Green Mountain

All the assassins were dead, but Chen Ji did not discard the knife.

He drew the short knife out of the assassin’s chest, letting the assassin kneel on the ground, letting the blood pumped from his heart spray onto himself and the floor, until the assassin’s body slumped over.

Chen Ji stood where he was, lowered his head, and stared silently at the corpse...

The Mountain Lord Sect’s Scripture had been stuck at the threshold of the Seeking Dao Realm for far too long; clearly, beyond the door lay a broad and open Great Way, yet he simply could not find the key to enter.

And that key was, at this very moment, standing right behind him.

Kill.

Or not kill?

To kill the Emperor—this sort of thing, perhaps in one’s entire life there would only be this one chance...

Once he stepped into the Seeking Dao Realm, there would be so many things he could finally do openly; if he met his senior brother Yao An again, he would no longer need to avoid his edge. He might even be able to return home earlier to live a peaceful life.

Every single matter Chen Ji could think of that would follow after entering the Seeking Dao Realm was a benefit, with no drawbacks.

He did not need to worry about failing to kill the other party. From three steps away, a single blade would suffice; no one could stop him.

Nor did he need to worry about being unable to escape. Tonight was New Year’s Eve; Shangjing had no night curfew, and the city gates stood wide open. After killing the other party, he could kill Bai Jian and Bai Xingzhen as well to prevent anyone from sending word, then lead Zhaolei out of Shangjing. By the time the Jing Dynasty reacted, he might already be a hundred li away.

In that instant, Chen Ji thought of far, far too many things.

But two breaths later, Chen Jixin let out a sigh in his heart and casually tossed the short knife onto the ground.

He relaxed his taut body, turned around, clasped his hands, and said, "Greetings, Your Majesty."

Emperor Jing had no idea that in the span of two breaths, so many thoughts had flashed through Chen Ji’s mind. He looked Chen Ji over with a hint of a smile, his eyes full of approval: "Boy, who are you?"

Chen Ji answered softly, "Bai’s subordinate, Bai Wu."

Emperor Jing turned his head toward Bai Xingzhen. "So you’re one of the Bai Family’s men. The Bai Family—very good."

Bai Xingzhen hastily clasped his hands. "Many thanks for Your Majesty’s praise."

Emperor Jing again looked Chen Ji up and down. "I ask you: just now you broke two curved blades in succession. Was it barbaric strength, coincidence, or skill?"

Chen Ji replied, "It is a technique, called Gold Grinder."

"What a fine Gold Grinder." Emperor Jing spoke with great interest. "I saw that you just grabbed whatever weapon was at hand. This short knife shouldn’t be what you usually use. What weapon are you best at? I’ll choose one from the Imperial Treasury to gift you."

Chen Ji thought for a moment, then bowed. "In reply to Your Majesty, I am only skilled in the Crossbow."

Emperor Jing turned his head toward Bai Jian, signaling with his eyes.

Bai Jian immediately recollected, "Your Majesty, there is a hard bow in the Imperial Treasury; both bow and string are relics from ancient times. It can, in fury, shoot three hundred paces and pierce a willow; it is called Sun Slaying."

Emperor Jing smiled and asked Chen Ji, "Boy, this bow is meant only for a Seeking Dao Realm Official to use. Can you even pull it?"

Before Chen Ji could answer, Bai Xingzhen hurriedly said, "Your Majesty, even if he is not yet a Seeking Dao Realm Official, sooner or later he will break into the Seeking Dao Realm. Just reward him with it."

Emperor Jing laughed heartily. "Very well, granted!"

Bai Jian reminded Chen Ji, "Aren’t you going to thank Your Majesty?"

Chen Ji once more bowed and clasped his hands. "Thank you, Your Majesty."

Emperor Jing stepped forward and patted Chen Ji’s shoulder, praising, "Even under the suppression of the Dynasty’s fate, you can still move so freely, and with a mortal body cut down all the assassins—marvelous. What else should I reward you with? Bai Jian, according to our Dynasty’s laws, how are such merits in saving the imperial carriage to be rewarded?"

Bai Jian recollected, "In reply to Your Majesty, rescuing the imperial carriage while surrounded by rebel troops is rewarded with an Iron Certificate, pardon of ten capital offenses, and ennoblement as a Secondary Second Rank Duke or County Duke; guarding the imperial carriage and breaking out from chaotic troops is rewarded with gold and silver, brocade, residence, and ennoblement as a Secondary Third Rank County Marquis; saving the imperial carriage during an assassination scare is rewarded with a Secondary Fourth-rank County Marquis... It’s just that these assassins originally came for Duke Huang. That makes things a bit awkward."

Hearing his identity exposed, Bai Xingzhen instantly snuck a glance at Chen Ji, but seeing Chen Ji utterly unruffled—clearly he had already guessed his identity—Bai Xingzhen’s face burned hot.

His mind turned, and he suddenly recalled how, after guessing his identity, the other party had still brazenly suppressed him, haggled with him? The man had deliberately refrained from exposing his identity because, once exposed, it would be harder to keep him under his thumb!

Bai Xingzhen was immediately so angry his lungs nearly burst!

But he heard Bai Jian continue, "Your Majesty, all the County Lords in our realm earned their titles through hard-won military merit. To enfeoff Bai Wu as County Lord would be hard for the others to accept."

Emperor Jing thought for a moment, then suddenly pointed at Old Ears on the ground and asked Chen Ji, "Boy, I just saw you drinking with this man, and heard him speak of the heroes of the world. What is he to you?"

Chen Ji glanced at Old Ears, then said in a low voice, "He is an elder of my family."

Emperor Jing gave a noncommittal "oh," then immediately instructed Bai Jian, "Go back and draft an edict: enfeoff Bai Wu of the Bai Family’s subordinates as Secondary Fourth-rank Songmo County Marquis, and grant him five hundred mu of permanent land outside Shangjing."

Bai Jian lowered his head. "This Court Minister obeys the decree."

Emperor Jing looked at Chen Ji, then at Bai Xingzhen, and spoke again, "Further, enfeoff Bai Wu as Right Guard Fourth-rank Captain, concurrently serving as Forbidden Army Instructor of the Twelve Central Forbidden Armies, to oversee the training of Crossbow and mounted archery."

Bai Xingzhen’s expression changed. "No!"

Emperor Jing said meaningfully, "What is it?"

Bai Xingzhen grew anxious, stepping forward to tug at Emperor Jing’s sleeve. "Your Majesty, this Bai Wu is one of the Bai Family’s subordinates. He ought to be sent into the Left Guard; how have you gone and put him in the Right Guard—aren’t you blatantly poaching my man?"

Bai Jian said solemnly, "Duke Huang, under heaven, all land belongs to the throne; to the edges of the land, all are subjects of the throne. For one whom Your Majesty wishes to employ, how can there be any talk of ’poaching’?"

Bai Xingzhen held it in for half a day. "That still won’t do!"

Emperor Jing burst out laughing and slapped Bai Xingzhen’s head with a backhand. "It’s only fun when they’re poached. Say no more; my mind is made up."

Bai Xingzhen answered dejectedly, "Oh."

Bai Jian glanced around. "Your Majesty, we should return to the palace."

Emperor Jing gave a sound of assent. "Let’s go, let’s go. There are still many people at the New Year’s Eve banquet waiting for us. That boy Bai Wu, you come into the palace along with me as well. There should be a place for you at today’s New Year’s Eve banquet."

Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!