Chapter 49: The Cheap Cultivator
This novel is translated and hosted on Bcatranslation
“Brother, save me…”
The young man’s plea caused Ji You’s mouth to twitch involuntarily. Thankfully, he had already regained his strength and spiritual qi. Without hesitation, he soared through the air and descended with a graceful strike, cleaving a malignant being with a swift motion. Summoning six more long swords, Ji You continued to cut down the creatures while retreating, pulling the young man to safety.
The sound of his swords slicing through the black mist echoed like a song of steel, leaving the young man wide-eyed and in awe. His gaze fixed on Ji You’s back, shining with admiration.
Fortunately, Ji You had cleared this area beforehand, so aside from the batch of malignant beings drawn by the young man, only a few stragglers remained. Once the danger was averted, the young man patted his chest and sighed in relief. “Thank you for saving my life, Brother.”
“You’re not a disciple of the Immortal Sect, are you?” Ji You’s sharp gaze pierced through him.
“Uh… I’m Yuan Chen. I’m just here to guide them.”
Ji You sheathed his sword and gave the man a once-over, noting his delicate complexion and smooth hands devoid of calluses. Most people in Qiling Town were Red Mountain Mine workers or their descendants, accustomed to lives of hardship. Yet this young man’s pale skin and refined features stood out, rivaling Ji You’s own almost otherworldly appearance.
“You might want to come up with a better story,” Ji You said dryly.
Yuan Chen hesitated before confessing, “Well… actually, I’m the son of a miner. My family works at Red Mountain Mine, and I want to get inside.”
Ji You said nothing further and turned to leave. The entrance to Red Mountain Mine was swarming with malignant beings, making a direct assault impossible without preparation. Moreover, Yuan Chen’s dubious story made him untrustworthy. Given the chaotic situation, Ji You resolved to remain vigilant around strangers.
But Yuan Chen wasn’t willing to give up. He chased after Ji You, his persistence bordering on desperation. “Brother, I can see you want to go to the mine too. Let’s work together!”
Ji You stopped and shot him a skeptical look. “With you?”
“I can help in any way I can. Anything! I just want to find someone,” Yuan Chen pleaded.
After a moment’s thought, Ji You drew his sword. “Stretch out your wrist.”
Yuan Chen rolled up his sleeve but froze, suspicious. “What are you going to do…?”
“I’ll make a small cut. You’ll run around the entrance to the mine, drawing all the malignant beings toward Beisha Town. The cultivators there will handle them while I sneak into the mine.”
“That… is a brilliant idea!” Yuan Chen exclaimed, only to frown moments later. “But how will I get out?”
Ji You gave him a flat look. “With your intelligence, you should leave this place altogether.”
As they spoke, a sudden burst of golden light erupted from Qiling Mountain, illuminating the mist-filled landscape and startling every cultivator in Beisha Town. The pure spiritual qi emanated outward, dispelling the dense fog and creating a brilliant spectacle.
Ji You noticed flying swords converging on the mountain, their owners clearly drawn by the phenomenon. His eyes glimmered with curiosity.
Yuan Chen swallowed nervously. “That’s what they’re looking for…”
“Who?” Ji You asked sharply.
“The Immortal Sect disciples.”
“And what exactly are they looking for?”
“I… don’t know, but it must be something that excites even the Immortal Sect.”
Ji You’s expression grew colder. “You’ve been immensely helpful.”
“Wait, Brother…” Yuan Chen tried to follow but was stopped by the group of cultivators he had arrived with. “Young Master, you’ve seen the danger here. Let’s return.”
“I can’t leave! I have to find my sister,” Yuan Chen snapped.
“Young Master…”
Frustrated, Yuan Chen glared at them. “If she entered the mountains, only the miners from Red Mountain Mine might have seen her. I have to get in there.”
The cultivators exchanged uneasy glances. “There are too many of those creatures.”
“That man used seven swords at once, cutting through them like a storm. He can make it inside,” Yuan Chen argued.
“He’s just like us, only at the Lower Three Stages.”
Ignoring their protests, Yuan Chen turned and resumed his pursuit of Ji You.
Meanwhile, Ji You had entered the town but avoided returning to his inn. Instead, he sought out the town’s residents, clutching a piece of paper with a wild goose sketch. He asked if anyone had seen the emblem of the Wild Goose Relay Station. If the station had been active here, someone must have noticed.
Sure enough, his second inquiry led him to a blacksmith who nodded in recognition. “It’s the symbol of a supply caravan.”
“Did their caravan include children or cries of distress?”
“Children? Caravans don’t carry children,” the blacksmith replied, puzzled.
Ji You fell silent, pondering whether Kuang Cheng’s intuition had been wrong. Or had the abducted children been transferred elsewhere along the way?
Lost in thought, Ji You spotted two members of the Chen Clan of Immortals roaming the streets. They carried a portrait instead of a wild goose sketch, searching for someone.
At that moment, Yuan Chen reappeared, trailing behind him stealthily. “Brother, are you also looking for a missing family member at Red Mountain Mine?”
“You’re the one missing a family member,” Ji You retorted.
Undeterred, Yuan Chen tried another angle. “Regardless of your reasons, I can offer you unimaginable rewards for helping me.”
Ji You paused, intrigued. “How much silver can you offer?”
“?” Yuan Chen froze. “Just silver? What kind of cheap cultivator are you…”
Ji You’s expression darkened.
Realizing his mistake, Yuan Chen hastily corrected himself. “I can offer a hundred taels when it’s done.”
“I’m no cheap cultivator,” Ji You remarked. “I’ll take yellow silver.”
After a brief silence, Ji You led Yuan Chen back to the inn where his companions were staying. Since his mission was to rescue someone, earning extra silver along the way wasn’t a bad deal. Besides, Yuan Chen’s lack of cunning, inexperience, and negligible combat skills made him easy to manage.
Upon their return, Ji You reunited with Ban Yang Shu, Bai Ru Long, and the others. Seeing Yuan Chen, his companions raised questioning brows.
“Picked him up on the way,” Ji You explained bluntly before pointing toward the mountain. “What was that?”
“We’re not sure,” Ban Yang Shu admitted. “But it must be something capable of elevating one’s cultivation significantly. Senior Sister Wen has already sent word back to the academy, requesting reinforcements. Meanwhile, we disciples will scout the mountain tomorrow.”
“I need to get to Red Mountain Mine first,” Ji You declared.
Ban Yang Shu glanced at him. “I’ll inform Senior Sister Wen and have you stationed in Beisha Town to await the academy’s steward.”
Ji You cupped his hands. “Thank you, Senior Brother.”
“…”
“Brother Ji, don’t you want to see what’s inside the mountain?” Yuan Chen asked as he followed Ji You upstairs.
Entering his room, Ji You replied, “Stop calling me Brother. My surname is Ji, given name You, courtesy name Bo Chang, which means ‘to learn from all strengths.’”
“Ah, Ji Brother it is,” Yuan Chen said cheerfully.
Ji You gestured for him to sit while he settled on the bed in meditative silence, releasing his spiritual consciousness. Though the killing qi in this area blocked Heavenly Dao, preventing even upper-stage disciples from cultivating, Ji You found it a perfect environment to train his spiritual sense, akin to ancient warriors honing their strength with weights.
As Ji You immersed himself in his training, Yuan Chen grew bored. He pulled out a copy of the popular serialized tale “Flying Immortal”, a thrilling story of a young immortal’s rise to greatness. Entranced, Yuan Chen’s eyes lit up, unable to put the book down.