Chapter 640: Old Dragon Arrives

Ji Yuan looked up at the sunlight in the sky, then at Zao Niang, who was still bowing. Although plant spirits, in their initial condensed form, struggle to survive long in direct sunlight and are easily scorched by its power, firstly, the Great Jujube Tree itself is a special spiritual root, and secondly, Ju'an Pavilion is also quite unique. Therefore, Zao Niang felt no discomfort even when facing the sun directly.

At this moment, the little paper crane and a host of little characters from the main house also flew out, circling and dancing around Zao Niang with curiosity and joy. Zao Niang raised her arm, and the little paper crane landed on it, looking up at her. Even though the Great Jujube Tree had initially condensed its spirit, it didn't make the little paper crane feel any unfamiliarity. Ji Yuan, in fact, felt the same way.

The little characters were naturally the most boisterous, chattering incessantly around Zao Niang.

"The Great Jujube Tree finally became human!" "Not quite yet."

"At least she can talk." "Yes, yes, she can talk!"

"Why is the Great Jujube Tree a girl?"

"Nonsense! She bears fruit, how could she be a boy?"

"That seems to make sense." "Rubbish! Didn't you hear Grand Lord say he didn't know if the Great Jujube Tree would be male or female until now?"

"Exactly! Do you think you know more than Grand Lord?"

These little characters revolved around Zao Niang and the jujube tree, occasionally flashing with ink light. Ying Ruoli, standing by, watched with amazement. She had long known that Ji Yuan had these peculiar spirits around him, but while she had seen the little paper crane many times, this was her first time witnessing the little characters in person.

"Zao Niang has just condensed her spirit and is a woman, so there must be many things she doesn't understand. Ruoli, please teach her these next few days. I'll go out and bring back some books."

"Yes, Uncle Ji, please rest assured." "Grand Lord, please rest assured!"

After Ji Yuan nodded, he walked directly to the courtyard gate and left Ju'an Pavilion. After all, Zao Niang had just condensed her spirit body. Although Ji Yuan knew the Great Jujube Tree was quiet but not without wisdom, it was inevitable she would be unfamiliar with human etiquette. The books he mentioned buying were, of course, for Zao Niang.

Compared to the little characters' excitement, Zao Niang, who was theoretically and practically the happiest, was instead more reserved. However, she naturally felt a doting affection for the little paper crane and the little characters, even occasionally twirling to accompany the flying and chattering characters.

Even though Ying Ruoli had only just met the Great Jujube Tree, she immediately felt a sense of closeness to Zao Niang.

"Alright, alright, Zao Niang, come sit down. Although you've only just condensed your spirit, I can give you this first."

As she spoke, Ying Ruoli blew a breath towards the stone table. A misty breeze swept over it, and a delicate red wooden box appeared. She went and took Zao Niang's hand, and they sat together at the table. Then she opened the wooden box.

Inside the box were combs, hairpins, and some simple yet exquisite accessories, all made from bright pearls and gems from the sea, or rare coral. Under the sunlight filtering through the tree canopy, they shone brilliantly.

The little paper crane and all the little characters immediately gathered around the wooden box.

"Good heavens, this must be incredibly valuable!" "Nonsense, they're all jewels!"

"Since it's from the River Goddess, of course it's valuable!"

"They're so beautiful, I love them all." "Me too!"

The little characters offered their comments, and Zao Niang also showed delight. Ying Ruoli smiled and said,

"I wasn't sure what to get you, so I just got you some things I like. Zao Niang, do you like them?"

Zao Niang really liked the contents of the wooden box and the box itself. It wasn't entirely because women like such adornments; rather, it was more akin to the mindset of the little paper crane and the little characters.

"Yes, I like them! Thank you, River Goddess!"

"Haha, just call me Ruoli. Aside from us being kindred spirits, your very identity as a Heaven-Earth Spiritual Root means a lot. Oh, and if you like these, I'll send you a few cartloads next time!"

The chattering little characters around them suddenly fell silent, and the little paper crane also looked up at the Dragon Girl. These little ones seemed to realize for the first time that the Dragon Girl was a true magnate. Even Zao Niang was momentarily stunned.

"Thank you, Lady Ruoli. This one box is enough; I don't need so many..."

"Don't be so polite. I have so much I don't know where to put it all anyway!"

A little over fifteen minutes later, in a bookstore in Ning'an County, Ji Yuan was personally selecting suitable books. Some of Yin Zhaoxian's works were, of course, indispensable, and some classics and historical texts also made the cut. In the end, he bought nearly a hundred books, stacked several high layers on the bookstore counter, bringing a joyful smile to the shopkeeper's face.

As the saying goes, paper is expensive, but books are even more so. So many books weren't cheap, and the bookstore owner had no reason not to be happy. Not many shops were open on the first day of the Lunar New Year, but opening his own proved to be good business. The bookstore was behind a residential area, so opening on New Year's Day was merely incidental.

Only after Ji Yuan placed the last book, one about musical instruments, on the counter did the shopkeeper, beaming, say to him:

"Esteemed customer, you are truly a diligent scholar! Our Ning'an County is the hometown of Lord Yin Wenqu. Buying books here will surely let you absorb some of Lord Yin's literary essence. Hehe, rest assured, customer, the price will be fair!"

The shopkeeper, holding an abacus, started clicking away on the counter. Ji Yuan had no intention of correcting the shopkeeper's assumption that he was a foreigner; let the misunderstanding stand.

As Ji Yuan waited patiently, he suddenly felt something and walked out of the bookstore to glance at the eastern sky. He could sense faint dark clouds gathering.

"Rumble..."

A faint rumble of thunder echoed in the distance, a true winter thunder.

"Shopkeeper, when will the books be tallied?"

Ji Yuan asked from outside. The shopkeeper, still clacking his abacus and seeing the customer was in a hurry, replied without looking up:

"Immediately, immediately, just a few more books."

"Clack, clack, clack..."

The shopkeeper stopped his abacus, looked up, and smiled at Ji Yuan, who was standing at the entrance.

"Alright, customer. The total is two taels of silver and three copper coins. I'll waive the small change; just give me two taels of silver."

Ji Yuan walked into the bookstore and directly pulled out two one-tael silver ingots. The shopkeeper busied himself weighing them, and only after confirming the payment was correct did he beam at Ji Yuan and say:

"Customer, with so many books, do you have a carriage to carry them? Or perhaps I can send someone to deliver them to your inn or a relative's place?"

Ji Yuan smiled and pointed outside the shop.

"See? Isn't there a carriage right here?"

The shopkeeper looked and only then noticed a carriage beside Ji Yuan. He seemed not to have seen it a moment ago.

"Excellent! I'll help the customer load the books onto the carriage!"

The bookstore owner and Ji Yuan carried the books in several trips, loading them all onto the carriage. After watching the carriage depart, the shopkeeper hummed a tune and returned to his shop; this single transaction had earned him several days' worth of profit.

As for Ji Yuan, there was actually no carriage at all, nor did he carry the books in several trips as the shopkeeper thought. They had simply been swept into Ji Yuan's sleeve in the blink of an eye.

When Ji Yuan hurried back home and pushed open the courtyard gate, he saw Old Dragon Ying Hong in the courtyard, along with Zao Niang and Ying Ruoli. He must have just arrived and was observing Zao Niang, while the little paper crane and all the little characters had already hidden themselves in the jujube tree.

"Hahahaha, Mr. Ji, long time no see! This old man hasn't even had time to look at the Heavenly Tome of Artifact Crafting, which encompasses the wonders of Yin and Yang and the Five Elements."

Seeing Ji Yuan return, the Old Dragon laughed heartily and stepped forward, cupping his hands in a salute to Ji Yuan. Ji Yuan, not daring to be neglectful, returned the courtesy at the same time.

"Indeed, it has been a long time. The Heavenly Tome has always been at Yunshan Temple. Old Mr. Ying can go see it whenever he wishes. Have you come to Ju'an Pavilion this time to call Ruoli back?"

The Old Dragon shook his head.

"Not so. This time, this old man has come to invite Mr. Ji to come out. I wonder if you are available?"

Ji Yuan's smile faded. He first turned and closed the courtyard gate of the small pavilion, then took a few steps closer to the Old Dragon and asked in a low voice:

"Dragon Corpse Worm?"

"It's not just that!"

As a close old friend, the Old Dragon rarely came to ask for his help. Ji Yuan, of course, would not refuse, especially since he felt confident he could be of assistance. So he immediately nodded and said,

"Since Old Mr. Ying extends the invitation, Ji Yuan will naturally offer his utmost assistance."

"Good! In that case, without further ado, let us depart immediately!"

So urgent? Ji Yuan paused slightly, but said nothing more. With a flick of his sleeve, over a hundred books flew out, piling up on the stone table. These were the very books he had just bought from the bookstore. Then, a dozen more flew out, forming a separate stack.

"Zao Niang, these books are ones I just bought. Reading them can relieve boredom and teach you about human ways. These ones here are books I often read and keep by my side; you can look at them too. Oh, by the way, can you read?"

Zao Niang looked joyful, reaching out to caress the books one by one. She replied in a gentle voice:

"To Grand Lord, Zao Niang often watched Grand Lord write in the courtyard, and also watched Yin Qing teach Hu Yun to read, and even saw Ya Ya practicing calligraphy here. I understand the wonders of written characters."

As Zao Niang spoke, all the little characters had already flown into the *Sword Intent Scroll* in the main house, and then the scroll itself flew out, as if afraid Ji Yuan would forget them. With a lift of Ji Yuan's sleeve, the *Sword Intent Scroll* entered his sleeve by itself, and the little paper crane also flapped its wings and flew into the brocade pouch on Ji Yuan's chest.

"Alright, that's good. I'm going out with the Dragon Lord on business. Ruoli probably can't stay here either. I'll trouble you to look after the house."

Ji Yuan let out a speechless chuckle and gave Zao Niang an extra instruction. She offered a slight bow.

"Yes!"

"Alright, let's go then. Ruoli, you'll come with Mr. Ji and me."

The Old Dragon flicked his sleeve, and clouds and mist rose in the courtyard of Ju'an Pavilion, slowly lifting Ji Yuan and Ying Ruoli into the air. They truly did not delay for a moment.

Only after ascending a hundred zhang above the ground did Ji Yuan suddenly remember something and look at the Old Dragon to ask:

"Old Mr. Ying, you didn't forget to mention something, did you?"

The Old Dragon turned his head, first glanced at Ying Ruoli, then looked at Ji Yuan, revealing a grin.

"What else could there be? To ask for fire dates for Gong Xiu? Humph, hehehehe..."

The Old Dragon sneered and said nothing more. Ji Yuan and Ying Ruoli both understood what he meant.