Chapter 259: A Branch of Red Elegance

Although Wang Li's heart was pounding with fear, he knew better than to doubt that a master had saved him.

The woman before him was completely unresponsive, her eyes unmoving. Even so, Wang Li dared not look too long. He wanted to turn his head, but though the terrifying woman was motionless, her left hand still gripped his neck tightly, preventing him from breaking free or turning his head. He could only glimpse to the side with his peripheral vision.

It was dark, and he couldn't see clearly. All he could make out was a gentleman in a green robe slowly approaching.

Ji Yuan walked up to them. What he had just used was a temporary immobilization spell cast without prior preparation. Given that the woman was also skilled in the way of incense and vows, it was, in a sense, a restrictive immobilization spell that wouldn't hold for too long. So, Ji Yuan simply waved his sleeve at the woman, sending her flying two or three yards away. This also conveniently released the immobilization spell, allowing her to regain control of her body.

"Oh… uh… uh…"

As the woman's grip loosened, Wang Li cried out, his legs giving way as he fell onto the wild grass. He tried to struggle to his feet but was too weak, only able to keep bowing to Ji Yuan from the ground.

"Thank you, master, for saving my life! Thank you, master, for saving my life!"

Ji Yuan looked at Wang Li, then calmly gazed at the woman in white. His casual stance alone made her extremely wary, even afraid to flee. She was sure that the approaching figure was from a righteous immortal sect. She no longer displayed her previous ferocity, retracting her claws and her grim expression, instead staring solemnly at Ji Yuan.

"Saving your life isn't quite necessary; she probably wouldn't dare kill you directly. But what I'm curious about is…"

Ji Yuan's first half was directed at Wang Li, and the latter half was a question for the woman in white.

"Is it that you and that white deer share a profound, old friendship, or do you simply bear a deep grudge against this Wang Li?"

"There really is a master present, no wonder I couldn't cast my spell in the tavern earlier. Hmph, is this immortal, relying on his vast powers and profound magic, trying to bully a young woman like me?" The woman in white coldly retorted to Ji Yuan, though inwardly she was far from as calm as she appeared. That kind of divine spell was too mysterious, utterly unheard of.

This remark amused Ji Yuan.

"Interesting. My immobilizing you is relying on my powers and magic, but it's perfectly justified for you to come after this storyteller, is it?"

However, the woman wasn't stumped by the question. Having quickly formulated a response, she pointed directly at Wang Li and replied: "Both of the questions the immortal asked are relevant to me. Firstly, Sister Bai Ruo was kind to me in the past, helping me avenge a mortal enemy, so naturally, our gratitude runs deep. Secondly, not to mention whether this Wang Li just deceived me about the ending, he even slandered and disparaged me in his story! The more widely it spreads, the greater the impact on me. Taking one of his eyes wouldn't be too much!"

Ji Yuan looked at Wang Li, then at the woman, a hint of surprise on his face. "Slandered you?" Then, with a thought, he seemed to realize something. "Are you the ghost from the second chapter of 'The White Deer's Fate'?"

Ji Yuan asked in surprise. The woman in white was annoyed, but dared not show it to Ji Yuan, so she glared at Wang Li through gritted teeth. "The immortal is right," she retorted, "I am indeed that malevolent ghost who sucks blood and marrow, and devours people whole!"

Well, it truly is a small world. Even Ji Yuan had thought that the ghost from the interlude in the white deer's narration should have long since exhausted its lifespan, its earthly soul returned to the earth and its heavenly soul to the heavens. He never expected it not only still existed but had also embarked on the divine path.

Wang Li was also somewhat stunned by this. Artistic adaptation, as it's called, is a common technique in storytelling. For example, in the famous 'Biography of General Huang', General Huang was not a perfect man and had his flaws, but in the biographical story, he was portrayed as an almost perfect, loyal, and valiant figure. And Wang Li's 'The White Deer's Fate', to make the story more thrilling and dramatic, naturally incorporated a lot of subjective narrative in the middle. The biggest villains in the second chapter were essentially the "malevolent ghost" and the "muddled, pig-headed sorcerer."

"For divine beings, vows are important, as are the thoughts and words of people. It's difficult to avoid, and it certainly has some impact. If 'The White Deer's Fate' becomes even more widely circulated in the future, it would indeed be…" Ji Yuan thought for a moment before saying: "…quite 'nauseating' for you."

After all, most of Wang Li's stories didn't name names. While it might be an exaggeration to say it blocked her path to cultivation, it definitely had an impact, certainly enough to be "nauseating" to a deity.

"So, you're from Yanzhou? No wonder your incense is unstable. Have you been out of your territory for a long time?"

Unlike cultivation practitioners, earth deities rely on local worship. The longer they are out of their territory, the more incense and magic they consume without replenishment, leading to a deficit. Their strength and powers also diminish significantly when outside their jurisdiction.

'She's quite loyal, probably concerned about the white deer.' Ji Yuan thought this because, at first, the woman hadn't directly mentioned Wang Li slandering her. Instead, she had eagerly asked about the white deer's situation. Only after encountering a master did she bring up this cause-and-effect to justify her "assault."

"I did hear about it from merchants in the capital and then sought it out from Youzhou. But how did the immortal know I came from Yanzhou? 'The White Deer's Fate' doesn't mention that. Did the immortal divine it?" The woman in white was much more relaxed now. From the current situation, the immortal who appeared was reasonable and likely wouldn't overly trouble her.

Ji Yuan smiled and shook his head, not intending to hide anything. He answered Wang Li, but not her question directly. "Back then, in your rented room in the alley off Yongning Street in the capital, it was I who wrote the words 'White Deer's Fate' on your desk."

Wang Li's eyes widened, and he pointed at Ji Yuan, speechless for a moment. "You, you, you, you are the immortal who helped the white deer descend to the underworld! You are the old immortal carried on Lady White Deer's back!"

The white-clad deity was stunned for a moment and then reacted, but she understood even more clearly than Wang Li what this relationship implied. She couldn't help but exclaim: "Immortal, are you… are you Sister Bai Ruo's master?"

Ji Yuan opened his mouth, realizing that this well-intentioned lie should not be exposed. He could only sigh. "Nominally, yes." This sigh, in the ears of Wang Li and the woman in white, sounded like regret for a disciple.

On the wild, sparse grassland, a thin mist rose as the night wind blew. After the initial tense confrontation, both Wang Li and the woman in white finally breathed a huge sigh of relief. Especially upon learning that the original three characters "White Deer's Fate" were written by Ji Yuan, both Wang Li and the white-clad deity, Zhang Rui, became excited. Wang Li felt that not only was his life saved, but he had also encountered a divine being. Zhang Rui, on the other hand, learned the true situation of the white deer.

Not only was Wang Li willing to believe Ji Yuan, but Zhang Rui was also of the same mind. Ji Yuan's words, naturally different from Wang Li's earlier fearful and guilty state, carried a convincing aura. Some details also matched up, and in the eyes of the woman in white, an immortal cultivator of such high cultivation and realm would not bother to go to such lengths to lie about this.

As for the woman in white being slandered, Wang Li was not a fool. He promised repeatedly that he would definitely modify the story plot, which finally made Zhang Rui spare Wang Li out of respect for Ji Yuan.

It was now late in the hour of Zi (11 PM - 1 AM). Wang Li, Ji Yuan, and Zhang Rui walked together through Chengsù Prefecture City. Their destination was not Wang Li's home but the city's southwest, where Wang Li had intended to go earlier. As they walked, Ji Yuan was in the middle, with Wang Li and the white-clad deity, Zhang Rui, on his left and right.

"Duan Muwan is a famous courtesan from Youzhou. She's proficient in qin, chess, calligraphy, and painting, and can even discern people's hearts, charming many young masters from noble families. She's known as 'Red Splendor.' Hmph, actually, the current Red Splendor is no longer human, but merely a fox spirit impersonating her."

"Hmm?"

Ji Yuan frowned and glanced at Zhang Rui, waiting for her to continue. Wang Li, beside him, also wore an expression of disbelief. "How could that be? I saw Wan'er just two days ago… She, she's definitely human!"

"Heh, did that young lady look like a human when she was lost just now?" Zhang Rui feigned a somewhat delicate manner and teased Wang Li, immediately rendering him speechless. Then, Zhang Rui spoke to Ji Yuan earnestly. "I haven't been in Chengsù Prefecture for long. I originally planned to wait for this storyteller by the Great Showboat tonight, but by chance, I discovered the true nature of that Lady Red Splendor. My local mountain territory has had several incidents with fox spirits, and I wouldn't mistake that particular scent."

Ji Yuan narrowed his eyes. "Did the underworld authorities of this city not discover it, or did they not deal with it?"

"The underworld authorities probably don't know yet. Red Splendor's true origin is not from Chengsù Prefecture, and she isn't dead. Moreover, the Great Showboat floats on the Sù River, which belongs to the water deity's territory. Coupled with her cautious actions, she's even more discreet."

Ji Yuan looked at Wang Li's side profile, a thoughtful expression on his face. "Red Splendor… that sounds familiar…"

Yes, could she be the very woman Young Master Xiao admired on the boat back then?