Chapter 152: Though a Thousand Stand Against Me, I Shall Go Forth
“What has Ji You been doing since his return?”
“Fetching water for a widow, wandering about with a young girl, and harvesting wheat.”
“Harvesting wheat?”
“He claims to be harvesting wheat, but I suspect trickery. Observing him for several days confirmed my suspicions—his so-called wheat harvesting is actually a way to temper his Sword Dao. I’ve heard he calls this technique Combined Harvester.”
Just as the Villa Master of White Mist Immortal Manor had surmised, though Ji You had obtained the qualification to establish a prestigious clan in Feng Prefecture, numerous formidable challenges lay ahead.
Ever since he set foot in Feng Prefecture, the foreign Immortal Manors stationed there had been monitoring his every move in secret.
These Immortal Manors had operated in Feng Prefecture for decades, treating it as their personal domain. Could they simply relinquish it to another? Impossible.
Many claimed Feng Prefecture was barren, vast, and sparsely populated. That much was true. However, precisely because of its scarcity, fewer factions competed for resources.
In contrast, the other eight prefectures were filled with prestigious clans and immortal sects, interwoven in a dense network of power. The actual resources these outsiders enjoyed here in Feng Prefecture far exceeded what they could claim elsewhere.
Yet, if a native clan arose, their portion would inevitably diminish. This was a scenario no foreign Immortal Manor was willing to accept.
Thus, they now faced an urgent dilemma.
If they remained mere spectators, Ji You would only grow stronger. Within ten or twenty years at most, his clan would solidify in Feng Prefecture.
If they wished to prevent this, they needed to erase him now, before it was too late.
As golden morning light spread across Feng Prefecture, Ji You stepped out of the Ji Mansion, securing the door tightly before heading beyond the city walls.
From the moment of his arrival, he had declared his intent—to travel to Feng Prefecture City, register his name, establish his prestigious clan, and claim his rightful share of the tax tribute. Today marked the start of that journey.
A carriage was already waiting by the county stele of Yuyang County. Cao Jin Song and Pei Ru Yi stood on either side.
“Leaving now?”
“Yes, let us depart.” Ji You replied softly, shifting his gaze slightly toward a figure approaching from the west.
It was Uncle A-Qing, a farmer from the western outskirts, carrying a white porcelain bowl filled with wild vegetable stew, heading southward.
Both Cao Jin Song and Pei Ru Yi noticed this sight, silently noting that while many spoke of Feng Prefecture’s poverty, its meals seemed far from lacking.
Without further delay, Ji You lifted his robe and stepped into the carriage.
Simultaneously, numerous intelligence reports set forth, swiftly transmitted from county to county, city to city, before landing in the hands of various Immortal Manors.
“Ji You is headed to Feng Prefecture City?”
“Indeed, he set off at dawn, heading straight there.”
“I assumed he would take several years before attempting to establish a prestigious clan. Who would have thought he’d act so soon?”
“The tax tribute collection is about to begin. If he registers now, his clan will immediately claim a portion. His greed is astounding!”
Thirty miles west of Feng Prefecture City, within Qi Yun Immortal Manor, Chang Qing Immortal Manor, Floating Smoke Immortal Manor, and several others, their villa masters gathered in a grand hall, their faces dark with fury. The sound of fists slamming against tables echoed endlessly.
Among them, fifty subordinates exchanged uneasy glances, whispering in low voices.
Who could have anticipated that this mere mid-stage Mystic Enlightenment cultivator, who had only entered the Inner Court a few days prior, would so boldly declare the founding of his prestigious clan?
True, the Azure Clouds Immortal Edicts dictated that once a native obtained clan status, they were entitled to return and establish a family line.
But the Azure Clouds Immortal Edicts were written laws, whereas the numerous Immortal Manors in Feng Prefecture were living, breathing entities.
Greedy—utterly greedy!
Some Immortal Manors had initially hesitated to act against Ji You.
On one hand, they feared the might of the Heavenly Script Academy. On the other, many saw an opportunity—if Ji You succeeded, he could be an ally. After all, many had heard rumors of his unique lineage, a physique suited for legacy-bearing.
Some villa masters with daughters even contemplated forging an alliance through marriage.
However, this abrupt move shattered all their expectations, sending alarm bells ringing in their hearts.
“Most assumed you would spend several years refining yourself in the Inner Court, securing a prestigious clan heiress as a Dao companion, before making your move to establish a prestigious clan in Feng Prefecture. I, too, believed this.”
“Yet, here we are, headed straight for Feng Prefecture City, laying your intentions bare for all to see.”
“With the tax tribute collection about to commence, every Immortal Sect, prestigious clan, and immortal estate has their coffers open wide. Your arrival at such a juncture will provoke many nerves.”
“For you to claim a share of Feng Prefecture is to take from their pockets. From this moment on, we must tread with utmost caution.”
The carriage reached Peaceful City County, where Cao Jin Song, Pei Ru Yi, and Ji You disembarked to rest at a relay station.
There, Cao Jin Song sat upon a broad bench, offering Ji You countless words of advice.
Ji You listened attentively, nodding in agreement—before quietly swapping his tea cup with Cao Jin Song’s.
Instructor Cao: “??”
Ji You raised his head with a solemn expression. “I’m afraid it’s poisoned.”
“You’re afraid it’s poisoned? Oh? And I’m not supposed to be afraid?”
“A true man fears nothing. Otherwise, why bother cultivating immortality at all?”
Muttering this, Ji You furrowed his brows slightly. Then, he picked up a piece of food with his chopsticks and placed it into Cao Jin Song’s bowl. “Your disciple was indeed disrespectful just now. Please allow me to make amends by showing my filial piety.”
Cao Jin Song’s mouth twitched. “You’re going to be the death of me with your ‘filial piety’…”
“What is there to fear? Poisons capable of instantly killing a cultivator are exceedingly rare. Moreover, I have many connections in the Pill Sect. Instructor, you need not worry. If there truly is poison, I can summon a direct disciple of the Pill Sect within three days to cure you.”
“Then why don’t you eat it yourself?”
Ji You halted his chopsticks just above his bowl. “Heaven, Earth, sovereign, kin, and master—elders should eat first. How could a junior like me dare to be presumptuous?”
Listening to their back-and-forth, Pei Ru Yi couldn’t help but press her lips together in amusement. “Cultivators don’t need to eat, and there’s really no need for one of you to die over a meal…”
As she finished speaking, Fairy Ru Yi suddenly recalled something and looked toward Ji You with seriousness in her gaze. “Not eating or drinking is fine, but there’s one crucial thing you must remember, Junior Brother—it could cost you your life.”
“??”
Hearing this, both Cao Jin Song and Ji You straightened up, their expressions becoming more serious. “What is it?”
Pei Ru Yi set down her chopsticks. “If you ever see silver coins rolling on the ground, do not pick them up.”
Ji You stared at Fairy Ru Yi for a long time before frowning and gripping his teacup tightly. “So now I’m not even allowed to pick up stray silver? What kind of lawlessness is this?”
Pei Ru Yi sighed. “I know this goes against your Dao heart, but desperate times call for desperate measures.”
“I’ll just pick up the first two or three. If they toss more after that to bait me, I won’t pick them up.”
“The moment you pick up the first one, you won’t be able to stop.”
Ji You’s expression grew heavier. He realized his senior sister’s words were likely true.
At this moment, Cao Jin Song set his chopsticks down and let out a quiet sigh. “Actually, we can afford to wait a little longer. Your talent is exceptional, and your cultivation is advancing at a rapid pace. Once you enter the Dao Fusion Stage, or even the Heaven Resonance Stage, your chances of success will be much greater.”
“I can’t wait.”
“Why not?”
“Building a bandit stronghold has always been my dream. One day, I will carve these words across the Feng Prefecture: ‘This road is opened by me, this tree is planted by me. If you wish to pass through, leave behind a toll fee.’ I shall become the most legendary bandit of all time!”
Cao Jin Song and Pei Ru Yi exchanged glances and fell silent.
Ji You was always this way—never taking things seriously, always rambling about his philosophy of ‘a bandit’s heart shines bright.’ Yet, most of the silver he acquired never went into his own pocket.
Just like this time, upon returning to Yuyang County, he had exchanged his spiritual stones for silver, and a portion of it had gone directly to the local academy.
If he could establish a noble household here, it would indeed benefit the people of Feng Prefecture.
However, in Cao Jin Song’s eyes, Feng Prefecture’s current situation was not built in a day, nor could it be solved overnight. There was no need for Ji You to be so hasty.
With greater cultivation, one’s life would become everlasting, and some things would come naturally with time. But taking risks too early was hardly worth it.
Ji You was normally excellent at calculating risks, so why couldn’t he see this simple truth?
The carriage continued forward, rolling through the dusty roads.
When they passed a small village thirty miles southwest of Peaceful City County, the trio saw a ragged farmer at the roadside, holding a bowl of food as he walked toward a nearby field.
Cao Jin Song and Pei Ru Yi furrowed their brows slightly and followed his direction with their gaze—there, they spotted a newly built grave.
The grave was semi-circular, but only half-sealed, with scattered bricks lying nearby.
As the farmer approached the tomb, he softly called out, “Mother.”
From the unsealed portion of the grave, a wrinkled face suddenly emerged and responded, “Son.”
Cao Jin Song and Pei Ru Yi’s eyes widened in shock, momentarily dazed.
Although they were both born in Feng Prefecture, they came from well-off families. Otherwise, they would not have been able to pursue cultivation of the Immortal Way. Naturally, they had never witnessed such a sight before.
“Have you never seen a Nursing Tomb before?”
“??”
“When elders in a household lose the ability to work but refuse to die, their families must pay an additional tax tribute for them. If their children cannot afford the burden, they send them here. Each day, they bring food and lay a brick. When the grave is fully sealed, the burial is complete. That is how they fulfill their filial duty.”
Ji You watched the scene and continued, “And on the final day, there must be meat in the bowl.”
Cao Jin Song and Pei Ru Yi suddenly recalled the farmer they had seen at the gates of Yuyang County before setting off. They couldn’t help but turn to Ji You.
“Three years ago, I got lost in the mountains due to some unfortunate circumstances. A group of farmers found me and nursed me back to health in a medical hall. Not long after, Fang Ruo Yao called off our engagement. You both know about this…”
“After I recovered, I often wandered the mountains and came across many such graves—some old, some new, scattered across the hills. Back then, my expression was exactly like yours now.”
(This novel is translated and hosted on Bcatranslation)