Chapter 329: Can’t Laugh Anymore

Ji Yuan's calligraphy was inspired, and he wrote the character "Fu" (Fortune) with rich ink at a steady, unhurried pace, quickly completing two sheets of red paper.

Even though the Zhang family members were illiterate, they were still impressed and delighted by Ji Yuan's calligraphy, finding both his writing posture and the characters themselves aesthetically pleasing.

After the "Fu" characters were finished, a faint, fleeting glow appeared. Ordinary people's eyes would only perceive a momentary reflection, a mere illusion, and most would not ponder it further.

However, Ji Yuan stopped after writing just the second character.

Zhang Fu looked at the many square red papers still left on the table, scratched his head, and spoke.

"Mr. Ji," he said, "there are still so many sheets of paper left. Could you please write a few more? Our neighbors and fellow villagers could also share some."

However, Ji Yuan had already put down his brush, even picking up the inkstone and cradling it in his palm. He looked at the "Fu" characters on the table, where the ink was quickly drying, then glanced at Zhang Fu's family and said with a smile:

"Such calligraphy, with its precious ink, is not something to be easily multiplied. Of these two characters, hang one on your Zhang family's door, and send the other to the Liang family in Qiangang Village!"

While speaking, Ji Yuan walked out, carrying the inkstone and brush. The Dragon Girl was already waiting outside the door.

Most of the Zhang family members were still admiring the calligraphy. Only Zhang Fu and Old Zhang noticed Ji Yuan seemed about to leave and quickly took a few steps forward, speaking up to urge him to stay.

"Mr. Ji, please have lunch with us here," they pleaded. "It would be best if you could stay for a few days!"

"No, no," Ji Yuan replied. "I actually have important matters to attend to, and someone is waiting for me, so I cannot stay longer..."

After Ji Yuan walked out, Zhang Fu and his father also saw him off. They looked outside but saw no one waiting, realizing that Ji Yuan was likely just being modest.

Old Zhang said comfortingly:

"Mr. Ji, please don't worry about what happened a few days ago. Your safety reassures us that we can have a peaceful New Year. Besides, you've left us with calligraphy. Your hometown is very far away, and with the New Year approaching, you certainly won't be able to rush back. There's truly no need to leave in such a hurry..."

Ji Yuan felt quite touched by these words, especially when comparing them to the customs in many other parts of the Ancestral Yue region. He turned and cupped his hands again towards Old Zhang.

"That's not the reason," Ji Yuan said. "I'm actually quite thick-skinned. It's genuinely because I have something important to do that I cannot stay. Oh, and about these two 'Fu' characters, if anyone tries to buy them..."

Ji Yuan's smile faded, and his expression became slightly serious.

"No matter who offers money, or how much, do not sell them! Tell the Liang family the same thing. Have you remembered?"

Seeing Ji Yuan's serious expression, the Zhang father and son exchanged a glance and instinctively nodded in unison.

"We remember," they replied.

"Good," Ji Yuan said. "Then I shall take my leave. You two need not see me off further."

After saying this, Ji Yuan turned and strode away. After walking a dozen steps, the inkstone and brush in his hand had disappeared.

In just a moment, Ji Yuan's figure had vanished from Zhang Fu's and Old Zhang's sight. They had originally intended to see him off further, but after walking past the corner of the house, they could no longer see him.

"Mr. Ji walks so fast?" Old Zhang mused.

Old Zhang looked at his son with slight surprise, and the latter also seemed a bit puzzled.

"Never mind," Old Zhang said. "Isn't Chunlan going back to her parents' home? It's a good chance to let her take this 'Fu' character with her. Also, don't forget what Mr. Ji just said about not selling it."

"I know, I know," Zhang Fu replied. "I'll go to my father-in-law's house with Chunlan."

The father and son spoke as they returned to the house, needing to clean it thoroughly to welcome the New Year fresh and clean.

In the sky, flying towards the open sea, the Dragon Girl looked back at the rapidly receding fishing village and asked Ji Yuan:

"Uncle Ji, was that an immortal's decree just now?"

"What immortal's decree?" Ji Yuan replied with a slight smile. "A decree is a decree; no need to forcefully add 'immortal.' Your father could also achieve this level."

Ji Yuan answered with a slight smile, then flew with the Dragon Girl towards where the giant whale was. They quickly returned to that sea area.

With their arrival, the giant whale slowly surfaced again from beneath the water.

"Empress Ruoli, Immortal Ji," the whale boomed, "if you don't mind, please stand on this humble general's back. My speed underwater is not too slow, and I know many underwater shortcuts. I can avoid many strange currents in celestial waters and will not get lost!"

Ying Ruoli smiled slightly at Ji Yuan and gestured for him to proceed.

"Uncle Ji, please go ahead!" she said.

"All right," Ji Yuan replied, "let's take a ride on this giant whale-boat."

The two descended from the sky and stood together on the whale's back. The giant whale flicked its tail, displacing a large volume of water, and began to swim swiftly into the distance, its speed increasing steadily.

However, at this point, hearing about the strange currents in celestial waters made Ji Yuan suddenly realize a problem.

"By the way, River God Empress," he asked, "do you know where your mother's Dragon Rock Island is located?"

The Dragon Girl shook her head.

"I don't know," she replied. "Mother used to live in the East Sea, but then she left for somewhere else and has never returned since. Uncle Ji, we are very far from Tongtian River now, so please don't call me River God Empress. Just call me Ruoli."

Ji Yuan forced a smile, now concerned about a different problem. He looked down at the rapidly swimming giant whale beneath his feet.

"May I ask, General Giant Whale," he inquired, "where is Dragon Rock Island, where your esteemed mistress resides?"

"The mistress never allows it to be said, especially to those from this side," the whale replied. "However, it should be fine for Immortal Ji and Empress Ruoli to know, as we are going there anyway. Actually, Dragon Rock Island is not within the East Sea. One needs to pass through a large expanse of sea, bypass some desolate waters, and reach the boundary between the East Sea and the North Sea."

Bypassing some desolate waters? The boundary between the East Sea and the North Sea?

Ji Yuan casually imagined the route. This probably meant going at least east to the boundary of the East Sea, then near the North Sea. "Isn't that the furthest northeast point within the desolate waters?" he thought to himself.

"That far?" Ji Yuan blurted out.

Ji Yuan couldn't help but ask, unable to imagine the sheer distance. All the continents in the world were surrounded by seas, and the East Sea's area was certainly immeasurably larger than that of Eastern Land Yunzhou.

"Your mother has certainly gone far..." Ji Yuan muttered.

It was rare for Ji Yuan to make such a remark. Even Ying Ruoli could only offer an awkward smile, unsure how to respond.

"It is a bit far," General Giant Whale said, "but Immortal Ji, rest assured. This humble General Giant Whale might not be proficient in other skills, but my ability to traverse oceans and find paths is absolutely excellent. In terms of speed, those realm ferries and flying boats suspended from islands might not even compare to me!"

General Giant Whale spoke as he swam, looking quite smug, but Ji Yuan listened with a heavy heart.

"River God Empress," Ji Yuan asked, "you are the rightful deity of a river. Is it alright for you to be away from Tongtian River for so long?"

Ying Ruoli smiled faintly.

"Uncle Ji, no need to worry," she said. "Throughout the Tongtian River basin, all aquatic creatures serve the Water Mansion. Any problems that arise will be handled for me. Besides, I don't care much for divine authority anyway, so it doesn't matter how long I am outside my jurisdiction."

"Oh... that's good then..." Ji Yuan responded.

Ji Yuan truly couldn't smile anymore.

In the misty sea area behind where the giant whale departed, a mirage-like dragon aura sensed the whale's departure. What the Old Dragon's divine consciousness perceived naturally represented what his true dragon body saw.

'With Ji Yuan going along, there shouldn't be any major problems, right?' he thought.

In Pianwan Village, Zhang Fu, his wife Liang Chunlan, and their young son, carrying some gifts, traveled to Qiangang Village, seven or eight *li* away, arriving at the Liang family's home before lunch.

Zhang Fu's family put down the basket of items they had brought, and the Liang family poured water for them, beginning a warm conversation where, inevitably, they talked about Ji Yuan.

"Brother-in-law," Liang Ping Le exclaimed, "you mean Mr. Ji isn't dead?"

Liang Ping Le's face lit up with pleasant surprise, and his father also looked astonished.

"That's right," Zhang Fu said, "Mr. Ji is fine! Earlier today, he came to our house to let us know he was safe, and he even wrote 'Fu' characters for us!"

Zhang Fu spoke cheerfully, recounting in detail how he met Ji Yuan that morning and how the latter wrote the characters for them.

"Oh, right, look!" Zhang Fu continued. "This is the 'Fu' character Mr. Ji wrote. Before I came, I specifically walked around the whole village, and none of the characters or couplets posted by others were as beautiful as Mr. Ji's! Not even half as beautiful!"

As Zhang Fu spoke, he specifically stood up, left the table, walked to a basket he had put down, rummaged through it, and took out a rolled-up red paper.

"Look!" he announced.

The red paper unfolded, revealing a "Fu" character written with rich, dark ink. Simply looking at it filled the Liang family with a deep sense of comfort and pleasure.

"Good calligraphy, truly good calligraphy!" they exclaimed. "Yes, it's really beautiful!"

The Liang family members also couldn't read many characters, yet they still commented on it like old scholars.

"Right? I wasn't lying, was I?" Zhang Fu said. "Mr. Ji said this character is worth a thousand gold pieces—hmm, it probably means it's priceless and not to be exchanged for anything. He told you to stick it on your door, and no matter who sees it and wants to buy it, no matter how much they offer, do not sell it!"

"We won't sell it, we won't sell it!" they agreed. "Exactly! This is Mr. Ji's good fortune charm for the New Year, why would we sell it!"

"Yes, this character is truly good!"

Hearing that Ji Yuan was not dead also brought a slight sigh of relief to the Liang father and son. At least they could have a more relaxed New Year, without any lingering worries as they crossed into the new year. And seeing this "Fu" character made them feel exceptionally joyful.

Liang Ping Le eagerly grabbed the "Fu" character and ran towards the door, holding it up and moving it left, right, up, and down, trying to figure out the correct way to hang it.

Liang's father chuckled and playfully scolded him from inside.

"You foolish child, are you silly?" he called out. "Can you stick it up just by holding the character? Wait for your mom to make some paste from rice porridge, then you can stick it!"

Liang Ping Le chuckled, realizing his father was right. He must have been too carried away with joy, and it was all because the character was so beautiful.

Just as he was thinking this, his hand loosened, and the "Fu" character surprisingly stuck itself onto the door.

Liang Ping Le thought it had been blown there by the wind. He scratched his head, intending to peel it off, but found that his fingernail couldn't even catch the edge of the paper. He was instantly stunned.

"Stuck tight?" he mumbled.