By The Talking Elbow:

On a dark night, amidst a torrential downpour, over ten spies silently pressed on, allowing the curtain of rain to drench their straw cloaks and bamboo hats.

Turning past the Anxi Street intersection, a secret agent led out over ten warhorses. The group swiftly mounted them and galloped towards the East Market.

Horse hooves pounded through the puddles, creating a rhythmic splashing sound, like waves blossoming across the ground.

Chen Ji, having narrowly escaped death, still felt his heart pound uncontrollably. He could only tightly grip the reins, trying to adjust to the galloping rhythm of the warhorse, barely managing to stay in the saddle.

The pain in his neck almost made him believe the Bureau Chief was still clutching his throat.

However, many questions lingered in Chen Ji’s mind…

Golden Pig, riding beside him, turned his head. “You seem different today, heavy with worry. What happened at Taiping Clinic?”

Chen Ji’s heart sank. This Golden Pig was skilled at reading people and would not miss the slightest clue.

He gathered all his composure and replied, “Reporting, Sir Golden Pig, my master gave me a lecture earlier, telling me not to wander off frequently and to focus on my studies.”

Golden Pig knew Chen Ji was hinting, “Don’t come looking for me if there’s nothing wrong,” but he feigned ignorance and smiled. “Ah, Imperial Physician Yao, I used to see him often in the capital years ago. When he was there, he cured the Prime Minister’s leg ailment. Everyone in our Secret Service treats him with great respect. It’s fine; you can openly tell the elder gentleman about your identity as a secret agent. He’ll understand.”

Seeing Chen Ji remain silent, he gently reassured him, “Are you worried that capturing the Jing Dynasty spies is too dangerous? Don’t worry. Our Secret Service has elite soldiers and powerful generals. White Dragon and Black Serpent have beaten the Jing Dynasty’s Military Intelligence Bureau Chief into hiding in the capital, while Corpse Dog and Treasure Monkey have them gasping for breath in Jinling. This empire still belongs to our Ning Dynasty; we won’t tolerate their insolence.”

Upon hearing this, Chen Ji suddenly fell into deep thought.

The Ning Dynasty’s Secret Service has the Twelve Zodiacs overseeing it, but does the Jing Dynasty’s Military Intelligence Bureau truly rely on just one Bureau Chief to painstakingly sustain it?

One must know that within the Jing Dynasty’s Military Intelligence Bureau system, the next rank above Bureau Chief is the Director. It seems incredibly understaffed for just two people to support such a large intelligence agency.

However, this very point sparked a doubt in Chen Ji’s mind: the Bureau Chief he saw today seemed different from the one he had encountered previously.

At Bailu Pavilion, the Bureau Chief had deliberately avoided the eyes of his victims when killing them, but tonight, the person had stared intently into Chen Ji’s eyes, seemingly enjoying watching the victim’s gaze slowly fade.

At Bailu Pavilion, the Bureau Chief preferred using a knife, even pulling out a dagger for minor figures like Chen Ji. But tonight, this Bureau Chief had not drawn a weapon.

At Bailu Pavilion, the Bureau Chief had mentioned his uncle multiple times, yet tonight, the person said nothing about him.

The more Chen Ji thought about it, the stranger it seemed. Was it the same person beneath the Bureau Chief’s mask? If it truly was the same person, the daily affairs of Bailu Pavilion would be busy enough; how could this Bureau Chief have the energy to manage the entire intelligence network of the Military Intelligence Bureau?

Chen Ji suddenly asked, “Sir Golden Pig, is the Director of the Military Intelligence Bureau hiding in our Ning Dynasty capital?”

Golden Pig nodded. “Yes, at least that’s what our intelligence suggests. But the spies we’ve caught have all been too low-ranking, so no one has seen his true face yet.”

Chen Ji then asked, “And in Jinling, who from the Military Intelligence Bureau is lurking there?”

“Naturally, it’s a Bureau Chief from the Military Intelligence Bureau, though we don’t know who has come to Luocheng this time.”

Chen Ji fell into contemplation.

Golden Pig looked at Chen Ji and asked with a smile, “Why are you asking about their Bureau Chief and Director? Do you want to catch them? Ambitious! If you truly manage to capture them, you might actually be promoted to the Twelve Zodiacs. Then, you won’t lack cultivation methods, and the Prime Minister will ensure your rapid ascent.”

“Oh? Cultivation methods?” Chen Ji asked, puzzled. “Does the Prime Minister have many cultivation methods?”

Golden Pig laughed heartily. “What kind of person is the Prime Minister? Ten years ago, when he pacified the martial world, he collected many valuable things. Otherwise, why do you think Cloud Ram and Bright Rabbit are so eager to earn merit? It’s because their cultivation techniques are stuck at the Xiantian realm, and to break through to the Seeker’s Path realm, they need to achieve great accomplishments.”

Chen Ji realized, *So that’s how it is. No wonder the Prime Minister can control all the Field Officers.*

He then asked, “Sir Golden Pig, since you’ve already caught the Jing Dynasty spy, that person should know who is to be apprehended and what they look like. Why do you still need me?”

Golden Pig chuckled. “I have my own arrangements.”

Chen Ji frowned, not understanding Golden Pig’s intentions.

Golden Pig was clearly different from Cloud Ram and Bright Rabbit. Although he always had a smile on his face, he was like a bottomless pit, unfathomable and unpredictable.

The group passed through the curtain of rain and finally arrived at Red Robe Alley.

Red Robe Alley was the liveliest place in Luocheng at night, with brothels, gambling houses, and eateries lining the streets. If any establishment wanted to make a name for itself in Luocheng, it had to open in Red Robe Alley.

At that moment, above the brightly lit, sprawling buildings, the rain curtain washed over the rooftops, then cascaded down from the eaves, forming sheets of water.

Countless women, dressed in vibrant clothing, waved and flirted with the patrons below. Even the heavy rain could not dampen the fervor of Red Robe Alley.

However, when the more than ten cavalrymen of the Secret Service arrived, all the women and patrons, seeing the grim straw cloaks and bamboo hats, fled into the buildings. Some even hastily extinguished the candles inside their rooms.

In just a few breaths, the presence of the Secret Service was like a bucket of ice water poured over the scene. The vast Red Robe Alley fell silent, completely hushed.

Golden Pig chuckled and looked at Chen Ji. “Do you see? What is the Secret Service? This is the Secret Service!”

The group dismounted swiftly in front of a gambling house named “Chaocang” and walked straight inside.

Inside, they found that the gambling house had already been taken over by dozens of secret agents. Both gamblers and “nangjia” were squatting by the side. “Nangjia” referred to the role of a dealer in this era, also known as a recorder.

Golden Pig lowered his voice and asked, “Where is the defecting spy?”

A secret agent bowed respectfully. “Sir, he’s upstairs. He’s willing to confess, but he insists on telling you in person and says he has conditions to discuss with you.”

“Lead the way!”

Chen Ji stood to the side, inexplicably shaken: *The Secret Service has already caught the defecting spy?!*

*If I just follow them upstairs, won’t I be recognized on the spot?*

*What should I do? Fight my way out?*

*With so many secret agents here, and given my newly appointed Field Officer status, I might handle one or two agents, but how could I possibly fight my way out?*

Golden Pig walked up the stairs, then turned back, looking at Chen Ji in confusion. “Hmm, why aren’t you coming up? There’s still a lot to do; don’t waste time.”

Chen Ji said, “Sir, I’d like to check downstairs to see if there are any other spies hidden among the gamblers.”

Golden Pig waved his hand with a smile. “No need, no need. Come up quickly.”

Chen Ji had no choice. He pulled his bamboo hat lower and reluctantly walked upstairs.

On the second floor, Golden Pig pushed open a nearby door. Inside, a person hung from the ceiling, their hands bound with hemp rope and suspended from a beam, with four secret agents standing guard, hands on their waist-knives.

Chen Ji cautiously looked up, only to be astonished to find that the person hanging was already bruised and bleeding from all seven orifices, undeniably dead.

*A dead man certainly couldn’t identify him!*

Chen Ji’s palms tingled with nervousness, but he feigned calmness and asked, “Sir Golden Pig, since this was a defecting spy, someone so crucial, why kill him?”

“This person isn’t the defecting spy, but rather the spy responsible for capturing the defecting spy… Quite a mouthful, isn’t it? Haha, this person bit a poison capsule and committed suicide after we caught him,” Golden Pig said with a laugh.

Chen Ji’s heart leaped again: *The defecting spy wasn’t dead!*

Golden Pig, circling the hanged spy, remarked with admiration, “Every Jing Dynasty spy is a fanatic. They are ruthless to others, but even more so to themselves. For years, it’s been difficult for our Secret Service to capture one alive. Do you know why?”

Chen Ji shook his head. “I don’t.”

“On one hand, they cleanse themselves quickly enough. As soon as someone is exposed, they immediately purge the entire intelligence line, from top to bottom, sacrificing pawns to save the king. Killing a few to protect the whole is a wise move, as the saying goes, ‘Righteousness doesn’t do business, and compassion doesn’t command armies.’ That Director of the Military Intelligence Bureau is a formidable figure.”

“On the other hand, they specifically choose spies with families to infiltrate. If a spy defects, their entire family in the Jing Dynasty will be arrested. The young men become slaves, the young women become prostitutes, and the elderly are directly executed.”

Chen Ji’s heart grew heavy. The conflict between the two dynasties’ spy agencies was indeed so brutal.

He asked, “Sir Golden Pig, what are your plans next? Do you need me to search for the defecting spy’s whereabouts?”

“No hurry, no hurry. We only know that the spy is injured. We could have tracked him by the scent of blood, but an unexpected heavy rain washed away all traces. He’s hard to find now, but it doesn’t matter…” Golden Pig looked at a nearby secret agent. “Since we arrived, has anyone gone to inform others?”

The secret agent whispered, “It was the very spy you suspected, sir. He quietly went to the latrine.”

“Let him go. We’ll wait here for the Jing Dynasty spies to come and silence him!”

Chen Ji suddenly understood. Golden Pig hadn’t caught the defecting spy tonight, nor did he intend to.

He had sealed off the entire gambling house and the news, directly announcing to the outside that he had captured the defecting spy, baiting the Military Intelligence Bureau Chief to come and kill him!

Golden Pig was gambling that the Jing Dynasty’s Military Intelligence Bureau hadn’t caught the defecting spy either, and would therefore have to come here to silence him… What incredible adaptability!

This kind of person was far more difficult to deal with than Cloud Ram and Bright Rabbit!

Chen Ji was silent for a moment. “Sir Golden Pig, why are you telling me all this?”

Golden Pig smiled and took his hands. “You don’t know, but I’m different from Bright Rabbit and Cloud Ram. They like to snatch credit, while I like to give it!”

“Oh?” Chen Ji was puzzled.

Golden Pig patted the back of his hand. “Those two brutes are solely focused on cultivation, wanting to exchange merit for higher cultivation paths. But I have no such ambition, nor do I seek immortality. It’s already difficult enough to reach the position of the Twelve Zodiacs. Going further would likely mean castrating myself to enter the palace and replace Sir Wu Xiu. I don’t care about being among the top three or the lower nine; the lower nine is perfectly fine. If the sky falls, the taller people will hold it up!”

Chen Ji was speechless. Sir Golden Pig certainly understood the path of moderation.

Golden Pig continued, “I like to make friends. When the Prime Minister personally decreed your entry into the Secret Service, I knew you had caught his eye. The last person to receive such special approval to join the Secret Service was Pegasus…”

“Oh?”

Golden Pig smiled. “Do you know whose subordinate Pegasus was when he first became a secret agent? Mine. Back then, I helped him earn merit step by step, and practically pushed him into the position of Pegasus. Now that he’s among the top three, he naturally remembers my kindness. Don’t worry, I’m not afraid of your future status surpassing mine. The higher your position, the better… Just don’t forget me.”

“So, tonight, sir, you called me here to…”

“If we catch the Jing Dynasty spy tonight, the credit will be half yours, half mine.”

Today’s Chapter

Novel Information:
“[Novel Title]” is a moving and captivating masterpiece by the author, The Talking Elbow.