Chapter 80 Learning the sword
A heavy snowfall turned the scattered gray-tiled buildings in Los Angeles into a white world.

Only in Tongji Street, the white snow on the ground was trampled into black mud by the Secret Service soldiers coming and going. Every household on the street kept their doors and windows closed for fear of getting into trouble.

In the mansion that was bombed into ruins, dozens of spies were clearing bricks and rubble from the collapsed ruins, trying to find useful clues.

The Golden Pig sighed, "Everyone says that snow is a sign of a good harvest, but I just can't be happy... How long will it take to dig up the ruins?"

"Sir, it's coming. Please eat something first. This is the Wengji steamed buns I just sent someone to buy. They are very famous in Los Angeles."

"It's so late and we're still eating buns... They're really delicious. The meat filling is castrated pork that was bled last night, so there's no fishy smell. The seasoning includes star anise, green onions, ginger, sesame oil... It seems they also have their own secret oil, so particular!"

There was a small cowhide marching tent in the courtyard, with a small stove inside, boiling hot water.

Golden Pig sat carefree in the tent, gnawing on a steaming hot Wengji bun.

At this time, a secret agent crouched down and crawled into the tent, whispering: "Sir, the ruins have been cleared. Apart from some normal daily necessities, there is nothing unusual."

Jin Zhu chewed his bun and asked vaguely, "How many firearms did the killer use?"

"Judging from the bamboo tube fragments found in the ruins, there should be two."

"What did the coroner say?"

The spy reported back: "The coroner has examined the victim's injuries. The victim had 42 injuries from broken iron fragments, one cut on the neck, and one through-the-thigh wound. The strange thing is that the victim only had scratches on his upper body, and he was fine."

Jin Zhu paused while holding up half of the bun in his hand. "I have seen the power of those firearms. Two firearms blew down the house. His upper body is fine? He is either a horizontal martial artist from Cangzhou, or a bell-ringer from Kujue Temple in Jingchao... Jingchao? Go, shave all the dead man's hair and see if there is any scar on his head!"

The spy walked out of the door quickly, half-knelt beside the corpse of Shopkeeper Yuan, held the knife in one hand, and cut off Shopkeeper Yuan's hair with the other hand: "Sir, there is a scar from ordination!"

"He really is a monk from Kujue Temple. He must be a thief from Jing Dynasty. They stole the cultivation methods from Kujue Temple before." Jin Zhu stuffed the remaining half of the bun into his mouth and swallowed it whole. "Strange, strange, why did the killer rush here to kill him?"

Jin Zhu was confused: the deceased was suspected to be a thief from Jing Chao, and the killer was also suspected to be a thief from Jing Chao, so why did both sides kill each other?

"What do the residents of Tongji Street say? Does anyone recognize him?"

The spy shook his head and said, "No, the neighbors said that this house has been empty for more than a year, and no one has ever been seen entering or leaving. We asked a broker and found out that the owner of this house is a Huizhou merchant from the south. He kept a concubine here in the early years, and now he has given the concubine to the prefect Zhang Zhuo. He has not been to Luocheng for a long time."

Shopkeeper Yuan's clothes were stripped off and no one could recognize him. The house was still abandoned. Before leaving, Gui stripped Shopkeeper Yuan's clothes and took off his human skin mask, which immediately made the case lose clues.

At this time, a secret agent rode up to the mansion. He jumped off his horse and shouted, "Sir, sir?!"

Jin Zhu opened the tent curtain and walked out: "Why are you shouting? You look so flustered. The sky of our Secret Service has not fallen yet."

The spy said dryly, "Sir, I negotiated with the Luocheng Military Department last night and they promised to close the gates and set up checkpoints. But this morning I went to the city gates and saw that the four city gates of Luocheng were still open to traffic, with no checkpoints at all. Our people went to ask what was going on, and the military department said that no one had notified them to close the gates. There were already hundreds of people coming in and out, and the snow on the roads outside the city was destroyed!"

The spies were immediately filled with murderous intent. No matter whether they were in the capital or Nanjing, who would dare to be so disobedient to the Secret Service?

A secret agent whispered, "Sir, should Liu Zhen from the Luocheng Military Department be arrested and put in the inner prison first?"

Jin Zhu was silent for a long time before he smiled and said, "It's useless to arrest him. Maybe the Liu family is waiting for us to arrest Liu Zhen and has prepared a backup plan for us... The Liu family is really all-powerful in Yuzhou. Have you been to the prefectural government?"

"I went there, but the prefect and the deputy prefect were not in the government office. The clerk said that when it snowed last night, the two gentlemen went to the river bank to set up a porridge stall and comforted the workers on the river bank."

The Golden Pig was so angry that he laughed: "Okay, okay, this is the civil servant of my Ning Dynasty! Civil servants are the ruin of the country!"

A trusted spy whispered, "Sir, now in Luocheng, the civil officials are avoiding us, the Liu family is obstructing us, and there are traitors from Jing Dynasty in the Luocheng Secret Service..."

Jin Zhu just felt that things were becoming tricky. The most crucial thing was that he didn't know who Jing Chao's accomplice was. Even if he found any clues in the future, Jing Chao would know about it.

He whispered, "From today on, you will lead our own people to investigate the firearm incident last night. Don't let the local spies interfere."

The spy said in embarrassment: "But we only brought twelve spies from the capital, and everyone is not familiar with Los Angeles. We must have someone who is familiar with Los Angeles and reliable to lead us..."

The Golden Pig suddenly said, "I have thought of a man. Prepare the horses. I will go find him. You don't have to follow me!"

……

……

Anxi Street was covered in silver, and it was full of joy. Children were running around happily all over the street, and snowballs were flying everywhere.

Neighbors were clearing the snow in front of their doors and greeting each other happily.

Princess Baili returned with Liang Maoer after walking on the snow. They each carried two baskets of vegetables and walked into the Taiping Clinic.

Liang Maoer was carrying pork and mutton in the baskets in his hands, while Princess Baili was carrying green onions and vegetables. Because it was difficult to travel in the snow, the vegetables today were particularly expensive.

But Baili didn't care.

In the main hall of the clinic, Old Man Yao was fiddling with an abacus.

He caught a glimpse of Bai Li coming in and asked without even looking up, "What did the princess buy so early in the morning?"

Bai Li smiled brightly and said, "It's snowing heavily today, so I'll make pork and green onion, celery and mutton dumplings for everyone to eat at noon!"

Old man Yao raised his head and stroked his beard. He rarely said anything harsh. Instead, he looked at Bai Li carefully and said, "My princess is a kind-hearted person. Stretch out your hand and I will read it for you."

Bai Li put the basket on the counter, smiled and stretched out his hand, "Are you also proficient in physiognomy?"

Old Man Yao held Bai Li's fair and thin hand and looked at it for a long time: "He is not a man who will die young. Go and get busy."

Bai Li was stunned for a moment: "Ah? That's it? Please tell me something else."

Old Man Yao asked, "What else do you want to know?"

Baili stood in front of the counter and thought for a moment: "Will any disaster happen to me?"

Old Man Yao shook his head: "The princess is blessed with great fortune. Even if she is in danger, there will be people to help her and turn danger into safety."

Bai Li's eyes suddenly lit up when he thought of last night's experience. "Wow, you are so accurate, old immortal! Can you tell me something else, such as marriage, or is there anything else I need to pay attention to in the future?"

"I can't count those. Go make dumplings," Old Man Yao waved his hand and sent Bai Li away.

When Princess Baili went to the backyard, he took out six copper coins from his sleeve and threw them on the counter. His brows suddenly furrowed, and then relaxed.

In the backyard.

She Dengke, Liu Quxing and the prince were doing horse stance under the instruction of Liang Gou'er, while Chen Ji was sitting on a bamboo lounge chair and watching, with someone considerately covering him with a quilt.

After applying the medicine, Chen Ji felt that the wounds on his legs and chest were no longer so painful, and the wounds even scabbed and healed at a speed visible to the naked eye. The Medicine Officer of Laojun Mountain seemed to be more magical than imagined. Liang Gouer must have spent a lot of effort to get the medicine.

At this time, the two princes were standing in horse stance, staggering. In the middle of winter, they were sweating profusely, and the sweat on their heads was clearly visible like steam.

She Dengke wailed, "How long are you going to stand here?"

Liang Gou'er hit him on the thigh with a bamboo stick: "You can't hold on for just a moment? I suffered more for practicing swordsmanship than you have!"

Liu Quxing thought for a moment and said, "That's not much..."

Snapped.

The bamboo stick hit Liu Quxing's buttocks, causing him to grimace in pain.

The prince was the only one who didn't complain about the hardship, he really wanted to learn swordsmanship. The helplessness he felt when he was abandoned by those chivalrous knights last night and the despair he felt when facing the secret agents all reminded him that the only person he could rely on was himself.

Therefore, the prince really wants to become an official.

While the three of them were doing horse stance, Liang Gou'er sat carelessly on a small bamboo stool under the eaves, while Liang Mao'er sat next to him picking vegetables.

Suddenly, Liang Mao'er lowered his head and said in a low voice, "Brother, the bottle of soft jade paste has been with you all along, why did you lie to them and say that you went to Laojun Mountain to ask for it?"

Liang Gou'er glanced at his brother unhappily: "If I don't say this, will they cherish it? Only things that are hard to come by will be remembered and cherished!"

"You shouldn't lie. I know you want the prince to continue taking you to drink, but if you don't lie and give the medicine to Chen Ji, they will thank you anyway."

Liang Gou'er chuckled, "The medicine is effective, right? The medicine was given by the medicine officer of Laojun Mountain, right? As long as Chen Ji can get better sooner, what's wrong with a little lie?"

Liang Maoer's voice became even deeper: "Brother, the way to learn Liang family swordsmanship is not to do horse stance. Dad said it all those years ago. Liang family swordsmanship starts with breathing in the sky and earth. There is no need to practice horizontal training like other martial artists."

Liang Gou'er said impatiently, "All martial artists in the world start their training by doing horse stance. What's wrong with me teaching them this way? Are you really going to teach the Liang family's swordsmanship to others? If you really do that, when we go to hell, our father will scold us to death!"

There are many people in the world who use swords, but few who can enter the Tao. If one wants to enter the Tao, one must have his own unique method.

This is the Liang family's secret.

Liang Maoer was in a bad mood: "But they are very nice people. Brother, if you don't plan to teach them the real thing, just tell them directly, don't hide it."

Liang Gou'er said sullenly, "Tell them directly, how can we drink and live in the Taiping Clinic? Otherwise, you can learn the Liang family swordsmanship first, and then you can teach it to whoever you want. I have no right to interfere."

Liang Maoer was immediately discouraged: "I can't learn it."

Liang Gou'er straightened up: "I don't believe that I can't teach you! When you learn it, you can pass it on to whoever you want. When you go to hell, you will take on the responsibility and be scolded by your father and grandfather..."

“I really can’t learn it.”

"You have to learn even if you can't!" Liang Gou'er said in a serious tone, "Follow my breathing. Thirteen thousand five hundred breaths, inhaling and exhaling the vast heaven and earth. It's just a simple breath, how come you can't even get started?! Persevere, and when you have that extra breath in your chest and abdomen..."

No one noticed that when Liang Gou'er was teaching Liang Mao'er how to breathe, Wuyun squatted beside him, staring at him as if he understood something, and his body rose and fell slightly with his breathing.

Sometimes it couldn't understand the words Liang Gou'er said, so it could only remember them in its mind and slowly ponder them.

Wuyun was adjusting his breathing rate thoughtfully, but Liang Gou'er accidentally saw his focused look and laughed, "Does this little cat want to learn swordplay from me? Hahaha, if a cat learns the Liang family swordplay, I don't know what my father would think in the underworld."

Liang Mao'er muttered as he picked vegetables: "You teach it, maybe it can learn faster than me."

Liang Gou'er didn't know whether to laugh or cry: "What kind of bullshit are you talking about? Cats can't even understand what we say, how can they learn to use swords? Listen to me carefully, I don't believe I can't teach you!"

Wu Yun ignored him and jumped onto Liang Mao'er's shoulder. While pretending to be asleep, he secretly listened to Liang Gou'er preaching to Liang Mao'er...

It just felt that the Liang family's swordsmanship was full of attraction. Regardless of whether it could understand it or not, it just listened first.

……

……

Just at this moment, the sound of birds chirping was heard outside the door.

No one else noticed, but Chen Ji suddenly opened his eyes. This was the sound of the Secret Service's whistle!
He propped himself up in surprise and looked towards the main hall through the corridor.

Jin Zhu dressed in civilian clothes and a bamboo hat and came to Taiping Clinic to pretend to see a doctor. He came to the counter and greeted Old Man Yao with a smile: "Doctor Yao, I'm looking for Chen Ji."

Old Man Yao put down the brush and account book in his hand and glanced at the Golden Pig: "All the people in the Secret Service are dead? Why are you looking for a seriously injured person every day?"

Jin Zhu smiled and said, "Isn't it because the disciples you taught are excellent?"

"Go ahead, he's in the backyard."

Jin Zhu poked his head out and glanced at the backyard: "Please call him out, there are too many people in the yard."

Old Man Yao sneered, turned around and shouted, "Chen Ji, come out, someone is looking for you."

The Golden Pig hurriedly said, "Please keep your voice down. I came here secretly!"

Chen Ji slowly stepped out: "Master Jinzhu, how did you get here?"

Jin Zhu pulled Chen Ji aside and said with a smile: "Congratulations first. The reward for our contribution in the Chaocang Casino last time has come. Now you are a pigeon-level secret agent. The next step up is to be a Haidongqing who is in charge of a region. From now on, the court will give you 30 taels of salary every year, and my secret agent department will give you an additional 30 taels."

Chen Ji hummed.

Seeing that he was not very interested, Jin Zhu added: "The letter for you to be granted the path of cultivation has been sent to the capital. I believe you will receive a reply from the Minister in a few days."

Chen Ji's eyes lit up: "Really?"

"How can I still lie to you!"

Chen Ji smiled and said, "Master Jinzhu, why did you come to see me this time?"

"I'll give you a great reward for your contribution!" Jin Zhu said with a smile, "You know that the path to cultivation is a reward that only secret agents at the level of Hai Dongqing can get. Although I have made an exception for you, it is still unclear whether the Minister of Internal Affairs will agree. But if you make another great contribution this time, not only will the path to cultivation be set in stone, you may be promoted to Hai Dongqing immediately and get the resources for cultivation every month... Did you hear the explosion last night?"

"No, there was no explosion," Chen Ji pretended not to know. The clinic was several miles away from Hongyi Lane and he could not hear any noise from there.

Jin Zhu said, "Last night, a thief from Jing Dynasty was causing trouble in Hongyi Lane. Now I don't know where he is hiding. I need you to lead the team and find him."

Chen Ji thought... Isn't this a coincidence?

(End of this chapter)