Chapter 414: Understands a Lot Now

For a period, Ji Yuan enjoyed a peaceful time at home and also observed the Imperial Thunder Talisman. Its condition was much improved compared to the previous Strongman Talisman. The unique properties of the Thunder Talisman had effectively suppressed the influence of the thunder tribulation. However, the Thunder Talisman's powerful presence made it unsuitable for detailed study at Ju'an Small Pavilion. Therefore, Ji Yuan temporarily set it aside without delving too deeply, as its condition was already improving.

In late December, Ning'an County was hit by a cold front. Despite the significant drop in temperature, the county's atmosphere grew increasingly festive. Every household hung couplets and red lanterns, and the City God Temple in Miaosifang was also brightly decorated.

Due to special circumstances, Ju'an Small Pavilion was certainly not quiet this year. However, because the occasional excessive noise bothered Ji Yuan, the younger residents restrained themselves significantly. They no longer spoke loudly or too quickly, adopting a gentler demeanor.

On the twenty-fifth day of the twelfth lunar month, Ji Yuan was in the courtyard, engrossed in his calculations for the profound "Sleeve Universe" technique. Footsteps echoed from beyond the courtyard gate. Soon, a knocking sound echoed from the courtyard gate. After a few knocks, Sun Fu realized the gate to Ju'an Small Pavilion was only ajar, and his next two taps pushed it open slightly. "Come in, the door isn't locked," Ji Yuan's voice called.

Ji Yuan's voice drifted from the courtyard. Sun Fu glanced at Sun Yayya beside him, quietly reminding her to "mind your manners." Then, holding some items in one hand, he pushed open the gate to Ju'an Small Pavilion, where he saw Ji Yuan leaning over a stone table in the courtyard, writing with a brush.

Ji Yuan looked up at the visitors. Sun Fu held a sack and a bottle of wine, and Sun Yayya clung tightly to his side. Despite her thick, floral-patterned padded jacket, her small face was red from the cold. "Mr. Ji, I've brought you some New Year's provisions," Sun Fu began. "In the sack are our family's homemade cured chicken, cured duck, cured meat, and sausages, all preserved by us. This bottle of wine is from the local distillery. Please don't mind the humble gifts!" Sun Fu lifted the sack with a cheerful smile, then looked at his granddaughter, who promptly and obediently spoke. "Hello, Mr. Ji!" "Excellent, excellent!" Ji Yuan responded. Ji Yuan genuinely didn't refuse, thanking them with a smile.

"Thank you for your generosity," he said. "Please put the items in the kitchen. I can't break my concentration on this writing, so I won't leave the table to assist you. It's cold outside; please go into the main house and sit." "Oh, please, you continue with your work," Sun Fu quickly replied. "I'll handle this small matter. We just came to drop off the New Year's provisions; we still have things to do at home!"

Sun Fu promptly carried the items into the kitchen. Sun Yayya, however, didn't follow; she looked around the small courtyard, her attention primarily fixed on Ji Yuan. She watched Ji Yuan write with curiosity, finding his movements graceful. Unconsciously, she took a few steps closer, then focused on the characters on the paper, finding them even more beautiful. Sun Yayya's initial reservation about visiting a stranger's home had, for some reason, vanished once she arrived at Ju'an Small Pavilion. Even with her grandfather in the kitchen, she dared to approach Ji Yuan.

Ji Yuan watched the little girl, who had unconsciously edged closer to the stone table. While continuing his deductions, he also observed her, finding her indistinctly adorable, though he couldn't discern the details of her face. Seeing her serious gaze at the characters, he gently asked, "Can you read? Do you understand what's written here?" Sun Yayya looked up at Ji Yuan and shook her head. "Not yet," she replied. "Grandpa said he'll send me to school after the New Year. Then the teacher will teach me to read, and I'll understand." The last time they met, the little girl hadn't spoken. This was Ji Yuan's first time hearing her voice, and he found it remarkably clear and crisp, exactly as he had imagined. "Haha, learning to read is indeed good," Ji Yuan said. "Reading more books will broaden your horizons. If any boys at school make fun of you for being a girl attending, just ignore them." "Mhm!" Sun Yayya nodded.

Then she looked Ji Yuan up and down. "Great Master, aren't you cold?" The little girl was dressed very warmly herself, wearing a floral padded jacket, padded pants, warm shoes, and several inner layers. Still, her small face was red from the cold. But Ji Yuan looked cold no matter how she viewed him. Ji Yuan shook his head and chuckled. "Don't let my clothes fool you into thinking I'm not dressed warmly," he said. "Actually, I have several layers of cotton lining tucked inside; I'm quite warm." "Really?" Sun Yayya looked at Ji Yuan's front and back skeptically; he didn't appear bulky at all. Then she looked down at herself, feeling quite rotund.

"Yayya, don't disturb Mr. Ji's writing!" Sun Fu emerged from the kitchen, admonished Sun Yayya, and then quickly asked Ji Yuan, "Mr. Ji, I hope Yayya hasn't disturbed you?" "Not at all. Yayya is very well-behaved." Sun Fu rubbed his hands on his clothes, always pleased to hear praise for his granddaughter.

His visit today was simply to bring Ji Yuan some New Year's provisions, which weren't worth much, but Sun Fu considered it a heartfelt gesture. Now older and having seen Mr. Ji return, he felt an even deeper appreciation for his own father's simple wisdom: it was always wise to maintain good relations with an extraordinary person like Mr. Ji. Furthermore, Mr. Ji had previously stated that he could be approached with any difficulties. Considering his relationship with Lord Yin, many problems could likely be resolved with a single word from him. He should have left after dropping off the items, but seeing Ji Yuan writing alone in the courtyard, and having just surveyed the kitchen, Sun Fu realized that, apart from some rice in the bin, Ju'an Small Pavilion had made virtually no preparations for the New Year. So Sun Fu took a few steps closer to the stone table, hesitated, then addressed Ji Yuan. "Mr. Ji," he began, "my brother's family and mine always spend New Year's Eve together; it's a lively gathering. I was thinking, perhaps you could join us this year and celebrate the New Year's Eve feast?"

Ji Yuan's hand didn't pause, each stroke flowing quickly, forming richly textured characters on the paper. Verbally, he politely declined Sun Fu's kind invitation. "Mr. Sun, I appreciate your kindness deeply," Ji Yuan replied. "It's best for your two families to enjoy your New Year's Eve reunion dinner privately, so as not to inconvenience anyone." Sun Fu would have normally pressed the issue, but Ji Yuan's gentle words carried an inexplicable, undeniable quality, causing Sun Fu's planned retort to change as he spoke. "Oh, well, if you need anything, please don't hesitate to find me," Sun Fu said instead. "You know our family lives in Tongshu Quarter; anyone you ask will recognize us." "Haha, I understand and will remember that," Ji Yuan replied. "And even though it's the New Year season, I'll still need to make a trip." "Oh? You're leaving again?" Sun Fu asked, surprised. "How far, and for how long?" "Not far, not long," Ji Yuan assured him. "I'll be back soon." "That's good, that's good. Well then, I suppose I should take my leave!" Sun Fu said.

Feeling somewhat relieved, old Sun Fu cupped his hands toward Ji Yuan. He then took Sun Yayya's small hand, preparing to leave, but Ji Yuan called out to them. "Please wait a moment, both of you," Ji Yuan said. "Allow me to finish this column." Ji Yuan's writing speed remained steady and unhurried as he calmly completed the last column of text from his day's deductions. As the brush tip lightly touched the end, a faint glow flickered across the paper. Only then did Ji Yuan straighten up, still holding his brush, and cupped his hands towards Sun Fu. "Please forgive my inattentiveness," Ji Yuan said. "It's already the end of the year; children who visit should receive sweet tea and New Year's money." As he spoke, Ji Yuan started walking towards the house. "Oh, no, no, you really mustn't, Mr. Ji!" Sun Fu quickly interjected, trying to stop him. "How could Yayya accept money from you?" Sun Fu rushed over to block him, then turned to Sun Yayya and said, "Our Yayya doesn't want New Year's money, right?" Sun Yayya stood there, biting her lip in silence, clearly longing for the New Year's money. This sight left Sun Fu both exasperated and amused. Ji Yuan smiled as he looked at Sun Yayya, then addressed Sun Fu. "Then how about this?" Ji Yuan suggested. "Let me brew the child a cup of sweet tea to warm her up. It'll take a while to walk back to Tongshu Quarter, and it's cold today. I have a special kind of sweet syrup here that warms the body when consumed. Surely you can't refuse that?" "Well... thank you, Mr. Ji!" Ji Yuan nodded and returned to the kitchen. Although no fire had been lit to boil water that day, he quickly emerged with a teapot and teacups. While he said it was for Sun Yayya's sweet tea, it wouldn't be proper to only serve a child, so Sun Fu naturally received a cup as well.

As the Sun family, old and young, left Ju'an Small Pavilion and walked through the county's streets, they felt a pleasant warmth spread through their bodies, dispelling the harsh winter cold. "Grandpa, that sweet tea was so delicious!" Sun Yayya exclaimed innocently on the way. "It was refreshingly sweet and thirst-quenching, and it made me feel so warm. I want more! Could you ask Mr. Ji where he buys his sugar and tea leaves, so we can get some for our family?" "Silly child," Sun Fu replied, "that sweet tea isn't something you can simply buy!" Sun Fu walked, holding Sun Yayya's warm hand, his heart feeling as warm as his body. He hadn't noticed it immediately after drinking the tea, but soon after leaving Ju'an Small Pavilion, a warm current began to spread from his stomach, making his limbs and joints tingle with a delightfully comfortable sensation. The old and seasoned Sun Fu could not help but understand what was happening; this delivery of New Year's provisions was truly worth it!

After the Sun family departed, Ji Yuan finally gathered the stack of papers from the courtyard table. His deductions for the day spanned over twenty pages, densely covered with writing. He glanced at the papers in his hand, then closed his eyes, savoring all he had gained that day. After a long while, Ji Yuan's eyes opened again, and the papers in his hand had disintegrated into dust. "Doctor Tong has visited, Lord Zhu has visited, and now the Sun family has called," Ji Yuan murmured. "No one will have made a fruitless trip during or after the New Year, and I'm well-stocked with provisions!" The items brought by previous visitors had already been stored away in his sleeve as soon as they entered the kitchen.

Ji Yuan looked up towards Niukui Mountain. Moments later, he was carried towards it as if by a gentle breeze. In little time, Ji Yuan arrived above the moon platform on Niukui Mountain, where he had once given a lecture. Looking down from above, he saw a red fox sitting cross-legged on the platform, mimicking a human, its two front paws misaligned as if forming hand seals.

"You've made considerable progress!" A gentle voice reached Hu Yun, whose ears twitched slightly. He opened his eyes and looked up at the sky, and only after repeated confirmation did he realize it was truly Ji Yuan. His face instantly lit up with wild joy. "Mr. Ji! It's really you, it's really you! I thought it was an illusion again, another illusion! It's truly you..." The red fox's voice was ecstatic, even tinged with a slight sob towards the end. After Lu Shan-jun's departure, he had experienced an unprecedented feeling of intense loneliness. Ji Yuan's figure slowly descended onto the moon platform. The red fox immediately leaped to his side, allowing Ji Yuan to stroke its fiery red, fluffy fur.

"Do you want to visit Yin Qing?" "Yes!" Ji Yuan looked at the red fox, whose head was now raised. "He hasn't returned to Ning'an County in all these years. Don't you blame him?" Hu Yun shook his head. "No, I don't blame him," he said. "Yin Qing has great ambitions, and I know he's been extremely busy all these years!" "Haha, you've grown much more sensible," Ji Yuan chuckled. "Come, let's go to the capital of Dazhen." Ji Yuan swept his sleeve over the red fox, and the next moment, he ascended into the sky, taking Hu Yun with him.