Chapter 267: Debt Collector

After the two outsiders left, the Dragon Son and Dragon Daughter spoke more freely about various matters.

As the River God of the Tongtian River, the Dragon Daughter was responsible for certain matters. Normally, Ji Yuan cultivated at home, and no one dared to disturb him casually. Since he had come out this time, she naturally had to report some information.

"Uncle Ji," she said, "we previously mobilized a small portion of aquatic creatures from the sea to flow into certain wetlands along some waterways near Yunzhou's coast for investigation."

"What did you find?" Ji Yuan asked, and the Dragon Son answered first.

"Aquatic creatures generally don't concern themselves much with matters on land," he reported. "For now, there's no special situation to report. However, a local river god informed us that the waterway was blocked by corpses for ten days, with tens of thousands of casualties."

Ji Yuan was startled. He looked at the Dragon Son and pressed for more information.

"What happened?"

"It wasn't caused by evil spirits," the Dragon Son explained. "Instead, it was a military conflict. The two sides fought fiercely by the river, and one side launched an attack while the other was halfway across, resulting in heavy casualties for the defeated."

Ji Yuan frowned. Military conflicts across the world had never ceased. Even in Da Zhen, a few years ago, they had engaged in warfare with one of their neighboring countries, and minor border skirmishes were almost constant, let alone in a region as vast as Yunzhou.

"Was it Tianbao Kingdom?"

"No, it was in a place called Daqiu Kingdom."

Ji Yuan simply uttered "Oh" and said nothing more. He merely rowed the oar. Although the strokes weren't fast, each was so powerful it seemed to clear a section of water behind the boat, appearing mighty and weighty. Thus, the small boat darted forward rapidly. This process didn't involve using magic or mobilizing ambient spiritual energy, but simply the application of strength and skill.

The boat grew quiet for a moment. The Dragon Daughter sat on a wooden stool in the cabin, her hands resting on her knees, eyes closed in contemplation. The Dragon Son sat casually on the gunwale at the stern.

"Don't you have your own affairs?" Seeing that they seemed intent on staying with him, Ji Yuan couldn't help but ask.

"Heh heh, I actually don't have anything to do," the Dragon Son replied. "My sister is a river god; she has a lot of responsibilities."

Upon hearing her brother's words, Ying Ruoli couldn't help herself and quickly interjected in her defense.

"I don't have anything either!" she protested. "A river god isn't like a city god; it's not possible to be busy all day!"

"Uncle Ji," Ying Feng asked, "what are you going to the capital prefecture for this time? The entire capital prefecture now has no evil spirits, not even a solitary wandering ghost."

Ji Yuan looked at Ying Feng and spoke truthfully.

"Two reasons. First, to collect a debt. Second, Da Zhen's old emperor's fortune is running out, so I'm here to see how the Da Zhen imperial court will determine its own destiny."

"Collecting a debt?" The Dragon Son and Dragon Daughter were both curious. Was there someone in the capital prefecture who dared to owe Uncle Ji a debt?

"Uncle Ji, who owes you a debt?" the Dragon Son asked. "My father is asleep. If you're here to collect the jar of ambergris he lost to you in a bet last time, you should go underwater. And he has no intention of reneging on his promise..."

"Of course, it's not Old Mr. Ying," Ji Yuan replied with a smile. "It's a mortal."

The Dragon Son and Daughter grew even more curious. A mortal powerful enough to owe Uncle Ji a debt—no matter how it came about—this person was definitely someone they had to see.

In the evening two days later, half of the setting sun had already dipped below the horizon. On Xining Avenue in the capital prefecture, Ji Yuan walked along the street with the Dragon Son and Dragon Daughter.

To prevent the Dragon Daughter's appearance from causing trouble, both the Dragon Son and Dragon Daughter disguised themselves. Their attire and looks were merely above average.

"Uncle Ji," the Dragon Son Ying Feng suddenly asked, "I heard that under the capital prefecture's underworld administration, you have a registered disciple?"

The Dragon Son Ying Feng suddenly asked this, causing Ji Yuan, who was walking ahead, to pause. He turned to look at him, seeing the Dragon Son's grinning face. The Dragon Daughter, meanwhile, kept her gaze downcast, clearly also very eager to know.

"Where did you hear about this?" Even during the last Water-Land Ceremony in the capital prefecture, the White Deer in the underworld administration was unaware. No ghost or god would specifically go to the ghost city in the underworld to inform the White Deer.

"Hey, so this means it's true, doesn't it?" the Dragon Son pressed. "Uncle Ji, your disciple secretly ran off and fell in love with a mortal for decades. She thought she was well-hidden, but you must have known the whole time, right? Otherwise, how could you have been so lucky to show up just when she was in trouble!"

"Cough, Brother, it's a mount," the Dragon Daughter corrected.

"Heh heh, close enough!"

The Dragon Son was one thing, but Ji Yuan hadn't expected the Dragon Daughter to be so gossipy one day. Ji Yuan simply ignored them, as the matter couldn't be explained in detail.

Xiao Mansion was actually also on Yongning Street, but Ji Yuan had calculated that Young Master Xiao was not at home at the moment, but rather with Zhen Hongxiu in a restaurant on Xining Avenue.

As Ji Yuan and the dragon siblings approached the restaurant, they unexpectedly saw an acquaintance.

Yan Chang, the Director of the Imperial Astronomical Bureau, was helping a drunken, short-bearded man. The two emerged from the restaurant together, the man still muttering about wanting to continue drinking.

Yan Chang was thin but not weak. He had one of the man's arms over his shoulder, helping him walk outside. By this time, it was already getting dark, and there weren't many people coming and going near the restaurant.

"Brother Yan... Brother Yan," the drunken man slurred, "come to my residence, we'll keep drinking, keep drinking..."

"Alright, alright," Yan Chang replied. "Since Lord Yu has such elegant spirits, Yan Chang will certainly accompany you to the end. Hey, hey, watch your step."

The drunkard laughed heartily.

"Hahahaha..." he continued, "it's fate to meet Lord Yan here. Today, I'll bring out my treasured aged Golden Jade Wine..."

"Lord Yu, you are too kind!"

As Yan Chang walked, supporting the man, he inadvertently looked up and saw Ji Yuan not far away, his expression clearly freezing.

"Mr. Ji?" Yan Chang rubbed his eyes and looked again. Indeed, it was not an illusion.

"Lord Yan, how have you been?"

"Mr. Ji, it really is you!" Yan Chang exclaimed. "I, Yan, greet Mr. Ji and the two of you."

Yan Chang, dragging the other man, managed a bow. Although his expression was joyful, he wasn't overly excited.

"Huh? Why aren't we walking anymore?" the drunkard mumbled. "Are we home? Let's go, let's go, let's drink..."

Ji Yuan nodded at Yan Chang. He looked at the man Yan Chang was supporting; the man also had an air of officialdom, so he shouldn't be a commoner.

"This lord seems very distressed, doesn't he?"

Yan Chang smiled helplessly. "Mr. Ji," Yan Chang asked, "what do you think is the most difficult job in the world?"

"Can that even be ranked?" Ji Yuan couldn't help but ask.

Yan Chang didn't keep him in suspense. He pointed a finger at the man beside him and said, "The most difficult job in the world is the Prefect of the Capital Prefecture."

The prefectural yamen of Da Zhen's two direct-controlled prefectures had their highest officials called Fu Yin (Prefectural Governor), not Zhifu (Prefect) like in other places. This rank was one grade higher than a Zhifu and was of the fourth rank, just like an ordinary Zhizhou (Prefectural Magistrate).

The Dragon Son and Dragon Daughter were not familiar with mortal affairs and perhaps hadn't quite grasped the meaning. Ji Yuan, however, understood immediately and couldn't help but give the drunkard another look. Managing a prefectural yamen directly under the Son of Heaven, if a slightly unusual case arose, it could easily involve high-ranking officials or even touch upon imperial relatives. It was indeed difficult to handle.

"Lord Yan, please excuse us," Ji Yuan said. "I have other matters and will take my leave first."

Ji Yuan didn't inquire further. He cupped his hands in a salute and left with the two behind him.

Yan Chang opened his mouth, but in the end, he didn't dare call out to Ji Yuan. By now, Emperor Yuande's energy for seeking immortals and elixirs had greatly diminished. To speak frankly, Yan Chang even somewhat hoped the old emperor would not find a true master. Given the current situation in the capital, if he, Yan Chang, tried too hard to seek immortals, Emperor Yuande might not have died yet, but Yan Chang himself might be in danger first. Moreover, the actions of immortals were not something a mere mortal could control. He couldn't just call out to them and expect them to stop.

Ji Yuan and his companions soon reached the restaurant's entrance. Ying Feng was still watching the departing Yan Chang and the Prefect of the Capital Prefecture.

"Uncle Ji," Ying Feng remarked, "this Imperial Astronomer is quite unattached. He actually didn't cling to you. He should know you're an immortal."

"Heh, indeed," Ji Yuan chuckled. "He's more discerning than you, Prince Ying."

Hearing Ji Yuan's teasing, the Dragon Son was uncharacteristically embarrassed. The Dragon Daughter, meanwhile, covered her mouth to stifle a laugh.

Ji Yuan said nothing more and led the two into the restaurant.

"Hey, three esteemed guests, please come in," a waiter greeted them. "May I ask if you've reserved a table in our establishment?"

He had originally intended to go to a private room on the second floor, but upon hearing the waiter's words, Ji Yuan immediately changed his mind.

"We did..." Ji Yuan looked up at a certain spot upstairs. "It's in the private room in the northeast corner upstairs."

"Huh?" The waiter was momentarily stunned. "Uh, sir, are you mistaken?" he stammered. "That private room is already occupied."

Ji Yuan stepped inside the restaurant, shaking his head with a smile. "No mistake, no mistake," he said. "Young Master Xiao reserved it. He arrived a step ahead, and we are his guests."

"Oh, oh, oh, I understand, I understand!" the waiter exclaimed. "Sir, you should have said so earlier! I'll take you up!"

"Alright, alright, thank you for your trouble."

Ji Yuan followed the waiter towards the stairs. The Dragon Son and Dragon Daughter exchanged a glance and quickly followed.

In the private room in the northeast corner of the second floor, Xiao Ling and the woman he admired were raising their cups and drinking together. Inside, there were two tables: one held wine and dishes, the other held the Four Treasures of the Study and a freshly completed painting.

Just as their spirits were high, a knock sounded on the door.

"Knock, knock, knock..."

"Master Xiao, your guests have arrived."

Xiao Ling put down his cup and looked at the beautiful woman beside him with a puzzled expression.

"Who is it?"

With a creak, the door was pushed open. Ji Yuan walked in and cupped his hands in a salute towards Xiao Ling and Duan Muwan.

"It's me," he said. "Hello, Young Master Xiao, hello, Miss Duan!"

Xiao Ling didn't recognize Ji Yuan at all. He had just been about to open his mouth to say something, but upon hearing Ji Yuan's words, he was clearly startled. One of the woman's hands, hidden under the table, gripped Xiao Ling's clothes tightly, but her face remained composed and elegant. She spoke before Xiao Ling did.

"Sir, I'm afraid you've made a mistake," she said. "My surname is Lu."

The waiter outside saw this situation, realizing he might have done something wrong. Just as he was about to speak, he saw the woman behind the newcomers extend her hand and wave it in front of his eyes. His mind became muddled for a moment, and he walked downstairs.

Ji Yuan paid no attention to what was happening behind him. He walked into the room. The Dragon Son and Dragon Daughter also came in and closed the door. The latter even tapped the door frame, and a subtle magical light flashed through the room.

Xiao Ling remained silent. He squinted at the three strangers who had entered. He could tell that none of them knew martial arts, and he could easily dispatch them with one hand.

"Who are you?" Xiao Ling asked in a cold voice. Under the table, he had already gripped three pieces of broken silver.

"Uncle Ji, is this the person who owes you a debt?" the Dragon Son said. "Interesting. They're really two... mortals!"

Ying Feng seemed extraordinarily curious. Before entering the capital, he had pestered Ji Yuan relentlessly, learning a few things from him. He was also astonished to learn that the fox demon had actually tricked his Uncle Ji and escaped unharmed.

"Absurd!" Xiao Ling retorted. "When did I, Xiao, ever owe you a debt?"