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Chapter 16: The Ghost in the Secret Passage
With the help of the slaves, Xiang Yan felt a bit of pressure lifted, but after all, the slaves were commoners without professional training; it took the death of two slaves to take down one Ghost Soldier, and the cost was too high.
Xiang Yan moved closer to Ji Zichen and asked, "You didn't return through the designated secret passage, did you encounter some trouble?"
Ji Zichen sighed, "I was too cautious. If I had taken some risks back then, perhaps you wouldn't have to enter the inner city."
Lin Chuyu's heart tightened as she said, "We can't break out through the city gates. What should we do now?"
Xiang Yan had already thought of an escape route. "I know another secret passage near the south gate."
Gu Diao charged ahead to fight the Ghost Soldiers when it suddenly stood upright, tilting its head as if listening for something. Gu Diao leaped several times on all fours until it reached Ji Zichen's side. "Gu Diao hears many footsteps."
Ji Zichen immediately became alert. "Gu Diao's hearing is better than ours. It seems that Aldebaran Soldiers are gathering here. Look at the steel shield soldiers and the archers on the city wall; they haven't joined in."
Xiang Yan's expression changed. "Are you saying that the lord intends to leave me a way out?"
Ji Zichen replied, "The person who reported to me said that Lin Chuyu hasn't left the inner city. You won't fall out with the lord; I believe you must have some connection with him, right?"
Xiang Yan fell silent, while Lin Chuyu's eyes turned red. "So father doesn't want me to marry the Western King after all."
Ji Zichen said, "Who would want to marry their daughter off to someone like the Western King? The Aldebaran Soldiers are definitely here to suppress the slaves. We can't let down the lord's good intentions, nor can we make things too difficult for him."
Xiang Yan misunderstood Lin Kou and sighed, "He even kept this from me."
As he spoke, Xiang Yan couldn't help but call out loudly, "Everyone follow me!"
The slaves heard the warning and began to fight while retreating.
---
In the Lord's Mansion, Lin Kou stared at the Ghost Guardian for a long time before asking, "Are you going alone?"
The Ghost Guardian sneered. "Yes, I'm worried you might hesitate. But don't worry; I will ensure Second Sister's safety."
Lin Kou noticed the thoughts of the Ghost Guardian and replied without changing his expression, "In that case, please lead the way, Guardian."
Xiang Yan led Yu Ren back to South Street. The number of slaves was indeed impressive, but nearly half of them were women and children. The Ghost Soldiers pursued relentlessly. By the time they reached South Street, hundreds of slaves had dwindled to less than half. Xiang Yan was not concerned about the lives of the slaves; he was worried about Lin Chuyu's safety. At this moment, he still needed the slaves' help and could not reveal his true feelings.
"This won't do," Xiang Yan said. "We need to leave some people behind to block them. Let the women and children go first. Young Master Ji, you and Gu Diao cover their escape while we stay behind to buy some time."
Gu Diao glared at Xiang Yan defiantly. "You think too highly of yourself. Gu Diao won't listen; Gu Diao only listens to friends!"
Xiang Yan was too tired to argue with Gu Diao. He turned to Ji Zichen. "What do you think…"
Ji Zichen exchanged a glance with Gu Diao. Before he could speak, Gu Diao declared, "Gu Diao's companion was killed at Corner Lodge. Friends save me, and Gu Diao is grateful. Anyone who dares to interfere will be killed without mercy!"
Ji Zichen did not want Gu Diao to take risks. "Good friend, don't act on impulse. There will be plenty of opportunities for revenge."
Gu Diao affectionately licked Ji Zichen's cheek, leaving saliva on his face, which Ji Zichen did not wipe away. Gu Diao said, "Your eyes show determination. You must fulfill what you have been entrusted with."
Ji Zichen felt a surge of emotion and replied, "I understand now. I will take care of what you entrusted to me; I promise you that."
Tears fell from Lin Chuyu's eyes as she gazed at Gu Diao. "Gu Diao, my friend, you…"
Before Lin Chuyu could finish her sentence, Gu Diao licked her as well. "Don't cry; Gu Diao is not afraid."
Lin Chuyu looked at Ji Zichen with tearful eyes. "What did it entrust to you?"
Ji Zichen shook his head. "Just to get out."
Xiang Yan raised his voice and ordered, "Women and children, hurry and follow Young Master Ji! The rest stay behind to face the enemy; we can't delay for even a moment!"
Xiang Yan then told Ji Zichen, "After you pass South Street, there will be a Music House. Press the third brick on the left wall of the Music House hall to reveal a passage."
Ji Zichen solemnly replied to Xiang Yan, "Take care!"
"Let's go," Xiang Yan said lightly.
Ji Zichen turned and, along with Lin Chuyu, led nearly a hundred women and children toward the Music House. The Music House was a grand amusement park in the inner city, and its first impression was one of magnificence. Ji Zichen quickly arrived at the entrance of the Music House.
The doors of the Music House were tightly shut. Ji Zichen exchanged a glance with Lin Chuyu, then stepped forward to knock. A servant answered the door, and upon seeing Ji Zichen and the crowd of slaves outside, he was taken aback. He did not see Xiang Yan among them. "Where is General Xiang?"
Ji Zichen replied heavily, "He stayed behind to intercept the pursuers and told me to take everyone ahead."
The servant glanced at the pendant around Lin Chuyu's neck and recognized her identity. "Come in."
Ji Zichen had not seen this servant before and thought he had perished in battle. "How did you end up here?"
The servant explained, "General Xiang saw you hadn't come out, so he brought people into the city and sent me here to secure our escape route."
The servant led everyone into the hall. Ji Zichen pressed a brick, causing a wall to open up, revealing a dark tunnel. The servant said, "The underground passage is extensive; many paths connect. As long as you don't take any wrong turns, you won't get lost."
"Are you not coming with us?" Ji Zichen asked.
The servant replied firmly, "I will wait for the general."
Ji Zichen understood his intention and didn't say more, adding only, "If fate allows, we shall meet again."
The servant smiled slightly. "If fate allows, we shall meet again."
He fetched over ten torches for them to carry as they entered the dark tunnel.
Ji Zichen led the way straight ahead. There were many intersecting paths, and he remembered to instruct everyone not to turn off. After walking for a while, they suddenly spotted a shadowy figure ahead. The figure was illuminated by an oil lamp on the wall beside it, but they were still too far apart to see each other's faces clearly.
Ji Zichen shouted, "Who goes there!"
The passage was quiet; Ji Zichen's voice echoed like thunder. The person across responded ominously, "Second Sister, you finally arrived. I have been waiting here for quite some time."
Ji Zichen found the voice eerily familiar and turned to Lin Chuyu. "Do you know who that is?"
Lin Chuyu also felt that the voice was familiar. After a moment of contemplation, she couldn't help but exclaim, "It's the Ghost Guardian!"
Ji Zichen jolted, finally recalling why this voice sounded so familiar; he had heard it in Lin Chuyu's room. He stepped forward, fixing his gaze on the Ghost Guardian and said, "You have some nerve coming here alone."
The Ghost Guardian replied, "Twenty percent."
Ji Zichen's expression darkened. "What do you mean by twenty percent?"
The Ghost Guardian explained, "I'm referring to the ruins' treasure. I know who you are. You and Second Sister come with me to find the treasure. I can guarantee it for you on behalf of the Western King; we can split it eighty-twenty."
Ji Zichen calmly retorted, "Am I supposed to take eighty while you take twenty?"
The Ghost Guardian's voice turned icy. " Ji Zichen, don't make things harder for yourself. You may have good intentions in saving those people, but think about the slaves behind you. If you save them and can't take care of them, they'll just be captured again and sold elsewhere. How many times can you save them? Twenty percent of Ruins Wealth is enough for you to establish a territory to properly care for them."
Ji Zichen understood this reasoning all too well; however, his perspective had changed since rescuing the slaves from the cage.
"I have no interest in enslaving others," Ji Zichen stated firmly. "So I refuse your offer."
The Ghost Guardian coldly responded, "It seems you're looking for death."
Ji Zichen's Wind Buddha Bead dimmed. "Who dies is still uncertain!"
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