Chapter 49: Who Is in the Shadows?
The conversation between Chen Bai and Su Jin, the Crown Prince of Wei, looked calm and casual on the surface, yet it seemed to hide something beneath.
Neither of them exposed it. Even the thoughts in their hearts remained no more than guesses, and whether those guesses were right or wrong, there was no answer. After all, no matter what, Su Jin would never admit that he had been sabotaging the alliance between Great Qian and Lu, nor would he admit that he had laid hands on the children of Great Qian’s meritorious officials. After all… Great Qian’s military strength was stronger than Wei’s.
There was no point in continuing the conversation.
By now, the sky had already darkened. It was the hanging lanterns and the torches in the distance that made this street, which should have been quiet, seem so lively.
Crown Prince Ban seemed to notice that the atmosphere was off as well, and changed the subject. “Grand Scholar Zhaoxue, I heard the divine painting on the wall can only be viewed at night to see its best effect. Looking at the hour now, shouldn’t it be…”
Chen Bai nodded and pointed toward the wall. “Your Highness, please look.”
Crown Prince Ban looked at the pitch-black wall and saw nothing. Instead, the lanterns in front began to go out one by one. Just as he was about to speak in confusion…
A beam of light shone onto the wall.
The open-air movie began.
In truth, Chen Bai had not played any new movie, because he had no time to dub it. The original versions were all in Mandarin, and no one here would understand them if he played them directly. Besides, there were some parts that still needed him to dub over and avoid.
This time, he played The Butterfly Lovers. Crown Prince Ban and the others had seen the stage play version before, but that stage play had been put together by Chen Xiaobu and the others in a very short time, laughing and fooling around as they performed it. It was terribly rough. Whether in terms of sound effects, setting, characters, or anything else, how could it possibly compare to a movie?
Of course, what was even more miraculous was that the painting on the wall was moving and making sound.
The common people of Lu felt that birds and cicadas in a painting being able to chirp was already something out of legend. No matter how miraculous the divine painting on the wall was, they thought it should be around that level at most.
But now…
Their souls were so shaken they almost flew into the heavens. What exactly had they just seen?
A peerless treasure that continuously unfolded an incomparably beautiful story, with even human voices coming from within the painting.
Chen Bai was also observing Crown Prince Ban’s expression. In the eyes of these people, his divine painting on the wall should already surpass the value of the Qishan Pill, right? After all, whether the Qishan Pill could truly cure all illnesses still remained uncertain, but the miracle of the divine painting had already been displayed right before their eyes.
This painting was absolutely a world-shocking masterpiece.
At the scene, everyone’s mouths were open in astonishment. They had even forgotten to make a single sound. Even their breathing seemed frozen, leaving only every movement, joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness of the people inside the painting on the wall.
They had once imagined that they might see a world-shocking masterpiece, but this far exceeded anything they could have imagined.
Chen Bai’s students had already pulled out little stools and sat in the front row. Though they had watched it countless times, they still could not help wanting to watch it again.
They raised their heads to look at the expressions of the people around them, covering their mouths with their hands for fear they might burst out laughing. They had known it would turn out like this.
Chen Bai quietly waited for the movie to end. He was witnessing the culture of several thousand years later colliding with this era, bursting forth with the most brilliant sparks.
After the movie ended, Chen Bai said a few words to Crown Prince Ban, but Crown Prince Ban responded in a daze, still not having recovered.
Chen Bai thought to himself that today was probably not the right time to discuss business, so he brought his group of students back to the posthouse.
The Crown Prince of Wei, Su Jin, who was standing beside them, was about the same. He was still staring with his mouth agape. “I heard this painting was painted by Grand Scholar Zhaoxue’s master, Lord Mountain. What kind of extraordinary, almost saintly being is this Lord Mountain? At least in the art of painting, there should be no one who can surpass him.”
He himself was a student of the Former Sage, and both his experience and knowledge far exceeded ordinary people’s. Even so, he had still been shocked today. “What an incredible divine painting on the wall.”
When Chen Bai returned to the posthouse, Qi Zheng was also there.
Chen Bai asked, “Have you arranged the journey back?”
Judging from the reaction of the people of Lu tonight, using the “divine painting on the wall” to exchange for the Qishan Pill should be almost certain.
Qi Zheng nodded. “It is just a pity that such a fine thing will have to be given to Lu.”
Chen Bai thought to himself, Qi Zheng, this stingy miser. Look at how petty he was being. “Just ask Teacher to paint another one.”
Qi Zheng: “…”
That was true. Compared with the painting itself, the person who painted it was more valuable, though that yao? had recently been showing one suspicious point after another.
Chen Bai was somewhat worried. “If it really is Wei that does not want us to form an alliance, I’m afraid the road back won’t be peaceful. Su Jin won’t let this go.”
Qi Zheng’s expression did not change much. “This is Lu. Great Qian does not have many people here. Can Wei bring a large number of soldiers here, then? As long as we are careful and cautious, nothing serious will happen.”
Chen Bai thought, true. This was neither Great Qian nor Wei. Neither side would have too many people here, and they could not act freely either. No one would gain much advantage.
The next day, Chen Bai had Zuo Qiu take him to see Crown Prince Ban, and directly stated his purpose.
Crown Prince Ban’s expression immediately became interesting. Precisely because he had watched the divine painting on the wall last night, the shock still had not faded even now.
Crown Prince Ban said, “Truly? To be honest with you, the Qishan Pill is indeed a national treasure of Lu, inherited from the Western Zhou. But whether its effect is really as legendary as claimed, and whether that effect could still remain until now… On the other hand, the miracle of the divine painting on the wall has already been proven. Grand Scholar Zhaoxue, you should think carefully.”
The corner of Chen Bai’s mouth twitched. He was more suspicious than anyone else of the effects of pills refined by ancient fangshi. But he had no choice. He could not just casually buy a Wuji Baifeng Pill and trick the king by saying it was the Qishan Pill, right? When the time came, if the king sent someone to Lu to make a casual inquiry and found out that the Qishan Pill had never been obtained, everything would be exposed. It was even less possible for the entire court of Lu to act along with him and deceive the king.
Therefore, he was determined to obtain the Qishan Pill. Not only that, he had to obtain it with great fanfare, so the king would have no doubts whatsoever.
Seeing Chen Bai’s firm attitude, Crown Prince Ban said, “I cannot decide this matter either. I will enter the palace now.”
Chen Bai then began waiting for news. However, during the days he waited, he was not idle.
Because Zuo Qiu had finally fulfilled his promise. He brought Chen Bai and his group of students around Qufu, treating them to good wine and good food, just like when Chen Bai had once brought him around Shangjing and roasted rabbits under the city wall.
What some of the students liked most were Qufu’s local snacks.
“We don’t have this in Shangjing. We don’t have this either. We want to try all of them.”
Chen Bai also followed along and ate many strange snacks, and drank some very distinctive wine. This trip to Lu could be considered worthwhile.
“This is what study travel should feel like.” Even Chen Bai could not help sighing. After being here for so long, he had not expected that only at the very end would he be able to comfortably stroll through a foreign city.
“Zuo Qiu, Zuo Qiu, your Qufu is so different from our Shangjing. It’s so particular about everything.” This group of students had also broadened their horizons.
Zuo Qiu carried a wine jar, his mood somewhat strange. He had not expected that he, too, would have a time when he could truly open his heart, and with friends from another country at that.
He had originally thought that between the various states, there was nothing but hatred. In the past, he had been too arrogant.
Carrying wine jars, they drank their way all through Qufu. Their behavior was somewhat unrestrained, but the people of Lu called it the free and uninhibited bearing of scholars.
The group of students were also smiling until their eyes curved. The scholars of Lu truly were different. They used etiquette to restrain themselves, but in thought, they were even more romantic. They were like a group of people pursuing unrealistic fantasies.
Sometimes they inspired admiration. Other times, they made one have the urge to hang them up and beat them.
“Zuo Qiu, we really can’t bear to part with you.” The students chattered noisily.
“Zuo Qiu, it would be great if you were from Great Qian. Then we could drink and play the qin every day. Who cares about the chaos of the world? As long as we are free and carefree, that would be enough.”
The group of people were dead drunk, and even their words came out stammering.
Zuo Qiu listened and shook his head. Too unrealistic.
As a result, Chen Bai, whose face was red from drinking, was able to say something even more fantastical. “Who cares whether it’s Great Qian or Lu? We’ll play our own way. Since when does making friends depend on nationality? Whoever said that, stand out. I’ll slap him to death.”
“No matter who it is, no matter which country they’re from, I, Chen Zixiu, will be friends with whoever I want to be friends with.”
Zuo Qiu and Qi Zheng could not help glancing at Chen Bai. These words could only be said at a time like this. If they spread, would he not be charged with secretly colluding with another state?
Qi Zheng reminded him, “Because the various states are constantly at war, all countries are on guard against one another. The boundaries between states are clear. Say less of such things after we return, so as not to bring disaster upon yourself.”
Chen Bai was not having it. “Qi Zheng, among all the people I know, you are the most rigid. You have no sense of romance at all. Can’t you let me secretly fantasize a little? Maybe one day, the borders between the various states will be broken, and all under heaven will become one family…”
Qi Zheng: “…”
This Chen Zixiu. After drinking just a little wine, he actually dared to call him by name.
He opened his mouth, but in the end said nothing. All under heaven one family? No boundaries between the states?
He truly dared to imagine it.
Zuo Qiu also shook his head. A wild fantasy. Anyone who dared to think this way was probably a rare oddity. Leaving aside everything else, just look at the Ba-Wei alliance. They had already formed an alliance, yet the Crown Prince of Wei still personally came to Lu, Ba’s sworn enemy, to look for opportunities. From this, one could see that the Ba-Wei alliance was actually extremely fragile. No one trusted anyone else.
Trust between states had always been unable to withstand even a single blow.
He had only just thought this when Chen Bai began muttering again. “Who can say for sure? Maybe there really will be someone who stands up and ends this chaotic age of war, so the common people can live even one peaceful day. Tell me, why are the people under heaven so poor? Isn’t it because wars are fought every day and no one gets a moment of peace…”
Sentence after sentence made their hearts tremble. The suffering under heaven was precisely caused by this endless war. All the strong young men had gone to the battlefield, leaving no one to farm the land. Only the old, weak, sick, and disabled remained, barely dragging out their lives. But what could be done? If the strong young men did not go to war, their homes and countries would be gone.
Zuo Qiu sighed. “There probably will not be such a person. The people of each state will only submit to their own king. Even if their country falls, they will resist again and again. In that case, how can the common people live good lives? It will only lead to more families broken and lives shattered.”
One person who could make all under heaven submit? Zuo Qiu shook his head. He truly could not imagine what kind of person could achieve that. At least for now, among the various states, he had not yet seen such a person.
What they faced was only endless war, repeating in cycles, with no end in sight. Thinking about it now, a person’s life, and the fate of the various states, were truly tragic.
The group of students hugged their wine bottles and listened to the adults talk. Some parts they did not understand, yet it also seemed like they had understood something. They felt that whether it was Zuo Qiu or Su Dan from Zhao, they were both very good people, and both were their friends. They had never thought there was anything wrong with befriending someone from another state. Their eyes blinked, terribly adorable.
“Go, go, go. I’ll take you to eat something you’ve never eaten before.” Zuo Qiu broke the heavy atmosphere. Some things, even if one was only deceiving oneself, could be left aside for now. At least today was so happy, so there was no need to bring them up.
The group hugged wine bottles and swaggered through the streets. Quite a few people stopped to watch, smiles appearing on their faces. Scholars of Lu had always been so free-spirited. Just look at their young master Zuo Qiu. See what he had turned the people of Great Qian into.
When Chen Bai saw the delicious food Zuo Qiu spoke of, he froze. It was actually barley rice. “Lu actually grows barley?”
Zuo Qiu was somewhat surprised. “You actually know it? We have not been growing it for long either. The yield is fairly good, but the texture cannot compare to millet rice, so nobles do not eat it much. But for the common people, a food that can increase yield a little still tastes good enough.”
The texture cannot compare to millet rice? Chen Bai smiled. “That’s because your method is wrong. Barley was never meant to be cooked into rice. Watch me show you something today.”
Whether it was Qi Zheng or Zuo Qiu, both were stunned. The dignified Grand Scholar Zhaoxue, the eldest young master of the Court of Judicial Review, actually knew how to cook?
Besides, barley rice was just like this. What kind of trick could he possibly make out of it?
Chen Bai smiled and stubbornly dragged people to set up an oven below the city wall. He had once seen someone build an oven with bricks in a video, and it was not too difficult.
Then he had Zuo Qiu and the others grind the barley into flour.
Zuo Qiu: “…”
These were all things he had never done before. However, it seemed to be quite relaxing, especially when a group of people worked on it together. That feeling was especially healing.
Chen Bai secretly used his phone to buy yeast for fermenting flour, then added egg yolk into it.
After Chen Bai baked the bread, he sliced it open with a knife and stuffed cheese inside.
Lu’s terrain was flat, and they raised quite a number of sheep. The cheese was made by boiling the goat milk they bought.
In truth, Lu seemed to be much more prosperous than Great Qian. Thinking about it, that made sense. If people were completely destitute, who would have the mind to study? Lu’s culture and education were so developed partly because their days were fairly comfortable. Only after one had enough to eat would one have the mind to do other things.
When the bread stuffed with cheese entered their mouths, even Zuo Qiu was stunned. It was unusually delicious.
They had always thought that barley, which tasted far worse than millet, could actually be delicious to this degree.
He had watched the entire process with his own eyes. There could be no trickery.
This barley had a high yield. It was only because it tasted bad that it had not been planted on a large scale. But now… his eyes could not help turning toward Chen Bai.
Qi Zheng also glared at Chen Bai. Repairing that White Moonlight Star Observation Tower was one thing. After all, to Lu, it was merely the addition of a miracle-like building. But telling Lu the use of barley was different.
Chen Bai blinked. He really had not thought that much about it. Otherwise, he would not have made bread. Wouldn’t making noodles, dough ears, or flour cakes have been more practical?
Qi Zheng’s look was way too stingy.
Chen Bai kept gnawing on the bread in his hand. Don’t look at him. He just wanted to eat bread, that was all.
Besides, Zuo Qiu would not be able to make bread this delicious. He did not have yeast.
The happiest person was probably Zuo Qiu. He would go back tonight and try it. When the time came, promoting barley, which had a higher yield, would be a great matter for the whole state of Lu.
Chen Bai smiled at Zuo Qiu.
Zuo Qiu touched his face. “What is it?”
Why was Chen Zixiu smiling so sinisterly?
Chen Bai said nothing. Serves you right for not asking clearly. If you go back and can make bread this delicious, I’ll write my name backward.
He was going to trick Zuo Qiu once, to pay him back for the lesson Zuo Qiu had given him before leaving Shangjing.
Perhaps this was how things were between friends.
The decision from the Lu royal family came very quickly. Just as Chen Bai had thought, the effect of the Qishan Pill was only a legend. If it were truly that good, the Lu royal family would have eaten it long ago. How could it have been kept until now? But the divine painting on the wall was real and solid.
Of course, most importantly, Chen Bai had directly handed the projector to Crown Prince Ban and let them take it away to enjoy. He did not believe they could resist it. Every frame and every image of a movie was, to them, the most miraculous painting in the world.
The handover ceremony was somewhat public. Presumably, Lu also intended to receive the divine painting on the wall openly and properly, rather than secretly.
Chen Bai received an ancient-looking box. Opening it, he saw a pill inside that emitted a metallic luster. In the words of ancient people, it shimmered with rosy light and contained immortal radiance.
It was just that it gave off a unique smell of metal rust.
Chen Bai clicked his tongue inwardly as he looked at it. This thing could cure all illnesses?
It really proved that saying: an old immortal hanging himself, seeking death by his own hand.
In truth, even if it were a real medicinal pill, after so much time had passed, who knew how long it had already been spoiled? Chen Bai muttered inwardly.
He let Qi Zheng take a look. Qi Zheng nodded.
Then there should be no mistake. It was genuine, the real Qishan Pill.
After putting the item away, it was time for them to leave Lu.
Actually, if Chen Bai had not yet obtained the Qishan Pill, they should have returned long ago. After Qi Zheng drove away the Ba army, returning to Shangjing would have been the choice most beneficial to him.
Chen Bai did not even say farewell to Zuo Qiu before grandly beginning to leave the city, because he knew Zuo Qiu would definitely chase after them.
The group of students even stuck their heads out to look outside.
“We’re already going back to Shangjing? It feels like we only just came out.”
“Exactly. We haven’t had enough fun yet. The people of Lu are quite interesting.”
“Bah, what do you mean fun? We came here properly for study travel.”
They looked again at that tall tower. They had come. They had left their traces. With that tower there, surely the people of Lu would not forget them, right? Once, there had been a group of young but energetic Great Qian students who built them an extraordinary star observation tower.
Before they had gone far, someone exclaimed, “Eh? Is there a horse chasing us?”
“Haha, it’s Zuo Qiu. Brother Bai said Zuo Qiu would definitely chase after us, and sure enough…”
Zuo Qiu rode over, his expression strange. “Good for you, Chen Zixiu. You actually kept something hidden. Why is it that when I make that bread myself, it turns out hard and dense, and not tasty at all?”
Clearly, what Chen Zixiu had made was soft, fragrant, and sweet, melting in the mouth. With cheese added, the taste was exquisite.
Chen Bai lifted the carriage window and laughed loudly. “Guess.”
Zuo Qiu: “…”
Chen Bai glanced at Qi Zheng, who was riding on horseback, then said to Zuo Qiu, “You can’t blame me. Didn’t you see how stingy a certain someone was, glaring at me with his eyes?”
Gan Xin poked his head out. “Prince Zheng is really stingy. Back when we went up the mountain to catch rabbits, he even made us pay.”
After speaking, he ducked back into the carriage.
This made everyone burst into laughter. “Prince Zheng is only generous toward our master.”
Chen Bai really had no choice. If Zuo Qiu had asked before Qi Zheng glared at him, then he would have said it, and that would be that. But now, right under Qi Zheng’s eyelids, how could he possibly aid the enemy?
He was a person of Great Qian, while Zuo Qiu was a person of Lu. Some things truly did exist. Being born in this era, no one could ignore them, much less cover their ears and pretend they did not exist.
Zuo Qiu opened his mouth, but in the end said nothing.
The procession continued forward.
At this moment, the sound of a qin came from behind them.
Chen Bai froze, opened the carriage window, and looked back. It was Zuo Qiu, playing a famous Lu song meant to send off a friend.
When Zuo Qiu left Shangjing back then, Chen Bai had brought a group of students to play the qin and performed a piece called “Farewell” to send him off. And now Zuo Qiu was…
Chen Bai opened his mouth. “He couldn’t be doing this on purpose, could he?”
When that fellow Zuo Qiu stirred up emotions, he could truly take a person’s life.
Farewell was the beginning of longing. Who knew when he would see Zuo Qiu again? He did not even know whether the next time they met, they would be friends or enemies. This era forced barriers to be constantly built between people, leaving them unable to act as they wished.
In the end, Chen Bai gritted his teeth and said a few words to the side. A guard beside his carriage urged his fine horse and rode back.
Qi Zheng glanced over, his face showing no expression.
The guard rode up to Zuo Qiu and handed him a slip of paper. “Our young master asked me to tell you that this is the secret recipe for making bread. Just follow what is written on it.”
Yeast could be replaced with flour that had been left to ferment for a period of time. The effect was the same. What Zuo Qiu lacked should be exactly this. If no one pointed it out, he might never find the correct way to make bread in his lifetime.
Then the guard handed over another object. It was a little dog as white as a fox. “Its name is Silver Fox. Though it is naturally cunning, it is pure white and flawless. Our young master hopes you will raise it well. These are our young master’s exact words.”
Zuo Qiu’s body trembled. Naturally cunning but pure white and flawless. Was this Chen Zixiu’s evaluation of him?
Zuo Qiu accepted the Silver Fox puppy and lowered his head to look at the qin in his arms. Sometimes, even he himself did not know whether he was revealing sincere emotion or using emotion to scheme against others. For example, just now, he had unconsciously begun to play the qin. Perhaps in that moment, all he had wanted was to send his friend off, but it also could not be ruled out that he had instinctively been calculating others in order to reach his goal. Sometimes, when calculating others became an instinct, even one’s own self began to feel fear.
Zuo Qiu watched the procession disappear into the distance. Only then did one of his attendants beside him ask, “Young Master, how did you know that as long as you played the qin, Chen Zixiu would compromise?”
His eyes were full of disbelief. In a certain sense, Chen Zixiu was… “aiding the enemy.” Anyone in Great Qian with even a little intention could use this to make trouble. In this world, people of other states were terrifying, but were people of one’s own state not also beasts that chose people to devour?
A bitter smile appeared on Zuo Qiu’s face. See? Even his own people thought he had deliberately played that piece.
After a long silence, he replied, “Because Chen Zixiu is different. There are no national borders in his heart. What he sees are only those suffering common people. Isn’t he foolish to the extreme?”
The attendant opened his mouth. How could that be possible? If the common people of another state starved to death, wasn’t that… even better?
Zuo Qiu pondered for a while, then said, “Send someone to catch up and give them two loads of barley.”
“This… Now that the value of barley is already known, if you give it to them just like this, Young Master, it will be hard to explain to the king.”
Zuo Qiu smiled. “If not for Chen Zixiu, Lu would not know the use of barley either. At most, the king will scold me a few words. It is no matter.”
If he did not do this, Chen Zixiu would probably have a hard time explaining things to Great Qian as well.
At this moment, the Silver Fox puppy in Zuo Qiu’s arms whimpered twice, its head constantly rubbing against Zuo Qiu’s hand. Zuo Qiu rubbed its fur. “You really are pure white and flawless. No wonder those students like strange beasts so much. They are indeed not something ordinary wild beasts can compare with. Do you have feelings too?”
On Chen Bai’s side, he stared straight ahead and pretended not to see Qi Zheng. His mouth stammered a little. “I-It’s just a bread recipe. What’s so great about it? Zuo Qiu even gave us two loads of barley. We’ll take them back and plant them properly. This is just human exchange, isn’t it? When Zuo Qiu comes to Great Qian again in the future, we can even let him take a look.”
The corner of Qi Zheng’s mouth twitched. Nothing great? Once Lu discovered the use of barley, they would certainly plant it in large quantities and strengthen their state. If this news spread back to Great Qian, he would probably be unable to defend himself no matter how much he argued. Did Chen Zixiu think there were no eyes and ears belonging to others in this procession? Even if Qi Zheng did not say it, those who wanted to know would certainly find out.
Fortunately, that Zuo Qiu had suddenly sent over two loads of barley. Only then did the “human exchange” Chen Zixiu spoke of become a transaction. Those heartfelt words of Chen Zixiu’s about not distinguishing national borders were fine to say, but if he truly put them into action, he should understand what consequences there would be.
What surprised Chen Bai was that Qi Zheng did not pursue this matter relentlessly. Instead, he suddenly asked something strange. “Have you counted everyone returning? Did you leave anyone behind?”
Chen Bai was stunned. He had counted before getting into the carriage. Why was Qi Zheng asking this?
Qi Zheng glanced at Chen Bai. “You’re certain?”
Chen Bai was asked until he himself became uncertain. Could he really have forgotten someone?
He quickly got down and checked each carriage one by one.
Qi Zheng: “…”
Chen Bai: “…”
Compared with the way they had hidden here and there on the way here, when they had been worried about the Ba army pursuing and intercepting them and had taken many detours, now that the Ba army was gone, the journey back was much smoother.
Chen Bai lifted the window curtain and let the warm sunlight shine on him. “Spring has arrived.”
When they had come, they had still been wearing great cloaks. Now, they only needed to travel lightly.
One day later, Chen Bai, Qi Zheng, and Gan Xin stayed in the same carriage because… this was Wei’s best opportunity to stop Great Qian and Lu from forming an alliance. As long as they killed them, forget an alliance; enmity between the two states would be certain instead.
A drone flew out from the top of the carriage.
“If it really is the Crown Prince of Wei, Su Jin, making a move, the manpower he can use will not be too many. As long as we find their tracks, it is still uncertain who will embarrass whom.”
Chen Bai smiled. Wasn’t that exactly the logic? Without absolute numerical suppression, if they wanted to attack them, heh, it was not certain who would be unlucky.
Three days later, in a dense forest by the roadside, the trees were so lush that it was very difficult to notice any movement inside.
“Did any of you notice just now? A wild goose flew through the sky.”
“This place is full of forests. What is strange about a wild goose flying past?”
“But that goose was a little strange. It circled above us for quite a while.”
“Stop talking about useless things. Focus. According to the information sent over, those Great Qian students should pass by here within these two days.”
At this moment, someone who looked like a leader glanced at the sky. “Start a fire and cook here. Stay fully alert. Once the people of Great Qian pass by, not a single one is to be spared.”
People definitely had to eat. They were extremely cautious, but starting a fire to cook was unavoidable.
Only then did the group let out a breath. Keeping their nerves tense all day was not that easy to maintain.
But when the meal was only halfway done and their stomachs were growling with hunger, rows of sharp arrows suddenly shot over with whooshing sounds.
In the chaos, they shouted in terror again and again. “Enemy attack!”
They warned those who had not yet reacted. Some searched for their blades, some searched for the enemy. Where had the arrows come from?
Their minds were also in complete confusion. Weren’t they the ones lying in ambush for others? How had they suddenly become the ones being ambushed?
On the hillside, Chen Bai asked Qi Zheng, “Are they people of the Crown Prince of Wei, Su Jin?”
Qi Zheng shook his head. “They disguised themselves as mountain bandits, so it cannot be seen. But no matter who they are, they were definitely lying in ambush for us.”
“They also would not dare fight us for long. A battle of this scale would certainly attract the attention of the nearby Lu garrison. On the surface, Lu will definitely help us.”
Chen Bai thought to himself, in that case, they still had many advantages on this journey.
Qi Zheng looked at the battle below the mountain. “Leave some alive for interrogation. Perhaps we can obtain some unexpected information.”
And the unexpected information came truly quickly. Chen Bai was so shocked he was almost unable to speak.
Qi Zheng’s expression was even uglier. After interrogation, they did not obtain much information, because these people themselves did not know much. But after some questioning, their identities were still pried out.
They were not people of the Crown Prince of Wei, Su Jin. They were… people of Great Qian.
Some of these people were wandering bandits, and some were even former soldiers. They did not know why they had been gathered together either. They only knew that after finishing this job, they would live under new names. No matter where they fled, they would be free of worries for the rest of their lives. There were so many displaced people in this world that a few more would not attract anyone’s attention.
Chen Bai opened his mouth. He truly had not expected the truth to differ so greatly from his guess. It actually had nothing to do with the Crown Prince of Wei, Su Jin? Instead, it was their own people from Great Qian?
Chen Bai asked, “Could they be Crown Prince Jiao’s people? Among the people who want you dead right now, Crown Prince Jiao should be the most urgent.”
Qi Zheng shook his head. “If they really were Crown Prince Jiao’s people, it would be impossible for Meng Huanchao not to have sent any news at all.”
Chen Bai: “…”
Then who could it be?
To be honest, his heart felt cold. Enemies in the open were actually not frightening. What was frightening were those people hidden in the shadows, watching from the dark.
Next, they encountered several more sneaky skirmishes. In truth, as long as it was not Lu attacking them on a large scale, they really were not afraid.
The ambushers became the ones being ambushed. Who knew if this would leave a psychological shadow on the other side?
It was just that the identities of these ambushers truly made one uneasy. Interrogating them was useless. They did not know who was behind them at all. They had merely been secretly sent into Lu territory to earn money with their lives.
People with no path left cared little about life or death. If they died, they died for nothing and could blame no one.
Like this, Chen Bai and the others approached Great Qian’s border day by day, weighed down with worries.
Chen Bai held the Qishan Pill in his hand, his brows furrowed in worry.
There was an extremely serious problem here. If he handed the Qishan Pill to the king, and the king really ate it and died, what then?
Forget about saying he was merely following a secret order, and that what he obtained was indeed the real Qishan Pill. At that time, everyone would only think that the king died after eating the pill Chen Zixiu had brought back.
This possibility was very high, because no matter how he looked at this pill, anyone who ate it would die. And if the king truly reached a point where medicine and stones could no longer cure him, nine times out of ten he would take the risk and try it. Never underestimate human greed for life.
To confirm it, Chen Bai took a photo of the pill and sent it to the old physician who had previously researched the red-spotted ghost-face disease for him.
Not long after, the old physician replied, “Where did you get this antique? This thing is good stuff. In ancient times, it was priceless. I heard that after eating it, one could even ascend in broad daylight and become an immortal.”
Chen Bai froze. “Really?”
The old physician laughed. “Hehe. In ancient times, many pills were refined using metals. If you ate a little, it would at most cause chronic metal poisoning. But this one of yours is different. Eat it, and I guarantee immediate death…”
Chen Bai could not help swallowing. If the king truly swallowed it in one gulp and died miserably on the spot, it probably would not just be his, Chen Zixiu’s, matter. The entire Court of Judicial Review would be unable to escape.
No. This Qishan Pill could not be handed to the king. Because even if he could prove that this pill was poisonous, a person who still clung to life would very likely refuse to listen even while knowing it was poison. If he refused to listen, so be it. The key was that he would drag the Court of Judicial Review down with him.
But…
Chen Bai frowned. Qi Zheng recognized the Qishan Pill, probably through ancient records. In other words, there were definitely other people in the royal family who could recognize it as well.
Playing the trick of swapping the real thing for a fake would probably not be easy, but it was not impossible either.
Right now, he definitely could not hand the real Qishan Pill to the king. He could only give it a try.
Chen Bai looked at the size of the Qishan Pill, then bought a heart-protecting pill of roughly the same size.
Along the way, Chen Bai scraped the metal from the surface of the Qishan Pill and stuck it onto the surface of the heart-protecting pill.
Even if these metals were poisonous, as long as the amount was not large, the human body could still regulate it. Just like a deadly poison that sealed the throat upon contact with blood, as long as the amount was not large, it would be useless.
On the Lu royal family’s side, he had already exchanged the Qishan Pill with great fanfare. No matter how anyone investigated, they would find no flaw. Now the Qishan Pill was also in his hands. Once he made the outside look the same, if he said it was the Qishan Pill, who would dare deny it?
There was only one Qishan Pill in total. It was impossible for there to be records documenting what the inside of the pill looked like.
Chen Bai sighed a little. The king should thank him. At least this fake Qishan Pill would not kill him immediately.
Chen Bai and the others’ journey could not be called peaceful, but fortunately, they finally returned safely to Great Qian.
But to be honest, although Lu was a foreign land and there seemed to be a force targeting them there, compared with the complicated situation in Great Qian, it might actually have been safer.
Chen Bai and Qi Zheng both had to return to report. The group of students each went home. Judging by their excited and thrilled appearances, they would surely have endless things to say after returning home. Youth was truly good, carefree and without worries.
Chen Bai and Qi Zheng entered the palace and directly met the king.
The king… still looked as majestic, noble, and high above all as ever.
He did not seem at all like he was suffering from a sudden outbreak of illness as imagined.
It was just that the expression with which he looked at Qi Zheng and Chen Bai was hard to understand.
“Prince Zheng, not bad. In such a short time, you helped Lu drive away Ba’s army. The reputation of Lu’s masked general has even reached the ears of my people in Shangjing. Your name has spread throughout the world.”
Then he looked at Chen Bai. “Grand Scholar Zhibi is also not bad. You gave away the method for using barley just like that.”
Chen Bai’s eyes shrank.
But the king suddenly laughed aloud. “However, compared with your merits, these are all small matters. There is no need to mention them.”
Chen Bai: “…”
It was said among the common people that Qi Zheng’s temperament was unpredictable. In truth, Chen Bai had not really seen that much of it. But now, he was certain of the king’s frightening disposition that kept people on edge.
The king said a few more words that were unclear whether they were praise or something that made people tremble with fear. Only then did he say, “Why did you not return together with the Crown Prince of Wei, Su Jin? He also happens to be visiting Great Qian as an envoy.”
Qi Zheng: “…”
Chen Bai: “…”
Su Jin, a student of the Former Sage, respected wherever he went. But in Chen Bai’s heart, he was a source of disaster that could throw the various states into even greater chaos.
At first, Chen Bai had once suspected that Su Jin was the person who attacked them in Lu. But on the road back, the identities of those who ambushed them were not his people.
It was truly difficult to guess who exactly was the person secretly watching from the shadows.
