Chapter 102: Straight to Dan Mountain

The next morning, roosters crowed at dawn.

Ji You awoke from his room, glanced down at the crowing rooster, and instinctively straightened his chest.

After washing and eating, he joined his fellow disciples and set off by carriage toward Dan Mountain in the southwest of Xiyang County.

From the foot of the mountain, the lush, verdant peak teemed with vegetation; atop it stood seven dense pavilions and towers, linked by covered bridges, resembling the Big Dipper.

Danzong had long received the invitation from Tian Shu Academy, and now countless Dan-shi in their red robes descended to welcome them.

At the base of the mountain gate stood a thin, proud Elder—Dan Qiongzi, who had visited Tian Shu Academy before, the uncle of the Yuan siblings, and the younger brother of Danzong’s Patriarch.

The Tian Shu disciples ascended the mountain path, admiring rare flowers and exotic herbs, until their gazes settled on the Danzong welcoming party.

“Disciple You Buyu, greetings to Elder Qiong.”

“Disciple He Lingxiu, greetings to Elder Qiong.”

You Buyu and He Lingxiu were the leaders of this delegation, so naturally they stepped forward to pay respects.

The other disciples followed behind, bowing, then gazed far ahead, their eyes darting repeatedly between the pavilions.

Among the Seven Immortal Sects, Danzong, due to its unique cultivation path, was the most conservative and mysterious, perpetually shrouded in mist, its very mountain body obscured.

Only Danzong’s own relay stations were permitted to travel in and out of the mountain gate at scheduled times, delivering all the elixirs needed across Qingyun Realm.

And these people were among the first Immortal Sect disciples ever allowed inside Danzong’s inner grounds.

Dan Qiongzi’s expression was kind; he smiled and uttered three “goods” in succession, then his gaze flicked to Ji You among the crowd, pausing slightly.

Rumors of an approaching chaotic age had circulated since the start of the year, followed by barbarian counterattacks and demonic incursions, as if foretelling it.

Thus, Danzong abandoned its usual distance from the other six Immortal Sects and actively sought friendship with Tian Shu Academy, aiming to face the coming chaos together—hence arranging for Yuan Caimei to interact with You Buyu.

Yet for reasons unknown, Yuan Chen insisted his sister should marry Ji You.

In ordinary times, this would have been dismissed as a joke, but after the legend of the Chu family’s lineage constitution spread, the joke grew strange.

Alliance was a way to mitigate risk, but nothing compared to having it yourself…

Ji You’s gaze had just returned, meeting Dan Qiongzi’s.

“Brother Ji, that Danzong Elder keeps staring at you.”

“I noticed. The old man’s eyes feel sinister—could he be planning to turn me into an elixir?”

Ji You shivered, turning to Bai Ru: “Old Bai, I’m cold. Open your money pouch—I’ll warm my hands inside.”

He still didn’t know he risked becoming a breeding vessel; otherwise he’d have fled down the mountain immediately.

Though the idea sounded thrilling, Danzong was said to have all sorts of mysterious elixirs that replenished strength and vitality, keeping you going endlessly…

Some things, though beautiful, become torment if multiplied.

Like a mighty ox—even with endless strength—facing an endless expanse of ten thousand acres of fertile land, it would be stunned.

Dan Qiongzi now withdrew his gaze, refocusing on You Buyu, unable to suppress a shake of his head.

The Chu family’s lineage constitution was coveted even by immortal sects; Ji You, alone and unprotected, wouldn’t know how to defend himself—under normal circumstances, some families would surely desire him.

Yet even if he could pass on his lineage, centuries of continuous breeding would be needed to establish it, and the current chaotic world told them they couldn’t wait.

Thus, You Buyu was the best choice.

The Master of Jixiang Hall was a fully cultivated Great Being of the Upper Fifth Realm—there were few such people in the entire world.

“Ladies and gentlemen, please enter!”

Dan Qiongzi swept his sleeves, leading the Tian Shu disciples into the mountain, following the path to a colossal elixir furnace ahead, identical to the one on their robes.

Though this furnace was indeed modeled after the Hong Furnace, it held no magical function—it was purely decorative.

Passing the bronze furnace, ascending the slope, crossing a jade-green lake, they faced Yuheng Hall, one of Danzong’s Seven Halls.

Yuheng Hall was already full; at its center stood a tall, slender figure matching Dan Qiongzi’s build, resembling Yuan Chen in appearance, clad in the Patriarch’s sacred robe, radiating quiet authority—this was Yuan Li, the current Patriarch of Danzong.

Beside him stood Yuan Caimei, now dressed in a silken immortal gown, her face lightly powdered, her moist eyes fixed on the hall’s entrance.

She first spotted You Buyu at the front, then continued searching—her gaze halted when it landed on Ji You.

Dressed in Dan robes, Yuan Caimei was breathtakingly beautiful, yet lacked feminine softness—now, she truly stole the breath from all eyes.

You Buyu’s heart trembled, then he unslung his sword and entered the hall.

“Disciple You Buyu of Jixiang Hall, Tian Shu Academy, greets Patriarch Yuan and Lady Caimei.”

“Before departure, my aunt entrusted me to convey her regards, and said that if opportunity arises, she will come in person.”

You Buyu had always been the designated son-in-law arranged by Tian Shu for Danzong; no one would steal his spotlight, so he alone spoke fluently in the hall.

He spoke of his current realm, then relayed his aunt’s greetings—the entire hall was filled with warmth.

Ji You, meanwhile, felt dazed, thinking: if Lingjian Mountain had this atmosphere, it would be truly wonderful.

Yuan Caimei, however, watched Ji You, noticing his distraction, her eyes softening.

“This one—is he Ji You?”

Ji You was pulled from his thoughts by the calm question, looking up at the Patriarch: “I am Ji You, outer hall disciple of Tian Shu Academy, greetings to Patriarch.”

Yuan Li studied him: “I must thank you for rescuing Yuan Chen and Caimei from the mountains.”

“I was paid silver. My relationship with Yuan Chen was contractual. Saving them was my duty—Patriarch need not be so courteous.”

At once, all eyes in the hall turned to him.

Outer hall disciples of the Immortal Sects were insignificant; few remembered them, except for Chu He of the Chu family.

But everyone knew that in Tian Shu’s outer hall, the brightest was not Chu He—it was the unruly Ji You.

He was an oddity, said to act in utterly unpredictable ways.

When the inner disciples fled the mountain, he was hired for a thousand taels to risk life and limb…

Hearing Ji You mention Yuan Chen, Yuan Li turned his head slightly to glance at his daughter, recalling his son’s constant muttering of “sister-in-law.”

At first, when they brought him back, he assumed Yuan Chen’s “sister-in-law” referred to You Buyu—he thought his son had finally grasped the strategic importance.

But later he learned that Yuan Chen’s “sister-in-law” was not the nephew of Jixiang Hall’s Master at all.

Danzong was isolated, unconnected to other sects, indifferent to Immortal Dao matters, devoted solely to elixir arts—its information was poor.

He then ordered his men to retrieve Ji You’s dossier and studied it for a long time.

Yuan Li snapped back to the moment: “How old is Master Ji?”

“Of age.”

“Where is your home?”

“Yuyang County, Fengzhou.”

You Buyu, who had been sitting upright, now frowned slightly.

He was the main guest of this visit, with a tacit connection to Danzong—at least, that’s how he saw it.

So when attention shifted to Ji You, he naturally felt displeased.

Moreover, the Patriarch’s earlier questions to him had been about Tian Shu’s internal affairs or the status of several Hall Masters—purely polite small talk.

But asking Ji You his age and home? That felt odd.

You Buyu dismissed the thought after a moment’s thought: perhaps it was because You family was so renowned, no need to ask where they were from.

But Ji You, a rustic private cultivator, deserved such questions.

Yuan Li spoke again: “How many people are in your household?”

Ji You thought: Now you’re checking household registers? But he replied politely: “Fewer than eighty.”

“So many?”

“Didn’t you say he was a rustic private cultivator?”

“Wasn’t it said he had no family left? How can he have eighty?”

“Maybe… he’s just bluffing to look impressive?”

He Lingxiu bit her lip, thinking: Ji You’s family situation was known to all of Tian Shu—why fabricate it here?

You Buyu spoke directly: “Brother Ji, don’t speak nonsense before the Danzong Patriarch. Are you trying to invent a family out of thin air?”

Ji You fell silent, smiling: Your motherfucker.

The Danzong Patriarch never truly intended to make Ji You his son-in-law, but hearing Yuan Chen constantly mutter it, he couldn’t help feeling strange—this line of questioning was instinctive.

After the meeting concluded, the Patriarch arranged a lavish welcoming banquet.

Since one table couldn’t hold everyone, they split into three.

Ji You was too lazy to sit with You Buyu, so he went to the side hall and joined Bai Ru and the others—commonly called the “kids’ table.”

Wen Zhengxin, who disliked He Lingxiu, also joined the kids’ table.

Those left were You Buyu, He Lingxiu, Ban Yangshu, Pei Ruyi, Wang Yue, Fang Linchao, and others, with Yuan Caimei accompanying them.

Amid clinking cups and chopsticks, conversation flowed, and someone brought up Ji You’s claim of eighty-plus family members, letting out a light laugh.

It felt as if everyone in the world knew he was a homeless, orphaned rustic cultivator, yet he was deliberately pretending otherwise before the Patriarch.

“Brother Ji didn’t say he had over eighty people.”

Pei Ruyi, hearing their murmurs, picked up a Zhenxian sprout: “He said fewer than eighty.”

You Buyu’s smile faded: “Wasn’t he orphaned? Did I hear wrong?”

Ban Yangshu didn’t know the details and glanced at Pei Ruyi.

“Brother Ji joined Tian Shu Academy to protect a six-year-old girl—haven’t you heard of this recently?”

“Yes, the Xuan Yuan Immortal Mansion has always used people for elixirs—wasn’t that girl targeted by them?”

Pei Ruyi looked at them calmly: “Correct. After joining Tian Shu, Brother Ji immediately adopted seventy-two impoverished children as his foster sons and daughters.”

In the hall, Yuan Caimei’s chopsticks paused as Pei Ruyi’s voice continued.

“In other settings, Brother Ji might say he’s alone—but in a high-profile gathering like this, where rumors spread easily, he insists he has many family members, because those children are still under his protection, right under Xuan Yuan’s nose.”

Pei Ruyi ate the sprout: “That is his family.”

At that moment, the banquet table fell suddenly silent.

Ban Yangshu was thinking of the phrase: The greatest of immortals live to serve and protect the people.

It was not a story after all—it was Ji You’s own path to this moment.

Yuan Caimei, meanwhile, thought of the words her younger brother had often repeated: Born between heaven and earth, one must leave behind some tale for future generations to see.

(Requesting monthly votes, requesting monthly votes~~)

(End of chapter)