Chapter 245: Owing a Favor

Being beheaded is no joking matter. Severing a "fated connection" cannot be achieved merely with an illusion. After all, illusions only deceive mortals, deities, immortals, and demons—sentient beings—but they cannot deceive heaven, or more importantly, they cannot deceive oneself.

The old beggar said, "It's not worth it," with a slight sigh, and unconsciously reached up to touch his own neck.

"This whole affair must have been amusing for Mr. Ji to watch. With your cultivation and state of mind, you naturally understand this old beggar's original intention. What do they call it? In common parlance, it's a thankless task."

Ji Yuan smiled. With a flick of his finger, a shimmering, water-like character for "affinity" rose from the table.

"Then why didn't you just reluctantly take the old emperor as a disciple? Why provoke him into killing you directly?"

The old beggar watched the young beggar curiously reach out to touch the character for "affinity."

"Oh, Mr. Ji, you wouldn't even give him a mooncake. That's just talk. Besides, even though this old beggar provoked him into killing me, he didn't have to do it!"

Ji Yuan felt a bit wronged.

"It's not that I, Ji, didn't want to give him the mooncake. It's just that he genuinely couldn't grasp it."

The old beggar leisurely took a sip of tea and glanced at Ji Yuan.

"Flowers in a mirror, the moon in water—how can one grasp them?"

The young beggar's finger happened to touch the floating character for "affinity." The moment it was touched, it dissolved into ethereal mist and vanished.

Hearing the old beggar's words, Ji Yuan's heart stirred. He then added, in a playful tone,

"Oh, to be honest, I thought Mr. Lu had played a trick. It seems the old emperor truly had bad luck."

"Uh... hehehe... Bad luck, yes, it was indeed his bad luck!"

The old beggar's laugh was forced. He lowered his gaze, not daring to look at Ji Yuan.

Knock, knock, knock...

The door to the private room was suddenly knocked, relieving the old beggar's current awkwardness. The tea server's voice sounded from outside.

"Honored guests, the manager has sent over a few plates of refreshments for this table."

"Come in."

The tea server pushed open the door with a tray. He carefully entered the private room, closed the door, and then approached the table to place the refreshments.

"Mr. Lu, and Mr. Ji, the manager asked me to inform both of you that people from the yamen are now searching everywhere in the city for an old beggar named Lu. They say the Emperor wishes to invite him to the palace..."

As he spoke, the tea server cautiously looked at the old beggar. He specifically focused on the old beggar's neck, noticing that despite a lot of dirt, the skin and flesh were still connected.

"Oh, I see. If they find their way here, let them do as they please!"

The old beggar said indifferently. Ji Yuan, however, looked at the tea server and asked with a smile,

"It seems you've been looking at Mr. Lu's neck, young man. Have you heard something?"

The tea server was also itching with curiosity. Hearing Ji Yuan's question, he stopped pretending and spoke with great curiosity,

"We're only one block away from Yongning Street here. Before noon, guests were already spreading rumors. They said that this morning on Yongning Street, the Emperor sent imperial guards to behead an old beggar, and then..."

The tea server looked at the old beggar beside him, then at Ji Yuan.

"And then, that old beggar, after being beheaded, stood up and put his head back on. He then walked away, chatting and laughing with a distinguished gentleman. Sir, was that you?"

"Yes, yes, yes. Is there a second unlucky fellow like that in this world? The refreshments have all been served. You should go about your business now."

The old beggar retorted grumpily. He felt that Mr. Ji had deliberately found someone else to tease him again.

"Alright, alright, I'll be going then. If any of you need anything, please don't hesitate to ask."

The tea server opened the door and walked out. As he closed the door, he added, facing inside,

"I'll be by the staircase. Just call if you need anything!"

"Alright, alright, thank you..."

Ji Yuan nodded and gestured with his hand behind his back. Only then did the enthusiastic tea server close the door.

However, the tea server didn't leave immediately after stepping out. Instead, he pressed his ear to the door and listened for a short while. Hearing nothing, he tiptoed a few steps away before finally departing.

Once the tea server left, Ji Yuan continued the conversation by asking the old beggar about a few things. He also brought up the matter of previously capturing the Ghost Mother and her evil cultivation method. Notably, that Ghost Mother also had the ability to revive after being decapitated.

However, Ji Yuan had long understood by then that her method was completely different from the old beggar's "fate-severing" technique.

Sometimes, cultivators' conversations aren't always profound and cryptic. Often, they chat idly just like ordinary folks, as was the case with Ji Yuan and the old beggar.

They discussed what would ultimately happen to the evil spirits and demons that had been captured earlier. They also talked about interesting things the two beggars had encountered while begging for food on their journey. And they speculated about what kind of upheaval the old beggar's failed attempt at taking a disciple would cause in the Great Zhen imperial court. At the very least, the old emperor would certainly be in a state of mental collapse.

It was well into the afternoon when Ji Yuan realized it was time to leave. He then stood up and bowed to the old beggar, saying,

"Let's conclude our meeting here for today. I, Ji, still need to make a trip to the Underworld. The tea has been paid for. If fate allows, we shall meet again."

"Very well, we shall meet again!"

The old beggar also stood up and returned Ji Yuan's bow in a somewhat formal manner. He muttered, "What a shame about those thousand pieces of gold, what a pity."

Ji Yuan's pale eyes fixed on him, watching quietly for a moment. This made the old beggar feel somewhat awkward, even nervous. Only then did Ji Yuan smile and turn to leave.

As soon as Ji Yuan left, the young beggar tugged at the old beggar's sleeve.

"Grandpa Lu, there are still so many pastries. Can we take them with us?"

Including the initial serving, the staff at Qingye House had brought refreshments three times in total. So, there were still many pastries, preserved fruits, and other snacks on the table.

The old beggar looked at the table and was about to speak, but the young beggar spoke before him.

"Anyone who doesn't take them is a fool! I get it!"

"You child..."

Yan Chang had been released from prison. Not only had he been reinstated to his former official position, but he had also received some rewards from the Emperor. However, the trepidation in Yan Chang's heart had not lessened much.

He was personally leading men to inspect Yongning Street, where he saw a pool of blood that had dried but was still shockingly vivid.

Seeing the bloodstain still a deep red, Yan Chang looked at the accompanying constables on either side and asked,

"You mean this blood can't be washed away?"

A constable beside him respectfully replied,

"Reporting to Your Excellency, that is correct. Ordinarily, after a condemned prisoner is executed here, a few buckets of water are enough to wash away the blood. But today's blood simply cannot be washed away, no matter how much we try."

Another constable added,

"Some have tried scrubbing with brushes, but it barely fades. And the water used for scrubbing turns bright red, which is a bit frightening. So no one dares to continue scrubbing."

Yan Chang nodded gravely. He thought to himself that if the Emperor knew about this, he would likely feel very unsettled.

At this moment, pedestrians were coming and going on Yongning Street, but most would steer clear of the center of the street. This was not only because of the officials present, but also because of the pool of blood.

As Yan Chang pondered and looked around, he suddenly noticed someone approaching in the distance. After focusing his gaze and confirming who it was, his heart immediately began to pound.

The approaching figure wore a green robe, with his hair in a bun secured by a jade hairpin. His steps were light and nimble. His usual expression was complemented by a pair of half-closed, pale eyes. It was Ji Yuan, who had left Qingye House not long ago. After leaving the tea house, he had heard rumors of the "unfading bloodstain" and had hurried over to investigate.

"What a coincidence, Master Yan, you're here too?"

"Mr. Ji!"

Yan Chang quickly bowed in salute. The constables beside him, not understanding the situation, also bowed.

Ji Yuan returned their salute. In a few steps, he was already close by.

"Mr. Ji, are you looking for me?"

Yan Chang asked with a hint of anticipation. But Ji Yuan shook his head, pointing to the bloodstain on the ground.

"I came for this."

"The blood?"

Ji Yuan nodded. The old beggar had already died once, so it was naturally impossible for him to leave such a pool of blood just to scare people.

But the old beggar was, after all, a figure close to a true immortal. His cultivation was unfathomable. Especially this time, the implications were significant. The arising and ceasing of fate were not so simple. While he had severed the connection on his end, the old emperor's obsession ran deep. This pool of blood, while belonging to the old beggar, could also be said to belong to the old emperor.

"Though this blood was left by a highly cultivated individual, it now carries malevolent energy, and leaving it unremoved could lead to future troubles!"

After inspecting it on site, Ji Yuan's spiritual sight revealed that the blood's aura was faintly connected to the imperial city.

Seeing Ji Yuan's serious expression, Yan Chang's heart chilled.

"Then what should be done? Does Mr. Ji have a solution?"

"Let's try."

Ji Yuan replied. He inhaled slightly, then opened his mouth and blew.

Whoosh.

Yan Chang and the surrounding constables felt a wave of heat wash over them. They couldn't help but step back two paces. Looking at the ground again, the pool of blood had already turned to ash.

After such a serious explanation, and then seeing Ji Yuan simply blow away the bloodstain, Yan Chang found it somewhat absurd.

But when he looked up again, he found no one around. The constables were also looking around with astonished expressions. From their reactions, Yan Chang could confirm that what had just happened was definitely not his own hallucination.

He had originally intended to ask a few more questions. From Yan Chang's perspective, the old beggar, having been beheaded by the emperor, would most likely not return. But if he could invite Mr. Ji back, it would be just as good. Not to mention promotions, he himself would certainly be out of trouble.

"Ah... Mr. Ji didn't even give me a chance to speak!"

In a corner of the city, the old beggar and the young beggar had their tattered clothing pockets stuffed with pastries and preserved fruits. They had only recently left Qingye House.

At the moment Ji Yuan, with a single breath of True Samadhi Fire, incinerated the pool of blood, the old beggar's heart stirred. He reached out and performed a quick divination, and instantly understood the cause and effect of that bloodstain.

"I was actually blinded by the imperial dynasty's destiny. I almost left behind a hidden danger... Now I owe him a favor..."