Chapter 352: This Is Basically Open Robbery!

Chen Fuzi’s disappearance was noticed at the time, and Old Qiu had searched for him several times, but found nothing.

The situation then shifted rapidly, and with a group of children in tow, they could only give up and return first.

After they returned to Fengzhou, Old Qiu specifically entrusted the Lingjian Mountain disciples who had escorted them, hoping they would help search for Chen Fuzi upon their return.

But to this day, he has received no reply.

Upon hearing this, Ji You couldn’t help but frown slightly.

He had merely thought of Chen Fuzi, whom he hadn’t seen in a long time, upon seeing the children, and asked casually—never expecting such an unexpected result, leaving him strangely unsettled.

According to Old Qiu’s account, Chen Fuzi vanished just as the Immortal Bandits emerged from the ruins.

At that time, the corpse tide had all retreated and had not ravaged the land; Chen Fuzi’s solitary departure should not have led to fatal danger.

Yet what puzzled him was that this old man was terrified even of thunder, always cautious and careful—how could he suddenly run off in such a complex environment?

“Though Master Chen is a mortal, he has always been cautious. I believe he won’t come to harm.”

Kuang Cheng straightened his back slightly: “We can ask merchants across the regions to keep an eye out. Master Chen only teaches—he has no other means of livelihood. He’ll surely grow hungry and might come for relief.”

Ji You nodded: “For now, we can only hope for the best.”

He picked up the grain ledger again and continued discussing the grain sales matter with Kuang Cheng.

At dusk, the light rain paused, and a brilliant rainbow appeared over Fengzhou.

The setting sun’s light filtered through the misty vapor, painting the entire sky as if ablaze with fire.

After a brief rest, Cao Jingsong and others were chatting in the courtyard with Pei Ruyi and the rest.

When Ji You received Yan Shuyi’s letter and learned of Yu Danzong’s plight, he rushed to Danshan; the Lingjian Mountain disciples came to Fengzhou to bring all of Ji Zhai’s people over.

But Pei Ruyi did not leave with them—she moved into the Fengzhou government compound and kept watch over Ji Zhai.

She knew of the surging corpse tide and had seen the immortal lights exploding in the south, but knew none of the details—only now, through Cao Jingsong’s murmured account, did she learn the full story.

Beyond the Immortal Bandits’ havoc, she also learned from Cao Jingsong of her sect’s patriarch’s passing, leaving her momentarily dazed.

Though the younger generation of Tian Shu Academy disciples had never seen the patriarch’s face, they had always revered the old man hailed as the strongest under heaven, believing he should have departed in grandeur—not so quietly.

“I heard that when ascending, celestial light guides you, and the vast divine aura can be seen for thousands of miles—is that true?”

“We don’t know.”

“Why not?” Pei Ruyi was surprised.

“Because the old patriarch’s departure was extremely peaceful—almost no one witnessed the legendary sight,” Cao Jingsong explained.

At the time, Ji You was unconscious, drawing all their attention, so they paid little heed to the matter.

Yet the patriarch’s passing had caused great turmoil within the academy, and people were still discussing it even after Ji You awoke.

Many felt the old patriarch’s ascension seemed unlike the records of Qingyun, especially since no celestial light had appeared—something oddly suspicious.

Pei Ruyi listened thoughtfully but couldn’t deduce anything from Cao’s description.

After all, for ordinary cultivators, ascension was too distant; the last one had been three hundred years ago, when the Xuan Yuan patriarch ascended, and nearly all who had witnessed it had long since returned to the Dao—no one knew if ascension truly looked like this.

She slowly came back to herself and looked at the instructor’s differently styled immortal robe: “Instructor, did you become an Elder after the patriarch’s passing?”

“Correct. I’ve moved to the inner courtyard, but the Elder Pavilion has granted me permission to still teach in the outer courtyard.”

Pei Ruyi was surprised: “What technique did you refine within the Dao, Instructor?”

Cao Jingsong clicked his tongue: “None at all.”

“Then how did you rise to the position of Elder?”

“Perhaps because my decades of diligent service have won the respect of all Tian Shu Academy.”

“?”

During their idle chat, smoke curled up from Ji Zhai’s kitchen; soon, the aroma of food drifted on the autumn breeze.

Old Qiu’s wife, accompanied by the female servants, carried dishes along the covered corridor and laid them out on the round table in the main hall, instantly stirring hunger in everyone, who rose and headed toward the hall.

Ji You and Kuang Cheng had finished discussing grain sales and arrived early from the back courtyard, already seated.

Ding Yao and Zhuo Wanqiu had just rested in the side chambers and now walked gracefully in from the side courtyard.

Then came the Lu sisters.

Since it was their first time in Fengzhou, their curiosity had not waned.

They had wandered through Ji Zhai in the afternoon rain, and after the rain stopped, they went out for another stroll.

Indeed, Fengzhou’s atmosphere differed from the other eight states.

Lu Qingqiu was beginning to understand why Ji You had returned to Fengzhou immediately upon entering the inner courtyard, forcibly establishing a noble family—and why he had refused to draw close to immortal sects and noble houses all these years.

“Sister Pei, thank you for guarding Ji Zhai while I was away.”

“Since leaving Tian Shu Academy, I’ve treated Ji Zhai as my home. Brother, you needn’t be so formal.”

“...”

“Young Master Kuang, how did your discussions on grain go?”

“We’ll begin releasing grain tomorrow, inventory it, then transport it out.”

“...”

“Strange—why haven’t we seen Master Chen wandering the covered corridor as usual?”

“Master Chen is missing.”

“?”

As night fell, everyone picked up their chopsticks, eating and chatting.

Ji You thanked Pei Ruyi, asked the Lu sisters how they liked Fengzhou, and discussed with Kuang Cheng the specifics of tomorrow’s grain convoy leaving Fengzhou.

As they chatted, a loud “thump” suddenly echoed at the table.

Old Qiu and his wife came from the kitchen to serve more dishes, placing one alone before Ji You.

It was a soup, containing a long, slender ingredient, with ginseng, polygonatum, and lamb kidneys simmered in it.

The moment this soup—capable of making an elephant fly—appeared, the table fell silent, all eyes drawn to it.

Old Qiu set down the serving tray and quietly slipped a spoon into it.

The young master has brought back more and more women, yet there’s still no sign of an heir—it’s truly worrying.

When one worries, one starts overthinking.

He stayed long at Lingjian Mountain and often saw the young mistress gazing wistfully at Fengzhou’s little children; he also learned from Qiu Ru that the young mistress frequently touched her own abdomen.

That meant she wanted to bear a child.

Then why hadn’t she?

Old Qiu had a sudden insight: perhaps the young master wasn’t up to the task.

Thus, this “Endless Vitality Tonifying Soup” was born—just looking at it, one knew it was potent.

Ji You stared at the soup and twitched his lip, then glanced at Qiu Zhong.

He naturally knew what Old Qiu was thinking.

Before he met Yan Shuyi and Yuan Caimei, he pushed him to find a girlfriend; after meeting them, he pushed for grandchildren.

Now, he’s going straight for the “source”!

The atmosphere at the table grew strange with the soup’s arrival, especially among the women, whose glances flickered nervously.

The Lu sisters had only pretended to understand, but in truth knew nothing—seeing this, they blushed deeply and began imagining things.

Those who had seen it before—Ding Yao, Zhuo Wanqiu, and Wen Zhengxin—clearly looked fearful.

At that moment, Ji You suddenly moved.

He picked up the spoon, cut the long ingredient in half, placed one portion into the bowl, filled it with broth, and handed it to Kuang Cheng.

He didn’t need it—he was already too strong.

If he took more, Yan Shuyi would wet the bed again, and Yuan Caimei would start refining pills again.

But he thought Kuang Cheng needed it—because in his view, Old Kuang and Wei Rui’s progress was far too slow.

At this sight, Wei Rui’s face flushed crimson, and she lowered her head, silent.

“Brother Ji, this is inappropriate.”

“It’s perfectly appropriate—don’t be so formal.”

Ji You refused Kuang Cheng’s protest, then picked up another bowl, thought for a long moment, and served the remaining half to Cao Jingsong.

Old Cao’s beard practically bristled—he thought, you little brat, your master is still a virgin!

What are you trying to make me do? What are you trying to make me do!

Ji You pretended not to notice Cao Jingsong’s embarrassment, sat down, and began picking at the dishes, taking two sips of soup by way of token.

After all, it was specially prepared by Old Qiu—he couldn’t refuse to drink even a drop.

But as he brought the broth to his lips, he saw Ding Yao and Zhuo Wanqiu across from him exchange a look of utter horror.