Chapter 12: Departure to the Capital
This novel is translated and hosted on Bcatranslation
At dawn on the sixth day of the month, a faint chill had begun to settle over the city. The red sun rose slowly from a massive, blood-colored scar on the horizon, shrouded in mist, resembling a salted egg yolk. Its light bathed Yuyang County in a desolate, forlorn hue.
Ji You stepped out of the Ji Clan’s ancestral mansion, fastening the door behind him. As he turned, he spotted a lone scholar striding through the empty, mist-laden street. The man carried a bamboo box on his back, a bundle in one hand, and half a flatbread in the other.
“Ji Brother, good morning,” the man greeted with a cheerful nod.
Ji You paused, momentarily taken aback by the figure’s appearance. “Cai Chen?”
Kuang Cheng, not hearing him clearly, approached closer. “I am setting off for the capital today,” he said earnestly. “The journey is long, and the roads are treacherous. I’ve come to bid you farewell. May your immortal path be ever smooth, Ji Brother.”
“You’re traveling to the capital alone?” Ji You asked, raising an eyebrow.
Kuang Cheng nodded. “Had it not been for the delays caused by the Qiu family’s matters, I would have set off five days ago.”
Ji You glanced at the misty morning sky, noting the gray pall still clinging to the western horizon. “How will you make your way from Yuyang County to the capital?”
“I’ll take a carriage southwest, then trek around East Longevity Mountain. Afterward, I’ll hire another carriage. Since the area surrounding Mystic Origin Immortal Palace forbids mortal passage for a hundred miles, I’ll have to detour around it. From there, I’ll catch another carriage at the Grain Mill Relay Station.”
Ji You’s eyes widened slightly. “That sounds troublesome. How much silver will you need for the journey?”
“About five qian.”
Ji You blinked, incredulous. “You’re the young master of the Kuang family, yet you think five qian of silver will suffice?”
Kuang Cheng hesitated, clutching his bundle tightly. “A scholar must temper his will with hardship. Where inns are unnecessary, I can lodge in ancient temples. Though there are tales of ghosts and demons haunting such places, I possess Vast Righteous Qi—I need not fear them.”
“Do you truly have Vast Righteous Qi?”
“That… I’m not entirely certain, but that’s what the books say.”
“This is far too dangerous, Kuang Brother!” Ji You squinted at him, scrutinizing his resolve. “Why don’t I accompany you? I have a certain interest in haunted temples.”
Kuang Cheng’s confusion showed plainly. “That won’t be necessary, Ji Brother. The path to the imperial examinations is fraught with peril, but two of every five travelers manage to survive. There’s no reason I can’t be among them.”
“Only two survive?” Ji You mused. “Then perhaps not.”
After pondering for a moment, Ji You looked up. “You’re the Kuang family’s only heir. If something were to happen to you on the road, wouldn’t that be a great pity?”
Kuang Cheng tilted his head back, gazing at the still-dark sky. “If that’s what fate has in store, so be it.”
“Travel with me,” Ji You urged.
“?”
Ji You slung his bundle over his shoulder. “I’ve heard Fang Ruo Yao is taking a maidservant with her. Surely, I can bring along a companion scholar. Traveling by ship will be far more comfortable than your convoluted route.”
Kuang Cheng blinked in surprise, then chuckled, shaking his head. “A mere mortal like me wouldn’t dare set foot on a cultivator’s treasured ship.”
“Your smile betrays you.”
“Kuang Cheng has no such intentions.”
The two fell into silence, the morning chill settling between them. Suddenly, Ji You extended his hand. “Hand it over—the five qian for your journey!”
Kuang Cheng hesitated before reluctantly unshouldering his bundle. Unwrapping it layer by layer, he produced a bulging money pouch. From within, he pulled out the smallest piece of broken silver and placed it in Ji You’s hand.
Even that smallest piece weighed more than five qian.
[What nonsense about scholars needing hardship to hone their spirits,] Ji You thought, frowning. “You have so much, so give me a bit more.”
“Ji Brother, too much wealth can corrupt the mind…” Kuang Cheng replied.
“Then why aren’t you worried about that?”
Kuang Cheng clutched his money pouch tightly. “Because I’m a scholar, protected by Vast Righteous Qi.”
Ji You stared at him for a moment before politely helping himself, extracting roughly two taels and three qian from Kuang Cheng’s pouch and stuffing the silver into his own pocket.
By this time, the morning mist had begun to lift, and the sunlight broke through the clouds. The city slowly stirred, with figures beginning to move in and out of view.
The time between the autumn harvest and spring planting was far from idle for the common folk of Yuyang County. They climbed mountains to gather firewood or ventured farther afield to find work, enduring a harsh cycle of survival year after year.
Ji You watched in silence for a long while. His mind lingered on the mysterious stone statue, the ominous warnings from the Telepathic Communicator, the chaotic light spheres, and the unfulfilled ambitions of the fierce bandit. He felt his presence here was not without reason—there was something he needed to accomplish.
“Let us go, young man,” he said to Kuang Cheng. “It is time to meet the winds of destiny.”
The morning dew clung heavily to the air in the autumn dawn. As the two departed from the city, their clothing grew damp from the lingering moisture. But soon, sunlight pierced the mist, casting a golden glow through the city gate and illuminating their path. Their shadows stretched long behind them, marking their gradual departure.
When they arrived beyond the city walls, a crowd had already gathered near the county stele. Cao Jin Song, Pei Ru Yi, Fang Zhong Zheng with his daughter Fang Ruo Yao, and the Qiu family of three were all present. Among them were also the villagers who had acknowledged Ji You as kin during the grain yard gathering. They had come to bid him farewell.
As Ji You and Kuang Cheng emerged from the city, little Qiu Ru suddenly broke free from her mother’s embrace. With determined little steps, she ran up and wrapped her arms around Ji You’s leg, looking up at him with an earnest expression.
“Little one, why are you getting heavier by the day?” Ji You teased.
Qiu Ru replied, “Young Master, I ate meat at the County Prefect’s home. It was delicious! My father lied to me about it. I even wanted to save you a piece, but my mouth wouldn’t let me—it made me so mad I cried!”
Ji You couldn’t help but laugh. Soon, the Qiu couple approached, holding a small bundle in their hands. Qiu Zhong said, “Young Master, this is the silver we received after saving Ru Ru. Please take it for your journey.”
Li Shu Ping suddenly knelt before Ji You, tears streaming down her face. “Young Master, I was ignorant and spoke harshly to you before. But you saved Ru Ru in the end. Please accept my deepest gratitude.”
“There is no need for this,” Ji You said gently as he helped her to her feet. “I have always regarded the third household along the Southward-Edge River as my family. Qiu Ru is like my little sister. Before ascending to immortality, I will surely return many times. If you treat me with such formality, how can I feel welcome?”
Hearing the casual mention of “ascending to immortality,” Cao Jin Song’s eyes twitched slightly. The young man’s words, though understated, carried an undeniable air of grandeur. Truly, he was no ordinary person.
At this, Qiu Zhong extended the bundle again. “Young Master, please take this. You’re leaving home with no familiar faces ahead. Many things require silver, so don’t deny yourself basic comforts.”
“That won’t be necessary, Old Qiu. I have sufficient funds. You should keep this for your household,” Ji You replied.
“When the Ji clan fled, they took all their wealth. Not a single ingot was left behind for you. I know this better than anyone, Young Master. Please don’t refuse,” Qiu Zhong insisted.
“I’m not refusing,” Ji You said with a smile. “I truly have money.”
To prove his point, Ji You patted Kuang Cheng’s bundle. Kuang Cheng, silent until now, suddenly recalled the blood-drenched Ji You he had seen at the Ji manor. That day, Ji You had lamented the loss of a brilliant fierce bandit in the Azure Clouds Dominion. But the more Kuang Cheng thought about it, the less he believed that banditry was entirely absent in Ji You’s demeanor.
“Everyone,” Ji You addressed the crowd, “although it is said that one cannot accompany another a thousand miles, your kindness has touched me deeply. I must take my leave here.
“If you have free time, please help tidy up my ancestral home. If any Ji clan members return, entrust it to them. Farewell.”