Chapter 22: The Martyr
This novel is translated and hosted on Bcatranslation
Chu He did not attend the Field of Enlightenment today. The indulgence of last night’s drinking left him with a splitting headache in the morning.
He still could not understand why the Heavenly Tome had not chosen him.
Since childhood, Chu He had basked in the glory of the Chu Clan. As he grew older, he resolutely chose to enter the Heavenly Script Academy, determined not to live in the shadow of his elder brother and to carve out a path uniquely his own.
The elders of his family had praised his lofty aspirations and fully supported his decision.
But he had not expected that as soon as he entered the academy, a mere wandering rogue cultivator would surpass his elder brother, becoming his new and unrelenting shadow.
Last night, Ji You condensed two streaks of Celestial Aura.
At such a rapid pace, how could he possibly compete? Chu He began to regret his choice of joining the Heavenly Script Academy.
Such was the plight of the so-called young prodigies of noble families: accustomed to being revered and self-important, their sense of purpose shattered the moment this status was challenged.
At this moment, someone returned from the Field of Enlightenment, and upon seeing this former paragon so despondent, they could not help but sigh.
Yet some, who had always been close to him, felt compelled to offer comfort.
But before they could speak, they were silenced by the chilling glare in Chu He’s eyes.
“Young Master, Young Master, someone from home has come,” his attendant suddenly announced.
“What?”
Chu He snapped out of his stupor, staring at the servant for a long moment. He realized with dread that news of his failure against a wandering rogue cultivator might have already reached his family.
He scrambled to wash and dress, rushing anxiously to the gates of the Heavenly Script Academy.
To his surprise, however, the visitor was not directly dispatched from his family but was instead the guardian elder his elder brother had taken to the Mystic Origin Immortal Palace long ago.
The two met in a secluded alley in the capital city of Shengjing. The hawk-nosed guardian elder, Hong Si Sha, wore an expression as dark as thunderclouds.
“Second Young Master, have you forgotten the glory of the Chu Clan?”
“It is not I who have forgotten, but the Heavenly Tome that is devoid of justice!”
Chu He gritted his teeth. “Hong Si Sha, I want you to kill Ji You for me. Without him obstructing me, the Inner Court quota will certainly be mine.”
At these words, a cold glint flashed in Hong Si Sha’s eyes. “Young Master, you overestimate my abilities. I am merely at the upper stage of the Dao Fusion Realm. Even if I were at the pinnacle of the Five Upper Realms, it would still be impossible to kill someone under the watchful eye of the Heavenly Script Academy.”
“But he is in my way!” Chu He roared.
“Frightened simply because someone blocks your path? If the First Young Master could do it, why can’t you?” Hong Si Sha’s voice was low and cutting.
As he spoke, he pulled a brocade box and a handwritten letter from Chu Xian, a direct disciple of the Mystic Origin Immortal Palace, and handed them to Chu He.
Chu He tore open the letter, finding only a single, concise line of text:
Die to preserve your name, or live without shaming the clan.
Seeing this, Chu He’s pupils contracted violently, his face turning pale.
For a long moment, he stood frozen. Then, noticing the brocade box in his hand, he tremblingly opened it. Inside were ten Immortal Pills.
For a brief instant, he seemed to see ten struggling, curled-up infants within the pills, but when he blinked, the vision vanished.
“What… What is this?”
Hong Si Sha clasped his hands behind his back. “A divine pill personally refined by the headmaster of the Mystic Origin Immortal Palace. Even with the First Young Master’s standing, he can only obtain ten per year. This is his hope for you.”
Chu He picked up one of the pills. “What effect does this pill have?”
“Even if you cannot sense the Heavenly Tome, it will unlock your full potential, allowing your cultivation speed to far surpass that of ordinary people.”
Hearing this, Chu He clenched the pill tightly in his palm, a manic gleam flickering in his eyes.
This was precisely what he needed now!
Hong Si Sha leaned closer to him. “Refine the first pill when you return. Afterward, take one every seven days. You will reach the Five Upper Realms, but these pills are exceedingly rare. To avoid arousing envy, do not consume them in the presence of others.”
“I will make Ji You understand the true meaning of despair!”
“Second Young Master, that Ji You you speak of is nothing but a mere Wandering Rogue Cultivator from the countryside!” Hong Si Sha’s voice was sharp, reprimanding. “Your sights were always set on the Eldest Young Master. How is it that now you only see a countryside Wandering Rogue Cultivator?”
“You are right,” Chu He said, tightening his grip on the Brocade Box. His eyes burned with a fierce determination. “He is nothing more than a stepping stone for me.”
With over half a year until the Inner Court Competition, the pills in his possession would suffice to elevate him into the Upper Five Stages. Then, he would crush Ji You, earn his place in the Inner Court, and prove himself worthy.
Meanwhile, at the Elegant Garden by Azure Lake, Ji You was greeted with an invitation as he rose for the day. The message came from the Northern Divine General’s Residence, penned personally by Ye Sheng. The missive claimed he felt regretful about the hasty tea and simple meal offered on Ji You’s previous visit and sought to make proper amends.
Yet, Ji You was certain this invitation was no simple act of courtesy. News of his celestial insights into the Heavenly Tome had likely reached the capital, Shengjing.
He refused.
The prior visit had been obligatory; the Northern Divine General had supported him publicly, and Ji You had accepted the invitation in plain view of others. Declining then would have been disrespectful. But now, no such obligation tied him. Moreover, his sentiment toward the Great Xia Royal Court was far from favorable. To Ji You, if the Immortal Sect was the villain sowing misery among the people, the Great Xia Dynasty was undoubtedly its accomplice.
[Better to immerse myself in cultivation and ponder the Dao at the Field of Enlightenment than to engage in hollow pleasantries with politicians,] he thought.
Two days passed before another message arrived. Ji You initially assumed it was Ye Sheng again, but it bore the name Kuang Cheng. Intrigued, he left Mount Ni and wound through the streets until he reached the Spring Blossom Relay Station.
There, he found Kuang Cheng and stared in disbelief. “Top Scholar?”
Kuang Cheng nodded with a smile. “Indeed.”
“What’s the stipend? Can you split half with me?”
“Stipend? I haven’t even been assigned a proper post!”
Kuang Cheng had intended to request funds from Instructor Cao but was instead drawn to the announcement of his examination results. Elated at the thought of being financially supported now, he rushed to share the news. He hadn’t expected that, in becoming the Top Scholar, he would still find himself empty-handed.
Ji You shook his head with a wry grin. “So, no stipend…”
After some thought, Kuang Cheng remarked, “Actually, I owe this to you, Ji You.”
“Why thank me?”
“My winning essay was inspired by the words ‘Since ancient times, who has not faced death? Leave a loyal heart to illuminate the annals of history.’ His Majesty was so impressed, he chose me as Top Scholar.”
Ji You’s amused smile faltered, fading into a contemplative frown.
He understood the Emperor’s intentions. For years, the Great Xia Emperor had sought to reassert royal authority, constrained by the combined influence of Minister Wei and Prince Chong. This year, the Emperor opened a new round of imperial examinations, invited the Northern Divine General to oversee order, and aimed to revitalize governance.
However, the Emperor did not appoint just anyone. He sought individuals unafraid of death—those willing to face it head-on.
“Kuang Cheng.”
“Hm?”
Ji You’s gaze was unwavering. “Do not become a martyr for the Emperor.”
Kuang Cheng froze momentarily, then chuckled softly. “Don’t worry. I’m not foolish enough to risk my life for such ideals.”
“Good. Remember, ‘Since ancient times, who has not faced death?’ is mere rhetoric. Even I can’t live up to it, so why should you?”
“Rest assured, Ji You. My focus is the revival of the Kuang family, not self-sacrifice. I lack the courage for such recklessness—unless, of course, you become the Headmaster of the Heavenly Script Academy and offer me your protection.”
Ji You finally relaxed. “I will take on that role soon.”
Kuang Cheng grinned in acknowledgment but suddenly recalled something peculiar. The night before he left Yuyang County, while standing in his family’s courtyard, he witnessed a spectacular sight. Countless stars cascaded from the heavens like fireflies, dancing through the air. He called for his family to witness it, but they claimed to see nothing, as though the vision were exclusive to him.
Though he wanted to ask Ji You what it meant, he dismissed it as a mere trick of the eyes. After all, he was no Cultivator of the Immortal Way. How could he possibly see stars fall from the sky?