Chapter 33: I Gift You a Sword

After acting as proxy for Master Wang to take on a disciple, Ji You returned from the Office of Administration to the Outer Court.

But as soon as he reached the Ascension White Jade Terrace, Ban Yangshu and Ji Qirui caught up to him, each holding a spirit sword, offering them as tokens of gratitude.

Ji You waved them off and pushed back, but finally accepted the swords and tied them to his waist with a tight knot.

The Inner Court seniors were too generous, too naive—Ji You felt a pang of emotion.

He finally found some motivation to enter the Inner Court.

“I didn’t even see when Ji younger brother tied that knot…”

“That speed—he was clearly holding back when he fought that demonic seed…”

“…”

After bidding farewell to the two seniors, Ji You headed toward the Green Water Lake’s Elegant Garden.

As he drew closer, he noticed a woman standing before his door.

The woman wore a snow-white gauze dress, cradling a moon-white longsword, glancing left and right—it was Lou Siyi, the same woman who had attended the banquet with him.

No matter her personality, frailty was her dominant trait.

When a woman is rescued by a man during a street attack, she inevitably develops tender feelings.

So upon learning Ji You had no personal sword, she had someone buy him a fine one.

But what Lou Siyi found waiting at the door was not Ji You, but two close female friends, arriving from different directions.

One was Lu Qingqiu, daughter of Yunzhou, holding a sword glittering with jewels and gold, her skirt fluttering as she approached, a ripple of elegance.

The other was Sun Zhiqiao, also holding a longsword in her hands.

The three women had clearly not coordinated beforehand; upon meeting, they paused in surprise, then noticed each other’s swords, growing awkward.

“Why are you all here?”

“Ji Young Master has no sword—I came to give him one…”

Lu Qingqiu, hearing Lou Siyi’s reply, turned her gaze to Sun Zhiqiao: “You call yourselves sisters, yet you acted alone without consulting us?”

Sun Zhiqiao, clutching her sword, blushed slightly: “Giving a man a sword is easily misunderstood, especially since he’s Fang Ruoyao’s betrothed—how could I say it outright?”

Lu Qingqiu raised a delicate eyebrow: “You know he’s Fang Ruoyao’s betrothed, yet you still come fluttering over to gift him a sword?”

“But Qingqiu, aren’t you here to give him a sword too?”

Lu Qingqiu was momentarily speechless; she pursed her lips for a long while before speaking: “I hosted the banquet yesterday, and I share responsibility for the attack. Besides, he saved me twice yesterday—I couldn’t possibly show no gratitude, or I’d seem heartless.”

Sun Zhiqiao and Lou Siyi exchanged glances: “We’re here for the same reason—he saved our lives.”

“He saved you both by accident—you needn’t go to such lengths.”

“?”

Lou Siyi and Sun Zhiqiao froze slightly, thinking: Why is saving us considered an accident?

Besides, “you needn’t go to such lengths” is the sort of thing Ji You should say, not you.

Lu Qingqiu ignored them and continued: “Besides, of all the swords, he clung to mine the longest that day—he must have liked it very much. So I got him an identical one.”

“That was only because your sword happened to be closer to him—if mine had been closer, the one he held onto would’ve been mine.”

Lu Qingqiu couldn’t fathom where her friend got such confidence: “A man choosing a sword picks the one he loves at first sight.”

Lou Siyi gave her a withering look: “In a life-or-death moment, it’s pure instinct—nothing as calculated as your thinking, Qingqiu.”

“You—”

Sun Zhiqiao, seeing them about to quarrel, spoke up: “Enough, enough—if he can use three swords, then one from each of us is perfect.”

Lou Siyi fell silent, but hesitated again: “Shouldn’t we inform Fang Ruoyao that we’re giving her betrothed swords?”

Lu Qingqiu lifted her chin: “We have no ulterior motives. If our hearts are clear, why do unnecessary things? That only invites suspicion.”

But no sooner had she finished than two more figures dashed over—Qian Yunxiao and Bai Ruilong.

Each held a sword as well, and they collided with the three women, surprised.

It seemed everyone had thought of the same thing.

Ji You stood watching from a mountain path nearby, thinking: Now this is perfect—I’ll become a Left Thousand-Household.

“Ji Young Master.”

Lu Qingqiu spotted him approaching along the path and extended her pale, delicate arm to wave him over: “Has the Office of Administration reached any conclusions?”

Ji You shook his head: “The incident is strange—the Office has no leads yet. For the next few days, try not to leave your quarters.”

“You mean they’ll strike again?”

“Until we understand the attackers’ motive, we can’t say whether they’ll stop.”

After a long pause, Bai Ruilong spoke: “I’ve been tossing and turning these days—I suspect it was my half-brother who hired the assassins.”

Lou Siyi couldn’t help chiming in: “I think they’re targeting me—perhaps they’ve set their sights on my family’s spirit herbs.”

Ji You smiled at this.

If it were truly as they suspected, the matter would be simple.

But the problem is, this explanation doesn’t account for why Zhang Congzhi, Cai Ziyao, and three other cultivators were killed.

In the Qingyun Realm, to kill disciples of immortal sects so brazenly—the conspiracy behind this is far larger than they imagine.

Ji You snapped back to the present, cleared his throat, and looked at the swords in their hands: “By the way, what brings you all here?”

Lou Siyi and Sun Zhiqiao remembered their purpose and stepped forward with their swords: “Ji Young Master, we heard you have no personal sword—we’ve specially chosen one to gift you, in thanks for saving our lives.”

Lu Qingqiu raised her sword as well: “And mine.”

Bai Ruilong and Qian Yunxiao nodded in unison: “We’re here too—thank you, Ji Brother, for saving us. From now on, we’ll follow you!”

“Hey, what kind of talk is that?”

Ji You waved his hand and accepted the five swords one by one: “I’ll accept the swords, but your gifts are too valuable—I can’t take them.”

“?”

Ji You carried the swords inside, lit a charcoal brazier, placed several sweet potatoes on it, and boiled a pot of water.

Seeing the five still outside, he beckoned them in.

Though he had little fondness for aristocratic youths, he’d accepted their swords—he couldn’t refuse even tea.

The sweet potatoes roasted in the glowing brazier, filling the air with fragrance, while the water boiled first.

Ji You brewed the tea, poured a cup, and handed it to Lu Qingqiu, seated to his right: “Set it down a moment—it’s hot.”

“Thank you…”

Lu Qingqiu took the cup and couldn’t help staring at Ji You.

That night of the attack, he had thrown himself between her and danger, swapped positions with her before the sword’s edge, and clung to her sword as if it were precious.

Now he gives me the first cup—his tone so gentle.

Looking closer, among the five teacups on the table, only hers and Ji You’s shared the same pattern—as if paired.

Indeed, there’s more here than mere classmate affection…

The daughter of Yunzhou’s Lu family rested her chin on her hand, studying Ji You’s profile intently.

Ji You truly was a man of elegant bearing, his demeanor refined beyond measure.

She had always thought him a rustic cultivator from some remote backwater—she’d never noticed this before.

After watching for a long while, Lu Qingqiu came to her senses and sighed.

She could see his kindness toward her—but alas, she would not choose him.

He had done nothing wrong—he merely came from a lowly background.

Before coming to the Heavenly Book Academy, Lu family elders had hinted to Lu Qingqiu that she should cultivate ties with Chu He.

Because the Chu family produced masters of the top five realms, and their talent passed down through bloodline—a terrifying trait.

But Lu Qingqiu disliked Chu He; she found him too aggressive, his mind dark. Compared to him, Ji You was far superior.

Yet even so, she would not choose him.

The Lu family of Yunzhou had risen from spirit mines—already envied by many—and needed alliances through marriage to strengthen their position.

Her aunt had married the son of an Elder of the Sea and Mountain Pavilion.

Though that son was useless, his name alone deterred those coveting the Lu family’s mines—that was alliance.

Unless Ji You became a direct disciple of the Hall Master, remained in the sect as an Elder, and established his own lineage within the Heavenly Book Academy…

But the odds were too slim.

Countless brilliant Outer Court cultivators grew mediocre after entering the Inner Court—Ban Yangshu was one such example.

Human effort has limits; only aristocratic families endure for generations.

The Qingyun Realm was a solid, unyielding block.

Folk operas once told tales of noblewomen falling for poor scholars, dying yet still clinging together, transforming into butterflies and flying as one.

But that was only opera—only the lower classes could write such stories.

After much thought, Lu Qingqiu decided she must find a chance to explain the reality to him.

Meanwhile, Ji You had no idea the young lady beside him was wrestling with such intense inner turmoil.

He was thinking: Because of this attack, I haven’t visited the Heavenly Book Inner Realm’s Dao Discourse for ages.

“It’s getting late—we should go.”

After drinking several pots of tea and chatting awhile, Lu Qingqiu suggested leaving.

Seeing this, the others looked to the horizon and saw the sun nearing dusk—they all agreed.

But surprisingly, Ji You rose and walked out with them, closing the garden gate.

“It’s just a short path—do you really need to see us off?”

Lu Qingqiu worried over Ji You’s quiet, unspoken protectiveness.

But before she could open her mouth to refuse, she noticed Ji You had not walked with him—he had turned and gone to the Awakening Ground.

(Had a fight with my wife—she dared suggest I go shopping. Is my time for shopping? It’s for writing! Requesting monthly votes and follows… or2)

(End of chapter)