Chapter 83: Did Kuang Cheng Cozy Up to a Wealthy Lady?!
(This novel is translated and hosted on Bcatranslation)
After leaving Instructor Cao’s office, Ji You headed straight for the Sword Testing Forest.
During his recent journey, he had felt his offensive techniques were lacking. He decided to consult with Instructor Wang to see if there were any ways to improve.
However, the moment Ji You entered the forest, he noticed that the previously desolate area was now teeming with students practicing their swordsmanship.
And then there was Instructor Wang. He looked visibly thinner, his face written with an air of resignation.
“Instructor Wang, why do you look so drained lately?”
Old Wang turned toward Ji You, his eyes trembling. “Ji You, my dear lad, there’s nothing more I can teach you. Just leave me be.”
Ever since Ji You had wielded three swords alone to help two Mystic Enlightenment disciples of the Inner Court triumph over a Dao Fusion opponent in a street duel, the forest had steadily become more crowded. After the incident at the ancient ruins, the number of students visiting had reached an all-time high.
Still, Wang felt a tiny bit of consolation upon hearing that after the ruin’s events, other Immortal Sects had started incorporating martial arts into their training.
Ji You, knowing that Instructor Wang wasn’t keen on teaching, clarified, “I’m not here to practice. I just have something to ask.”
“What is it?”
Taking a seat on a vine-woven chair, Ji You explained, “Spiritual Consciousness has its limits. I feel like I’ve hit the ceiling when it comes to Sword Mastery.”
Instructor Wang looked at him as though he were staring at a ghost. “If you’ve hit the ceiling, that’s enough! Do you even know that no one in Azure Clouds Dominion uses swords like you? Now look what you’ve done! You’ve made a name for yourself, and my forest is packed to the brim!”
He lifted a broken wooden sword as he spoke. “See this?”
“What happened to it?”
“Just yesterday, someone tried to wield two swords through Sword Mastery. They failed miserably and nearly shaved my head off.”
Ji You’s expression darkened. “There are no other ways to approach this?”
After a moment of thought, Instructor Wang replied, “At the Upper Five Realms, you can integrate your Dao into your sword, but that takes time. You’d also need access to the Inner Sect’s Heavenly Tome Pavilion to find the right methods.”
“What else?”
With his hands resting on his knees, Instructor Wang continued, “The strongest swordsmanship in this era belongs to the Spirit Sword Mountain Sect. They might have answers, but their techniques are never shared with outsiders. You won’t learn it.”
Ji You nodded in contemplation, recalling Gong Shu Chou’s Heavy Sword. While Ji You didn’t know how it was forged, he was certain that, without the limitations of killing intent, that blade could have ended his life in a single strike.
“Instructor Wang, I haven’t practiced spears in a while. I feel I’m getting rusty.”
“Get lost!”
Instructor Wang roared furiously, thinking, [If I teach you the spear and you attract spear disciples to my forest, then what?]
Though Ji You intended to leave, his attention was drawn to the sudden sound of a fierce sword strike deeper within the forest.
Turning toward the noise, his eyes gleamed gold. He saw Chu He in the heart of the forest, wielding a long sword with deadly precision. His movements were intense, and the murderous aura was palpable.
While others practiced by cutting leaves from bamboo, Chu He’s true blade was cutting the bamboo trunks cleanly in half.
Noticing Ji You’s gaze, Chu He’s sword slipped from his grasp, flying directly toward Ji You with a sharp whistle.
As the blade raced toward his face, Ji You remained expressionless. Just as the edge was about to reach him, the spiritual energy around him roared to life. He clenched his fist, and the resulting force smashed the incoming sword to the ground with a metallic clang.
The sheer power of his punch sent shockwaves through the forest, brushing past everyone’s faces like a gale.
The Sword Testing Forest fell silent.
Chu He, failing to intimidate his opponent, gritted his teeth. “It slipped from my hand. Please forgive me, Brother Ji.”
“No problem.”
Ji You picked up the sword. Feeling its resistance, he channeled spiritual energy to cleanse and refine it. With everyone watching, he walked out of the forest with the sword in hand.
“That’s my sword!” Chu He exclaimed, momentarily startled.
“Is it? Well, now it’s mine,” Ji You replied, his tone indifferent. “A sword belonging to the young master of Clan Chu must be worth quite a fortune.”
“You’re joking, right…” Chu He began.
Turning back, Ji You’s spiritual energy flared once more. “If you want it back, come take it from me yourself.”
Chu He clenched his fists tightly. “It has my name engraved on it!”
“Why did you engrave your name on my sword?” Ji You retorted.
Instructor Wang, watching from the side, covered his face in exasperation. [Anyone who still doesn’t know Ji You’s a fierce bandit deserves whatever they get.]
Elsewhere in the forest, Lu Qing Qiu, Lou Si Yi, and Sun Qiao Zhi were also present, their emotions a mix of complexity and disbelief.
Since entering the academy, Chu He had always been a standout. Whether it was his noble background or his cultivation talent, he had been unrivaled and arrogant.
Who would have thought that his first real interaction with Ji You would leave him addressing the latter as “Brother Ji”? Worse, he had to watch as Ji You walked away with his sword, not daring to stop him.
The once-brilliant Chu He was now outshone, his swordsmanship and cultivation both inferior to Ji You’s. At this moment, trying to reclaim his sword would only result in further humiliation.
[Dual cultivation of Martial and Daoist Arts is such a waste of time!]
[Three swords under his command, dominating two battles!]
[So what if you’ve resonated with the Heavenly Tome? He still surpassed you!]
[Ji You has advanced to the mid-stage of Mystic Enlightenment.]
[He probably won’t survive his next trip to the ruins.]
[But he did save the direct disciple and the Sect Master’s daughter of the Pill Sect.]
As the ethereal figure in white drifted away, Lu Qing Qiu, Lou Si Yi, and Sun Qiao Zhi exchanged glances, their gazes flickering with unspoken thoughts.
[He has returned. They say he braved countless perils and endured grave injuries, yet he seems fully healed now, as if untouched.] When he reappeared, he was still the same man whose presence compelled every member of the Outer Court to lower their heads.
At this moment, Ji You descended the mountain, his sword in hand, leaving the Heavenly Script Academy behind. He delivered Chu He’s sword to the Celestial Splendor Pavilion and received a sum of silver that shocked many. However, such matters no longer surprised him. [Where there is suffering, there will be those who profit. The more widespread the misery, the greater the wealth amassed by others.]
“Distribute half of this to Kuang Cheng,” Ji You murmured. “That brash fool is still clueless about the missing children incident. I must remind him.” He paused before continuing, “Send the other half to Yuyang County.”
Clutching a thick stack of silver notes, Ji You contemplated his next move as he arrived at a secluded courtyard behind Spring Breeze Alley. It was Kuang Cheng’s residence, and the last time Ji You had visited, he had been accompanied by the haughty Fairy Zheng Xin.
He knocked on the gate but received no response. Venturing next door to inquire, he learned that Kuang Cheng went to the outskirts daily to aid the refugees. The Malignant Beings’ rampage had caused a flood of displaced people to gather outside the city. The recent spring rains had compounded their plight, with illness spreading rapidly among them.
When Ji You reached the outskirts, the sight was grim—ragged figures huddled against the city walls, forming a dense, desperate crowd. Members of the Immortal Overseer Office, clad in black uniforms embroidered with gold, patrolled the area with strict vigilance.
Among the throngs, Wei Rui, granddaughter of Wei Xiang, was tending a congee stall. Her sleeves rolled up, she ladled out porridge for the refugees. Nearby, Kuang Cheng busily moved through the masses with a physician, offering aid wherever needed.
Once his tasks were done, Kuang Cheng washed his hands and approached the congee stall. Meanwhile, Dou Yuan Kong, son of Minister Dou, observed the scene from his carriage. Beside him sat the Princess of Chang Le, accompanied by other young scions of esteemed clans.
They had initially been at the Heavenly Script Academy to witness the latest spectacle. Someone had then suggested a countryside outing with wine and revelry, complete with dancers and singers aboard their carriages. Passing the city gates, they noticed the figure of an official from the Immortal Overseer Office near Wei Rui.
“Why is there an Immortal Overseer by Miss Rui’s side?” one asked.
“The Overseer Office is investigating Wei Xiang, aren’t they?” another speculated.
“Perhaps he’s a spy,” someone mused.
“Ah, don’t be so quick to judge,” another chimed in. “By the look of that scholar, he might simply be smitten with Miss Rui.”
Dou Yuan Kong, aware of Wei Rui’s admirers, frowned. Summoning two of his attendants, he whispered instructions. Moments later, a commotion arose among the group, with someone jeering, “That scholar is in for trouble now.”
The two attendants set off toward the congee stall, weaving through the refugees. Wei Rui, sensing their approach, turned to Kuang Cheng. “Young Master, I don’t need your help here. Perhaps you could tend to other matters.”
“Other matters…?”
“Yes, something else. I… I’ll call for you later.”
Kuang Cheng hesitated briefly before noticing the fierce demeanor of the approaching men. Without further delay, he set down the bowl in his hand.
Wei Rui, visibly tense, planned to intercept the men once Kuang Cheng had left. She recognized them—they were household servants of the Dou family. Wei Rui had long been aware of Dou Yuan Kong’s interest in her. Both her father and grandfather approved of the match, yet she found herself inexplicably repelled by him.
Dou Yuan Kong’s domineering nature was infamous, particularly his dislike of other men lingering near her.
As Wei Rui’s thoughts drifted, her gaze suddenly froze. A shadow darted across her vision, and in the next moment, the scholar standing nearby opened his arms wide, placing himself protectively in front of her. He faced the two approaching servants with surprising resolve.
“Miss, you should leave first. They’re probably here to fight over the congee. I’ll handle this,” he declared.
“Fight over the congee…?”
Hearing such a ludicrous conclusion, Wei Rui stared at him, momentarily at a loss for words. Meanwhile, the onlookers from the prestigious clans erupted into laughter, finding this scene far more amusing than their typical outings.
However, the laughter was abruptly cut short when the voice of Princess Chang Le rang out, sharp and commanding.
“Stop them!”
The entire commotion ceased in an instant. Even Dou Yuan Kong, seated confidently atop his horse, was momentarily startled. Hastily, he cracked his whip and barked an order for the servants to halt.
Through the crowd’s stunned silence, they saw a flash of white as a figure streaked past, gliding with supernatural swiftness. The young man’s footsteps seemed to shimmer with ethereal light, each step spanning ten zhang. His golden eyes gleamed coldly as he assessed the two servants and then cast a glance at the lavishly adorned convoy behind them.
With a mere flicker of motion, the two servants who had been standing near the congee stall were sent hurtling through the air, colliding forcefully with Dou Yuan Kong, knocking him off his horse. The resounding impact left everyone watching in shock.
As a cultivator, Zhao Yun Yue had naturally perceived the laughter from the convoy earlier. Such derision was impossible to ignore.
Frowning slightly, Zhao Yun Yue watched as the white-clad youth nonchalantly patted the scholar on the shoulder. With an amused grin, he ladled a bowl of congee and handed it to a nearby refugee, ignoring the gasps of the crowd.
Among the spectators, some scions of noble families—those who hadn’t attended the Heavenly Script Academy—were left frozen, their expressions stiff.
“Who is he?” one finally managed to ask.
“A student of the Heavenly Script Academy,” another replied, their voice tinged with resentment.
The son of a minister—eyes blazing with anger—snarled, “How can a disciple of the Heavenly Script Academy injure others so recklessly?”
Yet those who understood the gravity of the situation remained silent. If it had been an ordinary student acting so brazenly, these noble heirs might have dared to retaliate. But this particular youth? Even Chu He found him to be a troublesome figure.
Kuang Cheng, still stunned, struggled to process what had just happened. The white-clad youth had moved so quickly that Kuang Cheng had barely seen him before he vanished again.
“Ji… Ji… Ji You, what brings you here?” Kuang Cheng stammered, finally recognizing the newcomer.
Ji You, his expression a mix of nonchalance and mischief, replied, “I came to see if you’d starved to death. Who would’ve thought you’d find yourself a wealthy patron?”
“What?”
Ji You’s words left Kuang Cheng momentarily dumbfounded. Turning to the remaining servant, Ji You gestured casually. “Care for a bowl of congee?”
The servant swallowed nervously before turning and fleeing. Ji You’s smile faded as he watched the retreating figure. He’d been planning to sell that man a bowl for ten taels of silver. Such a missed opportunity was infuriating.
Meanwhile, Kuang Cheng introduced Ji You to Wei Rui, his voice somewhat awkward. “Ah, this is my friend, Ji You, courtesy name Wu Lü. He’s a student at the Heavenly Script Academy.”
Ji You raised an eyebrow in irritation. “I’ve changed it. My courtesy name is now Bo Chang, meaning ‘to draw from many sources.’”
Kuang Cheng frowned. “That change makes no sense.”
Ji You smirked. “Not your concern.” [Ji You is my given name, and Bo Chang reflects my expertise,] he thought to himself.
With a slight bow, Ji You addressed Wei Rui. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Miss. I am Ji You.”
Wei Rui responded with a polite curtsy. “So you are Young Master Ji. I am Wei Rui.”
“Your name is Wei Rui…” Kuang Cheng repeated, his tone absent-minded.
Ji You’s eyes narrowed as he turned to Kuang Cheng. “You didn’t even know her name? I thought you were already courting her!”
Kuang Cheng’s face flushed bright red as he flailed his arms defensively. “Ji You, stop with the nonsense! I was merely helping her serve congee to the refugees!”
Ji You clicked his tongue in mock disapproval. “A moment ago, you struck such a heroic pose, spreading your arms like that. Now you’re acting so timid?” He shook his head. [If it were me, I’d have already brought her home. Though I’d probably lose the fight in the process…]
Wei Rui, recalling Kuang Cheng’s earlier protective gesture, felt her cheeks flush slightly. She spoke softly, “Thank you for your bravery just now, Young Master Kuang. I am deeply grateful.”
She knew full well that the two servants hadn’t been targeting her specifically. But so what? Kuang Cheng hadn’t known either, and yet he had still stood in front of her without hesitation.
As she pondered, Ji You’s voice suddenly rang out beside her.
“Miss, you don’t know his name either? He is Kuang…” Ji You paused abruptly. “What was your name again?”
“My name is Kuang Cheng,” the young man answered, his voice steady.
Ji You sighed, staring at Kuang Cheng’s clear but dull gaze. “Is that really what you should be saying to me?”
Kuang Cheng froze for a moment before turning toward Wei Rui. He clasped his hands and gave a slight bow. “This one’s surname is Kuang, given name Cheng, courtesy name Bu Qi. A pleasure to meet you, Miss Wei.”
Wei Rui returned the greeting with a slight bow of her own. “A pleasure to meet you, Master Kuang.”
Ji You observed the pair with mild exasperation. Clicking his tongue, he grabbed a wooden ladle and resumed distributing congee to the needy.
After snapping out of her thoughts, Wei Rui glanced at Ji You. “Um, don’t they say that Immortals from the mountains usually avoid worldly matters?”
“I’m just a mortal from the foothills,” Ji You replied bluntly. He seemed to recall something and pulled out a bundle of silver notes from his robe, thrusting them toward Kuang Cheng.
“I made some money during this trip. Here’s your share. But for Heaven’s sake, given how hard I worked for it, please don’t donate it all.”
Kuang Cheng blinked, visibly startled. “Am I really seeing money returned to me?”
“Only half of it is yours,” Ji You clarified. “The rest, send it back to Chen Fu Zi. He always nagged me about wanting to establish a school. This should be enough, as long as he doesn’t go teaching nonsense like ‘Immortals reign above while mortals are worthless.’ Let him teach whatever else he wants.”
Wei Rui watched Kuang Cheng closely. “Master Kuang, your friends are truly fascinating.”
Kuang Cheng blushed faintly. “He’s the only one.”
“Birds of a feather flock together,” Ji You chimed in, his voice dripping with mockery. “For men as handsome as us, it’s not about quantity but quality.”
With that, Ji You handed a steaming bowl of congee to a frail old woman trembling in front of him.
Meanwhile, on the western side of the city gate, a group of onlookers gazed at the white-robed youth returning from the Heavenly Script Academy only to begin distributing congee. Among them were nobles, relatives of the imperial family, and offspring of officials. These people were often required to stage acts of charity to maintain order among the common folk, but this scene puzzled them.
Why would a disciple of an Immortal Sect, someone qualified for the Inner Court, put on such a show?
As they pondered, a nearby physician—currently tending to the refugees—approached Kuang Cheng. He bowed respectfully and said, “Master Kuang, those we could save have been treated, but… those few children, I’m afraid we can’t save them.”
“Isn’t there any way to try again?” Kuang Cheng pleaded, his voice strained.
The physician shook his head with a weary sigh. “I am but a mortal. Without the Pill Sect’s profound medical arts, I am powerless to defy the heavens…”