The morning sun was bright. Chen Ji asked Liang Mao’er and She Dengke to carry him and his bamboo chair to the main hall of the medical clinic.

Old Man Yao was diagnosing patients, while She Dengke and Liang Mao’er were dispensing medicine. Chen Ji watched them, as if he wanted to imprint the sunlight streaming in from outside and the lively atmosphere of Anxi Street into his mind.

If he went to Jing Dynasty, it would be difficult to return before his Sword Seed and Mountain Lord paths entered the Seeking Dao realm.

Liu Quxing returned to the clinic, beaming, carrying pork, lamb, fish, a basket of vegetables, and a jar of osmanthus rice wine from Xue’s Old Tavern.

Old Man Yao was sitting behind the counter taking a pulse. Seeing Liu Quxing enter with a large haul, he wondered, “Did you sell your brain? How are you suddenly so rich?”

Liu Quxing replied, “Master, what are you saying? Chen Ji gave me money to buy these. He said he wants to cook a meal for everyone at noon.”

Old Man Yao paused, then turned to look at Chen Ji with a puzzled expression.

Liu Quxing brought the items to Chen Ji and rattled off the prices like pouring beans from a bamboo tube: “Today, pork is forty-one wen per jin, lamb is thirty-four wen per jin, and the fish is fifty-two wen each.”

Then, he pulled a string of copper coins from his sleeve. “This is your change. I didn’t pocket a single wen.”

Chen Ji smiled and took the coins. “Thank you, Senior Brother, for helping me with the shopping.”

Liu Quxing chuckled, “I’ll take these to the kitchen and start preparing the vegetables.”

She Dengke asked curiously, “Chen Ji, why the sudden desire to treat everyone to a meal? Is there something good happening?”

“Nothing special,” Chen Ji replied with a smile, “Everyone has been working hard taking care of me these past few days while I’ve been injured. You and Senior Brother Liu Quxing helped me change bandages, Brother Liang Mao’er carried me around, and Master diagnosed and prescribed medicine for me. It’s only right that I treat everyone to a meal.”

In truth, if circumstances allowed, Chen Ji would have even wanted to buy Liu Quxing a Li Ji’s Cherry Corrugated Hat, She Dengke a silk outfit, Liang Mao’er a box of pastries from Zhengxinzhai, and Old Man Yao a new bamboo chair.

But he was leaving tomorrow evening for the distant Jing Dynasty, and there wasn’t enough time.

Chen Ji suddenly said, “Oh, some of the tiles on our clinic’s roof have been pushed open by grass. It seems bird droppings fell on the roof, and undigested grass seeds in the droppings sprouted willow saplings.”

“Willow saplings are very harmful to the roof. If they aren’t pulled out promptly, the roof might leak when it rains.”

“Our clinic’s windows also need to be re-papered, otherwise, they’ll surely let in drafts during winter.”

“And the senior brothers’ cotton quilts should be re-fluffed, or they won’t be warm enough.”

Old Man Yao looked at him suspiciously. “Why are you suddenly rambling on like you’re making final arrangements, kid? Don’t worry, your minor injuries aren’t fatal.”

Chen Ji smiled and said no more, fearing that further words might reveal his true intentions.

At that moment, Old Man Yao picked up a prescription. “Who will go to Guangle Street and deliver these two doses of medicine to Steward Wang?”

She Dengke raised his hand. “Master, I’ll go. Guangle Street is a bit far, and I have good legs.”

“Alright, then you go.”

Chen Ji slowly got up, supporting himself on the bamboo chair’s armrest. He rolled up his sleeves to his forearms and slowly moved to the back kitchen to prepare vegetables with Liu Quxing.

Liu Quxing laughed cheerfully, “It’s natural for fellow disciples to look after each other, and it’s not worth you spending so much. By the way, where did you get all this money? Did your family give it to you?”

“The Commandery Princess gave it to me.”

Liu Quxing smacked his lips. “The Commandery Princess is so kind, almost unlike official nobility.”

“What are official nobles supposed to be like?” Chen Ji asked.

“They should be haughty, looking at you as if you’re an ant.” Liu Quxing reminisced, “Back then, my parents and I attended Old Master Liu’s birthday banquet. Officials and nobles gathered that day, some even traveling from the capital, Jinling, and Hudi. You wouldn’t believe the scene; carriages were lined up for miles outside the Liu family manor.”

Liu Quxing continued, “My father was just a minor official in Mengjin County, where he was somewhat respected. But at the Liu family manor, no one even gave him a proper look. The Liu family seated us at the servants’ table. Being seated with the servants was one thing, but even the servants of those high officials didn’t look at us properly. You realize then that people truly are divided into different social strata.”

“Didn’t you ever consider taking the imperial examinations? You study medicine so diligently; there’s no reason you couldn’t master the classics.”

Liu Quxing chuckled, “The path of the imperial examination is not for families of humble origins. The teachers in those academies also judge people based on their social standing. If you only pay the tuition fees, you’ll only learn the most superficial knowledge in the academy. But if you frequently send him rice, flour, and money, he’ll give you private lessons at his home and teach you the real stuff!”

Chen Ji fell silent.

Liu Quxing shook his head with a laugh. “Instead of giving dozens of taels of silver to those people, I’d rather stick with Master and become an imperial physician. Then, if I ever meet those academy teachers again, I’ll deliberately stick them with a few extra needles when I give them acupuncture!”

Chen Ji found this amusing.

The reason he felt some reluctance to leave this place might have been precisely because of people like Liu Quxing, who was both common and endearing.

Chen Ji looked at Liu Quxing, who was still preparing vegetables, and said, “Senior Brother Liu, you will definitely become a good imperial physician, and your life will be prosperous.”

“I’ll take your good wishes,” Liu Quxing asked, “What dishes are you planning to make for lunch?”

“Pork stew with glass noodles, steamed perch, lamb with scallions, braised eggplant, and a pot of white rice, how does that sound?”

Liu Quxing salivated. “It sounds delicious!”

Just then, She Dengke ran back into the clinic from outside, shouting, “Master, Master, quick, help me! A passing thief slashed my arm with a blade!”

Everyone looked and saw that She Dengke’s sleeve had been cut open by a sharp object, from his wrist all the way to his elbow. His clothes were torn, and blood was gushing out.

Old Man Yao tore open the cut in She Dengke’s clothes, saw the gaping wound, and his face immediately darkened. “What kind of thief is so vicious? Steal if you must steal, but why wound someone like this!”

As he spoke, a carriage slowly stopped at the entrance. Manager Yuan dismounted, smiling, and entered the clinic carrying two bags of pastries.

Manager Yuan was dressed in a vibrant red satin outfit with a golden crown on his head, exuding an air of wealth.

He placed the pastries on the counter and cupped his hands with a smile. “Imperial Physician Yao, I’ve come to visit Chen Ji again. Is he feeling better today?”

Imperial Physician Yao gave him a cold, indifferent glance. “Chen Ji is in the courtyard. Go see for yourself.”

Manager Yuan went directly to the backyard, lifted his robes, and sat on the stool opposite Chen Ji.

Chen Ji peeled the outer layers of a scallion and calmly asked, “She Dengke’s injury, was that your doing?”

Manager Yuan smiled. “I told you to contact the person at the Prince’s Manor, but yesterday you didn’t even leave the house, nor did you relay any message to me. I said I’d only give you one day. Since you want to test my patience, I must let you know the consequences.”

Chen Ji dropped the scallion he was holding and looked directly into Manager Yuan’s eyes. “What if I still refuse to help you make contact?”

Manager Yuan picked up the scallion Chen Ji had dropped, peeled it layer by layer down to its innermost core, then gently snapped it. “Starting today, for every day you fail to make contact, one person at this Taiping Medical Clinic will die. If everyone dies and you still haven’t made contact, then you will die too.”

Chen Ji was speechless.

Now, Liang Gou’er was unwilling to oppose the Secret Plot Bureau, and although Liang Mao’er had natural superhuman strength, he couldn’t guard against espionage and assassination.

If Manager Yuan was truly determined to force him and cause one death a day at the Taiping Medical Clinic, it was definitely not an empty threat.

Moreover, if the other party detected any sign of him betraying them and informing the Secret Intelligence Agency, the three individuals monitoring the Taiping Medical Clinic would immediately kill everyone to silence them.

Chen Ji said in a grave voice, “I told you I’m severely injured and cannot move easily. How am I supposed to contact the person at the Prince’s Manor?”

Manager Yuan lowered his voice and spoke seriously, “Do you know how many of our Jing Dynasty border troops have died because of Ning Dynasty firearms? How many intelligence agents from our Military Intelligence Department have sacrificed themselves, one after another, to obtain these blueprints and formulas? We are so close to the final step; how can we let one person like you delay us?”

A sudden realization dawned on Chen Ji. That rainy night, Manager Yuan had visited the clinic, only to be discovered by Golden Pig.

The other party could have killed him then. The reason they didn’t was not out of mercy, but because they feared his death would delay the second delivery of goods! Once all the goods were delivered, Manager Yuan would certainly kill him.

Manager Yuan stared at Chen Ji and threw the scallion, now broken into two pieces, onto the ground. “I’ve said everything that needs to be said. The sooner we get this batch of goods, the sooner our Jing Dynasty can develop these Ning Dynasty firearms. Our border troops are dying heroically at the frontier; you and I in Ning Dynasty should also be prepared to sacrifice our lives.”

Chen Ji was silent for a moment before replying, “Understood. I will contact the important person at the Prince’s Manor as soon as possible and get the delivery time and location for the second batch of goods before tomorrow midnight.”

Manager Yuan smiled with satisfaction. He stood up and patted Chen Ji’s shoulder. “That’s more like it. Oh, and I brought you some pastries from Zhengxinzhai. They’re on the counter, don’t forget to eat them. Once this is done, I will promote you to ‘Dove’ rank. Our dynasty never mistreats those who render meritorious service.”

With that, he swaggered out of the clinic, leaving Chen Ji sitting alone in the courtyard, lost in endless silence.

Now, it was no longer a question of when or where to deliver the goods. Once he left, Manager Yuan would certainly not spare the people around him.

Manager Yuan wouldn’t let them go, nor would Golden Pig. The intelligence agencies of the two dynasties had been fighting for countless years and had long since become stone-hearted, caring nothing for the lives of ordinary people.

Human lives were as worthless as weeds in their eyes.

So, should he go or not?

If he didn’t go, everyone would die together.

Chen Ji stood up and methodically prepared the meal. When the dishes were served, everyone praised them, and even the newly injured She Dengke, with his wound bandaged, ate three bowls of white rice.

Amidst the laughter and cheerful chatter, only Chen Ji remained quiet.

This meal shouldn’t have been eaten this way.

As they ate, Chen Ji suddenly probed, “Master, She Dengke was slashed by a thief. Are we just going to let it go?”

Old Man Yao glanced at him. “Those street thieves are organized. If you retaliate against one, a whole group will come after you. Will you even be able to live then?”

“Oh, I see.”

Old Man Yao added meaningfully, “Go where you need to go, do what you need to do. Don’t let others affect you.”

Chen Ji froze for a moment. He suddenly wondered if his master had guessed something.

What did his words mean? Was he telling him to leave quickly?

She Dengke cheerfully said, “Chen Ji, don’t worry about this anymore. Don’t hurt yourself over my situation.”

After the meal, Chen Ji lay back down in his bamboo chair. He slowly closed his eyes, returning to the ancient battlefield, and picked up the long saber named ‘Whale’.

That night, Chen Ji slowly opened his eyes and came to the courtyard.

Liang Gou’er still hadn’t returned, nor had the Crown Prince, the Commandery Princess, or the young monk climbed over the wall to use the path. There wasn’t even a proper farewell.

Guided by Uncle Crow, Chen Ji climbed into the backyard of the fabric shop. He saw Wu Hongbiao, who had found a broom and a wooden bucket from somewhere, washing and sweeping the ground in the courtyard.

He asked curiously, “With all your injuries, why are you still sweeping the ground in the middle of the night?”

Wu Hongbiao smiled and said, “There are some rat bones and bloodstains in the courtyard. If someone comes to view the shop and gets startled, it might cause unnecessary trouble for the owner.”

“You seem to be in good spirits?” Chen Ji asked.

Wu Hongbiao smiled and said, “I have good news for you. I met with the Cao Supervisor today, and it turns out he doesn’t want to kill us. Also, he’s arranged for others to send us away. We can return to Jing Dynasty tomorrow evening!”

Chen Ji grunted. “Is it reliable? Is he trying to trick us outside to kill us?”

Wu Hongbiao leaned on his broom and thought for a moment. “It should be reliable. When he pulled me into the alley today, I was prepared to die, but he didn’t make a move. If he wanted to kill us, he wouldn’t need to go through all this trouble.”

As he spoke, Chen Ji leaned against the doorframe, slowly sat on the threshold, and quietly asked, “Do you miss your hometown?”

Wu Hongbiao stood in the courtyard, leaning on his broom. He looked at the moon in the sky and said longingly, “Yes, I miss it. I was taken to a harsh training camp at twelve and never had the chance to return home or see my parents again. This time, when I go back, I should have a chance to visit home. When I was a child in the village, in autumn, everyone would pick pears from the fruit trees. The good ones were sold in the city, and the less palatable ones were saved to make frozen pears. The variety we used for frozen pears was sour and astringent; my grandma called them ‘dog-chokers.’ But strangely, they tasted delicious once they were frozen outside. Isn’t that odd? In winter, the adults would carry hard bows and four or five hunting dogs to the mountains to hunt bears. We would wait eagerly at home for them to drag the bears back. Grandma would skin the bear and give us the fat to fry into cracklings. Many people say they smell fishy, but I thought they were delicious. When we return to Jing Dynasty, I’ll definitely take you to my hometown to see it. I’ll treat you to frozen pears and cracklings then. We can even go to the mountains and hunt bears.”

Chen Ji listened in silence. Perhaps Wu Hongbiao had endured too much hardship lately, making him more emotional, or perhaps he had been longing for his northern homeland since coming to Ning Dynasty and was now finally returning, which explained his unusual loquaciousness tonight.

Chen Ji had also recently overheard snippets from traveling merchants, knowing that Jing Dynasty seemed to have ten prefectures, and Wu Hongbiao’s hometown was likely in the northeasternmost prefecture, “Shangjing Dao.”

Chen Ji sat on the threshold, gazing at the moon with Wu Hongbiao. “Brother Biaozi, you were severely injured then, why did you still come to warn me? What if I had betrayed you?”

Wu Hongbiao smiled and said, “Actually, I was a little scared on the way here too, wondering what if you really did betray me. But if I hadn’t come, I’m afraid I would have regretted it.”

After he finished speaking, one sitting and one standing, they both fell silent.

Although their circumstances differed, both had longed to leave this troubled place and no longer live in constant fear. Yet, now that they were truly about to depart, their feelings were complex.

Chen Ji suddenly said, “Brother Biaozi, you go back. I’m not leaving.”

“Huh?” Wu Hongbiao was stunned. “You’re not leaving? You’ll die if you stay in Luocheng!”

Chen Ji smiled. “Have you forgotten? My father is the Prefectural Magistrate of Luocheng. I have plenty of ways.”

“Then I’ll stay too!” Wu Hongbiao stated firmly.

Chen Ji looked at Wu Hongbiao. “What about your sister?” Wu Hongbiao froze.

Just now, Chen Ji had genuinely wanted to keep Wu Hongbiao to help him kill Manager Yuan, but he couldn’t do that.

He smiled and said, “Don’t worry, go back. Tomorrow, I’ll move back to my home in the Chen Residence in Luocheng. I don’t believe Manager Yuan would dare to infiltrate the Prefectural Magistrate’s home to kill me. Do you think he would dare?”

Wu Hongbiao scratched his head. “You’re right. If he dared to assassinate someone at the Prefectural Magistrate’s house, not only Luocheng but the entire Ning Dynasty wouldn’t tolerate him… So, you’re really not leaving?”

“Yes, I’m staying to continue serving Jing Dynasty!” Chen Ji stood up and brushed the dust from his pants. “I might not be able to see you off tomorrow. This time, go back to Jing Dynasty and live a good life. Don’t return to Ning Dynasty again.”

Wu Hongbiao laughed heartily. “I don’t want to come back and live in constant fear either. I’ll wait for you in Jing Dynasty.”

As he spoke, he unexpectedly spread his arms wide.

Chen Ji hesitated for a moment, then finally opened his arms too. He hugged Wu Hongbiao and climbed over the wall, leaving the fabric shop.

As he climbed out, Black Cloud was crouching on the neighboring courtyard wall. It asked curiously, “Are we really not leaving?”

Chen Ji smiled and said, “No, we’re not leaving. I’m afraid I would regret it. Go beat up White Prajna for me. I have something to say to its master.”