Chapter 328: Exquisite Brushwork

When the Dragon Girl became enraged, the surrounding sea, from the wind to the waves, grew even more turbulent.

A thin mist began to spread near the sea surface, seemingly swirling. Within this mist, a wisp of the Old Dragon's spiritual essence shimmered like a mirage, his mood mirroring that of his daughter.

Regardless of their current relationship, that person was still the Old Dragon's wife and had conceived Ying Ruoli and Ying Feng before he even transformed into a true dragon. Their past affection was deeply ingrained and unforgettable.

Feeling the impact of the surrounding waves, the giant whale bobbed up and down in the water, echoing the sentiment with a resentful voice.

"Empress Ruoli is absolutely right," it said. "That scaly demon dragon must be tired of living, daring to provoke Her Majesty! If my cultivation weren't so shallow, I would have killed him already!"

"Hmph, Mo Rong may not be here, but I am," she declared. "What kind of demon dragon is he, and how many subordinates does he have? Never mind, don't tell me. Take me there immediately! I will pursue him even if it costs me my life!"

Ying Ruoli was furious, but despite her anger, her words were not reckless. She knew her father might not intervene, but Uncle Ji was nearby, and hearing her speak this way, there was a high probability he would help.

In the Dragon Girl's view, if either her father or Uncle Ji was willing to act, success would be assured. While she didn't want to drag Uncle Ji into her family's karmic disputes, she felt it would be acceptable to borrow something from him.

As expected, upon hearing Ying Ruoli's desperate vow, Ji Yuan remained concerned and could not stand idly by. In his impression, the dragon prince Ying Feng was more impetuous, whereas Ying Ruoli had always been dignified and steady, rarely losing her composure like this. People in such a state often make mistakes, and he couldn't ignore it.

"Jiang Shen Niangniang, please don't be so impulsive," he cautioned. "Since the opponent is a malevolent jiao from beyond the desolate sea and dares to harass your mother like this, he must have some skill."

Ying Ruoli took a deep breath to calm herself, then said to Ji Yuan:

"Uncle Ji, I naturally understand that there must be deeper karmic ties involved. However, as her daughter, how can I remain at peace after hearing such news? Ruoli has an impudent request, and I hope Uncle Ji will grant it. Of course, Ruoli will not ask Uncle Ji to shed blood!"

Hearing the Dragon Girl refer to this immortal cultivator as "Uncle" made the giant whale on the surface of the sea secretly gasp in astonishment.

Ji Yuan frowned, looked at the whale on the water, then directly at Ying Ruoli.

"What is your request?"

Ying Ruoli's gaze swept towards the immortal sword on Ji Yuan's back.

"Ruoli dares to ask to borrow Uncle Ji's Qing Teng Immortal Sword for a while. My father says that immortal artifacts have spirits, and the Qing Teng Sword is a formidable immortal sword of immense destructive power. It has been hidden and nurtured for years, and if its full might were unleashed, even he would be extremely wary. I believe that scaly beast wouldn't be able to withstand more than a few strikes. Please, Uncle Ji, help me!"

The Old Dragon's mirage-like essence floated up and down in the mist on the water, his heart filled with anxiety.

'Foolish daughter,' he thought, 'the Qing Teng Sword can be wielded freely in Ji Yuan's hands, but in yours? Whether the enemy can block it is one thing, but can you even lift it?'

Ji Yuan felt the Qing Teng Sword subtly vibrate and hum, clearly indicating its displeasure with Ying Ruoli's suggestion.

"Very well, how about this: I'll accompany you. When we encounter that demon dragon, if you feel he must be eliminated swiftly, then I will lend you the Qing Teng Sword. With me by your side, Qingying will be more cooperative and allow you to unleash a single strike."

Immortal artifacts possess their own pride, and this was true even for the Qing Teng Sword, which was deeply attached to Ji Yuan. Ji Yuan understood this perfectly.

While a compromise could be made, such as Ji Yuan directly ordering the Qing Teng Sword to protect the Dragon Girl and strike down anyone she targeted, he was still somewhat uneasy about it.

The Dragon Girl, not one for pretense, bowed respectfully and expressed her gratitude.

"It would be wonderful if Uncle Ji is willing to come along; Ruoli is immensely grateful! So, shall we depart immediately?"

Ji Yuan pondered for a moment, then looked back towards the land.

"Wait a moment. I'll make a quick trip to the coastal fishing village, and then we can depart together."

Having said this, Ji Yuan flew off towards the inland.

The Dragon Girl thought for a moment, then instructed the giant whale.

"You wait here. Don't wander off."

Afterward, Ying Ruoli also flew towards the coast, disappearing from sight.

In Pianwan Village, along the coast of Zuyue Kingdom, and indeed throughout all the surrounding villages, there was an atmosphere of jubilation. This was not only because the New Year was approaching but also because the malevolent spirits that had plagued the coast for so long had been driven away, promising excellent fish catches in the coming year.

This wasn't just what the mages had said; the fishermen themselves had witnessed it. Some had tried casting their nets and were already catching a few fish, albeit sporadically. While not a large haul, it was a significant improvement compared to before.

However, the Zhang family had been somewhat downcast these past two days, as had the Liang family from Qiangang Village.

This was because on the night of the exorcism and torch formation, after everyone had retreated to their homes, all were accounted for except for Mr. Ji, who had vanished.

For a stranger, unfamiliar with the area, to simply leave without a word on such a night seemed highly unlikely.

The next day, people were dispatched to search the coastline again, but naturally, nothing was found. Consequently, both the Zhang and Liang families, as well as the local villagers, believed that Ji Yuan must have fallen into the sea and drowned.

In the eyes of both families, it was truly a case of a guest dying in a foreign land. They felt both guilt and fear, prompting them to burn joss paper by the coast twice as an offering.

Nevertheless, with the New Year approaching and a general optimism about the coming year's fish haul, the families' earlier worries had subsided, and they began preparing for the festivities.

When Ji Yuan returned to Pianwan Village, it was early morning. Zhang Fu and his wife were wiping their doors and windows with a cloth, carrying a wooden bucket, while his father was mending fishing nets in the open space beside the house.

Because every household had fishing nets and racks for drying seafood, the houses were spaced relatively far apart.

Ji Yuan slowly approached, with Ying Ruoli following a few steps behind. The surrounding villagers paid no mind to their arrival, but Zhang Fu, who had just finished wiping his front door and turned around, was an exception. He saw Ji Yuan standing right at his doorstep.

"Oh my goodness!" "Thud..."

Zhang Fu thought he had seen a ghost and was startled, tumbling to the ground. His water bucket fell, splashing murky water everywhere.

Hearing the commotion, Old Zhang also turned to look and felt his heart skip a beat upon seeing Ji Yuan.

"Old Mr. Zhang and Brother Zhang, do not be afraid," Ji Yuan said. "I am not a ghost. The morning sun has risen, I stand in the light, and I cast a shadow beneath my feet. How could I be a ghost?"

The Zhang father and son were unsettled. They cautiously glanced at the ground; there was indeed a shadow. Coupled with it being broad daylight, the possibility of Ji Yuan being a ghost seemed unlikely.

This method of reasoning was actually a folk belief, not entirely accurate, especially for certain powerful ghosts. However, it was a quick way to convince them.

"Mr... Mr. Ji, are you really alright?"

"No, no, I'm fine. Nothing happened to me. It's just that I was a bit unseemly that night. When I saw the monster, I ran away first, then left the village directly, not looking back as I ran far, far away..."

Ji Yuan showed an embarrassed expression as he said this.

"Later, when I heard outside that the mages had vanquished the monster, I felt a bit guilty, so I came back to check on you. Otherwise, it would have weighed on my conscience. By the way, are the Liang family alright too?"

"No, they're fine..."

Zhang Fu answered instinctively.

Hearing this, Ji Yuan smiled and bowed to the two men.

"Since you are both well, I am much relieved. Thank you for your hospitality these past few days, and thank you for specifically returning to search for me afterward!"

"Oh, Mr. Ji, what are you talking about..." "Yes, we are relieved to know you are alright!"

Ji Yuan's explanation was quite reasonable and aligned with common human behavior. The father and son were truly relieved now and offered him a few words of comfort.

"Yes, I still feel a bit uneasy, and I'll be leaving soon. Since I've come all this way, I'd like to offer a small gift in return..."

As Ji Yuan said this with hesitation, Zhang Fu and Old Zhang quickly declined.

"No need, no need. You're a guest from afar, and hospitality is only right. Besides, you helped us form the array..."

At this moment, the women and children from inside the Zhang family home also emerged. Zhang Fu quickly explained the situation, making it clear to everyone in the family that Ji Yuan was still alive.

Just then, Ji Yuan pretended to have just remembered something, feigning sudden realization.

"Oh, that's right! You're cleaning your home in preparation for the New Year, aren't you?"

Ji Yuan glanced at the bucket and rag in Zhang Fu's hand, and then at the Zhang family's door frame.

"Well, I don't have much of value to offer. Since you're preparing for the New Year, you'll surely need things to put up. How about I write two 'Fu' (Fortune) characters for you and the Liang family? My calligraphy isn't too bad; it's quite presentable!"

"Is that... is that appropriate?" "That sounds quite good..."

The Zhang family was tempted; if Ji Yuan could write them, it would save them a trip to the market later.

"Perfectly appropriate! I have my brush and ink with me. You just need to find two square pieces of red paper!"

"Oh, yes, we have that, we have that! Wife, quickly find the large red paper we set aside for red envelopes!"

Zhang Fu quickly instructed his wife, who promptly went inside to search for it.

Afterward, the Zhang family once again warmly invited Ji Yuan inside for tea.

About fifteen minutes later, two large sheets of red paper were spread out on the square table inside the Zhang family's home. Beside them sat an inkstone with freshly ground ink, and a thick-tipped brush was held in Ji Yuan's hand.

The brush in Ji Yuan's hand was a genuine weasel-hair brush, which he had personally crafted by hand during his years on the island, in moments of deep spiritual insight during his cultivation. This was the first time he was using it.

Dipping the brush in ink, he elegantly wrote on the red paper, and a bold character for "Fu" (Fortune) appeared. At that moment, the Dragon Girl, observing nearby, seemed to see faint red flowers faintly blossoming from the tip of Ji Yuan's brush.

'A magical brush bringing forth flowers!'