Chapter 187: A Night of Brilliant Literary Talent
"Ji You is back."
"He's back? Could he have reached Shengjing already?"
"No, I heard he arrived in Feng Province and will likely stay for a while."
"So that's it. No wonder I saw Dou Yuankong leave Shengjing in a hurry yesterday in a carriage—"
At this moment, Ji You's carriage had stopped in front of Ji Village's gate on the west side of Feng Province City. Gongshu Chou and Kuang Cheng had also returned with him.
As for the other Prodigies from Immortal Sects, they were welcomed by the foreign Immortal Villas in the area.
After all, the high-ranking cultivators of these Immortal Villas originally came from various Worldly Sect, and many of them were of the same clan as the Prodigies traveling together this time.
Gongshu Chou had no interest in banquets but was very interested in Materials, so he also came to this place with the carriage.
As the three of them landed in front of the vast manor, before they even walked into the village, they saw a six or seven-year-old girl running over, directly clinging to Ji You's leg.
"Young Master, you're back!"
"Ru Ru, it's only been a few days, how did you get fatter again?"
Qiu Ru burped at the sound and replied in a childish voice, "I'm cultivating Dao."
Pei Ruyi emerged from Ji Village at this moment, stepping over the threshold as she spoke: "It's not wrong to say she's cultivating Dao, after all, she starts shouting she's hungry as soon as she begins cultivating—"
Qiu Ru raised her head: "Master, I'm hungry even when I'm not cultivating Dao."
Ji You pinched Qiu Ru's face, not finding it strange at all.
This girl had lived a hard life since childhood, with steamed buns and wild vegetables. It was a rare treat to see good food,
so she would naturally think about it every day.
It was said that after the Qiu Family of three moved into Ji Village, this girl couldn't remember any path except the way to the kitchen.
Recalling his own past, when he first came to Qingyun World, he also lived a hard life for three years in Yuyang County, unable to move his legs when he saw a locust in the field. That's why locust plagues have never occurred in Feng Province.
Qiu Zhong also walked out from the door at this moment, approaching the gate and bowing: "Young Master, this journey must have been arduous—"
"It's fine, it's just that the lands outside the pass are barren, even more so than Feng Province. The food really isn't good."
"My wife specially made dumplings. You didn't get to eat them during the Winter Solstice, so let's treat today as if the Winter Solstice has come."
Pei Ruyi interjected at this moment: "Oh, by the way, Cao Instructor and the others just arrived this morning. They are currently resting in the front hall."
Then the group entered the manor, walked along the wide main road, bypassed the Listening Fragrance Waterside Pavilion, and headed towards the front hall.
Upon reaching the West Courtyard, sounds of reading emanated from within, causing Ji You and the others to stop and look inside.
Chen Fuzi was currently in a bright and spacious classroom, holding a book, looking perfectly at ease,
shaking his head, leading a room full of students in chanting.
Some of these students were from Yuyang County, but others were from the surrounding areas of Feng Province, mostly children from poor Sect.
"What is the Bandit Dao?"
"It is to wield a sharp sword, perform courageous deeds, never yield good things, enrich oneself, relieve the world, and at the same time care about the people's livelihood."
"In summary, when poor, plunder the rich; when rich, benefit the world."
"For example, if an arrogant cultivator, adorned in gold and silver, with a bursting money bag, stands before you bullying the common people, how should you respond?"
A group of young children spoke in unison: "Politely ask him to leave his money bag, then split it fifty-fifty with the common people."
Chen Fuzi stroked his long beard with satisfaction and then asked: "What if he refuses to leave it?"
"Subdue him with virtue!"
A group of young children raised their fists, and the character 'virtue' was written in ink on the surface of each small fist.
When Ji You last came to Feng Province to establish his Worldly Family, he was busy with joint harvesting matters and didn't have the opportunity to see the new academy being built. Seeing it now with his own eyes, he couldn't help but feel a sense of relief.
Cultivating virtue before cultivating immortality, this is the best process.
The biggest problem in the current world is that those immortal cultivators lack virtue, yet possess power that transcends all beings. At this moment, Gongshu Chou also stood behind, somewhat bewildered, feeling very new, but not quite able to comment.
How to put it, in summary, it's four words: utterly ridiculous.
Ji You turned to Kuang Cheng at this moment: "What do you think?"
"It can be called the Dao of the Sages."
"Brother Kuang has excellent taste."
Then the group moved and headed towards the front hall, where they saw Cao Jinsong, Wen Zhengxin, Ban Yangshu, and Bai Rulong rising from the front hall.
Seeing Ji You return safely, Cao Instructor was filled with mixed emotions, but some words couldn't be spoken. He kept muttering, "It's good that you're back, it's good that you're back."
Ji You patted Cao Instructor's shoulder, but his gaze was drawn to Bai Rulong, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes: "You've broken through?"
Bai Rulong puffed out his chest, already beginning to speak in Cao Jinsong's manner: "I've been at Junior Third Realm Completion for many days now and am currently trying to break through to the Tong Xuan Realm."
"What happened while I was gone?"
Ji You looked at him, thinking, 'Could it be that he fell in love with a woman, but she disliked his low cultivation?'
Ban Yangshu spoke at this moment: "You didn't take him to the Yao Race to see women with round buttocks and tails, so he decided to go himself. He went into seclusion after you left."
Bai Rulong raised his head: "Once I reach Tong Xuan, I can support myself."
Ji You curled his lips: "If you go outside the pass in the Tong Xuan Realm, you'll get the crap beaten out of you. I suggest you cultivate to the Rongdao Realm before considering that."
Gongshu Chou glanced at Bai Rulong from behind at this moment, thinking, 'When Ji You went street-watching for buttocks, he said it was for a friend. Now it seems he wasn't just making up friends out of thin air.'
Kuang Cheng also cupped his hands at this moment, greeting them, and at the same time, Ji You introduced Gongshu Chou to everyone, this sworn brother who had once stabbed him in Qi Ridge, almost killing him.
Pei Ruyi, Wen Zhengxin, and the others then recognized him as the Rongdao from Lingjian Mountain who had been ordered to hunt them down, his mind having been addled for a long time, just like Kuang Shusheng.
"Brother Gongshu took great care of me along the way, especially after my hands were injured."
Ji You looked at Gongshu Chou and said: "On the way here, I spoke with Brother Gongshu, and he said he is also willing to join my Ji Village as a worship ."
Hearing this, Wen Zhengxin and the others' eyes couldn't help but turn strange.
This Rongdao from Lingjian Mountain probably didn't see the 'homophonous character' on the plaque when he entered, not knowing that this was a bandit's lair, and that serving as a Gongfeng here meant handing over money, yet he was still happy.
Then a round table was set up in the front hall, and people from the kitchen began serving dishes. Before long, the banquet table was laden with a dazzling array of dishes, and the aroma of wine filled the air.
During this time, Cao Jinsong and the others, like Kuang Cheng, although they had already learned the details of the journey through the Si Xianjian 's communication, still had many questions they wanted to ask.
Ji You's answers were similar to those in the carriage, focusing on how the twelve Soldier King of the Barbarian Race had pursued them, and the night attack on Yu Garden by the Scale and Tooth races.
"Punching out an oncoming Saber Qi with bare hands?"
Cao Jinsong, Pei Ruyi, and Wen Zhengxin exchanged glances: "What kind of precious saber? Let us see it."
Gongshu Chou: "?"
Ji You looked around the table after hearing this: "Two sabers that can compare to my Heart-Protecting Mirror."
Hearing this, everyone couldn't help but exchange glances and nod, thinking that Ji You had gone to the Yao Race to make a fortune; he truly never returned empty-handed.
Kuang Cheng listened from the side, thinking, 'What are precious sabers?'
No matter how valuable or expensive a saber is, it still has a price.
What was most astonishing about Brother Ji's trip to the Snow Region this time was that he almost abducted their princess. That was a Yaozu Gongzhu; even the most precious saber would only be a gift in front of her.
Brother Ji, that troublemaker, truly causes trouble wherever he goes.
But this is a good thing. Marrying the daughter of the Dan Sect, marrying the Yaozu Gongzhu, and then marrying the Eldest Miss of the Lu Family, marrying, marrying, marrying endlessly, finally controlling the four directions with a strong physique and achieving peace in the world, it's simply wonderful.
But this time, Kuang Cheng did not reveal this thought, lest Brother Ji again say that the sage books he read were 'yellow'—
At dusk, fiery clouds dyed the sky.
Kuang Cheng left the banquet and spread out paper and brush in his room. After grinding ink, he intended to write a letter to Wei Rui, but when he lifted the brush, he didn't know how to begin.
His original intention in following Ji You here was to accompany him to death, thinking that perhaps there would be no tomorrow, so he had left a farewell letter for Wei Rui before leaving the capital.
With the thought of it being his last letter, the words and phrases in that letter were inevitably a bit fervent and unrestrained.
Things like 'paper is short, but affection is long,' and 'a promise for the next life.'
Now, he hadn't died, but that letter expressing his feelings was still there.
Kuang Cheng's hesitation in writing this letter of safe return stemmed from this.
If he were to pretend that letter didn't exist and write in the tone of an ordinary friend, it would feel somewhat inappropriate,
like he was toying with her. But if he addressed her as "Rui'er," it would seem a bit... lewd.
A scholar is excellent at studying, but completely inept at handling such matters.
At this moment, Kuang Shusheng looked out from the brightly lit window and saw Ji You also writing a letter across the way.
Although his hand was not nimble, trembling as he held the brush, and he had to stop and rest every few strokes—a scene reminiscent of the early stages of human domestication of limbs—it had to be said that his thoughts seemed extremely fluid, without the repeated expressions of struggle that Kuang Shusheng himself displayed.
After a long while, he saw that Ji You had finished writing the letter, sealed it, and then picked up a second sheet. Kuang Cheng opened his mouth, then clenched his brush, looking at his inkstone that was gradually drying up because he couldn't put pen to paper, and exclaimed that beautiful women were a source of disaster.
"I'm back. I'm in Feng Province, and I'm relatively safe."
"This journey was largely thanks to Elder Yan Chuan's care and also Brother Gongshu's company. However, during the journey back and forth, I often wondered if your breakthrough was smooth..."
"Actually, when I left seclusion this time, I went to distant places that the Human Race had never reached. I wanted to bring you some foreign specialties.
However, the Snow Region is truly barren, and some items that could make a woman happy were actually flowed in from the Human Race, so there was no need to buy them."
"I will return to Tianshu Academy in a few days. If Master Jian has free time, she can come to Void Mountain to find me."
Ji You's first letter was to the little Master Jian of Lingjian Mountain. He omitted the part about meeting the Yaozu Gongzhu when he was powerless, and then explained what happened during his mission to the Yao Race.
As for more, he didn't write.
Anyway, after returning to Tianshu Academy, Yan Shuyi would definitely not be able to sit still and would come to Void Mountain for a "casual stroll." It wouldn't be too late to talk then.
Then he blew the ink dry, sealed the envelope, wrote "Zhuo Yao" on it, and then took out a stack of letter paper.
"I'm back. I'm in Feng Province, and I'm relatively safe."
"This journey was extremely perilous, and the Medicinal Pills you and Yuan Chen prepared for me helped me a great deal. I heard Gongshu Chou say that the dosage of these Medicinal Pills was customized for me, so I knew you must have worked through the night to gather them all. Thank you for your kindness, miss."
"This time, I left seclusion and went to distant places that the Human Race had never reached. I wanted to bring you some foreign specialties, but the Snow Region is truly barren."
"If you have the chance to visit Tianshu Academy, I will thank you in person."
After Ji You finished writing, he blew it dry and sealed it in an envelope.
Then he looked at another brightly lit window and, seeing Kuang Cheng scratching his head and furrowing his brows, couldn't help but chuckle.
With this level, he's still the top scholar? I knew those sage books only taught lewdness.
"Hey, Old Kuang!"
Kuang Cheng looked up at the sound: "What's wrong?"
Ji You poked his head out of the window: "Writing to Wei Rui?"
Kuang Cheng nodded: "When I left the capital, I left her a farewell letter. Now I want to report that I'm safe."
"So conflicted. Do you want me to write it for you? I guarantee you'll have a big fat baby boy this time next year."
Kuang Cheng's eyes instantly widened, his cheeks flushed, and he stammered for a long time before blurting out: "I'm not willing to bully disabled people."
"?"
Then, Kuang Shusheng's window was quickly closed.
Ji You's mouth twitched, and he then intended to close the window and go to sleep, but before he could reach out, he noticed another window in the adjacent guest room was brightly lit.
As he looked over, Gongshu Chou's figure, writing furiously, appeared in his line of sight.
It seems Brother Gongshu also has someone he misses?
That's right, he's almost forty after all.
Although cultivators have long Lifespans, and it's not a problem for a Rongdao Realm cultivator to live for a hundred and fifty years, it's about time for him to find a Dao Companion at his age.
Ji You watched for a while, feeling a sense of unreleased literary talent, always wanting to write on behalf of others.
However, as he watched, his brows gradually began to furrow.
Because Gongshu Chou wrote as smoothly as a Dragon and Phoenix dancing, one sheet after another, he kept writing for half an hour without stopping, his thoughts gushing like a flood.
This wasn't writing a letter; this was preparing for a postgraduate exam.
What kind of longing is worth such an expenditure of ink? It can't be just one person, can it?
At this moment, Gongshu Chou didn't know he was being watched. He wrote as if possessed, finishing one sheet and starting another.
"Journey to the Snow Region, Chapter Five: The Fairy's Tail."
"Last time, we talked about the night in Yu Garden, where Ji You's sword struck down Demon General Shu He, and then the envoy delegation moved into the Spirit Garden.
The Yao Race ministers invited a group of physicians..."
"Why did no one go to treat Ji You?"
"【Blank space, left for everyone to discuss】"
"Just as everyone was puzzled, a graceful figure appeared at the door, exquisite and beautiful, lithe and charming..."
"May I ask, Princess, do Yao Race women have round hips and tails?"
"Ji Lang, want to see?"
"At this moment, this extremely noble Yaozu Gongzhu had secretly fallen for this brave and unparalleled Human Race man. This astonished the accompanying Sect Prodigies, especially Huo Hong."
"Why? Because Huo Hong had long been interested in this Yaozu Gongzhu and had tried to invite her out several times without success. Yet, he never expected that this Princess would be so proactive towards Ji You, making people sigh in admiration. He truly lives up to his reputation as the man who almost killed Gongshu Chou..."
Gongshu Chou took a deep breath, combining what he heard with his own imagination, and wrote with great satisfaction.
The entire process, from the mission to the Snow Region to the return to Kyushu, was too long, not as concise as a battle.
If he only relied on his memory, he would easily forget some details; he needed to write them down.
Ji You was still watching from the window at this moment, and for some reason, his scalp tingled, so he quickly reached out, intending to close the window and go to sleep.
Meanwhile, a small figure was coming along the connecting corridor, crouching low, scurrying mysteriously forward, heading towards the kitchen...—
Then, under the dark and windy night sky, a bowl appeared in front of Ji You's door, with an enticing chicken leg in it.
Gongshu Chou left the next day, carrying a thick stack of paper scrolls, and boarded a carriage with other cultivators, his expression very excited.
Ling Province was a long and arduous journey from here; they had to set off early.
Cultivators were not under the command of Great Xia, so they naturally didn't need to report back to Shengjing; they only needed to return to their respective mountains.
Ji You, however, stayed here for a few more days, checking the tax tribute records from last year and the status of the uncultivated farmland.
As Feng Province reduced tax tribute, more and more common people came from other provinces. Although private orders were issued everywhere strictly prohibiting migration, they could not hinder the desire for survival.
These people have now been settled, waiting to receive cultivated land after next year's reclamation.
This means that after spring, it will be imperative to have cultivators practice "joint reclamation" and "joint farming."
In addition, during his busy schedule, Ji You also took Qiu Ru on several aerial flights, intending to cultivate her interest in cultivation and divert her attention from eating.
The results were significant: Qiu Ru now really wanted to know what those wild geese flying south for winter tasted like.
Ji You couldn't help but purse his lips, thinking that this girl had a clear mind for food.
"Master Jian, it's time to eat."
On Lingjian Mountain's Xuanjian Peak, Cui'er carried dishes into the hall.
At this moment, Yan Shuyi was sitting on the bed, propping her chin, her aura more profound than usual, but she seemed not to have heard anything.
Seeing this, Cui'er was a little confused, because ever since the message from the Immortal Supervisor arrived at Lingjian Mountain, Cui'er had sensed that her Master Jian was becoming restless, especially after receiving a letter the day before, which made it even worse.
Just then, Ding Yao and Zhuo Wanqiu returned from outside: "Master Jian, we're back."
Gongshu Chou had only arrived at Lingjian Mountain that morning and was immediately surrounded by a group of Disciples who wanted him to talk about the Yao Race. But before he could even speak, he received a summons from the little Master Jian.
At this moment, Gongshu Chou walked into Cloud Top Heavenly Palace. Upon hearing the little Master Jian's inquiry, he presented the manuscript he had written on his way here.
Then, when he left, he did not take the manuscript back. Firstly, Master Jian did not intend to give it, and secondly, he did not dare to ask for it, because at that time, all the swords in the hall were trembling wildly. After Gongshu Chou left, Ding Yao and Zhuo Wanqiu picked up the manuscript and glanced at it, then couldn't help but hold their breath, and then turned to look at Master Jian.
In their line of sight, the little Master Jian of Lingjian Mountain was deep in thought. After a long while, she subconsciously turned her head and glanced at her own butt, then was stunned for another moment, her beautiful brows slightly furrowed.
"What does Master Jian mean by that?"
"Master Jian probably wants to cut off the Yaozu Gongzhu's tail—"
"Why do I feel like Master Jian wishes she could grow a tail too?"
"?"
(After much editing, I realized the word count wasn't quite enough. Please give me monthly votes!)
