Chapter 547: Borrowing a Chicken to Lay an Egg

Sun Yayaya saw Hu Yun looking quite surprised in the courtyard. She looked him up and down and said, "You're so conspicuous, it would be hard for me not to see you."

Sun Yayaya remained remarkably calm about Hu Yun's appearance, perhaps due to the numerous small characters and paper cranes, or a faint memory of him from years ago, or simply a sense of familiarity upon seeing him again. It was Hu Yun, the demon, who was far from composed.

Hu Yun saw Ji Yuan still reading, seemingly oblivious. He lowered his front paws, landed on all fours, then leapt onto the stone table, staring at Sun Yayaya with his small eyes wide open.

"Are you Sun Yayaya?"

Sun Yayaya nodded in affirmation.

"You really do know me! I've met you before, haven't I?"

Hu Yun sniffed carefully. The strongest scent on Sun Yayaya was that of a human; there was no trace of immortal spiritual energy. He found it hard to believe she had cultivated and possessed a higher spiritual power than him, meaning Sun Yayaya was most likely still a mortal.

"You know I'm a demon, and you're not afraid of me?"

"Do I look scary?"

Sun Yayaya didn't avoid Hu Yun's gaze at all. She even reached out to push him away slightly. "Be careful not to step on my characters; the ink isn't dry yet."

Hu Yun instinctively recoiled two steps, then looked down at the characters on the table. His eyes widened further, and he pointed repeatedly at the Xuan paper with his right paw.

"These characters, you wrote them?"

"Of course. Mr. Ji's writing is much better, so it must be mine."

Hu Yun looked up at Sun Yayaya. Although the girl clearly showed a hint of pride, her eyes were clear. Just looking at the characters made him feel somewhat deflated.

"They're really good!"

Hu Yun gestured with his paw, genuinely praising Sun Yayaya. He had always thought that in Da Zhen, Mr. Ji's calligraphy was first, Master Yin's second, and Yin Qing's third. But now, it seemed Master Yin would have to be moved down the list.

After his praise, Hu Yun jumped off the table. Since Sun Yayaya could see him and Mr. Ji hadn't said anything, he no longer needed to be so cautious. He walked directly to the main house entrance and bowed with his two front paws crossed.

"Hu Yun greets Mr. Ji."

As Hu Yun bowed, the paper crane from the large jujube tree also flew down and landed on his head.

Ji Yuan shifted his gaze from the book in his hands to the fiery-colored red fox and smiled.

"It's been a few years; have you become more well-mannered?"

Hu Yun scratched his head, looked up at the paper crane that had flown up due to his movement, then turned his gaze back to Ji Yuan.

"I don't want to stay in Niu Kui Mountain forever; I have to make some progress, right? By the way, Mr. Ji, when did you come back?"

"Only a few months ago."

Saying this, Ji Yuan looked up at Sun Yayaya, who was curious in the courtyard, and pointed at Hu Yun, saying, "This fox is named Hu Yun. He's a fox demon who cultivates in Niu Kui Mountain, not the harmful type of demon evil passed down through generations. He's considered a benevolent demon."

Sun Yayaya smiled and walked two steps towards the stone table, bowing to Hu Yun with cupped hands.

"My greetings, I am Sun Yayaya."

This bow made Hu Yun a little embarrassed but also very pleased. Seeing Sun Yayaya like this, he couldn't forget the important matter he came for, so he turned to Ji Yuan and said,

"Mr. Ji, I've developed a new ability. Would you mind taking a look?"

After Ji Yuan nodded, Hu Yun said no more. He stood directly at the main house entrance, a soft white light emanating from his body, before transforming into a young man wearing a red short jacket.

"Mr. Ji, look, I can transform into a human!"

"Not bad. The traces of your transformation are very faint, which is excellent for an illusion. However, your demonic aura is still hard to conceal, and your demeanor hasn't been perfectly imitated. If you encounter someone with high cultivation or a local deity, you'll still be easily exposed."

Saying this, Ji Yuan gave a mischievous smile before continuing, "And, old dogs, especially those who have eaten many offerings and leftovers, might also detect something strange about you."

Hu Yun's expression immediately became crestfallen. Dogs could still sense something was off—this news was too cruel for him.

Sun Yayaya couldn't help but murmur in the courtyard.

"No wonder there are always so many people raising dogs, whether in villages, towns, or cities..."

Sun Yayaya had heard her grandfather say that old black dogs, yellow dogs, and spotted dogs common in old towns and village entrances were more spiritual than people imagined. The elders often said that 'dog eyes see spirits,' and it wasn't just a saying.

"It's fine. It's always good to gain new abilities. One day, I'll become a great demon too."

Hu Yun had a good mindset. After optimistically saying this, his gaze shifted towards the kitchen. Ji Yuan knew what he was thinking, so he put down his book and stood up.

"Want some honey tea? I'll go make it."

"Mr. Ji, I can do it."

Sun Yayaya offered to help, but Ji Yuan waved his hand.

"Finish your writing."

By the time Ji Yuan had prepared the tea and returned to the courtyard with the tray, Sun Yayaya had just finished the last few characters of the calligraphy practice. Hu Yun leaned close, watching intently, confirming that Sun Yayaya had indeed written each stroke herself.

Three cups of clear tea, sweetened with jujube flower honey from Ju'an Small Pavilion, were placed before Ji Yuan, Sun Yayaya, and Hu Yun respectively. The two people and one fox sat at the stone table. Hu Yun held his cup with both paws, curiously observing Ji Yuan and Sun Yayaya.

At this moment, Ji Yuan set his own tea aside and was meticulously examining the characters Sun Yayaya had finished. Sun Yayaya, too, had not touched the sweet tea, sitting upright with a straight back, waiting for Ji Yuan's comments. Only Hu Yun, the fox, held his teacup like a human, watching the scene unfold and taking occasional small sips.

After a long while, Ji Yuan looked at Sun Yayaya and said,

"Excellent. This time, you've written the entire 'Dragon's Roar' without losing focus. This is your best attempt yet."

"Dragon's Roar" was a calligraphy piece Ji Yuan had dictated, instructing Sun Yayaya to write it based on the feeling she derived from the "Sword Intent Scroll." She was trying to recreate the very essence Ji Yuan himself had found in that scroll years ago. Today, she truly captured the spirit of a soaring dragon.

"Phew..."

Sun Yayaya let out a small sigh of relief. After being criticized by Mr. Ji a while ago, she finally received his approval.

"Haha, alright, drink your tea."

Ji Yuan picked up his teacup, gently inhaling the aroma. The fragrance of tea mingled with honey filled his nostrils. Though it was hot tea and he hadn't yet drunk it, it felt refreshingly pleasant.

"Mr. Ji, how long will you stay this time?"

Hu Yun asked Ji Yuan while sipping his tea. Most of the tea in his cup was gone, but he was reluctant to finish it, knowing that Mr. Ji only ever gave him one cup.

"Not long. I'll be leaving in the next day or two."

Hu Yun and Sun Yayaya both looked at Ji Yuan and exclaimed, "Ah?" in unison.

Ji Yuan looked at them.

"You heard correctly. I'll be leaving soon. Yayaya, when you go home today, pack your things. You've reached this level with your calligraphy; it's time for you to start studying books."

"Yes, Yayaya understands!"

A fleeting look of disappointment crossed Hu Yun's eyes. Although he had just discovered Mr. Ji's return and now learned of his imminent departure, he was meticulous in Niu Kui Mountain and couldn't frequently visit Ju'an Small Pavilion anyway. Still, Mr. Ji's presence in Ning'an County always provided a sense of reassurance.

"As for you, your cultivation is now on the right track, but you can't see the path ahead."

Ji Yuan smiled.

"As it happens, a few years ago, a friend and I encountered a malevolent eight-tailed fox demon in Hengzhou, in the northern lands. Though she ultimately escaped, she left something behind. This might be useful for you to observe and gain insight into the path of a fox demon. Whatever you comprehend will be your own, but always remember to recognize yourself."

As Ji Yuan spoke, a long, silvery-white strand of fur appeared in his hand. Merely held there, both ends did not droop but seemed to extend as if in the wind. Hu Yun and Sun Yayaya both watched curiously, pondering the deeper meaning of Mr. Ji's words.

In the evening, Sun Yayaya packed up the stationery and the characters she had written that day. After bidding farewell to Ji Yuan and Hu Yun, she slung her book bag over her shoulder and headed home. She wouldn't need to come to Ju'an Small Pavilion tomorrow, and the day after, she would leave her hometown directly. Although she had experience studying in Chunhui Prefecture, excitement and apprehension were still unavoidable, along with a touch of melancholy.

Inside Ju'an Small Pavilion, only Ji Yuan and Hu Yun remained, along with the large jujube tree that stood still in the gentle breeze. Of course, one must also count the small paper crane that had observed everything.

The "Sword Intent Scroll" hanging outside the main house remained quiet. It wasn't that the small characters had changed their nature; they were merely cultivating as well. On the blank pages of the entire "Sword Intent Scroll," over a hundred small characters converged into two prominent ink-colored patches, signifying "Heavenly Spirit." These naturally endowed small characters often formed factions and arrayed themselves against each other; they hadn't just been playing all these years.

In the courtyard, Hu Yun looked at Ji Yuan with great anticipation, his heart pounding faster and faster, wondering if Mr. Ji was about to impart some cultivation method to him.

"Concentrate your mind, calm your thoughts, close your eyes and enter tranquility. Don't employ any techniques, don't think about anything. Understood?"

"Yes!"

Hu Yun sat cross-legged in the courtyard like a human and quickly closed his eyes, entering a state of tranquility.

Ji Yuan looked at him and nodded. With one hand, he released the Immortal-Binding Rope, which transformed into a golden rope phantom, enveloping the courtyard of Ju'an Small Pavilion and sealing off everything from the outside. With his other hand, he wrapped the silvery-white fur around his fingertip and then pointed it towards Hu Yun's forehead, simultaneously employing the divine ability of Creation of Heaven and Earth.

A powerful white light illuminated Hu Yun's mind. Mountains, waters, birds, beasts, and all things in heaven and earth materialized within his consciousness. Hu Yun himself sat atop a high peak, and as he instinctively stood up, he noticed nine tails swaying behind him...

"Whatever you see, whatever you feel, remember to calm your mind and truly perceive it. You only have one day and night; do not waste this opportunity, as there will not be another. Otherwise, that nine-tailed Celestial Fox will surely sense it."

Ji Yuan's voice echoed through the world. Startled by this incredibly real and powerful sensation, Hu Yun, who had fallen into surprise and excitement, immediately became alert but still felt at a loss. Since he didn't know what else to do, he decided to cultivate!

Inside Ju'an Small Pavilion, the special fox fur wrapped around Hu Yun's head, while Ji Yuan, imparting the artistic conception, observed intently.

This fox fur was originally a sophisticated method, using the laws of the universe to grant the Ninth Tail. Furthermore, because it was severed by Ji Yuan at the very moment it transformed into the "Ninth Tail," a trace of its Daoist essence remained locked in that instant. Ji Yuan could, with minimal effort, allow Hu Yun to glimpse the profound mystery of that moment, and then, using the Creation of Heaven and Earth technique, stretch that perception into a full day and night within Hu Yun's mind.

As for how long Hu Yun could retain that mystical feeling through memory after it faded, that was up to him. This was far from "stealing" the profound techniques of the Jade Fox Cave Heaven, and Hu Yun still needed to forge his own path. However, in a sense, it was like "borrowing a hen to lay eggs." Therefore, Ji Yuan was very cautious in doing this; it would not have been done so casually without the Immortal-Binding Rope to protect the area.