Chapter 53: Brother-in-Law, Don’t Back Out!
This novel is translated and hosted on Bcatranslation
Driven by either the allure of money or the plight of a lost child, Ji You agreed to accompany Yuan Chen into the mountains. Before venturing forth, Ji You found a secluded spot to recover his Spiritual Consciousness and Spiritual Qi.
“We’re going in just to find someone. No matter what we encounter, don’t touch anything,” he instructed.
Yuan Chen nodded solemnly. “I understand, brother-in-law. Once we find my sister, we’ll head out immediately.”
Ji You’s lips twitched. “I’ve already promised; I won’t go back on my word. You don’t need to keep selling your sister.”
“My father says having more relatives is like having more roads to walk,” Yuan Chen muttered, then added, “And my sister is not just beautiful but also gentle.”
“I don’t like gentleness.”
“?”
Unwilling to waste words, Ji You closed his eyes and resumed attempting Resonance Between Heaven and Mortal. In the world of cultivators—whether in the mountains or living as an outlaw—there was no doubt that cultivation determined survival.
Yet, as with his prior attempts, he failed again. Despite the enhanced strength of his Spiritual Consciousness compared to his time at the Heavenly Script Academy, it felt like being stuck in quicksand, struggling without progress.
Whether due to an overactive imagination or genuine concern, Ji You sensed a difference between the Heavenly Dao here and the one beyond. It seemed that the Azure Clouds Dominion was never truly under the full control of humanity.
Ji You’s golden Spiritual Consciousness wandered in the void for some time, encountering nothing but desolation. After a while, he returned to himself, his mind blank. Yuan Chen, engrossed in the serialized tale Flying Immortal, noticed Ji You’s eyes glowing briefly with golden light.
“Your eyes can shine?”
“It’s a sign of a breakthrough,” Ji You replied, concealing the light.
As a direct disciple of the Pill Sect, Yuan Chen’s focus was supposed to be on alchemy. However, being a young man, tales of swordsmanship fascinated him more than refining pills. To him, sword cultivators capable of slashing enemies from afar were the pinnacle of awe.
“Why do you keep training your Spiritual Consciousness if it doesn’t work here? I asked before, but you never explained,” Yuan Chen said.
Ji You pondered briefly. “Spiritual Consciousness serves as the bridge to the Heavenly Dao. Most cultivators think having just enough is fine and don’t push further.”
“And you?”
“I pursue Dual Cultivation of Martial and Daoist Arts, controlling multiple swords simultaneously to increase my chances in battle. Each additional sword increases the burden on my Spiritual Consciousness, so I need it to be stronger. This place is unsuitable for comprehension but perfect for training.”
Yuan Chen recalled Ji You’s feat of flying swords and grew even more satisfied with his sister’s prospective husband. At that moment, Luo You approached, glancing at the two of them. Recognizing the cue, Ji You rose to his feet—it was time to enter the mountains.
Yuan Chen dusted himself off, adopting a serious expression as he followed Ji You and Luo You into an ancient mine tunnel.
The tunnel was only tall enough for one person, forcing them to stoop as they advanced through its narrow, oppressive, and winding path.
“This mine was excavated centuries ago,” Luo You explained. “The Red Mountain Mine wasn’t controlled by the Immortal Sect back then but by a mortal family. After uncovering this tunnel, the family sent cultivators to investigate. Whatever they found led them to seal it off and ban anyone from entering. The mine was abandoned for decades until the Heavenly Script Academy reopened it recently.”
As they ventured deeper into the labyrinthine network, Luo You lit the way and periodically directed them through various passages.
Ji You briefly paused, exchanging a look with Luo You. The miner hesitated before admitting, “We don’t trust cultivators easily.”
“You’re right not to. Cultivators are not trustworthy,” Ji You replied.
“You don’t seem like one.”
Ji You smirked. “I’m just a rogue cultivator. I wanted to become a bandit, but my family couldn’t survive. Joining the sect was my only choice.”
Luo You considered this before stating, “After you’ve entered the mountains, we’ll clean up the tunnel and prepare for what comes next.”
“Thank you.”
Following behind, Yuan Chen couldn’t help but feel bewildered by their cryptic exchange. Ji You had once said brains were useful, but no matter how hard Yuan Chen tried, he couldn’t decipher the conversation.
After what felt like an eternity, the trio emerged from the mine into a dim, primordial forest. Towering ancient trees obscured the sky, their massive trunks covered in cracks filled with deep red sap. The undergrowth was so dense that the ground was hidden beneath layers of greenery.
Even Ji You, who had seen many wonders, couldn’t help but marvel. “This place… It must have a Tree Spirit Granny.”
“What?” Yuan Chen asked, confused.
Ji You ignored him and continued. “Have you thought about how Luo You knew the route through a tunnel sealed for over a century?”
“Right!” Yuan Chen exclaimed, realizing.
“When the Malignant Beings began emerging, they started searching for escape routes. They didn’t tell us the truth, but they’ve been preparing to use the tunnel to break through the mountains.”
“That’s why they aren’t completely hopeless despite their fear!” Yuan Chen exclaimed. “But what did he mean by cleaning up?”
“They’ll leave markers so if anything goes wrong, we can escape through the same tunnels,” Ji You explained.
“I’ll train my Spiritual Consciousness too!” Yuan Chen declared silently.
As they pressed westward, a deafening roar erupted in the distance. Intense Killing Qi surged, blanketing the forest. Yuan Chen froze. “They’ve found the entrance to the ruins…”
Ji You halted, a grim expression on his face. “I’ve got a bad feeling. Let’s retreat. I’ll go be a bandit, and you can regroup later.”
“Brother-in-law, you promised to save my sister. You can’t go back on your word!”