Chapter 22: Mistaken Circumstances

Ji Yuan merely glanced at the contracts. With his poor eyesight, he couldn't possibly make out what was written on them. However, he trusted Lu Chengfeng completely at this point.

Suddenly, a tingling sensation began to spread throughout his body. Ji Yuan quickly refocused his attention on these internal sensations.

Strangely, the more he tried to pinpoint the sensation, the more elusive it became. Conversely, by relaxing his mind and clearing all distracting thoughts, he would experience a miraculous, spontaneous flow.

For a moment, it felt as though his body was expanding and rising infinitely. He could seemingly perceive his meridians transforming into mighty rivers within him, and his organs, blood, and bones appeared as majestic mountains, flowing streams, and wondrous natural forces.

As Ji Yuan progressively cleared his mind of all thoughts and distractions, the sensation of observing the world became even more natural. Immersed in this state, his consciousness seemed to transform into a spiritual breeze, drifting freely through the world with a sense of weightlessness. He perceived undulating mountains, hidden currents, deep pools, fleeting wind and rain, and clear skies with misty hazes—a myriad of interconnected, unpredictable phenomena.

In this dazzling, hazy panorama of mountains, rivers, and scattered stars, Ji Yuan couldn't see it, but he distinctly felt the presence of an ethereal chess piece, drifting freely between heaven and earth.

"Mr. Ji? Uh, the official records indicate this residence might be a haunted house. Did you realize that earlier?"

Lu Chengfeng couldn't hold back and sought to confirm it directly with Ji Yuan.

However, Ji Yuan's mind was completely clear at that moment, fully immersed in this rare internal visualization. Lu Chengfeng's voice reached him as a distant, rumbling thunder, echoing and fluctuating with each syllable.

This sensation was utterly profound and greatly invigorated Ji Yuan. For the first time, he truly felt that he could live a magnificent life. A smile involuntarily appeared on his face, as the "Azure Spiritual Qi" was very likely the legendary spiritual energy.

Lu Chengfeng also smiled. Mr. Ji was truly exceptional; how could he not have noticed? For others, buying such a residence might seem like tempting fate, but for Mr. Ji, it was a genuine windfall.

"So, Mr. Ji, when do you intend to remove the 'unclean things' from the house? Would you like our assistance?"

Lu Chengfeng asked with a hint of anticipation, as witnessing the methods of an enlightened master was far rarer and more extraordinary than observing the martial arts of a skilled practitioner.

This time, however, he saw Ji Yuan simply smile without answering. After waiting for a while, he only observed Mr. Ji sitting peacefully with his eyes gently closed.

Lu Chengfeng felt a little awkward, realizing that Mr. Ji had likely declined silently and that he might have disturbed his quiet contemplation.

"Um, Mr. Ji, please don't hesitate to ask if you need anything. We'll remain in Ning'an County for the next couple of days, only leaving once Yan Fei and Junior Sister Luo's injuries have stabilized further..."

Ji Yuan remained unresponsive, making Lu Chengfeng reluctant to linger. He worried he was disturbing Mr. Ji and might cause displeasure.

"Please rest well, Mr. Ji. Chengfeng will take his leave now!"

Lu Chengfeng quietly placed a brush pot on the table, then quickly departed with light steps, gently closing the door behind him.

***

It was over an hour before Ji Yuan finally emerged from that profound state. It wasn't that he wished to stop, but the sensation gradually weakened, and he could no longer sustain it.

As he slowly returned to his senses, he looked around the room. The contracts and documents were still on the table. Lu Chengfeng had apparently left at some point without him noticing. He couldn't help it; the situation earlier had been somewhat unexpected, as he hadn't foreseen becoming so utterly lost in it.

He also noticed the brush pot on the table and couldn't help but inwardly admire Lu Chengfeng's thoughtfulness.

Now, Ji Yuan could finally examine the land and house deeds in detail, and the excitement of purchasing the property intensified.

He picked them up for a closer look.

Surprisingly, despite his poor eyesight, by holding the papers almost against his eyes, he could still vaguely discern the neatly written characters on the contracts and documents. The detailed clauses were fully laid out, along with various red stamps and the prominent official seal.

Naturally, to Ji Yuan, the seals appeared only as blurry red patterns.

Combined with Lu Chengfeng's note about the official government records, Ji Yuan concluded that such contracts were likely quite rigorous.

However, since it was just a piece of paper, it was difficult for Ji Yuan to ascertain its exact contents by touch, which suddenly brought a more serious issue to his mind.

He realized he couldn't currently learn about the historical background, regional customs, or culture of his current era by purchasing books or other similar means.

In fact, Ji Yuan had been pondering whether he was in ancient China or an entirely different, yet similar, dimension. He hadn't had the opportunity to confirm this in the past two days.

Based on his current subjective observations—having had close encounters with a tiger demon and a *chang* ghost, and witnessing the authentic martial arts of Yan Fei and others—Ji Yuan was more inclined to believe he was in an alternative dimension.

Perhaps it would be more fitting to consult a scholar well-versed in history and literature once Lu Chengfeng and his companions depart Ning'an County?

Ji Yuan was always quite optimistic. Having overcome the seemingly insurmountable predicament at the beginning of this life, he believed there would always be a solution for other matters, and there was no need to rush to resolve everything at once.

Observing the writing implements provided on the inn's desk, Ji Yuan, in high spirits, had a sudden whim to try "writing blind."

After grinding the ink, he picked up the brush, and the sensation was remarkably peculiar. As if guided by muscle memory, his brush flowed effortlessly across the white paper, producing characters in clerical, seal, and regular scripts, seamlessly intertwining complex and simplified forms without any hesitation.

"Holy cow, I'm absolutely incredible!"

Ji Yuan couldn't help but let out an excited gasp. As for the quality of the calligraphy? With such a feeling, it surely couldn't be anything less than excellent!

It seemed the original beggar had quite a story before his decline.

Time flew by during his calligraphy practice, and combined with the physical exertion, Ji Yuan began to feel hungry.

Ji Yuan glanced at the light outside the window; even if it wasn't mealtime yet, it was approaching.

He stood up and stretched, carefully putting away the house deeds on the table. He intended to check on the injured young martial artists and, as a kind gesture—not to get a free meal—remind them that it was almost dinnertime.

They were all staying in the superior rooms on the same inn's third floor, so the distance was minimal. After leaving his room, he walked a few steps along the corridor to reach the section where the young martial artists were lodged.

As they had been practicing martial arts since childhood, their physical conditioning was excellent. With prompt medical attention, their injuries had stabilized within a few days, and they could even move about independently, no longer requiring constant care.

Ji Yuan went to look for them but found all the rooms empty; there was no sound of breathing from any of them, including Lu Chengfeng's.

Fortunately, a slight listen allowed him to distinguish unique sounds amidst the general din. It sounded as though they were practicing martial arts in the inn's backyard.

***

The Yunlai Inn's back courtyard featured a large open space, which connected to two smaller houses also belonging to the inn. The stables, hayloft, and woodshed were all situated nearby.

This area was reserved for future expansion and also served as the inn's everyday space for airing out bed linens and drying pickled vegetables.

At that moment, several injured individuals were seated nearby, resting, while Lu Chengfeng and others engaged in sparring. Many inn guests and some temporarily idle servants watched from the back entrance.

Ning'an County was a remote, small place, with few martial artists and even fewer highly skilled practitioners. Watching these roaming martial artists spar was quite captivating for the onlookers.

Amidst the sounds of their sparring, several weeping willow trees nearby swayed gently in the breeze.

When Ji Yuan arrived at the inn's back entrance, it was already crowded with several inn servants. Even a few cooks, the inn proprietress, and two female helpers had gathered there to watch.

Lu Chengfeng and another young man named Wang Ke were locked in an intense, weaponless sparring match, using only their fists and kicks.

Wang Ke was skilled with a sword but more proficient in palm techniques, whereas Lu Chengfeng excelled at fist and claw methods.

"Snap, snap... thud!"

At that moment, both exchanged two blows with their arms, simultaneously kicking at each other. After their feet heavily connected, Lu Chengfeng spun diagonally and slid backward. Wang Ke drifted like a butterfly towards the weeping willow behind him, and with a swift mid-air twist and a kick off the tree trunk, he suddenly propelled himself forward, striking at Lu Chengfeng with his palm.

Just as he regained his footing, he felt a rush of air approaching. Without a second thought, he dropped to the ground, supporting himself with his hands. His left leg shot out toward Wang Ke, who was attacking with a palm strike from a higher position, followed immediately by his right foot, charged with even greater power.

"Thud! Thud!"

Wang Ke believed he had reacted quickly enough, but the two consecutive kicks were delivered with immense speed and force. His palms, gripping Lu Chengfeng's legs, went numb, and his entire body was propelled into the air.

"Watch out!"

Lu Chengfeng shouted a warning as he twisted his body, veins bulging on his supporting arms.

"Hah!"

With his left leg slightly bent and his right leg straight, his body vibrated and sprang forward like a coiled spring, delivering a swift, wind-chasing kick towards Wang Ke, who was still airborne.

"Thud!"

His leg kicked away Wang Ke's defending palms, making contact with his chest, but most of the force was clearly withheld.

With this strike, the outcome was decided, and both combatants landed lightly using their agile footwork.

The inn staff in front of Ji Yuan spontaneously applauded, their faces filled with excitement.

"Well fought!" "Much more exciting than the plays in front of the temple!"

"Incredible, Young Master Lu is truly powerful!"

"Young Master Wang is impressive too!"

"Another round, another round!"

Ji Yuan also joined in the applause. Though he couldn't see clearly, he could discern from the vague outlines and the rhythmic sounds of impact that the sparring match was quite spectacular.