Chapter 10: Escape from Qing Shui City

Just after leaving the noodle shop, Chen Yi He saw guards frequently moving on the street; fortunately he had changed into a waiter's clothes, kept his head low, cautiously staying close to the roadside, moving covertly.

"Pa." Chen Yi He didn't look, bumped into someone; he clutched his burning head, hurriedly said "Sorry," and kept walking without lifting his head.

He never expected he'd bumped into the bald head of the Evil People Gang's bald boss! In this world, such coincidences happen.

The bald boss has a violent temper; being bumped on the head by a waiter, how could he tolerate it? Not even an apology would do!

"Hey, brat, you bumped someone and want to run?" the bald boss shouted, turning and striding forward to grab the waiter's shoulder.

The waiter froze.

The bald boss seized the waiter, about to throw him down.

Chen Yi He remained motionless; he grabbed the bald boss's arm that was holding him, using the shoulder joint as a pivot, and performed an over-the-shoulder throw.

The bald boss's fat body traced a circle in midair, then "Bang!" he crashed hard to the ground.

Chen Yi He sat on him, both fists flying, "Bang bang bang!" rapidly and rhythmically striking his face!!!

The bald boss's face was beaten beyond recognition; his eyelids swollen like inflated balloons, his nasal bone collapsed, several teeth fell out, and now he could barely see the person sitting on him.

Chen Yi He flung the miserable bald boss from the corner onto the crowded street, instantly creating chaos among the crowd and guards; he leapt, climbed onto the roof, and ran swiftly westward… He faintly saw wanted posters of himself plastered all over the street…

Chen Yi He finally saw the city wall and the huge gate set into it. No, there was a person standing on the wall! Chen Yi He then noticed.

Anyone trying to leap over the wall would be spotted by that person; the wall is so high, his field of view is wide enough!

"Leaving the city is only this road; going elsewhere leads to desolate wilderness, which is practically suicide!" Chen Yi He muttered to himself. He had read in ancient texts that on this continent, entering the wilderness guarantees encountering all kinds of beasts!

Chen Yi He would rather offend Qing Shui City than willingly venture alone into the wilderness! Recalling the forest where he fell, he still felt lingering fear, relieved he hadn't been eaten by beasts…

Chen Yi He lay on the roof, watching the expert standing high on the wall with hands behind his back, and also watching the people queuing below for inspection to enter and exit the wall.

He made a quick decision. In this situation, blending in is far better than a head‑on clash! But how to evade the city guards' inspection?

He sneaked down from the roof, dabbed some mud on his face, tore the waiter's clothes he had changed into in a few places, and fell in with the crowd leaving the city, ready to fish in troubled waters.

"Pa." Someone placed a hand on Chen Yi He's shoulder, and he instinctively wanted to give them an over‑the‑shoulder throw.

"Chen brother, hello! It's me, Xu Jia!" the person whispered in Chen Yi He's ear.

Chen Yi He turned and saw it was indeed the white‑clad scholar Xu Jia.

"Come with me." Xu Jia pulled Chen Yi He aside, saying, "You'll be spotted like this; the guards aren't fools—regardless of whether it's really you, any suspicion lands you in custody."

Chen Yi He knew Xu Jia wasn't exaggerating; regretting his rash act earlier, he asked, "How do you know they want to arrest me?"

"Wanted posters with your portrait are everywhere in Qing Shui City—you've become a celebrity!" Xu Jia produced a wanted poster and handed it to Chen Yi He.

Chen Yi He stepped back two steps to make it easier to flee…

"Chen brother, don't worry; you saved my life, I certainly won't repay kindness with enmity—I have a good plan to get you out of the city!" Xu Jia slapped his chest, speaking confidently.

"Really?"

"Really!"

Xu Jia's method was to prepare a cargo cart, place Chen Yi He inside; the cargo being hauled was something Chen Yi He had never seen—like jewels.

"These aren't ordinary jewels; in the Great Zhou Dynasty they're among the rarest— a tiny piece is worth a fortune."

Chen Yi He never expected the powerless Xu Jia to have so many rare treasures— an entire cartload!

"I'm not a merchant; I'm just a middleman earning a commission by running errands! I'm helping my good brother raise money." Xu Jia explained.

"Will this work? Can it get me out?" Chen Yi He felt uneasy; he sensed Xu Jia was somewhat unreliable, though he couldn't pinpoint why…

"Don't worry, leave it to me!" Xu Jia slapped his chest again, mounted his horse, and proceeded slowly.

Chen Yi He sat among the gem pile, feeling surrounded by rich spiritual energy; he picked up a bluish‑green gem, as cool as jade, though it wasn't jade— a faint green light glowed from it, winding around his hand, making his mind pleasant and his body relaxed…

"Routine inspection!" the city guard's cold voice.

Chen Yi He could only pray inwardly, hoping this Xu Jia would be of some use.

"Brother, it's me, Xu Jia…"

"No way; this is a critical moment, the superiors have issued a wanted order—we must scrutinize every person entering or leaving Qing Shui City; please understand." The guard's voice reminded Chen Yi He of the impartial Bao Zheng from TV dramas…

"Can you make an exception?" Xu Jia's words sounded so lacking confidence…

"No, we must enforce the law impartially!"

"Alright, you know I always transport jewels! Smuggling jewels is illegal—go ahead and arrest me; then I'll expose your dealings taking bribes from me, and see if the city lord will let you off!"

Xu Jia added, "Flat rate, fifty taels of gold—decide quickly, don't hold up the people behind you in line!"

And so, Xu Jia brought Chen Yi He out of Qing Shui City.

The expert standing on the wall had his eyes strained from looking, still not seeing Chen Yi He…

……

"This time I really have to thank you!" Chen Yi He rose from the heavy pile of gems and thanked Xu Jia through the cart board.

"Of course, you saved my life too." Xu Jia glanced at Chen Yi He with the corner of his eye, "You're not bad either—you've offended the Xiao family; know that Qing Shui City is run single‑handedly by Xiao Feng!"

"Sigh, I don't want it to be like this either—times change!" Whether it was the gems' influence or escaping the clutches of Xiao Feng and his daughter, he felt much more at ease; his three months of hardship finally came to an end!

"Don't think you can let your guard down now!"

Chen Yi He pulled out an Apple 17 from his pocket; the screen still showed no signal bars, and he suddenly noticed something was off!

Time kept flowing—hours, minutes, seconds were correct—but the date remained stuck on May 7, 2019; clearly three and a half months had passed, he should have missed the dreaded college entrance exam…

Could it be? Time here is flowing, yet the real‑world date hasn't changed? Or perhaps the limited‑edition phone's time system is simply broken?

Chen Yi He didn't think further; he locked the phone and slipped it back into his pocket…

Xu Jia watched Chen Yi He's practiced motions and finally understood why he hadn't succeeded in the brothel… Now he knew the treasure in the black box would eventually be his! He deliberately kept silent, just to let Chen Yi He relax his guard against him.

"What did you say?" Chen Yi He didn't catch Xu Jia's earlier words.

"Uh… I said you can't let your guard down…" Xu Jia then urged Chen Yi He to increase his vigilance against the Xiao family.

"What's wrong?"

"Xiao Feng of Qing Shui City is the brother of the emperor's favorite consort in the Great Zhou Dynasty—thus the emperor's brother‑in‑law. He holds high power in the court; if he wanted to hunt you down, as long as you're on the Tian An Continent, you'll never have a peaceful day!"

Chen Yi He could tell Xu Jia wasn't speaking alarmist nonsense: 'This... the Xiao family's influence is that huge?'

Just see if you'll be lucky!

Chen Yi He didn't want to think so much; take it step by step. Now what he needs to do is seek a breakthrough, make himself stronger. He asked Xu Jia, 'Where are you headed?'

I'm going to send these gems to my brother's hands.

Chen Yi He clicked his tongue, he truly didn't know who had the deep pockets to afford this cart of treasures; if they were brought back to the real world, how much money could they make!? 'Then I'll go with you, so we have company on the road.'

He's at Tiger Mountain; we just need to head south all the way! About seven days.