Chapter 912: People All Disperse

Ji Yuan returned to the Li Mansion at the fifth watch of the night, just as the city's night watchman had finished his rounds, striking his gong and drum along the street.

Back in his room, Ji Yuan once more took out the Xiezhi scroll. From it, a violent struggling sound occasionally emanated, a clear sign that even on its home turf, the battle between Xiezhi and Zhuyan was far from concluded.

He placed the Xiezhi scroll on the table and slowly unrolled it. This time, instead of the usual image of Xiezhi, the scroll was completely black.

During the ambush of Zhuyan, Ji Yuan had not only comprehended the sword array mid-battle but also forcibly altered its formation. Since the array was far from perfect beforehand, every one of Zhuyan's attempts to break it, striking the Heaven and Earth Diagrams and the sword array, had been neutralized by Ji Yuan.

While Zhuyan had certainly endured the terrifying destructive power of the sword array, its counterattacks were far from ineffective and incredibly difficult to withstand. To be honest, Ji Yuan himself had already suffered a significant loss of vital energy, which was precisely why Zhuyan had previously believed Ji Yuan's vital energy was severely depleted and felt it could break free.

However, upon seeing the state of the Xiezhi scroll, Ji Yuan feigned a relaxed demeanor and asked,

“Xiezhi, are you alright? Don't push yourself if you need help!”

After his words, it was a moment before Xiezhi's voice finally came, loud yet brief and urgent.

“No need—”

As Xiezhi's words faded, a massive surge of vital essence unexpectedly emanated from the scroll, like steam continuously rising from a freshly opened pot of cooked rice.

This vital essence directly penetrated the confines of the room's doors and windows. It appeared formless and invisible, yet purposefully rushed toward Zuo Wuji's room.

“As a gesture of reciprocity, this is the Zhuyan vital essence I seized and refined. I'll give it to that young Zuo!”

Ji Yuan did not stop Xiezhi. For Zuo Wuji's martial arts to advance rapidly, supplementation was naturally required, and nothing was more suitable than Zhuyan's vital essence. He nodded, placed the Xiezhi scroll before him, then sat cross-legged, concentrating his mind and calming his spirit.

In a trance, the next moment, Ji Yuan found himself seated atop a high mountain in another realm. Behind him stood a massive alchemy furnace, and before him lay the Xiezhi scroll, its surface still pitch black.

Here, the ink colors within the scroll seemed to come alive, as streaks of light connected to the distant parts of the mountain, transforming into a giant beast and a giant ape locked in combat.

Zhuyan's angry and unwilling roars continuously echoed. Xiezhi, however, remained mostly silent, only letting out an occasional roar that invariably signaled an attack.

Ji Yuan's eyes, however, remained closed. He paid no attention to the struggle between the divine beast and the fierce beast, focusing all his thoughts on the sword array he had just employed. Although the complete sword array seemed to materialize at the last moment, it was merely a comprehensive prototype, far from reaching its ultimate state.

That brief moment of vibrant color, however, was enough to invigorate Ji Yuan. It was precisely the vitality and harmony carried by the Green Vine Sword that allowed a sword array, otherwise imbued with desolation and killing intent, to achieve perfect balance of Yin and Yang.

The more he visualized the sword array and that vibrant color, the more it surprisingly depleted Ji Yuan's vital energy, even causing him mental pain. This was a rare experience for Ji Yuan, whose mental power was unparalleled in the world.

However, Ji Yuan would not, and could not, let that vibrant color fade from his mind. At that moment, he slowly rose, grasping the Green Vine Sword, and took out the 'Sword Intent Calligraphy' and ink. Using the sword tip to dip in ink, he began to sketch sword diagrams on the 'Sword Intent Calligraphy'.

It was magical: the Green Vine Sword, bridging killing intent and spring vitality, caused the ink drops on the 'Sword Intent Calligraphy' to manifest not just as black, but also as various vibrant colors that then subtly merged into the calligraphy.

“Knock, knock, knock…”

“Mr. Ji, it's time for breakfast.”

Zuo Wuji's voice accompanied the knocking outside the door, but Ji Yuan inside the room offered no response. Zuo Wuji's brows furrowed slightly; he listened quietly for a moment but sensed no presence within.

After a moment's thought, Zuo Wuji decided not to continue knocking or calling. Instead, he and Li Feng went to eat breakfast first, planning to save some side dishes and rice porridge for Ji Yuan.

However, when Zuo Wuji and Li Feng returned to practice martial arts, Ji Yuan's door remained closed. It was still closed when they ate lunch, then dinner, and even when they retired for the night.

“Knock, knock, knock…”

“Mr. Ji, are you still there?”

Li Feng knocked on the door, standing on tiptoes to peer through the crack, trying to see any movement inside. Zuo Wuji stood behind him, his brows furrowed; this was already the twelfth day.

“Feng'er, step aside a bit.”

“Oh.”

Li Feng stepped aside. Zuo Wuji returned to the door and, after a slight hesitation, placed his hand on it and gently pushed.

“Creak.”

Zuo Wuji slowly pushed the door open. Morning light illuminated the room, revealing only an empty low table and an empty meditation cushion. The 'four treasures of the study' that had previously been laid out on the table were also gone.

Zuo Wuji looked up at the bed nearby; the bedding was neatly folded, showing no sign of having been slept in. He then scanned the rest of the room, finding no trace of Mr. Ji's presence.

To Zuo Wuji's mingled amusement and exasperation, Li Feng even ran to the bed and peered underneath it, naturally finding no trace of Mr. Ji there either.

“Great Hero Zuo, has Mr. Ji left?”

Zuo Wuji's brows were tightly furrowed. Hearing this, he rubbed Li Feng's head and let out a long sigh.

“It seems Mr. Ji has left without saying goodbye…”

Li Feng felt a little sad, but he knew he couldn't possibly influence Mr. Ji's movements. After a moment of dejection, he seemed to recall something and looked up at Zuo Wuji.

“Dad said that Immortal Master Zhu also seemed to have left without a word, and even Immortal Master Tang wasn't aware. Oh, and the Imperial Advisor has submitted his resignation to the Emperor. Although the Emperor strongly opposed it, Grandmaster Moyun insisted on leaving. Dad's a bit upset about this…”

Zuo Wuji smiled.

“Don't worry. Since Mr. Ji has left, he must have already resolved the matter with Zhuyan; otherwise, he would surely have warned us. As for Grandmaster Moyun, I hear he is a venerable monk of this generation. Your father should visit him before he departs.”

Li Feng immediately smiled.

“What do you think Dad is upset about? There are so many imperial relatives and nobles going to visit Grandmaster Moyun. My dad can't even get in line!”

“Haha, you rascal!”

Although the two were chatting and laughing, a faint melancholy over Ji Yuan's departure lingered in their hearts. However, at least from Zuo Wuji's perspective, Li Feng's sadness this time was far, far less severe than when he first met the boy.

Zuo Wuji's feeling was indeed accurate. Initially, Li Feng believed Mr. Ji was the best person in the world, and almost all his hopes rested solely on Ji Yuan. But now, he knew that his grandmother didn't truly dislike him, and his father did consider his son's well-being. Furthermore, with Zuo Wuji as a close confidant, he felt much more settled emotionally.

“Feng'er, get ready. We'll be leaving the capital in the next few days, and perhaps soon, we'll even depart from the lands under the Xia Yong Dynasty.”

Li Feng, who had long been mentally prepared, understood that this day would eventually come. He felt no resistance at all; instead, he was very excited, like a primary school student hearing their teacher announce an upcoming spring or autumn outing.

“Great! I'll go tell Dad right away!”

Li Feng exclaimed, then excitedly ran out of Ji Yuan's guest room.

Zuo Wuji stepped out of the room a moment later. After watching Li Feng's retreating figure disappear, he glanced back at the room, the meditation cushion, and the low table within, then gently closed the door before departing.

In a study within the official residence, Li Ping was reading a book that had come from Dazhen. However, it wasn't a work by Duke Yin, who was increasingly revered as a Literary Sage by scholars. Instead, it was a book written by Yin Zhaoxian's eldest son, Yin Qing, titled 'Spring and Autumn of Official Administration'.

Evidently, reading this book helped Li Ping better understand the ways of officialdom and how to handle tricky situations, enabling him to resolve issues without causing trouble. Li Ping found reading this book far more engaging than Yin Zhaoxian's works, devouring it with great interest.

“Knock, knock, knock…” “Master, Master, the Imperial Advisor has arrived!”

Li Ping, interrupted by his servant, was about to scold him, but upon hearing that the Imperial Advisor had arrived, he quickly put down his book and rushed to open the study door.

“The Imperial Advisor is here? Where is he?”

“Master, he has already entered the mansion and is in the living room.”

The servant dared not delay and had rushed over, now slightly out of breath.

“Good, I'll be right there!”

Although Monk Moyun had already resigned from his position as Imperial Advisor, everyone in court still referred to him as such, and Li Ping was no exception. He hurried into the living room and saw Monk Moyun standing there, waiting.

“Imperial Advisor! Imperial Advisor, please have a seat quickly. Have you come specifically to see Feng'er?”

“Praise the Great Ming King Buddha, Minister Li. This old monk is no longer the Imperial Advisor. Today, I have come specifically to bid farewell to Mr. Ji.”

Li Ping, who had been speaking and bowing as he hurried into the living room, reacted halfway through his sentence, staring blankly at the old Monk Moyun.

“Imperial Advisor, what are you saying? The Emperor himself said you will always be the Imperial Advisor of this dynasty. You… you've come to bid farewell… to Mr. Ji?”

“Indeed. With Mr. Ji here, how could this old monk simply depart?”

“Mr. Ji, is he here?”

Monk Moyun frowned, looking at Li Ping.

“What, Minister Li, you don't know? Mr. Ji said he came with Martial Saint Zuo.”

“But only one person came together…”

Li Ping couldn't continue his sentence and slapped his forehead.

“Oh dear! Imperial Advisor, come, I'll take you to see Mr. Ji. I truly…”

“Dad, Dad… you're here! Great Hero Zuo said he's taking me away soon and told me to pack my things!”

Li Feng, who had been looking for his father, now excitedly ran over, his voice preceding his footsteps.

Li Ping quickly went out and grabbed his son's hand.

“Then Mr. Ji, is Mr. Ji in the back courtyard?”

Li Feng looked at his father's expression, then at Grandmaster Moyun also present, realizing his father might have understood something.

“Mr. Ji left, without saying goodbye…”

“What? Gone… Mr. Ji was here all along? Why didn't you say so earlier!”

“Mr. Ji didn't let me tell…”

Li Feng muttered softly, while Monk Moyun beside them simply lowered his gaze and pressed his palms together.

“Praise the Great Ming King Buddha.”

Unable to see Ji Yuan, Monk Moyun didn't leave immediately. Instead, he met with Zuo Wuji and chatted with him for nearly half an hour before departing. He did not return to the imperial palace but left the capital directly with his disciple Pu Hui, their destination unknown.

The next day, Zuo Wuji also set off with Li Feng, who had packed his belongings. They had arrived with several carriages and many servants, but they departed with only one good horse carrying a few simple bags.

The entire capital was under the influence of the Imperial Advisor's departure; court officials and immortal masters each made their moves. Under the Li Mansion's deliberate discretion and their light travel, Li Feng and Zuo Wuji's departure went largely unnoticed.

The first stop Zuo Wuji made with Li Feng was a return to Li Feng's old hometown of Kuinan. They dismounted and stood before a blacksmith's shop in the city.

“Brother Jin, you are indeed still here!”

Zuo Wuji looked into the blacksmith's shop with a smile. Jin Jia, in turn, put down his hammer and walked to the front, looking at Zuo Wuji.

“Mr. Ji hasn't been here?”

Jin Jia glanced sideways at Zuo Wuji, then looked at Li Feng, who was a little afraid of him, and spoke calmly.

“The Venerable One has not come.”

Zuo Wuji sighed.

“Alright then, Brother Jin, what are your plans for the future?”

Jin Jia remained silent for a long time, standing still for a moment. Then he turned his head to look at Li Feng again, and then back at Zuo Wuji.

“Where are you two going?”

“That's hard to say. Roaming the martial world, upholding justice, with no fixed abode and the world as our home, all to temper our martial arts.”

Zuo Wuji replied, and Jin Jia fell silent again for a long time, then slowly spoke, looking at Li Feng.

“I, will follow you.”

“Clang.”

Inside the blacksmith's shop, the old blacksmith's hammer fell to the ground. Even though the others were speaking Dazhen dialect, he seemed to have understood that Jin Jia was leaving.