Chapter 43: The Scent of a Wealthy Woman

At midday, the high sun slightly dispelled the lingering cold of late winter.

Yan Shuyi dozed off at the table, and upon waking, saw Ji You packing his belongings.

During their evening chat by the hearth yesterday, the two had already discussed the strange events that had occurred across Qingyun Realm in recent days.

The junior overseer knew his journey was meant for the ruins, but he held a different view on the Heavenly Book Academy’s arrangements.

“Have you considered that if this is truly a long-term conspiracy, it must be meticulously planned—you might find nothing at those three ruins, and even risk your life.”

“I think so too, but… the demonic seeds must be dealt with eventually.”

Yan Shuyi looked at him: “Why?”

Ji You recalled the lanterns he’d seen on the northern slopes of Wanzhuo Mountain: “I don’t care how many cultivators die, but if those things truly are, as the Office of Affairs has investigated, no longer bound by the ruins’ limits and fond of eating living humans alive, they must be eliminated.”

Yan Shuyi tilted her head at him: “What about the inner court slot?”

“People always face choices; sometimes I’d rather follow my instinct.”

“I want to go out and have some fun.”

“?”

Ji You turned to look at her: “Your thinking is too erratic.”

Yan Shuyi stood up, gazing at the red sun outside the door: “Take me out. I’ve never toured Shengjing.”

“I haven’t finished packing yet.”

“Pack later—I want candied fruit. Buy me some candied fruit.”

Later, before the Heavenly Book Academy’s mountain gate, the junior overseer of Lingjian Mountain led an ordinary outer court disciple out of Nishan and into Xicheng’s Yongsheng Street.

Passing the Shengjing Bookstore, Ji You paused slightly, feeling he’d forgotten to visit someone.

Doesn’t matter—he’s not important anyway.

He snapped back to attention and saw Yan Shuyi had already moved ahead, entering a massive ancient building whose sign bore three large characters: Qionghua Pavilion.

This was a thousand-year-old shop catering to cultivators, specializing in selling spirit elixirs, spirit stones, and various magical artifacts.

Its branches spanned Qingyun Realm, and even the top-grade spirit elixirs from Yu Danzong could be obtained here.

Ji You had never come here before—its towering entrance seemed to say: beggars not allowed.

He stepped closer, pulled out his money pouch, glanced inside, and thought: this is barely enough to buy her a small trinket to appease her.

Cao Jixi is so poor!

Has he ever thought about how hard he’s worked these past years?

Ji You clicked his tongue and followed her into Qionghua Pavilion. Coincidentally, several Heavenly Book Academy students were already on the first floor.

Among them were Lu Qingqiu, Du Zhu, and Qian Yunxiao.

The three were all students of Ma Jixi; as Ma Jixi’s birthday approached, they’d come here to buy gifts.

Yan Shuyi didn’t know them; she pointed to a green jade gourd on the shelf and told the shopkeeper to bring it down. After playing with it briefly, she clutched it in her palm, then clattered upstairs.

Lu Qingqiu stared for a long while, then turned to Ji You: “Junior Overseer Ji, bringing a friend to buy magical artifacts?”

“Just browsing.”

“I’ve long suspected Fang Ruoyao’s claim that she’s your fiancée was suspicious—now it’s clear.”

Lu Qingqiu pursed his lips, gazing upstairs: “That girl must be from some noble family—she picked out the shop’s finest storage artifact at a glance. That thing costs hundreds of silver taels.”

After Ji You took away that sudden immortal lady yesterday, the outer court was abuzz with gossip.

Combined with the fact that Ji You had never interacted with Fang Ruoyao before, many had guessed the betrothal was pure fiction.

But the young lady of Yunzhou felt somewhat uneasy, for she’d always believed Ji You favored her.

Du Zhu couldn’t help turning too: “Ji Brother, didn’t you dare tell her you’re poor?”

Ji You ignored him, leaned close to Qian Yunxiao’s ear, and whispered: “Tell Cao Jixi I won’t be investigating the ruins—I might stay here to work off my debts, generation after generation without end…”

Qian Yunxiao swallowed hard: “Ji Brother, hold back—the upstairs items are even more expensive…”

“?”

Ji You hissed and immediately climbed the stairs; others, eager for entertainment, followed him up.

By now, the junior overseer had selected many items, all exorbitantly priced, making Du Zhu and the others’ scalps tingle.

She then fixed her gaze on a bow hanging at the highest point and ordered it taken down.

Lu Qingqiu saw the bow radiated dark luminescence—he guessed its price equaled the total of everything she’d bought so far.

But when Ji You arrived, Yan Shuyi suddenly stopped, turned her head to a man’s brocade robe nearby, took it down, held it against him, and made him freeze.

Qionghua Pavilion didn’t sell mundane goods—this brocade robe was naturally a defensive artifact.

“I’ll take three of these.”

“And boots—get several pairs.”

Yan Shuyi removed her jade token from her waist and handed it to a shop official inside.

Qionghua Pavilion had a VIP system, but jade tokens weren’t sold—they were gifted only to the Seven Immortal Sects or top-tier noble families.

With a jade token, one didn’t pay—bills were sent directly to the token’s affiliated sect.

The junior overseer opened her palm; as a spirit glow emerged from the green jade gourd, all the items she’d bought vanished into it.

Then the gourd was placed into Ji You’s palm.

“I saw you playing with those chopsticks today, so I decided to buy you a set of hidden weapons—might save your life at a critical moment.”

“Also, demonic seeds aren’t strong individually but come in numbers—use arrows to fend them off, so you won’t get surrounded.”

“The green jade gourd stores items—no need for a pack.”

“I… I lied before. I don’t actually like solitude.”

After speaking, Yan Shuyi noticed Ji You was staring blankly, his face showing a thoughtful expression.

She’d never bought anything for a man before—it felt strange, unlike the feeling she got when giving gifts to her senior or junior sisters.

Just then, she suddenly felt a hand brush against her—close enough to feel its warmth.

Then she realized her cheek had been pinched.

Not a dream—this rich woman was real!

Ji You took a deep breath, realizing he’d just pinched her cheek, and held his breath as he looked over.

Unexpectedly, the junior overseer didn’t kick him—her expression was instead slightly dazed.

(End of Chapter)