Lanke Chess Edge
Chapter 72: You Will Envy It

Ji Yuan was not an arrogant person, and he did not have the confidence to act rudely, but he understood Qiu Feng’s thoughts.

A silver fish condensed from water essence was naturally precious. At the very least, it was a treasure for Ji Yuan at the moment. Even if he didn’t know how best to use, it, it would probably be very nutritious if he used it to make soup.

But this was actually a bit of a waste, and besides, someone who actually knew how to use it was standing in the woods only a dozen steps away with an alert look on his face.

“Mr. Qiu, there’s no need to be nervous. It’s just a some angry words. I won’t argue with a child. Besides, when a child speaks rudely, the elders in the family are the ones who should teach him a lesson.”

Ji Yuan’s voice came gently. He was carrying a bag and an umbrella, with the green bamboo pole on his shoulder. He skillfully avoided the branches and vines on the mountain and walked slowly, like an ordinary person who didn’t even know any martial arts.

Interestingly, at the tip of the green bamboo pole, there was a sphere of water connected to a thin line of water that swung back and forth behind Ji Yuan, always managing to avoid branches by a hair’s breadth. It was fascinating and leisurely to watch.

It was a natural expression of Ji Yuan’s innocent and free-spirited side, which made all those who see it feel inexplicably peaceful.

As he walked closer, Ji Yuan, with an undiminished smile on his face, winked at the boy named “He’er.” The little boy didn’t dare say a word. He didn’t realize just how powerful Ji Yuan’s seemingly magnanimous words were just now, but he would definitely be taught a lesson when he returned.

Qiu Feng’s eye caught on the playful scene behind Ji Yuan’s back, and he felt much more at ease. He also secretly decided to let the boy suffer a little after they returned home. Since his senior brother couldn’t bear to discipline him, then he, as his junior brother, would have to educate the child properly!

Qiu Feng didn’t point the issue, nor directly teach the boy the lesson, but first asked Ji Yuan.

“I wonder what advice Mr. Ji might have for me!”

“Haha, I don’t dare to give advice, but I am really poor and short of money. Seeing that you like this silver fish so much, it would be a pity and a waste to use it to make my soup. Why don’t we exchange it for something else?”

If Qiu Feng had heard Ji Yuan’s request just moments earlier, he would have thought that this unknown expert was threatening him. However, he now did not have any such thoughts.

“I don’t know what you might want, sir, but if I can give it to you, I will naturally not be stingy!”

Qiu Feng thought that the other party’s kindness was valuable in and of itself.

Ji Yuan told almost no lies from beginning to end. He was truly penniless and had really considered making fish soup. The current situation couldn’t be any better.

Of course, he didn’t know the value of this Silver Essence, so he could only try to ask for what he wanted in his heart.

“I am just a country bumpkin, with limited knowledge and no need for anything too precious. I am merely extremely curious about things in the current world of immortal cultivation. Whether it be skills or techniques, strange books or stories, or small and wonderful methods and interesting toys, I would gladly exchange them for this Silver Essence. Well, even the most basic Qi training techniques are of great interest to me!”

Through Bright Strategies and A Historical Account from Outside the Tao, he now knew that there were no set stages in the basic stage of Qi training. There was no difference between the five elements, nor between yin and yang. Although each immortal sect had its own so-called Qi training technique, they were all actually more or less the same, with no differences. To put it bluntly, it was just common goods among the techniques of cultivating immortality.

Ji Yuan desired most was precisely this common product.

This time was different from the previous misunderstanding with City God Song. Ji Yuan knew very well that Qiu Feng regarded him as an expert, but he did not point it out. It was easy to judge a person’s appearance, but not so easy to judge their heart. It was more appropriate at this time to let these people keep their awe of him, especially since there had been this small conflict of interest.

“Ah, ah! I have the basic immortal cultivation and qi training techniques. I have them! Master uncle, exchange them!”

The girl almost jumped with joy.

“Yiyi!”

Qiu Feng snorted, immediately shutting the girl up. What was the difference between exchanging these basic Qi training techniques and the man giving the fish away for free?

Thinking of the Bright Strategies book that he had just seen, and then recalling what Ji Yuan had said about the Historical Account from Outside the Tao, it was the first time that Qiu Feng had seen these kinds of ancient, hundreds-of-years-old compendiums. It seemed that this Mr. Ji was truly interested in strange things.

With this thought, Qiu Feng made up his mind. He must establish a good relation with this unfathomable master!

“Noble gentleman, I, Qiu Feng, understand your desires. Unfortunately, I have no rare treasures on me at this moment. However, I have an ancient chapter that you would definitely be interested in!”

After speaking, Qiu Feng waved his arm and a slender white jade stick flew out from his sleeve. It was crystal clear and about the length of one finger.

“This is a fragment of the Spirit Binding manuscript.¹ I have studied it for over ten years. Although I have not gained any extraordinary skills from this study, it has helped me understand the skills I already have and concentrate my mind. I wonder if it might catch your eye, sir?”

As Qiu Feng introduced it with a few words, the white jade slip flew towards Ji Yuan, who caught it in one hand.

Spirit Binding? This was the strange technique mentioned in the original immortal cultivation book!

Even through it was just a fragment, Ji Yuan knew that this kind of thing was definitely not a cheap commodity.² The silver fish was probably not nearly as valuable, but Ji Yuan was reluctant to decline, and it seemed Qiu Feng himself didn’t care.

But, although he was very happy, he didn’t know why, Ji Yuan still really wanted to practice the Qi training more…

“I’m afraid this Silver Essence is not worth nearly as much. Thank you, Mr. Qiu, for your kindness. I appreciate it.”

As he spoke, Ji Yuan waved his arm and swung the fishing rod. The sphere of water crossed over the fishing line like a fisherman reeling back a fish. With Ji Yuan’s superb strength and balance, the sphere of water flew in an arc steadily towards Qiu Feng.

The latter hurriedly cast a spell to stop the water sphere, but inevitably caused the water to splash a little. Now, even the boy and the girl could judge who was more skilled, and they knew it was incredible.

Qiu Feng sighed slightly in his heart. Apart from controlling water, the other party still did not show the slightest spiritual power. Meanwhile, he himself had to cast a spell to accept the water sphere, causing it to ripple.

“Mr. Ji, since this matter here is concluded, let’s say goodbye. If you get the opportunity in the future, you are welcome to visit Yuhuai Mountain as a guest!”

“Okay, I’ll definitely visit if I have the chance!”

Both parties were quite satisfied, and they bowed and parted ways together.

The sphere of water containing the silver fish was in the hands of the girl. The child also used her water-control skills to toss the ball up and down to tease the fish. At Qiu Feng’s urging, the two children followed him and left.

However, after walking about a dozen or so steps, the girl seemed to communicate something to Qiu Feng, and turned around and ran back towards Ji Yuan. When she got closer, she took out a slightly larger white jade slip from her sleeve pocket, and handed it to him.

“Senior Ji, this is my basic Qi Training technique. You just said you were interested in it, but this is all I have!”

After saying this, without waiting for Ji Yuan’s surprised reaction, the little girl tossed over the white jade slip and quickly ran back to Qiu Feng, who also bowed to Ji Yuan with a smile.

Ji Yuan’s heart was now filled with surprise. Between Qiu Feng’s guidance and the little girl’s ability learn how to behave, it meant a lot to Ji Yuan. He couldn’t help but laugh when he caught the white jade slip.

“Hahahaha… Wonderful, very wonderful. The girl’s name is Yiyi, correct? If you encounter difficulties in the future, I, Ji, will definitely try my best help you once. We will see each other sometime in the future, hahahaha…”

This laughter was full of energy and joy, and filled with Ji Yuan’s presence and confidence. Even though he just had a minor role today, he still had confidence in himself.³

Seeing Ji Yuan laugh and bow to him in return, Qiu Feng couldn’t stop smiling as he took the two children and walked away. After about a hundred steps or so, their figures slowly got smaller as they walked farther and farther away.

. . .

A moment later, Qiu Feng led the two children in riding the wind to fly in the sky, still smiling.

“Master Uncle, there’s no need to be so happy even though you got a fish!”

Seeing the boy open his mouth, Qiu Feng shook his head slightly. He looked at the girl, who was still playing with the water sphere, smiled, and answered the unstated question.

“Haha, there is a kind of wonderful and extraordinary person in this world who is extremely wise and free-spirited, innocent and simple, and who returns to nature. Getting to know them is a matter of fate. You don’t understand now, but in the future, you will envy it.”

1. 拘 (jū): to capture/to restrain –> “Binding”, 神 (shén): god/deity/supernatural/magical/mysterious/spirit –> “Spirit”, 残 (cán): to destroy/to ruin/incomplete/remnant –> “Fragment”, 篇 (piān): sheet/piece of writing –> “Manuscript” ↩︎
2. Lit: “definitely not a cabbage” No, really? XD ↩︎
3. i.e. even if he was weak now, he had confidence in being strong enough to be able to keep his promise in the future ↩︎