Chapter 285: The Restless Little Inspector

Snow deep, the path is buried; a small red clay stove glows.

The little inspector of Lingjian Mountain in the tea pavilion knew nothing of what had happened outside; she listened intently as Kuangcheng recounted Ji You's deeds in the disaster zone, her slender, curled eyelashes trembling slightly.

When she heard Ji You teaching children in the disaster zone to play string games and hopscotch, and then heard Kuangcheng's sigh—"Brother Ji really loves children"—she unconsciously touched her lower abdomen, her exquisite face flushing.

Kuangcheng then asked when she would meet Brother Ji, and received a reply: "We're not familiar. I won't see him."

Not seeing him won't hurt…

At this moment, the wind and snow outside the courtyard grew stronger; Ji You and Ding Yao and Zhuo Wanqiu whispered for a long time in the alley, then turned and headed east to the market, not entering the Wei family's villa.

Meanwhile, Ding Yao and Zhuo Wanqiu rubbed their firm buttocks as they returned to the villa's gate.

Knowing but not reporting—got punished…

Just as the two were pouting, the wooden door behind them opened, and Kuangcheng walked out of the courtyard to bid them farewell.

He then went straight to a vegetable shop on Linjie Street, while Wei Rui saw him off at the door, watching him for a long time.

When Wei Rui finally withdrew her gaze from her beloved and noticed the two immortal ladies' flushed cheeks as they rubbed their buttocks, a hint of confusion crossed her expression…

Green peppers can be stir-fried with cured pork.

Get a roast duck—tear it apart and eat it, simple enough.

Before the heavy snow, Mu Jing sent some homegrown mountain mushrooms; they were dried and preserved excellently—buy a chicken and stew them together.

Kuangcheng planned what to cook, bought some vegetables, then bought a jar of wine, and walked out of the vegetable shop.

He didn't know why Lady Yan didn't want Ji You to know she'd come to Shengjing, but since he'd promised to keep it secret, his nature demanded he honor his word.

After all, this little couple often plays "I don't know you" games—these tricks are beyond the comprehension of a scholar who's read the sages since childhood.

He then followed the same winding path back to his small house.

But as he reached the gate, he looked up and saw smoke rising from the courtyard.

The black smoke stood out sharply against the white haze of cold air, making the scholar Kuang pause in surprise.

Did Brother Ji return? Why is he lighting a fire in the courtyard…

He pushed open the door and entered the courtyard to find Ji You sitting on the porch step, before him a small oven with several sweet potatoes roasting.

His brother Ji held a bamboo fan used in summer, fanning the flames in the oven.

Kuangcheng opened his mouth to ask why he suddenly started roasting sweet potatoes, but noticed Ji You squinting at him, eyes filled with interrogation and menace.

"Oh? Isn't this the famed Kuang Buqi? Back so soon?"

"Uh… yes, I'm back…"

Ji You's bamboo fan paused slightly: "You haven't seen Miss Rui for so long—why did you only stay half an hour? Didn't you want to linger together?"

Kuangcheng coughed: "A scholar carries righteous qi. I thought of Brother Ji waiting for me at home to eat, and knew I must not forget righteousness for beauty."

"Huh, so you're a good brother after all."

"Naturally…"

Kuangcheng felt Ji You's gaze was just like the one he'd given him back when they first left Yuyang County—staring at his satchel. His chest tightened: "I'll go stir-fry the vegetables."

Ji You immediately reached out to stop him: "No need. You rest today—I'll cook."

Kuangcheng's eyes flickered with confusion: "Didn't I always cook? Why the sudden interest today, Brother Ji?"

"You've been so good to me—I must show my appreciation, to honor this great friendship."

"It's 'commemorate.'"

"What?"

Kuangcheng saw Ji You extend his hand, so he handed over the vegetables and added: "That word is 'commemorate,' not 'memorialize'—'memorialize' is for the dead."

Ji You took the vegetables, glanced at them, and murmured: "About to be used."

"?"

"Enough. Sit down. I'll give you a task later."

Kuangcheng, already feeling guilty, dared not argue at Ji You's strange behavior; he pulled his fur-lined robe tighter and sat before the stove, warming his hands as he watched Ji You head toward the kitchen.

The scholar had come home to clear snow, but only swept a narrow path through the snow behind the courtyard to the main hall; now Ji You slapped his palm out, and powerful spiritual energy sent a gust that swept the snow piled atop the stove clean away.

He then removed the cutting board and began slicing vegetables with a soft rustling sound.

Green peppers cut into segments, cured pork thinly sliced, free-range chicken diced, dried mountain mushrooms soaked in warm water—his expert technique left the scholar Kuang stunned.

Once the ingredients were prepared, Ji You turned back, flipped the sweet potatoes on the oven, then pulled a letter from his sleeve and handed it to Kuangcheng.

Kuangcheng looked at it blankly: "What's this?"

Ji You shoved the envelope into his chest: "Two people eating is dull. I haven't seen Wei Rui in a long time—invite her tonight."

Kuangcheng unfolded the note and saw it was written in his own voice: Ji You had roasted sweet potatoes and personally cooked his best dishes, and he cordially invited Wei Rui to join them.

After reading it, Kuangcheng couldn't help but look up: "I remember Rui doesn't like roasted sweet potatoes."

"She doesn't like them. But someone else might."

"But Wei Rui has guests today—they're still at her mansion. I doubt she can slip away."

Ji You suppressed the flames in the oven with spiritual energy: "Don't make me memorialize our friendship…"

Kuangcheng took the letter, staring at Ji You with a strange expression: "Brother Ji is inviting only Miss Rui?"

Ji You stared back, equally serious: "What? Are there other immortal ladies arriving from afar I should invite?"

"Brother Ji, sit. I'll be right back!"

Kuangcheng tucked the letter into his chest, pushed open the door, and left the courtyard—glancing back once at Ji You's deep, unreadable gaze.

He knew it—Lady Yan's arrival in Shengjing couldn't possibly be hidden from him. And now, it was exposed…

The Wei family villa was vast, complete with pavilions, terraces, towers, and halls—more ancient and elegant than some immortal villas, revealing the former might of the Qinxian Sect.

At this moment, three outsiders from Lingjian Mountain conversed briefly with Ding Yao and Zhuo Wanqiu, then departed from the courtyard.

After watching them vanish into the snowstorm, the two turned back, searched the courtyard, and found the inspector treading softly on the snow among the rockeries.

"Inspector, word has just come: the representatives from Shanhai Pavilion and Wenda Sect have left Lingjian Mountain without meeting you."

"What of Yan Cang and Yan Rong?"

"They haven't returned. Nor have the one hundred thirty-eight disciples from Tianjian Peak. The disciples sent to track them have located their trail—news should arrive in a few days."

The fallout from the Bu family incident has continued unabated; though the immortal sects appear calm on the surface, they remain tense beneath.

Because human-turned-evil-seeds must be tied to Qiling—and what the elder of the Zheng family revealed could threaten the sects' authority.

Yet at the same time, that thing appeared to others like a tempting fruit.

So they selectively forgot what the Zheng elder had done when he ascended: he had devoured countless lives.

If such a thing were truly controlled, how could the world ever know peace? Especially after Yan Shuyi learned from Ji You that the so-called "immortal fate" required a vessel.

Thus Yan Shuyi quietly came to Shengjing, claiming she was cultivating away from Lingjian Mountain, to prevent the sect from being swept into the abyss by the tide—while secretly sending people to watch their movements, ready to intervene as an observer at any moment.

But now, as she has not yet taken the position of sect leader, Tianjian Peak outwardly respects her, yet secretly participates in the scheme, trying to drag Lingjian Mountain into disaster—filling her with murderous intent.

Ding Yao spoke again: "Inspector, the peak master and Lady have also sent word, calling you back to the mountain."

Yan Shuyi lifted her eyes slightly: "Because of Wenda Sect?"

"The peak master did not mention Wenda Sect."

"Then what did he say?"

"He only told you to think carefully, not to act on impulse. I think he guessed you came to Shengjing—he's hinting at your husband's matter…"

As Ding Yao spoke, she handed over the letter from Yan Jingxiang, the peak master of Xuanjian Peak.

The letter opened with her childhood name, pleading earnestly: if she disliked Wenda Sect, she should say so plainly—she must not act on impulse, recklessly tarnish Lingjian Mountain's reputation, and invite the world's ridicule.