I Am Immortal in Great Yu

Back then, when he was undercover with the Taiping Bandits, decade after decade, he eventually became the teacher of a Flood Dragon. His status was high, but before Li Xuantong made his mark, he couldn’t contact the outside world and was utterly broke.

At that time, even a single Jade Talisman was a painful expense.

But such ’suffering’ was worth it. After the affair in the Three Southern States was over, Zhen Yi was rewarded for his service, obtaining a massive amount of Qi Fortune. He broke through to the Upper Grade Spirit Master realm in one fell swoop and returned to his family.

His wealth suddenly skyrocketed, and for a moment, he indulged in a bit of retaliatory extravagance.

Of course, Zhen Yi was no sucker. The gesture was merely a way to foster some goodwill with a peculiar individual like Fang Rui, a man with a ’special Destiny Chart’.

’This kind of suck—pah, big spender! Once we get to know each other better, I’ll have to invite him over a few more times!’

Fang Rui grumbled to himself, but smiled and cupped his hands. "My thanks!"

"I heard from your maid that you are a Silver Seal of the Divine Capture Bureau. You must recognize these Jade Talismans. How can five peaches possibly be worth five Jade Talismans?"

Zhen Daoji suddenly spoke, a teasing tone in his voice.

He wasn’t trying to make things difficult for Fang Rui, nor was he reluctant to part with five Jade Talismans—that much was clear from how he didn’t even glance at them when Zhen Yi handed them over.

His real goal, it seemed, was simply curiosity about how Fang Rui would answer this question.

Fang Rui didn’t try any sophistry, like saying ’five peaches are equivalent to five Jade Talismans.’ He simply said, "A gift from an elder cannot be refused."

"Haha, you are quick-witted, sir."

Zhen Daoji laughed, clapping his hands.

He praised Fang Rui for his quick wit, not for being a courteous gentleman, because he had already seen that Fang Rui was thick-skinned and possessed a certain shameless cunning.

Being able to write ’An Immortal of the Peach Blossoms in the Peach Blossom Garden’ showed that there was also a transcendent side to his personality.

To be transcendent and carefree is to be a hermit, respectable but not approachable. To be worldly and shamelessly cunning is to be a common man, one you can deal with but not get close to.

But someone who can be both transcendent and carefree, as well as worldly and shamelessly cunning—now that is a truly fascinating person!

"We will meet again very soon."

After laughing, Zhen Daoji leaped onto the back of the Red-Feathered Golden Eagle, waved to Fang Rui, and soared into the sky with Zhen Yi.

’Why is he like Daoist Ge, always showing off in front of me?’

A strange thought occurred to Fang Rui: ’If I suddenly shouted "Director Zhen," I wonder if that Zhen Daoji fellow would fall headfirst from the sky.’

Of course, it was just a thought. He didn’t have such a wicked sense of humor.

...

「High in the sky.」

"It’s been a long time since I’ve met someone so interesting," Zhen Daoji said with a smile.

"Yes, an interesting man. I hear he’s a Silver Seal Chief Constable, which means he’ll be your subordinate in the future."

"I wonder if he’ll still be so composed after he learns my identity. If not, that would be rather dull."

Zhen Daoji shook his head slightly. "Second Uncle, why did you call yourself ’Zhen Yi’ just now?"

"’Yi’ means to be hidden in the clouds and mist, concealed in the bustling streets and wild fields; to come and go without a trace, nameless and unknown."

As Zhen Yi spoke, his mind drifted back to a scene from the past, in Yunzhou Daze Prefecture.

...

"Master Zhen, why?!" Li Xuantong asked, his face filled with disbelief.

"My given name is ’Yi’, but I have another name: ’Feng Yu’."

"Feng Yu... serving the Yu... haha, Master Zhen, you’re a man of the Court?"

"I always have been."

"Since when?"

"There is no ’since when.’ Let’s put it this way, Xuantong: from the moment you were born, you were standing on a stage, the protagonist. And I was merely a supporting actor."

Zhen Yi sighed. "Xuantong, you can’t fight the Great Yu Court. Surrender!"

"So that’s how it is... haha, it was all just a play from the very beginning?!"

Li Xuantong, his hair disheveled, his dao heart shattered, cried out: "Then as you wish, Master Zhen! I, Li Xuantong... surrender! But this is the last time I will call you Master Zhen. From this day forward, we are even. Our bond is severed!"

...

In a way, Fang Rui and Zhen Yi were old acquaintances from Changshan County, old rivals who had never met. And today, they met without recognizing each other.

From this, one could see the strange workings of fate and the curious nature of worldly affairs.

Zhen Daoji shook his head, cutting through the reverie. "Second Uncle, you still can’t forget Marquis Anle, Li Xuantong?"

"Yes."

Zhen Yi admitted it freely. "However, the past is the past. Arriving in Huaiyin Prefecture marks the start of a new Chapter."

"Dao Ji, I came this time to witness your trial, and also to give myself a bit of a vacation."

"I will not actively interfere with your actions or tell you what to do. However, you can actively seek my help."

"Finally, I will give you a fair evaluation based on your methods, efficiency, and results," he said with a serious expression.

That’s right. The great matter of life and death for the Zheng Family, a prominent noble family of the Prefecture City, was nothing more than a testing ground in the eyes of Zhen Yi and Zhen Daoji.

"Very well. Just you watch!"

Zhen Daoji stood with his hands behind his back, bathed in golden light. His gaze was imperious as he looked toward the Zheng Family’s estate in Huaiyin Prefecture City. "I will complete this harvest cleanly and efficiently!"

...

「The Zheng Family Estate.」

K-CRACK!

The stone door of the secret chamber opened, and Zheng Jinghan strode out, a powerful aura surging around him. "Father, I’ve broken through!"

"Haha, excellent... COUGH COUGH COUGH!"

Due to his excitement, a flush of color appeared on Zheng Shaoguang’s pale face. "A breakthrough is good, a breakthrough is very good! This way, our family can buy some more time until the Yin Corpse returns."

"Father, when exactly will our family’s Yin Corpse return?"

"I’m not sure."

Zheng Shaoguang shook his head. "After the incident at Nanshan Garden, the Yin Corpse underwent a baptism of Yin Qi. While its strength broke through to Second Grade, the process also destroyed the mechanisms we placed inside its body. We’ve completely lost contact with it now. We can only wait for the Yin Corpse to find its own way back."

"I still feel uneasy..."

"My son, you worry too much!"

Zheng Shaoguang waved his hand dismissively. "Our family’s Yin Corpse has already broken through to Second Grade. Furthermore, it was tempered by the Dragon Pearl Origin, making its body far tougher than a typical Second Grade. An ordinary Second Grade Martial Artist wouldn’t be able to handle it at all."

"You have to remember, the strongest combatant in all of Huaiyin Prefecture is only Third Grade. In that case, who could possibly threaten our family’s Yin Corpse?!"

"That’s true."

Hearing this, Zheng Jinghan also relaxed. "Right, Father, I heard the new Director of the Divine Capture Bureau has already arrived."

"Let’s send a generous gift first. It’ll be a way to test the waters and see if we can get our family’s position in the Divine Capture Bureau back."

"Yes!"

...

「Evening.」

Fang Rui was heading back from the Peach Blossom Garden outside the city with Mrs. Xue of the Fang Family, Third Lady, Fang Ling, and Nannan.

Halfway there, the sky suddenly changed. Muffled thunder rumbled, dark clouds hung low, and a strong wind abruptly kicked up.

"The weather in June really is fickle. Looks like another big storm is coming!"

...