Chapter 92: Yellow Paper Book

Ji Yuan was seated at the head table in front of the main hall. Naturally, the dishes were served quickly. Bowls of steaming hot food, emitting fragrant aromas, were brought by agile kitchen helpers. When a particularly substantial dish was served, Old Man Zhao, sitting nearby, would introduce it to Ji Yuan.

"This is roasted flower fish... This is rice-steamed pork, very fragrant... This is lamb bone soup..."

At this table were the groom, both sets of in-laws, and a close elder relative. Yet, no one objected to Ji Yuan being treated as an honored guest. Everyone believed that the newlyweds, by associating with a scholar, would benefit from his "talent," and their future children would be successful.

While offering congratulations and socializing, Ji Yuan discreetly glanced at the chess piece inside his sleeve. Its color had indeed turned white. With his radiant smile, the wedding feast seemed to be enjoyed even more by both guests and hosts.

With all wine cups filled, everyone picked up their chopsticks and began to eat.

A wedding banquet in a remote village naturally lacked the culinary skill of a master chef from a large city or prefecture. However, it had a unique charm, especially given the pleasant atmosphere. Moreover, it was a midsummer evening, and everyone ate until they were drenched in sweat.

Ji Yuan finally understood why many people had damp towels draped around their necks. At tables further away, some individuals had even taken off their shirts.

The groom went around to each table to toast, while the bride waited alone in the bridal chamber.

After completing a large round of toasts, he returned to the main table to toast his in-laws and elders. The groom's face was already flushed from drinking, but he didn't forget to come over and toast Ji Yuan.

"Mr. Ji, it's my great day today, and I thank you for writing the wedding couplets for me. They are truly excellent. I must toast you; please drink!"

Judging by his relatively clear speech, he wasn't completely drunk yet. After this round of toasts, he would be heading to the bridal chamber.

Ji Yuan also rose with a smile, raising his cup to return the toast.

"May you have many sons soon!"

After finishing the drink, the groom, amidst a flurry of good-natured teasing, walked steadily towards the inner room. Ji Yuan observed the groom's sturdy physique, thinking he should be able to "handle" his wife, who worked in the fields like a man.

As dusk gradually fell, the wedding feast was nearing its end.

Even though it was the dog days of summer and there were no refrigerators, there was no need to worry about leftovers spoiling. This was because the villagers were truly robust eaters. Ji Yuan didn't see a single plate with even a trace of food left; at some tables, even the sauces were poured over rice and eaten clean.

Besides the kitchen helpers tidying up, neighbors and relatives, patting their full bellies with contented expressions, began to disperse. Ji Yuan, meanwhile, went with a young man named Zhao Dongliang, one of those who had gone to fetch wine earlier, to stay at his home for the night.

This household was near the village entrance. Ji Yuan was given a side room in a small farmhouse courtyard, complete with a bed, a chair, and bedding.

Everyone was full and satisfied, but due to the scorching heat, even after dark, most villagers hadn't gone to sleep. Many were outside in well-ventilated areas, cooling off, waiting for the heat inside the houses to dissipate before retiring.

Ji Yuan also brought out a chair and sat by the courtyard wall. To his left, he could faintly see a peculiar small structure with three tiny points of light above it.

He hadn't noticed it when he arrived, but now it appeared to be a small temple, perhaps only half a person's height, likely the village's Earth God Temple.

It was indeed quite hot. Ji Yuan, lacking a fan, grabbed his right sleeve, straightened it, and fanned himself a couple of times. Seeing Ji Yuan come out, Zhao Dongliang moved a small stool over and eagerly fanned Ji Yuan with a cattail leaf fan.

"Mr. Ji, what's that on your back? Why don't you put it inside? It must be so hot with the cloth strips against you!"

Zhao Dongliang was sweating even in his sleeveless jacket. A wide-sleeved robe like the gentleman's looked hot, and with something wrapped in cloth, whether a stick or whatever, tied to his back, he must be getting heat rash.

"Oh, this is a sword. I forgot to take it off!"

Actually, because the green vine was unstable and needed constant spiritual energy nourishment, the Green Vine Sword was temporarily inconvenient to keep separate from him.

"A sword!"

Zhao Dongliang's eyes lit up.

"Mr. Ji, do you know martial arts? The kind where you can leap onto roofs and scale walls? No wonder you dare to travel so far alone!"

"Haha, I suppose you could say I know martial arts. When traveling, one does need some skills for self-defense!"

Zhao Dongliang grew even more excited upon hearing this.

"Mr. Ji, could I have a look at your sword? Last time I went to the county, I saw a beautiful longsword with engravings hanging in a shop!"

Ji Yuan smiled.

"It's fine to look, but you might be disappointed."

With that, he untied the knot, took down the Green Vine Sword wrapped in cloth strips, placed it on his lap, and removed the blue cloth to reveal the sword.

The Green Vine Sword was three feet six inches long and one inch eight fen wide. It was straight from tip to hilt, with no quillons at the front of the hilt and no ornaments at the back. The hilt was wrapped from end to end with vibrant green vines, giving it a simple and unadorned appearance. Of course, the patches of rust on the blade were still present.

"Ah... Mr. Ji, this sword isn't as beautiful as the one I saw in the county. It doesn't even have a scabbard, and it's all rusted like this..."

Zhao Dongliang was clearly somewhat disappointed.

"Hahahaha... I told you you'd be disappointed. Still, saying that isn't ideal. It doesn't bother me, but it might make it unhappy!"

Ji Yuan chuckled, pointing at the sword, while his left hand pressed down on the blade to prevent it from humming.

Zhao Dongliang thought Ji Yuan disliked his previous comment. He scratched his head and sheepishly said, "Mr. Ji, please don't mind me. Your sword is actually quite nice!"

Ji Yuan just smiled without speaking, looking up at the starry sky.

"Mr. Ji, tell me about the outside world. And the martial arts world, is it very exciting and wonderful?"

"Hmm... perhaps. But it might not be as good as this."

They chatted idly, mostly Zhao Dongliang asking questions and Ji Yuan choosing his answers. Like telling a mythical tale, he spoke of the giant green fish of Chunmu River saving people, mentioned an old tortoise outside Chunhui Prefecture asking for wine, and recounted an old dragon bringing rain to ensure good weather and harvests for a region. Zhao Dongliang listened with childlike earnestness.

About half an hour later, most of the villagers who had been cooling off gradually moved their chairs and stools back indoors. Although Zhao Dongliang wanted to continue chatting with Ji Yuan, he decided to go to bed, considering the farm work he had the next day. Soon, only Ji Yuan remained outside the household's courtyard.

From the Earth God Temple a little further away, a puff of smoke materialized, and a hunched old man emerged, walking towards them. When he was about two zhang away, he cupped his hands in greeting towards Ji Yuan.

"It is rare for an immortal master to grace this place with their presence. This humble Earth God has come specifically to greet you!"

"I am undeserving of such praise! I should rather thank the local villagers for their hospitality and for the wedding wine I enjoyed."

Ji Yuan quickly stood up and cupped his hands in return. He had noticed the Earth God Temple had little incense burning and had assumed it was an empty, insignificant shrine. He was surprised to find a true deity there. However, mountain and water spirits were skilled at concealing themselves, so his prior oversight was normal. This particular deity, however, seemed more like a ghost who had ascended to godhood than a spirit who had cultivated.

The old man glanced at the Green Vine Sword on Ji Yuan's lap, then carefully approached from the side.

"May I ask, Master, from which immortal land do you hail?"

"No immortal land in particular, I simply wander. However, you, Earth God, must be a local, correct?"

The old man sat down on a stone millstone nearby, nodding as he replied.

"Precisely. In my lifetime, I was a resident of Zhao Family Village. I don't know when I started being worshipped as the Earth God; it must have been nearly three hundred years now. My jurisdiction is limited to the vicinity of Zhao Family Village. If someone in the village dies with enough good deeds to keep their soul intact, I occasionally accompany the soul collectors to guide them to the underworld."

Three hundred years? That long!

However, it was likely due to the limited jurisdiction that, after so many years, even though he had become a legitimate deity, he hadn't accumulated much incense or magical power.

"May I ask, Earth God, what brings you here this evening?"

The old Earth God was rather amusing, answering directly and frankly.

"Practitioners of immortal cultivation are very rare. I simply came out to have a look!"

Ji Yuan burst into laughter. So, he had become a spectacle.

"Then I must disappoint you, Earth God. I am merely a humble cultivator, not the immortal master you might imagine."

"Master, you are too modest. You are far more impressive than this old man imagined!"

While there was an element of flattery, the Earth God's words were also sincere. After saying this, he hesitated for a moment, then took out a folded, strange yellow paper from his sleeve.

"May I trouble you, Master, to look at the characters on this? There should be writing on it, but this old man's magical power is too shallow to see it!"

It seemed he hadn't just come out of curiosity; there was something he needed help with. Ji Yuan didn't refuse; it was worth a try.

"Very well, let me see!"

He took the yellow paper from the Earth God and unfolded it. Upon closer inspection, ink appeared on its surface.

"Zhengde Baogong Lu" (Register of the Virtuous and Treasured Official)

"It's actually a Celestial Edict transformed into a book!"