Chapter 165: A Round Rear with a Tail
During the season of autumn’s harmony and clear skies, within the Office of Affairs, a conversation unfolded between Steward Qin and Ji You.
Steward Qin informed Ji You about the Mystic Wilding Tribes sending an envoy to the Demon Clan, where they were warmly received. In his recounting, he used phrases such as grand banquets, singing, and dancing, highlighting the evident friendliness between the two non-human factions. This indirectly underscored the precarious position of the Human Race, teetering on the edge of crisis.
Ji You furrowed his brows slightly. As a cultivator long secluded in the mountains, he had little access to worldly news. This revelation was the first he had heard of it. It seemed that after a millennium of internal strife, external threats were now emerging in rapid succession.
After setting the stage, Steward Qin poured him a cup of tea, his concern evident, before finally getting to the main point.
The Great Xia Dynasty was preparing to dispatch an envoy to the Snow Realm. One purpose was to escort the Capital Demon Clan Envoy, while the other was to have an audience with the Demon Emperor. This journey required traversing both the Northern Plains and the Snow Realm, and Ji You was needed as part of the escort team.
Furthermore, this mission was not his alone. Representatives from the Seven Great Immortal Sects would also be accompanying the envoy. Supposedly, sixteen Dao Fusion Stage cultivators, several Heaven Resonance Stage experts, and even a Boundless Martial Stage powerhouse were assigned to the expedition.
The implication was clear—this journey was exceptionally safe.
To sweeten the offer, Steward Qin even mentioned the abundance of Demon Clan beauties, emphasizing their round rears and, astonishingly, the presence of tails atop their plump figures, as if to add further appeal to the venture.
Ji You had initially been listening with grave seriousness, the atmosphere formal and respectful. However, the moment Steward Qin uttered, “Round rears with tails,” a faint crease formed between Ji You’s brows.
“Who told you that I have a preference for round-reared women?” Ji You asked.
“Isn’t that what the Outer Court says? They claim you once eagerly guided a particularly well-endowed junior sister, demonstrating the esteemed hospitality of a Heavenly Script Academy Inner Court scholar.”
Ji You sat silently in his chair, staring at Steward Qin for a long moment, his gaze deep yet impassive.
All guarantees of safety were typically deceptive, and the inclusion of Demon Clan women with round rears as an added incentive only made the situation more suspicious.
The air grew still.
Then, Steward Qin placed a thick stack of large-denomination silver banknotes and a deposit slip for three thousand Snow Realm Spiritual Stones onto the table.
Ji You glanced at the banknotes and asked, “That much?”
“Yes. The journey north is long, and as it is a foreign land, it is only proper to provide more funds for expenses,” Steward Qin said in a gentle tone, then quietly awaited Ji You’s decision.
From Steward Qin’s perspective, Ji You had only two choices:
Accept the money, embark on a perilous journey north, likely a nine-lives-perilous mission.
Refuse, and though he would inevitably face oppression from the noble families, he might still have a slim chance at survival.
Ji You pondered for a long while before finally reaching out, taking the banknotes. Suddenly, he smiled brilliantly and said, “Thank you for your generous patronage, Boss.”
Steward Qin Rong was silent for a moment before lifting the corners of his lips in a polite smile. “Go prepare yourself well. Once the official decree from the Immortal Overseer Office arrives, you shall set off.”
“No problem. Next time, if there’s another job like this, be sure to find me.”
“Eh…? Of course.”
Ji You tucked the banknotes and deposit slip into his robes before stepping out of the Office of Affairs.
At that moment, Lang He Tong set his teacup down, watching Ji You’s figure as he walked away from the main building towards the courtyard gates.
He had been present the entire time but had remained silent, as assigning disciples to missions was outside his jurisdiction.
Now, watching Ji You depart, he finally spoke. “I thought it would take more than just gold and spiritual stones to persuade him.”
Steward Qin sighed. “Perhaps he is truly obsessed with wealth.”
Lang He Tong used the lid of his teacup to skim away the tea foam. “Ji You is usually intelligent. Yet, when it comes to money, it’s as if he loses all reason. Some might consider that a good thing.”
“That’s why it’s called a weakness…”
Lang He Tong took a sip of tea before asking, “Who is the Inner Court sending on this mission?”
Steward Qin refocused. “Elder Ge, of the Heaven Resonance Stage, along with two disciples: Shi Jun Hao from the Hall of Longevity and Xiao Han Yan from the Hall of Purity. If they return safely, these two will likely become direct disciples of their respective halls.”
“No wonder they agreed to go.”
“Compared to those two, who aspire to become direct disciples, Ji You’s decision to risk his life purely for money makes him seem rather foolish and cheap.”
Steward Qin murmured those words with a sigh.
To be a direct disciple of an Inner Court hall meant taking a major step towards the Daoist Lineage. If the Sect Master ever ascended one day, the current direct disciples would be the next masters of their halls.
In contrast, what Ji You pursued—gold and silver—seemed utterly insignificant.
—
At midday, the autumn air had turned gentle.
Above the Heavenly Script Academy, the official decree of the academy still shimmered in the sky, radiating golden light that pierced through the clouds, spreading its brilliance in all directions.
Meanwhile, the convoys of the Three Great Southern Immortal Sects were already making their way to the capital. The bustling city of Shengjing became even more lively, its streets more crowded than ever.
Countless powerful cultivators took residence in Spring Pool Courtyard, their expressions filled with pride, their gazes indifferent to the mortal world, as though they were looking down upon all creation.
With such an imposing presence, there was little need to stir the waters further—the rumors of the three great races, the Human Clan, the Barbarian Clan, and the Demon Clan, began spreading like wildfire.
The Barbarians had sent an envoy to the Demon Clan and had been warmly welcomed. This development put countless people on edge.
“The Snow Realm lies in the northwest of the Northern Plains, a treacherous land filled with barbaric beasts. The chances of encountering Barbarian warriors are extremely high. That is why only cultivators at the Dao Fusion Stage or above were chosen for this expedition. Barbarian warriors are born with immense physical strength and an indomitable physique—only cultivators of such caliber can venture deep within.”
On the western corridor by the Azure Lake, Lou Si Yi spoke with a grave expression, explaining the situation to Lu Qing Qiu and several of their sisters.
Her family had long specialized in cultivating spiritual seedlings and celestial herbs, and their fields extended eastward from within Cold Iron Pass of the Northern Plains. Having grown up surrounded by such matters, she had an intimate understanding of the region.
Hearing this, Sun Qiao Zhi inquired, “What are barbaric beasts?”
“Unlike humans, who are born with True Spirits within their bodies, both Barbarians and Demons sometimes give birth to offspring who cannot awaken their intelligence. These are called beasts. With their savage nature, they can be even more dangerous than intelligent beings—so much so that even Dao Fusion Stage cultivators struggle against them.”
Lu Qing Qiu looked toward the Inner Court and muttered, “The Northern Plains—a land where only Dao Fusion Stage cultivators may tread. Yet, in the escort list, there is Ji You.”
Sun Qiao Zhi turned toward her. “It is said that the Heavenly Script Academy offered him ten thousand taels of gold and three thousand Snow Realm spirit stones—and he accepted without hesitation.”
“He’s always been that way. I’m not even surprised,” Lu Qing Qiu said with a sigh. “People even joke that if you want to lure him into a trap, all you need to do is scatter silver along the way.”
“That’s just an exaggeration, surely?”
“Probably,” Lu Qing Qiu admitted. “But the fact that such a joke exists proves just how greedy Ji You is.”
Sun Qiao Zhi pressed her red lips together. “Still, greed alone isn’t enough for a man to throw his life away.”
Hearing this, Lu Qing Qiu couldn’t help but sigh. “Perhaps he has no idea how perilous the Northern Plains and the Snow Realm truly are.”
At that moment, in the depths of the Purple Bamboo Zen Forest, where spiritual energy and Daoist principles converged most powerfully, He Ling Xiu was cultivating. Yet even in the midst of her practice, she couldn’t help but overhear the various discussions of the Inner Court Hall Master Candidates about this affair.
With their insight, it was clear to them that Ji You’s name appearing on the escort list was the result of a carefully orchestrated scheme.
But to their surprise, such a crude ploy had actually worked on him.
The other two key figures in this matter, Shi Jun Hao and Xiao Han Yan, were also present in the forest.
Both were cultivators of the Upper Dao Fusion Stage, confident that they could traverse the Northern Plains and Snow Realm and return alive. Their reward for this mission? A Direct Disciple’s position under the Hall Master.
Compared to them, Ji You had simply been bought with money.
To those who had long since adopted the indifferent, aloof attitude of celestial beings, this was an amusing spectacle.
He Ling Xiu withdrew her gaze from them, looking instead toward the sky. In the end, she merely shook her head lightly.
The escort mission was not the same as seeking enlightenment at Spirit Sword Mountain.
To go there was merely a test of skill and reputation. But to face the Barbarians—this was a matter of life and death. That was the crucial difference.
Thus, apart from those like Shi Jun Hao and Xiao Han Yan, who sought the Direct Disciple position, only someone as oblivious as Ji You would risk his life for mere wealth.
Just then, hurried footsteps echoed up the mountain path.
He Ling Xiu turned her head to see Wen Zheng Xin and Ban Yang Shu, both wearing solemn expressions as they made their way toward the Inner Court’s immortal residences.
By now, Ji You had already returned from the Office of Affairs and was seated at his table, meticulously sorting through his silver notes.
But then, his Senior Brother and Senior Sister rushed over, slamming their palms onto the stone table.
“Junior Brother!”
Ji You looked up at them. “Yes, yes, I’ve made a bit of money. But you’ll have to wait for my return if you want a feast.”
Ban Yang Shu plopped down onto a stone stool, but there was no humor in his tone. “I think it’s absolutely necessary for you to understand just how dangerous the Northern Plains and the Snow Realm are!”
Wen Zheng Xin furrowed her brows deeply. “Junior Brother, this is not like going to Spirit Sword Mountain. You could really die.”
The two of them, speaking all at once, poured out everything they knew—whether fact or rumor, documented or hearsay.
They spoke of the time when an innate spiritual medicine emerged in the Northern Plains, sparking a frenzied battle. Not a single Mystic Enlightenment Stage cultivator survived.
They warned of the barbaric beasts—colossal, bloodthirsty monsters devoid of intelligence but possessed of terrifying might. Even Steward Qin had failed to mention them.
“Ji You, you have already established your clan in Feng Prefecture. You have plenty of opportunities to make money—why risk your life?”
Wen Zheng Xin nodded in agreement, adding, “Exactly. Even if you don’t want to exploit the common folk, you could always plunder an Immortal Manor. There’s no need to sell your life for this.”
Ji You regarded them silently for a long moment before clasping his hands in salute. “Thank you, Senior Brother, Senior Sister, for your warnings.”
The two exchanged a glance. Had they finally convinced him?
But at that moment, a knock sounded at the door.
A disciple from the Office of Affairs handed them a slip of paper, momentarily pausing their persuasion.
The message was from Kuang Cheng, requesting a private meeting.
“Senior Brother, Senior Sister, I need to descend the mountain for a short while. I’ll be back soon to continue listening to your conversation.”
“What happened?”
“I was assigned to escort the diplomatic envoy, but this was originally Dou Yuan Kong’s scheme. He likely did this because of a grudge against a friend of mine. I’m worried that my departure will bring trouble upon him, so I need to make some arrangements.”
Wen Zheng Xin and Ban Yang Shu exchanged a glance, realizing that despite all they had said, they still couldn’t dissuade him from taking this job for the sake of money.
Not only was Ji You still thinking about how to handle matters after leaving the capital, but he was also concerned about his friend. Without hesitation, they seized him and dragged him to the outer courtyard to see Cao Jin Song.
Since Ji You had not yet left, his friend would remain safe for the moment. The most pressing matter now was to dissuade him from this reckless, money-driven decision to ensure everyone’s safety.
Soon, many people gathered in Cao Jin Song’s courtyard. Besides Wen Zheng Xin and Ban Yang Shu, Bai Ru Long, the two Lu sisters, and Sun Qiao Zhi were also present. They had all been drawn by the commotion of Ji You being dragged there.
At that moment, the air in the courtyard was heavy with tension. Cao Jin Song, Wen Zheng Xin, and Ban Yang Shu all wore grave expressions.
“Rebellious disciple!?”
“?”
Cao Jin Song’s beard bristled in fury. “Do you have any idea how valuable your life is!?”
Ji You calmly sat down on a stone bench, poured himself a cup of tea, and replied, “All I know is that my time is extremely valuable.”
“Isn’t that the same thing? You’ve already established a noble family and become the lord of Feng Prefecture, yet you still let silver bait you so easily? Have you no ambition?”
“How can I not be tempted when so much silver is placed before me?”
Cao Jin Song huffed angrily. “That depends on the circumstances! Do you have any idea how dangerous it is to escort an envoy to the Demon Clan? If it were me, not even half of the Heavenly Script Academy would tempt me!”
Ji You pulled a thick stack of silver notes from his robes. “Are you tempted now?”
Cao Jin Song’s eyes widened. “By the heavens, that much!?”
Ban Yang Shu immediately nudged Cao Jin Song, who swiftly regained his stern demeanor. “Some money is worth earning, but some money is not.”
Ji You took a deep breath, placing both hands on his knees. “This morning, I went to the Office of Affairs. Qin Rong explained the situation to me, saying that the Demon Clan has many merits. He even mentioned that their women are particularly well-endowed.”
At these words, Bai Ru Long visibly held his breath. On the day of his initiation into the academy, his money pouch had been stolen, and he still hadn’t recovered financially.
Ji You continued, “Then he told me that if I accepted, they would pay me ten thousand taels of gold, plus three thousand Snow Realm Demon Stones, all laid out before me.”
“So you agreed to go?”
“They weren’t thinking clearly. This is my tribulation to face.”
Ji You dipped his finger in tea and sketched three interconnected territories on the table. “Look, Yun Prefecture is connected to the Northern Frontier, and my Feng Prefecture lies to the east.”
Cao Jin Song furrowed his brows deeply. Wen Zheng Xin and Ban Yang Shu hesitated, seeming to sense something. “No, no, no. Cold Iron Pass is actually closer to Yun Prefecture. Even if it were breached, Yun Prefecture would take the brunt of the impact, not Feng Prefecture. Moreover, if such a disaster occurred, the Seven Great Immortal Sects wouldn’t sit idly by.”
Ji You shook his head. “No, the closest is not Yun Prefecture. In the minds of cultivators, Feng Prefecture is closer.”
“??”
“If negotiations fail and the Demon Clan allies with the Barbaric Race, Cold Iron Pass won’t last three days. Then… the enemy will flood into the southern part of the Northern Frontier. Panic will spread among the human race, and cultivators will decide to intervene. Between Yun Prefecture and Feng Prefecture, they will most likely choose Feng Prefecture as the battleground, setting layer upon layer of traps.”
“Because Yun Prefecture is home to many noble families and is rich in spiritual ore, humanity will be unwilling to sacrifice it. Feng Prefecture, on the other hand, is a vast, barren land, and losing it would have little impact.”
“Of course, they wouldn’t inform the common people of this in advance. Partly because they don’t care about their lives, and partly because doing so would alert the enemy.”
“Feng Prefecture is perfect—no noble families, no immortal sects. It’s a natural mass grave.”
As Ji You finished speaking, the room fell into a heavy silence. The group exchanged glances, realizing that if the Demon Clan truly allied with the Barbaric Race, everything would unfold exactly as he predicted.
The disciples of the Inner and Outer Courts called him foolish, called him greedy, said he didn’t understand the dangers of the Northern Plains and the Snowy Expanse.
But what he saw was an even greater danger.
Ji You gazed at them. “Then Old Qiu will die, Teacher Chen will die, those children will die. Everyone will die. Only I will survive. And there will be even unluckier people—those who weren’t originally in Feng Prefecture but fled there because I reduced the tax tribute, only to fall into an abyss.”
Lu Qing Qiu and Lu Han Yan were stunned. “But even if you go, you can’t change anything.”
“That’s true. I can’t change anything. But I can send an early warning, so that those who need to flee can flee. Or they can kneel and beg the Demon Clan for mercy. That’s all.”
Ban Yang Shu lifted his head and spoke, “Things may not be as dire as they seem.”
Ji You glanced at him and countered, “But if the Demon Clan had no such intentions, why would they so eagerly welcome the envoy of the Barbaric Race?”
Hearing these words, Ban Yang Shu fell into silence. The truth was exactly as Ji You had said. The Barbaric Race and the Demon Clan, who had never interacted before, had suddenly started forging ties at such a critical moment—such an alliance spoke volumes of their ambitions. Otherwise, this newfound camaraderie was nothing but a meaningless gesture.
Ji You poured more tea into his cup and continued, “Many people, upon hearing this matter, think the reward is too meager or not worth the risk. Some even claim only a Direct Disciple position would be enough to entice them. But my first thought was—what about those I know?”
“I have only just found a new home. I have yet to experience Everlasting Growth.”
“People fear death. Back when I was cultivating in Yuyang County, I was terrified of being discovered. Every night, I would draw the black curtains over my windows. But this world is truly rotten. So every time impulse took hold of me, I would think there was nothing worth clinging to. That always led to a mindset of treating life and death with indifference—if anything stood in my way, I would cut it down.”
“Before a calamity arrives, even a cultivator of the Mystic Enlightenment Stage can take measures to prepare. But once the calamity strikes, it is an unstoppable storm.”
“That night in Yuyang County, I had two choices: beg Fang Ruo Yao for help or break through my bottleneck on my own. I have always preferred to hold my fate in my own hands.”
Ji You turned to look at them and asked, “That said, even if I refuse to go this time, once war erupts in Feng Prefecture, do you think I’ll just sit back and continue cultivating peacefully at the Heavenly Script Academy?”
Wen Zheng Xin remained silent for a long while before finally speaking in a hushed voice, “You will go to battle. Without a doubt.”
The memories of that night at Qiling Town surfaced in Ji You’s mind.
The Seven Great Immortal Sects had closed their gates, activating their grand protective formations. A certain Young Master of an Immortal Sect, who had been in secluded meditation, suddenly descended the mountain to meet the Demon Clan.
The shepherd boy had his head severed. The old woman had her heart gouged out. Xiu Xiu was nailed to the town walls.
She had been a mere farmer’s daughter—plain, rustic, and devoid of any immortal grace.
She was pinned to the city walls, swaying like dried grass in the wind.
[Run…]
Even in her dying breath, Xiu Xiu had whispered to him: “Run…”
But in the end, that Young Master of the Immortal Sect did not ascend to immortality. Instead, he perished atop the walls, his body bloodied but still standing defiantly in death.
At that moment, Lu Qing Qiu cast a puzzled glance at Bai Ru Long. She noticed he was clenching his teeth, his eyes brimming with unshed tears as he murmured Xiu Xiu’s name—though he himself seemed unaware of who she truly was.
Before she could inquire further, Ji You’s voice once again echoed softly in their ears.
“If we confront this calamity now, there is still a sliver of hope. But if we delay, death is inevitable.”
“If the Demon Clan does not form an alliance with the Barbaric Race, the risks of this journey will be far lower. I have confidence in my ability to escape unscathed. However, if they do form an alliance, then I will have no choice but to stay and defend the city. So in the end, there is no difference.”
“After all, I say all this for the sake of my Dao Heart. If things truly take a turn for the worse, I will flee to Cold Iron Pass and enlist in the Northern Garrison. I trust they would welcome a cultivator of the Mystic Enlightenment Stage like myself.”
“Everything always comes down to two choices. It is merely a matter of what one decides.”
At that moment, Cao Jin Song sighed. “The Demon Clan’s current stance is indeed unpredictable.”
Ji You’s gaze drifted toward the slowly drying tea in his cup before he turned to Bai Ru Long and remarked, “Immortal Emperor Ru Long, I heard that Demon Clan women have round, swaying hips and are born with tails. When they walk, they sway enchantingly. Would you care to join me in witnessing this firsthand?”
Bai Ru Long’s breath caught in his throat. His eyes shone with excitement. “Is that true? Can I really go?”
Ji You chuckled. “Of course. If You may go, so may I!”
“I am fired up! I will go pack my things at once!”
Ji You then turned to Cao Jin Song and quipped, “Look at that! Even Immortal Emperor Ru Long is willing to risk everything for the allure of swaying hips. Is this not a tale worthy of song and lament?”
Wen Zheng Xin and Ban Yang Shu held their breaths in shock. “Bai Ru Long, do you truly not fear death?”
Bai Ru Long furrowed his brows. “It’s not as if we are certain to die. And if danger arises, I will simply furrow my brows and shield Brother Ji behind me. But if I do not go, my Dao Heart Clarity will remain clouded…”
“Your Dao Heart is truly… rather lowly…”
At that moment, Lu Qingqiu and Lu Hanyan couldn’t help but turn their heads, subconsciously glancing at their own hips.
Meanwhile, Ji You rose to his feet and departed from Cao Jin Song’s courtyard, descending the mountain and making his way toward Spring Blossom Alley.
In a dimly lit room, Kuang Cheng sat alone, gazing at the grand Nine Provinces Map hanging upon the wall, lost in thought. No lamps were lit, leaving the room steeped in shadow.
It was the Department of Immortal Observers that handled the dispatch of the envoy to the Snow Realm Demon Clan, so he had learned of the matter earlier that morning. He had even perused the list of names involved.
The Immortal Favoring Faction had been engaging with the demon envoys of late, and given the events of the previous night, he could surmise some of the underlying schemes at play. Yet, be it Dou Yuan Kong’s maneuvers or the machinations of the noble clans, those concerns were secondary at present.
A voice disrupted his thoughts.
“What are you looking at so intently?”
Kuang Cheng turned toward the sound, then rose and spoke, “I have already sought permission from the Immortal Overseer, and I shall accompany you north. However, I cannot pass beyond Cold Iron Pass; I can only wait upon the city walls.”
Ji You studied him for a long moment. “I thought you would try to talk me out of it, persuade me not to risk my life for a few silver pieces.”
“That is not your true weakness, Ji Brother.”
“Don’t act like you know me so well. That is precisely my weakness.”
Kuang Cheng opened the wooden box upon the table, drawing forth a dagger and handing it to Ji You. “I bought this on the street for five taels of silver.”
Ji You took it, examining the blade. “A gift to protect me?”
“No. It is for myself. Should you truly fall into peril, I will meet my end alongside you within the pass, so we may walk the road to the underworld together.”
Ji You snorted. “Best not. I fear Wei Rui would dig up my grave.”
He rolled up his sleeves. “Still, it’s good that you’ll be waiting in the north. At least Dou Yuan Kong won’t be able to act against you here in the capital.”
Kuang Cheng tucked the dagger into his belt. “Alas, I am but a mere mortal and cannot accompany you beyond.”
“It’s no grand affair. No need to be so eager.”
Ji You glanced down at the table, where two books rested beside the dagger’s wooden box—The Ten Thousand Mountains and The Snowy Expanse.
These tomes contained accounts of the Barbarian Tribes and Demon Clans, records said to have been compiled at great peril by a wandering swordsman years ago.
“You’ve been reading about the barbarians and the demons?”
Kuang Cheng nodded. “I have spent much time going through them, selecting and compiling the information that might be of use to you.”
Ji You sat upon a bamboo cushion and smoothed out his robes. “You know, there is something I’ve been meaning to ask you.”
“Speak freely, Ji Brother.”
“Tell me… do demon women truly have round, shapely hips and tails?”
“…??”
(This novel is translated and hosted on Bcatranslation)