Chapter 49: Men Always Focus Until Death

"Patriarch Wei, what is the origin of the blue jade passed down in your family?"

The mysterious official's words eased Wei Wuwei's mind somewhat. While the matter was a secret, it wasn't strictly forbidden to speak of, and this situation was hardly one where Wei Wuwei could have his way.

"Sir, you may not know, but it has been passed down by word of mouth in my family that an ancestor of my Wei family once saved an immortal crane. Afterward, the crane returned with a piece of jade in its beak, gifting it to my ancestor as a token of gratitude. This blue jade has been passed down through generations and is now in my possession, Wei Wuwei..."

"Indeed, some elders say that carrying this jade can ward off evil and misfortune, but this is merely a rumor with no concrete proof!"

At this point, Wei Wuwei paused and looked at the black-clad man lying motionless on the ground.

"The idea of becoming immortal is far too elusive. Emperor Zhengyuan of our Dazhen dynasty sought immortality for half his life, only to die young and in despair. Zuo Kuangtu, who was called a sword immortal, didn't he also die with regret?"

Wei Wuwei found it utterly ridiculous. Even if they truly obtained the Sword Intent Inscription, deciphered its secrets, and found Zuo Kuangtu's legendary manual, and even if they were given the blue jade, did they really think they could become immortal with just these? The emperor, with all his power, couldn't achieve it, let alone these people.

"It's truly absurd. Going to a temple to pray to gods and Buddha is more realistic. I can't believe I, Wei Wuwei, was attacked by a group of madmen!"

Frankly, Ji Yuan's intuition told him that Wei Wuwei's disdain was not feigned. This meant the Wei family genuinely only knew the story passed down by their ancestors, and even believed the blue jade might not possess any mystical properties beyond its monetary value.

However, the black-clad man on the ground did not retort. Instead, he channeled his energy to soothe his internal injuries, patiently waiting for Wei Wuwei to finish his taunts before speaking. His attention remained primarily on Ji Yuan.

He feared that this official would act strictly according to the law without hesitation. The fact that he hadn't yet acted meant there was still room for negotiation. He glanced at his other black-clad companion, who had long since fallen unconscious, while he paid no mind to Xiang Feng and the others.

"Indeed, everything you say, Wei Wuwei, is correct. But do you dare to claim there are no immortals in this world? Six years ago, without wind or rain, Guangdong Lake swelled and flooded for thirty *li*. Who among the affected people along the banks doesn't know this? Two years ago, the swordsman Du Yutian slayed a ghost after drinking, and the frost on his blade didn't recede for three days. Who among those close to the Du family isn't aware of this? And the Smiling Rakshasa, he dreamt one night that the emissary of the Beidu City God came to take a soul, and upon waking, his friend had passed away, after which he began calling himself the Smiling Soul Reaver... These are not just mere江湖 rumors!"

Seeing Ji Yuan's impassive demeanor, and feeling as though the official's dark face was watching him with amusement, the black-clad man became increasingly agitated as he spoke.

"Sir, five years ago, I shattered a jar of aged fine wine by the Chunmu River, which attracted a giant black-backed turtle. This turtle could speak human language and demanded good wine from me, saying it was for the River God of Chunmu River. Since then, every year on the fifteenth day of the fifth month, I go to the riverside to offer wine. This matter is absolutely true, without a single falsehood!"

Hearing these words, everyone was astonished, except for the other black-clad man who had already fainted. Even the remaining Five Bandits of Yan Province, who had been dispirited, were utterly bewildered, clearly unaware of these mystical matters concerning immortality.

Ji Yuan appeared outwardly expressionless, but inwardly, he was already deeply shaken. Yet, he managed to control his excitement and spoke in a hoarse, cold voice.

"Continue!"

The black-clad man swallowed, then glanced at Wei Wuwei, who was frowning in thought beside him.

"That giant turtle said it wouldn't take my fine wine for nothing, and told me of three places where immortal destinies could be found. First, the Sword Intent Inscription, which it explicitly stated was hidden with the Fan family in Dingyuan Prefecture. The old turtle clearly said that the long sword, Qingying, had already developed spiritual awareness and was an inherently spiritual object; whoever obtained it would naturally encounter opportunities. Second, the Wei family's ancestral blue jade..."

The black-clad man paused here, seemingly unwilling to elaborate on the blue jade, and skipped directly to continue speaking.

"The third immortal destiny is in Tongzhou, thousands of *li* away. If you let me go today, you can take this Wei family blue jade. After my injuries heal, I will tell you how to use this jade to seek an immortal destiny!"

The evening breeze blew gently, yet brought no sense of coolness.

Even though everything he had heard before seemed utterly absurd, at these words, Wei Wuwei felt a hot flush on his back and became incredibly nervous.

"Sir, surely you wouldn't believe the baseless lies of such treacherous villains! You saved my life, Wei Wuwei's life. This blue jade, offered as a thank-you gift, doesn't even come close to repaying that life-saving kindness!"

The portly Wei Wuwei spoke with righteous indignation, taking the blue jade directly from his pocket and handing it to Ji Yuan, while turning his face towards the black-clad man on the ground.

"But this person not only spouts nonsense, he has also stirred up countless conflicts and killings in the martial world. Neither law nor reason permits him to be pardoned lightly!"

Wei Wuwei was very reluctant to give away the blue jade, but he dared not take the gamble. Even if there was only a tiny possibility that this mysterious expert might be swayed and believe in the tales of immortal destiny, holding onto the heirloom could lead to misfortune!

Moreover, what the black-clad man said was truly uncanny; even Wei Wuwei couldn't help but feel a ripple in his heart. Judging others by his own standards and putting himself in their shoes, Wei Wuwei chose to attribute petty motives to a noble person.

If the official truly had a change of heart, Wei Wuwei hoped the "steps" he provided would be somewhat effective. His angry shouts at the black-clad man were, in fact, meant to mask his own nervousness!

At this moment, thoughts raced through Ji Yuan's mind. Faced with the blue jade Wei Wuwei offered, he was immensely tempted. However, as someone who had partially embarked on the path of cultivation, Ji Yuan noticed a clear flaw in the story Wei Wuwei had just told about the immortal crane repaying kindness: if it were him, the crucial element of repaying kindness with jade would not be the jade itself, but the person!

Ji Yuan preferred to overthink rather than face unforeseen complications, and there was also a most crucial reason.

With his blind perception, the malevolence emanating from the black-clad man was almost palpable; he was certainly no good person. And Wei Wuwei was by no means a kind soul either. To be truly safe, should he force out the details of the immortal destinies and then silence them? Could he bring himself to kill people? He might be able to kill ferocious bandits, but could he feel at peace killing Wei Wuwei and the others?

'Is this truly my character, Ji Yuan? When teaching the fierce tiger, I preached that one must first be a person before cultivating. Should I now resort to any means necessary just because I want to cultivate immortality? The immortals in my heart are carefree and at ease, yet they are not ungrateful. They can feel sorrow and joy when witnessing the ups and downs of the mortal world! What kind of immortal would a pervert be?'

Men are forever "chūnibyō" until death; at this moment, with his inner "chūnibyō" spirit surging, Ji Yuan's mindset became even more open.

'When lecturing the little fox, I solemnly stated that one should not be too greedy. Wouldn't I be laughable now if I acted otherwise?'

It must be said that Ji Yuan was well aware his current thoughts might be somewhat naive, but since he had a choice, why not choose the path with fewer variables and a clear conscience? At the very least, he already possessed the Sword Intent Inscription!

He took a deep breath. Having made his decision, his heart felt as clear as if all his meridians were open, and his entire body experienced an inexpressible comfort. Ji Yuan simply attributed it to the satisfaction of having resolved a difficult problem.

Looking at the blue jade Wei Wuwei offered again, Ji Yuan, feeling unburdened, even entertained a playful thought. He naturally reached out, took the warm, smooth jade, and toyed with it in his hand, then turned his head to look at Wei Wuwei.

"Patriarch Wei, this blue jade is your family's ancestral treasure. Furthermore, if this man's words are true, it's a valuable item linked to the path of immortals. Are you truly giving it to me like this? Is it a genuine gesture of gratitude, or are you afraid I might act against you?"

These words made Wei Wuwei nearly tremble, only managing to conceal it through sheer willpower and the bulk of his body.

"Sir, I'm not afraid of you laughing at me. I, Wei Wuwei, am most fearful of death, but I would never judge a noble person with a petty mind! I truly and sincerely wish to give this jade pendant to you, sir. Besides, can an immortal enjoy the same glory, wealth, and freedom as I do in the mortal world?"

Ji Yuan grinned, suddenly finding Wei Wuwei to be quite an interesting character.

"Hahahahahahahaha, hahahahahahaha..."

The laughter was both for Wei Wuwei and an outpouring of his current contentment.

Of course, Ji Yuan's sudden burst of laughter startled everyone. He weighed the jade pendant in his hand, then tossed it back to Wei Wuwei, who scrambled to catch it.

"I was merely passing through this place and still need to pursue an important case. I've been delayed long enough. Please, Patriarch Wei, hand over all the culprits to the authorities!"

After saying this, Ji Yuan directly drew a breath and leaped, using his Qinggong to spring onto a tree beside the official road for leverage, causing a small willow tree to bend slightly. Then he withdrew his strength.

With a whoosh, he shot forward, gaining speed by repeatedly using tree trunks for leverage, showing no intention of turning back.

Everyone was stunned. Wei Wuwei, however, reacted the quickest and quickly shouted after the disappearing figure.

"May I know your esteemed name, sir!"

But there was no response until the figure vanished completely.

In the forest, on the official road, beside the carriage, there was silence.

Wei Wuwei turned and surveyed the still-astonished bandits and the black-clad man. He patted his chest to compose himself, his voice filled with irrepressible amusement.

"Uh... it seems you've all fallen into my hands, heh heh heh heh!"