Chapter 226: Rigorous Deduction
As the sun rose higher, Chai Ze and Xiao Hanyan also emerged from their rooms and approached the tea table where everyone else was gathered.
As they took their seats, they all noticed Ji You's swollen lips and the strangely positioned seat.
Wang Gaocen and Gu Zetao, who arrived later, also seemed to find Ji You, sitting alone in the corner with his hands on his lap, to be quite a sight.
Drinking tea, chatting idly.
Zhongxing County in summer was still a bit muggy, but this Xianxian Garden was truly a grand design. Even with its lush vegetation, cross-breezes constantly wafted through the courtyard, bringing coolness.
The young Master Jian of Lingjian Mountain occasionally flashed past the window, startling the latecomers.
However, the surprise didn't last long, as a powerful Sword Qi suddenly rose from the West Courtyard, instantly drawing everyone's attention to the area below the small building.
At this moment, He Lingxiu, a direct Disciple of Zizai Hall, suddenly looked serious, her gaze instantly becoming sharp.
It was a figure practicing swordsmanship, slender and tall, wearing a Lingjian Mountain sword robe, their Sword Qi reaching the sky.
Seeing this figure, Chai Ze and the other two Rongdao Realm cultivators opened their mouths, instantly understanding why He Lingxiu's reaction wasn't strange. However, those Disciples from the Elder Council, Wang Gaocen, Yu Shiliu, and Gu Zetao, were unaware and couldn't help but look puzzled.
“Senior Brother Chai, who is that person?”
Chai Ze glanced at He Lingxiu: “Don't ask too many questions about things you shouldn't.”
He Lingxiu now recovered and looked at Wang Gaocen, who had asked the question: “There's nothing that can't be said. That person is Yan Shujing, a direct Disciple of Lingjian Mountain's Xuanjian Peak.”
Upon hearing this, the Tong Xuan Realm cultivators instantly understood why Chai Ze hadn't spoken earlier.
Tianshu Academy challenging Lingjian Mountain was something many Disciples were unwilling to mention, because they had fought two matches and lost both, suffering a terrible defeat.
He Lingxiu's defeat was at the hands of this Yan Shujing, a direct Disciple of Xuanjian Peak.
How could such a disgraceful matter be brought up, especially when the person involved was present?
Ji You, listening to the discussion, couldn't help but look up and also gazed at Yan Shujing, who was vaguely visible behind the bushes.
He and Yan Shu were cousins, but despite their close relation, they weren't close.
Because his cheap father-in-law, Yan Jingxiang, the Peak Master of Xuanjian Peak, had low cultivation talent, much worse than his younger brother Yan Jingrui.
The position of Peak Master of Xuanjian Peak should have originally belonged to Yan Jingrui, but later, because the spirit mirror automatically chose Yan Shuyi as its Master Jian,
The father gained prestige through his daughter, so the position of Peak Master fell to Yan Jingxiang.
Such things were not uncommon in Qingyun World, almost identical to using marriage to elevate a Worldly Family's status.
Ji You had met her once in the Sword Forest of Tianjian Peak back then, but they had never interacted. However, from her Dao of the Sword, he sensed a familiarity.
“Willow Color New on Xiao Chong Shan”
“Si Wu Xie within Gui Qu Lai”
He Lingxiu now put down her teacup and, looking at Yan Shujing's figure, said: “Actually, I already knew she would be attending this year's Heavenly Dao Conference. Besides the spot for Xianxian Holy Land, I came here this time to wipe away my past shame against her.”
Yan Shujing, a Rongdao Realm cultivator, had highly perceptive senses. Perhaps sensing their gazes, she suddenly turned her head.
After seeing them clearly, Yan Shujing's gaze fell on Ji You. After a slight hesitation, she suddenly raised her hand and gently cupped it towards Ji You's position.
“?”
Seeing this scene, everyone was stunned for a long time, then turned to look at Ji You, who was sitting not far away.
He had moved the stone stool several times when the figure flashed past the window, almost moving it to the back of the house.
He was a bit far from them, sitting alone, with no one else around.
So they could easily determine that Yan Shujing's cupped-hand salute was actually for Ji You.
Ji You was also slightly stunned, but probably guessing the intention behind her action, he stood up and politely returned the salute.
Then he saw Yan Shujing retrieve her sword, turn around, and walk into the house, disappearing from everyone's sight.
By this time, it was getting late. Ji You patted off the dirt he had gotten from moving the stone stool and decided to return to his room to cultivate the Dao.
Watching him enter the house, the seven people present couldn't help but exchange glances.
“Junior Brother Ji, he seemed to have gone out this morning.”
He Lingxiu glanced at Shi Junhao: “How do you know?”
Shi Junhao put down his teacup: “I was bitten by mosquitoes last night and didn't sleep well at all. But the point is,
I always thought it was a bit strange that Ji You secretly learned swordsmanship at Lingjian Mountain. Now I understand it a bit.”
“?”
Shi Junhao put down his teacup: “Have you ever thought if that Sword Forest, which no one had broken through for so long, was really that easy for him to pass in three days?”
Xiao Hanyan looked up at the sound: “You mean, he didn't break through the Sword Forest?”
Shi Junhao shook his head: “He definitely broke through the Sword Forest, otherwise why would Lingjian Mountain's expression be so ugly?
I just felt that the Dao of the Sword was not something he comprehended himself. Now it seems quite possible.”
He Lingxiu opened her mouth after hearing this: “You mean, someone personally taught him the Dao, allowing him to master the Dao of the Sword in the Sword Forest so quickly?”
Shi Junhao nodded: “It seems this Yan Shujing has some unclear relationship with him.”
“This—there's no reason.”
“Who can explain matters between men and women? Our Junior Brother Ji is known for having fiancées all over Kyushu.
If I'm not mistaken, Junior Brother Ji went to meet her privately this morning. Junior Sister Xiao, do you remember how strange that Elder from Lingjian Mountain's attitude was towards him?”
Xiao Hanyan thought for a long time before looking up slightly: “Are you talking about Yan Chuan?”
He Lingxiu turned to look at them: “Who is Yan Chuan?”
Xiao Hanyan said: “When we were dispatched to the Snow Region, there was a Wujiang Realm Elder from Lingjian Mountain,
named Yan Chuan. He once protected Ji You. Now it seems he was entrusted by someone.”
Shi Junhao took over: “And someone who can entrust a Wujiang Realm Elder certainly wouldn't be an ordinary Disciple. Now look at Yan Shujing, think about it carefully.”
“Indeed, you're right. I truly feel that ever since Ji You arrived from Lingjian Mountain, his gaze has been fixated on the West Courtyard.”
“Has it?”
“Since last night, I've seen it several times.
The group of Tianshu Academy Disciples participating in the competition were now gathered, solving a mystery, feeling as if some bright line was constantly becoming clearer.
Especially Shi Junhao, who felt increasingly confident in his deduction ability.
When he arrived yesterday, Ji You inexplicably came to his room, saying nonsensical things, and he definitely damaged his mosquito incense burner during that process!
And the reason he did this was to disrupt his cultivation, fearing that Yan Shujing would lose to him!
Yu Shiliu also couldn't help but murmur, thinking that if this were true, then Ji You's talent was not as terrifying as rumored, but rather had an element of opportunism.
Moreover, he seemed to have been beaten.
When he returned, his lips were swollen.
Currently, all high-level cultivators are in Xianxian Garden. There are no powerful figures in Zhongxing County city, at most Rongdao Realm cultivators. They all say he has a strong physique and can fight barbarians hand-to-hand. Is this the extent of his strength?
Yu Shiliu turned and exchanged glances with Gu Zetao and Wang Gaocen.
There would be no inner-Sect duels in the Heavenly Dao Conference's preliminary rounds, but the finals would be different.
Ji You's great reputation had always put strong pressure on them, making them feel inferior.
But if their Aptitude were similar, then their strength might not actually differ much.
Wu Zhen and Liu Qichen were not considered formidable figures in their eyes; if it were them, it would only take a little more time.
As the few of them communicated, they suddenly gained more confidence, feeling that Ji You was no longer so mysterious and terrifying.
“His lips, they look like he was hit.”
“He has many enemies, so it's not surprising if he was beaten.”
“I really thought he was invincible.”
Wang Gaocen stood up and bid them farewell: “I'm going back to cultivate. I must win the top spot for my Tianshu Academy at the Heavenly Dao Conference!”
Gu Zetao also suddenly felt more spirited: “Everyone, I'm off too!”
He Lingxiu watched the two leave one after another, and couldn't help but chuckle and shake her head.
Then the few of them started discussing the Gathering of Immortals and the people they would visit there.
He Lingxiu also arranged for Qiu Han Yue, the Young Miss of the Qiu Family, hoping to arrange a meeting between them during the Gathering of Immortals.
Shi Junhao's deduction was indeed rigorous and credible, but she felt that underestimating Ji You based on this was too naive for these young Disciples from the Elder Council.
Even if Yan Shujing was truly one of his fiancées and privately taught him Sect swordsmanship out of personal affection, was Lingjian Mountain's Dao of the Sword something anyone could learn just by wanting to?
Even without such a high regard, Ji You's Comprehension Ability and Aptitude were absolutely top-notch.
The Disciples of the Elder Council felt that it was too hasty to judge Ji You as not that powerful simply because they knew he wasn't that impressive.
However, there was now a problem that was giving He Lingxiu a headache.
Because if Yan Shujing was truly Ji You's fiancée, then she would be qualified to contend with Yuan Caiwei for the position of main wife, which would make the matter rather complicated.
Yuan Caiwei's personality was as docile as a rabbit in front of Ji You, but Yan Shujing might not be the same.
Therefore, regarding this matter, He Lingxiu felt that it was best to find someone to clarify the situation; perhaps she wasn't his fiancée,
but merely admired his Sword Dao talent, acting as both a teacher and a friend.
After all, in He Lingxiu's eyes, the possibility of captivating the heart of a Peak Master's personal Disciple was not high, as the difference in status and rank was too great.
As she was pondering, a sound of footsteps suddenly came from the West Courtyard. Everyone looked up and saw a disheveled man, looking like a rough fellow, walking towards Ji You's room.
Xiao Hanyan and Shi Junhao recognized him, knowing he was Gongshu Chou, a Rongdao Realm Upper Stage cultivator from Lingjian Mountain, as they had previously traveled to the Snow Region together.
Gongshu Chou now arrived at the East Courtyard and walked to Ji You's door.
Yesterday, after listening to Ji You's narration of "My Fate is Up to Me, Not Heaven," his heart was surging with emotion. He immediately decided to return and write furiously, because stories heard were not as good as personal experiences and could easily be forgotten.
But who knew that as soon as he returned to the West Courtyard, he was called by Ding Yao and Zhuo Wanqiu for questioning.
After a round of questioning, many details became a bit blurry.
His memory wasn't really that short; he actually remembered the story plots very solidly, but some of the wording and phrasing weren't Ji You's original sentences, and it truly lacked some flavor.
As a strict and excellent creator, not being able to come up with a single sentence would cause him to get stuck for half a day, so he specifically came back for a second consultation.
However, feeling the surging Spiritual Qi, Gongshu Chou knew that he was cultivating Dao.
Disturbing someone's cultivation of Dao was immoral.
So after a long hesitation, Gongshu Chou did not knock on the door, but turned to look at He Lingxiu and her group at the tea table.
"Fellow Disciples of Tianshu Academy, how long will Ji You's cultivation of Dao likely take?"
He Lingxiu looked up at the sound: "Are you looking for Junior Brother Ji for something?"
Gongshu Chou nodded: "Yes, there is something, but seeing him cultivating Dao, it's not good to disturb him."
He Lingxiu glanced at him: "How about this, when Junior Brother Ji finishes his cultivation of Dao, I'll inform him for you. There's a Gathering of Immortals tonight, I'll tell him to come find you."
Gongshu Chou cupped his fists: "Then I thank Fairy."
Everyone looked at He Lingxiu strangely at this moment, not understanding why she was so amiable to a Lingjian Mountain Disciple, and then they heard He Lingxiu's voice ring out again.
"Fellow Disciple from Lingjian Mountain, there is something I don't understand, may I ask for your guidance?"
Gongshu Chou nodded: "Of course."
He Lingxiu poured him a cup of tea: "We were just chatting earlier. What is Junior Brother Ji's relationship with Yan Shujing, the personal Disciple of your Xuanjian Peak?"
Gongshu Chou looked at He Lingxiu strangely at this moment: "Relationship?"
He Lingxiu pursed her lips: "Just now, Fairy Yan bowed to my Junior Brother Ji, making us all speculate and feel a bit curious."
Gongshu Chou thought for a long time, thinking to himself, Junior Sister Yan actively bowing to Ji You? This is truly strange.
Junior Sister Yan is a Sword fanatic, she doesn't care about other things at all, except for the Master Jian she always looks up to,
everyone else is no different from a stranger in her heart.
The only connection between the two was in the Sword Forest, when Ji You planned to break through three or four layers of the forest in one go, and Yan Shujing was right beside him—
Thinking of this, Gongshu Chou suddenly understood a little, then sat down grandly and revealed a smile.
Storytelling, he was a professional, and it just so happened that he hadn't told a story in several days, so his mouth was a bit itchy.
At noon that day, Gu Zetao and Wang Gaocen successively emerged from their residences.
After a round of deduction, they suddenly felt the world broaden, feeling an inexhaustible battle power throughout their bodies. As soon as they stepped out, they first looked towards Ji You's residence, having a strong urge to compete with him.
However, when they walked to the tea table, they found that He Lingxiu and the others had very strange expressions.
Especially Junior Sister Yu Shiliu, her previous fighting spirit had now turned into a gloomy shade.
The two couldn't help but feel strange: "What's wrong?"
He Lingxiu glanced at them: "How was your cultivation?"
Wang Gaocen raised the corner of his mouth: "I'm quite confident I can get the top spot."
"Confidence is a good thing. Anyway, no matter what your ranking is, the top spot in the Tong Xuan Realm will still belong to my Tianshu Academy."
"What do you mean?"
Yu Shiliu couldn't help but glance at them: "Yan Shujing isn't Ji You's fiancée?"
Wang Gaocen was slightly stunned: "Then why was Yan Shujing giving him flirtatious glances?"
"That bow was Yan Shujing acknowledging Ji You as her Sword Dao master, and thus deserving of a bow."
"?"
"Someone from Lingjian Mountain just came and said that after Ji You broke through the Sword Forest, the remaining Disciples all passed by learning his method, and that included the Peak Master's personal Disciple."
Actually, this was not Gongshu Chou's original words; his original words were more vivid.
On that day, Elder Qi from Lingjian Mountain set up the Sword Forest on Tianjian Peak. Yan Shujing was the fastest to break through the forest, and everyone thought she would be the first to pass.
However, she got stuck in the last layer of the forest and made no progress for several days.
It wasn't until the Disciples of Tianshu Academy came to seek Dao, and Ji You, who came with them, began to break through the forest, that they realized their previous methods of breaking through the forest were all wrong. It was also from that time that Yan Shujing learned Ji You's method and was able to pass through by breaking through the forest again.
They guessed wrong.
That Peak Master's personal Disciple was not Ji You's Sword Dao master, but Ji You was her Sword Dao master.
Shi Junhao was also silent at this moment, deeply beginning to doubt his own reasoning ability.
That mosquito coil should not have been Ji You's doing; he must have reasoned incorrectly.
He Lingxiu was sitting idly, drinking tea at this moment, her mood also extremely complex.
However, after the speculation was overturned, many things seemed to become unreasonable again.
For example, Elder Yan Chuan of Lingjian Mountain, whom they just mentioned, why did he protect Ji You, and also,
that Spirit Pill.
He Lingxiu brought the Tianshu Academy Disciples to Lingjian Mountain to seek Dao, and was struck by Yan Shujing's breaking of all accompanying Dharmas, suffering a backlash. The Spiritual Qi in her body raged uncontrollably, constantly impacting her Meridians.
At that time, no one could find the Spirit Pill, only Ji You managed to have Lingjian Mountain find one, which was also why He Lingxiu had always had a good impression of Ji You.
But why he had this favor in the hearts of the Lingjian Mountain Disciples, this matter had always been a question in her mind. As He Lingxiu pondered, she suddenly noticed Yu Shiliu looking at the small building opposite again.
She thought it was the Lingjian Mountain's Young Master Jian wandering over again, so she also turned to look, but found no one at the window.
"What are you looking at, Junior Sister Yu?"
"Senior Sister, have you noticed that Lingjian Mountain's Young Master Jian hasn't appeared for a long time?"
"How could a Master-in-charge level figure be so easy to meet? It's already an honor that we share the same courtyard and have seen her so many times."
"But the last time I saw her was just when Ji You said he was going back to his room to cultivate, and then the Young Master Jian never appeared again."
"?"
Ji You finished his Body Refining after the Shen hour. The soreness was still gone, and after he bathed, a knock on the door sounded from outside.
He thought it was Yan Shuyi again, having accurately seized the opportunity to see what he should see, but as the person outside spoke, he realized it was Wen Siyuan, a Disciple from the Master's Courtyard, who had come to call him to the Juxian Banquet.
Ji You put on his clothes, pushed the door open, and saw that everyone else had already gathered outside the door, looking at him with very complex expressions.
One reason was about Yan Shujing; what Sword Dao master, what subsequent Disciples all learned from him.
The other was about Yu Shiliu's last sentence,
No one believed such speculation, thinking it was even more outrageous than a fantasy, but even the appearance of such "speculation" made everyone's hearts tremble slightly, not daring to think further.
That was the future Master-in-charge of Lingjian Mountain; such speculation was actually a great disrespect.
Ji You looked at everyone's expressions and couldn't help but reach out and touch his hair.
The small crooked braid Yan Shuyi had tied for him had been undone when he bathed. He didn't understand what these people were looking at.
"Let's go, everyone, isn't the banquet about to begin?"
"Let's—let's go."