Slay Him Outside the Gate!

Rumors are like that; some people believe them, and some don't.

Especially since Ji You never came out again after returning home, it wasn't long before someone found the logical inconsistencies in the rumors and convincingly argued that Ji You was not an immortal.

This person was named Wang San, and he lived by the Nanya River.

He had also worked for the Ji family two and a half years ago, but was expelled for petty theft.

When the Ji family met their disaster that day, he was the first to cheer. Now, hearing that Ji You was an immortal, he naturally could not accept it.

During this time, some people refuted this by pointing out that the Qiu family's young girl had returned safely, but they were all brushed aside with a simple "Let's not discuss that for now."

However, shortly after, a group of households with some wealth in the county rushed to Archway Street, bringing grain and livestock and waiting in fear outside the gates, which finally silenced Wang San.

These households who had rushed to Archway Street had taken some of the Ji family's property when they met their disaster, taking a share of the spoils.

Things like draft animals, utensils, and farming tools that they couldn't take with them while fleeing were mostly divided up by them.

Two years of peace had already made them feel secure. Especially seeing Young Master Ji being so unambitious and loitering in the streets daily, they felt that occupying their property was only natural.

Until Lord Fang had just summoned them to the yamen and revealed the truth.

Thus, the fear of impending doom made them restless, and they brought what they could, rushing to confess their sins.

But the Ji residence's main gate remained closed, and no one responded, causing them to break out in cold sweats.

Finally, someone with a sharp mind pointed them in the right direction, so they hurried to the outskirts of the city and returned everything to the Qiu family.

"These people, they usually have quite a good relationship with Lord Fang, and they even snatched two portions of our land for food..."

"It seems the rumors in the county are true..."

"Hey, hey, hey, you all stop looking, leave quickly. No gathering and making noise in front of an immortal's residence!"

Just as a group of people were gossiping, a group of bailiffs arrived wielding their batons, some with swollen cheeks.

And so, at this moment, the reputation of the Ji family's immortal truly began to awe the land.

In fact, the Yuyang County Magistrate, Fang Zhongzheng, also wanted to go and confess his sins.

He had gone out with his subordinates to work on the streets in the morning. Upon returning home, he saw chrysanthemums scattered and damaged everywhere and was furious. He then heard from his servants about Ji You's matter and fell silent for a long time.

Who would have thought that the son-in-law he had looked down upon that day would now make even Fengxian Mountain Villa dare not utter a single word?

However, just as he stepped out of his house, he was immediately stopped by his daughter.

"Father, your daughter will also be an immortal from the Celestial Academy, just starting a little later than Ji You. Why must you be so subservient?"

"Ruoyao, matters of immortality are not to be trifled with."

"If you truly go to apologize, won't that confirm to the entire county that I kicked you when you were down two years ago and acted improperly as a wife?!"

Fang Ruoyao already possessed considerable immortal presence, and her forceful demeanor made Fang Zhongzheng abandon the idea of going to the Ji residence.

He didn't know what cultivating immortality was like, but he felt that what his daughter said had some truth to it. Since they were both students of the Celestial Academy, one shouldn't be inferior to the other.

And just as he was about to sit down for tea and properly review the grain ledgers, he saw Cao Jinsong storming out of the yamen with his sword, then soaring into the sky, cursing profanely.

"Xiao An, Cao... Where is Immortal Cao going?"

"Master, Immortal Cao sensed a surge of spiritual energy in the air. He said people from Fengxian Mountain Villa have returned and want to dig up Young Master Ji. Immortal Cao is furious and plans to go alone with his sword to drive them out."

The servant, who was specifically responsible for serving the two immortals, said this and then hurried to follow.

Hearing the incessant "motherf***er" from the sky, Fang Zhongzheng remained silent for a long time. Finally, he gathered some silver and rushed to the Qiu family outside the city.

And besides Fang Zhongzheng, the households who had occupied the Ji family's property, and the immortals from Fengxian Mountain Villa, there were others who also wanted to meet Ji You.

At dusk, as the sun set, the sky grew somber.

Kuang Cheng arrived at the front of the Ji family's ancestral home through a back alley, pausing to look at the faded couplets on the gate.

When Ji You's matter reached the Kuang family, their elders, knowing they were childhood friends, sent him to pay a visit. After all, in this current world, being able to connect with an immortal might be a life-saving opportunity.

He was bolder than others. After a moment's hesitation, he pushed open the gate and stepped inside, reaching the second courtyard of the Ji family's ancestral home.

When the Ji family fled, they had already emptied the courtyard of its contents, leaving only broken bricks, shattered tiles, and fragments of pottery scattered among the knee-high weeds that had begun to grow, covered in a faint green moss, giving it a desolate air.

"It's strange how worldly affairs unfold; the people in the courtyard are gone, but the grass has flourished."

Kuang Cheng was slightly taken aback. He looked up, and Ji You's voice rang out from inside the house, as if he had already sensed his presence.

This, perhaps, was the divine power of a cultivator.

Kuang Cheng stood at the door, looked into the house, and after a long silence, spoke: "For the past two days, even when people cursed you through walls, calling you a coward who clings to life, you pretended not to hear, when in reality you were cultivating with all your might to break through?"

"What? Someone dared to curse me through walls, calling me a coward who clings to life?"

Kuang Cheng touched his nose: "No, no, perhaps I misheard."

Ji You was silent for a moment, and his voice echoed from inside the house: "I originally wanted to interact with you all as an ordinary person, but what I received in return was estrangement. I won't pretend anymore, let's be honest."

Kuang Cheng took a step forward and added: "So that evening, when you heard me talk about the Celestial Academy, you weren't thinking of seeking help from Fang Ruoyao, but rather of becoming a disciple of the Celestial Academy yourself?"

"How can one place their hopes on someone who rushed to break off an engagement when her fiancé suffered a family catastrophe?"

"So that's how it is..."

Kuang Cheng let out a self-deprecating laugh after hearing this.

The world says scholars are pedantic, but he used to think that was just the prejudice of the masses.

However, after this incident, he realized that when faced with trouble, he could only mouth off and curse people, and he couldn't even distinguish who he should be cursing in the end.

Kuang Cheng paused for a moment, then stiffly bowed. "Young Master Ji, I have been disrespectful to you many times in the past. My father disciplined me after learning of this. Tonight, I wish to host a banquet at my home to apologize to you."

Ji You remained silent for a moment before replying, "No need. I've already eaten. Please leave."

"Just a small drink, it shouldn't be a problem?"

"Leave."

Kuang Cheng was stunned for a long while, then bowed and bid farewell before turning to leave.

He wasn't someone who would grovel. If his family hadn't forced him to come, he might not have set foot here. Seeing that his offer was not appreciated, he naturally wouldn't linger.

In fact, he felt a little comforted. His childhood friend was still a kind-hearted person, and that was enough.

As for their past friendship, Kuang Cheng wouldn't dwell on it too much.

Ji You was now a disciple of the Celestial Academy who had achieved Perfection of the Lower Three Realms. His status was noble and transcendent, worlds apart from his own as a commoner.

He vaguely recalled Fang Ruoyao being similar back then, suddenly becoming arrogant.

She had explained herself that cultivators needed a pure heart, unaffected by external joys or sorrows, in order to reach the pinnacle of the Great Dao. It wasn't that she looked down on her old friends.

Though he didn't know if it was true, he could accept it.

However, just as Kuang Cheng stepped out, a loud crash suddenly came from the room behind him, like the sound of wooden furniture like tables and chairs falling and smashing. At the same time, there was a muffled groan, as if someone had fallen to the ground.

Kuang Cheng was slightly stunned for a moment, then his expression changed slightly as he strode back into the room.

At this moment, Ji You was slumped on the ground, his left hand still resting on the overturned wooden chair. His lips were covered in blood, staining his white robe a large patch of crimson.

Some of the blood had already darkened, clearly having been coughed onto his clothes earlier and dried by now.

"I told you not to come in, but you insisted, you ignorant brat! Now that my Coughing Blood Divine Skill is complete, I'll use you for practice!"

"?"

Kuang Cheng stared at him, remaining silent for a long time, completely disbelieving.

Seeing his disbelief, Ji You also fell silent with him.