The Azure Mountain

Chapter 79: Until We Meet Again

The reins were in Chen Ji's hands. The ox cart stood still on the southbound road.

Midnight. Snow fell softly. Flakes landed on the three of them, catching in their hair.

Official Gui sat at the very front of the cart. He turned back toward Chen Ji, his expression grave: "You want to go back to Taiping Medical Clinic? What — you don't trust me and Wu Hongbiao? You won't leave with us?"

Chen Ji shook his head: "I trust you. You could have escaped by evening, yet you risked your lives to come save me. Without you, I'd probably be in the Inner Prison right now."

Official Gui pressed further: "Then do you understand that if you stay, Lu Guanwu's people might come to settle accounts with you?"

Chen Ji slowly released the reins: "Right now, everyone who knew my identity in the Military Intelligence Division is dead or gone. Even if a new Department Head and new Si Cao arrive in Luo City, they won't have any reason to come after me."

Official Gui fell silent.

Chen Ji's expression was solemn, his words resolute: "I've finally managed to embed myself in Prince Jing's Estate and infiltrate the Ning Dynasty's Secret Spy Division. I absolutely cannot abandon Luo City out of cowardice."

He added: "The firearms I used tonight — the ones I used to bomb Jin Zhu and kill Shopkeeper Yuan — came from a powerful figure inside the estate. If I could obtain firearms this time, next time I can get formulas, blueprints, troop deployment maps... I'm more useful staying here!"

Wu Hongbiao looked at him with deep respect: "Your conviction is far stronger than mine!"Chen Ji thought for a moment, then turned to Gui: "Sir, after you leave and Official Xin is dead, who will take over Luo City?"

Gui considered: "There were rumors that Shopkeeper Yuan had been competing with 'Ding' for control of Luo City. I expect Ding will take over."

"What kind of person is he?"

"I don't know," Gui said evenly. "The Si Cao don't meet face to face. If Xin and I hadn't been old acquaintances, we probably wouldn't have recognized each other either. Whoever takes over — don't approach them on your own initiative. It's extremely dangerous."

Chen Ji asked: "Who will the next Department Head be?"

Gui answered directly: "That's the Military Intelligence Division's highest-level secret. Even if I knew, I couldn't tell you — and I don't."

"Understood."

Gui hesitated repeatedly, but in the end couldn't help himself: "Even though staying would make you more useful, you'd be safer back in the Jing Dynasty. By your uncle's side, no one can touch you."

Chen Ji slowly stepped down from the cart. Standing in the drifting snow, he clasped his fist and bowed to both men in farewell: "I'm going back to Taiping Medical Clinic. After tonight, we'll be separated by two dynasties. I don't know when we'll meet again. Until we do!"

He looked at Official Gui on the cart — angular features, a gaunt face — and at Wu Hongbiao, still weak from his unhealed injuries.

He didn't know these two men well. Yet one had risked death to warn him, and the other had given up his chance to flee in order to come back and save him.

Facing them, Chen Ji was full of gratitude — but somewhere in his heart, he quietly added: ...We may never meet again.

Just then, Wu Hongbiao didn't simply bid Chen Ji farewell. He looked at Official Gui instead: "Sir, could you wait a moment?"

Official Gui frowned but nodded: "All right."

Wu Hongbiao, wounded body and all, went searching around until he found a shuttered wine shop.

He slipped into the back courtyard, and before long came out carrying a small jar of wine: "Leftover chrysanthemum wine from the Double Ninth Festival, by the smell of it. Chen Ji, who knows when we'll be able to sit down together again after tonight? Let's drink this — a farewell toast."

Chen Ji paused, then broke the clay seal on the jar and took a long, deep swallow of chrysanthemum wine before passing it to Wu Hongbiao.

Wu Hongbiao lifted the jar and took a mighty gulp, then offered it to Official Gui.

After some deliberation, Gui accepted the jar and took one small, careful sip: "We still need to slip out of the city later. I need to stay clearheaded. Drinking muddles the mind."

In the moonlight, fine snowflakes drifted into the jar. Chen Ji smiled, took it back, and said: "I'll drink your share for you."

He took another deep swig, set the jar down firmly on the ox cart, and clasped his fist one final time: "Until we meet again!"

Official Gui and Wu Hongbiao returned the salute in unison: "Until we meet again!"

The ox cart slowly lurched into motion. The wooden wheels rumbled over the cobblestones, growing fainter with distance.

The snow grew heavier — larger and larger flakes, big as goose feathers.

Chen Ji stood alone in the blizzard.

He thought of those Jianghu heroes who had abandoned the Prince Heir and fled. Then he looked at the two Jing Dynasty spies who were gradually disappearing into the night.

Chen Ji suddenly realized — this was the true Jianghu.

......

......

"The cock crows at dawn — early to bed, early to rise!"

An elderly, impoverished night watchman carried his lantern through the wind and snow, beating his copper gong as he shuffled down the long street.

The night watchman's call changed with each watch of the night.

At the first watch: "Dry weather, dry season — watch for fire!"

At the second watch: "Lock your door, shut your windows — beware of thieves!"

At the third watch: "No ills, no calamities — all is well!"

At the fourth watch: "Heaven is cold, earth is frozen — mind the slippery roads!"

At the fifth watch: "The cock crows at dawn — early to bed, early to rise!"

The city's folk needed only to hear which call the watchman gave to know the hour.

After the watchman passed, Chen Ji emerged slowly from a narrow alley. Stumbling and limping, he took a roundabout path back to Taiping Medical Clinic.

The courtyard was empty. Even the crow was nowhere to be seen. Only the bare apricot tree remained.

Chen Ji stood in the snow, letting the heavy flakes pile on his head and shoulders. He felt a sudden release of tension, as if simply being back inside the clinic walls was enough to set his heart at ease.

He didn't go to bed. Instead, still carrying a slight buzz from the wine, he walked to the water vat and stripped off his clothes.

Standing in the pristine white snow, he poured ladle after ladle of bone-chilling water over his head, washing away the blood, dust, the stench of gunpowder, and the agitation — until his skin burned red. Only then did he towel off.

Chen Ji went inside, changed into dry clothes, and lit the kitchen stove. He tossed his old garments into the fire.

He sat on a small bamboo stool in front of the stove, letting the warm orange glow wrap around him. Dry kindling crackled and popped in the flames — an extraordinarily peaceful sound.

Wu Yun padded across the fresh snow in the courtyard and entered the kitchen. She hopped lightly onto Chen Ji's knee and curled into a warm ball: "It's so cold... I followed Gui and Wu Hongbiao to make sure they got out of the city safely before I came back."

"How did they get out?"

Wu Yun replied: "Gui has a subordinate inside the City Defense Division who let them pass through quietly. On the road, I heard them saying it would be very dangerous for you if you stayed. Have you considered going to the Jing Dynasty with them? These two new friends really do seem to care about you."

Chen Ji smiled as he stroked Wu Yun's head: "I don't think I'm very good at making friends. Every time I make a new one, I seem to lose them just as quickly."

Wu Yun thought for a moment: "I'll stay with you."

Chen Ji considered: "Now only Consort Yun in Luo City knows my identity as a spy. I need to figure out how to keep the secret."

"Consort Yun." Wu Yun bristled at the mere mention of the name: "She's the one who keeps bringing Bai Banruo to Evening Star Courtyard to beat me up! She's awful!"

Chen Ji laughed: "We'll find a way to get her back someday! But she's different from Consort Jing. I think she can be dealt with."

"How so?"

Chen Ji analyzed: "Consort Jing and Consort Yun are entirely different kinds of people. When you were with Consort Jing, the moment you couldn't beat Bai Banruo, they stopped feeding you, and Chun Rong yelled at you on top of it. Look — you've been gone from Evening Star Courtyard for ages, and she hasn't once sent anyone to look for you. That kind of person is dangerous, because the only thing in her heart is herself."

"And Consort Yun?"

Chen Ji recalled as he spoke: "When Bai Banruo was hurt, she sent for a doctor. She leaves persimmons on the tree in her courtyard for the birds to eat through winter. She does things with room to spare for others. And Commandery Princess Baili is her daughter too, raised by her hand. I think a mother who can raise a daughter like Baili can't be rotten to the core."

"That makes sense."

Sounds came from outside the courtyard. Chen Ji used a fire poker to push his still-smoldering old clothes deeper into the flames, then hid the short blade in his sleeve and slowly walked out of the kitchen to investigate.

The next moment, he froze.

Baili was perched atop the courtyard wall, greeting him with a beaming smile: "Good morning!"

She was balanced on the Prince Heir's shoulders, wobbling slightly. Her hair had been neatly retied. The little crimson carp-shaped collar pendant at her collar stood out vividly against the white snow.

Chen Ji hesitated: "Good morning."

Baili asked curiously: "Why are you out in the courtyard? Did you not sleep all night?"

Chen Ji was silent for a beat: "No — I went to bed early last night. Just woke up."

Baili narrowed her eyes: "Really?"

"Really."

Baili pressed: "You didn't go out last night? And don't you dare lie to me — most people can't fool me."

Before she could continue, the Prince Heir cut in from the other side of the wall: "Baili, could you please climb over first and then chat? My shoulders are killing me! Little Monk, you come hold her up for a while!"

"Your Highness, how can I have physical contact with a woman?"

"When those ladies in Red Clothe Lane were touching your face, you didn't exactly say no!"

Baili pressed both hands down on the wall and swung herself over, then climbed down the ladder one rung at a time.

Without bothering to check whether the Prince Heir had made it in, she circled Chen Ji, scrutinizing him head to toe, even leaning in close to sniff him.

Chen Ji smiled helplessly: "Your Highness, what has gotten into you? Did something happen last night?"

Baili pouted: "Fine, don't admit it!"

Chen Ji shook his head: "Your Highness, I truly have no idea what you're talking about."

Baili suddenly sniffed the air: "What's that smell? Burning firewood doesn't smell like that."

She turned and headed for the kitchen, but Chen Ji moved a step faster and blocked the doorway: "Your Highness, the kitchen is full of smoke and soot. Your white outfit will get ruined."

"I don't mind. I can just wash it when I get back."

"Smoke stains are hard to wash out."

"Oh." Baili turned away, took two steps, then abruptly spun back — trying to catch him off guard. But Chen Ji spread his arms wide and blocked her again.

Baili grinned craftily, suddenly ducked under his arm, and peered past him into the stove.

In the orange glow of the hearth fire, Chen Ji's old clothes had mostly burned away — but a few scorched scraps of fabric remained.

Baili straightened up, reached out, and tapped a finger against his collarbone, looking triumphant: "Don't worry — my lips are sealed!"

Chen Ji: "..."

Just then, someone knocked on the clinic's front door. The Prince Heir, who had just finished climbing into the courtyard, called out: "I'll get it."

When the front door opened, wind and snow gusted in. Liang Gou'er stood in the doorway, disheveled, his hair a tangled bird's nest.

Everyone blinked. Since Jin Zhu's last visit, Liang Gou'er had vanished. Chen Ji had assumed he'd gone off to mess around at Red Clothe Lane. From the look of things, that wasn't the case.

Liang Gou'er strode into the courtyard and pressed a small porcelain vial into Chen Ji's hand: "I went to Mount Laojun to beg Daoist Head Cen Yunzi for this medicine. It's 'Soft Jade Ointment,' compounded by practitioners of Mount Laojun's Medicine Official Pathway. For ordinary blade wounds, three days' application and you'll be completely healed. Miraculous stuff."

The Prince Heir's and Baili's eyes lit up.

Chen Ji looked at the vial in his hand, then at Liang Gou'er: "This is for me?"

Liang Gou'er rolled his eyes: "Who else? I can't fight your battles against the Eunuch Faction for you, but I'm not the kind of person who turns his back on a friend. Over three hundred li of mountain trails, round trip — I'm dead on my feet!"

The Prince Heir asked curiously: "Brother Gou'er, you know Daoist Head Cen Yunzi of Mount Laojun? Their medicine is notoriously difficult to obtain."

Liang Gou'er said breezily: "My father had a connection with him. Not me personally."

While they talked, the little monk clumsily hauled himself up the courtyard wall.

Before he could start down the ladder, the Prince Heir bent down, packed a fat snowball, and — laughing uproariously — hurled it at the monk's shaved head.

"Ow!" The little monk clung to the top of the wall, stuck halfway up and halfway down.

While Chen Ji's attention was drawn to the commotion, Baili sneaked up behind him, scooped a handful of snow, and stuffed it down the back of his collar.

Watching Chen Ji grimace and clench his teeth from the cold, Baili doubled over with laughter — until Chen Ji grabbed a fistful of snow and crammed it into her mouth.

Liang Mao'er, She Dengke, and Liu Quxing were roused from sleep too. Throwing padded cotton jackets over their shoulders, the three joined the fray. Before anyone knew it, the courtyard had erupted into an all-out snowball war.

Liang Gou'er gaped at the pack of "children," then broke into a grin of his own, bent down, and started packing snowballs.

His first throw struck She Dengke square in the face with a THWACK — the snowball wrapped in a gentle current of qi that sent She Dengke staggering backward.

His next snowball caught Commandery Princess Baili on the shoulder, knocking her off balance and sending her sprawling into the snow.

Everyone stared. Who had ever seen snowballs like these?!

In the swirling blizzard, the Prince Heir tackled Liang Gou'er around the waist and bellowed: "The rest of you — run!"

Above, the clouds rolled and unfurled, drifting away... then drifted back again.

......

End of Volume One: First Acquaintance.