Chapter 285: The Restless Master Jian
Snow deepens the path, a small red clay stove.
The small Master Jian of Lingjian Mountain in the tea pavilion didn't know what was happening outside. She was listening intently to Kuang Cheng recount Ji You's experiences in the disaster area, her slender, curled eyelashes trembling slightly.
And when she heard that Ji You taught children to play cat's cradle and hopscotch in the disaster area, and then heard Kuang Cheng's sigh that Brother Ji was very fond of children, she subconsciously touched her lower abdomen, and her beautiful face couldn't help but flush.
Kuang Cheng then asked her when she would go to see Brother Ji, to which she replied, "Not familiar, won't see him."
If she didn't see him, it wouldn't hurt. At this moment, the wind and snow outside the courtyard intensified. Ji You, Ding Yao, and Zhuo Wanqiu whispered for a long time in the small alley, then turned and went to the East Market, not entering the Wei Residence's separate courtyard.
At the same time, Ding Yao and Zhuo Wanqiu rubbed their perky buttocks and returned to the entrance of the separate courtyard.
Not reporting what they knew, they were punished—
Just as the two were pouting, the wooden door behind them was pushed open, and Kuang Cheng walked out of the courtyard, bidding them farewell.
He then went straight to a vegetable shop on the street, while Wei Rui saw him off at the door, watching him for a long time.
When Wei Rui retracted her gaze from her lover and saw the two Fairies at the door rubbing their buttocks with slightly red cheeks, a hint of confusion couldn't help but appear on her face.
“Green peppers can be stir-fried with cured meat.”
“Let’s get a roasted duck. This can be torn apart and eaten, which is simple.”
“Before the heavy snow, Mu Qing sent some wild mushrooms from her home. They were dried and preserved very well. We can buy a chicken and stew them together.”
Kuang Cheng pondered what to cook, then bought some vegetables and a jar of wine, and then walked out of the vegetable shop.
He didn't know why Fairy Yan didn't want Brother Ji to know that she had come to Shengjing, but since he had promised to keep it a secret, it was in his nature to keep his word.
Anyway, this young couple often played games of 'I don't know you,' and such tricks were beyond the comprehension of a scholar like him, who had read sage books since childhood.
Then he walked back to his small house, turning this way and that along the path he had taken.
However, just as he reached the door, he looked up and saw smoke coming from the courtyard.
The black smoke mixed with the white cold air was particularly noticeable, causing Kuang Shusheng to be stunned when he saw it.
Brother Li is back? Why is he still making a fire in the courtyard…
He pushed the door open and entered the courtyard, only to find Ji You sitting on the doorstep under the eaves, with a roasting stove in front of him, and several sweet potatoes on the stove.
And his Brother Ji was holding a summer-use cattail fan, fanning the flames in the stove.
Kuang Cheng opened his mouth to ask him why he suddenly started roasting sweet potatoes, only to find Ji You narrowing his eyes at him, with a hint of interrogation and intimidation in his gaze.
“Oh, isn’t this the famous Kuang Buqi? You’re back so soon?”
“Uh, I’m back—”
The cattail fan in Ji You's hand paused slightly: “You haven't seen Miss Rui'er for so long, why did you only go for half an hour? Didn't you spend some time together?”
Kuang Cheng coughed after hearing this: “A scholar is filled with righteous Qi. When I thought that Brother Ji was still at home waiting for me to eat, I knew I couldn't forget righteousness for beauty.”
“Tsk, so you're still a good brother, huh.”
“Of course—”
Kuang Cheng felt that Brother Ji's gaze was a bit like when they first left Yuyang County and he looked at his baggage, and his heart tightened: “Um, I’ll go stir-fry the dishes.”
Ji You immediately reached out to stop him after hearing this: “No need, you rest today. I’ll do the cooking.”
A hint of confusion flashed in Kuang Cheng's eyes: “Didn’t I always cook before? Why does Brother Ji have such an elegant interest today?”
“Brother Kuang is so good to me, I must show my appreciation, to commemorate this great friendship.”
“It’s ‘commemorate’.”
“What?”
Kuang Cheng saw Ji You reaching out, so he handed over the purchased vegetables, and at the same time explained: “That word is ‘commemorate’, not ‘sacrifice’. The word ‘sacrifice’ is used for deceased old friends.”
Ji You took the vegetables, glanced at them, and murmured, “It’s almost time to use it.”
“?”
“Alright, you just sit first, I’ll have a task for you later.”
Kuang Cheng was already a bit guilty, and seeing Ji You's strange behavior at this moment, he didn't dare to refute. So he tightened his fur robe, sat in front of the brazier warming his hands, and watched Ji You walk towards the kitchen.
Kuang Shusheng began clearing snow when he returned home, but he only cleared a walking path from the accumulated snow in the courtyard to the main hall. At this moment, Ji You struck out with his palm, and the Qi wave stirred by his powerful Spiritual Qi directly swept away the accumulated snow on the stove.
Then he took down the cutting board and began to chop vegetables.
Green peppers in sections, cured meat sliced, free-range chicken in pieces, dried wild mushrooms rehydrated with warm water. Kuang Shusheng was stunned by his skilled technique.
After the ingredients were prepared, Ji You turned back, flipped the sweet potatoes on the roasting stove a few times, then took out a letter from his Pregnant and handed it to Kuang Cheng.
Kuang Cheng looked at it with some confusion: “What is this?”
Ji You tucked the envelope into his embrace: “It’s no fun eating with just two people. It just so happens that I haven’t seen Wei Rui in a long time. Let’s invite her tonight.”
Kuang Cheng unfolded the letter and read it, discovering that the invitation was written in his tone, saying that Brother Ji had roasted sweet potatoes today and personally cooked his best dishes, and specially invited Wei Rui to grace them with her presence, and so on.
After reading the letter, Kuang Cheng couldn’t help but look up: “I remember Rui'er doesn’t like roasted sweet potatoes.”
“She doesn’t like it, but maybe someone else does.”
“But Wei Rui is meeting guests today, and those guests are currently at her residence. I guess she won’t be able to get away.”
Ji You suppressed the flames in the roasting stove with his Spiritual Qi at this moment: “Don’t make me sacrifice our friendship—”
Kuang Cheng reached out and took the letter, looking at Ji You with a strange expression: “Is Brother Ji only inviting Miss Rui’er?”
Ji You also looked at him seriously at this moment: “What, is there any other Fairy who has come from afar that needs to be invited?”
“Brother Ji, please sit. I’ll be right back!”
Kuang Cheng tucked the letter into his embrace, then pushed open the door and left the courtyard, still unable to resist glancing at Ji You, whose gaze was deep.
He knew it, how could the matter of Fairy Yan coming to Shengjing be hidden from him? Now it was indeed exposed. The Wei family's separate courtyard was very large, with all kinds of pavilions and towers, even more rustic and elegant than some Immortal Villas, which showed how powerful the pro-immortal faction was back then.
At this moment, three outer Disciples from Lingjian Mountain spoke briefly with Ding Yao and Zhuo Wanqiu, then left the courtyard.
The two watched them disappear into the wind and snow, then turned and returned to the courtyard. After searching around, they found the Master Jian stepping on the fallen snow among the rockeries.
“Reporting to Master Jian, news just came that the people from Mountain and Sea Pavilion and Asked the Dao Sect have left Lingjian Mountain without seeing Master Jian.”
“What about Yan Cang and Yan Rong?”
“They haven't returned to the mountain yet, and neither have the one hundred thirty-eight Disciples from Tianjian Peak. The Disciples sent to follow them have already tracked their whereabouts, and there should be news in a few days.”
The impact of the Bu family's incident had actually been continuous. Although the immortal sects appeared calm on the surface, they were still secretly on edge.
Because the human transformation into an Evil Seed was definitely related to the Qi Ridge incident, and what the Zheng Family Old Ancestor had displayed back then could threaten the immortal sects' position.
But at the same time, that thing was like a tempting fruit in everyone's eyes.
So they selectively forgot what the Zheng Family Old Ancestor had done when he Ascended, refining countless people.
If such a thing were truly mastered, how could there be peace in the world, especially since Yan Shuyi learned from Ji You about the so-called immortal fate, which required a container.
So, on one hand, Yan Shuyi quietly came to Shengjing, claiming to be cultivating away from the mountain, to prevent Lingjian Mountain from being swept into the great trend and falling into the abyss. On the other hand, she also secretly sent people to closely monitor their actions, to prevent unforeseen circumstances, always ready to enter the game as an observer.
It's just that she hasn't taken over as Sect Leader yet. Tianjian Peak outwardly respects her, but secretly they have been involved, attempting to drag Lingjian Mountain into disaster, which makes her murderous intent rise.
Ding Yao spoke again at this moment: “Master Jian, the Peak Master and Madam also sent a letter just now, asking you to return to the mountain.”
Yan Shuyi's eyes lifted slightly: “Because of Asked the Dao Sect?”
“The Peak Master didn’t mention anything about Asked the Dao Sect.”
“Then what did he say?”
“He only said to think carefully and not act on impulse. I think the Peak Master must have guessed you came to Shengjing, and he’s subtly referring to the Young Master—”
As Ding Yao spoke, she handed over the letter from Yan Jingxiang, the Peak Master of Xuanjian Peak.
The letter began by calling her by her childhood name, with a heartfelt tone of persuasion, saying that if she didn't like Asked the Dao Sect, she could clearly state it, and must not act impulsively and blindly, disgracing Lingjian Mountain's reputation and becoming a laughingstock to the world.
After Yan Shuyi finished reading, a hint of displeasure appeared in her eyes.
Ding Yao and Zhuo Wanqiu observed that hint of protectiveness towards her husband and couldn't help but exchange glances.
That night in the Dongping Mountain Range, their Master Jian had silenced the gossip with a single phrase, “family matter.” Although many people dared not discuss it due to the Master Jian’s supreme status, it still caused a stir among the upper echelons.
So, after they returned to the mountain, the Peak Master and Madam immediately came, their expressions like heartbroken parents whose beloved daughter, raised as an empress, had been seduced away by a country man wearing straw sandals and with a hooked braid.
They had learned from Ding Yao earlier that their daughter had an Inner Demon Tribulation, and had been searching in secret, but their daughter carried a Sacred Artifact that could conceal heavenly secrets.
And that night in the Dongping Mountain Range, it was purely a self-detonation, which naturally made it difficult for them to accept.
In fact, Ding Yao had anticipated this situation a long time ago and had discussed it with Zhuo Wanqiu.
No matter how strong the son-in-law's combat power was, he was always a solitary, self-cultivating country bumpkin. The Peak Master would definitely look down on him, and the elders of the Xuanjian Peak family would probably find it hard to accept this matter.
The most crucial point was that Tianjian Peak would definitely use this matter to diminish Master Jian's prestige in the mountain.
This was not to say that they necessarily wanted Master Jian to marry a direct Disciple of an Immortal Sect, but in their view, at the very least, that person should be a direct descendant's second son from an Immortal Sect, someone who would become a Hall Master, Peak Master, or Pavilion Master in the future.
But now, the son-in-law couldn't even be a Disciple of an Immortal Palace.
Yan Shuyi finished reading the letter and handed it to Ding Yao: "Father has been worried for years that I wouldn't be able to succeed him and that power would fall into others' hands. It seems that the Mountain and Sea Pavilion and Asked the Dao Sect must have said something that moved Father when they came up the mountain this time."
Zhuo Wanqiu looked up at this moment: "Perhaps the Peak Master is just worried as a father."
"If that's truly his meaning, what does he have to worry about? When I left, I told them I was coming to Rui'er's younger sister's place to spend the winter. There's no one unrelated here."
"Master Jian, are you really not going to see the son-in-law?"
Yan Shuyi looked up at the sound: "Rui'er's younger sister is right here, why would I need to see anyone else?"
Zhuo Wanqiu coughed: "What if the son-in-law knows Master Jian is in Shengjing? This place isn't big to begin with, and besides, Kuang Shusheng and the son-in-law are close friends, so he might accidentally let it slip."
"What if he knows? I am devoted to the Dao, cutting off all emotions and love. He is aware of this. If we meet again as mere acquaintances, it will be nothing more than a few polite greetings."
"I'm just afraid Master Jian, you won't be able to resist."
"Nonsense!"
Ding Yao and Zhuo Wanqiu exchanged glances, thinking to themselves, 'Who would believe that?' They then discreetly returned to their room to reply to Lingjian Mountain.
When they came out again, they saw Yan Shuyi pacing around the separate courtyard with a cold expression.
She wandered from the frozen pond to near the rockery, then looked up at the sky for a long time, before strolling from the covered walkway into the house, where she began to examine a vase: "Is this script ancient Great Xia text?"
"Replying to Master Jian, we do not know either."
"The flowers and plants in this painting are quite well-done. I didn't expect Wei Li, that treacherous prime minister, to have some taste."
Zhuo Wanqiu watched Master Jian pace back and forth in the room, then turned to Ding Yao: "Master Jian really can't sit still at all since she found out the son-in-law is back. That painting was clearly bought by Master Jian two days ago—"
Ding Yao looked at the Fairy in the red jacket, who was pretending to admire the painting seriously, and whispered, "Pretending to be calm, trying to cover up the truth."
"But why didn't the son-in-law come into the courtyard just now?"
"I don't know, but Young Master said he wants to invite us to dinner later, but I don't know when."
Yan Shuyi came out of the doorway at this moment, glanced at the two whispering, and couldn't help but frown slightly, thinking that the two maids must be trying to find Ji You again.
Just as she was about to ask, the main gate of the Wei Residence was pushed open from the outside.
Kuang Cheng walked in through the wind and snow, holding a letter, then stepped towards the tea pavilion where Wei Rui was. Wei Rui then ran from the tea pavilion to under the eaves: "Sister Yan, Young Master Kuang said Young Master Ji made several of his signature dishes and wants to invite me to eat. Do you want to come with me?"
Upon hearing this, Zhuo Wanqiu and Ding Yao instantly held their breath, thinking, 'So the meal was waiting here.'
Then they simultaneously turned their gaze towards their own Master Jian, who was "devoted to the Dao, cutting off all emotions and desires."
The last time Master Jian came to spend the winter, she was fed by her son-in-law's own cooking for an entire winter. After she returned, she always talked about it, thinking the son-in-law's food was delicious, and she missed the roasted sweet potatoes for a long time.
However, since she had already decided not to meet him, they thought that Master Jian, as the next Sect Leader of Lingjian Mountain, should have some backbone.
At this moment, Yan Shuyi took the letter and remained silent for a long time, looking at the description of roasted sweet potatoes and signature dishes: "Then I shall taste a little, and return after eating."
Zhuo Wanqiu lowered her head: "The Peak Master's worries are correct. Master Jian cannot resist at all."
Before long, a group of five arrived at Kuang Cheng's small courtyard.
Ji You was busy in front of the stove, wearing an apron, his strong arms holding an iron shovel, stirring and frying in the iron pot. The aroma of the dishes was already wafting through the air. He showed little reaction when he saw them enter.
Yan Shuyi felt as if he had already known she was in Shengjing, and he stood casually by the roasting oven, peeling roasted sweet potatoes.
Li You had already finished the cured meat and was walking towards the house.
As he passed by the roasting oven under the eaves, he casually pinched a piece of cured meat and fed it to her, just as he had grown accustomed to doing when spending the winter in Tianshu Academy.
The aloof little Master Jian of Lingjian Mountain's eyelashes trembled slightly, and she opened her mouth to eat it. Then she felt her cheek being pinched, and her brow couldn't help but furrow slightly: "Rui'er's lover's friend is quite rude."
Kuang Cheng's face instantly flushed red upon hearing the words "Rui'er's lover." He dared not meet the gaze of the equally red-faced Wei Rui, only focusing on roasting sweet potatoes.
Ding Yao and Zhuo Wanqiu stared at the two of them, their eyes wide, thinking, 'You two can't handle this? Look how much fun our Master Jian and the son-in-law are having!'
"Brother Ji, do you need help?"
"No need, it'll be ready soon. Go wash your hands and wait to eat."
Ji You came out of the house at this moment, having finished the stewed chicken with mountain mushrooms. He also made a soup with the remaining half bag of ingredients and eggs, and stir-fried some vegetable sprouts. He carried them into the house and then invited everyone to eat.
They mostly ate millet porridge in the disaster area, and opportunities to cook dishes properly were rare. Although this first meal back consisted of only a few small dishes, it was considered quite rich.
Five people gathered around the long table. Wei Rui and Kuang Cheng sat on one side, Zhuo Wanqiu and Ding Yao at opposite ends, while Yan Shuyi sat with Ji You.
Ji You had been cooking for his younger siblings since he was young, so his culinary skills were impeccable, much to the surprise of Ding Yao and Zhuo Wanqiu.
They had only eaten Ji You's roasted sweet potatoes before, and roasted sweet potatoes didn't really have much to do with cooking skills. It wasn't until they tasted the dishes he cooked himself that they realized Master Jian truly wasn't just saying a lover makes a great chef.
Due to it being winter, the sky in Shengjing darkened very early, with nightfall already descending before You Shi (5-7 PM).
Kuang Cheng took advantage of the remaining daylight to wash dishes in the kitchen, while Wei Rui accompanied them at the door.
Ding Yao and Zhuo Wanqiu were in the courtyard, with nothing to do.
Meanwhile, Ji You was in the room, adding charcoal to the brazier, and looked at the exquisite face in the firelight: "Are you full?"
Yan Shuyi, sitting by the brazier, also glanced at him askance: "I'm full."
"When I was in the disaster area, I guessed it was you who came, because Wei Rui couldn't possibly have such a grand gesture."
"You, a Disciple of Tianshu Academy, are incredibly lucky. If the Immortal Sects hadn't focused all their energy on the so-called Immortal Fate, fearing to fall behind others, you would have been assassinated the moment you left Tianshu Academy after killing Xia Qirong and cutting off the Spirit Stone supply, instead of it merely being a gathering of several Sect at Ni Mountain."
Ji You put the fire poker aside: "Actually, I was somewhat vigilant about this and hid my aura all the way. However, I did encounter a few Lingjian Mountain Disciples on the way, and I was indeed a bit nervous."
Yan Shuyi narrowed her eyes, knowing he was referring to the "family matters."
In fact, her father and mother now indeed had the idea of wanting his life, so it was normal for him to be nervous when encountering Lingjian Mountain Disciples.
"Why didn't you look for me when you came to Shengjing? And why did you have to be so secretive?"
"I wasn't being secretive; there was just no need to tell you. I already told you in my last letter that as I've cultivated to this point, my Dao Heart has gradually become clear, and after sweeping away distracting thoughts, only the Immortal Dao remains in my heart, without emotion or love."
After Yan Shuyi finished speaking, she suddenly saw Ji You's hand reach out, then slowly open towards her. Her delicate little face couldn't help but flush, and her beautiful eyes couldn't help but narrow with it.
The flickering flames made the shadows throughout the room sway wildly.
Under the firelight, the little Master Jian gently raised her arms and was soon lifted by the waist, her perky backside moving from the chair onto the strange man's lap.
This was Kuang Cheng's house, and there were people outside, but she wasn't particularly afraid. She coldly watched the man in front of her lean in, and when her red lips were tasted, she couldn't help but lightly probe with her tongue. After a while, footsteps sounded outside the door, causing Yan Shuyi to straighten her back and turn to look.
After waiting for about a few breaths, seeing that no one entered, the little Master Jian naturally turned back to kiss him again, lightly touching for a moment before realizing Ji You hadn't moved, so she looked up at him with some confusion.
Ji You was also looking at her, his eyes filled with a teasing look.
When a person who claims to have no emotions or love is embarrassed, they really can make up any nonsense.
