Chapter 6: Colleagues

Within Luo City, shops peddling Xuan paper numbered no fewer than twenty. Behind each stood personages of high station and nobility. "Which one should I seek?" Jiao Tu rolled her eyes in exasperation.

Chen Ji replied, "Then, we must inquire of Lord Zhou."

Jiao Tu leapt from Zhou Cheng Yi's back, turning the fallen official over. "Lord Zhou?"

"Ah, Lord Zhou?!"

Before them lay Zhou Cheng Yi, his face a ghastly shade of black-green, eyes wide and unseeing. He was dead.

"Jiao Tu, you've killed him by accident!" Yun Yang exclaimed, a touch of surprise in his voice.

Jiao Tu rolled her eyes again. "Do not cast blame upon me. He perished from poison."

Yun Yang countered, "His mouth's poison sac was removed by my hand!"

"Doubtless he concealed poison elsewhere upon his person. His initial feigned attempt to slay this youth was but a pretense; his true aim was to extract poison from his own body," Jiao Tu declared.

"Even so, it is your responsibility. You were tasked with his safeguarding."

"Should you persist in this accusation, I shall turn hostile."

"Forgive me, mere instinct..." Yun Yang conceded.

Jiao Tu turned to Chen Ji. "Searching each one by one is too slow. If we delay, we risk losing this great catch. Do you possess a method?"

Chen Ji slowly rose, moving to the table. His palm gently traced the texture of the Xuan paper. "Xuan paper is all handcrafted. Each artisan's habits differ. Some favor more Qing Tan bark, others prefer a touch more straw. Some use a stone mill to beat the pulp, preferring a finer grind; others are slothful and grind it coarser. The craft of Xuan paper determines its price... To locate the same paper is to locate the store."

Jiao Tu leaned in, bending low to scrutinize the Xuan paper's texture. Before this moment, Xuan paper had appeared as one uniform substance in her eyes...

...

...

At this moment, a knocking echoed from outside the courtyard. Someone had lifted the copper ring on the great door of the Zhou residence, striking it against the wood with a rhythmic cadence.

Outside the door, a hoarse voice inquired, "Lord Zhou, is Chen Ji within your residence?"

Instantly, within the courtyard, Yun Yang, Jiao Tu, all the black-clothed men, and even Chen Ji, turned their gaze toward the source of the sound.

Dong dong dong.

The knocking resumed. The beast-head ring on the great door struck the red lacquer, neither fast nor slow, yet possessing an inexplicable pressure.

In the deep silence of the night, the knocking seemed particularly abrupt.

The black-clothed men within the courtyard slowly drew their waist-knives, making no sound, awaiting Yun Yang's command.

These were elites among elites. Chen Ji mused that since his transmigration, not a single one had uttered an unnecessary word.

Dong dong dong.

The person outside, receiving no response, that hoarse voice asked again, "Chen Ji, are you inside?"

Chen Ji felt a flicker of bewilderment.

Who would come seeking him?

He looked to Yun Yang, only to see the young man's face a mixture of light and shadow, uncertain. After a moment's thought, he signaled with his eyes to a black-clothed man: "Drag all the corpses into the room."

Jiao Tu looked to Yun Yang. "Who is arriving?"

"No need for tension. I shall discern their identity," Yun Yang moved to lift the door bolt.

The great door swung open, revealing the black night outside. Standing there was a hunchbacked old man. He wore a gray long gown and a pair of white-soled black cloth shoes. His face was a map of wrinkles, like the gullies on dried earth.

The old man's beard reached his chest, his hair tied atop with a green hairpin. Both beard and hair were snow white, ancient beyond measure.

The old man seemed surprised to see Yun Yang. Yun Yang then donned a smiling face. "Grand Healer Yao, it has been a long time. Is your health still robust?"

The old man was silent for a moment. "It is you. You should not be in the capital. How came you to Luo City?"

Yun Yang explained, "Urgent matters arose, thus I came. It chanced that tonight I visited Lord Zhou and encountered Chen Ji, thus I detained him for conversation."

The old man inquired, "Has the Inner Minister's leg ailment shown some improvement?"

"Much, much better. He still praises you as a divine physician. The chill illness contracted in the Charcoal Bureau in his early years is finally cured," Yun Yang said with a smile. "Pity you did not remain in the capital, else the Emperor would surely have summoned you to the palace."

"The Emperor's illness I cannot cure," the old man changed the subject. "Chen Ji, the medicine has been delivered. It is time you returned."

Yun Yang considered for a moment. "Chen Ji, quickly follow your master back. See how Grand Healer Yao cares for you, walking so far at such an advanced age to fetch you."

Chen Ji had not anticipated Yun Yang would be willing to release him... It seemed to be due to the old man's mention of 'Inner Minister'?

He hurriedly walked out, passing by Jiao Tu. He felt her pull him back. "Do not speak carelessly upon your return, mind you. We shall yet seek you out."

Chen Ji remained silent, quickly stepping out the door. "Master, we should return."

"Mm."

Grand Healer Yao clasped his hands behind his back, his hunched form swaying as he walked into the depths of the long street, not uttering another word.

Chen Ji felt two gazes, like hooks, fixed upon his back. He turned to look. Yun Yang and Jiao Tu stood in the doorway, a smile that was not a smile gracing their lips.

Yun Yang and Jiao Tu, clad in matching black, both possessed striking looks and stood with straight backs. They were the sort of people who, even glimpsed upon the street, were pleasing to the eye.

Yet, these two individuals killed without a flicker of the eyelid, as if human life was the most worthless thing in this world.

Vicious, this was the most profound impression Chen Ji held of them.

Chen Ji took a few short steps, following behind the old man. With a resounding bang, the great door of the Zhou residence closed behind them.

Phew. Chen Ji let out a breath.

This seemed a world where human life was like grass.

At the beginning of his transmigration, he had not possessed much will to survive, merely observing everything like a bystander. His own life or death seemed not particularly important.

But since he could be reborn once, then perhaps his parents also had a chance at rebirth? This was immensely important to him.

He must, first, survive.

"Master, thank you for coming to fetch me," Chen Ji's words were sincere, truly sincere.

The old man, however, sighed. "Had I known it was the Secret Spy Division here tonight, I simply would not have come."

Chen Ji: "..."

What did he mean?

Did his disciple not matter to him?

The old man muttered to himself, "Strange, I clearly calculated a great fortune before leaving. I even thought I would find a gold ingot... A feather of good luck, indeed."

These words left Chen Ji bewildered. "Master, you do not ask about tonight..."

The old man walked ahead, his back to him, raising a hand to dismiss the topic. "Wait, absolutely do not tell me. Such troublesome matters I do not wish to know in the least. Knowing them brings no good fortune. My ability to live to ninety-two years old relies on minding my own business."

Chen Ji: "You are indeed very adept at seeking fortune and avoiding calamity..."

The old man stopped his steps. "The medicine was delivered. The medicine money?"

Chen Ji was taken aback. He had no idea there was also medicine money involved. "I forgot to ask Lord Zhou for it..."

The old man turned back, displeased. "Go back and ask them for it."

Chen Ji was direct. "I shall not go."

The old man pondered for a long time. "Then you shall compensate for this medicine money."

Chen Ji shifted the topic. "...You are very familiar with them, eh?"

The old man said, "I dealt with them in the capital in my early years. This group is ruthless and cruel, always inclined towards deeds that anger heaven and resent humanity. Later, upon meeting them on the street, I would simply pretend not to know them. Or, if you later encounter me on the street, it is also acceptable to pretend not to know me."

Chen Ji: "..."

The old man mused to himself, "A high-ranking figure from the Secret Spy Division has come personally. Luo City will likely not be peaceful."

The long street was quiet. Luo City seemed asleep. Even the usually bustling East Market had fallen silent, many of its lights extinguished.

A night watchman, his creaking basket containing a white lantern, passed them face to face. He idly struck the gong for the third watch, shouting of dry weather and the need for caution with lamps and candles.

Upon reaching a crossroads, Chen Ji suddenly saw his master produce three copper coins from his sleeve.

The next second, the old man raised his head, glancing at the position of the stars. He then squatted down, throwing the copper coins six times on the bluestone road for divination. "Mm... Walk to the left."

"Master, is there danger on the right?" Chen Ji was curious.

"Danger there is not. Looking at the divination image, we might encounter a beggar. Since my old age, I have become more sympathetic. Seeing one, I might be inclined to give him money. Thus, I shall simply take a detour to avoid seeing him," the old man calmly explained.

Chen Ji: "..."

...

...

Within the Zhou residence, Jiao Tu squatted on a Taishi chair, chin in hand, gazing up at the night sky. "Just like that, you let him go? Because his master and the Inner Minister know each other?"

"How could that be? The Inner Minister is an adult of ruthless heart and cruel hand, one who turns his back without recognition. Not to mention Grand Healer Yao's disciple, should he truly obstruct the Inner Minister's path, Grand Healer Yao would also perish."

Jiao Tu sighed. "Alright, do you think that boy might be a spy for the Jing Dynasty?"

"Assuredly so," Yun Yang stated with certainty. "How could an ordinary apprentice endure my few needles? He would have fainted from the pain long ago. Furthermore, consider his ability to adapt to change; that is absolutely not something a medical hall apprentice could accomplish."

Jiao Tu was doubtful. "Then why still let him go?"

Yun Yang smiled. "If he truly is a spy, then he came tonight to connect with Zhou Cheng Yi and pass a message. The Military Intelligence Division of the Jing Dynasty surely knows of this matter. After Zhou Cheng Yi's disappearance tonight, he yet remains alive. The Military Intelligence Division will necessarily judge him to have betrayed Zhou Cheng Yi."

Jiao Tu's eyes lit up. "The Jing Dynasty is always strict with traitors. They will certainly send people to eliminate him. At that time, we can capture the people who come to kill him, and thus earn another merit!"

"Precisely!"

After a considerable time, a black-clothed man returned to report. "Two adults, according to the texture of the Xuan paper, we have found two corresponding Xuan paper shops. The shopkeepers and assistants within are now being escorted to the inner prison of Luo City."

Jiao Tu stood up. "I shall go and interrogate them overnight!"

Yun Yang stretched lazily. "Then I shall handle the corpses. Once finished, I shall return early to rest."

"First, let us discuss how our two merits shall be calculated!"

"Of course, fifty-fifty."

"Unacceptable."

Yun Yang raised an eyebrow. "Why unacceptable?"

Jiao Tu. "Tonight I killed nine people, you only killed six. Zhou Cheng Yi was also captured by me. Sixty-forty, otherwise you shall not invite me to act together in the future."

Yun Yang sighed. "Interpersonal relationships between colleagues are truly harder to handle than corpses. Sixty-forty then, sixty-forty."

Jiao Tu leaped from the Taishi chair, leading the black-clothed men away with excitement, leaving only Yun Yang to clean up.

When everyone had departed, Yun Yang produced from his sleeve over ten palm-sized... shadow puppets.

He used a silver needle to pierce each corpse's wrist, squeezing out drops of fresh blood.

Next, he used those drops of fresh blood on the silver needle to dot the eyes of each shadow puppet.

As the blood entered the shadow puppets' eyes, they turned crimson, and the little figures seemed to come to life.

"Done!"

The next moment, all the dead bodies in the courtyard actually stood up, their faces expressionless, following Yun Yang toward the outside of the Zhou residence.

A line of people walked for who knows how long down the long street. Yun Yang suddenly saw a small beggar huddled under a grass mat by the roadside. Due to the cold weather, the little beggar was curled into a ball.

After gazing at the other for a long time, Yun Yang took a string of copper coins from his sleeve and threw them on the ground. Only then did he lead the more than ten corpses into the black night.