Chapter 27 I Lie Less
The old ancestor was determined to die.
The moonlight filtered through the shadows of the trees and fell on Di Jiang's perpetually pale face, revealing a rare and fresh human glow beneath his skin. Duan Jiuyou saw him open his eyes, a slight smile playing on his lips, a look of contentment on his face, and even a hint of amusement in his usually aloof and indifferent eyes.
Emperor Jiang was "full." For the first time since his primordial spirit was scattered, he felt energetic and briefly experienced the golden light that enveloped his fragmented primordial spirit.
These merits and spiritual energy cannot be immediately converted and used. It takes at least one to two hours to replenish them and become true primordial spirit power. However, this thing has another advantage: it can temporarily suppress the cold energy in the body. A few sips will have an immediate effect.
Those who have been devoured by Fang Zhuo still need to recover their bodies. The Emperor set up a barrier and allowed them to move freely within the mountain. After forty-nine days, they will naturally recover completely.
After everything was settled, Di Jiang led his men back to the abandoned house.
The healer had been staying in the back courtyard for some time. A fire was burning in the pharmacy, with a pot on top. Di Jiang followed the aroma of the medicine as he entered. When he passed the main hall, he said to Duan Jiuyou, who was following beside him, "I'm going to the bathhouse to take a bath. You rest in the main hall. While you're at it, call the kitchen staff over to ask about the dishes. Take out the ones I don't like and replace them all with the ones I do like."
The lord had suffered greatly outside and hadn't had a decent meal for several days. As soon as the vassal entered, he ordered the kitchen to prepare a feast.
But what would he order?
Di Jiang thought to himself that seven out of ten dishes were not to his liking, but he did not reprimand him. He thought Di Jiang liked them, and often served them the same way again the next day.
After entering the abandoned house, Di Jiang looked at Duan Jiuyou as if he were looking at "Xiao Cui". He was willing to use her, as she was more useful than the real Xiao Cui. Although she was reckless most of the time, she was more clever than others and was also closer to him than others.
Duan Jiuyou was amused by his words: "I am a first-rank Supreme God, do you really treat me like a maid?"
Di Jiang smiled at her words and said, "If you want to be the housekeeper, that's fine too. Anyway, there aren't many normal people here, so it'll be easier to leave everything to you."
This saying actually has two meanings. In the mortal world, a woman who manages the household affairs for her husband is called a steward; a steward who serves his husband and manages a group of servants is also called a steward. However, no matter how you interpret it, it means she has been promoted.
A promotion meant she had gained the trust and reliance of the family head. Duan Jiuyou was willing for the imperial realm to rely on her, so she couldn't wait for the kitchen staff to come and see her. Lifting her skirt, she went straight to the kitchen, shouting all the way—
"Master Zhang! Make the fish sweet for me, use less Sichuan peppercorn in the Mapo Tofu, and make sure to cut the bamboo shoots into thinner shreds for the crispy bamboo shoots with smoked pork... And Feng Chen! I don't need your orders anymore, I'm the manager now, you can leave!"
Old Ancestor Duan didn't know that her back view looked very much like that of a petty person who had suddenly gained power, even her gait had an arrogant and domineering attitude. Di Jiang watched silently for a while, then chuckled softly.
She can be quite cute sometimes.
Di Jiang was in good physical condition and came out of the bathhouse in less than an hour. His coldness was caused by the Zhanlu Sword, which was made of Yanchuan ice. Duan Jiuyou struck it into his heart, and the sword was permanently embedded in his heart.
The medicinal soup has a very limited effect, only able to remove the cold to a certain extent. The most effective way to cure the root cause is to repair the primordial spirit and use one's own power to dissolve the sword.
The merit and spiritual power derived from the fusion of 3,467 lives is the best method of restoration. If there are no mistakes, it can at least restore 100% of his primordial spirit power.
At this moment, the spiritual energy has not been fully converted, but the warm energy spreading throughout the body still takes good care of the primordial spirit.
Emperor Jiang had not felt so comfortable in a long time, and he sat down at the table with a look of great joy on his face.
For the first time, Duan Jiuyou saw a hint of warmth and gentleness in that cold and aloof young man's face.
He was dressed lightly today, wearing a moon-white silk shirt with landscape patterns underneath and a blue brocade robe with cloud patterns on top. A jade belt was fastened around his waist. He looked relaxed and exuded an air of noble elegance.
Duan Jiuyou stared at his thin clothes, which consisted of only two layers, with concern. His first thought was still, "Aren't you cold?"
In the past, when the imperial capital was fumigated and bathed, even after four hours, it required being wrapped tightly in a cloak and cape. When had it ever been so easy?
Di Jiang scooped up the soup in his hand twice, paused briefly, and said with a smile, "The merit is good, the spiritual energy is very pure."
"Then do more good deeds and feel good in body and mind. I told you this would be good for you!" Duan Jiuyou seized the opportunity, his excitement overflowing, almost popping out of his smiling eyes.
Di Jiang didn't say anything more. He was self-controlled and had stable emotions over the years. Even when he was in a good mood, he showed it more subtly than most people.
Duan Jiuyou could tell that he was very satisfied with the effects of the merit and spiritual power. While serving him food, he kept giving him suggestions and discussing what good things to do next.
Di Jiang ate in silence the entire time. At first, he was calm and composed, and even without a response, Duan Jiuyou could tell he was listening. He frowned briefly in the middle, as if he had sensed something was wrong, and then put down his chopsticks. His complexion, which had just recovered from its previous good state, turned pale.
"What's wrong?"
Duan Jiuyou was puzzled, only feeling that Di Jiang seemed to be suffering from a relapse of his cold illness. Logically speaking, he had taken a medicinal bath today and had his primordial spirit repaired, so this situation should not have occurred.
Di Jiang briefly closed his eyes to probe his primordial spirit. When he opened them again, everyone could clearly see the fury in his eyes.
"Duan Jiuyou." He glanced to the side, his tone suddenly dropping. "Your spiritual power hasn't fully recovered?"
Three thousand merits and spiritual power to repair the primordial spirit to its full extent.
This was a "clear account" between the two. As early as when Duan Jiuyou was whispering sweet nothings in Di Jiang's ear, he had already agreed to this "deal" with Di Jiang.
After absorbing the spiritual energy today, Di Jiang did not notice anything unusual because all the spiritual energy was concentrated in his primordial spirit. Now, through transformation and gradual integration into his primordial spirit, he discovered that the previous 100% spiritual energy was just an illusion.
"Forty percent," Di Jiang said to Duan Jiuyou.
Only 40% of his spiritual power was integrated into his primordial spirit. This 40% was insufficient to help him resist the cold. Combined with the physical strength he had previously expended, he was even weaker than before.
Duan Jiuyou looked shocked: "How could it only be 40%? Young Master Huang promised me 100% before."
Duan Jiuyou also found it strange, and, not believing it, probed into the Emperor Jiang's primordial spirit, only to find the same result three times in a row.
She stared blankly at Di Jiang, noticing the depth in his eyes and the coldness and questioning in his gaze. This made her realize that his anger was likely due to his suspicion that she had exaggerated and fabricated a false promise of having 100% spiritual power to deceive him.
Duan Jiuyou refused to back down and said loudly, "I rarely lie, especially not in this kind of matter. Between you and me, in a distant sense, we are ruler and subject, and there is no such thing as a subject deceiving his ruler. In a more recent conversation, as you said before, it is a long-term business deal. Why would I lose my credibility after just one transaction? If you really have any ulterior motives, why not save them for later?"
She rolled up her sleeves and took God's pulse: "Let me examine your spirit again."
Duan Jiuyou placed three fingers on Shangdi Jiang's wrist, repeatedly checking, but he really couldn't figure out where the problem was.
Di Jiang brushed Jiu You's hand away, leaned back in his chair, and clutched a ring on his index finger. Duan Jiu You couldn't figure out what he was thinking. He only saw that Di Jiang's long eyelashes were lowered, his face was indifferent, and he was full of aloofness that kept strangers away.
Duan Jiuyou didn't want the newly restored relationship to break down because of a misunderstanding: "If you don't believe me, you can come with me to Fuyu Mountain and confront Master Huang face to face. Although that old man's mouth was crooked from being struck by lightning, he can still write. I can guarantee that I'm not lying about this matter, unless that old man is lying to me."
"But this method is risky. To get to Fuyu Mountain, we have to pass through Longxian Ridge, which is heavily guarded and has always been the gateway to the Heavenly Realm. If Bai Yanxing's people hear any noise, our whereabouts will be exposed."
"Actually, 40% isn't bad either. Think about it, if it weren't for these three thousand-plus merits, you'd still be shivering from the cold right now."
Why won't you listen to my advice?
—Did I speak?
Di Jiang looked at Duan Jiuyou expressionlessly. In just a few breaths, she guessed a bunch of possibilities, while he was just thinking about why this problem had occurred.
More than 3,600 years ago, his father hunted a Spirit Pill on Da Luo Ling Mountain Island. This pill needed to be cut open with a sharp knife to release its spiritual energy before it could be absorbed. His father made him release the spiritual energy himself because spiritual power recognizes its master; whoever releases it reaps the benefits. Today, when releasing living beings, Duan Jiuyou made him wield the Lingtian White Blade for the same reason.
He never doubted her, only that the Original Pill and the Dharma Spirit Pill were different and not directly obtained through fate.
Di Jiang was unaware that his face was extremely "sour" when he was thinking. His gaze, when it fell upon someone, made him look like a ruthless ruler who could execute someone by slow slicing with just a glance.
He doesn't often communicate with others and tends to ponder problems alone. Jiuyou is the complete opposite of him. She is impulsive, quick-witted, and proactive in solving problems. She felt frustrated when she couldn't get a response from Dijiang. She had no idea why this happened, and she would feel wronged if she explained too much.
But she ultimately chose to restrain herself, especially seeing his sickly appearance and the fact that none of the people in the room had the foresight to add clothes for him. She couldn't help but raise her voice to the officials outside the courtyard and say, "The weather has changed! Hurry up and get your master a fox fur cloak!"
The vassal is deliberately standing outside in the cold wind.
He had just had a bowl of hot soup with pepper in the kitchen, and felt warm all over, even sweating a lot. There was a bit of a draft in the courtyard, so he found a spot to stand there, facing the main gate and the main hall entrance, looking at first glance like a silent wooden stake.
"Zhuangzi" couldn't think outside the box and retorted based on his own honest judgment: "Where has the weather changed? It was much cooler just now than it is now, and the wind has died down. Besides, our Lord doesn't need it."
“Who says it’s unnecessary?” Duan Jiuyou was always furious whenever he spoke to a vassal.
“I really don’t need it.” Di Jiang spoke this time, his tone indifferent, his expression firm, and he exhaled a puff of white breath.
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