For this grand engagement ceremony, the Huawel Sect had renovated all its palaces and halls anew. Red silk ribbons fluttered everywhere, filling the air with joyous festivity.
Rosy clouds and mist brocade covered the Fleeting Water Bridge, beneath which the five-colored carps had been fed to exceptional plumpness, leaping through the sea of clouds to greet the morning glow.
Hundreds of low tables were arranged on both sides of the Cosmos Palace, with a spacious open area remaining in the center.
Xu Yun sat in the high seat, commanding authority without anger, feeling satisfied as he watched congratulatory guests arrive from all directions.
It wasn't until Ziye Wenshu and Song Qianji appeared simultaneously that both Xu Yun and the Huawel Sect elders felt their hearts sink in unison.
The guiding Daoist page grew troubled, uncertain where to lead them, and instinctively looked to the Chief steward for guidance.
The Chief steward couldn't decide either and hurriedly glanced at Sect Leader Xu Yun's expression.
Yet Xu Yun thought to himself: Ziye Wenshu has been in seclusion at Green Cliff this year, while Song Qianji has remained in Thousand Canals. They couldn't possibly have developed any personal connection. Could this be the Calligrapher Sage's intention behind the scenes?
Maintaining his composure, he recognized that to make Song Qianji lower his guard, he must endure this momentarily.
During his brief hesitation, Ziye Wenshu had already stepped across the threshold without pausing.
The Daoist page hastily guided him to his pre-arranged seat. No sooner had Ziye Wenshu settled than Song Qianji followed closely behind, quite naturally taking the seat beside him.
Their respective followers from Green Cliff and Thousand Canals stood behind them.
The Chief steward approached and said, "Immortal Official Song, this table was originally reserved for the Abbot of Purple Cloud Temple. The immortal officials should sit in the back..."
Li Ying laughed, "My senior brother hasn't arrived. Immortal Official Song may sit here, and I'll take the seat beside you."
With these words, she had already taken her seat.
Feng Ziyi and the female cultivators behind her bid farewell to Song Qianji before returning to their respective sect seats.
While people who had heard of Song Qianji's name and studied his calligraphy copies and chess manuals were spread throughout the Cultivation World, those who had seen him in person were few.
At the very least, many representatives from various sects and families in the main hall were seeing Song Qianji for the first time.
Compared to the serious and composed Ziye Wenshu, Song Qianji smiled like the spring breeze, as handsome and elegant as rumored.
He wore exquisitely crafted, understated yet magnificent ceremonial robes, with Meng Heze, Ji Chen, and a group of disciples standing behind him.
Their imposing presence made them seem less like regional immortal officials and more like sect leaders or regional overlords.
Whispers spread among the hall's occupants:
"So that's Song Qianji? Not only does he dare to come, he even brings former Outer Sect disciples of Huawel Sect. Isn't this slapping the host in the face?"
"And he sits right under Xu Yun's nose. Can Xu Yun truly tolerate this?"
"Song Qianji has long intended to establish his own rule, naturally unwilling to sit with other immortal officials. He deliberately seeks attention by taking the most conspicuous seat."
"Ah! The fairies of the Celestial Sound Sect have arrived!"
Suddenly, a fragrant breeze swept into the Cosmos Palace, carrying the scent of flowers.
Hair ornaments tinkled, jade pendants chimed, and skirt hems billowed like rolling waves - indeed, the beauty-filled Celestial Sound Sect had arrived.
Miaoyan was preparing to play the zither later in the side hall, while the other female cultivators attended the banquet led by He Qingqing.
The moment He Qingqing spotted Song Qianji, she moved to greet him. But seeing Ziye Wenshu on his left and Li Ying on his right, she reconsidered and walked directly to the seat opposite Song Qianji.
Though separated by half the hall's distance, she could still keep him in constant view.
"What about the remaining arrangements?" the guiding Daoist page asked the Chief steward.
The Chief steward massaged his temples, "Since everything's already mixed up anyway, just seat them arbitrarily."
Song Qianji noticed He Qingqing and gave a slight nod.
The latter smiled in response, her radiant beauty sharp as a blade.
The Green Cliff disciples momentarily felt dazzled, exchanging mental messages:
"Is Fairy He smiling at us? Her smile is truly captivating.""Of course, after all, he was rescued by our senior courtyard overseer and is someone who emerged from our Green Cliff."
They responded with proud smiles, but He Qingqing's smile faded.
Unlike Miaoyan, who always maintained a faint smile, her usual expression was as cold as the moon, making her rare smiles all the more precious.
To others, her beauty carried a certain aggressiveness that sent chills down their spines, yet they couldn't help but keep looking.
Facing Ziye Wenshu for extended periods was an exhausting task.
The students of Green Cliff, under his discipline, saw him as an idol to be worshipped—a sacred statue, never someone to approach with casual familiarity or laughter.
Even direct disciples and favored talents from other sects, even those with cultivation levels similar to his, felt pressured when interacting with him.
But Song Qianji seemed to have lost all sense of temperature, boldly smiling at Ziye Wenshu without restraint. He even pulled a jade box from his storage bag:
"Brought some local specialties as a souvenir for you."
Ziye Wenshu didn't accept it: "What is it?"
Song Qianji said seriously: "Wheat. I grew it myself, and it's thriving."
Ziye Wenshu looked at him without speaking, seemingly at a loss for words. What cultivator would give wheat as a gift?
Song Qianji stretched out his arm and shoved the jade box into his hands.
Qingzhai and Zimo moved to intercept, but seeing that Ziye Wenshu had already grasped a corner of the box, they could only withdraw their hands.
Ji Chen poked Meng Heze: "Don't you feel it's a bit cold?"
"Impossible." Meng Heze said expressionlessly, "The Cosmos Palace has a constant temperature formation—impervious to heat or cold."
Ji Chen whispered, "That's not what I meant." He raised his eyebrows and blinked, glancing at the Celestial Sound Sect and then at Green Cliff, "It's cold over there, and cold over here too."
Meng Heze pulled him to switch positions, moving Ji Chen farther from Ziye Wenshu: "Is it better now?"
Ji Chen: "..."
"Cousin!" Ji Chen suddenly heard an extremely familiar voice, shuddered, and broke into a cold sweat.
"Still cold?" Meng Heze turned to ask Lin Feiyuan, "Did you bring a cloak?"
Lin Feiyuan flared up angrily: "Do you take me for a tailor or your mother?!"
"Not cold, not cold, I'm burning up!" Ji Chen quickly stopped them both, speaking coldly to the youth approaching rapidly: "What do you want?"
The youth bore some resemblance to Ji Chen in appearance and was dressed almost identically.
Though Meng Heze didn't recognize him, he could roughly guess his identity. He stepped forward with his sword, blocking Ji Chen.
"Why didn't Little Xing come? After the Grand Audience Assembly, you left without a word for that unfamiliar Thousand-Ditch Prefecture. The whole family has been worried."
Ji Guang raised his voice, drawing attention.
Any outsider hearing this would think he genuinely cared about Ji Chen, while Ji Chen remained unmoved and cold-hearted.
Another middle-aged man approached with a kindly smile: "Little Chen, once the ceremony is over, come back to White Phoenix Prefecture with us. Being with your clan is always better than following outsiders of unknown background."
When he said "outsiders," he deliberately glanced at Song Qianji.
The Ji Family members gathered around, men and women, young and old, speaking with earnest pleas. Even the concubines of Ji Chen's uncle began softly sobbing, accusing Ji Chen of being unfilial:
"If you won't come home, that's one thing, but at least let Little Xing return. She's been pampered since childhood—how could she endure the harsh conditions of Thousand Canals?"
Meng Heze wasn't afraid of a direct confrontation, but listening to a group of women cry gave him a massive headache. He could only sheathe his sword.
He thought to himself that Ji Xing had even gained some weight under Wei Ping's care—hardly looking like someone suffering from poor conditions."Cousin, even if there were misunderstandings before, family matters can be resolved over a meal. After wandering outside for so long, it's time to come home," Ji Guang persuaded, a smug smile flashing in his eyes.
The murmurs of nearby guests quieted briefly before rising into a clamor of discussion:
"Since Immortal Venerable Ji's passing, the Ji Family has been supported entirely by collateral branches. For Ji Chen to just walk away like this is truly heartless."
"Who knows if he's been led astray, even turning his back on his own kin."
They deliberately refrained from using sound transmission—not to challenge Ji Chen directly, but to see how Song Qianji would respond.
As the saying goes, even an honest official struggles to settle family disputes. Once interests become entangled with blood ties, complications inevitably arise.
If Song Qianji didn't intervene, the renowned Immortal Official would be mocked for failing to protect his companion.
If he did interfere, he'd risk accusations of scheming for wealth and tarnishing his reputation.
The Peak Lords and elders of Huawel Sect watched coldly from the sidelines, relishing the drama.
Ji Chen's expression turned icy.
He thought, you're only bullying me because I'm young, assuming I'm easily manipulated. You think I'll hesitate to make a scene in public.
Well, I won't play along.
Before attending this banquet, he had prepared himself for any outcome.
"Uncle, cousin, when I left home, it was only because—"
Ahem! Song Qianji suddenly interrupted.
Seeing Song Qianji shake his head, Ji Chen swallowed his anger and fell silent.
Song Qianji asked, "Have you all come to take him back?"
He remained seated, showing no intention to stand, his demeanor casual.
The hall buzzed with excitement.
Ji Guang implied a warning: "This is a Ji family matter. Since Immortal Official Song isn't a Ji, it wouldn't be appropriate for you to interfere."
"Of course, thank you for coming to fetch him!" Song Qianji laughed. "Unfortunately, he's spent all his money in Thousand Canals. Otherwise, I'd certainly send him back with you."
Ji Guang's face shifted.
The middle-aged man shook his head, feigning disappointment and sorrow:
"Immortal Official Song, such an esteemed figure—why mention vulgar matters? We came for Ji Chen out of kinship thicker than water, not for a few Spirit Stones!"
"Well said." Song Qianji sighed. "While practicing formations in Thousand Canals, Ji Chen's Spirit Qi output was unstable, frequently detonating array foundations and destroying buildings. After his funds ran out, all his expenses were covered by Thousand Canals. He resumed his old habit of using only the finest, incurring significant costs. Now he must work to repay his debts. How could I release him before his debts are cleared? What would I tell the people of Thousand Canals..."
The Ji family members were struck speechless. The women forgot to weep, their handkerchiefs dropping to the floor.
Meng Heze stifled a laugh. What a pitiful young master, "selling himself" to Thousand Canals to work off debts!
What an iron-faced Song the Skinflint.
Song Qianji continued, "'Blood is thicker than water, the wanderer returns home' aligns with human ethics, but 'a life for a life, a debt must be paid' is heavenly law. Once you repay what he owes, he can leave immediately. I'll even send him off with gongs, drums, firecrackers, and a bridal sedan."
Ji Guang exclaimed, "Impossible! When Ji Chen left home, he clearly took—"
Wealth shouldn't be flaunted. His words were cut off by the Ji Family Head: "How much does Xiao Chen owe?"
Song Qianji answered without hesitation: "Not much. Six million Spirit Stones."
"You're extorting us!" Ji Guang lost composure, his face flushing red. "Without proof, how can a respected Immortal Official detain someone so unreasonably?""I am the most reasonable person. Everyone in Thousand-Ditch Prefecture knows Ji Chen has been practicing formations. Every expenditure is recorded in the ledger with solid proof, and I even gave him a 20% friends-and-family discount." Song Qianji didn't even lift his eyelids. "Family affection is priceless. Which of you will pay for it?"
The hall erupted in laughter from the onlookers.
Ji Chen nearly clapped in admiration.
Ji Guang made some sarcastic remarks, insinuating that Song Qianji was petty and calculating.
"I've worked very hard in Thousand-Ditch," Ji Chen widened his eyes, looking pitiful and wronged. "Uncle, cousin, you'll help me repay the debt, won't you? It's only six million. When my father was alive, he even left some for the collateral branches..."
The middle-aged man coughed lightly, cutting him off. "Xiao Chen, you're grown up now. You must take responsibility for your actions when you're out in the world. Matters like these should be handled by yourself. I believe Immortal Official Song is just tempering you, not trying to make things difficult. Stay with him, practice your cultivation method well, and learn as much as you can."
Having said that, he turned and left, with the Ji Family women hastily picking up their handkerchiefs to follow.
Li Ying led the applause with a laugh. "Editor Ji is truly pitiful—a living person not worth a pile of spirit stones."
Ji Guang, hearing guests mutter about them being "greedy" and "selling out their own," stood rooted to the spot, unwilling to leave. He opened his mouth, wanting to say something.
Ji Chen cut in first. "I can't return home, but I'll keep you all in my thoughts. I brought some local specialties from Thousand-Ditch. Cousin, these are for you."
"What specialties..." Ji Guang looked down and nearly choked. "『Cultivation World's 360 Basic Common Sense: Advanced Edition』?!"
An advanced version of common sense? Could this be the legendary death-by-study guide that made Green Cliff's exam-takers wail in despair and suffer nightly nightmares?
A glance at the Green Cliff students nearby showed their faces had turned greener than the fermented ant wine in the glass cup on the jade table.
Ji Chen said with concern, "Once you finish this one, come find me for more."
Ji Guang broke out in a cold sweat and hastily took his leave.
The Green Cliff students stared at the anthology, faces dark with anger, resentfully transmitting messages to each other:
"Even if Song Qianji is in the right, he shouldn't act so domineeringly in someone else's family matter."
"This time it's not just rumors—we saw it with our own eyes," Qingzhai said. "Song Qianji is indeed not a proper person. We must guard against him approaching the Courtyard Overseer with ill intentions."
Song Qianji, under the weight of various complex gazes, ate the harmony cakes from the white jade plate and shared them with the disciples behind him.
"Why are you staring at me?" He smiled at Ziye Wenshu. "These are delicious. But in my Thousand-Ditch Prefecture, we have even better ones."
Wei Ping's culinary skills were, of course, superior to Huawel Sect's cooks.
Ziye Wenshu's expression remained unchanged, but his voice transmitted directly into Song Qianji's ears:
"Why sacrifice your reputation?"
The other didn't need to wade into this muddy water, or he could have handled it more elegantly to avoid criticism.
Yet he chose the simplest and most brutal approach.
Song Qianji didn't transmit his reply, smiling as he spoke aloud. "What use do I have for reputation?"
Ziye Wenshu asked no more.
Song Qianji was nothing like the rumors suggested.
Ji Chen put away the anthology, brimming with satisfaction, and transmitted to Lin Feiyuan, "Have you noticed? With Ziye Wenshu sitting nearby, Senior Brother Song seems much more lively."
He thought to himself that saying such things to Brother Meng would only earn him a scolding. Fortunately, Brother Lin was here.
Lin Feiyuan rolled his eyes at Song Qianji's back and sneered. "Who knows what's wrong with him? He just enjoys provoking those who aren't to be trifled with."
OpenNovel