Chapter 376: What Need Has He for a Background?

The next morning, dawn light spilled into the city.

Along Changsheng Street, a group of cultivators walked in, entering Shengjing Immortal Garden.

At that time, the new discourse announcement had already been posted.

Bathed in morning light, the crowd gazed at the names on the notice, exchanging silent glances as they murmured.

They had assumed the discourse meeting would end after yesterday’s incident, but Wenda Sect had not called it off.

This outcome surprised them, yet upon reflection, it made perfect sense.

By using the discourse meeting as an excuse to remain in Shengjing and wait for Ji You’s return, they had already revealed their greed to the world, pretending they came solely for the relics of the Ancient Sages’ sacred ground.

So even if they failed to obtain the relic, for the sake of reputation and face, they had to see this matter through to the end.

After all, they did not wish future histories to record: “In the spring of Taiwu Year Three, the discourse meeting was held in Shengjing for five days, then abruptly halted—because a senior elder of an immortal sect was killed by two fingers of a Tian Shu Academy disciple, and the Little Inspector of Lingjian Mountain aided Tian Shu Academy, causing three immortal sects to retreat from the capital in silence.”

Thus, the disciples of immortal clans who had planned to depart now returned to the Guandao Terrace and took their seats.

The large bloodstains on the discourse ground had been cleaned away; the white jade surface gleamed anew, as if nothing had ever happened.

Yet gazing at that familiar spot, memories of yesterday still came rushing back.

At that moment, someone couldn’t help but look up toward the Guandao Towers encircling the entire immortal garden.

Wenda Sect members had already seated themselves, their expressions neutral, as if nothing had occurred.

The Chen Clan and the Shanhai Pavilion disciples arrived in turn, bowing and exchanging pleasantries as usual before taking their seats.

Lingjian Mountain’s representatives also attended as usual; the Little Inspector of Lingjian Mountain sat on the corridor of the Guandao Tower, clad in the Inspector’s immortal robe, his gaze cold and unreadable, betraying no emotion.

“Yesterday nearly ended in battle, yet today they act as if nothing happened—unmoved by departure or arrival, unperturbed by honor or disgrace—truly the dignity of an immortal sect.”

“Naturally. What great storms haven’t immortal sect disciples seen?”

“The Little Inspector of Lingjian Mountain remains as detached as ever—impossible to read…”

“After returning home yesterday, I thought deeply. When I woke, I felt yesterday was merely an illusion born of my heart’s demonic seed—utterly unreal.”

Amid these murmurs, a commotion arose, drawing everyone’s gaze.

Several figures emerged from the corridor of Tian Shu Academy’s Guandao Tower, among them Ji You, seated beside Zuoqiuyang by the attendants of the Hall of Affairs.

Today he wore a new Tian Shu Academy immortal robe, whiter than the one previously shredded by the accusation.

Those who had seen the announcement were not surprised by his presence—many Tian Shu Academy disciples were competing today, several from Fengzhou.

Especially Xiang Fu, who had entered the Inner Academy just last year, rumored to be a student favored by Ji You’s instructor.

Moreover, given Ji You’s nature, it fit his character to appear after yesterday’s incident and humiliate the other three immortal sects.

“Yesterday Ji You went to Wannian County and brought back the official Kuang Sheng from the Imperial Immortal Supervision. He then went to the Little Inspector’s courtyard and stayed for over an hour.”

“He did help resolve the situation—paying respects first isn’t unreasonable. Didn’t he return later anyway?”

“It’s said he spent the night at Tian Shu Academy and didn’t leave the mountain to meet anyone else.”

Amid low voices, the crowd exchanged brief remarks.

Yesterday, seeing the Little Inspector pull out his personal silk handkerchief to wipe Ji You’s blood, then casually take a robe from his own gourd to change him, the city buzzed all day, and many stayed awake all night.

Many refused to believe it, yet couldn’t convince themselves otherwise— tossing and turning, unable to sleep.

So everyone paid close attention when both appeared today.

Yet now the two exchanged no words, sitting upright with cold, proud gazes, as if strangers—leaving no clear judgment possible.

In truth, this was the result of Yan Shuyi’s stern warning to Ji You yesterday: to avoid amplifying “misunderstandings,” they must not speak in public.

Though Ji You found her stubborn, he knew the old saying: “Show affection, and you die fast,” so he agreed to this cold approach.

Thus the scene became one where yesterday’s affair had barely surfaced, yet today they acted as if they didn’t know each other.

“How long do you think the Inspector can go without glancing at her husband?”

“A single incense stick, no more…”

“An incense stick? Impossible. I bet it’s less than half a cup of tea. Ten taels on it?”

“Done.”

Ding Yao and Zhuo Wanqiu stood side by side to the left front of Yan Shuyi, near the corridor pillar, whispering as they organized a wager on their own Inspector.

The discourse competition began; two participants from immortal sects ascended the stage, demonstrating the art of technique transformation—the most fundamental method of refining spells.

Though basic, after a thousand years of evolution, each sect’s transformation methods had diverged, and which method proved most stable and simple became one of the competition’s key contests.

On the discourse stage, as the bronze gong rang, the two cultivators began demonstrating their technique transformations.

The Little Inspector’s gaze instantly sharpened, emotionless, revealing neither admiration nor disdain.

Ji You leaned forward slightly, feigning profound detachment, eyes fixed straight ahead.

The only two not focusing on the discourse ground were Ding Yao and Zhuo Wanqiu—they were counting.

The difference between half a cup of tea and an incense stick was vast: the former took about two or three hundred counts, the latter twice as many.

“One…”

“Two…”

“Five…”

“Eight…”

“Eleven…”

“…”

Their silent counting had been synchronized, but soon halted abruptly.

For when they reached thirteen, they noticed their Inspector’s gaze had shifted leftward, her eyelashes trembling slightly.

At that moment, the crowd below the Guandao Terrace also froze.

Their lack of interaction made the situation murky, shaking even those who had believed the rumors, and emboldening those who still refused to accept it.

Look—Ji You sat upright, never glancing aside since arriving, just like everyone else, too afraid to stare directly at the celestial goddess—hardly the demeanor of an Inspector’s consort.

Yet when they unconsciously turned to the Little Inspector, they saw her glance away as if by accident—watching Ji You.

The mutual agreement was real, but upon seeing Ji You here, the Little Inspector realized she had been hasty.

This was the first time she had revealed to the world that she had a husband—and she couldn’t help herself, constantly wanting to steal a glance to see if he was watching her too.

She soon noticed others watching her, so she propped her chin with her hand, her beautiful phoenix eyes glowing with sword qi, instantly forcing those staring at her to lower their gazes.

Yet as she gazed, she noticed someone approaching from behind, handing her a note.

“Go out and play later.”

“?”

The discourse meeting had a mid-session break—for preparation and rest.

At that moment, Yan Shuyi rose gracefully from her seat, left the Guandao Tower, and headed toward the back courtyard, then exited through an alley and found Ji You.

Shengjing was crowded and full of eyes; good places were few. After winding through back alleys, they entered the rear courtyard of Wu Lü Trading House.

Since last year’s New Year’s celebration here, Yan Shuyi had never properly returned—she saw the paper lanterns tied last year still hanging from the eaves, swaying gently in the wind.

“Have you met Zuoqiuyang?”

“Mm. After verification, it’s indeed a fragment of human destiny. Clearly, something grave has gone wrong within the Ancient Sages’ sacred ground.”

Yan Shuyi tore her gaze from the lanterns: “Problems must be solved. But when the sacred ground cracked, entry became impossible. Its natural repair requires endless time—so only Yu Danzong can resolve this.”

Ji You nodded: “So he asked me to go to Danshan as a mediator, hoping the Yuan family can repair the sacred ground and reopen the entrance to investigate.”

“He’s clever—he knows Yuan Caiwei is in Yu Danzong. Even if Danshan still has sealing arrays, he knows you’ll be the one to knock down its gates.”

“?”

Ji You caught a whiff of sourness. He thought: We’ve flown together, and you were the one who shared it first—why are you jealous now?

Yan Shuyi glared at him: “When are you leaving?”

“I set conditions with Zuoqiuyang. I’ll depart once he fulfills them.”

“Remember to go quickly and return soon…”

Ji You reached out and pinched her slightly jealous cheek: “The next round’s about to start. Are you coming back?”

Yan Shuyi glanced toward the western garden, then turned her gaze to the main hall opposite.

Since everyone had left after the New Year’s celebration two years ago, the room remained unchanged—the winter fire stove stood close at hand.

“I want roasted sweet potatoes,” Yan Shuyi whispered.

“Then we won’t go back. Let’s roast sweet potatoes. But if we’re both absent, rumors will spread again.”

“Just idle gossip. We stand upright—why fear crooked shadows? Let them talk. What harm is there?”

Ji You stepped inside, cleaned the stove, and thought: Where’s our virtue? We’re already crooked enough, buried deep in the quilts.

Yan Shuyi had already sat on her small stool, watching Ji You light the fire and place sweet potatoes into the stove. Though her expression remained cold and proud, she looked oddly docile.

Meanwhile, in Shengjing Immortal Garden, countless people tilted their heads upward, staring at the two empty seats on the north and west sides.

The mid-session break was short; the next round was ready to begin. They had just been discussing the Little Inspector’s glance at Ji You when they realized both were missing.

One was a Lingjian Mountain Weapon Keeper, the next Patriarch; the other, an ordinary Inner Academy disciple from Fengzhou. Their status differed vastly—before any sign appeared, no one would have thought twice.

But once a sign appeared, the truth became clear.

They knew: the Little Inspector of Lingjian Mountain and Ji You had left together—and were now together…

Wenda Sect, the Chen Clan, and Shanhai Pavilion members also stared at the two empty chairs, their expressions grim.

Especially Shang Xiyao, his dark eyes brimming with malice.

Seeing that murderous gaze, everyone trembled inwardly.