Frankly speaking, the Wei family wasn’t particularly delighted; instead, they initially suspected that Ji Yuan might be deceiving them.
If he truly were deceiving them, Wei Xuan and Wei Ming couldn’t be certain whether Yan Fei was involved, so even if they had so doubts, they tried their best to speak gently.
“Uh, Mr. Ji, are you certain this book is a biography titled ‘A Dream of Wandering in the Clouds’? Our Wei family has passed it down for generations, and the elders all said it was an extraordinary martial arts manual, a famous ancestral treasure of our Wei family…”
Ji Yuan smiled faintly, looking at Wei Xuan as he spoke.
“It seems your family’s records are mistaken. This book is neither a martial arts manual, nor was its author surnad Wei. Instead, his na was Zhong Pingxiu, and seems to have been a cultivator from overseas.”
“Huh? Not surnad Wei? “
Not only were the mbers of the Wei family nearby stunned, but even Yan Fei and Niu Batian were montarily taken aback.
Wei Xuan frowned, looking at Ji Yuan. He was afraid that Ji Yuan was about to say that he happened to know Zhong Pingxiu’s descendants.1
“Everyone, there’s no need to be anxious. Although I am interested in your Wordless Heavenly Book, I would not resort to fabricating lies to deceive you. If the Wei family allows it, I shall simply sit here in the hall and peruse it for a while. “
Ultimately, they were still guests from afar. Although the Wei family harbored misgivings in their hearts, they showed none of it on their faces. Wei Xuan laughed heartily.
“It’s no trouble at all, Sir,” Wei Xuan said. “For many years, no one has been able to discern the characters in this book. Today, we are overjoyed to learn that you are able to do so, Sir! Please, sir, take your ti to peruse it here in the hall. However, our Wei family also has an impertinent request…”
Yan Fei frowned and looked at the Wei family, especially Wei Xuan and Wei Ming; it was clear that these two did not entirely trust Mr. Ji. Niu Batian rely scoffed and said nothing, though he too was quite interested in ‘A Dream of Wandering in the Clouds’.
Before Wei Xuan could finish his sentence, Ji Yuan had already guessed his intent. However, if Ji Yuan were to directly finish his words, the Wei family might grow suspicious again, so he waited patiently.
“We rely hope that, after you have read it, Sir, you might recount the contents of the Heavenly Wordless Book to us, so that we might also know what what was written in our family’s ancestral book. “
“Well, alright. However, recounting it might lead to an incomplete recollection. How about I write it down for you instead? “
Ji Yuan’s suggestion was naturally t with unanimous agreent from the Wei family.
“Quickly, go fetch the gentleman a brush, ink, paper, and inkstone…”
After Wei Xuan gave instructions to his servants, he turned back and respectfully addressed Ji Yuan.
“Sir, please sit down and read at your leisure. If you were to copy down our Wei family’s treasured ancestral book, our Wei family will be eternally grateful!”
Wei Xuan maintained his impeccable courtesy, but only he knew how much genuine respect actually lay behind his words. Furthermore, even though Ji Yuan had clearly stated that Zhong Pingxiu was the author, Wei Xuan still referred to it as sothing left by the Wei family’s ancestors, simply avoiding saying it was written by their ancestors.
Ji Yuan didn’t call him out. He nodded and sat down in his seat, book in hand, and began to read intently. anwhile, Yan Fei and the others were left in silence.
A mont later, a servant arrived carrying a tray. Upon it were the prepared Four Treasures of the Study, alongside a thick stack of Xuan paper.2
Without even lifting his head, Ji Yuan reached out and tapped twice on the tea table, indicating for the Four Treasures of the Study to be placed there.
Yan Fei proactively took the tray from the Wei family’s servant, helped arrange the Four Treasures of the Study, stacked the Xuan paper neatly, and personally ground ink for Ji Yuan. This attitude was indeed that of a junior respectfully aiding an important elder.
Still without looking up, Ji Yuan placed the book in Heavenly Script on the table and, as he flipped through the pages, reached for a brush. In a natural movent, he dipped the brush into the inkstone, and began writing directly on the rice paper, which was held down by a paperweight.
His characters were small, yet exceedingly delicate, almost as if the small script were being magnified in a blend of divine technique and pure skill. Even after rely writing the first few characters, the Wei family could tell that Mr. Ji definitely a true master of calligraphy.
As the saying went, “To observe one’s writing is to observe one’s character.” Ji Yuan’s ability to write with such divine and masterful handwriting subtly elevated his status in the hearts of the Wei family mbers.
“Riding the gentle breeze and leisurely clouds, I wander across thousands of mountains and countless rivers, behold hundreds of rivers and streams, circle through towering peaks… Carrying the dazzling starlight, I observe the scenery of each season, all as one…”
As Ji Yuan wrote, everyone’s attention gradually began to focus on the content he was writing down. These were rely simple characters, devoid of the true essence contained within the Heavenly Script. Even so, feeling of utter freedom and leisurely ease spontaneously arose in everyone’s hearts.
“Observing the wondrous Celestial River above, delving into the profound mysteries of the abyss below… As immortal cultivators, this is the realm our hearts yearn for, the realm our spirits aspire to…”
Ji Yuan continued to write, gradually letting his audience realize that the protagonist within this text seed to be an immortal.
Yan Fei and Niu Batian were naturally unsurprised; after all, this Wordless Heavenly Book was no ordinary to. The mbers of the Wei family, however, glanced at each other, but soon enough, their attention was drawn back to the paper.
Ji Yuan paid no mind to anyone else’s thoughts. He had originally assud that ‘A Dream of Wandering in the Clouds’ was rely a simple personal travelogue, despite being penned by a cultivator, and that it was ultimately different from an ordinary biography, aside from being perhaps more authentic.
But now, as he read, Ji Yuan’s spiritual consciousness seed to wander alongside the words in Heavenly Script, roaming between heaven and earth. That feeling of freedom and unbound ease seed to flow from the book itself, a mysterious power allowing his mind and spirit to wander freely.
Almost involuntarily, his consciousness within his inner spiritual world manifested the majestic beauty of ‘A Dream of Wandering in the Clouds,’ riding the gentle breeze and treading on white clouds, wandering in a trance between heaven and earth.
It was as if his mind and body had split into two distinct entities at this mont: one, flipping through the book and writing with divine inspiration, the other lost in a trance, dreamlike, wandering through profound mysteries within his inner world.
“Yan… Brother Yan… look around you…”
Niu Batian suddenly nudged Yan Fei’s arm, his voice a low whisper, causing the latter to shift his gaze from the paper. Upon looking around, he instantly stiffened.
The Wei family mbers also heard Niu Batian’s words and looked up, glancing around. The next mont, everyone’s mouths fell open, speechless.
They were clearly still in the main hall of the mansion, but a faint layer of mist seed to be rising.
Through the mist, they could see that their surroundings had transford into another vast world. Here, there were no walls, no carved railings, and no tiles overhead to obscure their view. The spiritual beauty of heaven and earth was laid bare before them.
“Rumble…”
The faint sound of heavenly thunder could be heard from up above, and even Yan Fei and Niu Batian couldn’t help but raise their hands and duck, not to ntion the Wei family mbers’ reactions.
“Splash-crash-shhhhh…”
The blue seas churned with the tides, and as waves rose, water crashed everywhere.
Everyone felt as though they were riding in a small boat. The surrounding scenery shifted rapidly, and ti flowed unpredictably around them. There was heavy snow, green leaves and red flowers, glittering stars, flashes of lightning and rumbling thunder…
“Alas, I rose and looked around, but my joy was in vain; it was all just a dream!”
As Ji Yuan made his final brushstroke, the strange phenona surrounding them vanished in an instant. He, alongside Yan Fei and the others, “woke up.”
“Excellent book, a wonderful book! While this book is not a profound immortal technique, it is nonetheless a treasure! Of all the books in Heavenly Script that I have ever seen, this one is the best!”
Ji Yuan’s was currently filled with both excitent and deep emotion. He couldn’t help but stand up and pace a few steps back and forth, his gaze occasionally drifting to this copy of ‘A Dream of Wandering in the Clouds’.
Ji Yuan’s praise was spontaneous, and naturally, everyone heard it clearly. Yan Fei and Niu Batian were astonished by Mr. Ji’s incredibly high praise, particularly the latter.
The Old Bull was very clear about Mr. Ji’s true identity: a supre immortal cultivator who could share wine and chat happily with True Dragons, guiding all beings under heaven.
Just how remarkable must this book in Heavenly Script be, to receive such praise from Ji Yuan?
Ji Yuan was feeling exceptionally happy at the mont. The sense of carefree freedom and relaxation captured within ‘A Dream of Wandering in the Clouds’ was almost like another version of ‘Xiaoyao You.’ However, when Ji Yuan spoke of ‘Xiaoyao You,’ it was to express its principles through his own understanding. This book of Heavenly Script, however, allowed Ji Yuan to truly feel the spirit and intent of its author, experiencing a profound impact on his state of mind and understanding.
“The author of this book must be, at the very least, a True Immortal! “
Ji Yuan was now absolutely certain: this Zhong Pingxiu was definitely a True Immortal master, or perhaps even higher; otherwise, he could never have imbued such divine essence into the book.
A faint rumble of thunder sounded, originating from outside the mansion, but from within Ji Yuan himself.
“Rumble… Rumble…”
Amidst everyone’s astonishnt, Ji Yuan gently waved his hand, temporarily suppressing the thunder. With the roar of thunder, Ji Yuan could no longer afford to hesitate or focus on anything else, so he turned to look at the Wei family.
“Would you be willing to part with this ‘Dream of Wandering in the Clouds’? Or perhaps lend it to for a while? I will generously reward you when I return it!”
“This…”
The Wei family mbers hesitated slightly. This book, left by their ancestors, was clearly extrely mystical. Just now, when Mr. Ji was reading, strange phenona actually rose from within it; it must surely be an immortal scripture. How could the Wei family feel at ease lending such a book to soone else?
Although this Mr. Ji, who could see the characters in the book, was certainly no ordinary person, wasn’t it also true that this extraordinary person cared unusually deeply about this book?
“Sir, this is a treasured heirloom passed down through our Wei family. Although we have always generously allowed fellow martial artists to view it, we have never lent it out, and outsiders would never make such a request. We are naturally grateful for your assistance in transcribing the words from this book, but please, do not to put us in a difficult position…”
Although Ji Yuan had been imrsed in the book just now, that didn’t an he was unaware of what was happening outside. Even after all this, the Wei family still didn’t trust him. However, ultimately, the book still belonged to them. Being so flatly rejected, his recent joy was sowhat dampened.
Ji Yuan’s expression was stern, but he said nothing. He simply glanced at the Wei family mbers for a mont.
“Indeed, it is truly a treasured heirloom of the Wei family. Then I shall not trouble you further.
Before he had even finished his words, clouds and mist rose from beneath Ji Yuan’s feet. A gentle breeze swept through the room, and in an instant, he rode the clouds and flew off into the sky.
He did indeed wish to read ‘A Dream of Wandering in the Clouds’ a few more tis, but the most crucial part was this first spiritual journey. A little extra polish would be nice,3 but it wasn’t necessary.
Only now did Niu Batian and Yan Fei jolt awake, realize what was happening, and hurry out the door, shouting towards the sky.
“Master Ji! Where are you going? “
“I have gained so insights, and must choose a place to explore these profound mysteries. Our journey together ends here. May we et again if fate allows!”
Ji Yuan’s voice drifted back, his form already having vanished into the sky. Niu Batian had a mind to pursue him, but upon hearing Ji Yuan’s words, he stopped in his tracks. He could only glare resentfully at the Wei family.
“Ah!”
T/n: a little skepticism is good, but flat-out denial of what’s in front of your eyes isn’t the best idea either.
i.e. in order to take the book from them See ch. 95 footnote 4 for more info on Xuan paper Lit. “adding flowers to the brocade would be nice”
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