Chapter 119: Delicious and Fragrant
Tianshu Academy's first Asked the Dao battle ended in failure. He Lingxiu, who was injured, was sent back to her courtyard. This courtyard was naturally not as favored by the Master Jian as Ji You's, but it wasn't too small either.
In the courtyard, there was a jujube tree that hadn't been well-maintained, and even in early summer, it looked a bit sparse.
The atmosphere in the courtyard was extremely bad. All the Tianshu Academy Disciples were either squatting or standing, or leaning against the doorframe, looking at each other in silence, their brows tightly furrowed.
Wen Zhengxin, Pei Ruyi, Ban Yangshu, and Bai Rulong were all present, but they stood further into the courtyard, away from the house.
Their relationship with He Lingxiu wasn't particularly good; in fact, Zhengxin Fairy and she had even had conflicts. However, as fellow Tianshu Academy Disciples, they were a united front at this moment, and they wouldn't show inappropriate expressions at such a critical juncture.
Ji You quietly entered the courtyard from outside and sat down with the four of them.
“Junior Brother, the first round of Asked the Dao was lost...”
“Yes, I saw it from a distance...”
Ban Yangshu clenched his fist: “Before we came, everyone analyzed that He Lingxiu against Yan Shujing should have been the match with the highest winning rate.”
Pei Ruyi nodded: “Indeed, at the time, everyone in the academy thought He Lingxiu would definitely win against Yan Shujing, and winning this match first would at least be a draw and not lose Face. We didn't expect to lose, and that Zhuang You seems even stronger...”
Wen Zhengxin murmured after hearing this: “He is at the Integration Realm mid-stage, so he is naturally stronger.”
“I wonder how confident You Buyu is in tomorrow's battle. If we lose again—”
Their conversation ended there, and no one dared to say anything further, the atmosphere inevitably becoming somewhat oppressive.
Bai Rulong looked at Ji You at this moment, lowering his voice and saying: “Brother Ji, I looked for you yesterday. Did Lingjian Mountain secretly beat you up?”
Ji You turned his head to look at him: “When?”
“Someone was blocking the way, so I didn't dare to get too close. I just stood far away and took a look. I heard a lot of clanging noises inside, and your painful cries rising and falling. It sounded really miserable.”
“Ignorant child, that was clearly pleasure.”
Bai Rulong's eyes narrowed slightly: “Pleasure for what reason?”
Ji You smiled, looking up at the sky: “Delicious and fragrant.”
“What good thing did you eat—”
Ji You retracted his gaze and looked at him, a thought suddenly dawning on him: “Brother Ru Long, have you been more generous these past few days? Why are you asking everything?”
Three sentences to make a man spend money on me!
Bai Rulong's tongue stiffened, and he immediately closed his mouth.
Ru Long Immortal Emperor usually lived a carefree life, and at this moment, he was trying to lighten the atmosphere by joking with Ji You. He didn't expect to almost get robbed before finishing three sentences, and immediately became honest.
For a while afterward, there were always noisy sounds at the gate.
Some Disciples from other sects pretended to pass by, peeking into the courtyard with expressions of schadenfreude, making everyone's Faces even more awkward.
Because most of these people were familiar Faces they had seen in the ruins.
They sat there until dusk, when Ji You got up and left, and Wen Zhengxin and the others followed him out.
Seeing this, the fellow Disciples guarding the door couldn't help but glance over, but said nothing. If He Lingxiu had won today, they would have certainly brought up Ji You's incident in the Sword Forest when he appeared at this time. You Buyu might even have made some sarcastic remarks about him not understanding the rules.
But at this moment, no one was thinking about his affairs.
Because compared to the defeat in the first round of Asked the Dao, Ji You's sixteen swords in the Sword Forest, even if embarrassing, were minor. Even if he had died in the Sword Forest, the impact would not have been as great as the defeat of Tianshu Academy's direct Disciple.
The five of them walked out of the courtyard. Wang Yue, Fang Linchao, and a group of other Disciples also followed them out.
There was another Asked the Dao battle tomorrow, and they still had to check on You Buyu's current condition.
Having already lost the first round, they had to win the second, otherwise, they would truly become the biggest laughingstock of the early Taiyuan era.
However, as Wang Yue and Fang Linchao walked out, they saw Ji You and the others, who had left the courtyard earlier, stopped on the mountain path, with another group of people in front of them, as if they had just encountered each other.
Walking in front was Min Cheng, followed by several Disciples of Asked the Dao Sect, while Ding Yao accompanied them by their side.
“Tianshu Academy's first match turned out like this, I don't think the second match is necessary. Whether you say there's a change in your sect or that an elder in your family has passed away, find an excuse and quickly leave the mountain. It's better than losing in front of everyone tomorrow.”
Min Cheng's mouth was like it was poisoned, killing and punishing the heart.
His resentment towards Tianshu Academy all stemmed from Ji You, so these words were also directed at Ji You.
That day on the street, he told Ji You about the Sword Forest to avoid further complications, but now he was on Lingjian Mountain, surrounded by his own Disciples, so he naturally held no good intentions.
At this moment, Wen Zhengxin and the others' killing intent rose, and Wang Yue and Fang Linchao also couldn't help but frown and stamp their feet, looking at Ji You, wondering how he would respond.
Ji You did not look at Min Cheng, treating him as if he didn't exist, and turned to look at Ding Yao.
“Please go and find a Tranquil Spirit Pill.”
He Lingxiu's 【Myriad Laws Accompanying Body】 was forcefully broken by Yan Shujing's Sword Qi. Her injuries weren't serious, but the Spiritual Qi in her body kept running wild.
Just now in the courtyard, a Disciple asked if anyone had a Tranquil Spirit Pill to give to He Lingxiu.
But they had never anticipated such a situation, and no one had prepared in advance.
Min Cheng's expression froze, then he laughed, thinking, 'Are you treating Lingjian Mountain as Tianshu Academy?'
However, in the next moment, Ding Yao, after frowning for a long time, turned and left without a word, which left him somewhat puzzled.
And for some reason, he found that Junior Sister Ding, such an arrogant person, seemed not to dare to look up at her just now, showing subtle signs of bowing.
In reality, this subconscious reaction was because Ding Yao had been accompanying Ji You and Yan Shuyi for the past few days, developing the mindset of a maid.
Especially after reporting to the Master Jian yesterday that Ji You only used sixteen swords to pass the Xiao Chong Shan and discovering that the Master Jian didn't care at all, she couldn't be bothered to fuss anymore.
She now had only one thought: to quickly serve Ji You and send him away.
Anyway, there was only one day left, how could she not endure it?
Getting a Medicinal Pill wasn't difficult; it was certainly better than drawing his bathwater.
The next few people brushed past each other. Wang Yue and Fang Linchao went to You Buyu's courtyard.
At this moment, Mystic Light faintly surrounded him, and Dao arts constantly roared and circulated. He had been cultivating for an hour.
Upon hearing footsteps outside, he finally opened his eyes and reached out to open the door.
“Senior Brother You.”
“How is Senior Sister He now?”
Wang Yue followed him out of the courtyard: “Senior Sister He's Dao was broken by a single sword while in the Myriad Laws Accompanying Body state. Her injuries are fine, but the Spiritual Qi in her body has been running wild, making her seem extremely pained.”
You Buyu frowned: “No Tranquil Spirit Pill?”
“Such a Medicinal Pill is inherently rare and hard to find. The Disciples who came with us were not prepared. However, just now, Ji You went to ask Ding Yao from Lingjian Mountain for one.”
“Ask someone from Lingjian Mountain?”
After Wang Yue finished speaking, he couldn't help but let out a light laugh: “Do you know how he asked?”
You Buyu raised his eyes: “How?”
“He had his hands behind his back and his brows furrowed, like he was giving an order, telling her to bring a Tranquil Spirit Pill, as if he treated Lingjian Mountain as his own home and that Ding Yao as a maid.”
“?”
Fang Linchao also couldn't help but speak at this moment: “Senior Brother You previously found Ji You very displeasing, but now it seems it might be a misunderstanding. This Ji You is probably—his mind isn't good to begin with.”
After these seemingly complimentary but actually sarcastic remarks, You Buyu's mood improved considerably.
Wang Yue then said: “Senior Brother You, should we send a Disciple to the city to find a Tranquil Spirit Pill?”
“You also said that this Medicinal Pill is hard to find in the south, and going down the mountain now would surely attract attention. Let Senior Sister He rest for a few days; she can recover on her own.”
“Isn't Ji You just right for it? It also saves him from being talked about in the Sword Forest.”
“This—that's a good idea.”
Fang Linchao nodded after hearing this, and reached out to call a Disciple of his own family named Fang Qing, telling him to go up the mountain to find Ji You.
Then, the three of them rolled up their sleeves and led the two towards He Lingxiu's courtyard.
At this moment, the evening glow covered the sky, and a clear breeze suddenly rose in the mountains. You Buyu, with Wang Yue and Fang Linchao, stepped inside and saw Ding Yao from Lingjian Mountain in the courtyard, holding a Medicinal Pill and hurrying into the room.
The three exchanged glances and followed into the room, where they saw the Medicinal Pill already in He Lingxiu's hand.
After swallowing a Tranquil Spirit Pill, her aura dissipated completely, and the chaotic Spiritual Qi in her body quickly subsided.
Seeing this, Wang Yue and Fang Linchao exchanged glances, then couldn't help but look at Ding Yao, who was expressionless, her brows deeply furrowed.
They had just witnessed Ji You asking for the boat, but it was more like an order than a request.
But no one could have imagined that Ding Yao would actually silently bring the Tranquil Spirit Pill.
One must know that Ding Yao's personality was extremely arrogant, something they had deeply experienced these past two days. When she arranged their lodging, her words were full of sarcasm.
Today, Lingjian Mountain had won, so for Ding Yao not to mock them arrogantly would already be considered kind-hearted. How could she so obediently bring the Medicinal Pill?
Just then, the previously dispatched Fang Qing hurried back: “Senior Brother, I couldn't get him.”
Fang Linchao looked at He Lingxiu, whose aura had stabilized, and waved his hand: “It's fine now, if he doesn't come, then so be it.” “Yes.”
“Wait, you still need to go again and tell him not to go to the Sword Forest anymore. Senior Sister He's defeat today has made Lingjian Mountain arrogant, don't let him cause any more trouble.”
Fang Qing bowed, a difficult expression on his Face: “Senior Brother, I can't see him.”
Fang Linchao hummed, then turned his eyes, asking in confusion: “What? Can't see him?”
“As soon as I went up the mountain, I was stopped. They said that further ahead is the Master Jian's sleeping quarters of Lingjian Mountain, and entry is forbidden without an invitation.”
“How did you end up at the Master Jian's sleeping quarters of Lingjian Mountain?”
“I only went halfway up the mountain, still far from there, and Junior Brother Ji's assigned courtyard is even higher up.”
“?”
7
Ding Yao glanced at Fang Linchao at this moment, and couldn't help but let out a cold laugh.
She thought to herself, 'Besides the Master Jian's parents and personal maids, do you really think anyone can just go higher up Xuanjian Peak?'
Then she took the medicine box and walked out the door, heading up the mountain towards Xuanjian Peak.
As soon as she reached the door, she saw Zhuo Wanqiu holding a roasted sweet potato, eating it with the “casually strolling over” Master Jian.
At this moment, Ji You brought over a cup of tea, and the Master Jian hesitated for a moment, her eyes flickering, before finally taking it and drinking a large gulp.
Then he retreated, lightly poking at the furnace with a fire hook.
Ding Yao walked closer, her brows slightly furrowed: “Why is there a bright red fingerprint on the Master Jian's Face?”
“Young Master Ji said that the Disciples of Xuanjian Peak bullied his Tianshu Academy Disciple, so he wanted to bully them back, and squeezed her like this.”
Yan Shuyi was eating a sweet potato at this moment, her eyes narrowed, her expression cold and arrogant.
She heard their whispers and felt a bit embarrassed.
Just as Ding Yao's brows were slightly furrowed, she saw Ji You look up at her, then hook out a smaller sweet potato tail from the charcoal fire and toss it to her.
Ding Yao took the sweet potato and was Stunned for a moment, then she imitated Zhuo Wanqiu and leaned against the left doorframe, peeling it and taking a light bite.
Actually, her background was as humble as Ji You's.
But fortunately, she was similar in age to the Master Jian and was chosen as a personal maid back then, and since then, she had been striving to climb higher.
Having lived in luxury for many years, she hadn't tasted such things in a long time.
At this moment, the sun set behind the mountain, and thousands of colorful rays splashed through the clouds. The remaining light burst from the mountaintop and slowly converged.
“Is it delicious?”
?
Ding Yao looked at the Master Jian with a slight smile, then nodded gently.
Yan Shuyi raised the corners of her mouth, showing a slightly proud expression, forgetting about her Face being pinched just now.
Ji You also peeled a sweet potato at this moment and couldn't help but ask: “That Yan Shujing, is she your Junior Sister?”
“She's my second uncle's daughter.”
After peeling the sweet potato, Ji You nodded: “Wanqiu, I think I hear someone at the door. Can you go out and check for me?”
Zhuo Wanqiu got up, pulled Ding Yao, and walked out of the courtyard gate.
Ding Yao's sweet potato almost fell to the ground. She thought, 'That person ordered you, why are you dragging me along?'
Meanwhile, Yan Shuyi silently gnawed on her sweet potato, wondering what he was going to do next, when she saw Ji You move closer, reach out, and take her half-eaten sweet potato.
The Master Jian watched him take the sweet potato, her eyes narrowed slightly, and then she saw him hand her the peeled sweet potato.
“You eat too slowly. That one just now got cold. Here's a warm one for you.”
Yan Shuyi held the warm sweet potato without moving, her eyes, however, showed a hint of sharpness: “You are not allowed to eat what I have eaten.”
Ji You looked at her slightly: “How could you think of me that way?”
“You just tricked me into drinking water from your teacup.”
“Tsk, you're really good at judging people—”
Ji You peeled the cold sweet potato in his hand: “We can't waste food. Do you know that back in Yuyang County, this red sweet potato was hard to find even during Chinese New Year?”
Yan Shuyi watched him take a bite out of the sweet potato she had bitten, her cold Face turning red, and she couldn't help but gently nudge him with her foot, then casually put it into his arms.
Today at the wei hour, Yuan Caiwei replied, saying that she didn't see anything, but the handwriting was messy when she wrote these few lines, which made her a bit concerned.
Because Ji You said it was a very good thing, something any woman would definitely like, and it was originally left for her to see. Ji You didn't know what she was imagining, and while eating the sweet potato she had eaten, he asked: “Tomorrow, who will win between Zhuang You and You Buyu?”
“Zhuang You defeated the previous direct Disciple of Tianjian Peak.”