Chapter 148: How is the Headmaster's Health?
Ji You had been staying in his Bishui Lake Garden these past few days.
He won the Inner Courtyard Autumn Tournament.
It was a surprise, but without danger.
However, compared to the external clamor, he was not overly excited.
He was more concerned about another matter, so on the second day after the Autumn Tournament, he went with Cao Jinsong to the Instructor Building to retrieve their previous bet.
Ma Zhiyuan, 100 Spirit Stones √
Ding Ang, 100 Spirit Stones √
These were what the two of them lost in their bet against Cao Jinsong. When they were sensing the Celestial Book, Cao Jinsong promised him half, and what he received now was Ma Zhiyuan's share.
At this moment, Ji You gently rubbed a Spirit Stone, his expression calm, while Cao Jinsong sat opposite him, his chest massive.
The two carefully judged the size, shape, and quality of each piece, striving for an equal division.
"Don't even mention Spirit Stones from the Snow Region or even Yun Province; they're all low-priced Central Province Spirit Stones—"
"Cao Instructor, this one of mine isn't very good; it can't count as one whole piece."
Ji You, in the courtyard, muttered to himself, discarding the slightly inferior Spirit Stone in his hand and picking a good one from Cao Jinsong's pile.
Cao Jinsong was speechless for a moment: "You're about to enter the Inner Courtyard, yet your conduct is still so petty.
Are you still as unpromising as when you first came out of Yuyang County?"
"If you went to Yuyang County with me and ate scratchy wild vegetables and steamed buns for three years, you'd know why."
Environment can indeed change human nature, especially an extremely impoverished and continuous environment.
In summary, it's three words: scared of poverty.
Ji You picked up a Spirit Stone and compared it against the sunlight for a long time, carefully appreciating its luster and the pure Spiritual Qi it contained, but his expression suddenly became much more serious, and a hint of regret flashed in his eyes.
Seeing his expression, Cao Jinsong's brows furrowed slightly.
In fact, ever since the Autumn Tournament ended yesterday, he noticed that Ji You seemed to be in a somewhat poor state, especially when he came over this morning, he seemed to have not slept all night due to certain matters.
"What's wrong with you? You've already won the Autumn Tournament, why do you seem so restless instead?"
Ji You put down the Spirit Stone in his hand: "Actually, during the Autumn Tournament, there was a moment when I regretted it."
Cao Jinsong was slightly stunned for a moment: "Regretted what?"
"I should have discussed it with Chu River and told him that ten thousand taels of gold could buy me removing one sword, teaching him the joy of a 'pay-to-win' player."
"?"
Cao Jinsong's mouth twitched: "The Chu Family took him back and spent two months cultivating him and teaching him techniques, but they don't know they could have just paid for you to lose?"
Hearing this, Ji You's movements in his hand involuntarily paused, and his expression became thoughtful.
"What does that expression mean? Could you really be bought to lose?"
"Uh, probably not, but I'm not very confident. Even if I really refused, I would definitely have a very strong internal struggle, because a pauper's humanity cannot withstand temptation."
"Then why did you say he could pay ten thousand taels to make you remove one sword?"
"Actually, I could have won with five swords, so I just lost twenty thousand taels for nothing."
After Ji You finished speaking, he took a Spirit Stone from Cao Jinsong's pile: "This is to compensate me for my lost twenty thousand taels."
After hearing that, Cao Jinsong almost ground his back teeth, thinking to himself that he shouldn't have asked.
Some people truly cannot be casually cared for.
Pei Ruyi and the others were also sitting at the tea table, watching Ji You and Cao Jinsong meticulously inspect the Spirit Stones, each looking at a loss for words.
They knew about Chu River's hands being completely severed earlier than Lu Qingqiu.
Because on the day of the Autumn Tournament, when Ji You left the stage, they followed him.
"Chu River's hands were probably shattered by my shock."
"That last technique, Xiao Chong Shan, I used the Sword Intent of Willow Color New, cutting through his Huantian Technique, and it all shattered upon his body.
"Didn't you all say that the Chu Family has deep foundations and might have a trump card? So I never thought of giving him a chance for a second round."
These were his exact words that day, which immediately left people dumbfounded upon first hearing them.
And the subsequent news spreading from all directions indeed confirmed the matter of Chu River's hands being completely severed.
Recalling the murderous sword master from back then, and then looking at the miser who haggles over every penny with a Spirit Stone now, the contrast is undeniably strong.
Wen Zhengxin picked up a Spirit Stone and looked at it, then couldn't help but speak: "Junior Brother, if Chu River had persisted into the second round and still had trump cards unused, would you have had a chance to win?"
"Yes."
"Really?"
Ji You pondered for a moment before nodding: "I also had some trump cards unused."
Hearing this, everyone sitting idly in the Garden couldn't help but show complex expressions.
Before the Autumn Tournament began, many people said they had never seen Ji You make a move and couldn't figure out his true strength.
So after Chu River's return to the Inner Courtyard with such overwhelming Aura, many people dared not lightly declare who would win or lose.
However, in that fierce Autumn Tournament, when everyone saw Ji You unleash seven swords of Xiao Chong Shan, they thought they had finally seen Ji You's strongest Sword Dao.
But it wasn't until Ji You spoke now that they realized that even though Chu River's Huantian Technique was so powerful,
He still hadn't fully figured out Junior Brother's true strength.
But on the day of the Autumn Tournament, they had seen Xiao Chong Shan and Gui Qu Lai, and the sharp Sword Intent of Willow Color New had also appeared in those last seven swords.
They couldn't quite figure out what other trump cards Junior Brother Ji still had.
Just then, a "thump, thump, thump" knocking sound came from the courtyard gate of the leisurely small courtyard. Pei Ruyi, who was closest to the door, stood up and opened it.
Outside the door stood an Outer Courtyard Senior Sister from the third year, whose eyes, as they moved, handed over a bulging letter.
"Brother Ji's fiancées are increasing—"
Ru Long Immortal Emperor went mad with jealousy upon seeing this scene: "If only I had known, I would have diligently cultivated immortality too!"
Pei Ruyi took it and squeezed it a few times, judging that it probably contained a bellyband, and then casually handed it to Ji You, seeming to be accustomed to this matter.
Because since last night, these things had not stopped coming.
Young Misses from the families of current high officials, Fairies from the Outer Courtyard, and even some Worldly Family young ladies, all flocked to him.
It is said that even Princess Changle from Prince Chong's Mansion had taken an interest and sent a hairpin in a letter.
They all knew that although Princess Changle Zhao Yunyue was not a Disciple of an Immortal Sect, she was actually a direct Disciple of an Elder from Lingjian Mountain, and her status in the immortal registry was actually not inferior to Junior Brother Ji's.
Moreover, there had always been a relatively good relationship between Great Xia Dynasty and Tianshu Academy.
Therefore, both the Great Xia Imperial Dynasty and the Tianshu Academy itself were quite supportive of Princess Changle's desire to become Dao Companion with Ji You.
There was also Lu Qingqiu, the Young Miss from Yun Province in the same courtyard, who was also considered a good choice by everyone.
Because Yun Province borders Feng Province, which would be very helpful for Junior Brother Ji to establish a Worldly Family.
Junior Brother Ji is in good health, and that Young Miss Lu has round hips, so procreation would certainly not be a problem, which is also one of the important factors in ensuring the prosperity of a Family.
However, based on their observations over the past few days, Junior Brother Ji seemed to be more interested in money.
In a short while, Ji You had inspected the Spirit Stones, then put them into his storage gourd, saying, "I'm rich..."
"I'm so happy, shall we go out to eat? Ru Long is treating."
On the tenth day of the seventh month, the rain stopped. The two-day continuous rainfall had carried away the last trace of summer heat from Shengjing, and the temperature quietly dropped.
The Master's Courtyard issued a document, announcing Ji You's selection into the Inner Courtyard.
So, on a bright and sunny morning, Ji You, under the gaze of many, walked along the mountain path, bypassed the Master's Courtyard, and entered that vast forest alone.
And cultivators of his same rank, or those who had been in the Outer Courtyard for many years, as well as the three Headmasters of the Master's Courtyard, were all gathered below the platform, watching him gradually disappear into the forest.
"He truly entered the Inner Courtyard—."
"Those seven swords in the Autumn Tournament, it is said even the five great Hall Masters of the Inner Courtyard praised them repeatedly. This might only be Ji You's starting point, not his peak."
"You mean, he might become a direct Disciple of a Hall Master?"
"We certainly dare not presume to guess the Hall Masters' thoughts, but who can say for sure about such things?"
Lu Qingqiu was standing at the corridor in front of the Baiyu Platform at this moment, her eyes somewhat moist.
She had sent a letter yesterday expressing her desire to become Dao Companion with Ji You, but received no response. Now, looking at his retreating figure, her mind couldn't help but conjure his jade-like physique, and a hint of unwillingness arose.
She knew that after the Autumn Tournament, many Worldly Family young ladies had taken an interest in him, but she didn't know whom he had chosen.
If she had known this day would come, she felt she should have acted when he saved her on Shengjing Street.
It was a pity that back then, considering his humble origins, she had excluded him from her list of potential husbands.
"Will Ji You really choose Princess Changle?"
"It's also possible it's the Dan Sect's daughter."
"The Dan Sect's daughter's status is a bit too high, it's not very likely—"
Meanwhile, Ji You had already entered the depths of the vast forest, restraining the urge to write, "This road is mine, this tree is mine. If you want to pass, leave your toll," and finally walked out of the forest, seeing a vast cliff.
Before him were the pavilions and towers he had seen many times in the clouds and mist. Now, without the concealment of those clouds and mist,
They appeared even more magnificent and grand.
The Inner Courtyard also had a mountain gate, similar in appearance to the Outer Courtyard's.
Entering through the mountain gate, majestic mountains unfolded one after another before his eyes. There were three peaks on the left and two on the right, all topped with towering palaces, which were the five halls of the Tianshu Academy's Inner Courtyard. In the middle, there was also the highest peak, which was the Holy Land of the academy, the Celestial Book Palace.
Ji You was at the intersection of the six peaks. Forward was the Baiyu Divine Path, where many Inner Courtyard Disciples were gathered, watching Ji You emerge from the forest along the divine path.
Among the five Inner Courtyard halls, besides Jixiang Hall and Zizai Hall, Chang Sheng Dian, Dustless Hall, and Wuyu Hall did not yet have direct Disciples.
And among the Disciples of these three halls, there were quite a few who wanted to contend for this spot. Given Ji You's various performances in the Outer Courtyard, his presence was enough to make those candidates view him as a threat.
At this moment, Ji You was looking around when he saw Wen Zhengxin and Ban Yangshu approaching.
"Junior Brother Ji, welcome to the Inner Courtyard."
They had volunteered to be Ji You's guides, and then led him into a small courtyard on the west side of the Purple Bamboo Zen Forest.
This small courtyard had been prepared at the beginning of the year, specifically for new students entering the Inner Courtyard.
Inside the room, there were also prepared Inner Courtyard immortal robes, and tables, chairs, and benches were all complete, not much different from the Bishui Lake Garden, and even larger in area.
Wen Zhengxin and Ban Yangshu took him on a tour, then sat down at the stone table in the courtyard: "We've already discussed the situation in the Inner Courtyard before. What you need to consider now is which hall you want to join."
Ji You was currently observing the flowers and trees in the courtyard, and upon hearing them, turned his head: "Is there a big difference between the five halls?"
"The five halls differ in their emphasis on cultivation methods. Zizai Hall mainly cultivates Heavenly Secrets, and Chang Sheng Dian mainly cultivates Force Methods, but Daoist Magic are generally interconnected, so students entering the Inner Courtyard usually don't focus on this."
"Then what do they consider?"
"They consider the mutual alliances between Worldly Families. Most of the Worldly Families from Yun Province are in Zizai Hall, others are in Jixiang Hall, and there are a few Worldly Families from You Province. Most of the Disciples in the academy are like this."
Ji You vaguely understood Wen Zhengxin's meaning, realizing that the cliques in the Inner Courtyard were more severe than in the Outer Courtyard.
For a rural private cultivator like him, without a Worldly Family background, entering the Outer Courtyard was already unprecedented,
And entering the Inner Courtyard was even more astonishing, which is why they wanted him to think carefully.
Just as everyone had previously said he could establish a Worldly Family or Immortal Villa in Feng Province, choosing which hall to join might affect his relationships with various Worldly Families.
Wen Zhengxin and Ban Yangshu did not recommend him to join Zizai Hall and Jixiang Hall. The reason was the same as the concerns of those previous Inner Courtyard Disciples, which was naturally for the position of direct Disciple.
Those people might only feel that Ji You was a threat, but the two of them felt that with Ji You's talent, he would certainly become a direct Disciple of a hall.
If he chose an immortal hall that already had a direct Disciple, it would be too much of a pity.
And just as the three of them were talking, three Inner Courtyard Instructors dressed in black Daoist robes floated over.
These three Instructors came from Chang Sheng Dian, Jixiang Hall, and Dustless Hall respectively, and immediately offered to take Ji You as a direct Disciple, inviting him to join their respective immortal halls.
Seeing this scene, Wen Zhengxin and Ban Yangshu couldn't help but open their mouths wide.
Because they had also entered the Inner Courtyard from the Outer Courtyard, but they had never seen anyone receive such treatment.
However, Ji You did not decide on the spot, only saying that he had just entered the Inner Courtyard and needed to consider it further.
So the three Elders left, and only the three of them remained in the courtyard.
"After becoming a direct Disciple of an Elder, can one still become a direct Disciple of the Headmaster?"
"?"
Wen Zhengxin and Ban Yangshu were about to answer, then paused, and exchanged glances.
At first, they thought Ji You was asking, "After becoming a direct Disciple of an Elder, can one still become a direct Disciple of a Hall Master?" They were about to answer when they realized he wasn't.
He was asking about a direct Disciple of the Headmaster, which was a world of difference from a direct Disciple of a Hall Master.
Did Junior Brother Ji get excited and mistakenly say "direct Disciple of the Headmaster" instead of "direct Disciple of a Hall Master"?
However, before they could react, they heard Ji You's voice sound again beside their ears.
"Our Headmaster of Tianshu Academy—where does he live?"
"Uh, the Headmaster should live in the Celestial Book Palace, the highest peak."
Ji You glanced at the distant clouds and mist: "Then is he still in good health?"
"?"
(Taking a slight break for the New Year with 2000 characters, so only one update. Please give monthly votes)
