Chapter 42: The Fragrance of a Wealthy Lady
This novel is translated and hosted on Bcatranslation
At the peak of noon, the sun’s warmth dispelled some of the lingering winter chill. Yan Shu Yi had dozed off at her desk, awakening to find Ji You packing his belongings. The previous evening, as they chatted leisurely by the fire, they had touched on the peculiar events troubling the Azure Clouds Dominion lately.
Ji You, a master appraiser from Spirit Sword Mountain, was preparing to investigate some ancient ruins. However, Yan Shu Yi had her reservations.
“Have you considered this might be a meticulously planned, long-term conspiracy? You might find nothing at those three ruins—or worse, lose your life,” she said.
“I’ve thought about it,” Ji You admitted. “But the issue of the malignant beings must still be addressed.”
“Why?”
He paused before answering, “They devour humans. I don’t care how many cultivators perish, but if those things truly can move beyond the ruin boundaries and actively prey on living humans, as the Office of Affairs suspects, then every one we eliminate counts.”
“You’re not doing this for the ruins, then?”
“I’m doing this for the Red Mountain Mine. After it was attacked, all the disciples from the Heavenly Script Academy vanished, and the area is crawling with those beings. Many miners have lost everything, their families shattered.”
Ji You’s thoughts drifted to the festive lanterns he had seen near Thousand Marks Mountain. “I plan to coax a few people in the group to help me wipe out the malignant beings first.”
Yan Shu Yi tilted her head at him. “And the inner court quota?”
“Choices have to be made. Sometimes, I’d rather follow my instincts.”
Yan Shu Yi stretched and looked out at the sun. “I feel like going out.”
“?”
“Take me out to explore. I haven’t seen the sights of the capital yet.”
“I haven’t finished packing.”
“Leave it. Let’s go. I want candied fruits—buy some for me!”
Moments later, outside the Mountain Gate of the Heavenly Script Academy, the master appraiser of Spirit Sword Mountain led an unassuming outer court disciple into the capital’s Everprosper Street. As they passed the Bookstore in the Capital, Ji You hesitated, feeling as though he had forgotten to meet someone.
It doesn’t matter, he thought. They can’t be that important.
He shook the thought aside and noticed Yan Shu Yi had already wandered into a towering ancient building. The grand sign above the door read “Celestial Radiance Pavilion.”
This was a renowned thousand-year-old establishment catering to cultivators. Backed by an Immortal Sect, it sold everything from premium spirit pills and spiritual stones to rare magical artifacts. Their branches spanned the Azure Clouds Dominion, and even the Pill Sect’s top-tier products could be found there.
Ji You had never stepped foot inside, the towering threshold seemingly declaring: No entry for the penniless.
Approaching cautiously, he rummaged through his money pouch, realizing he could barely afford a trinket. “Damn it, Instructor Cao is stingy!” he muttered, though he didn’t reflect on how much effort he had truly put into his studies.
Inside the Celestial Radiance Pavilion, a familiar group of academy students—Lu Qing Qiu, Du Zhu, and Qian Yun Xiao—browsed the wares. They were disciples of Instructor Ma, shopping for a gift to celebrate their teacher’s birthday.
Unaware of their presence, Yan Shu Yi pointed to a green jade gourd on a shelf and had the shopkeeper retrieve it. She fiddled with it briefly before clutching it and heading upstairs.
“Ji You,” Lu Qing Qiu greeted him, her gaze lingering on Yan Shu Yi. “Shopping for magical tools with a friend?”
“Just browsing.”
“I’ve long suspected the rumors about Fang Ruo Yao claiming to be your fiancée were false. Now it seems I was right.” Lu Qing Qiu glanced upstairs. “That lady must be a noblewoman. She went straight for the store’s finest storage artifact, worth hundreds of silver.”
The rumors had been rife since Ji You left with that mysterious fairy. Most of the academy now believed his supposed engagement was a fabrication. Still, some, like Lu Qing Qiu, found the notion unsettling.
“Ji You, does she know about your impoverished background?” Du Zhu asked with a grin.
Ignoring him, Ji You whispered to Qian Yun Xiao, “Tell Instructor Cao I’m not investigating the ruins. I might have to stay here and work off my debts for generations to come.”
“Ji You, stop her!” Qian Yun Xiao hissed. “The items upstairs are even pricier!”
Ji You grimaced and rushed upstairs, trailed by the others, eager to watch the drama unfold.
Upstairs, Yan Shu Yi had picked out several expensive items, leaving Du Zhu and the others slack-jawed. Finally, her eyes settled on a bow hanging from the highest display. As the shopkeeper retrieved it, Lu Qing Qiu recognized the dark, gleaming artifact and calculated its worth to be greater than everything else combined.
Just then, Yan Shu Yi glanced at a brocaded garment and held it against Ji You. “I’ll take three of these,” she said. “And some boots—spare pairs, too.”
Handing her jade token to a steward, Yan Shu Yi said, “Wrap it up.”
The Celestial Radiance Pavilion’s jade tokens weren’t for sale. They were gifts from the Seven Great Immortal Sects or elite clans. Purchases made with the token would be billed directly to the token holder’s sect.
Yan Shu Yi opened her hand, and the items vanished into the green jade gourd, which she handed to Ji You.
“Since I saw you fiddling with chopsticks yesterday, I decided to buy you some hidden weapons. They might save your life one day.”
“Also, those beings may be weak individually, but their numbers are overwhelming. With this bow, at least you won’t be surrounded.”
“You won’t need a bundle either; the green jade gourd can store everything.”
She hesitated, then added, “I lied before. I don’t really like peace and quiet.”
Ji You stood dumbfounded as Yan Shu Yi’s porcelain-like cheeks flushed faintly. She’d never bought anything for a man before, and it felt… different.
Then, Ji You reached out and pinched her cheek.
Not a dream. Such a wealthy lady actually existed!
Realizing what he’d done, Ji You froze, awaiting her reaction. To his surprise, Yan Shu Yi didn’t retaliate. Instead, her expression turned adorably dazed.