Aoyama

Chapter 481 Going Home
The night was still deep, and the sky was dark.

In the dark river, Zhang Xia clung to a piece of driftwood and drifted with the current.

With only the sound of waves in her ears, Zhang Xia looked down at Chen Ji's closed-eye profile and tightened her grip on his arm, as if afraid the river would sweep him away.

From Luoyang to Guyuan, from Guyuan to the capital, and from the capital to Chongli Pass, Chenji has not rested for far too long.

For some reason, she always felt that being injured was a rare respite for Chen Ji. Only in this moment could the other person stop, instead of being swept forward by the clamorous wind.

At this point, the river channel becomes increasingly narrow, and the water drops dramatically as it flows through the mountains, sometimes deep and sometimes shallow.

Zhang Xia's hands were grabbed, and the undercurrent in the Zhenggou River pulled her downwards. A single piece of driftwood could not support the two of them and was also swept deep into the river.

She sank into the river, but struggled to lift Chen Ji to the surface, preventing the water from submerging his mouth and nose.

The undercurrent was more turbulent than she had imagined, swirling and turning, seemingly intent on taking her somewhere. Even a Primordial Path Master would have to exert all their strength with their legs to tear through it.

Zhang Xia was in the river, holding her breath and supporting Chen Ji until, after several dozen breaths, she finally managed to surface for air by clinging to a piece of driftwood.

But when they looked up, they saw several rocks blocking the narrow river channel, and there was no time to avoid them.

She turned around abruptly, pulled Chen Ji into a tight embrace, and let her back hit the rocks.

The violent impact made her throat taste the metallic sweetness of blood, and her hand involuntarily loosened. Chen Ji drifted downstream alone, following the current and bypassing the reef.

Ignoring the throbbing pain in his lungs, Zhang Xia abandoned the driftwood and swam desperately toward the ruins.

Ahead lay a wide waterfall. She finally managed to grab Chen Ji's belt before the waterfall, pulling him back into her arms. The two of them fell together into the deep pool below the waterfall.

The two of them disappeared into the river.

After an unknown amount of time, Zhang Xia, carrying Chen Ji on his back, stepped onto the bank of the deep pool, walking step by step along the pebbles on the riverbank.

She placed Chen Ji on the grass, hesitated for a moment, and finally reached out to peel off Chen Ji's outer garment to reveal his inner garment. Then she tore off the inner garment, revealing the wounds on Chen Ji's body.

The wound on Chen Ji's arm from the blade's grazor had stopped bleeding, but the cut extending from his shoulder blade to his waist was shocking.

The wound was too deep, and Jiang Liuxian showed no mercy, each strike aimed at killing the person.

It was at this moment that Zhang Xia saw the three markings between Chen Ji's ribs... This was the first time she had ever seen markings.

A birthmark? It doesn't seem like it.

Is it from the sword-wielding path? There is no record of it in any books.

Zhang Xia vaguely felt that this might be Chen Ji's biggest secret, and it was something that absolutely could not be seen by anyone else.

She helped Chen Ji sit up, tore off a piece of her own clothing, and shredded the gray cloth into long strips, wrapping them around Chen Ji's wounds.

After doing all this, she looked at the traces of the past before her.

She had never seen Chen Ji so quiet and powerless, but hearing that his breathing was still relatively even, she felt relieved.

Zhang Xia looked back to the north. They should be safe now, but they couldn't just go back like this.

Many people will know today that the successor of the Sword Seed Sect was severely injured by Jiang Liuxian. If Chen Ji were to return to the pass with such injuries, he would surely be suspected.

Once the secrets of the sword technique can no longer be concealed, Jing Chao will stop at nothing to kill Chen Ji.

The waterfall was marked on the map of Chongli Pass, so she knew that she was only a few miles away from Chongli Pass.

Zhang Xia said softly, "Let's go, I'll take you home."

She carried Chen Ji on her back and walked south step by step, away from the sounds of shouting and the river, where the mountains and forests seemed exceptionally tranquil.

The moonlight shone down from above, making the two of them appear especially lonely in the mountains of Malaysia.

Zhang Xia avoided the official road and walked through the mountains. After about an hour, he finally saw the outline of Chongli Pass. Dozens of huge braziers were burning on Chongli Pass. Behind the braziers, border soldiers were turning bronze mirrors that were taller than a person. The bronze mirrors projected a beam of light beyond the pass, sweeping across the mountains and forests and illuminating every dark corner within a two-mile radius.

She did not approach rashly again.

Chongli Pass can only open at dawn. Even if you walk to the city walls now, you can't get in. You have to wait another hour.

Just then, she heard Xiaoman's voice: "Don't stop me, I'm going back to find Young Master and Sister Xia. You two just wait here for Chongli Pass to open, there won't be any danger."

The young monk quickly dissuaded him, saying, "Benefactor Xiaoman, it's very dangerous in the mountains right now. Don't go and cause trouble."

Xiaoman said unhappily, "Young Master promised to give me the Gufulou outside Donghuamen, the Yujingyuan in the Eight Great Hutongs, Chen's Grain and Oil Shop, the Silk Shop outside the Bell and Drum Tower, and 320 mu of fertile land in Changping. These haven't been officially registered yet. If something happens to him here, wouldn't it all benefit the Chen family?"

Zhang Xia called out, "Xiaoman!"

Xiaoman exclaimed from across the mountainside, "Did I hear that right? I think I heard Sister Xia calling me. Could it be her spirit coming to find us?"

Princess Liyang said helplessly, "Lord Xiaoman, we heard it too."

Xiaoman hurriedly circled around the corner of the mountain and came to Zhang Xia's side. Looking at Zhang Xia's wet hair, disheveled face, and the marks of unconsciousness on Zhang Xia's back, she asked anxiously, "What happened to you? Who injured the young master like this?"

Zhang Xia glanced at Princess Liyang: "It's nothing, we just fell down the mountain." Princess Liyang smiled and said: "Miss Zhang, you wouldn't get injured like this from falling down the mountain."

Zhang Xia said expressionlessly, "A smart person should play dumb at this time."

Princess Liyang shook her head: "A smart person should be honest at this time. I don't want to be silenced. There are only two people within two hundred miles who could have injured Chen Ji like this: one is Yuan Heng Li Zhen, and the other is Jiang Liu Xian, Lu Jin's close attendant. But Miss Zhang doesn't need to hide the fact that these two injured Chen Ji, unless Chen Ji has a big secret."

Zhang Xia decided to kill him.

What happened to Chen Ji cannot be kept from Princess Liyang; killing him is the best option.

However, Chen Ji needs Princess Li Yang to return to the capital alive. If he kills her, all of Chen Ji's previous efforts will be in vain.

Princess Liyang continued with a smile, "Those with great secrets have great abilities. I still need to rely on you all, so the more secrets you all have, the better... Why don't you keep me around? If one day you need to leave Ning Dynasty, I can be a way out for you in Jing Dynasty. Although I am ruthless in my actions, I always repay kindness and avenge wrongs. I truly want to become friends with you all."

Zhang Xia ignored her and looked at the little monk instead.

She didn't want to pressure the young monk, but the matter was of great importance and she couldn't just listen to Princess Liyang's side of the story.

The young monk hesitated for a moment, then nodded gently: Princess Liyang was not lying.

Zhang Xia pondered for a long time before looking at Princess Li Yang: "Whether you live or die, we'll decide after Chen Ji wakes up."

Princess Liyang calmly cupped her hands and said, "I know that Young Master Chen will make the right decision. Once my brother ascends the throne, you will all be the best friends of the Jing Dynasty."

Zhang Xia pondered for a moment: Chen Ji has many flaws now, his tattered clothes, severe injuries, and pale face, each of which could be noticed by someone with a discerning eye.

She said solemnly to the young monk, "Use your connections to heal Chen Ji's wounds. No matter what method you use, you must ensure that he doesn't show any signs of injury on his face."

The young monk said with difficulty, "This humble monk's spiritual cultivation is low..."

Xiaoman gathered all her strength and pinched his waist: "It's finally starting to be somewhat useful, think it over before you speak."

The young monk grinned and changed his words: "This humble monk will do his best."

Zhang Xia handed Chen Ji to Xiao Man: "You wait here, I'm going to Chongli Pass. Remember, you must not mention Chen Ji's injury to anyone."

After saying that, Zhang Xia turned and hurried towards Chongli Pass.

Chen Ji hasn't woken up yet, but that's okay. She will make up for all the oversights before he wakes up.

When Zhang Xia arrived at Chongli Pass, the gate was still closed.

She stood silently waiting below the pass. When the morning bell rang in the city and the winch sounded on the gate tower, several border soldiers pushed the huge winch to lift the heavy gate of Ping'an Gate.

She stood outside the city, pressed her thumb and forefinger to her tongue, and whistled loudly.

The next moment, the heavy sound of horses' hooves echoed from inside Chongli Pass.

The border soldiers waiting to leave the pass through Ping'an Gate looked back and saw a magnificent chestnut horse galloping from the south, its breath white as arrows, and its hooves thundering on the stone slabs.

The border soldiers quickly made way for the chestnut horse, allowing it to pass through the gap in the newly opened Ping'an Gate.

As Zaozao passed by Zhang Xia, Zhang Xia leaped up and landed on her horse. She bent down, touched Zaozao's neck, and whispered, "Good Zaozao."

Zaozao responded with a snort.

Zhang Xia felt around in the backpack next to the saddle and was relieved to find clean clothes with signs of wear inside.

When she returned to the mountain valley, Chen Ji was still asleep.

The young monk knelt beside Chen Ji, chanting the Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva Sutra over and over again, his eyes glancing at Xiao Man from time to time, his forehead covered in sweat.

Zhang Xia looked Chen Ji over and saw that the fine scars on Chen Ji's arm had scabbed over, and as the little monk chanted sutras, they fell off one by one, and even the scars disappeared.

However, Chen Ji's shoulder and back injuries were too severe to be healed by the little monk reciting scriptures a few times.

She tossed the clothes from her backpack to the young monk: "Help Chen Ji change into these."

The little monk hurriedly took the clothes, and only after Zhang Xia led Xiaoman and Princess Liyang away did he clumsily help Chen Ji change his clothes.

But as soon as he lifted Chen Ji's clothes, Chen Ji grabbed his wrist.

The little monk looked at Chen Ji's face with surprise, only to see Chen Ji looking at him wearily: "I can do it myself."

In the woods, Zhang Xia heard Chen Ji's voice and immediately turned around to look. However, she stopped halfway through and twisted Xiao Man's head back as she was about to peek out.

Chen Ji struggled to his feet, the movement tearing open his wounds and causing him to gasp in pain. The 714 embers within his body flickered like candles in the wind, threatening to go out at any moment.

Should I use markings?
After much deliberation, Chen Ji decided to leave it at that for the time being.

This is his biggest trump card, but it's not yet at a point where he absolutely has to use it.

(End of this chapter)