Chapter 302: No Free Lunch

Niu Batian closed and latched all the windows in Yan Fei's room. He then left the room, gently closing the door behind him and securing the inside bolt with a flick of his finger. Although he hadn't been in Nandao County for very long, he had gained some understanding of the local customs and believed it was better to lock up while sleeping.

The inn corridor was quiet, save for some faint snoring.

Niu Batian glanced towards Ji Yuan's room in the distance. After a moment of hesitation, he decided against going over and returned to his own room. Soon, his room filled with a snoring sound that had a slight bovine nasal tone, revealing he was genuinely asleep.

Ji Yuan lay on his bed, his eyes closed, but his mind was active.

Judging by the ox demon's actions, and aside from his fundamentally good nature, there were likely two possible origins for him. Either he was tutored by benevolent individuals from the beginning of his demonic existence, or his initial transformation from a domestic ox into a spirit had a lasting influence on his character.

The next morning, Yan Fei awoke, rubbing his slightly throbbing head. He looked around, momentarily disoriented, before recalling the previous night's events: the pursuit of the killer, the encounter with the demon, and then the evening of heavy drinking.

"Ugh... How much did I drink last night?"

As Yan Fei pondered, he rubbed his head to soothe the throbbing pain. While he wouldn't boast of a high tolerance, he had never been drunk before; yet, last night, he had completely lost consciousness.

*Knock, knock, knock...*

The knocking was followed by Old Niu's sincere voice.

"Brother Yan, are you awake? It's already bright outside, and Mr. Ji will be leaving shortly."

"I'm awake, I'll be right out!"

Hearing that Mr. Ji was about to leave, Yan Fei didn't dare to delay. He regulated his breathing and circulated his inner energy to alleviate the hangover, then threw off the covers and got out of bed.

He hadn't removed his clothes the previous night. After splashing some fresh water from the basin onto his face, Yan Fei quickly opened the door and stepped out.

Stepping out, he naturally saw Niu Batian waiting in the inn corridor.

"Good morning, Senior Niu!"

Yan Fei respectfully cupped his hands in greeting. He recalled calling him "Brother Niu" while intoxicated yesterday, but now found himself unable to do so.

"Oh, Brother Yan, why so formal again? We were practically sworn brothers last night! It's better if you just call me Brother Niu. Come on, let's go downstairs; I've already bought some breakfast."

The two descended the stairs together, where Ji Yuan was already seated at a square table, eating porridge.

The table held a simple meal: a pot of porridge, a few small side dishes, and some soft flatbreads.

"Good morning, Mr. Ji!"

Yan Fei bowed even more respectfully to Ji Yuan.

"Good morning. Sit down and eat. After this, I intend to leave Nandao County and continue north. What are your plans, Great Hero Yan?"

Yan Fei's face flushed. While he had been able to accept Mr. Ji's "Great Hero Yan" yesterday, today the title sounded particularly grating. He knew Mr. Ji wasn't being sarcastic, but he couldn't shake off the awkward feeling; Niu Batian's "Brother Yan" was far more pleasing to his ears.

However, this feeling was fleeting. More importantly, Mr. Ji was about to leave, so Yan Fei hesitated only briefly before venturing a question.

"Mr. Ji, where are you headed? Do you have important business to attend to?"

"Not for the moment. I'm simply heading north."

Yan Fei nodded and asked again.

"Then, if it's convenient, may I accompany you for a while? Please be assured, I am not one to overstay my welcome; I merely wish to travel with you for a short distance."

Ji Yuan glanced at Niu Batian, who sat silently with lowered eyes, then looked at Yan Fei.

"Great Hero Yan, please sit down and have your porridge. If you wish to follow, then do so. Should I find it inconvenient at any point, I will certainly let you know."

"Oh, yes, that's right! Come, come, Brother Yan, quickly sit down and have some porridge. It's delicious! Here, Brother Niu will get you a big bowl."

Niu Batian eagerly fetched a bowl, stirred the clay pot, and served a generous portion of porridge to Yan Fei, placing it before him.

"Mr. Ji, are these side dishes to your liking? Old Niu went out of his way to find them!"

Ji Yuan looked at Niu Batian and offered a rare smile.

"They're very good."

That smile put Old Niu at ease. He then picked up his bowl, took a large gulp of porridge, and spoke to Yan Fei.

"Ah, Brother Yan, we really connect well, even though we've just met. Brother Niu has so much more he wants to talk to you about. But for now, let's just finish our porridge. We can talk on the road, on the road..."

As long as Yan Fei accompanied Ji Yuan, Niu Batian knew he'd always have an excuse to tag along.

While eating porridge, Yan Fei incidentally noticed Ji Yuan reading a book. However, he caught a glimpse of the pages out of the corner of his eye and saw they were entirely blank.

Niu Batian clearly noticed Yan Fei's slightly puzzled expression. He scooted closer and quietly explained.

"If I'm not mistaken, Brother Yan, Mr. Ji is reading a Heavenly Scroll from the immortal path. It's a spiritual text formed by imitating the essence of celestial beings. Not only you, but even I, Old Niu, cannot see the words. But I assure you, there are words there; what kind of wondrous immortal arts they contain, however, I do not know."

Yan Fei swallowed a mouthful of porridge, then looked at Niu Batian and whispered.

"Even you, Brother Niu, can't see them? Mr. Ji said your cultivation is quite profound..."

"Ah, Brother Yan, that's where you're mistaken. I am a demonic cultivator, very different from immortal cultivators. My comprehension of the profound Dao is far less. In my current state, I can only discern the book's title. Of course, if I were in a deep meditative state of cultivation, I should be able to read it."

Ji Yuan glanced at Old Niu and said.

"It's not some grand immortal technique, just 'Tales of Other Paths,' a book filled with interesting stories."

"Oh, I see..."

Old Niu nodded knowingly, while Yan Fei quickly interjected with a question.

"Brother Niu, do you only know the title 'Tales of Other Paths'?"

To his surprise, Old Niu bluntly shook his head.

"I don't know it..."

Ji Yuan couldn't help but chuckle; this old ox was certainly amusing.

Yan Fei, however, frowned. Seeing the blank book, something abruptly came to mind, though it remained vague. After a moment of contemplation, a sudden realization dawned on him.

'That's it! The Wordless Heavenly Book!'

"Mr. Ji, is this Heavenly Scroll considered very precious and miraculous?"

Ji Yuan looked at the book in his hand.

"Whether a book is precious depends on its content. While the creation of a Heavenly Scroll is quite intricate, its contents are certainly not useless."

In truth, some might consider 'Tales of Other Paths' useless, but Ji Yuan believed it was an excellent book, at least among cultivators, for its entertaining quality.

Yan Fei nodded, organizing his thoughts before speaking.

"Mr. Ji, I once heard that the Wei family in Zhonghu Dao, Zuyue Kingdom, possesses a Wordless Heavenly Book. It has been passed down through their family for many generations, yet no one has ever been able to discern any text on its pages. Many martial artists and trusted associates were invited to examine it, but they too gained nothing..."

Yan Fei pondered for a moment before continuing.

"Before, I thought the talk of a Wordless Heavenly Book was just a fabrication by the Wei family to elevate their status, and few in the martial arts world believed it. However, seeing the book in your hands now, I believe the Wei family's scroll might also be genuine. Are you interested in going to see it for yourself?"

A Wordless Heavenly Book?

Upon hearing Yan Fei's words, Ji Yuan was naturally quite interested. Since the Wei family had passed it down through generations, there had to be some reason, and it was certainly possible that it was a genuine Heavenly Scroll.

"Do you know the location of that Wei family?"

Yan Fei had been waiting for Ji Yuan to ask that very question.

"I know the general location, and once we arrive, I can easily find out the specifics. Furthermore, my name, Yan Fei, is quite well-known in Zhonghu Dao of Zuyue Kingdom, so requesting to borrow the book from the Wei family for examination will not be difficult!"

Yan Fei felt a slight relief; at least this way, he could be of some assistance to Mr. Ji.

"Very well. In that case, we'll depart for Zhonghu Dao once we've finished eating."

Zuyue Kingdom's territory is just over half the size of Dazhen. It is divided into nine "Daos," and apart from the naming convention, its administrative system is quite similar to a prefecture system.

Nandao County lies at the border of Nanyuan Dao and Chaolu Dao, while Zhonghu Dao is located just north of Jinglu Dao.

For ordinary people, traveling to Zhonghu Dao on foot would be impractical. However, none of the three — Ji Yuan, Niu Batian, and Yan Fei — were ordinary individuals. Ji Yuan and Niu Batian's capabilities were self-evident. Even Yan Fei rarely rode horses when traveling; for a martial artist of his caliber, light-body martial arts were far more efficient than any horse, unless it was an exceptionally fast one.

By early April of that year, the two men and one demon had spent about twenty days traveling, leaving Chaolu Dao and entering the territory of Zhonghu Dao.

During their journey, they encountered highway robbers, witnessed violent outlaws, stayed in shady inns, lodged in desolate villages, and spending nights in the wilderness became commonplace.

It was no wonder Yan Fei had come to Zuyue Kingdom to hone his skills. Based on their travels, it was no exaggeration to say the region was rife with chaos, and even the divine powers seemed to be in decline.

The journey also allowed Ji Yuan and Niu Batian to deepen their understanding of each other. It was confirmed that Old Niu had indeed once been a common farm ox.

Plowing oxen were often a family's most valuable asset, cherished as treasures. Old Niu had always been meticulously cared for. After he became a spirit, he continued to plow for the same family for three generations. Eventually, that family sold him to someone else. Consequently, half a month later, Old Niu broke free from his rope, smashed through the cattle pen, and departed, retreating into the deep mountains to cultivate himself.

It was precisely this long immersion in the human world that made Old Niu fundamentally different from typical mountain and wilderness demons.

Of course, Old Niu only shared this privately with Ji Yuan. Although he considered Yan Fei a brother, he rarely spoke of such cultivation matters with him, unless Yan Fei showed genuine curiosity and repeatedly inquired.

Niu Batian was also convinced that Ji Yuan was a genuine cultivator of the profound Dao, and that he truly held little prejudice against demons. Old Niu's spiritual perception was quite sharp, a subtle feeling that, while often ineffable, proved to be most accurate.

One night, with a bright moon and sparse stars, visibility on the ground was excellent. The three lit a bonfire and rested at the edge of a forest.

Niu Batian watched Ji Yuan continue to flip through his book and finally could no longer contain himself. He quietly moved closer, but before he could even speak, Ji Yuan anticipated him.

"Something the matter?"

Niu Batian rubbed his hands, a simple, honest smile spreading across his face.

"Uh-huh... Mr. Ji, you mentioned you had a way to remove the dark magic from the back of my neck, and I was wondering..."

Ji Yuan smiled inwardly, though his expression remained indifferent. He looked up at the ox demon.

"What? Aren't you afraid I'll take this opportunity to harm you?"

"Oh, come now, Mr. Ji, if you wanted to harm me, would you need to wait for such an opportunity? Can't you control me right now? Old Niu doesn't believe that for a second. I've made up my mind; I beg you, sir, please help me!"

Ji Yuan nodded, then paused in thought before asking.

"I can help you remove the dark magic, but how will you repay me?"

"Huh?"

Old Niu was momentarily stunned. He had never considered this question, and Mr. Ji had never mentioned it before.