Aoyama

Chapter 413 Masks and Ancient Books

The underground mine tunnels in Changping County are extremely low, requiring one to bend over to pass through.

Carrying a perpetual lamp, Madam Lu walked out following the triangular mark.

At each intersection, Mr. Lu would erase the markings.

As she walked, she took the initiative to remind Chen Ji: "When you take the secret passage of the Three Mountains Association, be sure to erase the marks. Don't worry about future generations not being able to use it. The people in the Cangshen Temple know the route by heart. If the Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs does not find the Cangshen Temple, he will come down again to remark it after a while."

Chen Ji said in a low voice, "I don't have Lord Qi's seal."

Lu said casually, "Then knock the temple keeper unconscious, pick a spot in your mind and leave. You'll have at least a 30% chance of surviving. If you're ruthless, you can interrogate the temple keeper. If all else fails, kneel down and beg him. Some temple keepers are soft-hearted... so they won't lose face if they want to live."

Chen Ji was taken aback. He couldn't help but ask, "Who was this secret passage originally prepared for?"

Lu bent down and turned at a fork in the road: "Everyone has times when they fall on hard times. The officials on the surface like to use everyone's lives as pawns, but the pawns off the surface also have to find their own way to survive. Occasionally, they will help each other out. Changping County is the closest to the capital, so many people have traveled this road. Some went to the Jing Dynasty, and some went to the Western Regions, Annam, Siam, Java... If you have the opportunity to go to sea in the future, you will know that there is a wider world there."

Chen Ji realized that while the Ning Dynasty appeared to be dominated by the Six Ministries and Grand Secretaries, beneath the surface lay a complex and unknown network, much like the mine tunnels before him.

This certificate seems to be intentionally implying that he doesn't need to stay in Ningchao.

Even if you don't want to go to Jingchao, you can go overseas.

Chen Ji asked curiously, "By the way, Sister..."

Madam Lu said solemnly, "I am old enough to be your... elder, call me Aunt Ping."

Chen Ji said "Oh," and then asked, "Aunt Ping, have you ever been overseas?"

Without turning his head, Lu said, "I haven't been there, but some people from the Sanshan Society have. Both the Sanshan Society and Deng Huo want to expand their business overseas, but unfortunately the Chen and Xu families are very strict in their defenses, so they can only transport their goods to Annam and Siam, which are accessible by land."

At this moment, a glimmer of light appeared ahead. They had arrived. Chenji could already hear the sound of the Yongding River flowing.

As Lu emerged from the mine tunnel, Chen Ji discovered a poem carved by an 'ancestor' at the tunnel entrance: "The soldiers have long harbored lofty ambitions, the sea of ​​injustice churns and gnaws at their very bones, awaiting the cracking of their black armor to ignite the furnace fire, the snow-quenched green blade to illuminate the treacherous ministers."

Despite its mediocre writing style, it is an acrostic poem expressing the sentiment of "a grievance awaiting redress."

He looked around and saw several other poems, which he assumed were left by his predecessors.

Lu said coldly outside the mine tunnel, "No need to look. They're just useless poems by losers. They hope someone can see these poems and see their innocence, but even if someone puts these poems on the emperor's desk, the emperor in Renshou Palace won't even glance at them."

Chen Ji emerged from the tunnel and saw a long anchor nail driven into the bank, with a small wooden boat moored there.

There was a leather water bag in the small wooden boat. Su Zhou was thirsty, so he went over and pulled out the stopper of the water bag, but frowned: "Why is it wine?"

“Wine is for those who have left their hometowns. They can either drown their sorrows in wine or get drunk and jump into the river to end it all,” Madam Lu untied the hemp rope and pushed the small boat into the river: “Come on up.”

The three sat on the boat, and Lu rowed slowly upstream, the oars stirring the water and making a splashing sound in the quiet night.

For some reason, the sound of splashing water was surprisingly comforting.

……

……

A thick fog gradually rose over the water, and the small boat passed through it. It was as if Chen Ji had returned to a dark sea of ​​clouds, drifting aimlessly in a tiny boat.

With his back to Chen Ji, Lu asked, "Tell me, why did you arrest Liao Zhong?"

Chen Ji pondered, now that the other party had saved him, there was nothing he couldn't say: "The assassination attempt on the Crown Prince was a frame-up by the Crown Prince. The only way to break this deadlock is to capture Liao Zhong and bring him back to the capital for interrogation, so that I can clear my name."

Lady Lu hesitated: "Why did the Crown Prince frame you?"

Chen Ji carefully considered his words and said, "The Crown Prince instructed Liao Zhong to try to kill me at Xiangshan."

Madam Lu was even more puzzled: "As far as I know, you saved him in Guyuan, so why would he want to kill you?"

Chen Ji did not answer.

Since Zhang Xia was involved, he didn't want others to know too much. If the outside world knew that the Crown Prince was so insidious and vicious because of Zhang Xia, even if Zhang Xia was completely innocent, it would lead to unfounded speculation by idle people, which was not good.

Seeing that he didn't want to answer, Madam Lu didn't press the matter: "Liao Zhongxun made a move, and you didn't die, and even lost an arm of his? That's impossible."

Chen Ji explained, "Liao Zhong was chasing me, but unexpectedly someone summoned the Five Witches Army, which severed one of his arms."

Suddenly, Madam Lu said, "That's not right."

Chen Ji was taken aback: "Something's not right?"

Lu casually remarked, "The Five Wrathful Soldiers are ancient malevolent spirits, born from blood sacrifices. They only kill the one the blood sacrificer desires to kill. If they fail to kill that person, the Five Wrathful Soldiers will be scattered by dawn. Clearly, Liao Zhong is not worth others using such a weapon."

Chen Ji was taken aback.

Only one thought remained in his mind: "If this person is not killed, the Five Witches' army will be utterly destroyed."

Chen Ji recalled the centurion's resolute charge down Incense Burner Peak, and a sudden, dull ache appeared in his heart. It felt like an inflammation within his body, burning faintly.

After a long while, Chen Ji asked softly, "Where did Aunt Ping find out about this? Are you sure?"

Lu noticed the low spirits in his voice and explained softly, "In the eleventh year of the Jianing era, the secret agents of the Tomb Dogs dug up twelve ancient books in the western suburbs of Changsha Prefecture. These books contained the secrets of the Five Wraiths Army, including the mask on the White Dragon's face, which was also unearthed at that time."

Chen Ji was startled: "Bai Long's mask?"

Madam Lu hummed in agreement: "Once the mask is worn, it can alter one's voice and form. The white robe is impervious to water and fire, and invulnerable to swords and spears. This dragon-patterned mask was originally hidden in the Jiefan Tower. Later, when Bailong's face was disfigured during the suppression of a rebellion, Emperor Ning bestowed the mask upon him." Wait a minute, Chen Ji realized with a start.

Mr. Feng's face was unharmed, so the mask must have been given to the first White Dragon, and Mr. Feng was the second, and now he is the third.

White Dragon.

Who exactly is Bai Long?

But Chen Ji was even more puzzled: how did Aunt Ping know so many secrets of the Secret Service? Did Deng Huo also have spies in the Secret Service?
As if guessing his thoughts, Madam Lu explained, "After excavating the ancient ruins, Tomb Dog knew that these twelve volumes of ancient books were extraordinary, so he secretly copied them overnight. This was discovered by his subordinate Hai Dongqing, who wanted to report it to the Poison Prime Minister. Tomb Dog had no choice but to kill someone to silence them, but the murder was also discovered by Xuan She..."

Su Zhou said gloatingly, "That unlucky guy."

Lu ignored her and continued talking to herself: "The Secret Service is a place that breeds venomous insects. When the group of people who came out of Wunian Mountain saw that Mu Gou had given himself away, they chased after him like madmen in order to become one of the Twelve Zodiacs. Mu Gou fled with the twelve volumes of ancient books he had copied, and fled all the way to Jinling. He released the first three volumes of the general outline in the martial arts world of Jinling to distract the pursuers, while he continued to flee with the last nine volumes."

Lu continued, "Finally, he fled to Yangzhou, where he was intercepted and killed by an official from the Hidden Python Sect. After that, the whereabouts of the nine volumes of the ancient book were unknown. It is said that they contained the cultivation method of sacrificing the Five Wraiths soldiers with blood. The first three volumes of the general outline were lost in the martial arts world, one of which is in the hands of Deng Huo."

Chen Ji lowered his head and pondered. The last nine volumes of the ancient book fell into the hands of the official in charge of the Hidden Python Gate. Where did these ancient books go afterward?

As she pondered, Madam Lu asked, "Did the people who summoned the Five Witches' army intend to assassinate the Crown Prince... or to hunt you down?"

Chen Ji was silent for a moment: "Pursue me."

Lu asked in confusion, "Then how did you survive?"

Chen Ji calmly replied, "Luck."

Lu sneered, "It's alright if you don't want to say. I just want to remind you that if you find the person who cultivates the Hidden Python Path, you might be able to find the whereabouts of those nine ancient books and know who wanted to kill you."

"A Tibetan python?"

Su Zhou was puzzled: "How come you don't know anything? The method of tattooing pythons is not a secret in the martial arts world. They mix the blood from the tip of their tongue with the juice of four-leaf clover and gold-sprinkled ink, and then tattoo the pattern on their bodies and meditate on it every day. It is said that when people are meditating on dragons, tigers, Buddhas, or immortals, they are prone to losing their minds, so most people only dare to get python tattoos."

Lu also said, "Several people are practicing this path, and they will fight each other to the death if they see each other. I remember that there were two of them by Grand Secretary Liu's side, and they were killed by Tianma in Luocheng a while ago."

Chen Ji suddenly remembered that he had seen more than just those two officials from the Hidden Python Sect; there was another one!
……

……

The moon was high in the sky, and the small boat slowly passed through the white mist on the river.

The information Auntie gave him today was too much; Chen Ji might need a long time to process it. The three of them fell silent, lost in their own thoughts, with only the sound of Lu Shi rowing the oars remaining.

After a long pause, Madam Lu asked, "Why are you unwilling to leave Ningchao? Is it because of the Chen family's wealth and power?"

Chen Ji looked past Lu Shi's shoulder and into the thick fog ahead: "I still have things to do."

Lu said casually, "What could be so important that you'd risk your life to return to the capital? Is it worth it? If you really die in prison, wouldn't your family be heartbroken?"

Chen Ji looked up at the moon in the sky: "It's okay, I have no relatives."

Mrs. Lu was taken aback, then fell silent again.

At this moment, Chen Ji suddenly asked, "Why did Aunt Ping help me?"

Madam Lu said calmly, "Naturally, it's for your Chen family identity. If you can be adopted by the eldest branch of the Chen family and inherit the Chen family business, I need you to help me investigate something."

"What's the matter?"

"Find out who Changjing is, and whether the Chen family has any connection with him. If you can find out his identity, I will owe you a favor."

Chen Ji felt a chill run down his spine.

A giant whale?

Is it the same whale I know? If so, why would Aunt Ping seek out a military intelligence officer from the Jing Dynasty?

Chen Ji said calmly, "Alright, even if I don't inherit the Chen family business, I will go through fire and water for Aunt if she is in trouble."

Madam Lu smiled and said, "You have quite the nerve. You should focus on surviving first."

Chen Ji changed the subject: "Let me row for a while."

"No need, you all get some sleep. We need to reach the shore and continue our journey at dawn."

"Ah."

The small boat went upstream, and Su Zhou fell into a deep sleep on the boat.

She slowly woke up after an unknown amount of time: "Where are we... huh?"

Su Zhou sat up abruptly from the boat: "Where is everyone?"

She saw herself still on that small boat, slowly drifting downstream with the Yongding River. She could almost see the outline of the capital city, but Lu Shi and Chen Ji had disappeared without a trace!
The sun was high in the sky, blazing down on her, making it hard for her to open her eyes.

Su Zhou shaded her eyes with her palm and looked around: the oars on the small boat had been taken away, as if someone was afraid that she would row again to catch up.

Su Zhou sat in the boat and cursed, "Where is that damned woman? Where is she! It's bad enough that I ran into that brat Yao Man, how did I have to run into this damned woman too!"

(End of this chapter)