Chapter 89: The Brother-in-Law’s Trap
(This novel is translated and hosted on Bcatranslation)
“Young Master Ji, where is my brother?”
“He knew I was hosting, so he hurried off to pick a restaurant.”
“Many from your Heavenly Script Academy have tried inviting him these past days, but he showed no interest. It seems he isn’t indifferent to the specialties of the capital—just unimpressed with the hosts.”
“How foolish of him! Doesn’t he realize that each banquet is an opportunity to bring me along for free meals?”
Ji You silently muttered to himself, resolving to teach Yuan Chen better etiquette in such matters in the future. Following behind him, Yuan Cai Wei observed his somewhat travel-worn appearance, which reminded her of her younger brother’s recent exhaustion. This thought brought back memories of her conversation with her brother the previous night.
Her younger brother, Yuan Chen, was considered the most attuned to Pill Dao within the Pill Sect in nearly a century. To outsiders, even becoming a direct disciple of an immortal sect didn’t guarantee a future as a sect master. But Yuan Chen was different. Their father had already revealed his intention to pass the sect’s leadership to him.
Yet Yuan Chen showed little enthusiasm for Pill Dao. At one point, he had even left the mountain without permission to seek apprenticeship at a manor under the Mountain and Sea Pavilion. When discovered, he was promptly brought back. Despite the elders’ combined efforts to discipline and educate him, they could not rekindle his interest in Pill Dao, leaving them at a loss.
Unexpectedly, it was this man, Ji You, who untangled Yuan Chen’s indifference toward the Pill Sect.
Yuan Cai Wei’s gaze fell on Ji You as he walked ahead. Suddenly, his attention was caught by a female cultivator with a noble air, and his expression conveyed admiration and respect. Witnessing this, the eldest daughter of the Pill Sect felt a faint ripple in her heart.
Usually, she found men with such indiscreet manners shallow and frivolous. But on Ji You, it seemed sincere and unaffected. While not exemplary, he at least came across as an upright gentleman.
Recently, at the behest of her elders, she had met several times with You Bu Yu, a senior disciple from the Inner Court of the academy. He possessed a profound cultivation level and conducted himself elegantly. With encouragement from other Inner Court disciples, they had conversed at length about the myriad paths of Dao, freedom, ascension to immortality, and his current insights and mastered techniques.
His lofty demeanor and immense celestial aura embodied Yuan Cai Wei’s ideal image of a future spouse. Yet, for some reason, she felt an inexplicable detachment, as though everyone around her was merely skimming the surface. Nonetheless, she had smiled and played along.
Their days at the academy passed quickly. Reflecting on the encounters, she found little that had left a lasting impression—only a few scattered sentences.
“Elder Sister, do you think we’ve chosen the wrong path to transmit?”
“Brother-in-law said, ‘Born into this world, one must leave a story for others to witness.’”
Yuan Cai Wei’s thoughts drifted as she watched Ji You walk ahead. Aside from the wind, only those words lingered in her mind.
“What shall we eat? Roast pheasant at Hongding Tower? Fifty silver coins for one bird? Is it a pheasant or a phoenix?”
“Brother-in-law, you said anything would do.”
“Look at my sword. It’s telling you to settle for braised ribs. Who needs extravagance?”
As the season’s warmth encouraged outings, groups of people roamed together. Upon returning to the city, they gathered in bustling taverns like Hongding Tower, which enjoyed brisk business.
On the tavern’s second floor, Lu Qing Qiu, Lou Si Yi, and Sun Qiao Zhi were already seated. Across from them sat Princess Chang Le and Dou Yuan Kong. They had previously arranged this meeting to discuss Great Xia’s intentions to tighten controls on spiritual stones and immortal herbs. However, Ji You’s return to the Heavenly Script Academy had delayed it.
Taking advantage of this serene spring day, they finally convened. Originally, Chu He was also invited, but with some of his family arriving at the academy to support his bid for an Inner Court slot, he could not attend.
Two more invitees were Yuan Chen and Yuan Cai Wei. The Pill Sect’s spirit pills were of the highest quality in the world. Apart from the supreme and top-grade pills restricted from private circulation, the lower- and mid-grade pills represented a significant market. Unfortunately, Lu Qing Qiu’s invitations had been politely declined multiple times.
Princess Chang Le, currently striving toward the Fifth Realm, was particularly eager to establish connections with disciples of the Pill Sect. Supreme-grade spirit pills would be crucial to safeguarding her path, but only immortal sects held the rights to trade such pills. Great Xia’s imperial regulations prohibited royal kin from joining immortal sects, leaving even the wealthiest like her in a bind.
Her thoughts wandered to the scholar distributing porridge outside the city alongside Wei Rui and the academy student who stood by his side.
“What is Ji You doing these days?” she asked.
Startled, Lu Qing Qiu replied, “Your Highness knows Ji You?”
The princess nodded. “A few days ago, while on an outing near the capital, I saw him bringing a direct disciple of the Pill Sect to treat refugees. That disciple called him brother-in-law. Is it true?”
“I’ve heard of it,” Lu Qing Qiu said with a laugh. “That disciple has an odd nature. He dislikes Pill Dao and prefers fighting. Ji You rescued him and his sister from the ruins, so they’ve grown quite close.”
Princess Chang Le seemed intrigued. “Why call him brother-in-law, then?”
“That disciple idolizes Ji You as mortals admire immortals. He even dreams of pairing Ji You with his sister. I can only say his thoughts are unusually straightforward.”
“And his sister’s opinion?”
Princess Chang Le also once considered forming an alliance with Ji You but had never resolved to do so.
After all, she admired Chu He in her heart. However, Chu He, with his proud demeanor, had already been humbled twice by Ji You. Should Ji You indeed form a marital alliance with the Pill Sect, even if Chu He were defeated a third time, she would still need to extend her goodwill. The importance of pills to cultivators cannot be overstated.
“She wouldn’t agree, naturally,” someone remarked.
“The current situation among the immortal sects is rather complex. The Mountain and Sea Pavilion is demanding justice from the Chen Clan of Immortals, while other sects suspect the Pill Sect of colluding with the Zheng Clan, fostering mutual distrust.”
“The Pill Sect is seeking stronger support, and the Heavenly Script Academy is happy to oblige. Thus, they arranged for Senior Brother You to meet Yuan Caiwei. It’s said they left favorable impressions on each other.”
“Senior Brother You is the nephew of the Master of the Auspicious Hall, and his cultivation is at the Dao Fusion Stage.”
Lu Qingqiu lifted her moist gaze and pursed her crimson lips after speaking.
In truth, she thought Ji You was admirable—his talent exceptional, and his character upright. That fleeting moment when he was attacked in the streets once stirred in her many possible sentiments. However, his solitary status and lack of a familial background were glaringly conspicuous.
Yuan Caiwei, born into the Pill Sect, was much like herself from the Lu Clan—a young lady ought to be perceptive early in life and understand her responsibilities.
The Princess Chang Le nodded, finding Lu Qingqiu’s words reasonable. Indeed, the choice between a direct disciple at the Dao Fusion Stage and an unaligned rogue cultivator from the countryside was evident.
At that moment, a familiar figure ascended the stairs.
Ji You’s expressionless face betrayed no emotion as he carried the resolve to “bleed” for this meal. Since it was Kuang Cheng’s first dinner with Wei Rui, and considering Wei Rui’s status, it couldn’t be too shabby. Moreover, the young Appraiser still harbored complaints about being taken for stew bones the last time.
“Brother Ji?” Lu Qingqiu said in mild surprise, “Here for a meal?”
Ji You turned to her, his tone calm, “What a coincidence, Miss Lu, Miss Lou, and Miss Sun—also dining here?”
“We’re meeting some friends from the capital. This is Princess Chang Le, and here’s Young Master Dou.”
“Ah, we’ve met briefly before,” Ji You said.
Meanwhile, Dou Yuankong, noticing Wei Rui and Kuang Cheng approaching, immediately scowled and made to stand, only to be stopped by Zhao Yunyue’s gaze.
Because alongside them, a direct disciple of the Pill Sect and its eldest daughter had also come upstairs.
Wei Rui hesitated when her eyes met those of her old acquaintance, but seeing no reaction from him, she calmed herself and bowed slightly in courtesy. Ji You quickly led his group to the adjacent table, where he stared silently at the mountain chicken being served.
The private rooms of Hongding Tower were separated by folding screens, though the partitions left openings above and below.
“Brother-in-law, have a seat.”
“Brother-in-law, try the mountain chicken I ordered…”
“Brother-in-law, why aren’t you eating? Don’t you like it?”
Just as Lu Qingqiu and the others picked up their chopsticks, Yuan Chen’s voice rang persistently in their ears, drawing Lu Qingqiu’s curiosity as she turned around.
At first, she thought Yuan Chen would surely be scolded for loudly addressing Ji You as “brother-in-law” in public. Considering that Yuan Caiwei was currently getting acquainted with Senior Brother You from the inner sect, such remarks would undoubtedly invite rebuke.
Yet, after waiting for a while, no reprimand came. Instead, Yuan Caiwei continued eating quietly, occasionally lifting her gaze to glance at Ji You and Yuan Chen, seemingly at ease with her brother’s choice of address. Could it be, as rumors suggested, that the bond forged in life-and-death trials within the ruins had genuinely stirred her heart?
But everyone knew who was the better match—a Dao Fusion Stage direct disciple or a rogue cultivator from the countryside.
Princess Chang Le turned to Lu Qingqiu, her tone tinged with surprise. “It seems, Miss Lu, your judgment was mistaken.”
“Perhaps Ji You confessed his feelings, but Yuan Caiwei, indebted to him for saving her life, found it hard to reject him outright.”
Dou Yuankong, still harboring a grudge against Ji You for unseating him from his horse, sneered coldly. “That countryside rogue sure knows how to climb. Using a life-saving debt to secure a phoenix’s branch, is he?”
As he finished speaking, Lu Qingqiu and Zhao Yunyue watched Ji You rise, grabbing Yuan Chen by the ear.
“Stop calling me brother-in-law in front of Miss Caiwei. Your sister and I aren’t engaged. If people hear, they might misunderstand. Your sister has already explained this to you—her criteria for a husband don’t include me. Seems like you don’t have ears.”
“Don’t joke about a young lady’s reputation. It’s a serious matter.”
“?” Lu Qingqiu was stunned by Ji You’s words. She quickly looked at Yuan Caiwei, catching a glimpse of her faintly smiling lips and the flicker of disappointment in her eyes. But just as swiftly, a determined light replaced it, as if she intended to fight for something.
Lu Qingqiu murmured softly, “Ji You doesn’t like her—it’s she who likes him…”
Princess Chang Le also turned to Lu Qingqiu in astonishment. Ladies of their standing understood all too well what that look meant.
Only Dou Yuankong laughed foolishly, muttering, “Didn’t think that rogue cultivator had such self-awareness.”