CHAPTER 56: 53, GIVE CREDIT

In the torrential rain of the pitch-black night, over ten Jing Dynasty spies silently hastened on their way, letting the rain drench their straw raincoats and bamboo hats.

Turning at the Anxi Street intersection, a Ning Dynasty spy led out over ten warhorses, and everyone mounted and galloped toward the East Market.

The horses’ hooves made a clacking sound against the pooled water, like waves blossoming on the ground.

Chen Ji, having just survived a calamity, felt his heart still palpitating uncontrollably. He could only tightly grip the reins to stay in sync with the rhythm of the galloping horse, managing to avoid falling off.

The pain around his neck almost made him believe that the Si Cao was still choking him.

Still, Chen Ji had many questions in his heart...

Lord Jin Zhu, riding on a horse, turned to look at him, "You seem different today, weighed down by heavy thoughts. What’s the matter, something happened at Taiping Medical Hall?"

Chen Ji felt a sinking feeling. Lord Jin Zhu was skilled at reading people, and would not overlook the slightest clue.

He summoned all of his energy to respond, "Reporting to Lord Jin Zhu, I was reprimanded by my master later in the day. He instructed me not to run about outside often, and to focus on my studies."

Lord Jin Zhu knew that Chen Ji was suggesting ’do not come looking for me for no reason,’ but he pretended not to know and smiled, "Doctor Yao... I used to see him often in the Imperial Capital years ago. Back when he was in the Imperial Capital, he cured the Prime Minister’s leg ailment, and everyone in our Secret Spy Department was very courteous to him. That’s not a problem, you can frankly reveal your spy identity to the old gentleman, he will understand."

Seeing Chen Ji silent, he spoke soothingly, "Are you worried that capturing Jing Dynasty spies is too dangerous? Rest assured, our Military Intelligence Department is full of elite soldiers. Bai Long and Xuan Snake have beaten the Chief of the Jing Dynasty Military Intelligence Department in the Imperial Capital into hiding, while Corpse Dog and Treasure Monkey have them gasping for air in Jinling. This land is still our Ning Dynasty’s territory; they can’t afford to be reckless."

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

The Ning Dynasty Secret Spy Department had the Twelve Signs at its helm. Could it be that the Jing Dynasty Military Intelligence Department was only supported by a Si Cao?

Knowing that within the Jing Dynasty Military Intelligence Department’s hierarchy, above Si Cao there is only the Division Head. With just these two individuals sustaining the whole vast department, it looked extremely understaffed.

However, the more Chen Ji thought about it, the more doubtful he became: the Si Cao he saw today seemed different from the one he had met before.

At Bailu Pavilion, that Si Cao, when killing someone, deliberately avoided the eyes of the deceased. But tonight, the person stared fixedly into his eyes as if they enjoyed watching the light fade from the dying man’s gaze.

At Bailu Pavilion, that Si Cao preferred to use a knife, he always drew a short knife even when confronting him, a minor character. Tonight, however, this Si Cao did not draw a knife.

At Bailu Pavilion, that Si Cao spoke repeatedly about his uncle, yet did not mention him at all tonight.

The more Chen Ji thought, the stranger it seemed. Was it the same person under the Si Cao mask? If it was the same person, the daily affairs of Bailu Pavilion alone were busy enough; where would that Si Cao find the energy to manage the entire Military Intelligence Department’s network of intelligence?

Suddenly, Chen Ji asked, "Lord Jin Zhu, is the Military Intelligence Department Chief hiding in our Ning Dynasty’s Imperial Capital?"

Lord Jin Zhu nodded, "Hmm, at least that’s what the intelligence tells us, but all the spies we’ve caught are of too low a rank; no one has seen his true face to date."

Chen Ji inquired further, "What about Jinling? Who from the Military Intelligence Department is lurking there?"

"Of course, it’s one of the Military Intelligence Department Si Cao, but we do not know who has come to Luocheng City this time."

Chen Ji sank into thought.

...

...

Lord Jin Zhu looked at Chen Ji and asked with a smile, "Why are you asking about their Si Cao and Division Head? Do you want to capture them? Ambitious! If you really capture them, you might indeed be promoted to one of the Twelve Signs. At that time, you won’t be lacking in a Cultivation Path. The Lord Prime Minister will ensure your swift rise."

"Oh? Cultivation Path?" Chen Ji asked curiously, "Does the Lord Prime Minister have many cultivation methods?"

Lord Jin Zhu laughed heartily, "What kind of person is the Prime Minister? When he pacified Jianghu ten years ago, he collected quite a few treasures. Why do you think Yun Yang and Jiao Tu want to distinguish themselves? They’re both still stuck at the Innate Realm, trying to break through to the Seeking Dao Realm. They need to make major contributions to make that jump."

So that was it, Chen Ji thought; no wonder the Prime Minister had such control over the Executive Officers.

He further questioned, "Lord Jin Zhu, now that we’ve captured Jing Dynasty spies, they should know who we’re after, what they look like. Why do they still need to find me?"

Lord Jin Zhu chuckled, "I have my plans."

Chen Ji frowned, he did not understand Lord Jin Zhu’s intention.

Lord Jin Zhu was clearly different from Yun Yang and Jiao Tu. Although his face was always smiling, he was like an unfathomable abyss, impenetrable and unpredictable.

The group made its way through the curtain of rain and finally arrived at Hongyi Lane.

Hongyi Lane was the liveliest place in Luocheng City at night, with brothels, gambling houses, and restaurants lined up in a row. If a business wanted to make a name for itself in Luocheng City, it had to be in Hongyi Lane.

At that moment, on the brightly lit scattered buildings above, the rain was washing the roofs and cascading down from the eaves into curtains of rain.

God knows how many courtesans in bright clothes greeted the passing patrons with waves and teasing smiles, as even the heavy rain could not dampen the fervor of Hongyi Lane.

However, when over ten riders from the Spy Department arrived, all courtesans and patrons who saw their solemn bamboo hats and straw coats hurriedly hid inside the buildings, with some even hastily extinguishing the candles.

In just a few breaths, the Spy Department’s presence was like a basin of cold water poured out, causing Hongyi Lane to fall silent as the grave, with a deathly stillness.

Lord Jin Zhu laughed heartily and looked at Chen Ji, "See that? What is the Spy Department? This is the Spy Department!"

The group dismounted at a gambling house called "Chao Cang" and walked straight inside.

However, he saw that the gambling house had somehow been taken over by dozens of spies, and both the gamblers and the bank were squatting on one side. The so-called "bank" in this era played the role of a croupier or a recorder.

Jin Zhu whispered, "Where is the treacherous spy who defected?"

A spy bowed and said, "My lord, upstairs. He has agreed to confess, but he insists on telling you personally, as he has conditions to discuss with you."

"Lead the way!"

Chen Ji stood aside, his heart inexplicably shocked: the Spy Department had already captured the defector spy?!

If he followed them upstairs like this, wouldn’t he be recognized on the spot?

What to do? Fight his way out?

With so many spies around, relying on his novice Executive Officer status, he might handle one or two spies, but how could he possibly fight his way out?

Jin Zhu walked up the stairs and looked back at Chen Ji with confusion, "Eh, why aren’t you coming up? There’s still a lot to be done, don’t waste time."

Chen Ji replied, "My lord, I would like to check downstairs to see if there are other spies hiding among the gamblers."

Jin Zhu smiled and waved his hand, "No need, no need, come up quickly."

Chen Ji had no choice but to press down his coolie hat and, with great reluctance, made his way upstairs.

Upon reaching the second floor, Jin Zhu pushed open a door to reveal a man hanging from the ceiling, his hands bound with hemp rope and suspended from the beams, while four spies guarded around him with their hands on their waist knives.

Chen Ji cautiously lifted his head to look and was shocked to discover that the hanging man’s complexion was dark blue, blood flowing from all seven orifices—he was dead beyond doubt.

A dead man, naturally, could not identify him!

Chen Ji’s palms were numb with tension, yet he forced calmness and asked, "Lord Jin Zhu, if he was a treacherous spy, he would have been crucial. Why kill him?"

"This person was not the defector spy, but a spy... in charge of capturing that defector. It’s quite a tongue-twister! Haha, after being captured by us, he bit poison and committed suicide," Jin Zhu explained with a laugh.

Chen Ji’s heart lurched again—the defector spy was still alive!

Jin Zhu, circling around the hanged spy, exclaimed in admiration, "The Jing Dynasty spies are all Death Soldiers; they are cruel to others but even crueler to themselves. Over the years, it’s been difficult for my Spy Department to capture a live one. Do you know why?"

Chen Ji shook his head, "I do not know."

"On one hand, it’s because they clean up after themselves quickly. As soon as someone is exposed, they immediately purge the entire intelligence line from top to bottom, sacrificing the pawns to save the king. Killing a few to protect the whole operation is a wise move; ’righteousness does not manage business, mercy does not lead an army.’ That Military Intelligence Department Chief is quite a formidable character."

"On the other hand, they specifically choose spies with families to infiltrate here. Whenever a spy betrays the cause, they would capture his entire family in the Jing Dynasty—enslaving the young men, forcing the young women into prostitution; and the elderly, they simply execute."

Chen Ji grew solemn. The struggle between spies from the two dynasties was indeed very harsh.

He asked, "May I know Lord Jin Zhu’s next plan? Do you need me to search for the trail of the defector spy?"

"No hurry, no hurry. Right now we only know that the spy was injured. We could have followed the smell of blood to find him, but unfortunately, a heavy rain washed away the traces, making it difficult to locate him now. But that’s fine..." Jin Zhu turned to the spy beside him, "After we came in, did anyone go to send a message?"

The spy spoke softly, "It was the spy you suspected, my lord, who quietly slipped off to the latrine."

"Let him be. We’ll just wait here for the Jing Dynasty spy to come and silence him!"

Chen Ji suddenly understood—Jin Zhu had not captured the defector spy tonight and had no intention of capturing him.

He had sealed off the entire gambling house and the news, proclaiming outwardly that he had captured the defector spy, luring the Military Intelligence Department’s Si Cao to come over for a kill!

Jin Zhu was betting that the Jing Dynasty Military Intelligence Department had not caught the defector spy and would have to come to silence the witnesses... What an impressive ability to adapt!

Such a person was much more difficult to deal with than Yun Yang and Jiao Tu!

After a moment of silence, Chen Ji asked, "Why is Lord Jin Zhu telling me all this?"

Jin Zhu chuckled as he grasped his hands, "You don’t know, but I am different from Jiao Tu and Yun Yang. They like to seize glory for themselves, but I prefer to give glory away!"

"Oh?" Chen Ji was puzzled.

Jin Zhu patted the back of his hand, "Those two are fixated on cultivation, seeking to trade merits for a higher level on the Cultivation Path. I, on the other hand, have no such ambitions and don’t seek immortality. It’s not easy to sit in the position of one of the Twelve Signs, and to climb higher, I might as well have to become a eunuch to replace Lord Wu Xiu; I don’t care about being in the Top Three or the Lower Nine. It’s quite good to be in the Lower Nine, there will always be taller people to bear the burden when the sky falls!"

Chen Ji was speechless. This Lord Jin Zhu indeed knew the Doctrine of the Mean.

Jin Zhu continued, "I like making friends. When Lord Prime Minister personally decreed your entry into the Spy Department, I knew you had caught his eye. The last one to be especially approved into the Spy Department like this was Heavenly Horse..."

"Oh?"

Jin Zhu said with a smile, "Do you know who Heavenly Horse worked under when he first became a spy? Under me. I helped him build up his merits step by step, and I single-handedly promoted him to the position of Heavenly Horse. Now that he has reached the Top Three, of course, he remembers my favor. Don’t worry, I’m not afraid of you rising above me. The higher you sit, the better... just don’t forget about me."

"So, Lord Jin Zhu called me here tonight to..."

"If we catch the Jing Dynasty spy tonight, the credit will be split half between you and me."

...

Today’s Chapter.