Chapter 597: Pity and Hatred

Hearing this offer, Ji Yuan naturally showed a look of surprise and delight, and quickly expressed his gratitude.

“Mr. Wei, I am immensely grateful for your kindness. To be able to view the Heavenly Scrolls would naturally be beyond excellent!”

Others present could hardly believe such good news at first, but they quickly reacted, revealing expressions of ecstasy. After all, they had originally hoped to see these legendary Heavenly Scrolls.

“Thank you for your generosity, Fourth Master Wei!” “Yes, thank you for your generosity, Fourth Master Wei!”

“It’s truly wonderful to be able to see the Blank Heavenly Scrolls!”

Wei Xing smiled magnanimously.

“I, Wei, still have this much authority within the estate. You are honored guests who have traveled far, there's no need for such formality. However, these two Heavenly Scrolls are, after all, invaluable treasures of my Wei family and cannot simply be viewed on a whim. How about this: Mr. Tie, please stay at my estate for now. When my elder brother returns tomorrow, after I speak with him, Mr. Tie can be arranged to view them by the day after tomorrow at the latest.”

As he spoke, Wei Xing also turned to Jiang Tong and the others.

“Some of you are prominent figures in Luping City, or you own businesses in the city. I, Wei, will not keep you all at the estate. You only need to visit again early the day after tomorrow.”

The group exchanged glances. Since Fourth Master Wei had said so, they naturally had no objections.

In the afternoon, Jiang Tong and the others finished the matters they had come to discuss with the Wei family and promptly took their leave. Meanwhile, Tie Mu, into whom Ji Yuan had transformed, was personally guided by Wei Xing on a tour of the estate grounds. Afterward, he was settled into one of the guest houses designated for honored visitors within the estate.

The Wei estate was a large, sprawling, and largely self-sufficient settlement. Ji Yuan's assigned lodging wasn't in the very center, but it offered excellent scenery. In front, a small river meandered past trees and winding paths, while behind, vast farmlands stretched out. Numerous courtyards surrounded the area, but most were empty due to the limited number of overnight guests. However, some rooms were occupied by servants to provide for guests' needs. In the distance, one could see smoke rising from other areas, likely the residential quarters for the Wei family members.

From beginning to end, Wei Xing was exceptionally courteous. He truly treated Tie Mu, in his eyes, as a newfound friend.

By this time, dusk had fallen. Ji Yuan left the banquet specially hosted by Wei Xing and returned to his assigned lodging. He looked at the lingering gray-white twilight in the sky and the quiet smoke rising in the distance. The entire estate appeared normal.

Today, Wei Xing had given him a tour of the estate, and Ji Yuan had paid close attention to many areas. In fact, Ji Yuan had already understood the true nature of the Wei estate after realizing the hidden truth. His movements today were primarily to see how many "normal people" remained within the Wei family.

The answer left Ji Yuan very disappointed. Except for some lower-ranking servants, even some of the stewards who were not direct family members had been tainted by that aura. It could be said that they had certainly "consumed" people, and it was impossible for these individuals not to know what they had done.

Every Wei family member Ji Yuan met showed him kind smiles, admired his martial arts, were polite and courteous, and exuded a sense of happiness. The more he witnessed this, the more a chill ran down Ji Yuan's spine.

In his cultivation to date, Ji Yuan had encountered countless demons and monsters, and a considerable number of them had been slain by his hand. Very rarely had anything given him this particular feeling.

But at this moment, Ji Yuan's mind had calmed. He looked at the distant smoke and murmured to himself.

“All the world bustles and scrambles, all for profit; all the world rushes and jostles, all for gain.”

Many people resort to unscrupulous methods for wealth and fame. The extent of these methods depends on one's resources and understanding. So, when presented with methods beyond their comprehension, some will use them without hesitation, while others will use them after some struggle and hesitation. From the outcome, there is essentially no significant difference.

After a sigh, Ji Yuan returned to his room. He didn't believe the Wei family would make their move against him tonight, as Wei Xuan hadn't returned yet.

However, by midnight, Ji Yuan, lying on his bed, opened his eyes. He seemed to have overestimated the Wei family members' patience, or underestimated Wei Xuan's return speed and the Wei family's greed and determination.

Ji Yuan distinctly felt that at least dozens of people had surrounded the house where he was staying. Their vital energy was stronger than the last, and most carried a subtle malevolence. In the middle of the night, it was impossible for such a group to gather here merely for a stroll.

Outside the courtyard, the one leading them was Wei Xuan, who had just returned. But strangely, Wei Xuan, who should have been old by now, appeared significantly younger. He looked more like a brother to Wei Ming than a father, though his complexion was somewhat pale.

“Is that Tie Mu, the suspected Innate master, inside?”

Wei Xuan and the others stood outside the main gate of the courtyard. Wei Xuan softly confirmed again, and Wei Xing immediately replied.

“No mistake, Elder Brother. I personally received him and personally arranged for him to stay here. Someone even saw this Mr. Tie standing outside enjoying the scenery before going to sleep.”

“Father, should we use a safer method before acting? He is an Innate master, after all.”

Wei Xuan shook his head.

“He is an Innate realm expert who practices the Iron Punishment art. He claims to have been a master of the Da Zhen public sector, but he might not truly have retired. Such a person has endured countless trials in the martial world, even on battlefields. Some underhanded tactics will be useless.”

What Wei Xuan meant by "underhanded tactics" referred to things like anesthetic smoke.

No sooner had Wei Xuan finished speaking, and before he could specify how to proceed, the house door, a dozen steps away, suddenly opened with a creak, without any warning. Everyone on the perimeter looked towards the door.

Tie Mu stood inside the house. He looked through the doorway at the people outside, his gaze directly fixed on Wei Xuan and the others.

“Master Wei has good insight. However, I’m quite surprised that the Master’s appearance is so youthful. It seems that martial arts, when cultivated to a certain level, can truly bring one back to their original, simpler state…”

Seeing Tie Mu open the door, Wei Xing, after a brief moment of surprise, smiled, cupped his hands in greeting, and said with great enthusiasm.

“We apologize for disturbing your rest, Mr. Tie. My elder brother has returned, and we were just about to invite you to come view the scrolls. To be frank, these Blank Heavenly Scrolls only reveal their text at night.”

“Oh? So Jiang Tong and the others won’t be able to see them, then?”

Ji Yuan asked again, with a hint of teasing.

“Hahahahaha... How precious are my Wei family’s Blank Heavenly Scrolls? How could just anyone view them? During the day, it was merely to comfort them. In reality, only Mr. Tie is truly qualified.”

Wei Xing was still being courteous, but Ji Yuan had already grown bored. He looked directly at Wei Xuan and said,

“Master Wei, if you don't make your move soon, dawn will break. It will be a clear, sunny day. In your current state, can you not open your eyes in the sunlight, feeling particularly uncomfortable and hating the daytime?”

Wei Xuan had originally been prepared to act immediately, but upon hearing these words, his mind was instantly shaken. He looked at Tie Mu before him with a horrified expression.

“Mr. Tie, how... how did you know?”

After seeing Wei Xuan, Ji Yuan finally fully understood the situation. At this moment, his eyes held pity, but no sympathy.

“To be refined alive into a zombie without even knowing it, and what's laughable is that they actively helped in their own refinement. Heh heh, that's right, that's right...”

Ji Yuan let out a laugh. The mockery in his laugh was extremely grating to the Wei family's ears, filling the hearts of everyone present, including Wei Xuan, with both fear and surging anger. The fear stemmed from Ji Yuan's talk of refining corpses, while the anger was fueled by Ji Yuan's demeanor. Soon, anger overshadowed their fear.

“You, Tie, must be insane, spouting nonsense here!”

No sooner had Wei Xuan's furious words left his mouth than he heavily stamped on the ground. He rushed towards the house door with the speed and force of a ghostly apparition and roaring thunder. His right hand formed a claw, tearing through the air as it aimed for Ji Yuan's neck. This terrifying burst of speed was simply too fast for anyone to react; even his figure appeared blurred to onlookers.

Yet in Ji Yuan's eyes, what was called the "force of wind and thunder" was no more impressive than fanning with a palm. He merely watched the rapidly approaching Wei Xuan with a cold gaze, observing his crazed expression and the scarlet glint in the depths of his eyes. To outsiders, Tie Mu seemed unable to react, standing foolishly still. But in the next instant...

Bang!

With a sound like a hammer striking hard rock, Wei Xuan flew backward at an even greater speed than he had attacked.

With a crash, Wei Xuan smashed through the door of a house opposite him and crashed inside.

Ji Yuan withdrew his left hand, which had flicked out a finger. His gaze swept over Wei Xing, who was frozen in astonishment, and then to Wei Ming, who wore an expression of terror.

“Who taught you this method of harming people? And where are the writings I left behind, and the true Heavenly Incantation Scrolls?”

“You, who exactly are you?”

This question came from Wei Xuan. He had already rushed back out of the damaged house opposite, a clear bruise marking his forehead. All other Wei family members, whether they had fully reacted or not, were staring at Ji Yuan.

Ji Yuan smiled. Since Wei Xuan himself wasn't the shadowy mastermind he had initially suspected, Ji Yuan saw no need to conceal himself further. Under the moonlight, the figure of Tie Mu, previously regarded as a former master of the Da Zhen public sector, gradually shifted. In an instant, he transformed into a gentleman in a green robe. His expression was serene, his long hair swept back from his temples flowed behind him, and a dark jade hairpin loosely secured his topknot. He wore a wide-sleeved, long green robe; it was Ji Yuan himself.

“Who do you say I am?”

Upon seeing Ji Yuan, some of the Wei family's high-ranking members immediately recognized who he was. A single, instinctive thought arose in their minds: “Run!”

“Seize him! Capturing this man will greatly advance our cultivation! Everyone, attack! Everyone, go—!”

Wei Xuan roared madly, and then, in the very next instant, he frantically fled outward himself. His voice seemed to possess a magical quality. Upon hearing him, many Wei family disciples immediately rushed towards Ji Yuan with distorted expressions. Even some who had initially intended to escape did the same. The only ones who truly fled were Wei Xuan, Wei Xing, and fewer than ten other high-ranking Wei family members.

Among them, only Wei Ming desperately suppressed his fear. In a moment of rapid thought, he instinctively dropped to his knees with a thud.

“Charge!” “Seize this man!”

“Kill him!” “Drain him dry!”

Many Wei disciples lunged at Ji Yuan simultaneously...

“Halt...”

After a faint utterance, all the menacing figures froze in place. Ji Yuan flicked his sleeve, and a human-shaped paper talisman flew out. Next to the many "frozen puppets" around him, it transformed into a brawny, golden-armored warrior.

“My Lord!”

The warrior saluted as usual, but his peripheral vision had already scanned the surroundings.

“Bring back all those who fled. Except for Wei Xuan, their lives or deaths don't matter.”

“By your command!”

The very next moment after the golden-armored warrior spoke,

With a "bang," the ground cracked. A figure, leaving a golden afterimage, swiftly darted into the distance.