Chapter 170: You Are Biased

Daoist Qingsong and his disciple were not fools. Though Mr. Ji hadn't stated it plainly, it was already quite evident that the two men in brocade robes were no ordinary mortals.

Unlike Ji Yuan's previous life, this era lacked reliable transportation methods. For a live bighead carp, weighing dozens of catties, to be brought up the mountain from the Tongtian River, coupled with their obscured faces, it was clear they were extraordinary beings, perhaps even immortals.

Thanks to the enormous fish, the Yunshan Temple kitchen was a scene of boisterous activity, from its preparation to its cooking.

Fortunately, the stove and pot were large enough; otherwise, preparing that massive fish head would have been quite difficult.

By dinnertime, aside from greens, fruits, and some cured meat, the main course was, unsurprisingly, entirely fish.

Wild ginger from the mountains, fresh pickled cabbage purchased from the villagers below, aged Sichuan peppercorns, and various dried chilies were combined to create a fish head soup that was fresh, savory, and subtly spicy.

An Eight Immortals table was set up in the temple's front courtyard. Among the dishes arranged around it, the most noticeable item was a large pot.

Indeed, lacking bowls large enough and unwilling to compromise the integrity of the fish soup, Daoist Qingsong and his disciple used a spare pot as a serving dish, placing it on four suitable stones before bringing it directly to the table.

This dining arrangement was rather unconventional, and the seasoning was quite good. Bolstered by the day's pleasant mood, the old dragon didn't express much, but the dragon prince, Ying Feng, ate heartily, finding Daoist Qingsong's cooking quite satisfactory.

For the two dragons, this meal was merely a sampling of flavors; getting full was out of the question.

The meal consisted of home-style dishes, accompanied by local wine that Huang Xingye had gifted that day—nothing rare, but the atmosphere surpassed even that of the Water Mansion's birthday feast. Even listening to Daoist Qingsong's audacious fortune-telling tales added spontaneous amusement to the table.

Once they had eaten and drunk their fill, the sky had already become completely dark.

The Ying father and son chatted with Ji Yuan in the temple courtyard until late into the night. The conversation was primarily between Ji Yuan and the old dragon. With his vast and varied knowledge from a past life, coupled with his present mindset and insights, Ji Yuan could contribute to any topic. The old dragon, possessing profound cultivation and extensive experience, offered his unique perspectives on everything he discussed.

Ji Yuan couldn't help but inquire about things he didn't know but found interesting, like the current state of the ten realms and various regions, eager to hear the old dragon's insights.

Driven by curiosity, the old dragon also asked about things he wished to understand. For instance, he casually brought up the sword mark on the border of Chunhui Prefecture in Jizhou. Ji Yuan then recounted how he had once used his flying sword to slay evil spirits a thousand miles away in Yizhou. Though his words were simple, they left both the dragon prince and the two Daoists utterly captivated and yearning for similar experiences.

Naturally, topics sometimes veered wildly. For instance, after Ji Yuan casually mentioned the fish from dinner, the conversation abruptly shifted to how to cook water spirits like "Silver Aperture," demonstrating a rather strong conversational spontaneity.

Ji Yuan spoke with great enthusiasm. Whether his own curious questions or general discussion topics, the old dragon always had something to add. Since arriving in this world, Ji Yuan had rarely experienced such a free-flowing conversation, and he sensed that the old dragon felt similarly.

What was even more remarkable was their complete lack of inhibition regarding minor details. In their heartfelt exchange, their true natures shone through. They spoke freely about anything, capable of criticizing immortals or disdaining other dragon kin.

The conversation then roamed freely, encompassing everything from celestial bodies and the growth of all things, to the divergent paths of demons and the righteous way of cultivation, and from the succession of dynasties to the rise and fall of aristocratic families.

When exploring certain profound principles, they would occasionally reach an impasse. At such moments, Ji Yuan would often be inspired to recall a line or two from the Huangting Taoist scriptures of his past life; uttering them, the meaning would become self-evident. As the night deepened, their conversation increasingly felt like a profound philosophical discourse.

As the night progressed, even the dragon prince Ying Feng refrained from interrupting, listening with rapt attention.

"Ah... ho... So sleepy... Mr. Ji, you two can continue; I need to get some sleep."

"Yes, me too..."

The yawns of the two Daoists brought the conversation to a temporary halt.

Qi Xuan and Qi Wen understood very little of the discussion, mostly listening in a fog. While curiosity initially kept them seated, they could no longer fight off the overwhelming urge to sleep.

"Hey, hey, hey, don't leave! It's beneficial to listen. You two Daoists don't know what's good for you. Do you realize how many powerful figures in this world would beg for the chance to hear a conversation like tonight's?"

Dragon Prince Ying Feng insistently tried to keep Daoist Qingsong and Qi Wen from leaving. The two perpetually yawning men had to appeal to Ji Yuan. They weren't fools; they could certainly discern the extraordinary nature of some of the topics. However, while it was manageable at first, the deeper the conversation went, the more their minds felt overwhelmed, and they simply couldn't endure it any longer.

"Let them rest. The two Daoists are not as physically robust as Your Highness."

Since Ji Yuan had spoken, the dragon prince reluctantly released them, casting a look of regret at Qi Xuan and Qi Wen.

Once the two Daoists left, the dragon prince, who had eagerly hoped to continue listening, discovered that both his father and Uncle Ji had fallen silent.

The old dragon slowly rose and bowed to Ji Yuan with cupped hands.

"After a night of profound conversation with Mr. Ji, I have gained immensely!"

Ji Yuan also rose and returned the gesture with solemn respect.

"The feeling is mutual; I, too, have learned a great deal."

The dragon prince, slightly dazed, glanced towards the eastern sky. Though still dim, he sensed the approach of dawn, realizing an entire night had passed without him noticing.

By then, both the old dragon and Ji Yuan had already left the table.

"It's getting late; I should take my leave. The next time fresh dragon ambergris wine is brewed, I will certainly be the first to seek out Mr. Ji for a shared drink."

"Indeed. Next time, I will also visit Yuanzi Shop to acquire some aged 'Thousand Day Spring' wine for you to savor."

"It's a deal!"

"It's a deal!"

The old dragon beamed, then looked at his son, still by the table.

"What are you staring at? Let's go!"

"Oh, what? Father, why the rush? My sister is in Tongtian River, and you're not even the river god there."

The old dragon shook his head, then grabbed the prince and transformed into a shadow, flying away. He figured if they lingered, his son would shamelessly ask for something.

Ji Yuan watched the dragon's shadow depart, feeling utterly content. The old dragon claimed to have benefited immensely from their night-long conversation, but Ji Yuan felt he had gained even more.

He intended to watch the sunrise, but first, there was one more task.

Ji Yuan lightly leaped, floating like a wisp of catkin, outside Yunshan Temple and landed directly in front of a bush beside the kitchen. He bent down, reached under the bush, and after some fumbling, pulled out two small, gray and white furry creatures.

They were two weasels, still recovering from old wounds, now fast asleep.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk, you two are fortunate. But it would be too tragic if you were to be devoured by wildcats or birds while sleeping here. Let's find you a safer place to rest."

Rising again, he leaped back into Yunshan Temple. With a gentle flick, Ji Yuan swiftly tossed the two small weasels into the temple kitchen, placing them under the firewood pile. He then stepped onto the clouds and ascended towards Yunshan's Sun-gazing Peak.

As the world brightened, he watched the sunrise above the sea of clouds. The sun's energy invigorated his heart fire, which in turn generated stomach earth. Stomach earth nourished lung metal, lung metal transformed into kidney water, and kidney water nourished liver wood, completing the endless cycle of the five elements.

Ji Yuan felt his cultivation progressed unimpeded. He practiced and meditated on the mystical arts within Yunshan, sometimes on Misty Peak, sometimes on Sun-gazing Peak, and sometimes on other summits.

Sometimes in the early morning, he would observe the evolving cloud sea and rising white mist. At other times, in the evening, he would contemplate the shifting balance of Yin and Yang at the precise moment of Taiyin and Taiyang equilibrium.

Undisturbed and free from distractions, he would often spend several days experimenting with an idea, such as using the gentle breeze to convey spiritual essence. Sometimes, Ji Yuan would even, like a child, step on the clouds to chase a wisp of clear wind, attempting to imbue it with a spiritual core.

Furthermore, continuously attempting to draw forth the Samadhi True Fire was far from an overnight endeavor.

Ji Yuan occasionally slept at Yunshan Temple, but mostly he meditated directly in the mountains. It wasn't that he preferred not to sleep in a bed; rather, his deep immersion in understanding the profound mystical arts often made him lose track of time, truly "forgetting both food and sleep."

Sometimes, without realizing it, time would fly by in increments of ten days, and a year or half a year would pass in an instant. Ji Yuan couldn't help but sigh, "There are no years in the mountains."

During this time, minor occurrences, such as Huang Xingye's repeated visits to Yunshan Temple, took place, but none of them involved Ji Yuan.

As the one involved in the incident that attracted evil, Huang Xingye still faced numerous troubles. Even without the explicit instruction from the local Earth God, he had no intention of publicizing the matter of ghosts and spirits. However, Chu Mingcai's death at the Huang residence still required an explanation to Changchuan Prefecture, and he also had to handle all the necessary government affairs.

Despite some vexing complications, Huang Xingye remained largely at peace, as the threat to his life had been removed.

After all matters were resolved, Huang Xingye once again brought people to Yunshan to express his gratitude. Even though he knew it wasn't Daoist Qingsong who had descended the mountain with him, a savior had ultimately been found through Yunshan. Proper etiquette could not be overlooked, and he resolved to send gifts to Yunshan every New Year and holiday.

Spring faded into summer with the hum of cicadas, and summer gave way to autumn with its golden breezes.

It was now the autumn of Ji Yuan's second year of secluded cultivation in Yunshan. Far away in Ning'an County, Desheng Prefecture, Jizhou, the jujube tree in Ju'an Pavilion had bloomed again that year but failed to bear fruit.

In fact, the jujube tree in Ju'an Pavilion had bloomed profusely the previous year but yielded very few fruits. When idle, Yin Qing had climbed the tree countless times to count them. Even counting the "fire dates" still clinging to the branches, there were fewer than a hundred fruits.

These jujubes were all large, red, and exceptionally appealing, especially the earliest "fire dates" that had remained for two years, which glowed as vividly as fire. Sometimes, at night, Yin Qing would even imagine them emitting a faint light.

One day, Yin Qing sat at the stone table in Ju'an Pavilion, reading. Under the large jujube tree, he found it easier to concentrate and breathe more freely. Furthermore, during this late summer and early autumn period, a faint, refreshing breeze consistently blew beneath the tree, keeping the area pleasantly cool.

Having long since perfectly memorized his copy of "Ritual Studies," Yin Qing set the book down and looked up at the tempting jujubes on the large tree.

"Oh, it's been almost two years, and you won't let me pick even one. How stingy! Father, a top scholar who aced all three imperial examinations, ended up not staying in the capital but became a prefect in Wanzhou. My mother went with him, but I can't. If I leave, who will clean the house and the pavilion? Who will care for you, big jujube tree? I work so hard; can't you just give me a date to console me?!"

Yin Qing chattered on, but the jujube tree simply swayed with the gentle breeze, showing no reaction, behaving just like an ordinary fruit tree.

"Sigh... I'll be starting at the academy soon, so I won't be able to visit you every day. I'll only be able to come back once every two to four weeks, sigh..."

He sighed, then quietly looked up again. The jujube tree continued to sway in the wind.

"Oh, you big jujube tree, you have a heart of stone! No, a wooden head!"

Just as he was grumbling angrily, Yin Qing lowered his head and suddenly saw a flash of fiery red dart into the courtyard through the half-open gate.

"A little fox!"

A surprised exclamation burst from Yin Qing's mouth. Before he could utter another word, he suddenly saw a fiery red jujube fall, striking the fox squarely on the head.

"Thud!"

The red fox instantly recoiled in fright, clutching its head and looking up, only to see another large jujube rapidly approaching its face.

"Thud!"

"Whine..."

The fox rubbed its nose with its paw. Before it could even catch its breath, three more "thuds..." rained down on its head.

Yin Qing stared, dumbfounded, at the scene, pointing a trembling finger at the large jujube tree.

"You... you're playing favorites! You're so biased!"