Chapter 321

"That whistle, let me see it."

"Please, Young Master, examine it."

Huang Yuenuan took the silver whistle from around her neck and handed it to Ji You.

The silver whistle was exquisitely crafted, but its sound did not come from the whistle body itself—it was produced by a reed vibrating inside.

Whenever air rushed through, the reed would tremble continuously, emitting a high-pitched vibration.

Yet, from this single silver whistle alone, nothing useful could be found.

Ji You studied it for a long while, then looked up at Tan Hui: "Are there others who know about your matter?"

"Everyone who was searching for relatives with us knew we were looking for someone, but they gave up along the way, so none of them went to the Corpse Cave with us. Everyone who knows about this is right here."

"When you investigated the Bu family, did you notice any other anomalies? People unrelated to the Bu family?"

Tan Hui thought carefully, then shook his head: "We didn't stay long at the Bu branch. Aside from the workers there, we saw no one else."

As he finished speaking, the ceramic lid of the medicine pot began to tremble, then released a stronger, more pungent herbal scent.

Hearing the sound, everyone turned to look, all eyes fixed on Ji You, watching his reaction.

Ji You said nothing, returned the whistle to Huang Yuenuan, then rose and walked to the eaves by the door.

Seeing this, everyone immediately rose silently and began ladling medicine from the pot without a word.

Ji You didn't know what herbs they used, but the smell was sharp and stinging.

Once the decoction cooled slightly, they carried porcelain bowls out into the courtyard.

In the early morning, a light rain fell, mist drifted over distant mountains, and the air carried a chill.

The group gathered in the corner where the demonic seedlings were confined; some held them down, others gently poured the medicine into their mouths.

As they poured, an old woman who had remained silent until now suddenly shed two streams of tears.

They had endured so long, tried every remedy they could find, and long ago knew this wasn't illness—but still clung to this sliver of hope, unwilling to let go.

After searching for so many years, they finally found their loved ones—changed in appearance, yet still alive and moving. Who could truly accept them as dead?

Ji You silently surveyed the surroundings. When he saw a two-angled stone peak to the east, he frowned slightly.

He leapt up and headed toward the mountain peak, landing atop its summit.

He had felt a flicker of familiarity earlier; now he realized the mountain to the east, just across the ridge, had once been one of his own breakthrough sites.

Back then, he had never imagined that just one mountain away, such a situation could exist.

When he returned to the courtyard, three bowls of medicine had been administered. Huang Yuenuan was gently wiping the corner of Li Ruilin's mouth with a handkerchief.

"He can't even give you the status of a concubine, yet you've searched for him all these years?"

"He saved me."

As she wiped his mouth, Huang Yuenuan spoke softly: "Ten years ago, my father was beaten to death by tax officials for failing to pay taxes. The county magistrate planned to sell me and my mother into a brothel to settle the debt. He passed by and rescued us. I can never repay him in this lifetime."

Ji You fell silent for a long while: "Immortals are still human—some good, some bad. But many cultivators, as they progress, forget they were ever human…"

"Your insight is profound…"

"But this will kill you."

Huang Yuenuan lowered her head: "I should have died ten years ago."

Ji You fell silent, gazing at the overcast sky for a long time without speaking.

Who were those people? What was their ultimate goal? These questions, like the clouds above, lingered in his heart, never dissipating.

Tan Hui now stepped out of the house, accompanied by two young men carrying buckets, to repair the wall Li Ruilin had shattered when he escaped.

After watching for a while, Ji You suddenly spoke: "Master Tan."

Tan Hui turned at the sound: "Young Master?"

"I've only recently entered an immortal sect. If I say anything incorrect, please don't take offense."

"Please, speak freely."

Ji You looked at Tan Hui's aged face: "Why have I never heard of the Tan family? Why have I never seen a single Tan disciple?"

Tan Hui paused, then sighed: "My Tan family is a fallen aristocratic house. Five hundred years ago, our lineage was already dwindling. Though I am head of the Tan family, besides my son and myself, there's only my grandson left. Now… I'm not even sure my grandson still counts as human."

"No wonder you sent your only grandson to work at an immortal village."

"Forgive this old man for the shame."

Ji You glanced at Tan Xun, now turned demonic corpse: "I forgot to ask—before he vanished, which immortal village was he in?"

Tan Hui replied: "It was an immortal village in Fengzhou called Fengxian."

"?"

"Young Master?"

"An old acquaintance."

Hearing this long-forgotten name, Ji You's eyes grew profoundly deep.

The reason he entered the Heavenly Book Academy, when traced to its root, was because of this Fengxian Immortal Village.

Seeing Ji You's suddenly serious expression, Tan Hui asked: "Do you know this immortal village?"

"It's quite coincidental—it was near my hometown, Yuyang County. But as far as I know, it moved away four years ago."

"Yes…"

After speaking, Tan Hui fell silent.

Ji You stared at him for a long time: "If you have something to say, say it."

"When you mentioned Fengxian Immortal Village, it reminded me of an old suspicion I had. I don't believe their departure from Fengzhou was a relocation."

"Tell me more."

"After my grandson vanished, I first investigated Fengxian Immortal Village, hoping to find someone who knew him. But I later discovered it wasn't just my grandson who disappeared—it was everyone."

"Those who joined immortal villages were already marginalized, ignored by their families. Add to that the cold-hearted nature of cultivators, who often have many offspring, and many aristocratic families still don't realize their kin are gone."

Though Tan Hui's cultivation base was low, he had lived long enough to be extremely shrewd.

He had initially thought Ji You was merely passing through and happened upon Li Ruilin, curious why their family had become demonic corpses.

But after several questions, he realized Ji You wasn't acting on idle curiosity—he was investigating something.

He too wanted to know who had turned their loved ones into these monstrous forms, and to find and avenge them.

But after years of searching, his intuition told him this matter ran too deep; their low cultivation could do nothing.

Now that he sensed Ji You was also seeking those people, he laid out every suspicion he had.

Hearing this, Ji You's eyes grew even deeper.

Some things need not be spelled out—if the listener shares doubt, they will understand.

Tan Hui's words implied that perhaps the entire village was compromised.

"What about Ah Jun's younger brother? Which immortal village was he in?"

Ji You had cross-referenced the missing persons' identities and knew that, besides Tan Hui's grandson, Ah Jun's younger brother was also an immortal village disciple.

Tan Hui looked up: "Ah Lang was also in Fengzhou, at an immortal village called Ziyun."

"What a coincidence."

Ji You murmured softly under his breath.

When he established his aristocratic house in Fengzhou, he conducted a three-year census of population and immortal village numbers.

If he remembered correctly, Ziyun Immortal Village was also one that had abruptly left Fengzhou.

He had assumed it was because his tax reductions deprived many families of profit, forcing them to relocate—but now it seemed far more complicated.

At Chen hour, the sun rose slightly.

Smoke rose from the courtyard, mingling with the mist in the mountains.

Ji You stepped out of the courtyard and walked into the damp forest, ascending the mountain.

Perspective changes how one views the same thing.

Like those dying Elders, when they saw the Bu family, they saw divine fortune, a chance to extend life.

But they never considered that, to others, it meant family destroyed, lives torn apart.

Yet for such matters, he was powerless.

Just like Huang Yuenuan—she had already decided to die alongside him; no persuasion or comfort meant anything to them.

Now, the most important thing is to follow the trail of the immortal villages and uncover what those hidden behind the scenes are truly doing…

After the Youxian Gathering, summer had arrived. A few light rains fell, and cicadas began to sing.