Chapter 89: Are all the Ji family members E people?
Tianyan Sect, Main Hall.
Sect Master Meng Tianzheng looked solemnly at the disciples standing below. The atmosphere in the hall was no longer as relaxed as before.
"Recently, there have been unusual movements in the capital's dragon aura." Meng Tianzheng's voice was calm, yet carried an undeniable weight: "The Imperial Observatory has secretly reported that there are suspected low-level demonic creatures causing trouble in the city. Although they have not caused any major disaster, their behavior is mysterious and seems to be organized, which is probably not ordinary. The court is not in a position to investigate openly, so it has asked our sect to assist us in secret."
His gaze swept over the disciples who had been called upon: "This matter concerns the stability of the mortal world and may have even deeper implications. You all need to infiltrate the capital and secretly investigate the source of the demons. Remember, you must not reveal your identity as cultivators unless absolutely necessary, so as not to cause panic among the mortals and alert the enemy."
"Fang Li, Xie Chen, Mo Yun, Tie Pan, and Ling Shuang, disciples of Yi Xing Peak, are skilled in talisman transformations, making them adept at disguise and flexible in their responses. Shen Yunzhou of Leng You Peak is a reliable force in combat. Ji Qianqiu of Tian Yuan Peak is physically strong and unlikely to attract attention in the mortal world. This time, the seven of you will travel together."
Those whose names were called all straightened up and replied in unison, "Disciples obey!"
Just then, Ye Wuyang's voice reached this place from inside the Wangchen Palace.
"The mundane affairs of the world, the everyday life of ordinary people, are also a form of cultivation. Concealing one's breath and hiding one's form, one must not recklessly use magic unless it is a matter of life and death."
The voice was flat and businesslike, but if someone paid close attention, they might sense that the invisible gaze paused briefly when it swept over a girl below who was trying to put on a serious expression.
Fang Li quickly straightened her back even more.
"Yes! We will obey the Immortal's decree!" The crowd bowed again.
With the task assigned, everyone dispersed to prepare.
You need to buy some ordinary clothes, prepare some silver, and cleverly disguise some basic talismans as props used in martial arts performances, just in case.
As Fang Li followed her senior brothers and sisters out, her inner voice was already cheering with excitement.
"A government-funded trip! And to the capital! Tongzi! Did you hear that? The capital! Quick! Get the food guide and travel map ready! Food first!" She was so excited she almost moved her hands and feet together.
The system responded immediately: [“Understood! The complete guide to Beijing snacks is loading! Braised pork offal, Aiwowo, Donkey Roll, Pea Flour Cake… Host, wipe your drool! Remember, our current persona is that of a ‘newbie duo just entering the world of martial arts,’ keep a low profile! Be sure to keep a low profile!”]
These thoughts naturally did not escape the notice of the group.
Above the clouds, inside the Forgotten Dust Palace, Ye Wuyang heard phrases like "publicly funded travel" and "food guide," and a hint of helplessness quietly surfaced in her perpetually icy eyes. "Never mind... in the end... it's better to be more lively."
Shen Yunzhou frowned slightly, already seriously considering how to better protect his junior sister in the chaotic capital city without using his spiritual power. The mortal world was treacherous, and he needed to be even more cautious.
Xie Chen had a faint smile on his lips as he fanned himself, but in his mind he was calculating the locations of several silver shops and teahouses under the Wanbao Immortal Sect in the capital, and how to "reasonably" use the funds to make this "public expense" worthwhile.
Ji Qianqiu was the most direct. He clapped his hands, which were as big as palm leaves, and grinned, "Great! I've heard that the capital is lively! This time I can not only stretch my muscles, but also take my junior sister to eat delicious food!" He had automatically equated "protecting his junior sister" with "finding good food".
A moment later, at the mountain gate, the seven people were ready. They had all changed into ordinary cotton or linen clothes of various styles, looking like a group of ordinary young people preparing to go to the city to make a living or study, but their temperament was still more outstanding than that of ordinary people.
Fang Li curiously tugged at the hem of her pale yellow skirt, then glanced at Shen Yunzhou's dark blue outfit, which made him look even more aloof, and couldn't help but steal a few more glances.
Just as everyone was about to summon their flying boat to pass through the sect's restrictions and head to the foot of the mountain.
A streak of light quietly arrived from the direction of the Forgotten Dust Palace and hovered precisely in front of Fang Li.
The light faded, revealing a jade pendant.
The jade pendant appears to be made of ordinary white jade, and the carving is simple, with only some cloud patterns faintly visible. It doesn't exude much spiritual brilliance and looks like a slightly better piece of jewelry from the mortal world.
Ye Wuyang's voice rang directly in Fang Li's ears again:
"Wear it."
"To ward off evil spirits."
Concise and to the point.
However, a hint of surprise and deep thought flashed through the eyes of Shen Yunzhou, Xie Chen, and the others.
The gift was personally bestowed by the Celestial Venerable. Even if it looks ordinary, how could it really be a mortal item?
Fang Li took the jade pendant in a daze, its surface warm and smooth to the touch. Before she could react, the jade pendant automatically tied itself to the silk sash around her waist, the size just right, and it didn't look out of place with her pale yellow dress.
"Uh... thank you, Immortal Venerable?" She subconsciously bowed in the direction of the Forgotten Dust Palace, muttering to herself, "Master, is this jade pendant... valuable? It looks quite plain."
System: [“Host! You’re missing the point! This is a talisman given to you by a powerful figure! It wards off evil! Do you understand what warding off evil means? It’s definitely a good thing! Wear it quickly! It might save your life in a critical moment! (Excited) And the Immortal Venerable actually gave it to you alone! This treatment! Tsk tsk tsk!”]
Fang Li touched the jade pendant; it was cool and comfortable. She looked up at the misty Wangchen Palace and felt inexplicably calmer.
After leaving Tianyan Sect and arriving at the foot of the mountain, the group transferred to two seemingly ordinary green-canopied carriages and discreetly headed towards the capital.
Xie Chen sat on the front carriage shaft, a slightly rough sheepskin map spread out in his hand. He ran his fingertips across it and whispered to Shen Yunzhou, who was driving the carriage, "Senior Brother Shen, 'West Wind City' is thirty miles ahead, the location of the Ji family's stronghold. According to the plan, we will rest here for two days to replenish our supplies before turning south."
Shen Yunzhou held the reins and drove the car, his sharp gaze sweeping over the open fields on both sides of the road and the faint outline of the city wall in the distance. He nodded slightly, maintaining his usual vigilance.
When the wheels rolled over the dry loess road in the western wilderness.
Ji Qianqiu leaned almost halfway out of the carriage, looking extremely excited. Pointing outside, he began to introduce the place to the somewhat somber crowd: "See that grove of red willows? A hundred miles further west is the infamous 'Ghostly Cry Gobi Desert.' When the wind is strong, the sound is like ten thousand ghosts wailing! And over there, see that mound? It's said that an ancient kingdom is buried underneath..."
Inside the carriage, Mo Yun was carefully inspecting the talismans affixed to the interior walls to ensure that any fluctuations in spiritual energy were completely concealed. Tie Pan silently drove another carriage. Ling Shuang sat with her eyes closed in a corner, her breathing long and even, seemingly resting.
Fang Li sat next to Ling Shuang, appearing obedient on the surface, but in reality, she was having a lively conversation with Tongzi in her mind.
Fang Li: "Tongzi, the sandstorms in this Western Wilderness are too intense! I feel like I ate a mouthful of dust! Does Ji Hanhan really live in a place like this? No wonder he's so sturdy!"
System: [“Host, this is what you call being down-to-earth! And the feeling of sealing your spiritual power and living like a mortal… is quite novel? It’s just that this carriage is so bumpy it’s making my data stream almost break!”]
The carriage creaked and groaned as it moved forward, getting closer and closer to the towering city walls of Xifeng City.
Rumble! ...
Without warning, the ground beneath our feet began to tremble violently! It was as if a thousand horses were galloping towards us! On the dry loess road, dust billowed into the sky, obscuring the sun!
"Be on guard!" Shen Yunzhou's eyes sharpened, and he abruptly pulled on the reins! Xie Chen quickly put away the map and placed his hand on the jade fan at his waist.
Ji Qianqiu in the car behind also instantly pulled his head back, his expression one of surprise and uncertainty.
Amidst the dust and smoke, the thunderous sound of hooves echoed! Dozens of burly riders swept out from the city gates! Leading the charge was a man of imposing stature, with a bushy beard and bristling hair—none other than Ji Kuangshi, the patriarch of the Ji family! He wore dark red leather armor, and his warhorse was exceptionally magnificent, its roar like a booming bell, echoing far and wide.
"Hahahaha! My Qianqiu'er is back! And the esteemed disciples of the Tianyan Sect! Good! Good! Good!"
Behind him, on his left was Ji Hongying, dressed in a fiery red outfit, looking around with curiosity; on his right was Ji Bailie, as steady as a mountain; and right next to Ji Kuangshi, on a snow-white steed, was none other than Wu Yamingzhu, the matriarch of the Ji family!
Wuya Mingzhu was dressed in a neat riding outfit, exuding elegance and charm.
Her gaze swept over Shen Yunzhou, Xie Chen, and the others, finally landing precisely on Fang Li, who was clinging to the window frame of the rear car, her small face filled with shock and a hint of helplessness!
"What a beautiful girl!" Wuya Mingzhu's eyes lit up suddenly, her voice filled with undisguised affection: "Qianqiu'er! Hurry up and introduce this girl to your mother!"
Fang Li felt her scalp tingle from the sudden "warm welcome" and Wu Yamingzhu's burning gaze.
"Holy crap! This welcoming ceremony...it's giving me social anxiety! System! Are all the Ji family E-types?!"
The system's electronic voice carried a strong sense of schadenfreude: [“Host, stay calm! Undoubtedly an E-person!”]
When Ji Qianqiu saw his parents' impressive display, he was first taken aback, then grinned widely, his chest puffed out even higher, his face beaming with pride, as if to say, "Look! These are my parents!"
Shen Yunzhou and Xie Chen both frowned almost imperceptibly at the same time.
Shen Yunzhou instinctively felt uncomfortable with such a noisy and high-profile scene, and his eyes scanned the Ji family's group with even greater vigilance.
Xie Chen felt a little wary of Wu Yamingzhu's overly "enthusiastic" gaze, especially since that gaze was fixed on Fang Li. He subconsciously tightened his grip on the jade fan in his hand.
The Ji family's iron cavalry arrived in an instant, neatly reining in their horses a few feet in front of the carriage, and the dust slowly dissipated.
Ji Kuangshi dismounted and strode forward with the air of a dragon and the gait of a tiger. He slapped Ji Qianqiu's shoulder heavily with his large, fan-like hand, making him stumble. "Good lad! You've got guts! You didn't embarrass me!"
Ji Qianqiu chuckled foolishly: "Father! Mother! Second Uncle! Hongying girl!"
Wuya Mingzhu dismounted gracefully, not even glancing at her foolish son, and walked straight past Ji Qianqiu, heading directly for the carriage behind.
With an incredibly warm smile on her face, she stared intently at Fang Li, who was still somewhat flustered and slowly getting out of the car, clearly taken aback by the commotion.
"Good child, you must have had a long journey?" Wu Yamingzhu's voice was so gentle it could melt water, completely ignoring Shen Yunzhou, Xie Chen, and the others with their various expressions.
She reached out and grabbed Fang Li's arm with an effortless, passionate, and irresistible force.
"Come, come, don't stand here in the wind at the city gate! Come into the city with your mother! We've already prepared hot milk tea and freshly roasted whole lamb! Enough to go around!" she said, as she affectionately pulled Fang Li toward the city gate, as if Fang Li were her long-lost daughter whom she had just found.
Ji Qianqiu scratched his head, grinning foolishly at his mother's antics. Ji Hongying rode a few steps closer, her bright eyes curiously scrutinizing Fang Li, who was being enthusiastically "held hostage" by her mother, a playful smile on her lips.
Shen Yunzhou and Xie Chen exchanged a glance, both seeing a hint of helplessness and wariness in each other's eyes.
Shen Yunzhou followed silently, his hand still resting near the hilt of his sword. Xie Chen quickly composed himself, putting on a gentle and polite smile, and bowed to Ji Kuangshi and Ji Bailie, saying, "Patriarch Ji, Second Master Ji, I apologize for disturbing you."
Ji Kuangshi waved his hand and said generously, "Thank you for your hospitality, nephew! You are all Qianqiu'er's fellow disciples, so you are honored guests of my Ji family! Come on, let's go into the city! We won't leave until we're drunk!" With that, he invited everyone into the city.
Tie Pan and Mo Yun silently drove the carriage to follow. Ling Shuang remained with her eyes closed, seemingly oblivious to the commotion outside, her steps light as she moved with the flow of people.
Fang Li was half-dragged and half-pulled by Wu Yamingzhu as they walked into the city, feeling the "enthusiastic" force coming from her arm.
"System! Help! I can't handle this enthusiasm! Even a whole roasted lamb can't cure my social anxiety!"
System: [“Host! Hang in there! This is ‘care’ from an elder! And… the whole roasted lamb smells amazing!”]
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