Well Water Does Not Interfere with River Water

It?

The traveling merchants were stunned at first, then their faces drained of blood in an instant as they all realized what "it" referred to.

Ji Yuan was also terrified—in fact, he was even more scared than these traveling merchants, so afraid that even his breath carried a tremor—but at least on the surface he appeared calm, looking far better than the merchants.

The sound of four claws and two feet walking on the ground was clearly different. Ji Yuan closed his already dry and sore eyes, focusing more of his attention on his hearing.

The sound was very soft, yet carried a weightiness, like flesh pads pressing into soil and dead leaves, limbs crossing and landing as if strolling through a courtyard.

Whether it was his imagination or not, the wind and the rustling of grass and trees around them seemed louder than before, while the night birds in the forest had all fallen silent, as if too frightened to make a sound.

Could it be a tiger? Or rather, a tiger spirit?

Ji Yuan's tattered clothes were soaked through with sweat. As the sound of paw-steps drew closer, he grew increasingly doubtful that the few people in the temple could be of any use.

The others in the Mountain God Temple didn't even dare breathe loudly, clutching their weapons tightly as they huddled behind the fire, staring toward the temple entrance.

Though they lacked Ji Yuan's sharp hearing, they could sense the change in the wind, the branches of the surrounding flowers, grass, and trees swaying erratically without direction.

The atmosphere was suffocatingly tense, fine beads of sweat covering every traveling merchant's face.

"ROOOOAR~~~~~~"

A fierce tiger's roar erupted from outside the temple. In an instant, the forest erupted in alarm as birds took flight, many night birds shrieking and flapping their wings to escape.

Of course, the people inside the temple were even more terrified; many felt their legs go weak.

By now, no one held any illusions that Old Jin and the others were still alive.

Ji Yuan's heart was in chaos. From the Scholar Chang Ghost earlier to the current display of power, it was clear that whatever was outside was no ordinary tiger.

These spineless weaklings beside him, plus a half-blind waste like himself who was scared to death—even if it weren't a tiger spirit, a regular tiger would probably have them on their knees.

But before Ji Yuan could finish a round of cursing heaven and earth in his mind, his thoughts were interrupted.

"I and you, well water does not interfere with river water. I have not stepped into the Mountain God Temple, so why do you help them?"

A deep, rumbling voice mixed with the low growl of a tiger came from outside.

Ji Yuan's heart seized up. It really was a damned tiger spirit!

But he quickly caught on, the information in those words setting his mind racing like lightning. In the span of a few breaths, countless possibilities flashed through his thoughts.

The traveling merchants, after their initial shock, instinctively looked at the beggar beside them.

'Fuck it, coming to a godforsaken place like this, I'm dead either way—might as well gamble!'

Ji Yuan gritted his teeth, shedding his previous fear and meekness, and spoke with a voice full of vigor.

"Precisely because our well water does not interfere with river water, I paid no attention when the Scholar Chang Ghost came. But Zhang Shilin is pure of heart. I drank a bowl of his hot water, counting it as a small kindness, and I will not let him die like this."

After spitting out these words in one breath, Ji Yuan's heart pounded like a machine gun with the trigger held down, thumping so hard he couldn't suppress it.

There was silence outside for a moment. Ji Yuan felt like his heart was about to leap out of his throat.

After what seemed like a long deliberation, the thick voice tinged with a beast's snarl sounded again, but the words that came weren't about eating people.

"I have never met you face to face, yet I know that in the month you've been here, your deathly aura has grown heavier by the day. Why are you now so full of life?"

Ji Yuan quietly exhaled in relief. At least it hadn't charged in without a word.

His mind raced, desperately squeezing his intellect to ponder the tiger spirit's question.

Combining it with the earlier words, Ji Yuan first confirmed that he had indeed soul-transmigrated—occupying someone else's body—and that the question revealed at least three key points.

First, the tiger lived deep in the mountains, and the beggar stayed in the Mountain God Temple; they had never met.

Second, perhaps the beggar was originally not simple, so the tiger spirit hadn't touched him—though it might also be that it disdained eating the disabled or had a cleanliness fetish.

Third, and most fundamentally, the beggar was originally close to death. Because of Ji Yuan's transmigration, in the tiger spirit's eyes, the beggar had suddenly become brimming with life.

Ji Yuan only wanted one outcome now: to bluff the tiger spirit. Ensuring everyone's safety—most importantly, his own—was the priority.

A little time had already passed. If whatever was outside grew impatient, that would be bad. Ji Yuan threw caution to the wind, stories he'd read and various chuunibyou fantasies flashing quickly through his mind. On the surface, it looked like the beggar had been silent for a moment before speaking.

He deliberately slowed his speech.

"There's nothing I can't say. It's laughable, really. I knew my days were numbered and was merely waiting for death here, but unexpectedly, I had an epiphany and was born from death."

Outside the temple, the tiger's eyes widened, its claws digging into the ground in agitation. Born from death! Born from death! Easy to say, but even the tiger spirit knew the information contained within was astonishing.

Two days ago, it had seen thunderbolts fall from a clear sky, their terror and heavenly might beyond anything it had ever witnessed—far beyond ordinary thunder and lightning. At that time, the tiger spirit had even gone limp in its cave.

Today, the tiger spirit suddenly understood: the source of that thunder was here!

It was a beast cultivating into a spirit. How arduous, how bitter was the path of cultivation!

And this person in the temple, whom it had previously taken for an ordinary beggar, had not only managed rebirth at death's door but must also have a cultivation realm of profound depth.

To be honest, this was the first cultivator the tiger spirit had ever encountered, but even with just this one, it knew this person was no ordinary practitioner.

Now, knowing full well that to humans it was a monstrous anomaly, and aware that staying here might be dangerous, the tiger still couldn't help asking with urgency and trepidation.

"Sir, what do you think of my cultivation?"

Then, realizing it might have been too abrupt, it quickly added.

"I have cultivated on Niu Kui Mountain for over a hundred years without a path or support. Now I've exhausted every method and can advance no further. Would you, would you be willing to offer some guidance? Lord Lu would be endlessly grateful!"

Even the honorific was used, clearly—from address to tone—a major shift had occurred. Matters concerning the very foundation of cultivation, things greater than heaven itself, left the Tiger Spirit no choice but to tread carefully; his cultivation had been stuck for a long time.

Of course, even the Tiger Spirit understood that inquiring about cultivation methods was a taboo. Beasts and birds of the wild spent years painfully self-enlightening and self-cultivating, rejoicing over the smallest achievement, and would never easily share such knowledge. So when he asked this unfathomable beggar in the temple, he did so cautiously, hoping only for a hint of guidance.

Since there was no irreconcilable enmity between them, he naturally seized the chance to seek instruction.

Thanks to the Scholar Chang Ghost, Scholar Lu, the Tiger Spirit had learned some human etiquette and customs; he felt he was being fairly polite.

Yet anxiety and unease made the tiger pace nervously after speaking, staring expectantly into the temple, while also preparing—if the Temple Person suddenly attacked, he would counter or flee at top speed.

Ji Yuan had originally expected the Tiger Spirit to be more aggressive, but instead it had turned somewhat refined; he couldn't even imagine a massive tiger speaking with such cultured, measured words.

Shaking off those absurd thoughts, Ji Yuan steadied his flustered heart and spoke again, this time much slower.

"May I ask Lord Lu, since you began cultivating, how many humans have you devoured?"

Ji Yuan knew well that in such a situation, the more panicked he felt, the less he could show it; instead, he had to assert himself appropriately based on the circumstances.

Hearing the question from inside the temple, the tiger outside suddenly felt a jolt of panic, unknowingly clawing at the ground in agitation, then abruptly thinking of something, he snorted.

Hoo~

A stream of Illusion Mist Energy flowed out, coalescing into a human figure—it was Scholar Lu.

The tiger peered toward the Mountain God Temple, its firelight flickering and shadows dancing, and whispered to the Scholar Chang Ghost.

"You heard all that, right? How should I answer, so I don't miss this good opportunity? If you help me this time, I promise to let your soul return to your homeland!"

But Lord Lu never imagined that this low muttering was completely heard by Ji Yuan, which also made Ji Yuan realize even more how much the Tiger Spirit valued so-called cultivation mysteries.

Scholar Lu gave a slight bow to Lord Lu, then looked toward the Mountain God Temple.

"Earlier, when I lured people to the temple, he slept through it, but this time he stopped me because of Zhang Shilin. This man acts according to his heart; such people hate lies the most, especially from a Master. Lord Lu had best answer everything truthfully, and not resort to deliberate deception for the sake of gain."

Hearing this, the massive tiger with the hanging eyes actually furrowed his brow, his expression twisted with struggle and hesitation, then he shook his tiger head and spoke toward the temple.

"I dare not deceive you, sir. Lord Lu has cultivated for so long without progress, and had no choice but to supplement with humans. I have devoured... fifty-three people... But I eat humans just as humans eat birds and beasts; I do not kill indiscriminately. I do not eat when full, I do not eat those who do not disturb me by day, and I only eat the strong and healthy, not the old, young, sick, or disabled!"

Holy crap! He's eaten fifty-three people!

Ji Yuan had only asked that sharp question casually to draw out the next part, but hearing the answer made his legs go weak. The Traveling Merchants beside him were even worse off, several trembling audibly in fear.