Chapter 19: Real and Hallucinated

Ji Yuan's immediate thoughts were centered on a few goals: first, to find a way to secure his livelihood once he could safely descend the mountain; second, to explore possibilities for healing his eyes; and third, to see if he could gain entry into a place of immortal cultivation.

Of course, he also really wanted to understand the changes that had occurred to him just after Lu Shan-jun left, and what the fleeting image of the chess piece was all about.

Ji Yuan believed it was most likely related to the 'Rotten-Axe Chess Game' from before, and perhaps even the key to his survival in this world.

The mountain breeze blew, and with the slight relaxation, Ji Yuan felt a little drowsy.

He wasn't sure if he simply hadn't noticed it before or if it was a change that occurred after he arrived in this world, but Ji Yuan suddenly realized his ability to handle pressure was quite strong.

The group rested by the stream for about fifteen minutes. After recovering some strength and ensuring the four injured individuals received further treatment and meditation assistance, they resumed their journey.

This time, they rushed down the mountain in one go.

In Shuixian Town, a night watchman and two men dressed as local militia were moving through the silent streets and alleys. One carried a clapper, another a gong, and the third held a lantern.

"Dong... dong dong dong~"

The bamboo clapper struck once slowly, then three times quickly.

"It's the fourth watch!~~~"

"Dong... dong dong dong~"

"It's the fourth watch!~~~"

After completing their round, the three looked at the quiet street, tightened their clothes, and decided to head back, chatting casually as they walked.

"Yesterday, during the day, I heard a few Jianghu individuals went up the mountain."

"What for?"

"Apparently, they took a bounty from the county yamen to kill a large beast on Niu Kui Mountain!"

"Huh?"

The watchman holding the clapper grew a little nervous.

"They dared to enter the mountain at this hour? I heard from the old hunters who sell goods that what's in there isn't just a fierce tiger; it's probably a spirit beast. Even those old hunters wouldn't dare stay on the mountain at night."

"Oh, isn't that an exaggeration?"

"Better safe than sorry!"

As they spoke of the matter, they suddenly felt the weather grow much colder and involuntarily quickened their pace.

As they reached the end of the street and were about to turn, one of them suddenly spotted a group of people approaching in the distance—it was Lu Chengfeng and his companions returning.

"There are people over there!"

As they drew closer, the sight of the enormous white tiger pelt sent chills down their spines.

The next morning, news of the Niu Kui Mountain's fierce tiger being vanquished spread from Shuixian Town. The Ning'an County Yamen immediately dispatched constables and officials to Shuixian Town to investigate.

This era was not the information-driven age Ji Yuan was accustomed to; even a wealthy man taking a concubine was major gossip. So, the news of martial artists entering the mountains to slay a man-eating tiger—especially the Niu Kui Mountain tiger rumored to be a tiger spirit—generated immense excitement.

Suddenly, everyone in Ning'an County, a place known for its simple customs, including the county seat, 22 villages of varying sizes, and a mountain-foot market town, quickly learned that several martial artists had successfully eliminated the tiger. Many even rushed to Shuixian Town to witness the spectacle, but most found no one there, as the individuals had already departed for Ning'an County proper.

The bloody white tiger pelt was eventually presented to the Ning'an County Yamen by the nine young martial artists. The Ning'an County Magistrate, true to his reputation as a good and upright official among the people, handed over the eighty taels of silver from the bounty to the martial artists and then offered an additional seventy taels as payment for the valuable white tiger pelt.

It was the second day after the nine martial artists returned, and the first day the tiger pelt arrived at the Ning'an County Yamen.

In the county yamen's public hall, a large white tiger pelt, its bloodstains dry but still emitting a strong odor, lay stretched out on an Eight Immortals table.

The pelt had been expertly skinned, with its head, claws, body, and tail all intact.

"Oh my... the teeth are still there!"

"Look, the tiger's mouth is bigger than my head!"

"How many people did this thing eat!"

"My goodness, it's terrifying! I heard this fierce tiger was almost a spirit beast!"

"Indeed, it's good it's dead now, otherwise, who knows what might have happened!"

"Tsk tsk tsk... those martial artists are not only highly skilled, but also quite ruthless!"

"Yes, the four injured individuals had increasingly severe wounds, quite frightening to behold! Doctor Tong, the best physician in the county, said it was fortunate they were martial arts masters, otherwise they would have died long ago!"

Constables, yamen runners, and clerical officials all gathered around the tiger pelt, marveling at it.

Magistrate Chen Sheng and County Lieutenant Zhu Yanxu stood nearby, smiling broadly.

"Hahahaha, my lord, with the wicked tiger gone, a great burden has finally been lifted from our Ning'an County."

"Excellent! Lieutenant Zhu, please find some skilled hunters to properly tan this tiger pelt. I intend to display it at the entrance of the Ning'an County Yamen for ten days to appease the people's hearts!"

"A brilliant idea, my lord!"

Ning'an County lived off the mountains; besides basic agriculture, the resource-rich Niu Kui Mountain was a treasure to Ning'an. Eliminating the fierce tiger was no small feat, and the local gentry even seized the opportunity to organize a temple fair.

The four injured individuals had stabilized.

Yan Fei and Luo Ningshuang's wounds were stitched, treated with jinchuang powder, and then they took two doses of qi and blood-regulating medicine. Combined with their internal energy meditation, their conditions were no longer a major concern.

Zhao Long, who had been whipped by the tiger's tail, primarily suffered internal injuries, but his strong foundation in hard qigong meant he was not in serious danger.

Du Heng's arm, despite being reset, actually had shattered bones and tendons inside. As Doctor Tong put it, if he was lucky, he might be able to hold chopsticks and eat, but wielding a saber was out of the question.

What was Ji Yuan doing during this time?

Apart from repeatedly trying to activate any special abilities he might possess, his biggest undertaking was bathing!

He had no idea how long the body's original owner, that wretched beggar, hadn't bathed, but the inn's attendant had to change the bathwater three times, and several rounds of old grime came off his body. After washing, he not only felt significantly lighter but even his skin tone had lightened a bit—it was truly astonishing!

On his third day at the Yunlai Inn, after having thoroughly cleaned himself and changed into fresh clothes, Ji Yuan finally felt presentable.

That morning, Lu Chengfeng accompanied Ji Yuan as they walked through Ning'an County, intending to find a quiet house where Ji Yuan could settle down.

Whether to rent or buy would depend on what they found.

Ji Yuan admitted that his understanding of this world was far from sufficient, so it was best not to venture out rashly for now.

As for the money, Ning'an County Yamen had paid 150 taels of silver, and the nine young martial artists insisted on giving it to the truly deserving person, which was Ji Yuan.

Ji Yuan casually demurred a couple of times before accepting the money, acknowledging that it was indeed rightfully his!

Having learned that an average family's annual expenses were only a few taels of silver and a private house cost merely a few dozen, Ji Yuan leaned more towards buying a residence in Ning'an County, a place reportedly known for its simple customs and reputable officials.

He was alone and didn't have high demands. He didn't need a grand residence with multiple courtyards; a quiet place with an independent yard, a kitchen, a bedroom, and a privy would suffice.

Having shed his beggar's clothes and cleaned himself up, Ji Yuan now appeared refined and scholarly, a bit lean and tall, wearing a scholar's cap. Although Ji Yuan himself couldn't see clearly, he felt his appearance was quite acceptable.

Lu Chengfeng was not a local either; accompanying Mr. Ji was his duty, but finding a house required a local expert. Thus, they were joined by a middle-aged man, a broker.

The county town had been especially lively these past few days because many people came to see the displayed pelt of the man-eating tiger. As it was a rare white tiger pelt, even more people flocked to it, and with the added temple fair, there was no shortage of idlers from neighboring counties coming to visit.

Ji Yuan wasn't solely focused on finding a residence; he also intended to use this opportunity to experience the local life.

The streets were bustling with pedestrians, making the county town as lively as during the New Year.

Ji Yuan found his current experience very novel. Despite his poor eyesight, his exceptionally keen hearing allowed him to fully perceive the discussions, jokes, haggling, and even arguments of various people on the street.

"Candied hawthorns!~~~ Candied hawthorns!~~"

"Finest printed cloth! Finest silk!"

"Rouge and powder, selling rouge and powder!"

"Finely carved brush holders! Sandalwood, agarwood, pear blossom wood all available! Come see our Four Treasures of the Study too!"

Both established shops and street stalls had attendants occasionally calling out their wares, as the town was particularly lively these two days. Ji Yuan had expected the noise to be unbearable, but to his surprise, he found himself not bothered at all; instead, it made his mind even more acute.

Ji Yuan kept his eyes only slightly open; opening them wider for extended periods would cause significant soreness. Yet, miraculously, even with such limited vision, he walked no differently than an ordinary person.

As they walked, they stopped in front of a stationery shop. Two display tables were set up outside, laden with various writing supplies, and an attendant stood specifically outside the shop to greet customers.

"Esteemed customer, please take a look at this brush holder. It's one of Ning'an County's renowned stationery items, made from superior huanghuali wood, crafted by a master artisan. The carvings are exquisite; high officials and nobles all favor them!"

Lu Chengfeng's travel attire was quite elaborate, while Ji Yuan, despite his simple clothing, carried himself with a distinguished air, not looking like someone short on money. The broker, meanwhile, was treated as a servant.

Through his eyes, Ji Yuan could only see the brush holder as a blurry, dark yellow shape. Opening his eyes wider was useless, so he knelt down and cautiously groped for it. Once he found it, he picked it up, tilted his head, and carefully touched it, using his fingers to feel the texture and trying to discern the sound of his fingertips rubbing against the holder.

This process allowed the brush holder to appear in his mind with astonishing detail.

'Damn, this craftsmanship is superb!'

The brush holder depicted landscapes and figures, with intricate and lifelike engravings. It even reminded him of the ancient text "The Art of Carving Olives."

Ji Yuan had only been curious to observe the local craftsmanship but found himself utterly amazed.

The dazzling array of vendors, lingering pedestrians, surrounding clamor, and the exquisite detail of the small handicrafts all gave Ji Yuan a rich and authentic sensation. He could sense the breath of life, and his exceptional hearing allowed him to glimpse the joys and sorrows of people from all walks of life.

Ji Yuan slowly opened his aching eyes wider, feeling a slight daze. It was only then that he truly accepted the reality: he was no longer in his original time and space.