Ji You was soon asked to leave the Affairs Management Courtyard, and he called Kuang Cheng out with him as he departed.
When they had last met, Kuang Cheng had said he had joined the Immortal Affairs Supervision Bureau, but Ji You had not understood why the Celestial Academy had summoned him here.
"On the day you were attacked, I happened to be investigating another disappearance case."
"Another one?"
Ji You was greatly surprised by Kuang Cheng's words. Why were there disappearance cases everywhere these days?
Seeing the question in Ji You's eyes, Kuang Cheng spoke. "After the Immortal Affairs Supervision Bureau was established, His Majesty intended to use the tax tribute embezzlement case as an opening to have us thoroughly investigate Wei Li and Prince Chong's factional dealings for private gain. It involved a disappearance case."
"Aren't you a civil official? Isn't waving your brush and playing with ink enough for you? Why are you personally investigating cases too?"
"My colleagues in the bureau felt that even if this matter were thoroughly investigated, it would barely scratch Chancellor Wei's itch, so they were unwilling to dig deeper. I could only search for clues during my time off."
Ji You looked at him. "What disappearance case?"
Kuang Cheng lowered his voice. "Remember how I told you there was an orphanage in the western district?"
"I remember. You donated all my money there."
"That was my money!"
After retorting, Kuang Cheng continued, "Before we came to the capital, many children vanished from there overnight. Most were abandoned infants. I was going door to door along the streets when the Celestial Academy summoned me for questioning."
Ji You's brows knitted tightly after hearing this. Was it because news traveled slowly in Yuyang County, or had suspicious clouds truly risen only during this period?
First, students had disappeared from the academy. Then Old Qiu had written that livestock had vanished from Thirty Mile Shop. Now Kuang Cheng was telling him that many children had gone missing in Shengjing.
These missing people had nothing in common, and people could hardly be lumped together with cattle and horses.
Yet for some reason, the timing was far too coincidental, as though everything had been gathered together step by step according to some plan. It was hard not to draw connections.
After pondering for a long while, Ji You came back to himself. "Have you found any clues?"
"Because I had previously donated cotton quilts to the children there, some of them were not guarded around me. They privately told me that on several nights, they could hear people coming and going beyond the door, along with the sound of a large carriage's wheels."
Kuang Cheng rolled up his sleeves. "Only relay stations or large trading firms have large carriages. Trading firms are not easy to investigate, so I plan to dig for clues at the relay stations first."
Ji You could not help frowning. "You're fighting alone like this, with no one to help you. The risk is too great."
"That is why I need you to become the headmaster of the Celestial Academy as soon as possible."
"I already told you, I can't outlast him."
Ji You frowned and thought for a long while. "Tell me, does Prince Chong have a daughter?"
Kuang Cheng froze for a moment. "Prince Chong's Mansion has a county princess, but it is said that her cultivation talent is outstanding. She is one of the few gifted members of the imperial family, and later entered the Dao lineage of Spirit Sword Mountain."
"Wait, wait, wait." Ji You interrupted him. "The Celestial Academy is the Great Xia Sacred Sect, so why does Prince Chong's daughter cultivate the Dao lineage of Spirit Sword Mountain?"
"It is said that His Majesty forbids imperial relatives from cultivating immortality, but Prince Chong is highly capable. He invited a person of profound Dao arts from Spirit Sword Mountain for her, and that person resides in Prince Chong's Mansion."
Prince Chong had always belonged to the Pro-Immortal Faction and coveted the throne. It seemed the emperor was no fool either; forbidding anyone in his household from cultivating immortality was meant to keep him in check.
After considering it for a while, Ji You raised his head. "Then the county princess of Prince Chong's Mansion won't do. What about Wei Li? Does he have a daughter?"
"Yes. She is about the same age as my mother. When she was young, she married an official from the Ministry of Revenue. Wei Li's daughter is also among our investigation targets."
"Would you mind... an older one? Older is good too. She knows how to dote on people."
Ji You gave up as soon as he said it.
This era was feudal in the end. It could not tolerate anything that exciting.
Kuang Cheng was equally bewildered. He did not understand what Ji You meant by older, how she was older, or what Wei Li's daughter had to do with him.
A moment later, Ji You said again, "Then Wei Li must have a granddaughter, right?"
Kuang Cheng thought about it. "He indeed has a granddaughter. It is said that she is well-read and sensible, with a gentle disposition."
Ji You nodded and looked at Kuang Cheng. "Has anyone ever told you that handsome men like us look affectionate even when looking at dogs?"
Kuang Cheng paused. "What does that mean?"
Ji You dragged him down the mountain and had him squat in the grass. "Find a chance to run into her. Kick her in the shin, or just pick something up and ask whether she dropped it. In short, just establish some sort of connection."
Kuang Cheng squatted in the grass, listening as though he were lost in clouds and mist. "And then?"
"Once you know each other, show off your charm and court her. Recite poetry, compose couplets, indulge in moonlit romance, draw close and pull away, and make her fall in love with you."
Kuang Cheng immediately flushed crimson. "I have yet to accomplish anything in life. How can I consider romantic affairs between men and women?"
Ji You sighed. "There are only three ways power spreads: sex, blood, and mother and child. You are alone now. Even if you uncover something, can you return alive? If you want Wei Li to have reservations, this is the only way."
Kuang Cheng pondered for a long time. "Brother Ji, do you like older women? Does your headmaster have a daughter?"
"Heh, you learned quickly. Looks like you've grasped it. Get lost!"
Watching Kuang Cheng head down the mountain, Ji You had planned to return to Jade Garden of Bingshui Lake when he suddenly saw a group of people coming toward him.
They were the wandering disciples of other sects who had watched the battle on the street. Each carried a sword as they approached and bowed to him, more than twenty people in all.
"Young Master Ji, I am Bai Xi, a wandering disciple beyond the mountain from Spirit Sword Mountain."
"I am Chen Buwang of the Chen Clan Immortal Family. Greetings, Brother Ji."
"Qiu Ni of Mountain Sea Pavilion!"
Ji You looked at them. "What do you fellow Daoists seek from me?"
Bai Xi spoke respectfully upon hearing that. "Ever since seeing Young Master Ji's sword on the street, I have been unable to forget it. May I ask whether those three sword strikes have names?"
Ji You thought for a moment. "Three Swords Return to Origin."
The people around him exchanged glances and nodded in praise, thinking it was such an overbearing name.
Bai Xi then asked, "May I also ask from whom Young Master Ji inherited his swordsmanship?"
Ji You understood at once. They wanted to learn swordsmanship. "My master is the sword Dao expert Wang Xinan. His hobby is going to work. If you fellow Daoists wish to learn swordsmanship, I can collect fees on behalf of my master: one tael per person."
Upon hearing this, everyone first froze, then began pulling silver from their sleeves and waists...
Wang Xinan had been having an exceptionally pleasant time these past few days. Every day, he drank tea and slacked off in Sword Testing Forest, enjoying himself immensely.
However, at that moment, a group of disciples from other sects came striding aggressively toward Sword Testing Forest.
The disorderly footsteps drew closer and closer, waking Wang Xinan, who had been savoring tea with his eyes closed.
What the hell was that noise?
Wang Xinan rose from his wicker chair and saw a crowd rushing over, dropping to one knee and begging him to teach them swordsmanship.
The moment he saw this, Wang Xinan understood. Ji You, that brat, must have dazzled them with yesterday's battle, and after learning that he was Ji You's master of the sword Dao, they had come seeking instruction.
Wang Xinan laughed heartily for a long while. "Though I do enjoy teaching people swordsmanship, and have worked diligently every day without ever growing weary, you are not students of my Celestial Academy. How can you study here at my Celestial Academy?"
"But Brother Ji already took our money."
"????"
Before you continue