"Patriarch Wei, what is the origin of your family's inherited Blue Jade?"
The mysterious Government Office figure's words slightly eased Wei Wuwei's heart. Though this matter counted as a secret, it was not truly something that could not be spoken of. Besides, this situation was not for Wei Wuwei to control as he pleased.
"My lord may not know this, but word has been passed down through my family that an ancestor of the Wei Family once saved an Immortal Crane. Afterward, the crane returned with jade in its beak and gifted it to my ancestor in repayment of its kindness. This Blue Jade has been passed down through the generations and has now come into my hands, Wei Wuwei's..."
"An Elder did indeed say that carrying this jade could ward off evil and dispel malign spirits, but that is merely a rumor, without any proof!"
At this point, Wei Wuwei paused and looked toward the Black-Clothed Figure lying on the ground, unable to move.
"The matter of becoming immortal is far too illusory. Back then, Emperor Zhengyuan of Great Zhen spent half his life seeking immortals and pursuing the Dao, only to die young in melancholy. Zuo Kuangtu was hailed as a Sword Immortal, yet did he not also die with lingering hatred?"
Wei Wuwei found it utterly laughable. Even if they truly obtained the Sword Intent Scroll, unraveled its secrets, and found Zuo Kuangtu's peerless Secret Manual— even if he handed them the Blue Jade—did they think they could become immortals with those things alone? Even an emperor whose power weighed upon all under heaven could not do it, much less people like them.
"What absurdity. It would be more practical to visit a temple and pray to gods and worship Buddhas. To think that I, Wei Wuwei, was attacked by a pack of lunatics!"
To tell the truth, Ji Yuan instinctively felt that Wei Wuwei's disdain was not an act. In other words, the Wei Family truly knew only a tale handed down from their ancestors, and might even believe that this Blue Jade was nothing more than valuable, not necessarily mystical.
Yet the Black-Clothed Figure on the ground did not refute him. He simply kept circulating his breath to soothe the injuries in his internal organs. Only after patiently waiting for Wei Wuwei to finish mocking him did he prepare to speak, though most of his attention remained on Ji Yuan.
What he feared was that this Government Office man would enforce the law without hesitation. Since he had not acted yet, there was still room for negotiation. As for his other Black-Clothed Figure companion, he had long since fallen unconscious, while he paid Xiang Feng and the others no mind at all.
"Indeed, Wei Wuwei, everything you say is right. But do you dare claim there are no immortals in this world? Six years ago, without wind or rain, Guangdong Lake flooded for thirty miles. Of the people along its shores who suffered disaster, who did not know? Then, two years ago, Bladesman Du Yutian slew a ghost after drinking, and frost lingered upon his blade for three days. Among those friendly with the Du Family, who had not heard? Back then, Smiling Rakshasa dreamed one night that the Northern Capital City God Emissary came to reap his soul. When he awoke, his friend had died of illness, and from then on he renamed himself the Smiling Soul Reaper... These are not merely tales from the martial world!"
Seeing that Ji Yuan remained utterly impassive, his dark face seeming to watch him make a fool of himself, the Black-Clothed Figure could not help growing more agitated as he spoke.
"My lord, five years ago, I shattered a jar of aged fine wine beside the Chunmu River. It drew out a Black-Backed Giant Turtle. This giant turtle could speak human words and demanded good liquor from me, saying it was to be presented to the Chunmu River God. Since then, every May 15, I have gone to the riverbank to deliver wine. This is absolutely true, without the slightest falsehood!"
Upon hearing this, aside from the other Black-Clothed Figure who had already passed out, even the remaining Five Thieves of Yan, languishing listlessly nearby, were astonished beyond measure. Clearly, they had not known of these mysterious matters of immortality.
Ji Yuan only appeared expressionless on the surface now. In truth, his heart had already been shaken beyond measure. Still, he restrained his excitement and spoke in a hoarse, cold voice.
"Go on!"
The Black-Clothed Figure swallowed and glanced at Wei Wuwei, who was frowning in thought beside him.
"That giant turtle said it could not take my fine wine for nothing, so it told me of three places where Immortal Destiny could be found. The first was the Sword Intent Scroll, which it said directly was hidden in the Fan Family of Dingyuan Prefecture. The Old Turtle clearly stated that Long Sword Qingying had nurtured a spiritual brilliance and was an object born with innate spirituality. Whoever obtained it would naturally have a fortuitous chance. The second was the Wei Family's inherited Blue Jade..."
The Black-Clothed Figure paused here. It seemed he did not wish to say too much about the Blue Jade, so he skipped over it and continued.
"The third Immortal Destiny lies thousands of miles away in Tongzhou. So long as you spare me today, my lord, you may take the Wei Family's Blue Jade as you please. Once my injuries heal, I'll tell you how to use this Blue Jade to seek Immortal Destiny!"
The evening breeze drifted past, yet it could not stir even a trace of coolness.
Though Wei Wuwei had found everything he heard before utterly absurd, the moment those words emerged, his back burned with tension.
"My lord, surely you do not believe the wild nonsense of a sinister bandit! You saved my life, Wei Wuwei's life. Even giving you this Blue Jade as a token of thanks would not repay the grace of that one life!"
Wei Wuwei, whose body displayed every sign of wealth, spoke with righteous conviction. He directly took out the Blue Jade from his robes and offered it to Ji Yuan, while his face remained facing the Black-Clothed Figure on the ground.
"Not only does this man spout nonsense, he has stirred up storms and bloodshed throughout the martial world, creating countless killings. By law and by reason, he cannot be lightly spared!"
Wei Wuwei desperately did not want to give away the Blue Jade, but he did not dare gamble. Even if there was only the tiniest possibility—if this mysterious expert's heart was moved and he believed those claims of immortal opportunities—then clutching his family heirloom might bring disaster upon him!
What was more, the Black-Clothed Figure's words had been truly eerie. Even Wei Wuwei himself could not help rippling within. Judging others by himself and putting himself in their place, Wei Wuwei chose to measure a gentleman's heart with the mind of this humble one!
If Ji Yuan truly had such thoughts, Wei Wuwei hoped the step he offered would serve some purpose. His angry shout at the Black-Clothed Figure was, in truth, also meant to conceal his own tension!
At this moment, Ji Yuan's thoughts spun like lightning. Faced with the Blue Jade Wei Wuwei offered him, his heart was stirred to the extreme. Yet as someone half-stepped onto the path of cultivation, Ji Yuan had noticed an obvious flaw in the story of the Immortal Crane repaying kindness. If it were him, the key to repaying kindness with jade should not be the jade, but the person!
Ji Yuan would rather have overthought things than allow any unforeseen change. Besides, there was an even more crucial reason.
Through what his blind eyes perceived, the baleful aura around this Black-Clothed Figure nearly seeped out of his body. He was absolutely no good bird. Yet Wei Wuwei was no harmless sort either. To ensure everything was foolproof, would he have to force out the exact details of the Immortal Destiny and then silence them? He could kill people, but could he truly be ruthless enough? Killing vicious bandits might be possible, but could he settle his heart after killing Wei Wuwei and the others?
Is my, Ji Yuan's, character really like this? When I taught Fierce Tiger, I even said that cultivation begins with being a decent person. Yet just because I wish to cultivate immortality, should I stop at nothing? The immortals in my heart roam free and unfettered, yet do not forget kindness or betray righteousness. They see the warmth and coldness of the human world, and can still laugh and weep with feeling! If I become a pervert, what immortality am I cultivating for?
A man remained a chuunibyou until death. At this moment, as Ji Yuan's chuunibyou soul surged forth, his thoughts instead became increasingly open and free.
When I lectured Little Fox, I put on such a serious air and said people could not be overly greedy. Wouldn't I be ridiculous now?
Ji Yuan knew very well that his current thoughts might be somewhat naïve. But since he had room to choose, why could he not choose the path with fewer variables and a clear conscience? At the very least, the Sword Intent Scroll was already in his hands!
He took a deep breath. Having made his decision, he felt as though all hundred channels in his body had opened, utterly refreshed. An indescribable comfort spread through his entire body. Ji Yuan merely took it as the satisfaction of having thought through a difficult problem.
Looking again at the Blue Jade Wei Wuwei offered him, Ji Yuan felt no burden at all. A trace of mischief rose in him. He naturally reached out, took the warm, lustrous Blue Jade, turned it in his hand, and tilted his head toward Wei Wuwei.
"Patriarch Wei, this Blue Jade is your Wei Family's ancestral treasure. Moreover, if what this man says is true, it is a treasure connected to the road of immortality. You are simply giving it to me? Are you sincerely repaying me, or are you afraid I'll make a move against you?"
Those words nearly made Wei Wuwei's body tremble. He only concealed it through powerful willpower and the weight of his body.
"I am not afraid of being laughed at by you, my lord. I, Wei Wuwei, am most greedy for life and fearful of death, but I am not to the point of measuring a gentleman's heart with the mind of this humble one! I truly wish to give this Jade Pendant to you with True Heart, Sincere Intent. Besides, could becoming an immortal truly compare with my enjoyment of glory, wealth, and freedom here in the mortal world?"
Ji Yuan grinned, suddenly feeling that Wei Wuwei was quite an interesting fellow.
"Ha ha ha... Ha ha ha..."
That laughter was for Wei Wuwei, and also an outlet for the utter exhilaration flooding his body and heart.
Naturally, Ji Yuan's sudden burst of loud laughter startled everyone. He weighed the Jade Pendant in his hand, tossed it back to Wei Wuwei, and made the latter catch it hastily.
"This Humble One was merely passing through and must continue investigating an important case. I have been delayed long enough. I must trouble Patriarch Wei to hand these criminals over to the Government Office!"
Having said that, Ji Yuan directly gathered his breath and leaped. With a single bound of his Lightness Skill, he stepped upon a tree beside the Official Road to borrow its force, bending a small poplar slightly before drawing back his strength.
With a whoosh, his whole body shot away. Repeatedly borrowing force from tree trunks, he moved faster and faster, with no intention of turning back.
Everyone stood stunned. Wei Wuwei was still the first to react, hastily shouting toward the retreating figure.
"May I know your honored name, my lord?"
Yet there was no response, even after the figure vanished from sight.
Among the trees, upon the Official Road, beside the carriage, there was utter silence.
Wei Wuwei turned his head and swept his gaze over the bandits and Black-Clothed Figures still frozen in shock. Rubbing his chest to calm his breath, he spoke with barely restrained amusement.
"Er... it seems you have all landed on my hands. Heh heh heh heh!"
Embarrassed, I have been too busy working and writing to check the backend much. Thank you to reader Fengchi Gujin for the 10,000-coin reward and for becoming this book's Alliance Leader. Thanks as well to the other readers for your bookmarks, votes, investments, and rewards. Due to time constraints, I will not list everyone one by one!! Thank you, everyone!
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