Chapter 74: Borrowing the Heavenly Book (On Sale Tonight—Requesting First Subscription)

Vast crimson light stained the night, and a massive wave of demonic seeds surged out of the ruin with gushing malevolent energy.

Ji You led the Yu Danzong siblings away from Hongshan Mine, traveling westward toward Ningcheng Town.

This county lay in the northwestern part of Zhongzhou, untouched by malevolent energy.

The surrounding civilians, aided by Da Xia soldiers, were all evacuating toward Ningcheng County—an observation that surprised Ji You.

At such a critical moment, everyone cared only about the ruin; the fact that the Da Xia court responded with such speed indicated that its earlier “rectification of officialdom” was beginning to bear fruit.

Ji You looked ahead through the crowd and saw a black banner embroidered with a python hanging from the lead carriage.

That was the emblem of the Si Xian Jian.

“Big brother, I thought I’d never see you again—how did you escape?”

“There… there were immortals who saved us…”

“Immortals… are there still such immortals?”

They claimed to be the Zhengxin Immortal, the Ruyi Divine Maiden, the Yangshu Heavenly Sovereign, and the Rulong Immortal Emperor—no one knew what they were chanting as they charged through…

“Yes yes, that’s exactly what happened to us too…”

Ji You blended into the crowd, gazing at the inscriptions carved on the roadside walls: “The greatest of immortals serve life and the people,” his gaze slowly growing distant.

Yuanchen too stared at those characters, listening to the clamor around him, and suddenly understood what it meant.

Long after, the crowd arrived at Ningcheng County, where the streets were packed with refugees, all staring at the distant sky now crimson as if dripping blood, watching a bloated, worm-like figure soaring through the blood-red glow.

Beneath its fat body, golden spiritual light surged continuously from the Qiling Mountain Range toward it.

The worm grew stronger with each surge, radiating an even more terrifying aura, as if ready to tear the heavens apart.

The townsfolk knew nothing of this; seeing the spectacle, they immediately knelt like a tidal wave, filled with terror.

Ji You also watched this scene, then suddenly felt a gaze land on him—he turned his head, expression slightly startled.

Beside him stood a teahouse, and on the second floor, a long table: on the east side sat a woman wearing a flower hairpin.

On the other side sat an old man—an old man strikingly familiar.

After pondering for a long while, Ji You realized this was the old physician who had examined his body at the Tian Shu Academy after the demonic seed attack.

The old man now waved at him, offering a gentle smile.

You Yingqiu also watched the boy, her eyes unreadable.

The demon was about to ascend, yet she could not fathom why her master insisted on meeting him.

“I’m going up to see an acquaintance—you haven’t paid yet, don’t run off.”

Ji You turned to Yuanchen and suddenly noticed someone was missing: “Hey, where’s your sister?”

Yuanchen pointed toward a spot in the city: “She said she’s going to get you some silver notes.”

“Then go watch over her—don’t let her slip away.”

“?”

Ji You climbed the teahouse stairs, blinked at the old man: “It really is you—what a coincidence, what are you doing here?”

The old man chuckled, stroking his long beard: “I was summoned by the Si Xian Jian—to treat the wounded, and to prevent plague from too many corpses, by taking early precautions.”

“I see.”

“Come, come, boy, sit down and have tea with me—I have some matters to discuss with you.”

Ji You had met the old physician only once, hardly a close acquaintance, but since their last conversation had been pleasant, he accepted without refusal.

You Yingqiu poured him tea, said nothing, and sat quietly beside him.

The old man studied him for a long while: “Long time no see—you’ve grown stronger?”

“Stronger? Not really—just weathered from sleeping under the open sky and eating wherever I can.”

“I say you’ve grown much stronger. If nothing changes, you’ll outlive the headmaster of your Tian Shu Academy.”

You Yingqiu nearly spat out her tea, coughed, and fumbled a handkerchief from her sleeve to frantically wipe her lips.

Ji You knew the old man was referring to his previous letter home: “Your insight is… still remarkable, but there probably won’t be any chance.”

“Why won’t there be a chance?”

Ji You thought: I don’t plan to return to Tian Shu Academy—I’m going to become a bandit.

This idea had only existed in his imagination, still needing logical refinement—but now, no longer.

Yuan Caimei carried the Ling Xi Dan; when I collect payment, I’ll take one pill. Then, once I find Wen Zhengxin and the others, I’ll swallow it and lie down on the ground.

From now on, the world will lose one immortal youth determined to outlive the headmaster—and gain one brilliant, legendary bandit.

But this thought could never be spoken—it was his secret.

Seeing Ji You silent, the old man chuckled: “You don’t want to return to Tian Shu Academy, do you?”

“No, don’t slander me—Tian Shu Academy is a warm harbor in my heart; the people there are interesting and speak beautifully.”

Ji You sipped his tea calmly, thinking: Is my bandit ambition really that obvious? That can’t be right…

The old man set down his teacup: “Everyone has their own path. Becoming a private cultivator might bring a better life—I once knew a cultivator like that.”

Ji You suddenly became interested: “And then?”

“He left his immortal sect, couldn’t farm, and couldn’t wake up early—so he lived the carefree life of a cloud and crane, eating today’s meal without knowing where tomorrow’s would come from. When starving, he climbed the mountains to become a bandit, only to find he couldn’t rob immortal sects, so he robbed poor villagers instead. Then he married a woman not much different from himself, and the cycle repeated with the next generation.”

The old man continued: “The woman was decent—couldn’t wield a sword, wasn’t arrogant or moody, gentle and virtuous, and adored quietness.”

You Yingqiu sipped her tea and noticed Ji You’s face turning increasingly green—she nearly choked again.

Since her master had descended the mountain specifically to see him, she’d sensed her master held a deep fondness for this boy.

Now seeing her master practically writing “Leaving Tian Shu Academy means starving” on his face, she was certain of it.

The demon in the distant sky was growing stronger by the moment, yet in her master’s eyes, it mattered less than convincing him to stay—she simply couldn’t understand.

At that moment, the old man pulled a gold ingot from his sleeve and placed it on the table: “Back to the matter at hand—I have something to ask. Could you allow me to use it?”

“What is it?”

“A small object—it won’t cost you anything. Here’s the rent.”

Ji You stared at the gold ingot on the table, fell silent for a long while, then spoke seriously: “Use it. Do as you please.”

You Yingqiu didn’t know what her master intended to borrow, but moments later her eyes widened in disbelief as she stared to the right.

The instant Ji You uttered “do as you please,” the Tian Shu within the jade casket suddenly erupted with overwhelming energy, as if an immortal Dao had awoken from slumber.

She stared, stunned for a long time, then couldn’t help but gaze at Ji You in horror.

Simultaneously, as the Tian Shu awakened, thunder cracked across the void, and a violet lightning bolt descended from above.

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(End of chapter)