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Chapter 295 Peaceful Years
Strolling through the lantern festival, listening to operas and watching music, raising a glass in a toast, the night is now undoubtedly deep and boundless.

However, the word "again" in "again deep" indicates that there was another similar late night before, when Yan Shu and Yuan Caiwei, who were drinking tea, simultaneously recalled the night before when one act ended and the other began.

Upon thinking of this, the four fair and delicate feet under the tea table instantly curled up.

After the fierce battle last night, apart from a brief exchange in the early morning, the three of them did not mention the events of last night again throughout the day.

Sweeping the courtyard, putting up couplets, eating, and admiring the lanterns—it all went on as if nothing had happened.

This is mainly because every scene last night seemed absurd, so not only did Yan Shuyi stubbornly refuse to admit it, but Yuan Caiwei also avoided it. As a result, although she spoke softly in the morning, she still addressed him as "Young Master".

In the eyes of the two women, it might be easier to accept letting things take their natural course in the future.

But the night is just like yesterday's night, the main characters are all here, and there is no one else. Ji You's words, "The night is getting deeper," are full of information and instantly shatter the two's feigned composure.

Yan Shuyi looked at him with her eyebrows raised: "Since Young Master Ji also says it's getting late, then I won't bother you any longer. We've only met by chance, so thank you for your hospitality today."

They were all filled up and yet they met by chance...

After hearing this, Yuan Caiwei blinked and pretended not to understand anything. She gently moved her hips and decided to go back with them.

She had run out of pills, and without the young apprentice to share the burden, she was struggling to cope on her own and felt it might be fatal.

As for the young appraiser, she hasn't admitted to what happened last night all day, so she won't be easily tricked again.

Even if she were to be tortured, she couldn't be tortured side-by-side with Yuan Caiwei anymore, unless she couldn't take it anymore.

However, the next moment, they saw Ji You take out a stack of playing cards and a stack of red envelopes from the drawer.

"After the new year comes the first day of the new month, may you have peace and safety every year."

"?"

Yan Shuyi took hers from his hand, opened it and glanced at it. She saw a stack of silver notes and pursed her lips slightly.

Yuan Caiwei took it, opened it, and saw the silver notes inside; her eyes flickered slightly.

This is the most vulgar thing in Qingyun Tianxia, ​​but both of them know that Ji You is extremely stingy with money and would not even part with it for himself.

“Last time during the New Yuan Festival, I spent all my money trying to whet Fengzhou Immortal Manor’s appetite with the Dan Sect’s reserve pills, so I didn’t give them any. Today, I’m making up for all the previous losses.”

Yan Shuyi and Yuan Caiwei looked up at him, knowing that he was saying that the red envelopes had been prepared long ago and had little to do with what happened last night.

Ji You spread the cards on the table: "What I meant was that it's late, do you want to play cards?"

"You scoundrel."

Why do you all look so scared?

Yan Shuyi squinted, thinking to herself that the scoundrel's mind worked pretty fast.

He was clearly touching her foot just now, obviously trying to tease her, but now he's seriously saying he wants to play cards.

She stared intently at the deck of cards Ji You had brought, a hint of curiosity suddenly appearing on her face.

This deck of cards is the same Dou Dizhu they played at the Pantheon before, but the cards have been redrawn.

The card depicted a woman holding a sword with a magic mirror hanging above her head. Although the drawing wasn't very good, it was clearly her.

Yuan Caiwei also saw a card that looked like herself.

The reason he could tell it was him wasn't because the painting looked very similar, but mainly because there was a three-legged alchemy furnace in front of the woman.

"Did you draw it?"

Ji You nodded: "I usually draw casually during my free time and breaks from cultivation. I just happened to finish it before the new year."

Yan Shuyi raised her eyes and realized that if it weren't for what happened yesterday, the stranger might have just wanted to invite them to play cards together.

Thinking of this, she couldn't help but recall the scene last night when he held back and urged her to leave quickly.

Although the scoundrel kept talking about endless life whenever they met, he never forced her, nor did he use sweet words to deceive her into having sex, as is often said in folk tales.

Ji You laid the cards in her hand flat on the table: "Let's make it clear first, the loser has to take off a piece of clothing."

"?"

As soon as she finished speaking, Yan Shuyi threw a punch, while Yuan Caiwei couldn't help but bite her lip.

Despite all those tricks, that scoundrel still wants to get rid of them.

Ji You blocked the punch, thinking to himself that it was nothing, there was plenty of time...

In truth, he knew in his heart that if it were only one of them, he might have given in halfway, but with three of them... it could only be said that the elixir had made a huge contribution, and it would be extremely difficult to replicate.

Besides, Yan Shuyi never admitted it and refused to cry and call him "husband" in his arms anymore. It was difficult enough to get her to do it, let alone anything else.

Ji You felt that having a yellow heart was an elegant thing, different from lewdness. He was not the kind of person who would spend all his time on such things after accidentally gaining an advantage.

Anyway, the person is already his, and can't run away.

It might be easier to take them down one by one once they're separated.

Ji You reached for the cards and noticed that Yuan Caiwei suddenly leaned in, seemingly wanting to see what was drawn on the next card. So he reached out and pinched her nose.

Then, out of the corner of his eye, he saw the stunningly beautiful fairy beside him squinting her eyes, causing sword energy to whistle throughout the room.

Even though they fought side by side, his jealousy hasn't diminished at all.

The lantern festival during the New Year will last for three days, so the festivities continue until the early morning of the following day, with people walking and praying in the streets and alleys covered by the morning mist.

Just after dawn, light snow began to fall.

The backyard of Wulu Trading Company was pushed open, and Cao Jingsong, Ban Yangshu, and Wen Zhengxin came in one after the other.

During the holiday, they were on the move and had no time for quiet seclusion. Yesterday, they were invited to a banquet by the newly admitted Fengzhou youths, so they came to Wulu Trading Company early this morning.

Upon entering, they saw the young appraiser of Lingjian Mountain sitting gracefully at the tea table, sipping tea with exquisite beauty, like a fairy in a painting.

The three of them played cards all night yesterday. Yuan Caiwei was the first to run out of energy and was carried back to her room by Ji You to rest.

Whether Yuan Caiwei was taken advantage of after entering the room is unknown, but when Ji You returned, the appraiser found out that she had been kissed.

But despite the kissing, she remained the same: she'd never eaten or cooked it before, and if asked, she'd claim it was a complete stranger. When she kissed him, she was aggressive, not even closing her eyes.

Then she discovered that Ji You's mouth tasted of a different kind of salt, and couldn't help but bite him, leaving a wound.

Ji You went to the kitchen to make breakfast, while she began to sit and drink tea.

Upon seeing her, Cao Jingsong and the others stopped in their tracks and exchanged glances in the snow-covered courtyard.

"So, the young appraiser spent the new year in Shengjing?"

"Um……"

"It seems that the woman who lived in Junior Brother Ji's courtyard a few years ago was indeed her."

They discovered the affair between the young master of Lingjian Mountain and Ji You during the Heavenly Dao Society meeting, and they had also guessed that the woman Ji You had kept in the courtyard was her, but it was only now that their suspicions were confirmed.

Even so, the three of them couldn't help but feel a little nervous when they saw her.

The youngest Boundless Realm expert in the world, and the next sect leader of Spirit Sword Mountain, he seems aloof and superior no matter how you look at him.

Especially since Yan Shuyi's expression was indifferent at this moment, although he did not release any aura, the pressure he naturally exerted after holding a high position for many years was still there, making people even more afraid to overstep their bounds.

Yan Shuyi had already sensed someone entering the courtyard. He turned around and saw that it was Cao Jingsong and the others. So he got up from the bamboo couch with the tea table on it.

Upon seeing this, Cao Jingsong gently cupped his hands in greeting.

When they were watching the battle at the Heavenly Dao Society, they accidentally entered the Little Master's viewing pavilion. At that time, the Little Master was the same; upon seeing her, he stood up, and his manners were impeccable.

"Greetings, Your Excellency."

Yan Shuyi spoke softly, "Greetings to the three of you."

Cao Jingsong looked around the room: "Where is my beloved student?"

“Cooking in the kitchen.”

"How has the appraiser been in Shengjing these past few days?"

Yan Shuyi nodded slightly: "I came to Shengjing to wander around with the intention of entering the world to cultivate myself, but I did not expect to meet Ji You. I have been treated well by him these past few days."

Hearing the young appraiser distance himself completely, the three of them didn't believe it at all.

They returned to Fengzhou together during the Heavenly Dao Society and witnessed the scene of the Little Master of Lingjian Mountain running out every day to hear people calling her Madam Ji.

Just then, Ji You came in from the courtyard with breakfast in her hands. After entering the hall, she looked at Cao Jingsong and asked, "Why are you here?"

"Just as the new year begins, I briefly left the pass to come and see you."

Ji You looked at the three of them and found that their auras were indeed much stronger than when they last met, so their cultivation seemed to be going well.

Cao Jingsong and the other two were also sizing him up, their gazes focusing on the fresh teeth marks on the corner of his mouth. They thought to themselves, "So this is the kind of hospitality that the young master of Lingjian Mountain was talking about."

Just then, Yan Shuyi, who was holding the hot spring, suddenly got up from the table and walked towards the courtyard.

Ji You subconsciously glanced back and found that Ding Yao and Zhuo Wanqiu had returned to the courtyard. It seemed that they had already sent Yuan Chen back to the Wei family's villa and had come to report back.

He didn't pay much attention, but turned to Cao Jingsong and asked, "How effective is the Fang family's spiritual platform?"

Cao Jingsong looked away from the corner of his mouth: "The effect is truly remarkable. I estimate that he will be able to break through in another two or three years."

"Two or three years?"

"This is already fast. Do you think everyone is like you?"

Cao Jingsong knew that Ji You's cultivation had gone wrong; otherwise, he should have entered the Fusion Realm two years ago in the summer.

But in reality, it's common for cultivators to maintain the same routine for decades. Even the most talented cultivator, the young master of Lingjian Mountain, needed many years to cross a major realm. Ji You, holding a bowl of congee, said, "Elder Fang, may you cause trouble for me because you have the Spirit Platform in your hands?"

"No, Elder Fang left the hospital and never asked about the Lingtai again."

"?"

Ji You paused in her movements: "When did you leave the hospital?"

Cao Jingsong frowned and pondered for a moment: "Probably around seven or eight days before the new year."

"Seventh or eighth day..."

Ji You calculated the days and frowned slightly.

Seeing this, Cao Jingsong leaned forward and asked, "What's wrong?"

"I encountered Fang Jincheng at Zuixianlou when he was out seeking pleasure. At the time, I was puzzled as to why Elder Fang dared to let him out. It turns out it was because he wasn't at Mount Ni. But what was he doing away from the mountain at this time?"

Cao Jingsong stroked his long beard: "He said he's gone home, but you know he doesn't have much time left. Before his time comes, he always wants to give his family some instructions. You might never see him again."

Ji You scooped up the rice porridge from the bowl again: "Good people don't live long, but evil people live for a thousand years. He still has a few years left to live. He can't just go home and die like that."

Upon hearing this, Ban Yangshu couldn't help but say, "What Instructor Cao means is that Elder Fang might pass on his skills to his family members."

"Transmit power?"

"It is a method of enlightenment, where one leaves the enlightenment one has gained to future generations to ensure the continuation of the clan's glory. However, this technique consumes a great deal of lifespan and cannot be used unless one is dead. But it is indeed a forbidden technique that makes some aristocratic families grow bigger and bigger."

After listening, Cao Jingsong said, "The Fang family has a huge influence in Zhongzhou. The reason is that Elder Fang is in charge of the Tianshu Academy. If he really passes away, the Fang family will definitely weaken for a long time, and it may cause Zhongzhou to be in chaos for a while."

When a person is about to die, everything becomes nothing. It is a good thing to leave the enlightenment one has gained to future generations, at least to ensure that the family does not decline.

However, the loss of a Boundless Realm expert will significantly weaken the family's strength. Other families will not wait for them to recover and will definitely take action.

In fact, this is not uncommon.

Whenever a powerful figure falls, conflicts inevitably arise in the various states of Qingyun.

It's the same principle as if Ji You were to die, and Fengzhou would be divided up by the powerful families of the other eight prefectures.

However, giving enlightenment to future generations doesn't seem to be the only option when one's time is up. At this moment, Ji You suddenly remembered the elder who attacked him with divine sense.

He later inquired and learned that the person was a Divine Realm cultivator who had lived for countless years and whose lifespan had long since run out, but later used some secret technique to extend his lifespan by falling into a deep sleep.

Ji You had a fairly clear understanding of the elder, and felt that he was more likely to continue to eke out a living with this secret technique, rather than going home to pass on his skills.

In fact, Cao Jingsong also had doubts about his departure.

Since the Fang family's spirit altar is a heirloom, even if he were to die, he should still reclaim it.

"Ji You".

"What's wrong, senior sister?"

"How exactly did you capture the heart of such a cold and beautiful fairy?"

Wen Zhengxin had not participated in the conversation, but had been staring at the young appraiser in the courtyard. At this moment, he couldn't help but turn to Ji You and say something.

Hearing the sound, everyone looked outside the courtyard and saw Yan Shuyi standing sideways in the courtyard, holding a letter with a cold and arrogant expression.

Seemingly sensing that everyone's attention was focused on him, the young appraiser turned around and, upon seeing Ji You, habitually narrowed his eyes, causing everyone to stare in astonishment.

Wen Zhengxin and Ban Yangshu did not stay at Wulu Trading Company for too long, as they were eager to return to their cultivation.

Cao Jingsong knew that students would be visiting him today and bringing gifts, so he left as well.

They came here for no important reason; it was merely to observe the new Yuan customs.

Ji You escorted them to the back gate. When she returned, she found that Yan Shuyi had already returned to the hall, and Ding Yao and Zhuo Wanqiu had already started eating porridge.

"Uncle."

"Yuan Chen went back?"

Zhuo Wanqiu nodded and then asked quietly, "Did the young master play cards with my appraiser all night last night?"

Ji You nodded: "Not bad."

As soon as he finished speaking, he saw the puzzled looks in Ding Yao's and Zhuo Wanqiu's eyes.

But they didn't know that what they were thinking about was what they had already done last night.

Ji You sat cross-legged at the table and continued eating the porridge she hadn't finished earlier when she felt a foot resting on her leg under the table.

Before long, Ding Yao and Zhuo Wanqiu finished their porridge: "Master, we're done eating. Let's go back and pack our things."

Yan Shuyi nodded gently: "Go ahead."

Ji You looked up at Yan Shuyi and asked, "Pack your things?"

"I have been in Shengjing for many days and my Dao heart has gradually become clear. Moreover, you and I have only met a few times. It would be inappropriate to disturb you any further. Therefore, I have decided to return to the mountain."

Yan Shuyi wiggled her feet, then sipped her congee.

Ji You looked at her: "If I am pregnant, could you please send me a letter to let me know?"

The appraiser squinted: "I don't know what you're talking about."

Yuan Caiwei soon woke up from her room and stepped into the side hall.

She wasn't awakened by sleep, but by the Heavenly Academy disciple who came to deliver a message. Upon entering the side hall, she immediately noticed the wound on Ji You's lip.

The appraiser was cold for a whole day and night, but after she went to sleep, she ended up sticking to Young Master Ji again.

She felt that after she left, even if her older sister continued to act, she would still be dragged into the room and made to cry out for her husband.

"woke up?"

"Ah."

Ji You handed him a chair: "Would you like to eat?"

After Yuan Caiwei sat down, she gently parted her lips and said, "There is something I need to tell you and my sister. My uncle sent a disciple from the Heavenly Academy with a message that my father has sent word to my brother and me to return to the Pill Sect immediately."

Yuan Chen was at a disadvantage in wielding the sacred artifact and was not supposed to leave the mountain this time. It was only after she pleaded that her father made an exception.

Now that the young appraiser has helped her and learned that Yuan Chen is not rejected by the sacred artifact, she wants to ask Yuan Chen to try again.

Moreover, her father's message sounded urgent, and she wasn't sure if something had happened on the mountain, so she was a little worried.

Ji You didn't mention that she had sent him a message if she was pregnant, because she wasn't as arrogant as Yan Shuyi. If she were really pregnant, she would definitely have sent him a message.

However, to Yuan Caiwei's surprise, when she decided to go back to the Wei family's villa to find her younger brother, Yan Shuyi and Ji You also followed her.

She thought they were seeing her off, but then she heard that the young appraiser was also going back to the mountain.

"Why is the appraiser in such a hurry?"

"I've been away from the mountains for too long, I should go back and show my face."

"It won't happen in just one or two days."

"We'll have to leave eventually, it won't be over in a day or two."

After Yan Shuyi finished speaking, he turned to look at Ji You.

When Yuan Chen heard that he was to set off to return to the mountain, he was filled with despair and begged Ji You to persuade his elder sister.

After watching for a while, Yan Shuyi turned around and went to her room, where she packed her belongings into her storage gourd.

It was bright outside the window, and sunlight dappled the floor through the window frame. The young appraiser tidied up his things and then took out the letter that Ding Yao and Zhuo Wanqiu had brought back earlier from his sleeve.

Throughout the winter, she had people keep a close eye on the movements of those immortal sects, especially the elders who left from the Dongping Mountains but did not return to their sects.

Previously, there were messages saying that they had returned to Qingzhou, and Yan Shuyi thought that they were going to re-investigate the Bu family, but today's message revealed that this was not the case.

After returning to Qingzhou, these people entered the Great Wilderness Forest along the Wujiang River in the southeast.

Qingzhou, Liangzhou, Lingzhou, and Yongzhou are interspersed but not bordering each other. Between the four states lies a vast forest called Dahuang, which is also an ancient place.

Disciples were sent to follow them through the mountains and forests, and they eventually discovered that the group had disappeared before reaching a ruin comparable to Qiling.

Since ancient times, the ancient ruins have been unknowable places, especially the largest ones, which are completely inaccessible to humans.

But now, yet another ruin has been opened.

If the secret of the Bu family's evil lineage lies within, then it will surely be a catastrophe.

Since it was inconvenient for Xiao Jianzhu to receive messages in Shengjing, he decided to return to the mountains first.

She hasn't decided yet whether to tell Ji You about this, because judging from what happened at Dongping Mountain, the stranger was too reckless with his life.

Before things become clear, he might just get himself involved.

After noon, the luggage was packed and loaded onto the carriage.

The fairy's face appeared through the car window, carrying a faint air of aloofness. She looked at the man who was waving gently, as if she were thinking only of severing all emotions and desires.

Not long after the carriage headed south, a letter from the head of the Imperial Household Department was also delivered to Zuo Qiuyang, the master of the Zizai Palace.

This letter, like the one in the young appraiser's hand, also came from Qingzhou.

Meanwhile, letters from the Daoist Sect, the Mountain and Sea Pavilion, the Chen Clan, and others were also quietly arriving at breakneck speed.

(End of this chapter)