webnovelfull Chapter 374: I May Have Missed Something
Chapter 374: I May Have Missed Something
Unfortunately, Niu Batian’s plan was far from perfect, and Lu Shan Jun was no pushover either.A small mansion outside Luoqing City could fetch a hundred to two hundred taels of silver, which was already an astronomical price. As for the so-called centuries-old cauldron that the Old Bull had mentioned, regardless of whether he was being truthful, it was quite sturdy and durable, and actually had not been destroyed.
So the final compensation naturally left Lao Niu very dissatisfied, but he also managed to get Lu Shanjun to agree.
That night, citing the damage to the manor, Niu Batian suggested that everyone stay at an inn in the city, which was located next to Luo Qing’s brothel.
If Ji Yuan hadn’t been there to intimidate Niu Batian, the old bull would probably have suggested staying in the red light district,1 since there were inns there anyway.
In the evening, after a sumptuous dinner, Niu Batian, who had fought to the death with Lu Shan Jun earlier, had long forgotten the pain of the day. He happily used the clumsy excuse of going for a walk to turn around and head to the red-light district to have some fun.
So only Ji Yuan, Lu Shan Jun, and Yan Fei remained in the inn. The former rested in his room, while the latter two, after a while, coincidentally both arrived at Ji Yuan’s door.
Lu Shan Jun looked at Yan Fei, who was also preparing to visit his master, and cupped his hands in greeting. Yan Fei returned the greeting, and then the two stood outside the door. Lu Shan Jun gently knocked.
“Come in.”
The two pushed open the door and entered, only to find Ji Yuan sitting at the table looking at the blank scroll of the Sword Intent Inscription. Without even looking up, he simply said, “sit.”
Yan Fei glanced at Lu Shan Jun, went to close the door, and then they walked to the table and sat down together.
Although Ji Yuan’s gaze was not on the two of them, he still noticed that Lu Shan Jun’s left arm was a little stiff when he sat down.
“The injury is quite serious?”
Lu Shan Jun naturally did not hide anything from Ji Yuan.
“The blow was very heavy. If he hadn’t moved to the side in that moment, my left arm would have been pierced, and my chest would have been wide open. That bull told me to go back and cultivate for several hundred more years. Although it was just a mocking boast, his cultivation is indeed much deeper than mine.”
The Old Bull might only have said these words out of pride, but Lu Shan Jun didn’t care, especially when he was in front of Ji Yuan.
Yan Fei listened from the side, recalling the battle during the day. He suddenly realized that while the battle between the monsters was so fierce that it eclipsed the sun and moon, it was actually similar to the fights between martial artists. It was not only about strength, but also about combat strategy and mental fortitude.
Previously, from Yan Fei’s point of view, the Old Bull was almost always at a disadvantage in the latter half, and even seemed to be in imminent danger of death. But now, after listening to Lu Shan Jun’s words, the actual situation might have been the opposite. It was by this same same principle that many martial artists were able to defeat stronger opponents.
Ji Yuan wasn’t surprised. He nodded, thought for a moment, and then said…
“That bull’s demonic body is indeed remarkable. Although it consumes a lot of energy, it greatly enhances his physical strength, and its cultivation potential is also enormous. Even if you used all your techniques and strategies, you still wouldn’t have been able to shatter his body. However, this bull’s body had also been previously broken by a demon.”
Lu Shan Jun was Ji Yuan’s prized disciple, and Ji Yuan intended for him to play a significant role in his future plans. Now that the Nine Warriors’ Covenant had basically been completed, it was time for him to reveal some information.
Upon hearing Ji Yuan mention that the Old Bull’s physical body had been previously broken, Lu Shan Jun, who had fought hard against the raging bull, was naturally very curious.
“When did this happen, and who was behind it?”
Ji Yuan replied calmly.
“If I’m not mistaken, it should be a demon from the Jade Fox Cave in the Qiancang Mountain of Lan Province in the Western Regions, most likely a fox demon.”
“A fox demon?”
Lu Shan Jun frowned. Such demons, while still immature, could be chased away merely by a few big yellow dogs. However, once they grew powerful, and especially after they developed multiple tails, they would become quite troublesome.
“Indeed, a fox demon. That bull has a major weakness: lust. The fox demon used this to her advantage, but it’s not the only trick she has up her sleeve. Remember, if you encounter any fox demons from the Jade Fox Cave in the future, be careful, especially if you encounter a female demon named Tu Siyan. She seems to know a lot about certain things.”
Lu Shan Jun pondered for a while before speaking.
“Understood! Is there anything you need me to do, sir?”
“Yes.”
Ji Yuan glanced at Yan Fei without making any attempt to avoid the topic. His indifferent eyes flashed with a divine light, and the latter immediately felt dizzy. He rubbed his forehead and then fell asleep on the table.
After Yan Fei fell asleep, Ji Yuan continued.
“Shan Jun, although I possess a complete cultivation method for immortal beasts, I did not directly impart it upon you. Instead, I mainly guided and instructed you to comprehend and cultivate on your own. Besides not wanting to stifle your potential, there was another reason.”
Lu Shan Jun sat upright and listened attentively. He had wondered countless times about how to repay his master and fulfill his duty as a disciple, and now it seemed that the opportunity had arrived.
“The vastness of heaven and earth is beyond our comprehension. The various regions and realms are expansive, and there are also countless hidden paradises. The demon race is an extremely powerful force. Although they are mostly scattered, there are also many forces so powerful that even the immortal sects cannot easily set foot in their territory, such as the Black Dream Spirit Continent, commonly known as the Black Wasteland.”
At this point, Ji Yuan turned thoughtful, and his voice lowered slightly.
“Although many immortal cultivators and those who follow the divine path are prejudiced against monsters, it must be said that few monsters that have achieved a certain level of power are naive, particularly in those places where they have both a suitable lineage and a purpose…”
Looking at his disciple who was listening attentively, Ji Yuan thought back to the past. He stretched out his right hand and a faint light flew out from his sleeve, transforming into a Yin wood tablet in his palm.
“Take a look at this.”
This wooden plaque should have long lost its power to convey knowledge through the spirit, but Ji Yuan had sealed the spiritual energy and supernatural power within it. Now that it had been unsealed, Lu Shan Jun could also glimpse its contents.
After receiving the wooden plaque from Ji Yuan, Lu Shan Jun concentrated for a while, before coming back to his senses.
In the Eastern Cloud Continent, there were monsters, immortals, and even ghosts and gods, but the truly powerful ones were actually the seemingly weak human race.
Humanity was powerful, and although its members may vary in character, most of them focused on education and order. They had long enjoyed peace and were protected by the divine path, which evolved from their power of faith and willpower. Most humans had hardly ever seen any real gods or ghosts, and even those who knew about immortals, demons, gods, and monsters mostly held them in awe.
However, many monsters and demons in the Black Wasteland were different. Take the “country of human livestock,” for example:2 they were no longer seeking sustenance, nor were they occasionally looking to gain an advantage in cultivation. They enjoyed listening to screams and wails, researching all sorts of bizarre and cruel ways to eat, manipulating people’s hearts in all sorts of ways. Even Lu Shan Jun considered them utterly “perverse.”
Lu Shan Jun once heard Ji Yuan say, on that stone platform, that there was very little pure “evil” in this world; but at this moment, putting aside the already extreme views of demons, Lu Shan Jun felt that the demons of the Black Wasteland had truly evolved into pure evil.
Seeing the shock on Lu Shan Jun’s face, Ji Yuan’s expression grew slightly more grave.
“The demon race is an extremely complex group. You, Lu Shan Jun, can no longer be considered a demon. However, you are now the only Lu Wu in the world. Who would recognize that you are an ancient divine beast?”
Lu Shanjun frowned and then relaxed, looking intently at Ji Yuan, waiting for him to continue.
“I hope that you, as a monster, can make a name for yourself among the monsters in the future, and lend me a hand when I need you.”
Lu Shan Jun took a deep breath, stood up, and solemnly performed a long bow.
“Master’s will is my command. I, Lu Shan Jun, shall not disobey!”
Ji Yuan reached out, took Lu Shan Jun’s rigid hand, shook his head, and lifted him up.
“This is my hope, not a command. As your master, I naturally hope that my disciples can live well and be safe, but to follow me, one must have some ambition and a sense of purpose…”
Ji Yuan paused for a moment.
“If it were just the Black Wasteland, if it were just the chaos in the world, if it were just the conflict between different races, if it were just the opposition of good and evil… if it were only that, then that would be fine…”
As Ji Yuan’s thoughts continued, he gradually realized that what he was facing was actually more complex than what he had seen back then in humanity’s Qi. In particular, the memory of riding a whale and crashing through waves into the Eastern Sea, with its intangible mystery, indirectly inspired Ji Yuan, suggesting that perhaps it wasn’t just about the affairs of this world.
“What if my previous calculations were based on a fundamentally flawed premise? In this world of chaos and entanglements, who can truly see through it…”
Ji Yuan didn’t continue, nor could he.
Lu Shan Jun straightened, feeling for the first time the pressure emanating from his master. It made the man appear somewhat weary. A sense of awe and dread washed over him.
“I, Lu Shan Jun, will humbly heed my master’s teachings!”
“Indeed, let’s all do what we can. As long as we have a clear conscience, that’s enough. Sit down.”
Lu Shan Jun sat down with complex emotions. Ji Yuan nudged Yan Fei, who gradually regained consciousness.
Yan Fei yawned and looked around with a puzzled expression. He knew he hadn’t fallen asleep naturally, but he wouldn’t be so tactless as to ask why.
Only when Ji Yuan turned to address him did he inquire about some of his martial arts questions. Ji Yuan was equally open with Yan Fei, explaining his understanding that he had gained over the years, which cast a wide net over various techniques and styles.
When Niu Batian returned the next morning, humming a little tune, he discovered that Ji Yuan had already left. He thought about it and realized something was amiss. After a long while, he exclaimed in dismay: “My… My immortal guidance!”
T/n: I just wanted to take a moment to acknowledge some of the current events happening in our world, and this chapter seems like a good place to do so. I hope everyone is staying safe, staying well, and getting support, both for others and for themselves. Please try reach out a hand to those less fortunate to the best of your ability and safety. Stay educated, give when you can, and when you can’t, move through your life with honor and dignity, because you, no matter who you are, are worthy. Just like Ji Yuan said: “let’s all do what we can. As long as we have a clear conscience, that’s enough.” This world can be beautiful, and I hope that as many people as possible can appreciate it in peace and safety. Big hugs and best wishes to you all.
Lit. “Flower Street” because brothels were called Flower Houses and prostitutes were the flowers Refer to ch. 229