This calligraphy scroll held completely different value in Ji Yuan's eyes than it did in Lord Lu's. At a single glance, he became utterly engrossed.
Every character on the Sword Intent Scroll revealed something different; every stroke contained a keen edge. Yet when combined as a whole, they possessed a seamless, unified feeling, as though over a hundred clearly motionless characters were dancing together.
Lost in his fascination, Ji Yuan forgot the time. The fox on the stone table watched Ji Yuan immerse himself in the calligraphy scroll, while the spiritual qi in the courtyard slowly dispersed after a few moments. It did not dare make a sound to disturb him.
Only when the sky gradually darkened did Ji Yuan emerge from his insight into the characters, unable to help sighing in admiration.
"Fine characters, fine swordsmanship! I never imagined martial sword techniques could reach such exquisite heights. This must be what Skill Approaching the Dao means!"
This calligraphy scroll had not been written by a cultivator. Ji Yuan had sensed it the moment he first touched it; there was neither spiritual qi upon it nor any profound art in the cultivation sense.
The intent left in its words was merely the force of wielding a brush like a sword. A mere soak in water could ruin the scroll, while even Ji Yuan's Yin Bamboo Slips could not be casually destroyed by ordinary water and fire.
What was more, the sword techniques recorded on the scroll were also Martial Arts—those Mundane Minor Arts that cultivators looked down on.
Yet this momentum formed by connected sword intent was like a chessboard whose techniques led by different paths to the same destination. Within Ji Yuan's mind, it seemed to come alive like a wandering dragon, containing wisdom and will!
This martial artist who wrote this scroll must have been no ordinary Martial Man. He must have been a peerlessly gifted figure. I don't know whether he is still in the mortal world?
As Ji Yuan was thinking this, he suddenly felt that something was off.
Wait, why am I even thinking in such flowery, old-fashioned language? Damn, this is poisonous!
Ji Yuan hastily shook his head as though seized by nerves. Turning to the side, he found that the fox, which had originally been drowsy on the table, had become much more alert. Looking up at the sky again, he saw that the sun was already slanting westward.
"Hahaha... Sorry, I forgot the time. I should be decocting medicine for you! Uh, I don't have a medicine stove or pot..."
Ji Yuan knew better than anyone what his home contained. It definitely did not have something like a medicine stove, so he could only borrow one from the Yin Family.
"You stay here and don't run around. I'll be back soon!"
Leaving those words behind, Ji Yuan saw how obedient the fox looked and left the courtyard gate for the Yin Family residence.
Before he even reached the Yin Family courtyard, he heard Yin Qing speaking with great excitement.
"Mother, Mother, on the way back today, Father and I heard people talking about Mister Ji! They said a red fox appeared at the market this morning. It was chased and bitten by a Big Yellow Dog and beaten by people all the way, but it kept fleeing until it ran beneath Mister Ji's feet as he passed by, then it kept kowtowing and bowing to Mister Ji!!"
"Ah!? Something like that happened?"
Inside the Yin Family home, mother cried out in surprise, then looked at Yin Zhaoxian, who was seated to one side and using a Tinder Stick to light the candle.
"Husband, is what Qing'er said true?"
Yin Zhaoxian lit the candle and nodded at her.
"It should be true. Quite a few people asked me about Mister Ji when I came back today. They said the Red Fox was covered in blood and escaped the crowd by pretending to be dead, then knelt before Mister Ji and kowtowed. Those Yellow Dogs around it did not even dare approach, and also..."
"Yes, yes, yes!! Mother, let me tell you, Mister Ji only said one sentence, and those Big Dogs retreated on their own! Mister Ji even gave money to those two men beating the fox and told them to let it go. Hmph, why give them any money at all!!"
Yin Qing's words were brimming with a child's emotions, as though he had witnessed it with his own eyes.
"Yes, I heard that Jiren Hall even treated the fox afterward."
Outside the courtyard, Ji Yuan listened to the Yin Family Members discussing the day's events and could not help smiling. Then he lightly knocked on the courtyard gate.
"Knock knock knock~~~"
"Master Yin, Madam Yin, are you home? Ji Yuan has come to visit!"
Ji Yuan's firm, powerful voice came from outside the courtyard, startling the Yin Family, who had been discussing him. Yin Zhaoxian hastily went out to open the door, and Yin Qing immediately followed.
When the courtyard gate opened, Ji Yuan stood outside. What especially caught the eye was the bloodstains still clinging to his sleeves and chest.
"Master Yin!"
Ji Yuan slightly cupped his hands.
"Mister Ji is here! Please come in, please come in! Qing'er, have your mother make a pot of tea!"
"No need! I came only to borrow a medicine stove and pot from you. Does Master Yin have such things at home?"
Recalling the rumors from the marketplace when he returned today, Yin Zhaoxian immediately understood and nodded repeatedly.
"Yes, yes, yes, I'll go fetch them for you!"
"Daddy, the medicine stove is right here!"
Before Yin Zhaoxian could search for it, Yin Qing came over with great excitement, carrying the medicine stove and pot in his arms, then handed them to Ji Yuan.
"Mister Ji, the medicine stove!"
"Good, thank you, Little Yin Qing!"
Ji Yuan accepted them with a smile. Though he Couldn't See Clearly the details of the medicine stove, it felt like some kind of coarse pottery. He could also smell a faint scent of charcoal ash, and both the stove and pot were small.
"Master Yin, Ji has matters to attend to at home, so I won't impose any longer!"
"Very well, Mister Ji, please do as you wish. If there is anything you need of me, please do not hesitate to speak. Yin shall await your command at any time!"
Yin Zhaoxian was still cupping his hands toward Ji Yuan when he saw his son dash out of the courtyard in a single bound and stop behind Ji Yuan.
"Qing'er, what are you doing? Come back!"
"Mister Ji, I want to go too! I want to see the Red Fox. I've never seen a fox before. Can I go take a look? I promise I'll behave!"
"Qing'er!"
"Hehehe... Master Yin, do not blame him. Little Yin Qing is at the age of innocence and wonder, so it is only natural for him to be curious. How about this? He can follow me to the pavilion for a look. I'll certainly bring him back before dinner!"
"Hahahaha, wonderful!"
Yin Qing jumped with delight, while Yin Zhaoxian gave an awkward smile.
"Then I must trouble Mister Ji."
Little Rabbit, why didn't you ask Your Father to take you along? Your Father wants to have a look too!!
However, constrained by appearances and concerned about Ji Yuan's thoughts, Yin Zhaoxian could not say what was in his heart. With great regret, and even a trace of envy, he watched Ji Yuan and Yin Qing leave.
In the courtyard of Ju'an Pavilion, the Red Fox on the stone table heard approaching footsteps outside and Yin Qing's clear voice continually asking Ji Yuan questions about foxes. It warily wanted to stand up, but did not flee.
Before long, Ji Yuan, carrying the medicine stove and pot, and Yin Qing, his face full of excitement, entered the courtyard.
"Oh, you can stand up now?"
Ji Yuan felt even more at ease. Seeing the fox gaze at Yin Qing with vigilance written all over its face, he smiled and said,
"Little Red Fox, this is the son of Ji's friend. Don't worry. Little Yin Qing, this is the Red Fox. It is badly injured right now, so try not to disturb its rest or touch it, understand?"
"Yes, I understand!"
A child like Yin Qing had no resistance whatsoever to a furry Red Fox. The strips of cloth wrapped around it instead lessened the fox's intimidation as a wild beast.
He circled around it, looking it over from above and below, examining the fox from head to toe. He was only a hand's reach away from touching it, while the fox's gaze remained fixed on Yin Qing, never lowering its guard in the slightest.
One moment Yin Qing asked, "Does it hurt?" The next, he jumped back in fright when the fox bared its teeth. The Red Fox first treated him as though facing a great enemy, then sniffed disdainfully and stopped Paying Attention To him. Seeing this person and fox completely on different wavelengths made Ji Yuan want to laugh.
More than half an hour later, a bowl of black, slightly thick medicinal decoction appeared in Ji Yuan's hands. Considering the fox's small stomach, he had deliberately boiled it down to be more concentrated.
"Woo woo..."
The medicine did not smell very pleasant, but with Ji Yuan watching, the Red Fox could only obediently lap up every drop of the bowl of medicine placed at the table's edge. Yin Qing, beside it, found this immensely interesting, feeling that the fox was even more obedient than a dog.
A wisp of spiritual qi had also been infused into the medicine. Letting the Red Fox drink it before it rapidly dispersed would also help it absorb the medicinal power.
To Ji Yuan's relief, it was no longer an ordinary wild beast after all. With timely treatment and the aid of spiritual qi, the Red Fox's injuries had truly stabilized.
It was also nearly mealtime. After sending the somewhat reluctant Yin Qing home, Ji Yuan finally had time to eat his first meal of the day. He could also bring back some meat for the fox.
The strange tale of a Red Fox begging a passerby for help on the street, and Yellow Dogs leaving obediently after being persuaded, gradually became an interesting subject of after-dinner conversation among the people of Ning'an.
Before you continue