Chapter 50: Worthy of the Name Madman

Ji Yuan ran tirelessly, using his nimble footwork to leap and bound. After disappearing from Wei Wuwei and the others' sight, he detoured and returned to Ning'an County.

The fierce wind whistling past his ears felt incredibly pleasant as he ran. Ji Yuan simply untied his hair, letting his long strands stream and tumble freely in the wind.

This era was vastly different from the China of his previous life. Forests and grasslands stretched everywhere, almost untouched by pollution. Wild nightingales sang among the farmlands, and the mountains offered a different landscape from the plains. Even the evenings and days presented distinct appearances.

There was a small river in the woods outside the city. As Ji Yuan sped past, he executed a graceful leap and roll, using the branch of a small tree by the riverbank to propel himself with a spectacular fish-like dive. With a "plop," he plunged into the dark river, sending a splash of water flying.

Soon after, with a rushing "whoosh" sound, Ji Yuan resurfaced. As he reached the opposite bank, his submerged legs powerfully kicked the water, and he channeled energy into his right palm, striking the water with a forceful slap.

"Bang!"

Amidst a shower of spray, Ji Yuan propelled himself entirely out of the water and landed on the far bank.

"Hahahaha, that was exhilarating!"

He resumed running, leaping high into a sprint, spinning multiple times in the air, shedding countless water droplets. After landing, he continued his forward momentum, reveling in the use of his martial arts as playfully as a child.

After running another two *li*, he finally activated his minor water-repelling technique, shedding the remaining water droplets clinging to his body and clothes. It was like taking a refreshing bath, washing away the sweat and fatigue from the recent battle and tension. It felt as if a greasy film had been peeled from his mind, leaving him truly refreshed in both body and spirit.

By the time he returned to Ning'an County, it was already late, and the town was quiet.

Ning'an County had always enjoyed good public order and never enforced a curfew. However, being a small place, there was little entertainment at night besides occasional temple fairs, so the evenings were naturally very peaceful.

Entering the city, Ji Yuan made sure not to disturb anyone, returning quietly to Ju'an Study. He glanced at the Sword Intent Scroll hanging in a corner of the main room, above his desk, then dismissed the thought of examining it immediately. He changed into his sleeping clothes and promptly fell asleep.

The next day was again bright and sunny. After dressing and washing, Ji Yuan sat down at his room's desk like a reverent student, once more carefully examining the Sword Intent Scroll.

On the desk lay the simple "four treasures of the study," all gifts from Yin Zhaoxian. Though not particularly valuable, they felt good to use, indicating they had been carefully selected.

To his eyes, the Sword Intent Scroll remained an enigmatic work of calligraphic art. While Ji Yuan had long understood its deeper meaning, he still hadn't found any clues leading to a tomb.

'Could it be that it needs to be soaked in water or burned?'

Ji Yuan took the Sword Intent Scroll off the wall and placed it on his desk. He felt the paper of the scroll; it was just ordinary Xuan paper and wouldn't withstand such experimental treatment.

'Could the secret be in the scroll's rollers?'

With a light sweep of his finger, the two thin wooden rollers detached from the scroll. Ji Yuan picked them up and meticulously examined them, but found no hidden inscriptions.

"Could it be hidden *inside*?"

Ji Yuan channeled strength into his finger, aimed at the tip of one of the wooden rollers, and flicked it hard.

"Crack..."

The wooden roller split vertically into two halves. He examined it closely, touched it, and even sniffed it, but found nothing unusual. It seemed the clue must still lie within the calligraphy itself.

Frankly, with Ji Yuan's eyesight, he couldn't clearly read the text of ordinary paper books. The Sword Intent Scroll was an exception due to its profound sword intent, which allowed him to discern its characters.

"From my youth, I adored weaponry, especially the sword. At six, I acquired a wooden sword... at twelve, an iron one... By twenty, I was brimming with vigor; though I wielded no new blade, my own spirit was unmatched in its sharpness, a three-foot cold edge illuminating an entire prefecture... Eighty years of life's long journey, where does the path of martial arts lead? Beyond the Xiantian realm, are there immortals? My sword falls upon the paper, yet my heart remains unwilling, unwilling, unwilling..."

After gently reading the hundred-odd characters of the Sword Intent Scroll, Ji Yuan let out a slight sigh. He had once wondered if the martial arts prodigy who penned this scroll was still alive, but now he knew clearly that the person had passed away decades ago.

"Alas, what a shame... but why couldn't you have made it clearer!"

As he sighed, Ji Yuan instinctively used his finger as a sword, performing a light "swimming dragon" movement before the Sword Intent Scroll. This unconscious gesture, meant to ease his mind, suddenly sparked an idea.

His sword movements shifted. Instead of flowing as freely as before, he now wielded the sword intent in sequence, following the literal words and lines of the text.

While it lacked the previous closeness to the Dao and naturalness, gaining a distinct sharpness and ferocity, following the great hero Zuo's life trajectory in conjunction with the revealed sword intent produced a peculiar sensation.

Despite his blindness, Ji Yuan painstakingly pieced together the sword intent's trajectory, along with the timestamps and place names, all from memory in his mind.

'Holy crap, is this a map?'

After a long period of contemplation, Ji Yuan finally confirmed his realization, a mix of amusement and exasperation washing over him.

With such an elaborate difficulty, no wonder no one had inherited the mantle of Great Hero Zuo despite his passing decades ago. Did he truly believe that only a heaven-sent genius like himself was worthy of inheriting his sword path?

Indeed, truly formidable!

Ji Yuan mused that if he himself weren't truly "unparalleled in talent," the secret of this Sword Intent Scroll might never have been deciphered, even if it had decayed completely. Perhaps that peerless sword art would have remained hidden until someone with unbelievably good fortune accidentally stumbled upon it, a stroke of luck akin to falling off a cliff and finding a secret manual.

"He is indeed worthy of the name 'Zuo the Madman'!"

With this new understanding, Ji Yuan felt completely at ease. Simultaneously, he grew immensely excited about Zuo the Madman's peerless sword art. If a mere scroll of sword intent could help him comprehend the profound mysteries of the "swimming dragon," the sword art itself must be even more extraordinary!

"Knock, knock, knock..."

"Mr. Ji, Yin Zhaoxian is here to visit. Are you in?"

Master Yin's familiar voice echoed from outside the courtyard. Ji Yuan glanced towards the door and suddenly realized it was already noon.

Outside, Yin Zhaoxian carried two items: a food box and a cloth bag. Knowing Ji Yuan's precise meal schedule, he had specifically arrived just before lunch, having asked his wife to prepare several of her best dishes and a jar of Huadiao wine, then made his way to Ju'an Study.

Nowadays, Yin Zhaoxian's visits were no longer marked by the initial reverence he felt, but by the comfortable ease of discussing and learning with a friend.

It wasn't long before Ji Yuan himself opened the courtyard gate.

"Master Yin, what brings you here?"

"Haha, I have a day off today, so I came to visit you, Mr. Ji. I hope I'm not disturbing you?"

Ji Yuan smiled back. He had already caught the fragrant aroma emanating from the still-steaming food box, presuming it would taste excellent. He extended his hand, inviting Yin Zhaoxian inside.

"Master Yin, please come in!"

The two sat down at the stone table in the courtyard. Yin Zhaoxian, as if presenting a treasure, first placed the cloth bag on the table, then opened it to reveal a wooden Go board and two boxes of playing pieces.

"I've often seen you studying chess scriptures and the ways of Go, Mr. Ji, but I've never seen you play. Perhaps you lack an opponent? I specifically sought out this sandalwood board so I might have a few games with you!"

'Hold on, hold on... I'm merely an armchair strategist; it's not that I can't find an opponent, but that I genuinely don't know how to play Go...'

Ji Yuan felt a mix of amusement and helplessness; it seemed he was about to embarrass himself.

***

Meanwhile, Wei Wuwei had returned to Ning'an County with his men.

As he was injured and had apprehended so many dangerous criminals, Wei Wuwei sought to minimize unforeseen complications. He had the culprits bound and escorted to the nearest Ning'an County, while simultaneously sending the coachman on horseback to Desheng Prefecture City. There, the local authorities and the Wei family would gather enough personnel to escort the high-profile prisoners.

The current Head of the Wei family was currently staying at an inn, sound asleep and wrapped in the white tiger skin he had purchased from the Ning'an County yamen for a thousand *taels*.