Chapter 201: Returning to the Mountain with a Bite Mark
“Oh, where’s Yuan Chen?”
“Yuan Chen? Who is Yuan Chen?”
“Your younger brother.”
“?”
The morning after New Year was the day the Dan Sect had originally scheduled to depart, and this time remained unchanged.
After all, it wasn't just the siblings who came on this trip; there were also two Elders from their clan.
On the morning before their departure, Yuan Caiwei performed a final diagnosis for Ji You, restoring his Meridians, which had been twisted by Qi, to their original state, thus completely healing Ji You's arm.
So, the group descended from Ni Mountain and bid farewell on the main road of the Southern City, to the right of the Divine Path.
“Brother-in-law, I’m leaving.”
“Be careful on the road, don’t run around anymore.”
“Was I running around? I didn’t even move from my spot last night, but none of you remember—”
Yuan Chen looked wronged, carrying a thick stack of manuscripts as he got into the carriage, then pouted and flipped through them.
Last night, Shengjing was bustling with activity, and many things were lost amidst the chaos.
Some woke up after a night of drinking to find their jade pendants missing, some wandered for half a day to find their money bags gone, others lost their shoes, and some even lost Face.
As for Ji You and the others, they lost a younger brother, and didn't even realize what they had lost until after he was gone.
It wasn't until this morning, just as dawn broke, that Yuan Chen, looking wronged, found his way back to Tianshu Academy by himself. They suddenly realized, thinking to themselves, 'No wonder something felt missing last night,' and couldn't help but feel a chill of fear.
Although Yuan Chen might not seem to have a name in their love triangle story, he is still a direct Disciple of the Dan Sect.
Moreover, he has no combat power, yet he possesses the skill of alchemy, which is easy for others to covet. If he were truly abducted, it’s estimated that half of Qingyun World would be in turmoil for a while.
However, Yuan Chen actually didn't go anywhere last night. He stayed in the Lantern Quarter listening to stories until late at night. When he came to his senses, he found that his brother-in-law and two older sisters were gone. Unable to find his way, he followed the storyteller from the Western Market Lantern Quarter home and forced the storyteller to tell stories all night.
It wasn't that he was addicted to listening to stories; it was mainly because the storyteller was telling a new book tonight, and that new book was adapted from the real experiences of his sister's diplomatic mission to the Snow Region.
How could he not listen to the ending? If he couldn't finish the ending, he would surely die of regret.
The storyteller said, “I am a Mortal, fifty-seven years old. Would I not die if I didn’t sleep all night?”
Yuan Chen said, “You won’t die. I’ll give you a Medicinal Pill to keep you awake all night.”
Finally, the storyteller couldn't bear it anymore and gave him all the manuscripts he had written in his life, so scared that he would rather change his profession.
At the same time, Yuan Caiwei was also saying goodbye Face-to-Face with her 'plastic sister' Yan Shuyi.
And when she saw the wound at the corner of Yan Shuyi's mouth again, the resentment in her heart still couldn't dissipate.
When she decided to come to Tianshu Academy to deliver the Medicinal Pill, all she thought about was two people in one room, three nights of undressing for treatment.
But what she didn't expect was that Yan Shuyi was also there, and even more so, she didn't expect that Sect Master Jian's sister, whom she had known for many years, would be so jealous. Thus, some seductive matters became difficult to carry out. Otherwise, she felt that she too could have a wound.
After bidding farewell, Yuan Caiwei got into the carriage. At this time, her younger brother was sitting inside the carriage, focused on the storybook in his hand.
She was a very strict older sister, usually very much against Yuan Chen reading these fictional tales of monsters and spirits, but this time she pretended not to see it, saying nothing.
“Sister, help me get the next one.”
“You should read less of this kind of thing—”
“Don’t show me fake concern. I’m just a younger brother no one cares about. One brother-in-law, two older sisters, and not a single one remembered me.”
Yuan Caiwei guiltily averted her gaze, then handed him the other book at her feet. She indeed lacked confidence now and couldn't scold Yuan Chen.
Because she didn't want to admit that yesterday her mind was full of Young Master Ji, and she was so engrossed in shopping with him that she couldn't remember anything, not even realizing she was missing a younger brother until she returned to the courtyard to sleep.
Yuan Caiwei looked at the direction the carriage was moving, and her brows suddenly furrowed. She thought to herself, 'Father might not want me to marry Young Master Ji, let alone potentially be a concubine.'
The Dan Sect's nerves were most agitated by the Barbarian Race's desire to ally with the Yao Race to attack Kyushu. Although the Yao Race had not agreed, it did not mean that their ambition was gone.
When the Yao Race delegation first entered Kyushu, they went directly to the Dan Sect, specifically to purchase Medicinal Pills.
If Kyushu truly fell into chaos, their Dan Sect would be the least capable of resisting.
Before coming to Tianshu Academy, her father had mentioned to her several times the direct Disciple of the Mountain and Sea Pavilion and the son of the deputy sect leader of the Chen Clan. At this moment, Yan Shuyi gazed into the distance at the South City Main Street, golden light flickering in her eyes, watching until the carriage was a hundred miles away and did not turn back before she finally relaxed.
Actually, Yuan Caiwei is quite good. After all, she hasn't had many sisters over the years, and there's a reason she can get along with her.
She's half a year older than me, so calling her 'older sister' is appropriate.
It's just that in the past few days, every time she hears her call herself Sect Master Jian's sister, it always makes her feel that the other party is somewhat ambitious...
Yan Shuyi retracted her gaze, then followed Ji You back to the mountain, and neatly folded the small floral jacket she had changed out of, placing it into Ji You's clothes trunk.
Being a naive little girl in Shengjing for so long was already very satisfying, but whether it was hibernating, throwing tantrums, or competing for affection, for her, it was ultimately just temporary comfort.
She had never forgotten that she had not yet broken through her Realm, nor had she ever forgotten that she bore the responsibility of the entire Lingjian Mountain.
In other words, living with a strange man in a small courtyard was like a beautiful dream, where she could let herself go, but unfortunately, people can't always live in dreams.
It was time for her to settle down, no longer just Ji You's arrogant Fairy, but to become the little Sect Master of tens of thousands of Disciples...
Ji You had actually known that Yan Shuyi would leave after New Year, as she had secretly come during her closed-door cultivation. At this moment, he was roasting sweet potatoes for her, which she had specifically requested, when he suddenly felt a Sword Qi approaching.
Half an hour later, a streak of immortal light, carrying the aroma of roasted sweet potatoes, soared into the sky.
Ji You waved from below, his originally intact left lip corner also bitten open, blood overflowing.
This girl, she even knew to leave a gift.
At noon in Ling Province, the weather was warm. Zhuo Wanqiu decided to write a second letter to Tianshu Academy, but just as she put pen to paper, layers of clouds began to roll in the clear sky. Heavenly light roared continuously behind the clouds, and wind and waves swept in, overwhelming everything.
The next moment, as the willows on the mountaintop, which had not yet sprouted new buds, gently bowed, Yan Shuyi gracefully landed, golden light faintly flickering in her eyes.
“It’s Sect Master Jian.”
“Sect Master Jian is finally back—”
Zhuo Wanqiu and Ding Yao immediately ran out of the hall and saw Yan Shuyi walking in from outside the hall.
After a long time, both felt that Sect Master Jian seemed to have gained some weight, likely nurtured by Young Master Ji.
However, what attracted their attention the most was the bite mark on their Sect Master Jian's mouth.
The shape of the wound after healing was actually much more obvious than when it was first bitten, with both the mark and direction being very easy to identify.
Just by looking at this wound, they could imagine the scene of Ji You biting Sect Master Jian's lips with his mouth, a feeling of wanting to look but not daring to, their eyes flickering.
They truly couldn't imagine what kind of expression a cold and aloof woman like Sect Master Jian would have when hugged and passionately kissed by Young Master Ji.
The most fearful among them was Zhuo Wanqiu, who had originally suggested that Sect Master Jian visit relatives in Shengjing.
In just one month, Sect Master Jian had already been tricked by the son-in-law into a kiss. If a few more days passed, she might really come back pregnant.
Yan Shuyi looked at their eyes and easily guessed what they were thinking.
The Human Race is like this; before condensing an Immortal Body, even if a cultivator's recovery speed is fast, they must go through the scarring and shedding process.
When Ji You wanted to bite her that night, she struggled and told him that they would be discovered, and then the entire Lingjian Mountain would kill him, but he said he wasn't afraid.
The little Sect Master Jian was actually someone without much assertiveness, easily swayed. After hearing him seriously say he wasn't afraid, she also softened a bit, so she couldn't resist and let him bite her.
In fact, she herself didn't understand. She knew that returning with such a wound would definitely lead to speculation, yet why did she secretly hope he would bite her too?
“Shuyi is back?”
“I’m back, Father.”
Yan Shuyi raised her eyes and saw Yan Jingxiang walking out of the hall, so she softly replied.
Ever since his daughter went missing, Father Yan would ask about her every day.
Zhuo Wanqiu told him that his daughter had encountered a Bottleneck and was feeling vexed, which was why she decided to go down the mountain for a walk. So he didn't think much of it, only harboring a hidden worry in his heart.
Now seeing her return, the suspended heart finally settled down.
However, as Yan Jingxiang walked down the long steps of the great hall, when he noticed the wound on his daughter's mouth, his Face suddenly changed drastically, and a hint of shock appeared in his eyes.
“Shuyi, you—”
Yan Jingxiang stammered for a long time, but the words, 'Who bit your mouth?' ultimately remained unsaid.
Because as a father, it was not appropriate for him to ask his daughter about such things, but even without asking, he guessed at this moment that his daughter had gone to meet a lover during her month away from the mountain.
In fact, as early as half a year ago, Ding Yao had already told him through a message that his daughter had someone in her heart, but he did not know who the person was.
Later, his daughter chose to go into closed-door cultivation to break through to the Wujiang Realm and did not descend the mountain again, which made Yan Jingxiang feel a little more relaxed.
He thought Ding Yao was just spreading rumors, and also felt that with his daughter's status and position, she wouldn't easily fall for a man.
But only then did he realize that his daughter had truly fallen into an Inner Demon Tribulation.
Yan Jingxiang remained silent for a moment before speaking, "You have traveled for so long; have your distracting thoughts been eliminated?"
Yan Shuyi nodded calmly, "My heart is much calmer."
"That's good, that's good—your mother has been talking about you a lot these past few days. You should rest for a bit; I'll go call her."
Yan Jingxiang hurried down the mountain, and Yan Mu, upon hearing what Yan Father said about her daughter's lover, rushed to Cloud Top Heavenly Palace.
Yan Shuyi had already changed into her Master Jian's immortal robe and was sitting in her Phoenix Pavilion when she saw her mother enter and look at the teeth marks at the corner of her mouth.
That strange man truly caused trouble.
"Is your heart calm?"
"Yes, I will go into seclusion to break through my Realm as soon as I return. I should be able to make progress before the Heavenly Dao Conference."
"Who is that man? What's his name?"
Yan Shuyi lightly raised her eyes, gazing at her mother, and gently shook her head.
Yan Mu looked at her daughter's expression, and finally, her brow furrowed tightly; she seemed at a loss for words.
Who could have imagined that the next Sect Master of Lingjian Mountain, the youngest wielder of an artifact among the Seven Great Immortal Sects, would secretly run off to meet a lover, and have her mouth bitten like this?
If this were to spread, the entire Qingyun World would probably be shaken—
On the second day after the New Year, the Medicinal Pills sent from Dan Sect to Lingjian Mountain were inventoried, followed by the Pill Bestowal Conference.
Tianjian Peak used to receive 60%, Xuanjian Peak 30%, and Wenjian Peak less than 10%.
However, this year, due to Master Jian's decree, Tianjian Peak could only receive 40%, with the extra 20% allocated to Wenjian Peak.
The Disciples of Tianjian Peak naturally had objections, especially since the Heavenly Dao Conference was approaching, and everyone's demand for Medicinal Pills had increased.
Therefore, at the signal of Sect Master Yan Zhong, the Disciples of Tianjian Peak became restless during the Pill Bestowal Conference, and murmurs of dissatisfaction gradually arose.
Until a figure wearing a Master Jian's immortal robe and a glazed immortal crown appeared, holding a pill box and sending them out one by one with a wave of her hand.
The restless Disciples suddenly quieted down, their eyes wide, realizing that this year it was Master Jian herself who was bestowing the pills.
Suddenly, the entire Wangxian Platform instantly fell silent.
Seeing this scene, Sect Master Yan Zhong's eyes couldn't help but sharpen, and he secretly thought to himself, "What a good move."
In recent years, he had noticed that Yan Shuyi's influence in Lingjian Mountain was growing, even subtly surpassing his own, to the extent that Disciples from Wenjian Peak, Xuanjian Peak, and Tianjian Peak all regarded her as a spiritual belief.
He actually admired this niece of his and always regretted why she wasn't born in Tianjian Peak.
"Master Jian's mouth seems to be injured?"
"Yes, there are some marks."
"Just now, several Junior Sisters were also discussing it, saying it seemed like someone bit her—"
"Bitten on the mouth?"
Zhuo Wanqiu and Ding Yao also received Spirit Pills, and standing on the Wangxian Platform at this moment, they naturally heard the discussions of the surrounding Disciples.
However, fortunately, Master Jian was always on the high platform, and the marks were not very clear in their eyes, nor did the Disciples on the Wangxian Platform dare to stare directly at Master Jian.
"Master Jian should know that returning like this would definitely cause discussion."
"Yes, but she still let Ji Gongzi bite her."
After returning from the Wangxian Platform, Ding Yao and Zhuo Wanqiu stood outside the hall of Cloud Top Heavenly Palace, whispering as they watched Master Jian enter the hall.
Their Master Jian's cultivation had already approached the Wujiang Realm, while Ji Gongzi had only just entered the Tongxuan Upper Realm, a difference of two major Realms, so the gap in strength was naturally a world apart.
Therefore, if Master Jian had not agreed, Ji Gongzi wouldn't even have been able to get close to her, let alone bite Master Jian's mouth.
So Ding Yao had no doubt that Master Jian was willingly bitten by Ji Gongzi, with no resistance at all.
She just couldn't understand why Master Jian would want to return to the mountain with Ji You's teeth marks.
Zhuo Wanqiu thought for a long time before speaking, "I think Master Jian actually wanted people to know."
Ding Yao looked at her, "Why?"
"Some time ago, Yuan Caiwei from Dan Sect also went to Tianshu Academy, didn't she? The Disciples who traveled outside the mountain are still discussing this, saying that Ji Gongzi is going to marry into Dan Mountain or something."
Ding Yao knew about this, but she still couldn't understand what it had to do with Master Jian.
Zhuo Wanqiu looked at Ding Yao's puzzled eyes and spoke again, "Think about it, Master Jian heard so many rumors about her son-in-law and other women, she must also want others to discuss her and Ji Gongzi, and even hope others know that she is actually the main wife. Our Lingjian Mountain's Dao of the Sword emphasizes purity and directness; Master Jian cannot deceive her Dao Heart."
Ding Yao was stunned for a moment, "But even if her mouth was bitten, besides us, who would know that it was Ji Gongzi who bit her?"
"It's precisely because she couldn't say it that she wanted others to know even more. Master Jian probably thought this when Ji Gongzi kissed her."
"It can be like this?"
Zhuo Wanqiu thought for a moment before speaking, "Although it's just a guess, it's probably close to the truth. Didn't you notice yesterday?
When the Peak Master came out of the main hall, Master Jian didn't even cover it up; she clearly wanted to be seen."
Ding Yao smiled slightly, and a young girl suddenly appeared in her mind.
At that time, the girl received a very beautiful sword, so she wore it on her waist all day long, not speaking, but liking to wander around for others to see. Thinking of this, Ding Yao couldn't help but raise the corner of her mouth, but then she couldn't help but frown.
"Young Miss should also know that she cannot marry Ji Gongzi."
Zhuo Wanqiu was startled, then realized that the words "Young Miss" referred to Master Jian. This was Ding Yao's childhood address for Master Jian. She couldn't help but glance at her, "Why?"
Ding Yao raised her head, "Master Jian is now the spiritual belief of the Disciples in the mountain, but if these Disciples see their belief marrying down to a Tianshu Academy Disciple from a rural, private cultivation background, it will definitely cause trouble. Tianjian Peak will fan the flames and make Master Jian flustered, and then Ji Gongzi will also Face Mortal danger."
Zhuo Wanqiu thought for a moment, "Couldn't they just keep it a secret?"
"Even if it's not discovered, what about children? No matter how strong Master Jian is, she still needs to continue her Bloodline."
"A secret pregnancy, then."
Ding Yao shook her head, "You don't understand. An illegitimate child has no right of inheritance. If they cannot inherit Lingjian Mountain, everything Master Jian is doing now will be meaningless. The spirit mirror and the position of Sect Master will eventually return to the ambitious Tianjian Peak."
Zhuo Wanqiu opened her mouth, "There's such a thing?"
Ding Yao nodded after a long silence, "The Peak Master called me over today to discuss these matters."
"They want to know Ji Gongzi's identity from you?"
"Actually, after Master Jian returned yesterday, they sent people to investigate, but Master Jian left very cautiously, using the spirit mirror to erase all traces and Qi of her trip, which is why they came to ask me. Although I didn't tell them, I couldn't help but agree with their thoughts."
Ding Yao looked at the slowly setting sun, "These past few years, I have been very close to Asked the Dao Sect. I indeed wanted to gain some benefits for myself, but it was also because that was a good choice for Master Jian."
Zhuo Wanqiu pursed her lips, finding that she couldn't refute it either.
Ding Yao spoke again after a long silence, "Ji Gongzi is good in every way. He became the Lord of Feng Province and can even cut down Soldier King with his sword, but he ultimately lacks a proper identity."
Zhuo Wanqiu actually wanted to say that Ji Gongzi is a very good person, and his cultivation talent is also very formidable. There are so many cultivators in the world,
But only he is renowned in the Tong Xuan Realm. Look at him, he's like this, and he's like that.
But she also understood that even if Ji Gongzi did so much, it still couldn't compare to the Dao lineage and background that others were born with.
"Actually, Ji Gongzi should also be aware of this, right?"
"Hmm?"
Zhuo Wanqiu raised her eyes, "Ji Gongzi should also be aware that biting Master Jian's mouth would definitely draw the attention of the people of Lingjian Mountain. If any clues were to leak out, it would inevitably bring him Mortal danger."
Ding Yao nodded after a long pause.
Someone who could know that Qi Zhengyang's Dao Heart had fallen into depravity just by the killing intent in his Sword Qi, and thus help Xuanjian Peak invite a sharp sword, how could he not understand such a simple truth?
Zhuo Wanqiu spoke again, "He clearly knew, but he still bit her. Perhaps he also really wanted others to know that Master Jian was his."
Ding Yao was silent for a moment, "It won't have a result. It's probably the same between Young Master and that Dan Sect's daughter."
"Dan Sect too?"
"The Barbarian Yao Race are restless, and people often say that the Heavenly Dao is changing. Dan Sect, which has no combat power, is most in need of marriage Alliances, so how could they look favorably upon Ji Gongzi?"
Zhuo Wanqiu nodded, "And he would be the junior partner."
Ding Yao then turned her head and glanced into the hall, "Speaking of which, Yuan Caiwei and our Master Jian once swore to be good sisters for life. I wonder if it has come true."
"When?"
"Probably when they were seven or eight years old. At that time, Master Jian didn't want to be Master Jian and was very playful. The Dan Sect's Sect Master was invited to Lingjian Mountain as a guest and brought Yuan Caiwei, and the two of them played very well."