Chapter 91: Ask the Dao for a Day Off

The refugee plague incident has ended; the Yuan siblings will soon depart to return to their sect.

Ji You’s meal, besides celebrating his safe return, can also be considered a farewell for the brother and sister.

After all, they had shared life and death; there was genuine affection between them, though Yuan Chen’s character was dubious, often scheming to trade his sister’s pure, jade-like virtue for his own gain.

“You’re treating us to dinner?”

“Brother-in-law, aren’t you cultivating tonight?”

Upon hearing Ji You was paying, Yuan Chen was delighted yet puzzled.

He still remembered that for the past few days, his brother-in-law would rush him home every evening, dragging him off to the cultivation hall as if the Dao itself might flee if delayed a moment.

For this, his instructor often wept with deep satisfaction.

Ji You smiled confidently: “Not tonight. I’ll just ask my Dao for leave later.”

Kuang Cheng, having exchanged some silver taels at the bank to send to the orphanage, was startled: “Is the Dao… alive? Can it truly communicate with cultivators?”

“How could the Dao be alive?”

“Then why does Brother Ji need to ask the Dao for leave just to meet us?”

After a moment’s thought, Ji You said: “The Dao I observe is alive. If I don’t ask for leave, it throws a tantrum.”

Yuan Chen and Kuang Cheng both failed to grasp his riddle, but cared far more about food, and immediately asked: “So what are we eating tonight?”

“Whatever you like—I’ve made plenty from you two. Pick your meal and tell your sister.”

“Me? Brother-in-law, since you’re treating, you should be the one to ask.”

Though Yuan Chen had accepted Xiao Jianzhu as his sister, he always felt something was off about his brother-in-law not being blood-related.

With their return to Yu Danzong imminent and no knowing when they’d meet again, his heart for matchmaking his sister warmed again.

Ji You, anyway, needed to return to the Heavenly Book Academy to ask his “Dao” for leave. Hearing this, he nodded and followed the twilight back to the cultivation hall, seated on the ground, and sent his spiritual sense soaring.

“I’m going out to dinner—with the Yuan siblings and Kuang Cheng.”

“No.”

The immortal beneath Xuwu Mountain, upon hearing he planned to dine out, froze with icy disdain, then leapt from the mountain to kick him—only for her feet to be touched repeatedly.

Indeed, this stranger was brazen beyond measure.

First he pinched her face, now he touched her feet—he hadn’t even surpassed her yet, yet already his thoughts descended.

Yet whenever her snow-white, delicate feet were held in his grasp, the immortal always felt her body soften, and could never muster the words to kill him.

“Wanqiu has already returned to the mountain and reported to me for days—why haven’t the Yuan siblings left? Do they truly intend to live permanently at the Heavenly Book Academy?”

“Didn’t I already say? Yuan Chen is helping me refine medicine; he can’t return yet. Today’s matter is settled—this meal is a farewell for them.”

Ji You looked at her, thinking the immortal was acting all pouty today.

He told her daily about Yuan Chen aiding refugees; she naturally knew the elixir had only been refined yesterday.

Yet she asked him every day, fretting over why the Yuan siblings hadn’t left yet—clearly bothered by it.

Yan Shuyi noticed his gaze, feigned calmness, and straightened her slender willow waist: “Don’t overthink it. I’m just curious what you’re eating tonight.”

“I want braised bones, but the girl Kuang Cheng likes doesn’t seem to approve.”

“All you think about is braised bones.”

Yan Shuyi still resented the first time Ji You took her out to eat—braised bones, utterly inedible.

No wonder other girls disliked it—such food was truly uncouth.

Who among women would gape wide to gnaw meat off bones?

Yet recalling that day’s “spontaneous” trip to Shengjing, Yan Shuyi suddenly felt a pang of nostalgia.

Compared to the internal struggles of Lingjian Mountain and the external pressures now looming, sitting with Ji You to gnaw bones like Yuan Caimei was something she deeply envied.

She felt Ji You should have taken her, not the Yuan siblings.

“When you come to Shengjing again, I’ll take you to eat something delicious—and introduce you to the girl Kuang Cheng likes.”

“I never said I wanted to follow you to eat good food.”

“But your expression right now clearly shows envy.”

Ji You mimicked her gaze, squinting at her for a long while: “Why not come down the mountain now to play with me? With your Yingtian realm speed, we could even have breakfast together.”

Yan Shuyi lifted her snow-white face to look at him: “I’m not some little girl you can lure away with a single word.”

“Who was it who came without being lured last time?”

“I already said last time was just convenient—I didn’t come specially for you. Go eat your braised bones.”

Yan Shuyi shooed him off, propped her rosy cheek on her palm, and sat on the empty mountain—suddenly, a real urge to run away stirred within her.

Ji You then rose and left the cultivation hall, heading toward the small courtyard assigned to Yu Danzong disciples.

At this moment, a group had just departed from the courtyard’s front.

They came from the Inner Courtyard: He Lingxiu, a direct disciple of Zizai Hall, and You Buyu, a direct disciple of Jixiang Hall.

For the past few days, under the joint guidance of Yu Danzong and the Heavenly Book Academy, Yuan Caimei and You Buyu had been interacting daily—today was no different.

They admired the ten thousand acres of Lin Hai’s new sprouts, and the spring breeze swirling through the sea of clouds.

You Buyu was refined and witty, often drawing laughter from Yuan Caimei, and felt quite satisfied himself.

They had planned to dine together at a restaurant tonight, but Yuan Caimei said she would depart tomorrow and wished to rest well—so You Buyu accompanied the group to escort her back.

Now, seeing Ji You descend from the mountain and enter Yuan Caimei’s courtyard directly, the group halted.

For days, rumors had spread through the academy that a Heavenly Book Academy disciple had taken a Yu Danzong direct disciple outside the city to treat refugees—even they found his conduct baffling.

Like those who cried “wasteful,” they too believed it was exceedingly rare to meet a Dantian master, let alone a Yu Danzong direct disciple.

With such an opportunity, one would naturally beg for a pill to elevate one’s realm.

Giving it to refugees? Utter madness…

Yet while others deemed Ji You’s actions incomprehensible and foolish, another rumor surfaced.

Someone claimed the Yu Danzong direct disciple had consistently called Ji You “brother-in-law.”

Since Yuan Chen called Yuan Caimei “sister,” the “brother” in “brother-in-law” must refer to this daughter of the Yu Danzong patriarch.

Thus, some sharp-witted individuals speculated whether their shared life-and-death ordeal in the ruins had already led to secret vows of eternal love.

Yet few truly believed this rumor.

Yu Danzong indeed wished to cultivate ties with the Heavenly Book Academy—after all, the ruins incident had left everyone anxious, sensing chaos looming, and Yu Danzong sought protection.

For someone like Yuan Caimei, the benefits of a marriage alliance could sometimes outweigh her talent in alchemy.

After days of interaction, You Buyu felt Yuan Caimei held him in high regard, speaking with constant smiles—this “brother-in-law” rumor was surely false.

Yet since the rumor existed, Ji You’s solitary arrival at Yuan Caimei’s courtyard—without Yuan Chen—was bound to draw attention.

“Ji You—what is he doing here?”

He Lingxiu pondered, then spoke: “He must be here to see Caimei. She’s been with us daily—he’s had no chance to meet her. Perhaps he heard they’re leaving tomorrow and rushed over.”

You Buyu frowned: “He’s already close to the Yu Danzong direct disciple—why come to see Caimei again?”

“No matter how close he is to her, she’s still a man.”

“What do you mean, Sister Lingxiu?”

He Lingxiu turned to him: “Friendship is never as stable as marriage. Ji You comes from the countryside, with no noble lineage—his intentions are surely complex. Brother You, you may have a rival.”

You Buyu chuckled lightly: “I’m a direct disciple of a hall, at the Rongdao realm. He’s merely an outer courtyard disciple at Tongxuan. Don’t say such things where others can hear—you’ll make yourself a laughingstock.”

“Don’t forget—he saved Caimei’s life.”

“Caimei is an extremely cold and proud woman. Even toward me, she only offers faint smiles. With such a calculated approach, she’d never respond.”

As the words ended, everyone noticed Ji You emerging from Yuan Caimei’s courtyard.

Seeing this, You Buyu and the others turned to He Lingxiu, waiting to see if she’d look embarrassed.

He’d been inside less than a quarter-hour and was already dismissed—He Lingxiu’s earlier words now seemed absurd.

Yet at that moment, their laughter died abruptly.

For as Ji You stepped out into the twilight, Yuan Caimei followed—and she was utterly unlike the woman they’d seen during the day.

The difference lay in her attire.

Yuan Caimei had shed her usual alchemist’s robe and now wore a snowflake-patterned long skirt, adorned with jade hairpins and dangling hair ornaments, her face lightly powdered, her steps graceful.

You Buyu suddenly realized: during their days together, Yuan Caimei had never once dressed this way.

He’d only remembered she was the patriarch’s daughter, assuming her radiance was natural—but now he realized she could be even more beautiful than he’d imagined.

But…

She hadn’t dressed for him.

“Could Caimei really look so stunning? What is she doing with Ji You?”

“It seems she’s going down the mountain…”

“Didn’t she say she’d rest early tonight?”

He Lingxiu was also stunned, meeting You Buyu’s incredulous gaze, speechless.

The five halls of the Inner Courtyard competed with each other, so He Lingxiu and You Buyu were not close.

Her remarks tonight weren’t because she believed the eldest daughter of Yu Danzong would notice an outer courtyard disciple—she simply disliked that she hadn’t bonded with Yuan Chen.

Yet she never imagined she’d witness this scene.

Yuan Caimei walked slowly behind him, her gaze fixed on the man ahead—no one would believe nothing had happened.

He Lingxiu suddenly opened her mouth, thinking of one possibility.

It wasn’t because Yuan Caimei had been with them daily that Ji You had no chance to meet her.

It was because Ji You never invited her—so Yuan Caimei stayed with them…

Why?

He Lingxiu couldn’t understand—first her younger brother, then her older sister—what was so special about this outer sect disciple.

(Wishing everyone a great New Year’s Day in advance, requesting lunar votes and auto-subscription!)

(End of chapter)