Chapter 939: Obsessive Thought

Most of the dates Zaoniang had picked earlier ended up in Xiezhi’s belly. Ji Yuan, momentarily distracted, reached for another date only to find the basin empty. He looked at Xiezhi, who was already holding a large handful of dates.

"What are you doing?"

Ji Yuan didn't know whether to laugh or cry at Xiezhi's almost thieving act, while Xiezhi merely grinned back.

"Heh heh, Ji Yuan, all the dates on this tree are yours; just pick more."

"Can't you pick more after you've finished these? Besides, these dates belong to Zaoniang, so they're not really mine, are they?"

"It's all the same, it's all the same. I'm taking these dates to my apprentice. I know you'll be heading to the Ning'an County Underworld later, so I'll go to Mount Niukui first to check on my apprentice and test his cultivation."

Ji Yuan understood. He reached up, and more dates fell directly into Xiezhi’s hands.

"That's very generous of you. I'll be off then."

Ji Yuan said little else, watching Xiezhi depart from Juyan Pavilion. It pleased him to see Xiezhi genuinely care for Hu Yun.

Not long after, a small paper crane, resembling a miniature celestial crane, flew back. It landed on the table as soon as it entered the courtyard, chirped, then embraced a large, half-red date and began pecking at it with its beak.

"Understood."

Ji Yuan extended a finger and gently stroked the little paper crane’s neck. The crane adopted a look of enjoyment but then realized its master wasn’t continuing. It looked up to find Ji Yuan gazing thoughtfully at the well in the courtyard, which was perpetually sealed by a stone slab.

Inside the pavilion's courtyard, the noisy skirmishes of the small characters continued. Though the sounds were close, they seemed distant to Ji Yuan. Imperceptibly, the sky gradually darkened, and Juyan Pavilion grew quiet.

The "Sword Manual" was re-hung on the date tree. The Azure Vine Sword and the small characters gathered around it, seemingly engaged in a silent, spiritual discussion. To some extent, when the "Sword Intent Scroll" and the Azure Vine Sword formed the sword array, the blueprint for the array was not the "Sword Intent Scroll" but rather the "Sword Manual," or more precisely, Ji Yuan's sword dao. Primarily using immortal swords, it featured over a hundred variations that continually layered upon each other, leading to endless transformations.

"Alright, it's about time."

Ji Yuan murmured this, then rose and left Juyan Pavilion, taking only the little paper crane with him.

The streets of Ning'an County at dusk teemed with villagers hurrying home. Cooking smoke filled the air, and the rich aroma of various dishes wafted past Ji Yuan, as if the town’s small size somehow intensified the scents.

The doors of Miaowai Restaurant were still open, but Ji Yuan had no intention of going there. He walked directly toward the City God Temple, its roof tiles gleaming golden in the setting sun's afterglow.

The temple caretaker and two assistants were tidying up both inside and outside. For some time now, despite the New Year being long past and no special festivals occurring, a constant stream of pilgrims came to offer incense to the City God. This continuous influx made the few staff members feel somewhat understaffed and overwhelmed.

"If you're here to offer incense, go in quickly, light it, bow, and then come out. We'll be closing soon."

As Ji Yuan approached, an assistant sweeping the courtyard outside the main hall spoke these words. Ji Yuan gave a slight nod and entered the hall.

The assistant outside finished sweeping the entire courtyard but noticed that the person who had gone inside hadn't emerged. He frowned, thinking, *He looks like a respectable gentleman; surely he wouldn't be stealing offerings from the merit box?*

At that thought, the assistant's heart lurched. He quickly grabbed his broom and jogged into the City God’s Grand Hall. However, after looking around, he couldn't find any trace of the person who had just entered. After a moment of confusion, he suddenly shivered.

'Oh my! Could I have encountered a ghost on its way to the Underworld?'

The assistant quickly bowed to the City God statue, mumbled to himself for a moment, then hurried out to find the temple caretaker.

Still, the assistant felt uneasy. He had vaguely heard that while the City God was powerful, encountering strange phenomena within the temple itself was not a good omen. He began to wonder if, should the caretaker confirm his fears, he should visit the academy tomorrow to ask a scholar for some written characters, having heard that the calligraphy of highly learned and spirited scholars could ward off evil.

Meanwhile, Ji Yuan had already entered the Ning'an County Underworld. Instead of passing through the Gate of Ghosts, he was welcomed directly into the Grand Hall of the Underworld from within the City God Temple. Ghost deities rarely extended such a welcome, but the old City God made an exception for Ji Yuan.

Thus, as Ji Yuan stepped into the City God Temple’s main hall, he simultaneously entered the City God Hall within the Underworld. The City God and the various ghost deities, who had been waiting for some time, rose to greet him.

After solemnly returning their bows, Ji Yuan stated his purpose without waiting to be seated, effectively dropping a bombshell.

He announced that the Yellow Springs were indeed real, and that in the future, all parts of the Underworld would be connected, allowing all ghosts, gods, and entities to traverse the Yellow Springs Path. Ji Yuan's purpose in visiting the Ning'an County Underworld was to ask old City God Song and the various ghost deities if they were willing to work alongside the Central Hall of the Netherworld, hinting that the Ning'an County Underworld might one day become a major hall within the greater Underworld.

After delivering this news, Ji Yuan immediately took his leave. The City God and other deities escorted him to the grand hall's entrance, their minds still reeling from the announcement.

"Lord City God, Mr. Ji is bestowing a great fortune upon us…"

The old City God also mused with a touch of emotion.

"We merely stumbled upon a few reborn souls, yet Mr. Ji deemed it a great merit and even presented the matter directly to the Netherworld Emperor. Perhaps it is due to the prosperous destiny of Ning'an County itself!"

"With Juyan Pavilion located here and the Sage of Literature hailing from Ning'an County, how could this place's destiny not be prosperous!"

"Well said!"

"The affairs of the Underworld are likely to become even busier in the future. While Mr. Ji's words about reincarnation suggested he couldn't yet fully grasp it, they also profoundly shocked the Ning'an County Underworld. If he couldn't fully grasp it, doesn't that imply he is already preparing, or even beginning, to?"

The ghost deities of the Underworld chatted, each filled with emotion. Even they felt a hint of excitement.

Ji Yuan’s visit to the Underworld wasn't long, but he still had matters to discuss. By the time he returned, more than an hour had passed since dusk, and it was now dark.

Even before reaching Juyan Pavilion, Ji Yuan sensed a slightly familiar aura as he spotted the open courtyard gate. Sure enough, upon entering the pavilion’s courtyard, he found Zaoniang smiling, Bai Ruo visibly uneasy and even distracted, and two other women standing by the stone table, only marginally less nervous than Bai Ruo.

"Madam Bai, the Master is back! Master, you've returned!"

Zaoniang stood with a smile, took two steps forward, and bowed gracefully to Ji Yuan. Ji Yuan nodded slightly, his gaze shifting to a spot not far behind her.

Dressed in a white gown, Bai Ruo was trembling, her hands and feet fumbling with nervousness. Only when she felt Ji Yuan's gaze upon her did she suddenly snap to attention, quickly rising from the stone table.

"Quick, follow me to greet the Master!"

She said nervously. Bai Ruo struggled to control her emotions, gently stepped forward two paces, bringing with her the two young girls who kept stealing glances at Ji Yuan, and respectfully performed a deep bow to him.

"Bai Ruo pays respects to the Master!" "Hong'er pays respects to Mr. Ji!" "Qiao'er pays respects to Mr. Ji!"

Ji Yuan remained standing to receive their bow, then spoke calmly.

"No need for such formality. Please, sit."

"Yes…"

Yet, it was clear that only Ji Yuan sat at the stone table. Bai Ruo, so nervous her mouth was dry and she was breaking into a cold sweat, dared not sit.

Zaoniang had initially sat down with Ji Yuan, but seeing Bai Ruo and the two girls remaining standing, hesitant to sit, she pondered for a moment before quietly rising herself.

Ji Yuan found this quite amusing and looked at the four women with a smile.

"Am I so terrifying?"

"No, no, Master… I…"

Bai Ruo, who had experienced much in life and become detached from many worldly concerns, now resembled a timid child facing a scholar’s examination before Ji Yuan. She yearned to confirm the overwhelmingly delightful news Zaoniang had told her but dared not speak directly, afraid of displeasing him.

It was Zaoniang who finally couldn’t bear it. She considered herself quite modest, but Madam Bai’s current timidity was beyond exaggerated.

"Master, didn't you say you would take Madam Bai as an unofficial disciple? Is that true?"

*Thump thump thump thump thump…*

Ji Yuan could almost hear Bai Ruo’s frantic heartbeat, so extreme was her nervousness. She kept her head bowed, not daring to look at him.

"When have my words ever not held true?"

At Ji Yuan’s words, Bai Ruo suddenly looked up, her eyes wide, her lips trembling as they parted and closed, before she abruptly knelt on the ground.

"Thank you, Master, for accepting me! Thank you, Master, for your compassion! Bai Ruo will dedicate her life to filial piety!"

"Why are you crying…?"

Ji Yuan rose and helped Bai Ruo to her feet, feeling a mix of helplessness and genuine emotion. Bai Ruo was one of the rare few who wished to become his disciple not out of admiration for his power or primarily for her own cultivation. He could truly feel her sincerity, though he never imagined he would grow old enough to require filial devotion from others.

"Even as an unofficial disciple, being my apprentice is no easy feat. When storms of wind, rain, and lightning strike, I may not be able to protect you all."

Tears still visible at the corners of her eyes, Bai Ruo showed no fear at the implications of Ji Yuan's words.

"To repay Master's benevolence, this disciple, Bai Ruo, vows never to flinch from any hardship or danger. Heaven bears witness to this resolve!"

"Alright, I understand. Can you sit down now?"

Ji Yuan gave Zaoniang a subtle nod, and the latter came over, gently took Bai Ruo’s arm, and led her to sit at the table.

However, what Ji Yuan did not know at that moment was that far away in Hengzhou, someone else with a connection to him was greatly distressed by a book titled "Yellow Springs."

"Is it possible for the dead to be reborn? It is possible… This book has a preface written by the Master. He must have read it and affirmed its contents. I—I must find the author of this book! Yes, and I must find the Master! I need to find the Master!"

In Nine Peaks Mountain, a man with disheveled long hair sat by a cliff, his expression agitated as he stared at the "Yellow Springs" book in his hands.

"A-Ze…"

A voice sounded from behind the man. He turned to see a beautiful woman standing there, holding a tray.

"Sister Jin…"

"A-Ze, you looked quite frightening just now!"

"I… I'm sorry…"

Jin Xiu shook her head and presented the tray to A-Ze.

"Come eat quickly; the food won’t taste good cold."

"Mmm…"

Seeing A-Ze rise, Jin Xiu carried the tray and walked with him toward a small house by the cliff. A hint of worry, however, remained in her eyes.