?"

The sound of this voice was like a giant axe chopping on a mountain ridge, sending out a rumbling echo.

As his words fell, one by one, lamps in Chén Jǐ's body suddenly ignited.

One, two, three...

Six hundred eighteen lamps.

Seven hundred twenty lamps.

The light of those lamps penetrated his body, as brilliant as stars.

In front of these stars, the sword light tide was divided into two, as if it had encountered an island.

That majestic figure was silent for a moment, then burst into laughter, the sound of which circled the cloudy sky: "You have returned, it is actually you who have returned."

"Chén Jǐ? Chén Jǐ?"

Why are you shouting at him? He is still in a coma. Don't shout at him.

"But I saw his eyelids move, ai ai ai, look, he opened his eyes, Master, Master, Chén Jǐ is awake."

Chén Jǐ slowly opened his eyes and saw himself lying in the apprentice bedroom of the medical hall.

The first time he felt his body, he found that the lamps were still sixteen. It turned out to be just a big dream.

He looked up again and saw a crowd of heads in front of him.

Shé Dèng Kē, Liú Qǔ Xīng, Liáng Gǒu Èr, Liáng Māo Èr, Shì Zǐ, Bái Lǐ Princess, Little Monk?

Chén Jǐ couldn't figure out why the last three people were also in this dim apprentice bedroom.

He wanted to support himself up with his arm, but was pressed back by Liú Qǔ Xīng: "Don't move, don't move, Master told you not to move."

Chén Jǐ looked at the color of the sky outside, and it was still night. He said puzzledly: "How long have I been in a coma?"

"A whole day!"

Liú Qǔ Xīng said: "You scared us all to death."

Chén Jǐ's heart sank. He had actually been in a coma for a whole day?

He didn't know if he had deceived Jīn Zhū.

What about Wú Hóngbiāo? Did he escape or was he found by the Secret Service Department or the Military Intelligence Department?

But, when he woke up, he was at least not in the inner prison. This was good news.

...