Chapter 814: Slain in a Dream?

Even though everyone at the table knew Tu Sixuan was dead and suspected Ji Yuan was likely responsible, they had no idea how he did it.

In fact, no one present could imagine how Ji Yuan could have killed Tu Sixuan without their knowledge, especially since Tu Xin was right beside her.

While they knew Ji Yuan possessed great cultivation, the situation was too unfathomable. It subtly reminded them of how they felt when they were still cultivating, facing powerful elders – a feeling both absurd and undeniably real.

Despite their many thoughts, no one dared to wake Ji Yuan. They waited patiently for him to awaken naturally. The swordplay discussions, which they had highly anticipated, were hastily concluded the next day due to Tu Miao's unsettled state.

The tree pavilion was always bathed in sunlight, and a ray consistently reached the study where Ji Yuan slept soundly.

One day, two days, three days...

It was exactly the morning of the ninth day when Ji Yuan slowly opened his eyes from the wooden couch. He had truly been drunk before, and now, looking around Tu Yi's study, he found everything quite novel.

After a moment, Ji Yuan sat up, stretched luxuriously, and let out a long, comfortable yawn.

"Ahhh..."

Outside the tree pavilion, the five people who had waited for nine days knew at that moment that Ji Yuan was awake. They all rose in unison, but only Tu Yi approached the pavilion, as he was the host.

Inside the tree pavilion's study, Ji Yuan stretched his limbs and stood up from the wooden couch. Although he heard footsteps, his attention remained on Tu Yi's collection of books, curious about what the nine-tailed fox usually read.

Then, keen-eyed Ji Yuan spotted a book that appeared to be an erotic art collection.

'Who knew Tu Yi, with his thick brows and big eyes, would read such books?'

Just as Ji Yuan was about to pull out the book to confirm, Tu Yi's voice sounded from the doorway.

"Mr. Ji, you're awake? Did you rest well?"

Ji Yuan hesitated for a moment between pulling out the book to see Tu Yi's reaction and giving up. Ultimately, he didn't take out the book, turning instead to nod at Tu Yi with a smile.

"Indeed, I'm awake. I haven't slept this comfortably in a long time, and I had many pleasant dreams!"

"It's good that Mr. Ji rested well. The fellow cultivators outside are quite eager."

Hearing Tu Yi's words, Ji Yuan smiled and asked,

"Oh? Eager? What are they waiting for me to do?"

Tu Yi also smiled.

"They naturally wish to hear Mr. Ji's insights from the previous sword discussion. Please, sir!"

As a fellow clan member living in the Jade Fox Grotto-Heaven, Tu Yi could offer cover before, but Tu Sixuan's death was at most a shock to him, not a source of grief or anger. She was, after all, someone who deserved to die; her death was simply her due.

Therefore, Ji Yuan detected not a shred of negative emotion from Tu Yi, which further confirmed that Tu Yi was not like the other foxes.

"Please, fellow cultivator."

Ji Yuan had no choice but to leave the study. Tu Yi glanced at the spot where Ji Yuan had been about to pull out a book, then followed him out.

Outside the tree pavilion, waiting for Ji Yuan and Tu Yi, the others all left their tables and bowed to Ji Yuan.

"Mr. Ji's sword discussion was truly magnificent!"

"Indeed, your immortal bearing still lingers in our minds."

"I, too, longed to witness Mr. Ji's sword discussion with Brother Yi, but unfortunately, I had prior commitments and missed this rare opportunity!"

The others' words were fine, but Ji Yuan recognized Tu Xin. Not only did she not treat him as an enemy, but she also looked at him with an expression of adoration, which made Ji Yuan inwardly sneer. Nevertheless, he maintained his composure, stepping closer and bowing to everyone with a look of apology.

"I apologize for making you all laugh. I became drunk midway through the discussion, overwhelmed by the wine, so this sword discussion was ultimately not complete."

As he spoke, Ji Yuan added inwardly: 'That's how it was for Tu Yi.'

"Hahaha, Mr. Ji is too modest. How can this sword discussion be incomplete? If it were any more perfect, even heaven and earth would grow jealous! By the way, Mr. Ji, did you sleep well?"

Tu Miao was the most well-mannered and articulate among the fox demons. He usually initiated and responded to such conversations. Ji Yuan and Tu Yi approached the table together, and Ji Yuan laughed as he looked at the empty wine jars scattered around.

"I slept very well and had a good dream. It's been a long time since I've drunk so heartily. Thank you for the wine, fellow cultivators. Please, everyone, have a seat. I heard from Fellow Cultivator Tu Yi that you are waiting for me to share my experiences from the sword discussion, and I will not decline!"

The old monk Foyin smiled and nodded at Ji Yuan, taking his seat first. After exchanging glances, the others also sat down with Ji Yuan.

Ji Yuan genuinely spoke about his experiences from the previous sword discussion, but naturally, he held back. Some insights were not comprehensible to those who did not wield swords.

During this time, Ji Yuan feigned surprise upon discovering Tu Miao's unmounted scroll of writings and paintings. He casually praised it a few times, merely saying that the writing and drawing were "very beautiful." This was essentially a very blunt assessment, lacking only the addition of "and nothing else of merit."

While Ji Yuan called Tu Miao's writing and paintings "beautiful," Tu Miao's face should naturally have shown displeasure, though he didn't reveal it. Everyone's true concern was Tu Sixuan's death, but no matter how they tried to subtly probe, Ji Yuan remained completely silent on the matter.

In short, through all of Ji Yuan's words and implications, he seemed to accept his misfortune, acknowledging that Tu Sixuan was no longer in the Jade Fox Grotto-Heaven, and that he wouldn't cause any more trouble.

The old monk Foyin and Tu Yi, at this point, had become mere observers. The former, with centuries of Buddhist cultivation, almost couldn't suppress his laughter, sighing inwardly at Mr. Ji's profound acting skills, which were no less impressive than his spiritual cultivation.

The latter, meanwhile, detached himself from the situation, focusing more on Ji Yuan's insights into the sword discussion. Unfortunately, he could tell Ji Yuan was holding back much. The "final sword," which Tu Yi most wanted to hear about, was brushed aside by Ji Yuan with the excuse that he had become too drunk to wield it.

Two days later, Ji Yuan and the old monk Foyin bid farewell and set off. Ji Yuan's two thousand-gallon gourds were completely filled, naturally with Tu Miao's stored wine. Ji Yuan accepted all of it without hesitation, unconcerned about mixing different kinds of wine, pouring them all together.

Although Tu Miao claimed he didn't care about the wine, the amount Ji Yuan drank during the three-day sword discussion was astounding. He also consumed a good deal in the two days after waking, and left with both thousand-gallon gourds full, causing Tu Miao a faint pang of heartache.

Ji Yuan and the old monk Foyin, escorted by four nine-tailed foxes, exited the Jade Fox Grotto-Heaven along the original path. After watching the two depart on clouds, the remaining nine-tailed foxes (excluding Tu Yi) were filled with unshakeable resentment.

"Oh, that Ji Yuan is truly detestable! We have no idea how he managed it within our Jade Fox Grotto-Heaven!"

"It truly baffles me!"

"What's worse is that he kept playing dumb with us, pretending he knew nothing about Tu Sixuan!"

"How exactly did he do it? He only said he slept well and had a good dream. Could he have killed Tu Sixuan in a dream... no, that's impossible..."

As Tu Miao spoke, his voice softened and his pace slowed. Though absurd, the more he thought about it, the more plausible it seemed. It wasn't that it was logical, but it was the only way things connected, giving him a sense of comprehending a profound mystery, however ridiculous that mystery might be.

"No way..." "Such a thing exists?"

"But if his spirit had left his body, wouldn't I know? Wouldn't you know? Even a divine consciousness avatar would cause a stir. Moreover, how could a divine consciousness avatar kill Tu Sixuan?"

Tu Miao looked at Tu Tong and Tu Xin beside him with an inexplicable expression, and muttered blankly,

"So, it was in a dream, his dream..."

Meanwhile, Tu Yi found the three beside him particularly ridiculous. He snorted, saying,

"Hmph! Now you're all gnashing your teeth, but when Mr. Ji was here, why didn't you dare to question him directly?"

"You..." "Tu Yi!"

Tu Miao smiled wryly, trying to calm those around him, and said helplessly to Tu Yi,

"Well, didn't we lie earlier, saying Tu Sixuan wasn't in the grotto-heaven? Ji Yuan is unfathomable, and King Mingwang Foyin shouldn't be underestimated either. And you, Tu Yi, I assume wouldn't help us. Could we really have confronted Ji Yuan directly? Wouldn't our fox clan in the grotto-heaven suffer unwarranted disaster?"

"Heh heh, Tu Miao, good luck to you then."

After leaving that remark, Tu Yi turned and returned to the grotto-heaven, completely ignoring Tu Tong and Tu Xin.

Ji Yuan and King Mingwang Foyin had already flown away from Qingchang Mountain on clouds. Carried by the sky wind, Ji Yuan's clothes and the old monk Foyin's robes flapped audibly.

At this point, the old monk Foyin could no longer hold back.

"Mr. Ji, how exactly did you act right under our noses and kill Tu Sixuan, who was nowhere to be seen?"

"Oh! Master, I thought I had done it flawlessly. Did you really see through it?"

Seeing Ji Yuan's exaggerated, childlike expression, the old monk Foyin smiled helplessly.

"Namo Amitabha, Mr. Ji, please stop joking. Not just me, but those nine-tailed foxes probably know it perfectly well by now."

Ji Yuan dropped his playful demeanor and, with a calm expression, looked back at the distant, now very faint, Qingchang Mountain.

"Who can they blame for their own bitter fruit? I drank and became drunk, and merely slew Tu Sixuan in a dream."

"Truly in a dream!"

The old monk Foyin gasped in astonishment, then put his palms together, lowered his eyes, and sighed.

"Namo Amitabha. The ways of the world are infinite, and the paths of existence are ever-changing. Hearing your method, Mr. Ji, one truly sees the unfathomable nature of heaven and earth!"

"Master, you flatter me!"

Who doesn't enjoy compliments? Even Ji Yuan felt quite pleased with this "dream-slaying of the fox." More importantly, with Tu Sixuan dead, the "Pivot One" chess piece was utterly shattered.

The opponent's move in this "chess game" naturally had to come at a cost!

Just as Ji Yuan expected, at the moment Tu Sixuan died, a certain chess player, whose whereabouts were unknown, was abruptly jolted awake.

"Hmm?"

This person's movement startled those nearby, and someone asked,

"What's wrong?"

"Pivot One has perished."

"How can this be? Wasn't she protected within the Jade Fox Grotto-Heaven? How could she still die?"

"She died precisely within that Jade Fox Grotto-Heaven..."

The ethereal figure of the chess player seemed to pierce through void and mist, gazing toward a distant, unknown place.

"After all these years, such a formidable immortal cultivator has actually emerged in this world!"