Chapter 17: The Chivalrous Pact

Ji Yuan really did come up with a peculiar line of reasoning. However, he first had to agree with Lu Shan Jun, as even the most respectful students enjoy hearing praise from their teachers.

"Learning from one example to understand many, and stopping the killing upon hearing my words, shows that Shan Jun possesses excellent comprehension and valuable execution skills. However, Shan Jun gained his intelligence by cultivating as a fierce tiger. Even though he learned human etiquette from his unfortunate victims, he doesn't fully grasp human ways, hehe..."

Ji Yuan chuckled at this point.

"That scholar Lu, though not a complete bookworm, was only slightly more capable than an ordinary scholar."

At this, Ji Yuan pointed towards the group of young martial artists in the distance.

"Why did these people come into the mountains to hunt the tiger? Naturally, it's because the former Lu Shan Jun devoured many people. Unlike hunters who seek tiger pelts or merchants who seek tiger bones, these individuals hunt tigers solely for the peace of the populace, not for personal gain. At its root, Shan Jun's killing came first, and these martial artists' entry into the mountains followed."

However, at this point, Ji Yuan changed his tone.

"Of course, all that is nonsense. If someone wishes to kill me, I am certainly justified in killing them. Would I not be a fool to simply stick out my neck and let myself be slain?"

Lu Shan Jun found these words extremely comforting; his tiger head even nodded slightly in agreement.

"However, as I said before, these individuals entered the mountains not for personal gain, but for chivalry. Knowing there were tigers, they still chose to go into the tiger's den. Shan Jun, do you believe there are many or few such people in the world?"

The fierce tiger outside the temple frowned slightly in thought before respectfully replying.

"To answer you, Sir, there shouldn't be many!"

Ji Yuan smiled.

"People like Yan Fei, Luo Ningshuang, and Lu Chengfeng are all young martial artists of the jianghu. They still possess chivalrous hearts. Although they may have acted somewhat rashly due to their youth, as long as they adhere to their core principles, it's not impossible for them to cleanse the jianghu and the human world in the future. It wouldn't be wrong for you, Shan Jun, to kill them, but the world might then lose nine righteous individuals."

"These nine young martial artists have solid martial arts foundations, but to you, Shan Jun, they are mere child's play and pose no threat. That is why I'm asking you to show them mercy."

The tiger spirit remained silent. Fearing he might overthink it, Ji Yuan quickly added, his tone unhurried, even slightly humorous.

"I, Ji, would like to make an interesting agreement with you, Shan Jun. Would you be so kind as to oblige?"

"Please, Sir, speak!"

This time, Lu Shan Jun answered very quickly.

"Their chivalrous act today does not guarantee that these nine individuals will remain upright in the future. Even now, they might harbor intentions of gaining fame, and it's certainly understandable for young martial artists to seek renown. Shan Jun, you might as well bear witness. In the future, if any of these nine commit evil, causing chaos and devastation, you shall be the one to justly punish them. Whether you devour or slay them, it will not go against the ways of Heaven. However, if any of them truly earn the name of a benevolent and righteous hero, your actions today will not only offset your past misdeeds but also accrue immeasurable merit! This is about having a righteous heart and clear thoughts!"

"Roar!"

Lu Shan Jun's tiger eyes gleamed, and his demonic energy surged. He felt that some of his previous doubts and worries had been resolved, and in his excitement, he couldn't help but let out a low roar.

He understood Master Ji's reasoning, and the implied meaning was also very clear: he, Lu Shan Jun, the fierce tiger spirit, now had hope of transforming into human form!

How else could he walk among humans and fulfill such an agreement?

Instantly, Lu Shan Jun pondered deeply the profound meaning of Ji Yuan's words, "Cultivation is like being human; maintain a righteous body, heart, and path." He also vaguely grasped the essence of "the Way of Heaven diminishes the excessive and replenishes the insufficient; the Way of Man diminishes the insufficient to serve the excessive." His thoughts truly became clear.

Instead of saying that Master intended to save the nine people, it was more accurate to say he was using them to present a tremendous opportunity to Lu Shan Jun, helping him achieve complete enlightenment!

"Upon hearing your further teachings, Master, Lu Shan Jun bows in gratitude!"

The excited yet respectful tiger finished his reply towards the temple, then turned to look at Lu Chengfeng and the others, startling the somewhat dazed individuals back to their senses.

"Lu Shan Jun will naturally obey your command, Master. May I inquire if you need me to escort them down the mountain?"

"No, no, no, there's no need! We can go down the mountain ourselves, we can!"

Lu Chengfeng and the others quickly refused. Even though they knew the tiger spirit wouldn't eat them at that moment, they still dared not truly stay with a monster.

Ji Yuan quickly seized the opportunity.

"It's best for them to return on their own. Humans in this world harbor deep prejudices against demon-kind. Lu Shan Jun, you should return to the mountains to continue your cultivation!"

With his thoughts now clear, Lu Shan Jun had long wanted to rush off immediately. He had only said that last bit out of respect for Ji Yuan. Now, seeing Ji Yuan tell him to quickly return to cultivation, he only thought that Master was truly a celestial being.

Lu Shan Jun, who was just about to bow and depart, suddenly had an idea and spoke again towards the Mountain God Temple.

"Having received your guidance again today, Master, Lu Shan Jun has nothing to repay you with for now. However, I can grant these few who don't know death... grant these young martial artists a favor..."

At this, the fierce tiger turned and approached the young men. After sizing them up and seeing they were too scared to move, he formed a human-like smile on his tiger face and spoke.

"When you go down the mountain today, you may openly declare that the man-eating tiger in these mountains has been brought to justice. From now on, travelers need not worry about being devoured by the fierce tiger of Niukui Mountain."

After speaking, Lu Shan Jun surprisingly let out a soft growl and spat out a white tiger skin from his mouth. Its fur was stained with blood, as if it had just been freshly peeled.

Then Lu Shan Jun's tiger eyes flickered slightly, and he turned to perform a tiger's salute towards the Mountain God Temple once more.

"Master Ji, your student respectfully takes his leave!"

Seeing that Ji Yuan didn't immediately say anything to object, the tiger spirit, secretly delighted, quickly leaped away as if escaping, his speed creating a blur in the wind. He was gone before another word could be uttered.

It wasn't until Lu Shan Jun had been gone for quite some time that the people inside and outside the temple finally relaxed, as if they had just been relieved of a great burden.

One side sighed, having successfully bluffed their way through once more, while the other was filled with relief at having survived a close call.

But after Ji Yuan relaxed, he suddenly felt a tingling sensation throughout his body, like an electric current. He could even see faint electrical arcs running along his raised hand. In a daze, a phantom image of a chess piece materialized between his index and middle fingers, then instantly vanished into his fingers. Ji Yuan's body vibrated with the sensation.

When Ji Yuan came back to his senses, it was as if everything that had just happened was an illusion. He looked left and right at his hand but couldn't make any sense of it.

After resting for a while, the people outside the temple recovered and quickly entered the Mountain God Temple to thank the high-ranking figure who looked like a beggar, also pulling the suspicious Ji Yuan back to reality.

The bonfire inside the Mountain God Temple was about to die out, leaving only a pile of red embers. All five people who could stand bowed with clasped fists, while the four seriously injured individuals, including Yan Fei, thanked him with all their might.

However, they needed to quickly descend the mountain to seek medical attention, so Lu Chengfeng, at the front, tentatively inquired.

"Thank you, Master Ji, for saving us. We deeply regret not heeding your advice earlier, and we will forever remember your kindness today! However, our companions are very seriously injured, and it's not convenient to remain on the mountain for long. Would you, Master, care to accompany us down the mountain?"

Thankfully, they hadn't forgotten their earlier promise, saving Ji Yuan the trouble of reminding them. Of course, he wouldn't refuse this offer.

"My body is unwell, so if it's convenient, I would naturally accompany you down the mountain."

These people were desperate for Ji Yuan to accompany them; there couldn't possibly be any inconvenience.

No one in the group, whether the young martial artists who had narrowly escaped death or the esteemed Ji Yuan, dared to remain on the mountain. They extinguished the open flame in the temple and immediately set off.

The few people other than Ji Yuan, having practiced martial arts since childhood, were not daunted by the slippery path or the dark night.

That night's events left a deep impression on Lu Chengfeng, Yan Fei, and the others. They realized that demons and monsters truly existed in the world, as did reclusive masters. A sense of awe grew in their hearts, and of course, the agreement weighed heavily on them.

Becoming a renowned hero had once been a dream, but now it seemed they would have to consider their own lives even more carefully!

Four people carried the injured, while Lu Chengfeng carried Ji Yuan. The group moved with incredible speed, as if wind-footed, rushing towards Shuixian Town at the foot of the mountain.