Chapter 193: Hibernating
Breaking through a Realm in seclusion is not an easy task; no matter how high one's talent, they will encounter a Bottleneck. This is the Heavenly Dao's restriction on the Human Race.
After half a year of continuous attempts to break through, the young Master Jian, who was only a step away from the Wujiang Realm, also encountered an insurmountable Bottleneck.
For those few days, her mind was in turmoil, and the small room she usually used for meditation was of no help at all.
Yan Shuyi knew that if she forced herself to Cultivate like this, her Dao Heart might become demonized.
Just then, snow fell in flurries.
In Ling Province, heavy snow was rarely seen, only a few sporadic flakes.
But these few scattered flakes reminded her of this time last year, of her longest Jianghu journey, of incidentally meeting a stranger, of winter nights talking by the stove, and eating roasted sweet potatoes for breakfast. And so, the young Master Jian of Lingjian Mountain was lost again.
“Senior Sister Zhuo, you really lied to me!”
“Cui'er, you can’t just say things like that. How did I lie to you?”
“You said Master Jian just went down the mountain for a stroll and told me not to worry, but it’s already been three days, and Master Jian hasn’t returned. The Peak Master even asked me yesterday!”
“I didn’t lie to you. Master Jian was indeed feeling vexed and went down the mountain for a stroll. It’s just that… this stroll might have gone a little further.”
“But there must be a destination, right, Senior Sister Zhuo? Just tell me, where exactly did Master Jian go?”
Zhuo Wanqiu stood atop the mountain peak and pursed her lips, thinking, where else could she go? Master Jian went to visit relatives, of course.
When she was little, her mother always said that women were the most outgoing, and once married, they would constantly think of their husband’s family.
She thought a woman of the young Master Jian’s status would surely be different, but only later did she realize that the young Master Jian was just the same.
Ever since she hit a Bottleneck in her breakthrough, she kept saying the mountain was vexing.
But in Zhuo Wanqiu’s opinion, how was the mountain vexing? It was just that there was someone she wanted to see in Shengjing City.
As dusk approached, the last rays of the setting sun cast light upon the civil servants’ official residences, illuminating the tranquil courtyard with a brilliant glow.
Kuang Cheng rolled up his sleeves again and began to cook. The stove fire, which had not yet been extinguished, was now rekindled, and a conversation drifted from the main house.
“You’ve broken through?”
“Breaking through a Realm is not a task of a single day; the process is bound to be full of ups and downs. I encountered a Bottleneck this time, which is why I decided to go down the mountain for a ‘purposeless’ journey.”
“Purposeless, yet you wandered through streets and alleys all the way here?”
“It was a coincidence—”
Ji You wasn't annoyed; a smile played on his lips. He thought, say whatever you want.
It was false to say he wasn't happy that a young lady had traveled thousands of miles to Shengjing City to find him, and even arranged so many acts for herself. He felt that whatever she said didn't matter.
Even if she said she came to Shengjing City to kill him, Ji You might even puff out his chest and cooperate with her.
Yan Shuyi saw him constantly smiling and felt a bit embarrassed: “You don’t believe me?”
Ji You shook his head: “I don’t disbelieve you, I just haven’t reacted yet. Seeing you sitting alive in front of me feels like a dream.”
Yan Shuyi paused: “You… often dream of me appearing in front of you?”
“If it’s a dream, then it’s not just in front.”
“?”
Wei Rui entered the kitchen at this moment, carrying washed vegetable leaves. She glanced at Kuang Cheng, who was stir-frying, and said, “Young Master Ji and his wife are truly strange.”
Kuang Cheng looked at her: “How are they strange?”
“Just now at the door, Young Miss Ji insisted on making Young Master Ji say ‘what a coincidence,’ and she got angry if he didn’t. Then she said she just wandered around and accidentally met him. But when I arrived, I saw her walking around outside the door for almost half an hour; the ground was covered in her footprints.”
Wei Rui whispered, “Even after coming inside, Young Miss Ji’s gaze has been glued to Young Master Ji, unable to move away, yet she insists on putting on a cold face.”
Kuang Cheng thought for a moment: “Perhaps this is the majesty of the main wife.”
Wei Rui paused after hearing this, then put on a cold expression: “Cook well, plain stranger.”
“???”
Wei Rui then turned and went into the courtyard, looking into the room through the door frame. After striking a pose, she intended to study seriously.
Inside the room, Yan Shuyi wore an indifferent expression, claiming it was a chance encounter. If Ji You disagreed, her delicate jade foot, still in its boot, would kick his knee.
But her deep, beautiful eyes, just as Wei Rui had described, were glued to him, despite her feigned indifference.
As the sun set, the sunlight outside the window filtered through the window frame, making the Fairy’s eyelashes glow brightly and adding a halo-like sheen to her delicate, smooth face, truly deserving the description of unparalleled beauty.
Ji You watched her for a long time: “How many days do you plan to stay in Shengjing City this time?”
Yan Shuyi wiggled her feet and, without thinking, said, “Shengjing City isn’t very interesting; it’s far inferior to my Ling Province. Only the snowy weather is worth seeing. I’ll go back in a few days.”
“Continue with seclusion?”
“Yes, for Xuanjian Peak to be stable, and even for Lingjian Mountain to be stable, I need to Cultivate to a higher Realm.”
“I sent you a letter some time ago, why didn’t you reply?”
“As Master Jian, I hold a high position, and I receive many letters daily. Do I have to reply to every single one? Wouldn’t that exhaust me?”
Yan Shuyi’s voice suddenly became thin as she spoke. After a long time, she realized her tone was off, so she frowned and decided not to speak further.
She had caught a cold, and her throat was uncomfortable.
Just then, footsteps suddenly sounded. Kuang Shusheng had stir-fried a few small dishes and was now placing them on the table.
So, the two women who had not yet eaten sat at the same table. Ji You and Kuang Cheng, meanwhile, continued to drink small sips of the leftover fried pork fat and peanuts from earlier, each watching his own young lady.
“Brother Ji.”
“Hmm?”
Ji You turned to look at Kuang Cheng, slightly startled, thinking, this scholar eating at the same table as me looks so familiar.
Kuang Cheng’s gaze at him showed no surprise. He had also experienced such moments where his mind was preoccupied, failing to recognize friends.
The Scholar took a small sip: “Brother Ji, seize the opportunity. Your residence is very large and very empty.”
Ji You: “…”
Wei Rui and Yan Shuyi exchanged glances at this moment, both a little bewildered.
This wasn’t the first time Wei Rui had heard this, but she still didn’t understand what it meant. She always felt it was some strange secret code between them—
Eating and drinking, the sun was now slowly setting.
Wei Rui and Yan Shuyi chatted while eating, asking about each other’s hometowns, ages, and family sizes. Although it was their first meeting, they didn’t feel like strangers.
Yan Shuyi was actually a bit surprised, because for so many years she had never felt an equal sisterly bond, yet for some reason, she felt a natural closeness to this mortal woman in front of her.
In this regard, Wei Rui, who had studied zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting since childhood and read countless tales of talented scholars and beautiful ladies, understood much more than the young Master Jian.
Their natural closeness stemmed from the fact that their beloveds were bosom friends.
This kind of relationship, which did not involve family property disputes but was as close as brothers, would lead to a deep bond between them as well.
In addition, Wei Rui also had a shared goal of marrying into Feng Province with her ‘sister’ in the future, feeling that they were like-minded friends.
So, it wasn't long before Wei Rui started addressing Yan Shuyi as ‘older sister,’ and Yan Shuyi also found her words pleasant to hear, so she gave her a beautiful jade bracelet.
By the time dinner ended, the sky outside the window had gradually darkened, and dusk was nearing.
Wei Rui got up, intending to return.
She was not a Cultivator, and she was a Young Miss from the capital, so staying at a single man's house at night would easily lead to gossip.
“Shall we go back too?”
Ji You put down his chopsticks and looked at Yan Shuyi.
The young Master Jian of Lingjian Mountain raised her eyes, thinking, then I, Master Jian, shall return to the inn. Then, out of the corner of her eye, she saw Kuang Cheng clenching his fist and raising his arm towards the stranger...
Kuang Cheng’s current residence was not far from the bustling market. On the way back to Ni Mountain, they would pass several inns, one of which the young Master Jian of Lingjian Mountain had intended to stay at.
Yan Shuyi looked at this spot and thought, it’s time to say goodbye.
But soon, she saw Ji You stop ahead, look at her with some confusion, and then wave to her.
After a moment of thought, the young Master Jian silently followed him, ascending the Nishan Sacred Path, registering a fake identity as Zhuo Yao at the Master's Courtyard, and walking into the courtyard.
However, upon passing the Ascension White Jade Platform, Yan Shuyi walked directly towards Ji You’s old courtyard in the Outer Courtyard, like a cat that knew its way home.
“You’ve gone the wrong way.”
“??”
“I changed courtyards after entering the Inner Courtyard; I don’t live there now. I had you register because the Inner Courtyard cannot be entered casually.”
Ji You pointed behind the vast forest, then secretly thought to himself, this girl intended to come back with me from the start, didn’t she?
The young Master Jian narrowed her eyes: “You lead the way.”
“You don’t know the way, yet you’re so confident, like you’re coming home—”
Ji You murmured softly, then saw a pink fist raised, so he immediately, out of caution, led her towards the Inner Courtyard, arriving at the Immortal Abode Villa.
The young Master Jian stepped inside, then looked around, and finally entered the room on her own. As she looked up, she saw her own teacup placed on the lacquered red wooden cabinet.
She had bought it last time she was here and instructed Ji You to keep it well for her to use again next time.
When she came up the mountain, she thought Ji You had changed courtyards and the cup might not still be there, but she was surprised to find it was, and it wasn't dusty.
She hadn't told Ji You she was coming, so he couldn't have wiped it in advance. The only possibility was that he often cleaned the cup, waiting for her to come again.
Light the stove, start the fire, brew tea, roast sweet potatoes.
Yan Shuyi retrieved her stool from the corner, which still had the cotton cushion she used last time, and then sat in front of the stove.
“Still know how to find your own spot, huh?”
Ji You now lit the stove and placed the teapot on it, feeling a sense of déjà vu from a year ago.
Yan Shuyi actually felt the same way, as if she had never left after arriving in Shengjing City that time.
After all, she had been in seclusion for half a year, with no other memorable points in her life. Looking back, the most vivid memory was still the winter night conversations with this unfamiliar man.
At this moment, Ji You poked the stove a few times. Seeing the flames rise, he got up and sat on the stool to the right and behind Yan Shuyi.
“When I came, I heard them say you broke through a Realm?”
“Yes, after returning to Tianshu Academy, I briefly went into seclusion. The Realm was broken just a few days ago.”
“Are you going to participate in the Tiandao Conference?”
“It’s not just for the Tiandao Conference; I just want to make myself stronger.”
“When will the sweet potatoes be ready?”
“It’ll be a while. You’re not in a hurry, are you?”
“Is Wei Rui Kuang Cheng’s lover?”
“The word ‘lover’ you used seems a bit improper. ‘Sweetheart’ would be more suitable.”
“How is Feng Province doing?”
“The tax exemptions have been reduced. We’re waiting for land reclamation next year, so life should be a bit easier.”
With the stove and the aroma of tea, both of them looked a bit dazed, chatting idly. They felt like they had a lot to say but didn't know where to start.
Then, while muttering some fragmented words, their eyes drifted, floating and colliding, staring at each other for a long time.
At this moment, Ji You pursed his lips, then reached out to embrace her slender waist.
He had hugged her many times on Lingjian Mountain before, but it had been a long time since they last met. He wondered if this proud Fairy would still allow him to hug her.
Yan Shuyi watched him reach out, slowly approaching her waist. In silence, she slightly narrowed her eyes, then gently moved her arm—
Then tightened, and a soft, delicate sensation instantly filled his embrace.
The distance between them was very close at this moment. The Young Master Jian’s nose almost touched Ji You’s nose, and her cheeks were slightly flushed.
Ji You feigned composure and looked at her: “What’s wrong?”
Yan Shuyi looked at him and found that he had an expression as if she should naturally be in his arms. She couldn't help but slightly purse her lips, then turned around to make herself more comfortable in his embrace.
As soon as the stove fire was lit, Yan Shuyi had already taken off her boots and socks. Her two fair, tender jade feet rested on the small stool, appearing cute and small, illuminated by the stove fire.
Her feet had been cold since childhood, and she liked to be near this rising warmth.
And those jade feet, which were usually relaxed when warming by the fire, with ten fair, slender toes spread out, glistening like jade, now couldn't help but slightly curl up.
“Shopkeeper, it’s very late, and all the guests have rested. Should we close up?”
“Close up.”
“B-but there’s still one guest who hasn’t returned. Should we send someone to look for her?”
“You mean the young lady staying in the best room? It’s fine. She said when she booked that she might not come back to stay.”
“There are guests like that—”
“Yes, there was one last year too. She paid but didn’t stay, and she looked a bit like this young lady.”
In the following days, Shengjing City did not continue to snow, and the temperature also rose slightly.
The sweet potatoes in Ji You’s courtyard were consumed extremely quickly, and he still looked a bit unrested, always yawning when he came out to Cultivate at noon.
However, the Qi around him became increasingly restrained and profound.
He Lingxiu had seen him many times on the Inner Courtyard cliff. Each time she saw him, she would recall the intensity of his breakthrough day, and she would feel a desire to test his strength.
“Junior Brother Ji’s Realm has stabilized?”
“Yes, it has stabilized.”
Between the sun-drenched cliffs, Ji You slowly opened his eyes and nodded gently.
He Lingxiu spoke softly from behind the cliff: “That day you broke through your Realm, I noticed your Qi was very strong. There’s a lot of discussion in the Courtyard about your current combat power. How about it, are you interested in a sword fight with me?”
“Forget it, men and women should not touch.”
“?”
Ji You let out a long breath at this moment, the golden light in his eyes gradually receding.
He wasn't just stabilizing his Realm; he was also looking for the opportunity to establish his Dao. The thoughts that emerged through visualization were numerous, tangled together like a messy ball of yarn, just like the people and things in this world.
Some of these thoughts were Random Thoughts , while others were Dao Heart.
Cultivators at this stage need to push aside distractions and listen to the Dao Heart deep within themselves. This step is called 'peeling silk from a cocoon'.
This is something that every Realm in the Upper Five Realms must experience, because Cultivating the Dao itself is a matter of eliminating distractions.
Senior Brother Ban said that the matter of opportunity requires timing; sometimes one cannot be impatient, as the more impatient one is, the less likely one is to find it.
Just then, a Master's Courtyard Disciple came up the mountain, carrying a sack on his shoulder and two large black pots on his back: “Junior Brother Ji, your things.”
Ji You’s eyes lit up when he saw him: “I didn’t expect them to arrive so quickly. Thank you, Senior Brother.”
He Lingxiu glanced at them: “Junior Brother, why did you buy pots?”
“To cook.”
Ji You got up, put the sack into his storage gourd, and carried the black pot towards his courtyard.
He Lingxiu felt she couldn't quite see through him. After staring for a long time, she turned and went to the Purple Bamboo Zen Forest, where she saw Chai Ze and Shi Junhao in the tea pavilion, talking about something with serious expressions.
She listened for a while and found that they weren't talking about anything major, just about the brick walls of their courtyards.
According to them, strange things had been happening in their courtyards these past few days. The strange thing was that their courtyard walls, for some unknown reason, had been getting shorter and shorter.
Cultivators emphasize having no external attachments and don't pay much attention to external things.
But then again, even if they weren't Cultivators, they wouldn't care how many rows of bricks their courtyard wall had, unless they built the wall themselves.
The reason they noticed today, it was said, was because when they were standing in their own detached courtyard, they actually saw the bare-bottomed Junior Brother next door.
Meanwhile, Ji You had already entered the courtyard with the sack and black pots, walked towards the newly built stove, and placed the two pots on it, fitting perfectly.
He said he had a skill, that he could build such a suitable stove without even a blueprint.
Then he threw firewood into the stove, ignited it with spiritual fire, then opened the sack, took out an oil bottle, poured a little into the pot, and began to season the pot.
After the pot was seasoned, he took out the rice bag, poured it in to steam the rice. When the rice grains gradually softened, he sliced the purchased cured meat and covered the rice with it.
Before long, as the cooking smoke slowly rose, the aroma gradually began to drift through the courtyard.
Ji You continued to chop vegetables, putting the sliced meat and green peppers into the pot, when he saw Yan Shuyi come out of the house, wearing a small floral jacket, stretching lazily towards the bright sunlight, letting out an “ah.”
Seeing this, Ji You straightened up, hands on his hips, holding the iron spatula.
It had been several days, and the Young Master Jian of Lingjian Mountain hadn't mentioned leaving. She focused on three meals a day, sometimes quiet,
sometimes lively, seeming to have forgotten who she was.
Yesterday, Wei Rui had invited her to play, and she came back having bought many things.
Things like hanging paintings in the room, gauze covers to block dust, beautiful teapots, and the small floral jacket she was now wearing, giving a feeling of having married in and planning for life.
Ji You had already confirmed that Yan Shuyi wanted to spend the winter with him.
But since it was spending the winter, they couldn't just eat roasted sweet potatoes every day, so he picked up some bricks from other people's walls, built a stove, and planned to cook in his own courtyard.
“Are you up?”
“Yes, I’m up—”
Yan Shuyi replied, then couldn't help but yawn. She and Ji You sat around the stove until very late every night, which also led to more sleeping in. At this moment, she turned her head, tilted it, and watched Ji You stir-fry, thinking, “He actually knows how to cook.”
She had never seen such a thing before.
How to describe Cultivators? They are detached from worldly affairs, floating above the world. Cooking is considered a low-class activity for them.
Who would have thought that a man who had slain Soldier King and counter-killed a demon general, a man widely discussed both inside and outside Shengjing City, would now be wearing a coarse cloth apron, covered in the smoke and fire of cooking?
But she also hadn't thought that anyone would believe that the Young Master Jian of Lingjian Mountain would one day wake up from a single man's courtyard, and then be so tempted that she would drool a little.
Yan Shuyi walked over: “It smells so good.”
Ji You stir-fried for a while: “Dinner will be ready soon.”
“Who taught you how to cook?”
“Where I used to live, the cook’s food wasn’t good, so my younger siblings and I would often sneak some vegetables from the kitchen.”
“We’d climb over the wall to a dilapidated courtyard next door and light a fire to cook for ourselves. Back then, the idea was simple: we always thought that if we could cook, we were adults.”
Ji You finished speaking and looked at her: “Can you cook?”
Yan Shuyi looked up at him: “No, you’ll be doing the cooking from now on.”
“From now on?”
“I mean, I’ll still come by to visit occasionally in the future.”
Yan Shuyi turned around nonchalantly, walked to the door with her hands behind her back, set up a small square table in the courtyard, arranged the bowls and chopsticks, and began to wait for dinner.
Her heart was calm, truly calm.
But it was so calm that she didn't want to Cultivate the Dao anymore.
She felt that if she weren't the Master Jian of Lingjian Mountain, if she weren't burdened with the continuation of the Dao lineage, she would actually prefer a life of two people, three meals, and four seasons in one house.
Yan Shuyi felt that this might not be inner peace, but rather the Fairy's degradation.