Chapter 170: Short Paper, Long Affection
The Human Race envoy group left Shengjing City, heading north against the brilliant morning sun.
However, the Immortal Sect Disciples and noble families in the capital still bustled through the streets, gathering in teahouses and taverns to discuss, with the main topic still being Ji You.
After all, this place was closest to Tianshu Academy, and Ji You was the one they knew best.
However, in these discussions, there were usually not many good words, almost the same as those in the Inner Courtyard,
It was almost enough to make one's ears callus.
Like a rustic private cultivator who could not escape his narrow vision, he thus cheaply sold his life.
Some also thought of how he had not laid the groundwork for his Family's development back then, but instead offended the major Immortal Sects, to the extent that he couldn't even enter the Immortal Hall.
Someone else said that Ji You had indeed been lured away by money once, and then almost brought about a life-threatening disaster, but still didn't learn his lesson, which caused a burst of laughter throughout the venue.
Such remarks were everywhere under the clear blue sky, becoming a laughingstock in teahouses and taverns.
However, talking and laughing about such things was enough; what everyone was more concerned about was actually the outcome of this trip,
Or rather, how the future situation would change, as this matter was closely related to them.
All beneficiaries in the world were like this, feeling that their current lives were comfortable and easy, and even if they couldn't achieve Immortal Ascension, they were still free and unrestrained, not much different from an Immortal, fearing only chaos.
“Whether it's trade or receiving barbarian envoys, the Yao Race's intentions have never been benevolent. This is what I said before, and now it has indeed been confirmed—”
“That's right, the Yao Race has always been ambitious.”
“On this diplomatic mission to the Yao Race, the Yao Emperor will certainly play hard to get and demand benefits. If not granted, war may be unavoidable.”
“Then—do we cultivators also have to participate in the war?”
“There's no need to worry too much about that. Those who go to the battlefield first will definitely be those whose backgrounds and origins are inferior to ours.”
“If Hantie Pass really can't be held, then Yun Province will be miserable.”
“Yun Province has many Spirit Mines and has always been a highly valued place. If we break with the Yao Race and lose the snowy region demon stone, that area of Yun Province cannot be abandoned. I think Feng Province will be the unlucky one.”
“Feng Province—?”
“That place is vast and sparsely populated, has no Spirit Mines, and only Mortals, making it extremely suitable for warfare. If I were the Immortal Sect Master, I would send powerful individuals under my command to Yun Province to move mountains and block roads, leading the enemy to Feng Province for battle.”
“Then won't the children of Feng Province be unable to grow up, and those who leave home find it difficult to return?”
“Hmm? What's the allusion?”
“Hahaha, that's Young Master Ji You's famous saying. When he established a Worldly Family in Feng Province, he made a wild vow, saying he wanted children to grow up, people who left home to be able to return, and to let—”
Amidst the laughter, the Worldly Family Disciple who spoke suddenly paused, then turned to look out of the pavilion, towards the direction where the carriage convoy had departed.
Shengjing City in autumn, with the autumn wind sweeping, golden fallen leaves covered the ground, making the scene appear desolate.
And the clamor of the others also came to an abrupt halt at this moment. After exchanging glances, they lowered their heads and frowned, their eyes sometimes narrowing, sometimes widening, finally their expressions becoming thoughtful.
And it was on this long street lined with taverns, as the onlookers dispersed, that two figures walked past.
One of them was Princess Changle of Prince Chong's Mansion, and the other was Dou Yuankong, the son of Dou Shangshu.
However, the atmosphere between the two seemed somewhat silent.
“Actually, the Yao Race breaking with our Human Race may not be without benefits for us. Previously, Yun Province stone and Central Province stone were always under our control. Later, when the snowy region demon stone entered, we lost our monopoly on the Spirit Stone channels, but after this incident, everything might return to normal.”
Zhao Yunyue walked forward silently, her face cold.
Dou Yuankong was silent for a long while, then cupped his hands and said, “I know Princess Changle has feelings for that Ji You, but—he is really too much of a bully. Supporting that scholar is one thing, but he also emptied my money bag. My elaborate plan to trap and kill him this time was also a last resort.”
“This matter—is fine.”
“Princess Changle doesn't blame me?”
Dou Yuankong heard her calm tone and couldn't help but feel a little surprised.
Zhao Yunyue looked calmly ahead: “I had feelings for Ji You because he entered the Inner Courtyard, and his Physique could be passed down. I wanted to have children with him, but he didn't choose me, so why should I blame you on his behalf?”
“When my Dao Companion proposal was rejected, I was initially resentful, but now that I think about it, it's fortunate, because the envoy mission suddenly made me realize that he is ultimately a petty, rustic country bumpkin.”
“Living in this world, it's not just about relying on extraordinary talent to settle everything. More importantly, it's about vision and planning. So, no matter how strong a person is, it's difficult to succeed alone. From this perspective, he is not worthy of me.”
Dou Yuankong nodded, agreeing with this statement: “The world is all like this; one's birth determines one's height.”
Zhao Yunyue raised the corner of her mouth: “However, although your plan had the backing of major Worldly Families and the high-ranking officials of Tianshu Academy, it truly surprised me.”
“Princess Changle praises me too much. That night, when I heard rumors of the barbarian envoys going to the Yao Race, and the Yao Race envoys happened to be nearby, I had the perfect timing, geographical advantage, and human harmony.”
Dou Yuankong was very humble, but in his heart, he was quite proud.
Ji You, who claimed to be unparalleled in the Dao of the Sword, possessed extraordinary talent, and even the Chu Family couldn't handle, was now being played in his palm. How could this not make him swell with pride?
“Where can they reach today?”
“Probably Yun Province. It will take about two days to get out of Hantie Pass.”
Zhao Yunyue's eyes trembled slightly: “He's probably still leisurely and carefree right now. He won't realize what a life-threatening disaster is until three days later, and then he'll be filled with regret.”
Just then, a sudden clamor came from the front, accompanied by the neighing of horses echoing throughout the long street.
The two looked up simultaneously, realizing that they had unknowingly arrived at Wei Li's mansion.
The source of the commotion was at the gate of the Wei mansion. Wei Rui was leading a horse, trying to go out, but she was stopped in the street by the Wei mansion's housekeeper and the servants. Their struggle startled the horse.
Dou Yuankong immediately frowned: “Stop!”
The Wei mansion's housekeeper, drenched in sweat, turned to look and, seeing them, immediately bowed: “This humble one greets Princess Changle and Young Master Dou.”
Zhao Yunyue's face was like frost as she took a step forward: “Pulling and shoving in the street, what kind of decorum is this?”
“Princess Changle, it's not that this humble one is rude, it's that this humble one has no choice. Grandfather and Master are not at home right now,
My Young Miss insists on riding a horse to Hantie Pass, and she won't listen to any persuasion—”
Zhao Yunyue was slightly stunned: “Go to Hantie Pass?”
Dou Yuankong also looked bewildered: “Rui'er, what are you going to Hantie Pass for?”
Wei Rui looked at the two with red eyes: “They went to Hantie Pass; they will die.”
There was some sisterly affection between Zhao Yunyue and Wei Rui, and she also knew about her and Kuang Cheng's matter. Hearing her, she couldn't help but say, “The Immortal Supervisor's Reception Office will only escort the envoy group to Hantie Pass, and then they will separate inside the pass. That person surnamed Kuang doesn't need to go to the Snow Region; he won't be in danger.”
“No!”
“?”
“Young Master Kuang said that if Hantie Pass cannot be defended, cultivators will definitely set the barren and useless Feng Province as the battlefield. In fact, since the founding of our Great Xia, we have been worried that the barbarians who fled to the Ten Thousand Mountains might one day counterattack,
So Feng Province has always been reserved for this purpose!”
“Young Master Ji You understood this long ago, so he went forth with his sword, this time to live through death! Young Master Kuang said that although he is not as strong as Young Master Ji You, if war truly breaks out, he can also choose to die first!”
Wei Rui clutched a letter in her hand, with only two lines of text on it.
How much ink can be used to write down the great love and hate of heaven and earth? Thousands of miles of mountains and rivers will not yield to me.
The paper in the world is short, and affection is hard to retain.
The scholar is pedantic and stubbornly adheres to etiquette; he has never used such explicit words before.
As her voice fell, Zhao Yunyue and Dou Yuankong's minds buzzed, and their eyes slowly widened.
Meanwhile, at the border of Central Province and Yun Province.
The vast envoy convoy departed from Shengjing City, heading north, galloping along the Great Xia official road, stirring up a cloud of dust and dirt.
Because there were many people in the envoy group and the gifts they carried were piled up like small mountains, they could not ride Immortal ships. However, to ensure speed, a Magical Artifact was embedded in the center of the bottom of each carriage.
This Magical Artifact, driven by Spirit Stones, could support the entire carriage with its vast Qi, reducing the horses' burden and thus increasing speed.
However, because the Great Xia official road had been in disrepair for many years, this Magical Artifact made the jolting of the carriages even more severe as they moved forward.
The autumn wind was refreshing. Inside the bumpy carriage, Ji You was wiping the long swords he had brought, counting the one in his hand, there were fifty in total.
The limitation of Divine Thought prevented him from using too many Divided Souls, thus he couldn't achieve the effect of Seven Swords Cleaving with fifty swords.
But if all swords were one move, it could greatly save Divine Thought.
He had used fifty-three swords during the battle at Tianshu Academy; now, adding water when there's too much flour and flour when there's too much water, it should be even more than that.
Ban Yangshu had also asked him, since the number he could control had exceeded fifty, why he didn't buy more.
Ji You was actually quite helpless, because fifty wasn't his limit, but it was almost the limit of the Master's Courtyard. When he was shopping at Qionghua Pavilion, he had always been careful to control the amount, keeping it within their tolerable limit.
【The Robber's Kindness】
However, the main problem was that Cao Jinsong's longevity peach was indeed too expensive; he basically couldn't afford it even if he worked at Tianshu Academy for his entire life.
As Ji You wiped his long swords, he saw the sky gradually darkening as they traveled.
At this time, the envoy convoy had already delved deep into Yun Province, arriving at Hexing City, known for its Spirit Stone sales. They saw Spirit Stone businesses lining both sides of the main road into the city, and even a gambling stone industry had developed.
Ji You gently waved his sleeve, and a surge of Spiritual Qi whistled out, lifting the carriage's door curtain to the ceiling. Then he looked at the businesses on both sides.
With just one glance, he knew he had overpaid for that longevity peach.
At this moment, the convoy slowly stopped in the city, arriving at the Laishi Inn, which had been booked by the Immortal Supervisor before their departure.
They would not go deeper into Yun Province. After passing through Hexing City, the convoy would travel east along the northern border, passing through the northwest of Feng Province, to avoid the barbarian army outside Hantie Pass.
Therefore, they would rest here tonight.
At this time, those Immortal Sect Prodigies had already disembarked, looking imposing as they surveyed their surroundings.
Previously in Shengjing City, there were many people and it was chaotic, so Ji You didn't pay much attention to them. Only now, based on the rumors he had heard these days, could he confirm their identities one by one.
The one with a golden crown binding his hair and wearing a blue silk brocade robe was Jiang Chenfeng from Asked the Dao Sect, who came from the millennium Worldly Family, the Jiang Family, and had always been allied with Asked the Dao Sect through marriage.
If by relation, Jiang Chenfeng would have to call the direct Disciple Saint, Shang Xiyao, his older cousin.
Following him were his older cousin Jiang Yan and another Disciple, Tu Xu.
As soon as they landed, a man in a black brocade robe with a straight-bladed broadsword at his waist approached Jiang Chenfeng, cupped his hands in greeting. He was Huo Hong from Mountain and Sea Pavilion, with his Junior Brother Lu Dacheng and Junior Sister Jiang Yuerou behind him.
This Huo Hong was rumored to be the half-brother of Huo Xingzhong, the direct Disciple Saint of Mountain and Sea Pavilion, and had been fostered outside the Sect.
Later, he was taken into the Sect but was never acknowledged.
It was said that someone once asked Huo Xingzhong about this, and Huo Xingzhong's disdain was particularly evident.
However, perhaps because of this experience, Huo Hong was very diligent. At thirty-one, he was still young in the cultivation world.
But he had been in seclusion for more than twenty years, and this was one of the few times he had come out of seclusion, already at the middle stage of Rongdao Realm.
Although he didn't come out of seclusion often, there were many rumors about Huo Hong in the cultivation world.
Some said he was sinister and cruel, often tormenting Disciples in the pavilion for fun.
Subsequently, Yan Qiubai and Xie Chenyu from Lingjian Mountain also joined them.
Yan Qiubai was from Tianjian Peak, a distant niece of the Sect Master Yan Zhong, while Xie Chenyu was a distant relative of the Tianjian Peak Master.
The relationship between the three Southern Sects was slightly better than that between the three Northern Sects, so it was not surprising for them to gather together at this time. “This Yun Province is truly a good place, with beautiful mountains and clear waters, vast and boundless land, just a little dry.”
“I have been in seclusion for a long time, so it’s not bad to come out and wander around this time.”
“By the way, Junior Brother Jiang, I forgot to ask earlier, during the Heavenly Dao Conference, I had a pleasant conversation with Senior Brother Shang, the direct Disciple of your Asked the Dao Sect. A few days ago, when I came out of seclusion, I heard he had been in seclusion for a long time. When will he break through?”
“Counting the time, it’s not far off.”
“The Young Master Jian of Lingjian Mountain has also gone into seclusion, haven’t they? They might have made a pact—.”
“Perhaps we can see them before the Heavenly Dao Conference is held—.”
Just as ordinary cultivators often discuss Prodigies like them, Prodigies also have Prodigies in their hearts whom they would sacrifice their lives to catch up to, and they always mention them.
They would even specifically bring up their past encounters with them and talk about them proudly.
And those who came down from the carriage opposite them were two individuals from Xuan Yuan Immortal Mansion, one named Chu, called Chu Butian, naturally from the Chu Family, but not well-known, and another named Qian Jun, accompanied by an Elder from the mansion.
The Chen Clan, due to the previous incident in Qi Ridge, suffered a great loss of Origin Qi and only sent one Wujiang Realm Elder and one Rongdao Realm Disciple.
At this moment, the Elders of the six great Immortal Sects gathered together, wearing aloof expressions and unfathomable auras, and entered the inn first.
Ji You got out of the carriage at this moment, looked around, and saw countless majestic cities under the distant night sky,
As well as estates filled with pavilions and towers, arranged in a dense pattern.
Yun Province was famous for its spiritual ore resources, which yielded immense profits. When Lu Qingqiu entered Tianshu Academy, her aura of wealth truly surprised him for a long time.
“Compared to this place, our Feng Province is truly a barbaric land.”
“It’s just a facade of peace; the suffering of the common people is the same.”
Kuang Cheng followed him out of the carriage and couldn't help but say, “The people of Yun Province all rely on the Worldly Family’s mines for food, but they still need to pay tribute. Able-bodied laborers can go down to the mines and at least get a full meal, but the old, weak, and young live incredibly difficult lives, not much better than Feng Province.”
Ji You frowned slightly: “If the young ones can’t survive, how can there be able-bodied adults?”
“So these Spirit Stone Worldly Families are very clever. They noticed this early on and thus allowed the local people to foster children.”
“What is fostering?”
Kuang Cheng stood by the carriage, looking at the brightly lit pavilions ahead, and said, “There is an institution in Yun Province called a fostering house, founded by the local Worldly Families. If miners cannot afford to raise their children, they can choose to hand them over to the fostering house for upbringing.”
Ji You looked at him: “I imagine this isn't a charity, otherwise, during the White Dew season, people from Yun Province wouldn't flee to Feng Province.”
“That’s right, this fostering house is indeed not a charity. The fostered children accumulate astronomical debts for their upbringing every day. One could say they are already heavily indebted from birth, and when those children grow up, they will be sold to Spirit Stone mines because of this upbringing debt, mining Spirit Stones for life.”
Kuang Cheng paused and then continued, “About thirty percent of households in Yun Province have fallen into this, while the other seventy percent still need to pay tribute every year.”
A hint of doubt flashed in Ji You’s eyes: “It’s already like this, and people are still willing to have children?”
“At first, some people would rather have no descendants than have more children, but the Worldly Family used money as an enticement. Having one child meant ten taels of silver, which was enough to keep people reproducing endlessly.”
“How is this different from selling children?”
Kuang Cheng shook his head: “There’s no difference, but the word ‘fostering’ sounds better.”
Have babies, mine, have more babies, mine more.
Those ignorant children probably never thought they were born just to be slaves to Immortals.
Ji You turned his head and felt that beneath these pavilions and towers were countless piled bones: “I told you that being a fierce bandit is a sunrise industry.”
“Hmm?”
“There are simply too many Worldly Families that deserve to be robbed. Small bandit strongholds are far from enough; only something the size of Tianshu Stronghold can achieve it.”
At this moment, countless flower-adorned palanquins suddenly surged into the night sky, their bottoms surging with Spiritual Qi, creating endless wind and waves.
And within those wind and waves, various flags emblazoned with Family crests flapped vigorously. Then the palanquins landed in front of the inn where they were to stay, and a group of richly dressed, uncrowned middle-aged men descended, all of them of considerable cultivation, likely Elders and retainers from the various great Worldly Families of Yun Province.
They all held golden invitation cards and then surged into the inn.
The fact that an envoy delegation from the capital would travel to the Snow Region, escorted by Prodigies from the various Immortal Sects, was no secret among the Worldly Families.
So, from the moment they set off, many Worldly Families in Yun Province had already prepared invitation cards, hoping to invite them to indulge in pleasures while they rested in the city.
Ji You and Kuang Cheng stood outside the inn, and by the light from inside, they saw both parties rise, bow to each other, and exchange greetings.
Then one extended a hand in invitation, and the other stepped out to follow.
Those from the three great Northern Sects received the most invitations, as Yun Province was in the north and needed the protection of the Northern Immortal Sects.
And those from the Southern Immortal Sects were also invited, as these individuals were also high-status clients to them.
In the blink of an eye, the Prodigies here were all invited away, and even those Immortal Sect Elders floated away with their hands behind their backs.
Under the night sky, common people saw Immortals soaring through the void, and each of them trembled, kneeling on the ground.
At this moment, someone handed an invitation to Ji You.
“Young Master Ji, my Family head has set up a banquet at home and wishes to invite you personally. Please grace us with your presence.”
“Who is your Family head?”
“I am from the Lu Family, named Lu Zhong. My Young Miss and Young Master Ji are classmates at Tianshu Academy. With that said,
Young Master should understand?”
Ji You took the invitation and glanced at it, then smiled and handed it back: “Your Young Miss and I are indeed friends, but let’s skip the banquet. I traveled in a carriage all day today, and my appetite isn’t very good. I can’t eat such bloody things.”
Lu Zhong looked at him strangely, pondered for a long time, then took the invitation, bowed, and left, but he did not return by palanquin; instead, he entered the inn.
At this moment, inside the inn, the Lu Family head, dressed in a golden-threaded luxurious robe, was inviting Ge Elder from the Tianshu Academy Inner Courtyard.
Upon hearing that Ji You was not coming, the Lu Family head frowned and looked towards the door.
He had always been aware of Ji You defeating Chu River and entering the Inner Courtyard, and he also knew somewhat about his daughter's desire to form a Dao Companion relationship with him.
It was said that this person came from a very poor background, always attended banquets, and always sought to make money, but he didn't expect to be rejected.
However, it didn't matter.
So many cultivators had arrived in Xinghe City tonight, and Ji You was the one with the lowest cultivation, as well as a rustic, out-of-place rogue cultivator.
For these Yun Province Worldly Families, his presence didn't add much, and his absence didn't subtract much; there was no need to insist on inviting him.
Kuang Cheng looked up at Ji You at this moment: “Brother Ji, didn’t you tell me before that if you don’t eat, those cultivators will benefit, but if you eat, you can meddle in more affairs?”
“If you hadn’t told me about the fostering house, I might have gone to eat, but after hearing all that, I really have no appetite. This meal is on you—.”
“?”
“Save up some money. When we get back, you have to treat me to a big meal.”
Kuang Cheng looked up at the palanquins that were continuously leaving: “But it’s a bit of a pity not to rob these ill-gotten gains.”
Ji You turned to look at him: “How did you, a scholar, suddenly become so enlightened in banditry?”
Kuang Cheng pursed his lips: “When I heard in Yuyang County that Brother Ji wanted to be a fierce bandit, I didn’t quite understand it then, thinking you were just desperate. It wasn’t until I read countless case files at the Immortal Surveillance Bureau that I realized this was the Righteous Path.”
“Let’s go, let’s get something to eat first. After entering Feng Province, I’m afraid we won’t find a place to rest. Our poor place—.”
Ji You stepped into the inn, ordered a few small dishes with Kuang Cheng, and sat down at a table.
In fact, not everyone was invited away; for example, all the envoys remained.
After all, officials are not as good as Immortals. In the eyes of these Immortal Sect Worldly Families, no matter how high their official position, these people were still ants,
So they were not worth inviting home for banquets or anything.
And those officials, watching the Immortals leave for banquets one after another, dared not express their anger.
Their mission was arduous and required caution, and the most taboo thing was to create complications. At this time, they could only sigh, then lowered their heads to eat, but their hearts were pounding.
These escorts clearly had their own agendas, and whether they could safely deliver them to the Snow Region was truly an unknown.
At this moment, someone among the envoys couldn't help but look at Ji You.
