Qingzhou leaned against Mount Mei, built according to the mountain’s terrain.
As Qingzhou’s natural barrier, no one had expected that deep within Mount Mei’s body lay a complicated and hidden underground cavern system.
The cave was pitch black, with branching paths as numerous as hairs on an ox. Some areas were so narrow they had to crawl through.
If Chen Ben hadn’t been leading the way up front, they likely would have gotten lost inside.
Xie Yi and Lin Zhiji were protected in the middle of the group.
Xie Yi kept hold of Lin Zhiji’s hand. At first, Lin Zhiji had been embarrassed, but after unsuccessfully trying to pull away twice, he gave up and let it be.
Besides, in an environment like this, having Xie Yi beside him truly made him feel safe.
But as they walked, Xie Yi’s earlier words crept back into his thoughts, making him sigh inwardly.
He knew that with Xie Yi’s sharpness, he had probably already noticed Lin Zhiji was hiding something.
But since Xie Yi hadn’t asked directly, Lin Zhiji preferred to bury his head in the sand and avoid the issue for as long as possible.
He wasn’t actually as cheerful and approachable as he appeared on the surface.
Deep down, he didn’t dare trust anyone.
And after realizing Xie Yi’s feelings for him, he became even less willing to tell the truth.
Fairly speaking, aside from when they had first bonded, Xie Yi had treated him very well.
And when Xie Yi kissed him, it had… not been unpleasant.
But in the end, they belonged to two different worlds.
Once he completed the mission, he would leave this world inside the book.
There could never be a future between him and Xie Yi.
The only thing he could do was complete the mission as quickly as possible, save Xie Yi, and then leave.
Just then, Chen Ben suddenly exclaimed excitedly from ahead, “We’re almost there!”
Lin Zhiji looked up and noticed a faint light filtering in from the front.
Everyone climbed out using both hands and feet, discovering a mountain ravine with a shallow stream flowing through it.
The ravine was fairly deep, but Chen Ben pulled out a rope ladder from inside it. The rope was unusually thick and seemed to have been soaked in tung oil, making it extremely sturdy.
Chen Ben climbed up it like a monkey, followed closely by Xie Yi’s subordinates.
Lin Zhiji stood behind them, wanting to try but not quite daring to.
Before he knew it, Xie Yi suddenly picked him up.
After the familiar dizzying sensation of the world spinning, the two of them had already arrived at the top of the ravine.
Chen Ben and the others immediately turned their heads, pretending not to have seen a thing.
Lin Zhiji: …
Chen Ben coughed awkwardly. “Once we leave here, Qingzhou City will come into view.”
According to Chen Ben, the forests around Qingzhou had long since been divided between the Xu and Kou families.
Ordinary people didn’t dare go into the mountains, afraid that accidentally bringing back even a blade of grass or a branch would give the two families an excuse to punish them until they lost everything and eventually fell into slavery.
Because of that, Mount Mei was nearly devoid of human traces, and their infiltration went entirely unnoticed.
Towering ancient trees blocked out the sky, and thick fallen leaves crunched beneath their feet.
Holding Xie Yi’s hand, Lin Zhiji stumbled along behind him and finally saw Qingzhou City spread out below.
But it was only afternoon.
If they entered the city so openly now, they would likely attract attention. They had no choice but to wait until nightfall and slip in under cover of darkness.
So Chen Ben led them to a cave where he had rested before.
They had set out early in the morning and traveled nonstop for three or four hours, pausing only briefly for a quarter-hour to eat something.
Xie Yi and the others were fine.
But Lin Zhiji was absolutely not.
The moment someone mentioned resting, he immediately collapsed into a sitting position, unable to move even a single toe.
Honestly, if Xie Yi hadn’t spent the journey forcing him into horse stance training, he might not have made it at all.
Xie Yi removed his waterskin and held it to Lin Zhiji’s lips.
Too exhausted to care what anyone thought, Lin Zhiji drank a few mouthfuls from his hand and ate some dry rations.
Xie Yi then knelt beside his legs.
Lin Zhiji had just been about to ask what he was doing when sharp pain shot through his calves, nearly making him cry out.
Skillfully kneading his sore muscles, Xie Yi said flatly, “If I don’t work the stiffness out now, don’t even think about getting out of bed for the next few days.”
Lin Zhiji bit down on his sleeve, tears gathering in his eyes.
Xie Yi paused. His hands immediately became much gentler, though his words remained merciless.
“Now you know how to cry? Earlier, when you couldn’t walk anymore, why didn’t you tell me?”
Lin Zhiji hurt too much to answer.
If not for preserving his dignity, he would already have been begging Xie Yi for mercy.
Even so, Xie Yi’s subordinates were internally shaken to the core. They exchanged glances, all silently thinking—
Is this really our master?!
Only Songlü, who had witnessed the entire journey, remained perfectly calm.
This is nothing. You’ll have plenty more chances to be shocked later.
Once night fell, the two sides split up.
Chen Ben and one of Xie Yi’s subordinates would stay here for the night before returning to the stronghold the next day to guide the main force through the underground cavern.
Meanwhile, Xie Yi and the others changed into dark clothing and slipped into the city under cover of night.
After hesitating for a moment, Chen Ben approached Lin Zhiji.
“Brother Lin.”
Lin Zhiji was adjusting the ties on his dark clothes. Hearing him, he put the task aside.
“What is it, Stronghold Chief?”
Chen Ben looked embarrassed.
“Don’t call me that anymore. If your trip succeeds, I won’t be a bandit after this. I’ll settle down and become an honest citizen.”
Lin Zhiji looked surprised, then smiled softly.
“Alright then, Brother Chen.”
“Ah!” Chen Ben beamed with delight.
Then, as if remembering something, he reached into a pocket and pulled out a dagger, handing it to Lin Zhiji.
“You helped our stronghold so much. I don’t really have anything valuable to give you. I forged this dagger myself. It’s nothing expensive, but please take it.”
Lin Zhiji froze.
But Chen Ben had already placed the dagger into his palm.
The weapon felt cold in his hand.
Yet somehow, Lin Zhiji’s heart warmed.
Xie Yi walked over and casually finished tying Lin Zhiji’s clothes for him.
Still excited from before, Lin Zhiji held up the dagger for Xie Yi to see.
“Look! Brother Chen gave me a dagger!”
Xie Yi frowned slightly, his gaze settling on it.
Plain. Crude. Not even particularly sharp.
He had no idea why Lin Zhiji treasured it so much.
“If you like daggers,” Xie Yi said lightly, “once we enter Qingzhou, I’ll give you a better one.”
Lin Zhiji secretly rolled his eyes.
“No thanks. It’s not the same.”
Then he carefully tucked the dagger away.
Xie Yi’s eyes darkened.
Back in the cave, Chen Ben—just about to sleep—suddenly felt a chill run over him and instinctively wrapped his clothes tighter around himself.
Carrying Lin Zhiji in his arms, Xie Yi moved through the night as though walking on level ground.
Songlü and the others followed behind, and before long, the group entered Qingzhou City.
Lin Zhiji knew Xie Yi had already stationed people in Qingzhou to make preparations.
But he had assumed their base would just be some ordinary residence.
Who would’ve guessed that Xie Yi led him straight to an extravagant mansion in the city center?
The owner of the estate seemed entirely unsurprised by their arrival and immediately knelt.
“This subordinate greets Master.”
After Xie Yi allowed him to rise, the man turned toward Lin Zhiji.
His eyes were bright, and his smile warm and gentle.
“This must be Young Master Lin. I am Luo Zhitang.”
Lin Zhiji had assumed that someone as skilled at making money as Mister Luo must be a sharp, capable businessman.
Who would’ve thought he looked more like a refined scholar—gentle, cultured, and even carrying a hint of simple sincerity?
Only after he spoke did that naive, clear-eyed look vanish—replaced by sharp clarity and directness that went straight to the point.
Lin Zhiji didn’t really understand what they were saying, so he left with Songlü first to bathe and change clothes.
Songlü couldn’t help but say, “Young Master Lin, you were surprised when you saw Mister Luo too, right? He looks like that, but he’s actually incredible at business. Do you know? He was the one who volunteered to come to Qingzhou in the first place. In just a year, he not only became a guest of honor for the Xu and Kou families, but also made a hundredfold profit. This mansion was bought by him.”
Lin Zhiji widened his eyes. “I thought it was rented.”
Songlü shook his head. “Anyway, Mister Luo never does unprofitable business. He’s basically the master’s money bag. If you ever want gold or jewels in the future, just ask him directly.”
“Huh?” Lin Zhiji blinked. “Why would I ask him for gold and jewels?”
Songlü also froze. “But didn’t you really like that whole chest of treasures the Crown Prince of Qi sent before? You even insisted on bringing it all the way here. Don’t worry—our master may not be as extravagant as the imperial court, but if you want gold and jewels, you can have as much as you want!”
Lin Zhiji nearly choked on his saliva. “You mean… that box from the Crown Prince of Qi?”
That sandalwood, gold-inlaid, jewel-encrusted chest full of… adult toys?!
“Yes!” Songlü patted the bundle beside him. “Don’t worry, Young Master Lin, I brought it all!”
Lin Zhiji felt the world go black.
Back when they were still at Qilin Stronghold, Lin Zhiji had already seen that box under Xie Yi’s bed. Later, due to various interruptions, he forgot to ask about it—who knew it would reappear like a persistent ghost.
Back in his room, he first shoved the box into the deepest corner of the cabinet, then piled clothes and bedding on top of it until it was completely hidden. Only then did he finally breathe out in relief.
If not for the gold and jewels on the outside, he would’ve buried it in the ground or thrown it into a river—anything to stop seeing it and feeling a certain chill run up his spine.
After that, he finally undressed and stepped into the bath, letting out a long sigh of comfort.
After soaking for a while, he thought again of Luo Zhitang, a little puzzled.
With his abilities and his importance to Xie Yi, there was no way he didn’t exist in the original book.
He closed his eyes and re-examined the story, but among the main and supporting characters, there really was no Luo Zhitang. Among Xie Yi’s subordinates, Qing Li, Songlü, Shen Xian, Cangfeng, and Shuangren were all listed—but not Luo Zhitang.
Could it be that he always operated in the shadows and therefore wasn’t written down?
The more Lin Zhiji thought about it, the more his head hurt. Just as he was about to give up, a sudden thought flashed through his mind.
He quickly flipped further ahead.
In the main story, the protagonist Liu Muzhi overturns a major case from ten years ago, shaking the entire court.
During discussions between two officials, they mentioned that the case had implicated many people and caused numerous deaths.
“Wasn’t the prodigy of the Lan family in Fenning also killed in that turmoil?”
“What a pity…”
Lin Zhiji slowly opened his eyes.
Could it be that Luo Zhitang was the “prodigy of the Lan family in Fenning” they were talking about?
Countless thoughts swirled in his mind.
Just then, he suddenly heard a familiar voice.
【047!】
Lin Zhiji’s thoughts froze. 【03? Why are you here?】
03: 【Of course I came to find you! Do you know how long I had to wait for the villain to leave? What is his problem anyway? Why is he always sticking to you?!】
Lin Zhiji coughed awkwardly.
After venting, 03 quickly said happily, 【But don’t worry—he won’t be coming back tonight. We won’t be disturbed!】
Lin Zhiji: …
Why does this suddenly feel like I’m sneaking around behind Xie Yi’s back?!