novelraw Chapter 70: Departure
Chapter 70: Departure
Midnight.
Chen Ji jolted awake from his dream and slowly sat up.
In the cramped apprentices' dormitory, Liang Mao'er, She Dengke, and Liu Quxing were snoring away. Liang Gou'er was off somewhere, still out carousing — he hadn't come back for the night.
The usually inseparable brothers Mao'er and Gou'er hadn't gone out together today.
Chen Ji struggled off the bed and crept carefully into the courtyard. He needed to find out whether Wu Hongbiao had been lying.
The courtyard was empty, save for the crow perched on a branch of the apricot tree.
Chen Ji turned to look at the courtyard wall where the ladder was propped up.
No one was standing on their brother's shoulders, poking their head over the wall anymore. No one was on the other side, wobbling as they hoisted their little sister up.
The Prince Heir and Commandery Princess Baili had suddenly stopped coming out to play — or at least stopped using the clinic as their shortcut. Taiping Medical Clinic had returned to its usual quiet.
Chen Ji fetched some leftover rice and water from the kitchen and was about to head outside when the crow blocked his path, pointing toward the clinic entrance."Uncle Crow, what are you trying to say?" Chen Ji asked, puzzled.
The crow opened its wings in a pantomime — first pointing outside the clinic, then miming the motion of drawing a blade from its waist.
Chen Ji froze: "You're saying Taiping Medical Clinic is already under surveillance?"
The crow nodded with satisfaction.
A chill ran through Chen Ji: "Uncle Crow, who's watching the clinic? If it's the Secret Spy Division, blink once. If it's the Military Intelligence Division, blink twice."
The crow blinked three times.
Chen Ji: "..."
The crow opened its beak wide in what seemed like a mocking grin at Chen Ji's dire predicament.
Chen Ji furrowed his brow. Why were both sides watching him? What had gone wrong?
And with both sides conducting surveillance simultaneously, how was he supposed to get out and meet Wu Hongbiao?
The crow stopped teasing him. It waved a wing, beckoning Chen Ji to follow, then flew up to the roof of the clinic's main hall.
Chen Ji brought a ladder over and stealthily climbed up to the roof alongside the crow.
At midnight, one man and one crow peeked over the roof ridge, spying on the shopfronts across from the main hall.
They were separated by Anxi Street. In the darkness, everything was dim and indistinct.
The crow pointed to the second floor of the third shop on the right. The room inside was pitch dark, but the window had been cracked open just enough to give a clear view of Taiping Medical Clinic's front door.
Then the crow pointed to the second floor of the second shop on the left. Same setup — window cracked open, aimed right at the clinic's entrance.
Both sides appeared to be monitoring exactly who came and went from the clinic.
Chen Ji muttered: "At least they didn't rent the same room..."
The crow shook with silent laughter.
Chen Ji pulled his head back behind the roof ridge and whispered: "Uncle Crow, how many people on the right side?"
The crow blinked three times. Three.
"The left?"
The crow blinked three times. Also three.
A heavy sense of danger settled over Chen Ji. Posting one person constituted routine surveillance, but sending three simultaneously — that was preparation for a seizure or an assassination.
'Good thing I have Uncle Crow to help...'
Chen Ji turned to the crow with a smile: "Thank you, Uncle Crow. You've helped me again... Why are you willing to help me, anyway?"
The crow gave a silent smile and offered no answer.
Chen Ji asked: "How do I get around to the fabric shop?"
The crow waved a wing and headed toward the rear.
Following the crow's guidance, Chen Ji moved along the shadows between the buildings on Anxi Street and slipped over the wall into the fabric shop's back courtyard.
Not only that, Uncle Crow even handled rear guard duty. Once Chen Ji was inside the yard, the crow perched atop the courtyard wall, standing watch.
Hearing the sounds of someone scrambling over the wall, Wu Hongbiao — who had been lying on the ground — sat up cross-legged: "Finally. Are the Military Intelligence Division and Secret Spy Division still looking for me?"
Chen Ji replied: "They're still searching, but they've been led toward the Western Market. I've heard the fabric shop is being put up for sale soon — this isn't a safe place to stay long-term. Someone could show up to look at the property at any time."
Wu Hongbiao thought for a moment: "Then I'll clean up in here tomorrow. If someone comes, I'll vault over the wall for a while and come back when they're gone."
"It's still not safe."
Wu Hongbiao thought again: "Have you found out the Si Cao's true identity?"
Chen Ji was silent for a beat: "Answer a few of my questions first, and do something for me. Then I'll answer yours."
Wu Hongbiao studied Chen Ji carefully: "You've changed."
Chen Ji leaned against the doorframe, letting the moonlight stretch his shadow long. Former brothers-in-arms — one standing in the doorway, one sitting on the floor — each more ragged than the other, like comrades who had tumbled into misfortune together, yet still keeping a cautious distance.
Wu Hongbiao spoke softly: "The old you never received any rigorous training. Your guard was terrible. Of course, that's also tied to your upbringing. In the Jing Dynasty, we were conscripted at twelve into the harshest military camps in the north, raised in the bitter cold from childhood — winter lasting half the year. There was only so much food in the camp, and if you weren't good enough, you went hungry. Two missed meals and the cold would kill you. In that place, even getting a full meal required scheming against each other."
Wu Hongbiao continued: "You grew up in the southern Ning Dynasty, with its birdsong and sweet-scented flowers. There are dazzling dancers and songstresses here, dashing scholars and literary men, lamplight reflecting off boats on the Qinhuai River. Living in a place like this naturally makes a person... softer."
Chen Ji asked calmly: "And now?"
Wu Hongbiao answered earnestly: "Now you're different. I don't know what you've been through, but the you that stands before me is more like a true warrior. Even though it stings a little not being trusted, I'm genuinely happy for you. Only this version of you could survive long enough for us to meet again."
Chen Ji lowered his head: "Now that you've been betrayed by the Jing Dynasty, haven't you considered defecting to the Secret Spy Division?"
Wu Hongbiao's face turned stern: "The Jing Dynasty didn't betray me — the Si Cao betrayed me. I've told you before: I refuse to let some people's filthy political games shake my convictions. I also believe your uncle and his allies will rise again and purge the court of its vermin. My people in the Jing Dynasty have suffered enough already — I won't betray my homeland because of a few scoundrels."
Chen Ji said nothing. This was the first time since arriving in this world that he had heard the word "faith."
Not wanting to dwell on the topic, he asked the question he most wanted answered: "You said it was the Si Cao who wears the green-fanged mask and favors a short blade who wanted us killed. Why do you say that?"
Wu Hongbiao looked puzzled: "The Si Cao is the Si Cao. Why tack on all those descriptions? There's only one of them."
Chen Ji shook his head: "Just answer my question first."
Wu Hongbiao recalled: "The men who came to kill me first lured me with a claim that the Si Cao had orders — that I was to go to the Canal Transport Guild in the Eastern Market to receive a shipment. I'm a Pigeon-ranked agent. In all of Luo City, aside from you, only Zhou Chengyi and the Si Cao had clearance to know my information. On top of that, when the killers arrived, I demanded they present the Si Cao's token, and they did."
"What was the Si Cao's token?"
"A copy of the 'Luo City Gazette' stamped with a special seal from Rongbaozhai. The upper-right corner of the seal has a chip knocked out of it — impossible to forge."
Chen Ji finally understood. Wu Hongbiao hadn't known there was another Si Cao, nor that a new one had arrived in Luo City and pushed the original aside.
So, according to his reasoning, the one who wanted them dead was Shopkeeper Yuan — not the carriage driver Si Cao.
But Chen Ji still needed to verify that Wu Hongbiao wasn't lying.
After a long silence, he said: "I need you to do something."
"What?"
"Meet the Si Cao."
Wu Hongbiao's face went blank with shock.
......
......
Dawn. The Luocheng Prefectural Office.
A gilded plaque reading "Luocheng Prefecture" hung above the gate. Officials hurried in through the entrance for the morning roll call, some murmuring under their breath: "Hurry up, hurry — if we're late again, the Vice Prefect will have our heads."
As they spoke, a carriage decorated with goldfinch motifs slowly pulled up in front of the office. The officials forgot all about roll call, stopping in their tracks to bow.
The carriage driver lifted the curtain and hooked it to the side, then placed a step stool beside the carriage before saying quietly: "Second Master, we've arrived."
Liu Mingxian descended from the carriage, dressed in a blue official robe, wearing a black gauze cap, a jade belt loosely fastened at his waist, and black-topped white-soled boots on his feet.
"Good morning, Vice Prefect."
"Good morning, Vice Prefect."
Liu Mingxian gave a nasal grunt of acknowledgment, and only then did the officials dare straighten up and scurry into the compound.
By regulation, a fifth-rank official like Liu Mingxian had no business riding in such a luxurious goldfinch-patterned carriage. But with Grand Secretary Liu occupying a lofty position in government and Yuzhou province serving as the Liu family's personal domain, no one dared say a word.
Once Liu Mingxian was inside, the carriage driver moved the vehicle aside, donned a bamboo hat, and squatted by the gate, chatting idly with the other drivers and sedan-chair bearers.
The driver grinned and asked: "Erniu, did your master go out on the town again last night?"
Erniu chuckled: "When does my master ever not go out? Last night he went to the Embroidery Building on White Clothe Lane. They say he got to see Courtesan Liu."
The driver let out a surprised sound: "Every gentleman in Luo City is dying to see what Courtesan Liu looks like. What did your master say?"
Erniu answered honestly: "My master said Courtesan Liu is truly a fascinating woman. It's a pity the Xu family is protecting her — no one dares lay a finger on her."
The driver paused for a heartbeat, then asked: "Old Li, what about you — what did you do last night?"
"What could I do?" Old Li yawned. "Last night, a bunch of spies from the Secret Spy Division showed up at the Imperial Workshop, saying they needed to audit the workshop's inventory books. My master was stuck inside all night — not allowed to take a single step out. He only got released this morning, didn't even go home, came straight here."
The driver smiled: "Sounds rough. Go home and have your wife give you a good back rub."
"My wife? She'll beat me, sure — but a back rub? Forget it!"
The drivers and sedan-chair bearers burst into laughter.
At that moment, Liu Mingxian's carriage driver casually swept his gaze across the street, and his expression immediately darkened.
Across the street, a pale-faced young man stood motionless, staring straight at him.
The driver spoke to the others: "I haven't eaten this morning — I'm going to grab a bowl of tofu pudding. Keep chatting."
"Sure! Bring me back two fried dough sticks!"
The carriage driver Si Cao moved swiftly into the crowd. Suddenly, he darted to the young man's side, grabbed his arm, and pulled him into a narrow alley.
Once they were alone in the alley, the carriage driver Si Cao hissed: "Wu Hongbiao, have you lost your mind? The Secret Spy Division and Military Intelligence Division are both looking for you, and you dare stay in Luo City?!"
Wu Hongbiao said quietly: "I can't leave."
The carriage driver Si Cao demanded: "How did you learn my identity? How did you find me here?"
Wu Hongbiao kept his head down: "I followed you before."
The Si Cao sneered: "You followed me? With your skills? Have you already defected to the Ning Dynasty's Secret Spy Division?"
Wu Hongbiao lifted his head and met the Si Cao's gaze: "I'm one of Commander Lu's hand-picked elites, sent specifically to the Southern Dynasty. Don't underestimate me."
The Si Cao was still unconvinced. He narrowed his eyes, one hand already sliding into his sleeve, ready to draw the short blade at any moment. He scanned the surroundings rapidly but found no one closing in.
The Secret Spy Division had deployed over a hundred agents at the Qinhuai River last time and still failed to catch him. If Wu Hongbiao had truly defected, the Division would have called in the Trouble-Resolving Guard from the Mengjin Military Camp to surround him.
The Si Cao grew thoughtful: "Instead of hiding under a false name, you come looking for me. What do you want?"
Wu Hongbiao said: "Someone came with your token to lure me to my death. So naturally I've come to ask you face-to-face — Si Cao, why did you want me killed?"
"It wasn't me. Someone is purging us," the Si Cao answered gravely.
"How do I know that?"
The Si Cao gave a cold laugh: "If I wanted you dead, do you think you'd still be alive? Enough talk. Since you're alive, go to Taiping Medical Clinic immediately and inform Chen Ji. Tell him this: tomorrow evening, both of you come to this alley. I'll arrange for you to leave Luo City!"
"Go where?"
"A merchant caravan will take you back to the Jing Dynasty. Go find his uncle — staying by his side is the only way to be safe for the time being," the Si Cao said.
Wu Hongbiao turned and left. At the same time, atop the gray-tiled eaves, two tabby cats ceased their play-fighting, leapt down from the rooftop, and vanished into the vast expanse of Luo City.
......
......
Midday. Wu Yun jumped from the rooftop into the courtyard. She raised a paw and gently patted Chen Ji, but couldn't wake him.
Wu Yun waited patiently until Chen Ji sucked in a sharp breath and jolted awake from his nightmare on the ancient battlefield. He reached up and rubbed his neck — Feng Huai's blade had just struck right there...
Chen Ji looked at Wu Yun: "You got hurt again?"
Wu Yun held her head high: "Triumphant return! From this day forward, Anxi Street answers to me!"
Chen Ji was genuinely impressed: "Fierce!"
Wu Yun recounted everything she had observed while tailing Wu Hongbiao that day, and Chen Ji reached his conclusion: Wu Hongbiao had not lied, and the carriage driver Si Cao had never intended to kill him. The Si Cao's visit yesterday had indeed been to protect him.
The one who wanted him dead was Shopkeeper Yuan.
Wu Yun suddenly asked: "Are you going to leave the Ning Dynasty?"
Chen Ji fell silent.
Should he go? If he left, at least he could stop living as a double agent. The Jing Dynasty still had an uncle who'd once held high office — even if the man had been ousted, a starved camel was still bigger than a horse.
Even without power, surely the uncle could at least afford some ginseng?
Some newly made friends would be out of reach, true, but they weren't coming to the clinic anymore anyway.
The only person he couldn't quite bring himself to leave... was Old Yao. If he left, what would happen to the old man? He'd just have to trust She Dengke and Liu Quxing to look after him.
No matter how Chen Ji looked at it, he should go. It wasn't the choice he wanted most, but it was the wisest one.
Chen Ji turned to Wu Yun: "Will you come with me?"
Wu Yun thought about it: "It's a shame to give up Anxi Street right after I conquered it, but wherever you go, I go."
Chen Ji took a deep breath: "Alright. We leave tomorrow afternoon — away from this hornet's nest."
He got up and slowly shuffled into the courtyard, looking at the big water jar in the southeast corner, at the apricot tree in the center, at the closed door of the main room, and at the bustling main hall of the clinic...
Chen Ji hadn't been in this world very long. But even after only a dozen or so days here, when he thought about leaving, his eyes held a trace of reluctance.
Just then, Liu Quxing came back to the courtyard to wash his hands. He looked at Chen Ji in surprise: "Oh, you're finally awake."
Chen Ji smiled, fished out a small piece of silver, and held it out: "Senior Brother, could you help me buy some meat and vegetables? I'd like to cook a meal for everyone."