Chapter 151: The Marriage Proposal Revisited
(This novel is translated and hosted on Bcatranslation)
The news of Ji You and Fang Ruo Yao’s return quickly spread throughout Yuyang County.
As a result, countless townsfolk gathered at Archway Street, in front of Fang Manor’s Grain Yard, and outside Old Qiu’s residence beyond the city walls. Normally, they wouldn’t dare to look directly at immortals, but both Ji You and Fang Ruo Yao had grown up in Yuyang under their watchful eyes. This familiarity reduced their fear, making them feel far less intimidated compared to the oppressive presence of Immortal Worship Mountain Manor.
Many were fortunate enough to catch a glimpse of Ji You upon his return. On the evening of that same day, Kuang Cheng, a scholar, invited him to a feast at his home, allowing the people another chance to see him. The next morning, at dawn, Ji You went to a noodle shop for breakfast, drawing yet another crowd. Later, he visited the Qiu residence beyond the city, and once again, people stopped to watch him as he passed.
Even though they knew Ji You had become an immortal, many ordinary folk couldn’t tell the difference between him and a commoner when he concealed his aura. It was as if he had never left Yuyang at all.
During this time, Jia Si Cong and Dong Wei, mustering their courage, approached Ji You for a conversation—only to be treated to a meal by him instead.
“He doesn’t seem any different,” Jia Si Cong mused afterward, rubbing his stomach. “If anything, he’s acting more like a bandit.”
Dong Wei nodded in agreement. “Yeah. Could it be that he didn’t achieve much in the Heavenly Script Academy?”
“I saw Miss Fang yesterday,” Jia Si Cong continued. “She carried herself with an imposing presence. Compared to her, Ji You doesn’t even seem like an immortal.”
“You’re right. Just now, I casually patted his shoulder, and he didn’t even release any immortal pressure.”
“So, in reality, Ji You is still just a novice on the immortal path,” Dong Wei concluded, lowering his voice. “He’s nowhere near the level of those awe-inspiring immortals from Immortal Worship Mountain Manor.”
“Shh! Don’t say such things recklessly,” Jia Si Cong warned. “Even if there’s a gap, Ji You is still an immortal now. Killing us wouldn’t even be considered a crime.”
As they whispered, four horse-drawn carriages arrived on Archway Street, stopping in front of Ji Manor.
They immediately recognized the first carriage—it belonged to the County Prefect of Yuyang.
Sure enough, as the carriages halted, Fang Zhong Zheng, the County Prefect, stepped out, followed by three elderly men from the subsequent carriages.
Jia Si Cong and Dong Wei instantly recognized them. These were the most esteemed elders of the Fang Clan.
“They’re here for Ji You?”
“They must be. Fang Ruo Yao and Ji You are the only two cultivators to have emerged from Yuyang County. That annulled engagement of theirs might just be reconsidered.”
Their suspicions were correct. The County Prefect’s visit was indeed regarding the old engagement.
From his perspective, the two had left this small county together, had once been betrothed, and had spent a year alone in the outside world. Even if there had been tensions in the past, they weren’t beyond repair.
Over the past year, Fang Zhong Zheng had written countless letters to his daughter, urging her to mend ties with Ji You and put the past behind her.
Both now held immortal status, and if they were to marry, their offspring could inherit cultivation abilities, eliminating the need to compete for sect admission.
However, whenever Fang Zhong Zheng asked his daughter about it, she refused to speak on the matter. Left with no choice, he had decided to visit Ji You in person to gauge his stance.
Given the unpleasantness surrounding the forced annulment of the engagement, Fang Zhong Zheng took great care to demonstrate sincerity by bringing along three of the Fang Clan’s most respected elders. This was meant as a show of genuine regard for Ji You.
Knock, knock, knock!
A series of firm knocks sounded at the door. Ji You opened it to find his unexpected guests.
He had just returned from Yuyang Academy, which he had personally funded and established, with Teacher Chen as its instructor. All the children of Yuyang County now studied there. He had barely sat down before these visitors arrived.
As expected, their purpose was none other than the reinstatement of the marriage contract.
“I was foolish back then,” Fang Zhong Zheng admitted, his tone earnest. “But it had nothing to do with Ruo Yao. She has always kept you in her heart. If you must blame someone, blame me.”
“That said,” he continued, “this is, without a doubt, a good match.”
“Our Fang Clan and your Ji Clan were once close allies. Your engagement was arranged because our families were well-matched. Though there were past misunderstandings, now that you are a disciple of the Heavenly Script Academy, and Ruo Yao as well, it only reaffirms your compatibility.”
“In all of Feng Prefecture, only a few families have our level of familiarity and trust. Ruo Yao is your destined match. If you both return to Feng Prefecture, you would be a pair of cultivators, ensuring that your children will also be born with the ability to cultivate.”
“Put it simply, if not Ruo Yao, then who else would be suitable for you?”
“I’ve heard that even among immortals, bloodline and status matter. You’ve spent a year in Heavenly Script Academy, so you must understand this better than we do. Those noble sect ladies hold their heads high—whether they’d even consider someone from Feng Prefecture is questionable. And even if they did, you’d likely have to marry into their family as a live-in son-in-law.”
“The Ji Clan now rests solely on your shoulders. If you become a son-in-law of another house, how will your family line continue?”
Fang Zhong Zheng’s words were filled with reasoning, carefully emphasizing the benefits of marrying his daughter.
The Fang Clan’s Great Elder finally spoke as well. “Ji You, you are now an immortal, and I shouldn’t presume to act superior. But you know that your grandfather and I were sworn brothers. I have watched you grow up.”
The Second Elder nodded in agreement. “Your branch of the Ji Clan is the last. You must not let its bloodline end here.”
?The Unyielding Stance?
Ji You stood by the side, listening in silence before finally speaking. “I understand your intentions, but Fang Ruo Yao and I are not suited for each other. If there were a possibility, it would have already happened. Please, return.”
“But Ruo Yao mentioned that ever since you entered the academy, you’ve been avoiding her, never truly interacting. How can you be so sure you’re incompatible?”
To Fang Zhong Zheng, his niece’s words—that she never had the chance to speak with Ji You—had transformed into the notion that Ji You had deliberately kept his distance. In his eyes, the rift between them was caused by the forced annulment of their engagement in the past.
“Avoiding her? That’s absurd. Moreover, I already have someone I like. While a man may take multiple wives and concubines, the one I truly favor must be exceptional.”
The County Prefect, Fang, furrowed his brows sharply. “Who is she? Is she also a disciple of the Heavenly Script Academy? Does she know that you were once Ruo Yao’s fiancé?”
The moment those words fell, an overwhelming pressure filled the air, shaking the very core of his being. It was as if an unsheathed sword had been raised against him, pressing his form flat against the table.
Ji You stood tall, his gaze cold and unwavering. “Fang County Prefect, you should be the most aware that Fang Ruo Yao and I share no ties. Not only has our engagement been annulled, but when the Qiu Clan met their downfall, your Fang family stood idly by. Even if there had been a past between us, such indifference ensured that no future would ever exist.”
“And you, old man.”
Ji You turned his piercing gaze to the Elder of the Fang Clan. “Sworn brothers, you say? Where was your so-called brotherhood when the Ji Clan faced calamity? I have spared your lives not because I see mortals as mere ants like other cultivators do, but because I do not wish to stain my hands unnecessarily. But I have spoken enough—my patience is wearing thin.”
The elder paled, his breath hitching. “You—”
“Leave, before I personally send you on your way to the afterlife.”
With no room for further argument, County Prefect Fang swiftly rose, taking the three clan elders with him in a hasty retreat. Even after they returned to the Fang Manor, a lingering dread clung to the prefect, as though a sword still hovered just above his throat.
“It seems the world beyond our county is truly dazzling. That Ji boy has been utterly bewitched.”
Inside the Fang Manor’s main hall, the elders, their fear quickly turning to fury, slammed their canes against the ground. “Utter insolence! A mere junior treating his elders with such disrespect! I was sworn brothers with his grandfather!”
County Prefect Fang inhaled deeply, steadying himself. “Over the years, only two impoverished youths have entered an immortal sect—Ji You and our Ruo Yao. If he refuses to marry into an established family, he will regret it.”
The Great Elder of the Fang Clan turned sharply. “With his attitude today, even if he regrets it in the future, we must never reconsider this match!”
Clenching his sleeves tightly, County Prefect Fang nodded. “Indeed. Ruo Yao is a daughter of the Fang family. A proper marriage into an esteemed family is far better than this so-called engagement.”
“Father, what did you say?!”
A voice rang out from behind, and Fang Ruo Yao entered, her eyes wide with shock. “You went to see Ji You? Didn’t I tell you not to?!”
County Prefect Fang met his daughter’s gaze, hesitating for a moment before replying, “Ruo Yao, you are a young lady. I knew there were things difficult for you to say, so I thought to speak on your behalf. But who would have thought that boy would be so ungrateful!”
“Ji You has entered the Inner Court now. He does not look at me the same way. I did not want to tell you because I didn’t know how.”
“The Inner Court?”
Fang Zhong Zheng stiffened. Although he was not a cultivator, he knew that the Heavenly Script Academy had an Outer Court and an Inner Court—and only those with exceptional talent could enter the latter. Yet, just like the elusive prestige of the Cinnabar Water Prefecture’s Magistrate, these titles meant little to him.
“Even if he entered the Inner Court, he was still once your fiancé. That alone means you should have an advantage over others. If he does not choose you, then who else would he pick?”
“He has countless choices.”
“Status matters in Azure Clouds Dominion. Do you think the girl he chooses will be of higher standing than you?”
Fang Ruo Yao let out a bitter laugh. “Status? Father, you overestimate the Fang family. Do you know that even a Princess of Prince Chong’s Mansion wishes to marry him? And Miss Lu of Yunzhou, whom I often mention in my letters, has even sent him a traditional undergarment as a token of affection, awaiting his response. I cannot even hope to be in the running.”
Fang Zhong Zheng’s expression gradually stiffened, his breath faltering as he slumped onto a nearby bench, momentarily at a loss.
Life in Feng Prefecture had left him blind to the grand stage beyond. He had never understood what it truly meant to enter the Inner Court, nor did he grasp the weight of status.
But when his daughter spoke of Prince Chong, when she mentioned the word ‘Princess,’ the official within him finally began to comprehend what Ji You had become.
Yet he still could not understand—why him?
County Prefect Fang Zhong Zheng was stunned for a long time. It wasn’t until his daughter spoke again, following up on her initial words, that he realized his imagination had been far too limited.
“After Ji You entered the Inner Court, he had already obtained the qualification to establish a noble clan. Along the way, I have seen three magistrates bow in respect before him.”
“Three magistrates… why?” Fang Zhong Zheng asked, his voice uncertain.
Fang Ruo Yao pressed her red lips together. “In Azure Clouds Dominion, immortal authority reigns supreme. Feng Prefecture has neither an Immortal Sect nor an established noble clan. Once Ji You establishes the first native noble clan in Feng Prefecture, according to the Azure Clouds Immortal Edicts, he will be recognized as the true ruler of Feng Prefecture, overseeing all its resources, including tax tributes and cultivation quotas.”
A buzzing noise filled Fang Zhong Zheng’s mind. “But there are countless Immortal Manors in Feng Prefecture!”
“According to the same immortal edicts, those foreign Immortal Manors must either relocate or submit to his rule.”
“Even Immortal Worship Mountain Manor, that mighty manor?” Fang Zhong Zheng asked in disbelief.
To him, Immortal Worship Mountain Manor was the most powerful cultivation force he had ever witnessed. The previous County Prefect of Yuyang had merely delayed tax tributes for a few days and was forced to live as a dog for seven days just to be spared his life.
So Fang Zhong Zheng desperately wanted to know—could even such an overwhelmingly powerful manor be forced to yield?
Fang Ruo Yao glanced at her father. “If that manor still stands, its master is likely already at the Ji Clan’s doorstep, bowing and smiling.”
[If we return to Feng Prefecture, our descendants may also cultivate.]
[Even if you do not choose Ruo Yao, you will still have to marry into another family. How will you continue the lineage then?]
At this moment, the three elderly clan members who had been gripping their canes felt their hands weaken.
Like Jia Si Cong and Dong Wei, they had seen Ji You over the past few days and found him utterly unremarkable—nothing about him exuded the aura of an immortal. Having watched him grow up, they had naturally adopted the demeanor of elders.
In their minds, Ji You and their own Ruo Yao were both cultivators, and there shouldn’t have been much difference between them.
But now, they finally understood—this young man who had returned home was merely polite and refined, yet his status had soared to heights beyond comprehension.
When facing Immortal Worship Mountain Manor, they dared not even lift their heads, trembling all over. Yet, as Fang Ruo Yao described, even that powerful manor would not dare to be disrespectful before Ji You.
“How could this be? Does he not cultivate the same immortal path as you?” Fang Zhong Zheng asked.
Fang Ruo Yao clenched her silver teeth. “Because I am not a genius.”
Fang Zhong Zheng held his breath. “Then… is Ji You a genius?”
“No, he is not.”
“Then how did he reach such heights?”
Fang Ruo Yao looked toward the clouds outside the window. “Because the title of ‘genius’ is merely the threshold to be allowed in his presence.”
Fang Zhong Zheng: “…”
“Father, you are fortunate. You have not had to witness him ascend step by step, his Sword Qi piercing the sky, while I could do nothing but resent his rise and my own powerlessness.”
In the front hall, Fang Ruo Yao bit down on her lips so hard they lost all color. “This is all your fault. When I insisted on annulling the engagement back then, why did you not stop me!”
Yuyang County was not large. News could spread in less than half a day, just like when the Qiu Clan’s young girl was nearly taken to be refined into medicine years ago.
There were scholars here who fetched water for widows and guided the blind across streets. Some matters naturally would not stay secret for long.
By the time evening fell, rumors about titled princesses and noble ladies lining up to marry Ji You—and the likelihood that tax tributes in Feng Prefecture would soon be under his control—had already spread through countless households.
Many who heard the news were simply dumbfounded.
They could not fathom how, after only a year away, that harmless young scholar had risen so high above them all.
[Has he truly cultivated anything significant?]
[He must have just entered the immortal path. He still can’t compare to the immortal lords of Immortal Worship Mountain Manor.]
[He’s probably still not as talented as Miss Fang.]
At this moment, Jia Si Cong stared at the hand he had once used to pat Ji You’s shoulder and murmured, “I may never wash this hand again for the rest of my life.”
Meanwhile, after the Fang family had left, Ji You had already made his way to the Qiu household and was calmly eating his lunch at the table.
The Qiu couple had also heard the rumors. As they looked at the young master before them, they didn’t quite know what to say.
“Young Master.”
“Hmm?” Ji You responded absently as he broke off a piece of cornbread and fed it to Qiu Ru, gently patting her little head.
“They say that if you establish a noble clan, you will have authority over many affairs in Feng Prefecture—your word will carry more weight than the magistrate’s. Is this true?”
Ji You chuckled, turning to Qiu Zhong. “Old Qiu, you were truly born to be a steward.”
Qiu Zhong instantly held his breath.
“Before, you managed the Ji Clan’s affairs. Before long, you will help me manage a stronghold.”
“Eh? Not a noble clan?”
“A noble clan and a stronghold—aren’t they the same thing?” Ji You smirked.
(This novel is translated and hosted on Bcatranslation)