Chapter 7: Master Ji Rescues Jia Outside the City Gate, Ou Boming Points the Way to Jiangnan

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The few men dressed in black dragged a bag to the city gate. “Heading out of the city this late at night? Something’s definitely off,” Ji pondered for a moment, then decided to follow them.

At the gate, Ji watched as the leader of the black-clad group showed something to the city guards, who then opened the gate to let them through. “What should I do now? How can I get out? No doubt, that bag must contain the fat man called Master Jia. He seems to know something, which is why Zhu Shengzhiyin wants to silence him!”

Watching them slowly disappear into the night, Ji schemed. He approached the guard, clutching a forged urgent military dispatch, feigning anxiety. “Captain, this is an urgent military matter that must be delivered immediately to Jiangnan!” The guard eyed the letter suspiciously, inspecting it under the dim firelight, while Ji discreetly slipped a small pouch of silver coins to the guard’s feet. The guard’s expression shifted slightly, swiftly returning the letter and whispering, “Let’s go.” Ji nodded respectfully, then, with a sly glint in his eyes, strode confidently away into the darkness.

Outside the city, Ji followed the group into a dense forest. They opened the bag. “Damn it, you fat pig! If the master wasn’t trying to maintain a good image, you’d have been done in back at the mansion. Why wait until leaving the city?” “What bad luck. Let’s finish this quickly and go!” At that moment, Master Jia awoke, his eyes darting around before settling on the men, trembling with fear.

“Please, don’t kill me! Good sirs, I beg you, spare my life! I have old and young at home, and ten taels of gold—I’ll tell you where it is, just please don’t kill me!” “Shut up!” One of the black-clad men slapped him before drawing a dagger. “Die, fat pig!” “No, ah... no... please!”

“Stop!” Both Jia and the men froze. “It’s Master Ji!” Jia exclaimed, “I advise you not to meddle, or the master will have your head!” “Enough noise!” Ji then unleashed five swift sword strikes, felling all five black-clad men in moments.

Ji stepped forward, looking at the still trembling Jia. “You’re the one working for Sakura, right?” Jia hurriedly nodded. “Yes, sir. I’m from Sakura. Please, help me quickly!”

“From Sakura, huh? Well, I’m from the Dragon Kingdom. So, you can die now!” “No, I was wrong! I’m actually from the Dragon Kingdom too! I have no regrets entering Huaxia in this life, and will still be here in the next! I only said those things to save my life!”

Ji glanced at him. “Take off two of those black-clad men’s clothes.” “Clothes? You mean...” Jia gave Ji a strange look. “What are you thinking? I need them to enter the city later.” “Oh, I see!” Jia began changing clothes.

Afterward, they tidied up the scene and headed back to the city gate. “Why are there only two of you? Where’s everyone else?” the guard asked suspiciously. “Don’t ask questions you shouldn’t,” Ji whispered. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to be rude. Go ahead,” the guard apologized quickly.

Ji brought Jia home and pointed to the woodshed. “You’ll sleep here tonight. Tomorrow, tell me everything you know.” With a resentful look from Jia, Ji opened his own door.

The night passed quietly.

Early the next morning, Ji kicked the deeply sleeping Jia awake. “Tell me everything you know!” Jia then recounted in full how the red-headed one had been treated. “Do you know why Zhu Shengzhiyin treated the red-headed one that way?” Ji asked. “Master Ji, I don’t know. I only handle the food—er, the red master’s meals,” Jia said awkwardly.

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Ji ignored him and asked again, “Did you also come here through time travel?” “Yes, sir. I’ve been in this Kun world for two and a half years. Before crossing over, I was a chef, so I worked in the Ziying Tavern. Later, Zhu Shengzhiyin noticed me and brought me to the Zhu Mansion as head chef. He even renamed the kitchen the Imperial Kitchen—definitely up to no good!”

Ji interrupted him, “Since you’re a chef, I suppose you can cook many Dragon Kingdom dishes?” “Of course! I’m—” “Enough. Since that’s the case, you’ll be my chef. Honestly, I can’t stomach the food here. When I become king, I’ll make you the greatest chef in the land.” Looking at the eccentric youth, Jia touched his face and thought, “I may have followed the wrong person.” “Well, we’ll see how it goes,” he muttered.

Ji tossed Jia a pouch of silver. “Go buy some food supplies. We leave for Donggang Mountain this afternoon.” “Ah, okay...” Jia replied.

On the twenty-second day of the eleventh lunar month, at the hour of Shen, the two left the city’s south gate, heading toward Donggang Mountain.

But what they didn’t realize was that all of this was under Zhu Shengzhiyin’s watchful eyes. Upon hearing the report, Zhu looked at his strategist, Chicken Fanwei, who replied, “They seem to be heading for Donggang Mountain, perhaps seeking someone’s help.”

“Probably looking for that master Ou. He’s a grandmaster!” Zhu shuddered, remembering how a mere touch from him sent him flying. “My Chicken Master Beauty must have sensed something, but you don’t understand my heart!” Zhu looked at the map of Ruzhou before him.

After two and a half days of grueling travel, Ji arrived once more at the foot of Donggang Mountain as dusk fell. The blood-red sunset cast a mysterious glow on the winding mountain path. Ancient trees towered on either side, their thick branches rustling softly. Occasional bird calls only deepened the mountain’s solemnity. Gazing at the towering peak and the Kun Sacred Temple shrouded in mist, Ji was filled with emotion.

The two rested overnight at the mountain’s base. The next day, Ji resolutely began the ascent, with Jia trailing behind. The path was the same, but the people were gone. Ji paused frequently to reflect, leaving Jia bewildered but silent.

Despite Ji’s frequent stops and Jia’s confusion, they reached the summit in half an hour. Facing the Kun Sacred Temple, Ji again grew reflective, causing Jia to scratch his head, doubting his own choice of master.

After a moment, Ji entered the temple, eager to meet Master Ou and recount the red-headed one’s tragedy.

He found Ou sweeping the floor as before. Seeing Ji and Jia, Ou remarked calmly, “You haven’t escaped this fate after all. But there seems to be a glimmer of hope. Strange indeed.” He then looked at Ji. “I understand your purpose. I can only say I am powerless to help.”

Ji was taken aback. “How do you know?”

“Very well. Since your bond with the red-headed one runs so deep, I’ll explain.”

“You must know, in the Kun world, ordinary people are the majority, with a minority of martial artists. But in the underworld, there are many other paths—Qi Men Dun Jia, Gu magic, Taoism, and so forth. I practice both martial and Taoist arts, especially Taoism related to fate—fortune-telling, as you might say.”

He sighed, looking at the shocked Ji and Jia. “I know you want revenge for the red-headed one. Killing Zhu Shengzhiyin would be easy for me, but what of the power behind him? To be honest, after so many years in the Jiangnan Prince’s mansion, I’ve learned many secrets. Four great hidden clans exist: the Zhu family of Ruzhou, the Sima family of Yangzhou, the Tang family of Shu, and one unknown even to me—likely only the prince knows.”

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“So, Zhu Shengzhiyin belongs to the Zhu family of Ruzhou?” Ji asked Ou.

“That’s right. The Zhu family ranks third among the hidden clans, just above the Sima family. Their clan includes five grandmasters, and the patriarch Zhu Peide has nearly reached a realm beyond grandmaster. If it were a distant branch, it’d be different, but Zhu Shengzhiyin is the son of the current head, Zhu Ziyin. Born to a concubine and lacking strong martial talent, he knows he can’t contest the headship, so he voluntarily serves the family’s conquest efforts outside. Still, he’s his son; the head cannot ignore him.”

“Doesn’t the Jiangnan Prince intervene? The red-headed one was his sworn son!” Ji asked.

“The prince never shows favoritism. He has many sworn sons, let alone his own sons. He also warned us elders not to help any of his sons or sworn sons. Unfortunately, I warned the little red-headed one, but he didn’t listen.”

“Then will the killer who boiled the red-headed one alive continue to live openly?!” Ji demanded anxiously.

“You could kill him honorably. The prince once said hidden clans cannot intervene in worldly affairs by force. Zhu Shengzhiyin only took Ruzhou with his army. If you strike him down during a battle between two armies, the Zhu clan can’t object.”

“But where will I find an army? Starting from nothing will take forever!” Ji felt hopeless.

“Don’t lose heart, young master. I will help you,” Jia suddenly spoke, still a bit dazed.

“Then I’ll give you a clear path. Take this,” Ou said, handing Ji a jade pendant. “Tell the prince in Yuhang Jiangnan Mansion that I sent you. With your talent, you’re sure to gain favor. Work hard, and you’ll have your revenge.”

“Good luck, young man. Revenge for the red-headed one. Alas, the prince forbids me from helping you further.” Ou sighed deeply.

Ji looked at him. “I will.” He gazed at the statue of the Kun Sacred Emperor before turning to leave.

“I’ve calculated that the red-headed one still has a chance!” Ou’s voice echoed. Ji shuddered but pressed on.

“What did that old man say just now? What chance?” Jia, no longer confused, asked.

“Don’t worry about it. Focus on your duties!” Ji snapped.

“Oh, sorry, sorry...” Jia apologized.

Standing atop the mountain, Ji looked eastward. “Jiangnan, I, Ji, have arrived!”