Chapter 226: Rigorous Reasoning

As the sun rose higher, Chai Ze and Xiao Hanyan also stepped out of their rooms; seeing everyone gathered at the tea table, they walked over.

As they sat down, all of them noticed Ji You's swollen lips and the strangely isolated seat.

Wang Gaocen and Gu Zetao, who arrived shortly after, did the same—as if Ji You, sitting alone in the corner with his hands resting on his knees, made for a pleasing sight.

They drank tea and chatted idly.

The midsummer heat in Zhongxing County was still oppressive, but this Former Sage Garden was truly a grand undertaking; despite its lush vegetation, cool breezes constantly swept through the courtyard.

The Little Inspector of Lingjian Mountain kept flickering past the window, startling the later arrivals.

But their astonishment didn't last long—a powerful sword aura suddenly surged up from the western courtyard, instantly drawing everyone's attention to the base of the small pavilion.

At that moment, He Lingxiu's expression turned grave, his gaze sharpening instantly.

It was a figure practicing swordplay—slender and tall, clad in a Lingjian Mountain sword robe, sword energy piercing the heavens.

Seeing this figure, Chai Ze and the other three Rongdao cultivators opened their mouths, instantly understanding why He Lingxiu reacted so strongly; but the disciples from the Elders' Pavilion—Wang Gaocen, Yu Shiliu, and Gu Zetao—did not know, and couldn't help but look puzzled.

"Senior Chai, who is that person?"

Chai Ze glanced at He Lingxiu: "Don't ask what you shouldn't."

He Lingxiu came back to himself and looked at Wang Gaocen: "There's nothing wrong with saying it—this person is Yan Shujing, the direct disciple of Lingjian Mountain's Xuanjian Peak."

Upon hearing this, the Tongxuan cultivators instantly understood why Chai Ze had refused to answer earlier.

Tian Shu Academy's inquiry into Lingjian Mountain was something many disciples preferred not to mention, for they had fought twice—and lost both times, miserably.

Among them, the one who defeated He Lingxiu was precisely this direct disciple of Xuanjian Peak, Yan Shujing.

Such an embarrassing matter, especially with the principal present, was hardly something to bring up.

Ji You, listening to the discussion, couldn't help but look up and gaze toward Yan Shujing, faintly visible beyond the shrubbery.

She and Yan Shu were cousins, but though close in blood, they were not close in heart.

Because Ji You's convenient father-in-law, Yan Jingxiang, the master of Xuanjian Peak, had low cultivation talent—far inferior to his younger brother, Yan Jingrui.

The position of Xuanjian Peak's master should have gone to Yan Jingrui, but later, when the Lingjian automatically chose Yan Shu as its master, her father gained status through her, and the position fell to Yan Jingxiang.

Such things were not uncommon in Qingyun's world, much like leveraging marriage alliances to elevate a clan's standing.

Ji You had once crossed paths with her in the Sword Grove of Tianjian Peak, but never interacted; yet from her sword art, he sensed a familiarity.

【The willows on Xiao Chong Mountain are newly green】

【Returning home, thoughts remain untainted】

He Lingxiu set down his teacup and gazed at Yan Shujing's figure: "I already knew she would attend this year's Tian Dao Assembly. Beyond the Former Sage Holy Site's quota, I came here specifically to avenge my past defeat."

Yan Shujing, a Rongdao cultivator with acute senses, likely sensed their stares and suddenly turned her head.

After recognizing them, her gaze settled on Ji You; after a brief hesitation, she raised her hand and lightly bowed toward his position.

"?"

Seeing this, everyone froze for a long moment, then turned to look at Ji You, seated nearby.

He had moved his stone bench several times since the figure appeared at the window, nearly pushing it behind the house, sitting alone and far from the group.

So they easily deduced that Yan Shujing's bow was meant for Ji You.

Ji You was slightly startled too, but likely guessed her intent—he rose and returned the bow politely, then watched Yan Shujing sheathe her sword, turn, and step into the house, vanishing from view.

The sun was already late; Ji You brushed off the dirt from his trousers after moving the bench and decided to return to his room to cultivate.

Watching him enter the house, the seven seated there exchanged glances.

"Younger Brother Ji, he went out this morning."

He Lingxiu looked at Shi Junhao: "How do you know?"

Shi Junhao set down his teacup: "I was bitten by mosquitoes last night and couldn't sleep a wink, but the key point is—I always thought it strange that Ji You broke through the Sword Grove in just three days. Now I'm beginning to understand."

"?"

Shi Junhao set down his teacup: "Have you ever considered whether the Sword Grove, untouched for so long, could really be broken so easily in just three days?"

Xiao Hanyan looked up: "Are you saying he didn't break it himself?"

Shi Junhao shook his head: "The Sword Grove was definitely broken by him—otherwise, Lingjian Mountain wouldn't look so disgraced. I merely suspect the sword art wasn't his own insight. Now it seems quite possible."

He Lingxiu opened his mouth: "Are you suggesting someone personally taught him? Only then could he master the Sword Grove's sword art so quickly?"

Shi Junhao nodded: "It seems Yan Shujing has some unclear connection with him."

"This… makes no sense."

"Who can explain matters between men and women? Our Younger Brother Ji has a reputation for having fiancées across the Nine Provinces. If I'm right, he met her this morning. Xiao Sister, don't you remember how strangely that Lingjian elder treated him?"

Xiao Hanyan thought for a long while, then lifted her head slightly: "Are you referring to Yan Chuan?"

He Lingxiu turned to them: "Who is Yan Chuan?"

Xiao Hanyan spoke: "When we were dispatched to the Snow Region, Lingjian Mountain had a Wujiang elder named Yan Chuan who protected Ji You. Now it seems he was asked to do so."

Shi Junhao took over: "Only someone of high status could ask a Wujiang elder for such a favor. Now consider Yan Shujing—think about it."

"Hey, you know what? Since arriving at Lingjian Mountain, Ji You's eyes have been glued to the western courtyard."

"Really?"

"Since last night—I've seen it several times."

The Tian Shu Academy's contestants now sat in a circle, solving the mystery, as if a bright thread was steadily becoming clear.

Especially Shi Junhao—he grew more convinced his reasoning was sound.

When they first arrived yesterday, Ji You came to his room out of nowhere and spouted nonsense—he must have damaged his mosquito incense burner during that!

And he did it to disrupt his cultivation, fearing Yan Shujing would lose to me!

Yu Shiliu couldn't help murmuring inwardly: if true, Ji You's talent wasn't as terrifying as rumored—he seemed more opportunistic.

And he looked beaten.

When he returned, his lips were swollen.

All high-level cultivators were in the Former Sage Garden; Zhongxing County had no formidable figures—tops were Rongdao. They said his body was strong enough to brawl with barbarians—was this really his strength?

Yu Shiliu turned and exchanged glances with Gu Zetao and Wang Gaocen.

The preliminary rounds of the Tian Dao Assembly wouldn't pit fellow sect members against each other, but the finals were different.

Ji You's reputation had always weighed heavily on them, making them feel three points weaker.

But if their talents were roughly equal, their actual strength might not differ much.

Wu Zhen and Liu Qichen weren't formidable in their eyes—had they been in their place, they'd only need slightly more time.

As they exchanged thoughts, their confidence grew; Ji You no longer seemed so mysterious or terrifying.

"His lip looks like it was hit."

"He has many enemies—getting beaten isn't strange."

"I actually thought he was invincible…"

Wang Gaocen rose to take his leave: "I'm returning to cultivate—the Tian Dao Assembly must secure first place for Tian Shu Academy!"

Gu Zetao suddenly felt renewed determination: "I'm going too!"

He Lingxiu watched the two depart, unable to suppress a faint, shaking smile.

The others then turned to discussing the Gathering of Immortals and the people they'd visit together.

He Lingxiu arranged for Qiu Hanyue—the Qiu family's young lady—to see if they could arrange a meeting during the Gathering.

Shi Junhao's reasoning was indeed rigorous and plausible, but she felt these young disciples from the Elders' Pavilion were too naive to underestimate Ji You on this basis.

Even if Yan Shujing truly was one of his fiancées, and she secretly taught him his sect's sword art, could Lingjian Mountain's sword art be learned by anyone who wished?

Even without such high regard, Ji You's comprehension and talent were undoubtedly top-tier.

These Elders' Pavilion disciples thought that if Ji You wasn't as powerful as rumored, he must be weak—this was far too hasty.

But now one problem troubled He Lingxiu.

If Yan Shujing truly was Ji You's fiancée, then she had the right to compete with Yuan Caiwei for the position of principal wife—making this matter complicated.

Yuan Caiwei's temperament was docile as a rabbit before Ji You, but Yan Shujing might not be.

So He Lingxiu felt she should ask someone for clarity—perhaps Yan Shujing wasn't his fiancée, merely admired his sword art and was his mentor and friend.

After all, winning the heart of a Peak Master's direct disciple seemed unlikely to He Lingxiu—there was too great a gap in status.

As she pondered, footsteps suddenly came from the western courtyard; everyone looked up to see a disheveled, rough-looking man heading straight for Ji You's room.

Xiao Hanyan and Shi Junhao recognized him—he was Gongshu Chou, a Rongdao Upper Realm cultivator from Lingjian Mountain, whom they'd previously served with on the Snow Region mission.

Gongshu Chou now arrived at the eastern courtyard and reached Ji You's door.

After hearing Ji You recount "My Fate Is Mine, Not Heaven's," he had been stirred to the core and immediately decided to return and write furiously, for stories heard were inferior to lived experience and easily forgotten.

But upon returning to the western courtyard, he was summoned for questioning by Ding Yao and Zhuo Wanqiu.

After the interrogation, many details had grown hazy.

His memory wasn't truly poor—he remembered the plot points vividly—but some phrasing wasn't Ji You's exact wording, and lacked the original flavor.

As a strict and excellent creator, even one missing phrase could stall him for hours—so he came specifically to seek clarification again.

But sensing the surging spiritual energy, Gongshu Chou knew Ji You was cultivating.

Disturbing someone's cultivation was immoral.

So after hesitating, he did not knock, but turned toward He Lingxiu and the others at the tea table.

"Fellow cultivators of Tian Shu Academy, how long will Ji You's cultivation take?"

He Lingxiu looked up: "Do you have business with Younger Brother Ji?"

Gongshu Chou nodded: "Yes, but seeing him cultivate, I didn't wish to disturb him."

He Lingxiu glanced at him: "Then let me inform him when he finishes. Tonight is the Gathering of Immortals—I'll have him seek you out."

Gongshu Chou bowed deeply: "Thank you, Immortal Lady."

Everyone glanced at He Lingxiu with strange expressions, wondering why he was so cordial toward a disciple of Spirit Sword Mountain, then they heard his voice speak again.

"This fellow cultivator from Spirit Sword Mountain, I have a question I hope you can answer."

Gongshu Chou nodded: "Of course."

He Lingxiu poured him a cup of tea: "We were just talking earlier—what's the relationship between your junior brother Ji You and Yan Shujing, the direct disciple of Profound Sword Peak?"

Gongshu Chou stared at He Lingxiu in confusion: "Relationship?"

He Lingxiu pursed his lips: "Just now, Lady Yan bowed to your junior brother Ji You, and we all wondered why—curious, to say the least."

Gongshu Chou thought for a long while, wondering: Yan Shujing bowed to Ji You? That's truly odd.

Yan Shujing is a sword fanatic; she cares for nothing else except the Master of the Mirror, whom she reveres. To her, everyone else is no different from a piece of wood.

The only connection between them was in the Sword Grove—back then, Ji You intended to break through three or four layers at once, and Yan Shujing stood nearby…

At this thought, Gongshu Chou suddenly understood, then sat down with a relaxed posture and smiled.

Storytelling? That's my specialty—and luckily, I've been holding back for a while; my tongue is itching to speak.

At midday, Gu Ze Tao and Wang Gaocen stepped out of their respective residences one after another.

After their reasoning, they felt the world had opened wide, as if boundless combat energy surged through them. As soon as they stepped outside, they immediately turned toward Ji You's residence, eager to challenge him.

But when they reached the tea table, they noticed He Lingxiu and the others wore strange expressions.

Especially Yu Shiliu—her earlier fiery determination had turned to utter gloom.

The two couldn't help but ask: "What's wrong?"

He Lingxiu glanced at them: "How's your cultivation going?"

Wang Gaocen smirked: "I still have some confidence in securing the top rank."

"Confidence is good. Anyway… no matter your rank, the top spot in the Tongxuan Realm will still belong to our Heavenly Book Academy."

"What do you mean?"

Yu Shiliu couldn't help but glance at them: "Isn't Yan Shujing Ji You's fiancée?"

Wang Gaocen froze slightly: "Then why was Yan Shujing flirting with him?"

"That bow? It was Yan Shujing acknowledging Ji You as her sword Dao master—she owed him a formal salute."

"?"

"Just now, a Spirit Sword Mountain disciple came and said that after Ji You broke the Sword Grove, every remaining disciple—including the direct disciple of the peak master—copied his method to pass through."

Actually, that wasn't Gongshu Chou's exact wording—his original words were far more vivid.

On that day, the Qian elder of Spirit Sword Mountain set up the Sword Grove on Heavenly Sword Peak. Yan Shujing was the fastest to break through, and everyone assumed she'd be the first to clear it.

But she got stuck in the final layer, making no progress for days.

Only when Heavenly Book Academy disciples came to ask questions—and Ji You arrived to break the Grove—did they realize all prior methods were wrong. Yan Shujing learned Ji You's technique from that moment, reattempted the Grove, and finally passed.

We guessed wrong.

The direct disciple of the peak master isn't Ji You's sword Dao master—Ji You is hers.

Shi Junhao remained silent, deeply doubting his own reasoning ability.

The mosquito brazier couldn't have been Ji You's doing—I must have reasoned incorrectly.

He Lingxiu sat idly, sipping tea, his emotions deeply complicated.

But now that our guesses had been overturned, many things suddenly seemed illogical again.

For instance, why did that Spirit Sword Mountain elder, Yan Chuan, protect Ji You? And what about that Still Spirit Pill?

When He Lingxiu brought the Heavenly Book Academy disciples to Spirit Sword Mountain to ask questions, Yan Shujing shattered his myriad magical bindings, causing backlash—his spiritual energy surged wildly, pounding his meridians.

At that time, no one could find a Still Spirit Pill—only Ji You had the Spirit Sword Mountain retrieve one for him. That's why He Lingxiu has always held goodwill toward Ji You.

But why does Ji You hold such favor in the eyes of Spirit Sword Mountain disciples? That question had always puzzled her.

As He Lingxiu pondered, he suddenly noticed Yu Shiliu staring at the opposite pavilion.

He thought the young Mirror Master of Spirit Sword Mountain had appeared again, so he turned to look—but the window was empty.

"What are you looking at, Yu junior sister?"

"Sister, haven't you noticed? The young Mirror Master of Spirit Sword Mountain hasn't shown up in a long time."

"How could a sect leader be so easily seen? We're in the same academy—seeing her even this many times is already a blessing."

"But the last time I saw her was right after Ji You said he was returning to his room to cultivate—and since then, the young Mirror Master never appeared again."

"?"

Ji You finished his body tempering after the Shen hour; the soreness hadn't faded, but after bathing, a knock came from outside.

He thought Yan Shuyi had come again, timing it perfectly to check on him—but when the voice outside spoke, he realized it was Wen Siyuan, a disciple of the Administration Hall, summoning him to the Gathered Immortals Banquet.

Ji You dressed, opened the door, and found everyone already gathered outside, staring at him with complex expressions.

One reason: Yan Shujing's matter—the sword Dao master, the disciples who copied his method.

The other: Yu Shiliu's final remark.

No one believed such a speculation—it was more absurd than fantasy—but even this "guess" sent a chill through them, making them dare not think further.

She was the future sect leader of Spirit Sword Mountain—such speculation was already grave disrespect.

Ji You looked at their expressions and unconsciously reached up to touch his hair.

The crooked braid Yan Shuyi had tied for him had been undone during his bath—he had no idea what they were staring at.

"Let's go, everyone—the banquet's about to start, isn't it?"

"Y-yeah, let's go."

(End of Chapter)