Qingshan

Chapter 79 : Chapter 79

Chapter 79: Until We Meet Again

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

Snow fell softly through the midnight air, settling on the three of them, catching in their hair.

Division Officer Gui sat at the front of the flatbed. He turned to face Chen Ji, his expression grave. "You want to go back to the Taiping 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 been long gone by evening, but you came back and risked your lives to save me. If not for you two, I'd probably be in the Inner Prison right now."

Gui pressed further. "Then do you understand that if you stay, Lu Guanwu's people may very well come to settle accounts?"

Chen Ji slowly released the reins. "As things stand, everyone in the Military Intelligence Division who knew my identity is either dead or leaving. Even if a new Division Lord and new Division Officers come to Luocheng, they won't have any reason to trouble me."

Gui said nothing.

Chen Ji's expression was solemn, his voice firm and clear. "I've worked so hard to embed myself in Prince Jing's manor and infiltrate the Ning Dynasty's Secret Spy Division. I can't throw all of that away just because I'm afraid."

He added, "The explosives I used to blast Jinzhu and kill Shopkeeper Yuan tonight -- I got them from the contact inside the Prince's manor. If I could obtain firearms this time, next time I can obtain formulas, blueprints, troop formation maps... I'm more useful here."

Wu Hongbiao straightened with respect. "Your conviction puts mine to shame."

Chen Ji thought for a moment, then turned to Gui. "Sir, once you leave, and with Division Officer Xin dead, who'll take over Luocheng?"

Gui considered. "There were rumors that Shopkeeper Yuan once competed with 'Ding' for control of Luocheng. Presumably Ding will be the one to take over."

"What kind of person is Ding?"

"I don't know," Gui said plainly. "Division Officers never meet face to face. If Xin and I hadn't already known each other from before, we wouldn't have recognized one another either. Whoever takes over, do not approach them on your own initiative. It would be extremely dangerous."

Chen Ji asked, "Who will the next Division Lord be?"

Gui answered without hesitation. "That is the Military Intelligence Division's highest secret. Even if I knew -- which I don't -- I couldn't tell you."

"Understood."

Gui hesitated, then offered one last piece of counsel. "It's true you're more useful here. But you'd be safer back in the Jing Dynasty. Stay by your uncle's side, and no one can touch you."

Chen Ji climbed slowly off the cart. In the drifting snow, he cupped his hands and bowed to the two men. "I'm going back to the Taiping Clinic. After tonight, you and I will be separated by two dynasties. I don't know when we'll meet again. Until then -- may our paths cross once more."

He looked at Division Officer Gui on the cart -- gaunt face, sharp-edged features -- and at Wu Hongbiao, still weakened from his wounds.

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 escape in order to come back and save him.

Facing them, Chen Ji's heart was full of gratitude. But silently, to himself, he added one more thought.

May our paths never cross again.

Wu Hongbiao, however, didn't say goodbye right away. He glanced at Gui. "Sir, could you wait a moment?"

Gui frowned. "Fine."

Wu Hongbiao limped off, searching through the dark streets until he found a tavern that had closed for the night.

He slipped around to the back, climbed over the courtyard wall, and emerged a short while later carrying a small jug of wine. "Probably chrysanthemum wine the owner didn't sell for the Double Ninth Festival. It smells wonderful. Chen Ji -- we don't know when we'll see each other again. Let's drink this. A farewell toast."

Chen Ji paused, then broke the clay seal off the jug and took a long pull of chrysanthemum wine. He passed it to Wu Hongbiao.

Wu Hongbiao raised the jug and took a deep swig of his own, then offered it to Gui.

Gui hesitated, but finally accepted it and sipped. "I still have to get us out of the city. I need to stay clear-headed. Drinking leads to mistakes."

Under the moonlight, fine snowflakes drifted into the mouth of the jug. Chen Ji suddenly smiled and took it back. "Your share -- I'll drink it for you."

He tipped the jug and drained another long mouthful, then set it down on the cart with a thump. He cupped his hands one last time. "Until we meet again."

Gui and Wu Hongbiao cupped their hands in return. "Until we meet again."

The ox-cart creaked into motion. Its wooden wheels ground against the flagstones, clattering away into the distance.

The snow fell harder. Bigger. Flakes the size of goose feathers.

Chen Ji stood alone in the wind and snow.

He thought of the jianghu swordsmen who had abandoned the Heir and fled. Then he looked at the two Jing Dynasty agents slowly disappearing down the road.

It struck him then -- this was what jianghu truly meant.

...

...

"The rooster crows at dawn -- early to bed, early to rise!"

An old, impoverished night watchman shuffled through the blowing snow, lantern in one hand, copper gong in the other, making his slow way down the long street.

His call changed with each watch of the night.

At the first watch, he called: "The air is dry -- guard against fire."

At the second watch: "Bolt your doors and windows -- beware of thieves."

At the third watch: "No illness, no disaster -- all is well."

At the fourth watch: "The cold bites deep -- mind the slippery roads."

At the fifth watch: "The rooster crows at dawn -- early to bed, early to rise."

The city's people needed only to hear the watchman's words to know which watch of the night it was.

After the watchman passed, Chen Ji emerged from a narrow alley and hobbled back to the Taiping Clinic by a roundabout path.

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 it pile on his head and shoulders. He felt something loosen inside his chest, as though simply being back at the clinic was enough to set his heart at ease.

He didn't go inside to sleep. Instead, still carrying a faint warmth of wine, he went to the water barrel and stripped off his clothes.

Standing in the white snow, he poured ladle after ladle of ice-cold water over his head, washing away the blood, the dust, the smell of gunpowder, and the restless edges of his mind. He kept pouring until his skin was flushed red, then finally dried himself off.

He changed into a clean set of clothes in his room, went to the kitchen, and lit the stove. He tossed his old clothes into the fire.

He sat on the small bamboo stool in front of the stove and let the warm orange firelight wrap around him. Kindling crackled and popped in the flames. The sound was deeply peaceful.

Dark Cloud padded across the snow-dusted courtyard and into the kitchen. It leapt lightly onto Chen Ji's lap and curled up, warm and content. "So cold... I followed Gui and Wu Hongbiao to make sure they got out of the city safely before coming back."

"How did they get out?"

Dark Cloud answered, "Gui has someone in the Luocheng Garrison Command. They were let through quietly. On the road, they were still talking about how staying behind would be very dangerous for you. They asked whether you'd reconsider going to the Jing Dynasty. Seems like these two new friends really do care about you."

Chen Ji smiled and stroked Dark Cloud's head. "I don't seem to be very good at keeping friends. Every time I make one, I lose them before long."

Dark Cloud thought about it. "I'll stay with you."

Chen Ji was quiet for a moment. "Now only Consort Yun knows my identity as an agent. I need to think about how to keep that secret."

"Consort Yun," Dark Cloud bristled at the name. "She's the one who brings White Prajna to Evening Star Courtyard every day to beat me up. Horrible woman!"

Chen Ji laughed. "We'll find a way to get even someday. But she's different from Consort Jing. She's someone we can work with."

"Why?"

Chen Ji thought back. "Consort Jing and Consort Yun are two entirely different kinds of people. When you were with Consort Jing, the moment you lost a fight to White Prajna, you didn't even get fed. Chunrong would scold you on top of that. And look -- you've been gone from Evening Star Courtyard for ages now, and she hasn't once sent anyone to find you. That kind of person is dangerous, because the only one she cares about is herself."

"And Consort Yun?"

Chen Ji spoke slowly, piecing things together. "When White Prajna was hurt, she called in a physician. She leaves persimmons on the tree in her courtyard so the birds have something to eat in winter. She leaves room for others in everything she does. And then there's Princess Baili -- Consort Yun raised her. I think any mother who could raise a daughter like Baili can't be rotten to the core."

"That's true."

Sounds came from outside. Chen Ji used the iron poker to push the half-burned clothes deeper into the flames, then tucked his short blade into his sleeve and walked out of the kitchen to investigate.

He stopped short.

Baili was perched atop the courtyard wall, beaming down at him. "Good morning!"

She stood balanced on the Heir's shoulders, swaying slightly. Her hair had been neatly gathered again, and the little red carp pendant hanging from her collar button was vivid against the white snow.

Chen Ji hesitated. "Good morning."

Baili tilted her head curiously. "Why are you out in the courtyard? Did you not sleep at all last night?"

Chen Ji paused. "No, I went to bed early. Just woke up."

Baili narrowed her eyes. "Is that so?"

"It is."

Baili pressed on. "You didn't go out last night? Don't lie to me -- most people can't fool me."

From the other side of the wall, the Heir's voice interrupted. "Baili, could you please climb over before you start chatting? My shoulders are killing me! Little Monk, get over here and take a turn!"

"Your Highness, how could I make physical contact with a young woman?"

"When those girls in Red Cloth Lane were touching your face, you didn't seem to mind!"

Baili pushed off with both hands, vaulted onto the top of the wall, and descended the ladder rung by rung.

She didn't wait for the Heir to follow. Instead, she circled Chen Ji, looking him up and down, and even leaned in to sniff his clothes.

Chen Ji smiled helplessly. "What's gotten into you, Princess? Did something happen last night?"

Baili pursed her lips. "Fine, don't admit it."

Chen Ji shook his head. "Princess, I truly don't know 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 took a quick step and blocked the doorway. "Princess, the kitchen is smoky and sooty. You'll ruin your white clothes if you go in."

"I don't care. I'll just wash them."

"Soot stains don't come out easily."

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

Baili grinned, then suddenly bent at the waist and ducked under his arm, peering into the stove.

Inside the orange glow, Chen Ji's old clothes had mostly burned to ash, but a few charred scraps of fabric remained.

Baili straightened up. With a satisfied smile, she tapped him once on the collarbone with her finger. "Relax. My lips are sealed."

Chen Ji stared at her. "..."

Just then, someone knocked at the clinic door. The Heir, who had just made it over the wall, called out, "I'll get it."

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

Everyone blinked. Since Jinzhu's last visit, Liang Gou'er had vanished. Chen Ji had assumed the man was off carousing in Red Cloth Lane. Looking at him now, that clearly 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 Laojun Mountain to beg a medicine from Daoist Chief Cen Yunzi. It's called 'Soft Jade Salve,' refined by the masters of Laojun Mountain's Medicine Official Path. It can heal ordinary blade and sword wounds in three days. Works wonders."

The Heir and Baili's eyes lit up.

Chen Ji looked at the vial, then at Liang Gou'er. "This is for me?"

Liang Gou'er rolled his eyes. "Who else? I may not be able to help you fight the Eunuch Faction, but I'm not the kind of man who turns his back on a friend. Over three hundred li of mountain roads there and back -- damn near killed me!"

The Heir asked curiously, "You have connections with Daoist Chief Cen Yunzi on Laojun Mountain, Brother Gou'er? That medicine isn't easy to come by."

Liang Gou'er waved a hand. "My father has connections with him. I've got nothing."

Meanwhile, the little monk was slowly and clumsily climbing the courtyard wall.

He hadn't even made it to the ladder on the other side when the Heir bent down, packed a fat snowball, and hurled it with a laugh -- smacking the monk right on his bare scalp.

"Ow!" The little monk clung to the wall, stuck between going forward and falling back.

While Chen Ji's attention was on them, Baili scooped up a handful of snow and stuffed it down the back of his collar.

Watching Chen Ji clench his teeth against the cold, Baili doubled over laughing -- only for Chen Ji to grab a fistful of snow and shove it into her mouth.

Liang Mao'er, She Dakang, and Liu Quxing stumbled out of bed, wrapped in cotton jackets, and joined the fray. Before anyone knew it, the courtyard had erupted into an all-out snowball war.

Liang Gou'er stood gaping at this crowd of children, then grinned and bent down to pack a few snowballs of his own.

His first throw hit She Dakang square in the face with a muffled thwack. The snowball carried a wave of soft qi that sent She Dakang stumbling backward.

His second snowball caught Princess Baili on the shoulder and knocked her flat into the snow.

Everyone froze. Who had ever seen a snowball do that?!

In the swirling snow, the Heir tackled Liang Gou'er around the waist and roared, "Run for your lives!"

Above them, the clouds curled and unfurled, drifting away, then drifting back.

...

End of Volume One: First Encounters.