Real and Trance-like

Ji Yuan now just wanted to get down the mountain, ensure his survival, find some way to secure his livelihood, and then see if he could treat his eyes or perhaps join some place of immortal cultivation.

Of course, he very much wanted to figure out the changes that had happened to his body right after Lord Lu had left, and what that fleeting chess piece image was all about.

Ji Yuan felt it was ten to one related to the Rotten Axe Chess Game from before, and might even be the key to his survival in this world.

The mountain wind blew, and as he relaxed a little, Ji Yuan began to feel drowsy.

Whether he hadn't noticed before or it was a change that occurred after arriving in this world, Ji Yuan suddenly realized his ability to handle pressure was actually quite strong.

The group rested by the stream for about fifteen minutes. After regaining some strength and helping the four injured ones adjust their breathing again, they set off once more.

This time, they charged straight down the mountain in one go.

In Shuixian Town, a Night Watchman and two men in Local Militia uniforms were moving through the silent streets and alleys. One carried a Night Watchman's Clapper, one held a copper gong, and another bore a lantern.

"Dong... dong dong dong~"

The bamboo clapper sounded once slow, three fast.

"Fourth watch~~~"

"Dong... dong dong dong~"

"Fourth watch~~~"

After making a round, they looked at the quiet, eerie streets, tightened their clothes, and prepared to head back, chatting as they went.

"Yesterday during the day, I heard some Jianghu folk went up the mountain."

"What for?"

"Seems they tore down the county office notice and went up Niu Kui Mountain to kill the Great Beast!"

"Huh?"

The Night Watchman holding the clapper grew nervous.

"They dare go into the mountains at a time like this? I've heard from those old peddler hunters that what's in these hills isn't just a simple Fierce Tiger—it's practically become a spirit. Even those old hunters don't dare stay up there at night."

"Ah, isn't that an exaggeration?"

"Better safe than sorry!"

As they talked, the weather seemed to grow colder, and their pace quickened considerably.

When they reached the end of the street and were about to turn a corner, one of them suddenly spotted a group of people in the distance approaching—it was Lu Chengfeng and his party returning.

"There are people over there!"

As they drew closer, the sight of the massive White Tiger Hide sent chills straight up their spines.

The next morning at dawn, news that the vicious tiger on Niu Kui Mountain had been Brought to Justice spread from Shuixian Town as the center. The Ning'an County Magistrate's Office immediately dispatched Constables and Official Runners to Shuixian Town to investigate.

This wasn't the information age Ji Yuan had lived in, where even a rich man taking a concubine was a huge piece of gossip. That chivalrous warriors had gone into the mountains to slay a man-eating tiger—one that had been rumored to be a tiger spirit on Niu Kui Mountain—was a sensation like no other.

In no time, the simple folk of Ning'an County—one county seat, twenty-two villages, and one foothill market town—all quickly learned that several heroes had succeeded in killing the tiger on the mountain. Many even rushed to Shuixian Town to see the excitement, but most came up empty because the group had already headed to Ning'an County town.

The bloodstained White Tiger Hide was eventually gifted to the Ning'an County Magistrate's Office by the Nine Young Heroes. The County Magistrate, true to his reputation as a good official in the eyes of the people, acted uprightly. He handed over the eighty taels of silver from the bounty on the notice to the heroes, and then paid out another Seventy Taels of Silver as payment for purchasing the precious White Tiger Hide.

The time was the second day after the nine heroes had returned, and the first day the tiger hide arrived at the Ning'an County Magistrate's Office.

In the main hall of the county office, the large White Tiger Hide, its blood already dried but still reeking, lay spread across an Eight Immortals Table.

The skinning had been done with great skill—head, paws, body, and tail all intact.

"Aiyo... even the teeth are still there!"

"Oh oh oh, look at this Tiger's Mouth—bigger than my head!"

"How many people did this thing eat!"

"Ma, it's terrifying! I heard this Fierce Tiger was almost becoming a spirit!"

"That's right, good thing it's dead now, or who knows what would've happened!"

"Tsk tsk tsk... Those heroes aren't just skilled in martial arts, they're ruthless too!"

"Yeah, the four injured ones—each wound worse than the last, terrifying to look at! Doctor Tong, the best physician in the county, said if they weren't Jianghu Experts, they'd have died for sure!"

Some Constables, Yamen Runners, and civil officials like the Registrar and Scholar Official crowded around the tiger hide, marveling.

County Magistrate Chen Sheng and County Captain Zhu Yanxu stood nearby, beaming.

"Hahahaha, Your Honor, now that the vicious tiger is eliminated, it's a huge weight off Ning'an County's mind."

"Indeed! I'll trouble County Captain Zhu to find some good hunters to properly tan this tiger hide. I plan to display it at the entrance of the Ning'an County Magistrate's Office for ten days to Pacify the People!"

"Your Honor's insight is brilliant!"

Ning'an County lived off the mountains. Besides basic farming, the resource-rich Niu Kui Mountain was the county's treasure. Eliminating the vicious tiger was no small matter, and the local gentry even seized this Good Opportunity to organize a Temple Fair.

The injuries of the four wounded had stabilized.

After Yan Fei and Luo Ningshuang's wounds were stitched and treated with trauma medicine, along with two doses of medicine to regulate their qi and blood, combined with true qi breathing exercises, they were largely out of danger.

Zhao Long, who had taken a lash from the tiger's tail, suffered mainly internal injuries, but he had a decent foundation in hard cultivation, so he was also not seriously harmed.

As for Du Heng, although his arm had been set, the bones and tendons inside were shattered. In Doctor Tong's words, if he was lucky, he might still manage to pick up chopsticks and eat a meal, but lifting a blade was out of the question.

During this period, what was Ji Yuan doing?

Aside from repeatedly trying to see if he could trigger any special abilities, the biggest thing was bathing!

He had no idea how long this body's original owner, that beggar, had gone without washing. In any case, the inn's waiter had to change the bathwater three full times, and layers of grime were scrubbed off in rounds. After washing, not only did he feel noticeably lighter, but even his skin had turned a shade paler—truly terrifying!

On the third day of staying at Yunlai Inn, after cleaning himself thoroughly and changing into a fresh set of clothes, Ji Yuan finally felt presentable enough to be seen.

One morning, Lu Chengfeng accompanied Ji Yuan as they walked through Ning'an County, looking for a quiet house where Ji Yuan could settle down.

They would decide whether to rent or buy after seeing the options.

For now, Ji Yuan admitted to himself that his understanding of this world was far too shallow, so it was best not to rush into anything recklessly.

As for where the money came from—wasn't there a hundred and fifty taels of patterned silver at the Ning'an County Magistrate's Office? Those nine young heroes insisted that the silver should go to the one who truly deserved it, which was Ji Yuan.

On this matter, Ji Yuan made a token show of refusal before accepting it. After all, it was indeed his due, wasn't it!

Upon learning that an ordinary household's annual expenses amounted to just a few taels of silver, and buying a civilian house cost only a few dozen taels, Ji Yuan leaned toward purchasing a residence in Ning'an County, where the people were said to be simple and honest, and the parental official had a good reputation.

He was alone and had modest requirements—no need for multiple courtyards. Just a quiet place with an independent yard, a kitchen, a bedroom, and a latrine.

After shedding his beggar's rags and cleaning up, Ji Yuan cut a refined figure—somewhat thin and lanky, with a guanjin scarf on his head. Though he couldn't see clearly himself, he felt his appearance was passable.

Lu Chengfeng wasn't a local either, so accompanying Mister Ji was only proper. But finding a house required a local guide, so a middle-aged man, a broker, followed them.

The county town had been especially lively in recent days, as many came to see the displayed hide of the man-eating tiger. Since it was a rare white tiger hide, it drew even more eager crowds. Add to that the temple fair, and even people from neighboring counties with nothing better to do came to take a look.

Ji Yuan wasn't solely focused on finding a house; he also wanted to use this chance to get a feel for the place.

At this moment, the streets were bustling with pedestrians, making the county town as lively as New Year's.

Ji Yuan found the experience novel. Even though his eyesight was poor, his extraordinary hearing allowed him to pick up all kinds of conversations on the street—discussions, jokes, haggling, and even the occasional quarrel or curse.

"Sugar-coated hawthorns~ Sugar-coated hawthorns~"

"Fine cloth and fine silk here!!"

"Rouge and powder, selling rouge and powder!"

"Carved brush pots, eaglewood, sandalwood, pear wood—all available! The Four Treasures of the Study, come take a look!"

Whether at fixed shops or street stalls, vendors called out from time to time, especially since the town was so lively these past two days.

He had expected the noise to be grating on his ears, but to his surprise, Ji Yuan found himself not annoyed at all. Instead, it sharpened his mind.

Ji Yuan kept his eyes barely open; if he opened them for too long, they would ache. Yet strangely, even with this limited vision, he walked just like anyone else.

As they walked, they stopped in front of a shop selling the Four Treasures of the Study. Two display tables were set up outside, covered with various writing supplies, and a waiter stood by the entrance to greet customers.

"Esteemed guest, take a look at this brush pot—it's a famous scholar's tool from Ning'an County. Made of fine yellow flower wood, crafted by an old master with exquisite carvings. High officials and noblemen love them!"

Lu Chengfeng's fitted outfit was quite refined, and though Ji Yuan's clothes were plain, he carried an air of dignity, not looking like someone short on silver. As for the broker, he was mistaken for a servant.

Ji Yuan's eyes could only make out a blurry, dark-yellow shape of the brush pot. Opening his eyes wider didn't help, so he crouched down, reached out carefully, and felt around. Once he touched the brush pot, he picked it up, tilted his head, and traced its surface with his fingers, sensing the ridges and grooves, while listening closely to the faint sound of his fingerprints brushing against the wood.

This process brought every detail of the brush pot to vivid life in his mind.

'This craftsmanship is damn incredible!'

The brush pot featured landscapes and figures, densely packed and lifelike, even reminding him of the essay The Account of the Olive-Pit Boat.

Ji Yuan had only been curious to see the local craftsmanship, but he was utterly amazed.

The dazzling array of vendors, the lingering pedestrians, the surrounding clamor, and the fine details of these small crafts—all of it gave Ji Yuan a rich and tangible feeling. He could smell the breath of life, and his exceptional hearing let him glimpse the joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness of people from all walks of life.

Ji Yuan slowly opened his aching eyes a bit wider, his mind slightly dazed. It was only at this moment that he truly accepted a reality: he was no longer in his original time and space.