Chapter 130: Shuyi, Call Me Gege
In the tranquil courtyard under the myriad stars, after washing up, Ji You sat cross-legged, recovering his Qi for half an hour. He was now roasting sweet potatoes by the stove.
Before long, a pleasant, sweet aroma wafted out as the stove fire intensified.
At this moment, the whistling Sword Qi on the peak not far away had gradually subsided.
The wind stopped, and the trees were still.
Only cooking smoke drifted from the rooftop, merging into the night clouds.
Ji You glanced towards the direction of the Heavenly Palace, then withdrew his gaze, got up, and went to the tea table to begin preparing tea.
The tea leaves in this courtyard were extraordinarily precious, not at all the same quality as the kind Cao Jinsong brewed in large pots.
As hot water poured into the pot, a tea fragrance instantly diffused slowly in the candlelight of the night, growing richer and more fragrant.
Before long, three figures came down the mountain, then stopped on the high slope.
Due to the slope, their gaze could easily pass over the courtyard wall and look inside, following the light from the candlelight that shone through the window to the ground.
They saw the tall and upright man, already bathed, with delicate, snow-white skin and heroic, sword-like brows. He lifted the teapot and poured water, the stream like a pillar.
The three watched this figure, their eyes content, remaining silent.
Before nightfall, everyone thought the story would be about a Tianshu Academy Disciple, obsessed with the Dao of the sword, breaking through the Sword Forest, wanting to learn the sword, but being driven away by Tianjian Peak’s chief Sword Dao Disciple.
But no one would have expected that after nightfall, Qi Zhengyang would appear on Xuanjian Peak, bowing deeply to the Master Jian.
That person was taken away not to learn the sword, but to find a sword to protect the Dao for Lingjian Mountain’s orthodoxy.
Lingjian Mountain’s Master Jian possessed countless hidden swords, all of them top-grade and renowned throughout the world, and what Shang Xiyao gifted was even more precious.
That sword was said to have cost an exorbitant price, coming from an extremely famous sword smith.
He forged it from the hardest metal in Qingyun World, and the refining of the blank alone took several years.
Just now in the Hidden Sword Chamber, Ding Yao’s desire to stop Ji You from taking the sword and her mocking intent stemmed from this.
In her opinion, the sword gifted by Shang Xiyao was already considered the best.
And Ji You’s so-called gift of a sword, no matter how good, couldn’t surpass this one, let alone his remark, “I’ll send it over after nightfall,” which sounded like an excuse to delay.
But it wasn’t until Qi Zhengyang appeared on Xuanjian Peak, with Sword Qi filling the peak, that she realized it was a sword that all the swords in the Hidden Sword Pavilion combined couldn’t compare to.
Because some swords are for pleasing people, but some swords are for protecting people.
Before the three matters were accomplished, he never spoke of them to outsiders, and after the three matters were completed, he remained as calm as ever, as if it were just a trivial matter.
“Young Master — what is he doing?”
After a long while, Zhuo Wanqiu subconsciously spoke.
Ji You, in her line of sight, stealthily picked up a cup, then silently put it down, and then picked it up again.
“He’s debating whether he can secretly use my cup since no one is here right now.”
Yan Shuyi couldn’t help but murmur softly, but after answering, she felt something was off, yet couldn’t pinpoint what it was, so she turned to look at Zhuo Wanqiu.
Zhuo Wanqiu was looking at the surrounding night, her expression unchanged, as if nothing had happened.
Then the three pushed open the door and entered the courtyard, where they saw Ji You gently raise his head, then get up, pick up the fire poker, and retrieve some sweet potatoes from the hearth.
“Why would Qi Zhengyang be willing to come to my Xuanjian Peak?”
“His Sword Heart no longer allows him to stay on Tianjian Peak. Tonight, he either draws his sword or falls into depravity.”
Ji You placed the sweet potatoes on the table: “It was only when I was in the Third Layer Forest that I confirmed the direction of his Sword Intent. After much thought, he was bound to break through the forest, so I wanted to go one step further and gift you a sharp sword.”
Upon hearing this, Ding Yao and Zhuo Wanqiu couldn’t help but bite their thin lips.
The Sword Forest had been set up for a long time, yet only he could perceive Qi Zhengyang’s true Sword Intent through the Sword Qi.
The crucial point was that in just one hour, he not only fully broke through the Sword Forest but also successfully planned the matter of requesting a sword for the Master Jian afterward, which was truly unbelievable.
“Next time, we can make a larger stove, spread charcoal fire inside, and roast some vegetables and meat on skewers.”
Yan Shuyi sat obediently on the blanket: “Oh, I’ll do that tomorrow.”
“No rush, after all, after tonight, I should be going down the mountain with the people from the academy.”
Ji You hinted earnestly, you should hurry and do it, this opportunity won't come again for a long time.
Yan Shuyi then remembered that the Tianshu Academy Disciples had finished their Dao discussions, so she narrowed her eyes, looking unhappy.
Speaking of which, after she returned, she might have to live by robbing again.
Ji You peeled a sweet potato, muttering to himself.
He only had three thousand taels in his pocket, one thousand taels sent to Yuyang County, with some given to Kuang Cheng, one thousand taels bought Medicinal Pills and a sword, and one thousand taels mailed to Yan Shuyi.
Now that he thought about it, money truly was not something that lasted long.
However, it had already been more than half a month since he came out, so Cao Instructor and Wang Instructor’s monthly stipends should have been issued again.
Before he left, Kuang Cheng also said he might get a promotion, so he would probably get a bit more.
Thinking of this, Ji You couldn’t help but feel his money pouch bulge again, even though not a single tael of that money belonged to him. Yan Shuyi watched him fall into contemplation, her jade feet lightly swaying under the table, her delicate pink toes curling and stretching, then she extended her slender, jade-white hands towards the tabletop.
After a moment’s pause, she finally chose the teacup of the unfamiliar man she had only met three times, brought it to her lips, and sipped the tea in small mouthfuls.
Ji You noticed with his peripheral vision, remaining calm, his main point being not to refuse, wanting to encourage, but not daring to say it outright.
“Before you leave, Ding Yao still needs to apologize to my Senior Sister. That day in the ruins, she was intercepted by you, but she offered the Vermillion Fruit without struggling, yet you still pursued her to the end. In the end, you were in the wrong.”
Ding Yao was silent for a long time, finally pursing her red lips: “Yes, Young Master—”
As her words fell, the teacups and sweet potatoes in Yan Shuyi’s and Ji You’s hands paused slightly, but then they calmly brought the tea and sweet potatoes to their mouths.
A personal maidservant usually only obeys her master’s commands; if someone of higher status orders her to do something,
she also needs her master’s permission.
Of course, Ding Yao, this woman who originated as a personal maidservant, was not docile and often acted beyond her orders.
But when her master was present, she naturally shouldn’t do so, especially since she was already very resistant to the Master Jian being close to Ji You.
This address of ‘Young Master’ was the first time she had ever uttered it.
Titles have degrees of intimacy: Ji You, Ji Gongzi, and Gongzi. Though seemingly similar, they convey different levels of closeness.
The address ‘Ji You’ was used by her in her noble capacity as an Inner Sect Disciple of Lingjian Mountain, who shared a sisterly bond with Xuanjian Peak’s Master Jian.
The address ‘Ji Gongzi’ was used when she had to feign obedience in front of the Master Jian.
And the two characters ‘Gongzi’ (Young Master) were a genuine term of respect from a maidservant to a member of the master’s household.
Just then, Yan Shuyi’s voice rang out from inside the room: “Wanqiu, it seems there’s someone outside the door, go take a look.” “Yes, Master Jian!”
Zhuo Wanqiu quickly got up, pulled Ding Yao out, and tightly closed the door, then stood by the entrance quietly eating sweet potatoes.
It was late at night; who would be out strolling around?
Moreover, this place was already within the Heavenly Palace’s jurisdiction; ordinary people couldn’t come up here without permission.
It wasn’t that there was someone outside the door; if this continued, there would be someone inside her belly…
At this moment, Yan Shuyi put down her teacup, eating her sweet potato without looking away, her arms subtly lifting slightly at her sides, creating a gap around her slender waist large enough for a man’s arm to encircle, yet her expression remained calm and aloof.
After waiting for a long time, the Master Jian looked confused, seeing no impolite actions from the man, and couldn’t help but turn to look at him.
Ji You was sitting upright at the table, like a true gentleman, his back straight, his eyes fixed on his nose, his nose on his heart, his mind free of distractions.
“What are you doing?”
“What are you doing? Why aren’t you coming over to hug me without my permission?”
Ji You held his breath and softly spoke: “Shuyi, call me Gege.”
The Master Jian froze, then saw the teacup in front of her suddenly begin to tremble, tea spilling continuously, and a hint of killing intent abruptly rose in her beautiful eyes.
That killing intent pierced directly through the roof, whistling throughout the courtyard. The swords at Ding Yao’s and Zhuo Wanqiu’s waists suddenly began to vibrate intensely, as if uncontrollably trying to unsheath themselves.
But both of them maintained their usual expressions, as if long accustomed to it; even though the jingling sound had already begun, they didn’t turn their heads.
At this moment, the two people in the room were wrestling, with tender feet occasionally striking out, fragrant breezes swirling.
Finally, Lingjian Mountain’s majestic Master Jian was embraced in the stranger’s arms as she wished, but her perfectly rounded toes now bore a tooth mark.
She was forcibly hugged…
Ji You held the warm and delicate Master Jian in his arms, feeling her roundness pressing against his arm, and couldn’t help but narrow his eyes.
He silently recited a phrase.
He wanted Yan Shuyi to listen to him, but instead, he was forced.
Was I being trained?
Will it always be like this from now on?
The Master Jian, at this moment, was somewhat smug, holding her teacup and lightly swaying her snow-white feet.
Having been carried all the way down the mountain 【without permission】, she had become desensitized; unlike the first time, when her whole body would stiffen when he held her, she was now perfectly soft and pliant.
A young beauty’s body is like tender butter, with a sword at her waist, she slays mortals.
Though no heads are seen falling, she secretly drains one’s marrow dry.
After a long time, the stars and moon rotated, and the night deepened before gradually fading until the sky turned white.
Ji You picked up the teapot and poured tea into a cup. After a shallow taste, he found the flavor was as bland as plain water.
At this moment, Yan Shuyi was sleeping soundly against his chest, her small mouth slightly open, a trace of glistening drool at its corner.
Her expression was very docile.
Only occasionally would she instinctively rub against him, round and flat, then round again.
Even if cultivators don’t sleep, it’s not a big problem, but sleep is an ancient practice, ingrained in the Bloodline of all beings. Even if it’s not necessary, one will always fall asleep when comfortable.
After a long while, he felt his collar being tugged, and saw an exquisitely beautiful but somewhat silly face lift up, looking at him blankly.
Then, as if in thought, she gradually came back to her senses, her brow suddenly furrowed, and she looked at him again, Sword Qi gradually rising in her eyes.
Ji You looked at the Master Jian in his arms, who seemed to have morning sickness, and with a flash of inspiration, immediately spoke: “Master Jian is truly Master Jian; even in sleep, she possesses such majesty.”
“A mere Tianshu Academy Disciple, yet he has some insight.”