Chapter 159: There Really Are Bandits! (Combined)

A muffled thud!

Like a ripe fruit bursting open, blood sprayed in all directions.

The old woman with white hair tumbled like a severed kite, falling straight into the stream beside the valley.

Crimson blood trickled down the riverbank into the stream, instantly spreading, while her straw-like white hair clung messily to her aged face.

At this moment, she scrambled to her feet, looked up—and saw the bright moon hanging high, casting cold silver light that turned the cliff into a pale, lifeless expanse.

Tai Zhen, Qi Yun, and Chang Qing were tightly entangled by six hovering spirit swords and two shadowy figures darting like ghosts.

Sword shadows flashed, cold light gleamed; each clash sent visible ripples of spiritual energy spiraling outward, glowing with a chilling sheen under the moonlight.

Before her now, a dao sword descended from the sky.

It was the Tian Shu Academy instructor, face grim, swinging his blade with overwhelming spiritual energy, murderous intent howling.

The old woman Fuxian gasped in horror, slammed her palm into the ground, and used the recoil to leap sideways in defense.

Clang! As iron met iron, her iron sword shattered under the force, exploding into countless shards; her entire body was blasted into the river, her throat rasping like a broken bellows—hah, hah, hah—unending.

In her youth, having hit a bottleneck, she left her family alone and came to Fengzhou.

Back then, Fengzhou had barely any immortal villas, nothing like its current state.

So she founded Fuxian Villa, gathered tribute, shipped it back to Liangzhou, and presented it to noble clans, steadily rising in her family's status.

Later, as noble families across the provinces multiplied endlessly, producing countless descendants, they turned their eyes toward Fengzhou.

Over these years, the power of Fengzhou's immortal villas waxed and waned: some took root, others were driven out—but overall, things remained harmonious.

Whether it was produce, spirit minerals, or immortal seedlings, all were divided fairly and orderly.

But back then, no one paid any attention to a place in Fengzhou called Yuyang County.

That place grew nothing but grain; it couldn't even cultivate spirit seedlings. For a thousand li around, few people lived there, and no immortal villa would even consider settling there.

Then came the second year of Taiwu—something happened in Yuyang County.

The Fengxian Villa tried to kidnap young girls to brew medicine, but instead uncovered a youth under twenty who had reached the peak of the Lower Realm, and he was admitted into the Tian Shu Academy by special decree.

At that time, she had already grown wary.

Over these years, Fengzhou had always been the strictest place for hunting down "private cultivators," precisely because its immortal villas feared the rise of noble clans.

Unfortunately, the news came too suddenly—they had no time to react.

Though they ruled Fengzhou with absolute power, they still lacked the courage to kill inside the Tian Shu Academy, so they comforted themselves: it was just a backcountry private cultivator, surely no threat.

Later, they heard this backcountry private cultivator had encountered the second son of the Chu family and was then sent to Qiling as cannon fodder—then they finally breathed a sigh of relief.

But who knew he didn't die in Qiling? He learned swordcraft at Lingjian Mountain, then defeated the Chu family and truly entered the Inner Court.

From that moment, her death may have already been sealed.

But all of this came too quickly for them…

Zzzz!

A piercing sword hum, like the whisper of death.

The old woman Fuxian's head fell to the ground, her forehead splattered with her own warm blood, yet her eyes remained wide open, unable to close.

Before her soul scattered, she saw a colossal sword qi surge up the cliff and slash down—Tai Zhen's steel whip was severed in half, and the entire man tumbled toward the cliff's edge.

But before he could fall, a spirit-laden longsword shot forth; the severed head, still falling, rose into the air and overlapped with the bright moon.

Beneath the moon, a boy stood with sword raised to heaven, drenched in blood—the scene froze…

Through the turning of stars and moon, the mountain never ceased to shake with battle; countless brilliant sword qi slashed across the range until dawn rose.

Now, the east glowed white; the golden rooster crowed at dawn.

Those who had hidden in Yecheng—or fled to its outskirts—now emerged under the first light of dawn, gazing toward the direction of Yecheng Mountain.

Last night, immortal masters had fought in the mountains, shaking the peaks so violently that no one could sleep.

Then rumors spread like wildfire among the people: it was said bandits had appeared in the mountains, and the immortal masters had joined forces to exterminate them.

Now, seeing the stream flowing from the valley stained with an eerie pink hue, their hearts trembled with dread.

A few farming households near Yecheng Mountain had peered through window cracks for hours; now, under the dawn light, they finally saw figures emerging from the mountain.

A man in a red robe, a woman in a red robe, and a fat man in a red robe—with a very large chest.

After the Dayu Villa master died, the old woman Fuxian was slain by Cao Jinsong.

After that, there was no longer any balanced struggle—only ruthless suppression, exactly as they had planned.

Because back at the inn, Ji You had said: when strength is unequal, you must find a way to kill one first.

Then Ji You told them to hold off four, while he tried to kill a Rongdao—this had always been their goal.

Whether it was Cao Jinsong and Pei Ruyi luring enemies first after entering the mountain, or Ji You's later sword-riding ambush, all were for this purpose.

Though these immortal villa Rongdao had reached their realms by stacking pills, they were still Rongdao.

When they first heard him say this, they were filled with worry.

But when he said he'd try to kill one—he actually did.

Even now, recalling that scene still left them speechless with awe.

"Ahead is Fengzhou Prefecture…"

Cao Jinsong, holding his dripping sword, muttered wearily.

Pei Ruyi panted: "I wonder if anyone else will come to block us ahead—Fengzhou isn't just these five immortal villas."

"Probably not."

"Really?"

"Those who hesitated and chose not to act last night won't dare act today. Immortal cultivators are no different from mortals—they bully the weak and fear the strong. If we enter the city now, we might even get breakfast."

After speaking, they turned to look at Ji You—there he crouched by the stream, drenched in blood, washing his sword in the water, then dipping his hands in to wipe away the blood.

Killing old men and women all night had truly worn him out.

Ji You sighed softly, then pulled out a pile of storage gourds from his robe, glanced at them briefly, and tucked them back.

He didn't even have the strength to check what treasures they held or how much they were worth.

First, go to Fengzhou Prefecture to sign the documents, then take a bath, sleep deeply, and check the spoils later.

Seeing this, Cao Jinsong and Pei Ruyi exchanged glances, dumbfounded.

"Some of the immortal villas weren't wrong after all—or perhaps they're clairvoyant."

"Mm. There really were bandits in the mountains."

Cao Jinsong glanced at her: "Not bandits. Ruthless bandits."

In the time it took to drink a cup of tea, Ji You washed his sword and hands clean, then rose and walked toward the southwest, facing the morning light.

Inside Fengzhou Prefecture now, immortal cultivators filled every seat.

All of them were disciples from immortal villas that had not joined last night's ambush, their eyes fixed intently on the horizon.

These immortal villas never wished to meddle in such deadly struggles—but they hoped to profit from others' bloodshed, expecting to wake this morning and hear that the five major Fengzhou immortal villas had joined forces to exterminate the bandits, with the bandit chief slain on the spot.

After all, eighteen Tongxuan and five Rongdao against one Tongxuan and two Rongdao—how could they possibly lose?

With their spiritual senses, though they couldn't see far, they could confirm the battle in the mountains had ended; their expressions were calm.

In stark contrast, seated in a tea stall west of the city gate were officials from various commanderies.

Their expressions varied, their gazes complex.

Among them, Inspector Liu and Governor Xiang of Danshui sat together, their families beside them—sixteen people total, all arriving overnight, their carriages left behind at the relay station as they rushed straight to the city gate.

Their fear was even greater than that of the common folk who had listened to the night's fighting.

"Fusheng, have you learned anything?"

Fusheng bowed low beneath the tea stall and whispered: "I walked through the city just now. All the immortal villa masters say the mountain has fallen silent—it's over."

Governor Xiang's brow furrowed: "Could they have retreated from the mountain?"

"Someone stayed behind in the city. They say no one exited."

Hearing this, Governor Xiang and Inspector Liu's expressions turned grim.

Also among them was Governor of Guiyun, whose son had entered the Tian Shu Academy just days ago—he too was terrified.

Because they believed Ji You would inevitably become lord of Fengzhou; by sending their children into the Tian Shu Academy now, they could plan far ahead, laying foundations for their families' future for a hundred, even a thousand years.

When Ji You established his own clan in Fengzhou, they could directly cling to him—far better than clinging to outsider immortal villas.

But they never imagined Ji You would come so immediately.

He had no patience—he wanted nothing of the future, only the present; not even an hour's delay was acceptable.

In their eyes, had they known Ji You was so incapable of patience and concealment, they would never have agreed to send their children into the Tian Shu Academy.

"Eighteen Tongxuan, five Rongdao—I'm no cultivator, but I know arithmetic. If Ji You dies in the mountains, everything becomes empty talk. Fengzhou will forever remain the immortal villas' Fengzhou. Sending our children to the Tian Shu Academy will mean nothing."

Inspector Liu, rolling up his sleeves, trembled: "Brother Xiang, he's too hasty—and we're too hasty too…"

Governor Xiang looked at Inspector Liu, thinking: Am I the one who rushed?

That day in my mansion, I didn't even know who Ji You was—you came rushing in with your son to beg for a master, pacing around my house—was I the one who rushed?

It was you who wanted to be first to establish this connection, so when Ji You founded his clan, you could immediately cling to him through your son.

Now look—everything is turning to illusion!

Xiang Fu looked at them, puzzled: "Didn't they say they were joining forces to exterminate bandits tonight? What does that have to do with Ji You?"

"They're exterminating bandits—because Ji You is the bandit."

"How could Ji You be a bandit?"

"He's a lone backcountry private cultivator, with no clan or noble backing, yet he's rushing to seize tribute. To outsider immortal villas, he's obviously a bandit. Dead men don't speak, so he can't defend himself. When every immortal villa calls him a bandit, he becomes one."

Fusheng couldn't help speaking up: "Master, I heard something else in the city."

Governor Xiang looked up: "What?"

I heard that at first, those immortal estates didn't firmly insist on killing him—they considered negotiating, even offering twenty percent of Fengzhou's tribute as a gesture of goodwill, but he refused, so they asked him how much he wanted.

How much did he ask for?

Fu Sheng repeated the four sentences he'd heard, and immediately, the County Magistrate Liu and Governor Xiang exchanged a glance, their expressions turning grim.

This Ji You, raised as a rural cultivator, clearly didn't understand his place—he didn't realize the balance of power in Qingyun had endured for millennia, yet he dared speak such words to the lords of immortal estates who had already decided to kill him.

Youthful arrogance is fine, but sometimes it gets people killed!

In a play, his actions might be called heroic, but in reality, they're merely foolish and childish.

Royal law?

Even imperial authority now bows beneath immortal power—where is there any royal law left?

Yet as the two men silently condemned him, a commotion suddenly erupted on the city wall—the countless cultivators atop the wall, gazing afar, all turned pale.

A figure was walking toward the main road to Fengzhou's seat, drawing nearer, his crimson robes blazing vividly under the sun, sharply contrasting with the surrounding earth tones.

The three from the Heavenly Book Academy wore white robes; someone couldn't help smiling.

But soon, someone probed with spiritual sense and realized the white robes were stained red with blood.

"Is that Ji You?!"

"How could it be him?"

"Where are the five estate lords? Where are the others? Why didn't they stop him? Are they really letting him take all of Fengzhou's tribute?"

Ji You now stepped beneath the city gate, holding a long sword, then halted.

Whoosh!

With a flick of his sleeve, a pile of severed heads materialized in spiritual light and were flung down onto the city wall's base, rolling everywhere like burst watermelons.

Their heads were either entirely white-haired or streaked with gray; some faced upward, others turned sideways, etched with defiance and terror.

At this sight, everyone before the gate held their breath.

For they recognized—the heads had once belonged to the lords, tribute-bearers, and elders of the Five Immortal Estates.

Eighteen Tongxuan, five Rongdao—all dead with eyes wide open, yet the one who should have been slaughtered now stood here.

Everyone present couldn't help but look at Ji You, and saw him staring back with icy, piercing eyes.

"Last night, a naturally born spiritual treasure appeared at Yecheng Mountain, drawing a band of rogue cultivators to seize it."

"I heard the news and thought, as a son of Fengzhou, I couldn't let these bandits wreak havoc—I entered the mountains and wiped them out all night."

"Now the bandit leaders are all dead; I've hung their heads here as a warning."

After a brief silence, the entire city erupted in uproar.

Especially the disciples of the immortal estates—they thought, damn it, we've become bandits!

Meanwhile, officials and their families beneath the tea pavilion all rose to their feet, staring in horror, mouths agape.

So many from the Five Immortal Estates entered the mountains—each at least equal to him in realm—and now all their heads were severed, yet the one who emerged was him.

They'd expected him to die. They'd expected him to retreat. But they never dared imagine this outcome.

At this moment, Xiang Fu couldn't help rising, her gaze fixed on the man below the wall.

He was far from clean, yet his back was straight, his sword intent soaring to the heavens, head held high, his bloodstained robes fluttering in the autumn wind.

"Didn't you just say Ji You was the bandit?"

Xiang Fu stared at him for a long while before turning her gaze back, then asked her father, unable to hold back.

Governor Xiang snapped out of his shock, gaping in disbelief: "The dead are the bandits…"

County Magistrate Liu gripped his table, staring at one of the severed heads, his eyes frozen.

The man came from Fuyan Estate—not the lord, but a tribute-bearer named Wei Dongxu.

Because Liu's residence was near Fuyan Estate, he frequently dealt with this man.

In the past, he'd treated him with utmost respect, offering tribute for years—never imagining he'd now be reduced to a head, tossed onto the yellow earth.

People are like this: when events are distant, they seem vague.

But when someone close is involved, reality becomes clear.

Liu had assumed all cultivators were the same—yet now, seeing Wei Dongxu's severed head, and realizing even Wei's daily-praised lord was now just a head, he understood just how powerful the sword-wielding man truly was.

"Gentlemen, though the bandit leaders are dead, I haven't yet found the spiritual treasure. I hear they came from five mountain strongholds and have plagued this region for years—they must have hidden the treasure in their camps or among organizations closely tied to them. I'll need to raid and search."

"!"

At these words, an even louder clamor erupted—everyone stared at Ji You in disbelief.

The naturally born spiritual treasure was merely a pretext for murder—it never existed!

Yet now he was using this excuse to launch raids on their homes!

The Five Immortal Estates now had no leaders—all lords and tribute-bearers lay dead, leaving only disciples—who could stop him from raiding?

Fengzhou had long been a land without masters.

Logically, with the Five Immortal Estates now decimated, other estates would swallow them whole—people and wealth alike.

But Ji You's statement now meant no estate here could act lightly.

Because if you dared move, he'd claim you'd stolen the treasure—and then raid you too.

Since the Ancient War, humanity has been recovering, maintaining a surface peace—no matter how powerful the Seven Immortal Sects, they needed justification to preserve balance among sects and clans.

This nonexistent spiritual treasure could become an endless excuse for him.

If he suspects you're hiding the treasure, he can strike you.

Last night at Yecheng Mountain, there really were bandits…

Cao Jingsong and Pei Ruyi now arrived before the gate, standing aside watching, thinking: Fengzhou is improving—it's about to have the largest legal bandit den.

Ji You paid no mind to the murmurs around him. He left the heads at the gate, then stepped into the city, heading toward Fengzhou's seat.

All eyes in the city now fixed on him, watching him walk farther away—yet not a single person dared move to intercept him, for the severed heads below the wall warned of the cost.

Along the main avenue inward, people had already waited, then guided Ji You forward.

In moments, he reached the gates of Fengzhou's seat and saw an old man in official robes waiting there.

He was Fengzhou's Governor, named He Zhang. Officially, he was the most powerful man in Fengzhou—but in truth, he held no real authority here.

The true controllers of Fengzhou were the immortal estates.

So he'd known all about last night's events, but since he had no voice, he pretended ignorance.

If Ji You had died, everything here would remain unchanged—he'd still be the governor serving the estates, forgetting last night.

Because this land of Fengzhou was unlikely to ever produce another top-tier cultivator capable of entering an immortal sect's inner court.

After Ji You's affair, the estates here would grow even more cautious, preventing any further threat from emerging.

Perhaps then, through secret clan machinations, Fengzhou might even lose its cultivation quotas.

Yet now, as he saw the bloodstained robes approaching down the street, He Zhang's heart trembled.

"Governor He."

"Young Master Ji, the Heavenly Book Academy's registry has arrived. Please follow me into the seat."

Ji You, reeking of blood, stepped across the threshold of Fengzhou's seat, followed He Zhang through the courtyard toward the study.

Fengzhou's seat was filled with He family members—ladies, young ladies, young masters—everywhere.

Seeing a blood-soaked man enter, they all jumped in shock—but also burned with endless curiosity.

For they knew their master had stayed awake all night, pacing the courtyard in anxious distress.

So they'd guessed something major had happened—but never imagined they'd see such a blood-drenched figure.

Now Ji You entered the study with He Zhang and saw the Heavenly Book Academy registry and Great Xia documents laid out on the desk.

The Heavenly Book Academy registry recorded Ji You's immortal registry and the imperial approval to establish a clan.

The Great Xia documents detailed matters of tribute—now all open before him.

"The tribute collection for this year is about to begin. Young Master Ji, you've arrived just in time. Sign these two documents, and your clan will be officially established—Fengzhou will have its first immortal clan."

Hearing this, the ladies, young ladies, and young masters listening nearby all widened their eyes.

Ji You picked up the brush, studied every line of the documents and registry with focused attention, then wrote his name at the top.

"From now on, Fengzhou will no longer pay tribute to outside immortal estates."

(Combined two chapters—tomorrow I'll try to write more. Please support with monthly votes…)

(End of Chapter)