Chapter 428: Hu Yun's Friends

Outside Ji Yuan's room, Hu Yun stood up, shook his fur, and scratched his ears. After a moment's thought, he decided not to push the door open again and instead walked towards his own room.

At the Yin residence, the Yin family not only regarded Ji Yuan as a distinguished guest but also genuinely treated Hu Yun as one. Naturally, Hu Yun had his own guest room, located on the opposite side of the courtyard, directly across from Ji Yuan's room.

Just as he reached the door to his room, Hu Yun paused. He looked up at the stars and moon, then glanced in another direction. After a moment's hesitation, he leaped away.

Hu Yun had no desire to cultivate or sleep at the moment. Instead, he returned to Yin Qing's study. As Yin Qing's close friend, he understood him very well. He suspected that Yin Qing, too, felt a strong positive impression of the princess from their very first meeting; otherwise, he wouldn't be putting so much effort into this.

He walked all the way to the outside of Yin Qing's study, and sure enough, it was still brightly lit inside. This time, Hu Yun didn't need to hide; he boldly knocked on the door from outside.

"Knock, knock, knock..."

"Yin Qing, it's me. May I come in?"

"Come in."

Hearing Yin Qing's reply, Hu Yun pushed the door open directly, then quickly closed it tightly to prevent the warmth from escaping the study.

He looked up at Yin Qing and saw him hunched over his desk, drawing with a brush, illuminated by two bright, shaded lamps. Hu Yun quietly walked over to him, then jumped onto the empty chair behind Yin Qing, standing on his tiptoes to examine the painting.

Yin Qing remained silent, seemingly fully engrossed in his painting, meticulously detailing even the smallest folds in the clothing. However, it was clear he hadn't forgotten his good friend. After completing a section and changing his brush and ink, he turned to Hu Yun and said,

"There's still more than half a crispy fried chicken in the kitchen, leftovers from dinner. Aside from one drumstick Yin Chong took, most of it is still there. If you don't mind, should I have someone bring it to you?"

"Don't mind, don't mind, quickly get it for me!"

Hu Yun had been craving that crispy fried chicken for ages; upon hearing there was some left, he didn't care about anything else.

"Heh, alright, wait a moment. I'll go give the order. I was originally planning to have the cook make you a fresh one tomorrow, but I have a feeling you want to eat it right now."

With that, Yin Qing put down his brush, opened the door, and slowly walked out to the servants' quarters nearby to give his instructions.

Seeing Yin Qing leave, Hu Yun placed his front paws on the desk, leaned closer to the artwork, and meticulously examined the person in the painting.

Though it was only half a night's work, Yin Qing had already sketched the main features of the portrait; the remaining details would require another day or two of careful refinement.

Princess Changping in the painting sat on a cushioned couch, her face turned slightly towards the viewer, bearing a faint smile. Adorned with a pearl hairpin and a silk robe, her slender, jade-like fingers delicately held a leaf-shaped playing card, her pinky finger gracefully curled. Every expression, from a slight frown to a gentle smile, was vividly captured.

"It's truly beautifully painted. No wonder Mr. Ji said that the essence of art can capture the spirit."

As he gazed, Hu Yun seemed to envision Yin Qing and Princess Changping marrying and having children, and later, their home filled with descendants.

"I wonder if I'll be able to witness that. I still need to cultivate diligently, so I'll have enough power to move freely on my own!"

Hu Yun knew he wouldn't be staying at the Yin residence for long, as Mr. Ji wouldn't either. And when Mr. Ji left, he wouldn't allow Hu Yun to remain there. In fact, Hu Yun himself was well aware that staying at the Yin residence would be more harmful than beneficial; his cultivation, for one, would surely be delayed.

Mr. Ji often traveled, and the periods between his returns to Ju'an Cottage had grown longer in recent years. Hu Yun felt that his next return might not be soon either. In that case, unless Yin Qing could find time to visit him in Ning'an County, it would likely be a very long time before he saw Yin Qing and Master Yin again.

However, Hu Yun also considered that he was, after all, still a demon. Once Yin Qing was married, he wouldn't be alone, and the princess would always be by his side. It would likely become inconvenient for Yin Qing to meet and play around with a demon.

As he pondered, Hu Yun felt a slight annoyance, and the joy of his friend finding a wife diminished somewhat.

"Oh, my cultivation is still insufficient. If only I had the same level of cultivation as Lu Shanjun, capable of truly transforming into a human, then I could wear proper scholarly robes, walk up to Yin Qing and his wife, and say, 'Hello, Brother Yin,' and 'Hello, Sister-in-law'..."

Yin Qing quickly returned to the study. Hu Yun moved aside so Yin Qing could continue painting. After drawing for a while, Yin Qing suddenly turned to look at Hu Yun.

"Why are you so quiet today? This isn't like you."

"It's nothing. I just feel my cultivation is awful; I've only ever achieved this small amount of power, and it's frustrating!"

Hu Yun sat on the chair, his two paws resting on the armrests, one on each side, a very human-like and amusing posture. Especially his large, fluffy tail, which swayed back and forth in front of him.

"Heh, though I'm not very knowledgeable about demon cultivation, I do know a bit. Back then, I used to occasionally chat with that old turtle by the Chunmu River about mythical beings. From the time you gained sentience until now, has it been a full forty or fifty years? This speed isn't slow, is it?"

Yin Qing's comforting words had little effect, and Hu Yun sighed.

"You're comparing me to wild demons! I've received guidance from Mr. Ji. Though I don't know how profound his cultivation is, it's certainly something I can't fathom, like trying to see the end of the sky. Do you know how many demons get such an opportunity for 'divine guidance'? Oh, never mind. When will the crispy fried chicken be here?"

"The kitchen is heating it up now. It'll be here soon."

Hearing that Hu Yun was still preoccupied with food, Yin Qing felt relieved and turned back to his painting with peace of mind.

However, Hu Yun didn't stay long in the study that night. After finishing half the crispy fried chicken and leaving a drumstick for Yin Qing, he returned directly, claiming he needed to cultivate without slackening.

Yin Qing's marriage wouldn't be settled quickly, but there was a high probability of him getting married within a few years. Ji Yuan felt he should have time to attend.

However, now, as all good things must end, Ji Yuan had stayed quite a while at the Yin residence and didn't intend to remain in the capital for too long. Therefore, shortly after the Lantern Festival, he bid farewell to the Yin family. Of course, Ji Yuan took Hu Yun with him when he left.

On the twentieth day of the first lunar month, Ji Yuan and Hu Yun left the Capital Prefecture, traveling on clouds towards Jizhou. However, Ji Yuan did not head directly for Desheng Prefecture; instead, he gradually descended towards Chunhui Prefecture.

Hu Yun had keen eyesight. From high on the cloud, he spotted a city beside a winding great river in the distance and knew at once that they weren't heading back home.

"Mr. Ji, are we going to Chunmu River? To see that old turtle and the big blue fish?"

Hu Yun, who had seemed a bit listless since leaving the Capital Prefecture, brightened up, and his voice held a hint of excitement.

Honestly, Hu Yun felt he had only two close friends: Yin Qing and the big blue fish. As for the others, they were either elders or mere acquaintances. Perhaps the little paper crane was nice, but communicating with it was too challenging, and Hu Yun never knew what it was thinking.

"Yes, we'll go to Chunhui Prefecture to see how the old turtle and the big blue fish are progressing, and also to meet Bai Qi."

"Bai Qi?"

Hu Yun paused, trying to recall who Bai Qi was for a while. Confirming he didn't know him, he asked directly.

"Mr. Ji, who is Bai Qi?"

Ji Yuan realized that Hu Yun had never met Bai Qi and didn't know him, so he smiled and said,

"He is the righteous god of the Chunmu River, a white jiao-dragon."

"Jiao... jiao-dragon?"

Hu Yun unconsciously shivered.

"Mr. Ji, I... I've heard that dragons have enormous appetites, and many love to devour demons. They can also summon clouds and bring rain, which is why humans worship them as water gods. I... I'm a fox demon..."

"A little scared?"

"Mm..."

"Don't worry, I'm here!"

Hu Yun felt a little relieved, thinking that indeed, nothing bad ever happened when Mr. Ji was around.

"Are Mr. Ji and that river god friends?"

Ji Yuan smiled mischievously.

"Friends, not really. But last time I promised to bring him a demon to eat, and I couldn't find a suitable one anywhere, so I'll just bring you along."

Even though he knew Mr. Ji was joking, Hu Yun still shivered in fright and forced a grimace.

"Sir, please don't scare me. You know I'm timid..."

"Hahahahaha..."

With a smile, Ji Yuan guided the clouds and descended directly to a spot by the river just outside Chunhui Prefecture city.

It was early morning, and people were constantly entering and leaving the city gates. The River God Temple, renowned as the "First Shrine of Chunmu River," was already bustling with tourists and pilgrims.

Compared to Daliang Temple in Tingliang Kingdom, which also attracted large crowds, this River God Temple in Chunhui Prefecture was more akin to a scenic spot nowadays. Men and women gathered for leisure, and scholars and poets composed verses and left inscriptions, giving it less of a feel of worldly desire and more of a relaxed elegance.

In comparison, Ji Yuan still preferred the atmosphere here at the River God Temple.

Coincidentally, the River God of Chunmu River had transformed into human form and was currently observing scholars composing poems and verses within the temple. He was also a renowned "literary critic" at the River God Temple.

Since the walls suitable for inscriptions in the River God Temple were ultimately limited, only masterpieces now qualified to be displayed on the sheltered corridor walls. The River God, known by the alias Bai Wenchuan, was already renowned for his literary criticism, and the temple caretaker held him in deep respect; if he said something could go on the wall, it surely could.

At this moment, a large group of literati gathered by the corridor walls in the River God Temple's outer courtyard. Several writing desks were set up, where a few people were writing on white paper with brushes. The onlookers included not only scholars but also several young women, creating a lively atmosphere.

"By day, I wander the river and tread spring waters; by night, I enter the curtains to gaze upon brilliant lanterns..."

"What a wonderful line!" "Indeed, Mr. Zhao has great literary talent!"

"Yes, yes, Mr. Bai, what do you think? Can it be inscribed on the corridor wall?"

"Yes, yes, Mr. Bai, what's your opinion?"

Everyone asked Bai Qi for his judgment. Bai Qi, appearing as a middle-aged scholar, stroked his beard with a smile as he walked a few steps closer to the writing desks.

"This line is alright, just a bit short!"

"Hahaha, Mr. Bai, I haven't finished writing yet. Please take a look once I've completed the whole piece!"

"Alright, then I, Bai, will await Mr. Zhao's masterpiece. Today..."

Mid-sentence, Bai Qi suddenly froze, a faint, unidentifiable look of astonishment appearing on his face. He turned his head in one direction and, two breaths later, hurried away, leaving the literati somewhat surprised and wondering what had happened.

Bai Qi departed in a rush, his steps incredibly swift. While ordinary people would only perceive him as walking quickly, his actual speed was far greater; in a few breaths, he was out of the River God Temple, then past the market stalls, turning to one side.

On the river beside the River God Temple, Bai Qi gazed into the distance and saw a white-robed gentleman approaching unhurriedly. His hair was styled in a bun with a jade hairpin, sideburns framing his face, and the rest of his hair draped over his shoulders. A red fox walked beside him.

Bai Qi's steps quickened even further, and from a distance, he clasped his hands in a respectful gesture and called out loudly in greeting.

"Mr. Ji has come to Chunmu River! I, Bai, have truly failed to welcome you from afar!"