Chapter 35

"Hey? What's this?"

Yang Ji's face was full of surprise as he bent down to pick up the object on the ground.

It was a "golden page" as thin as a cicada's wing, only the size of a palm, with a certain elasticity. One side was golden and shiny, while the other side was silver with some strange patterns.

"This seems to be... a mask."

Yang Ji looked at the "golden page" and, as if possessed, placed it over his face, stretching it slightly. It was neither too big nor too small, fitting perfectly.

The golden page, or rather the "golden mask," adhered tightly to his skin, but Yang Ji felt no discomfort, as if it were his own skin.

"Cloud Hands, detox pills, golden mask... Who exactly is this Zhou Daiguan?"

Yang Ji was secretly shocked.

None of these things could belong to the Yang clan; they were clearly brought in from outside by Zhou Daiguan before he entered the Yang clan.

Although he had lived in the clan for over a decade, Yang Ji suddenly felt a sense of strangeness.

"A cult follower, a Zhou Daiguan, too many things happened tonight. The cult follower is one thing, but Zhou Daiguan's matter must be handled properly. The Lady has been waiting for a long time, so she must know something happened to him."

"Other guards are one thing, but Zhou Daiguan and the Lady have a deep relationship. Given her character, she will likely act recklessly and try to kill me once she knows. I need to think carefully!"

...

Thoughts surged in Yang Ji's mind. Zhou Daiguan was not an ordinary person; he had so many secrets, and Yang Ji felt that his relationship with the Lady might be far beyond his estimation.

"I've got it!"

Yang Ji's mind flashed, and he suddenly remembered something Zhou Daiguan had mentioned before, immediately feeling invigorated:

"The Lady and the others mistakenly think I have a master, and they don't know the truth. If I blame this on the non-existent 'master,' saying it was him who did it, the Lady, given her character, will not only be afraid to act against me but will also be cautious. I need to think this through!"

Feeling relieved, Yang Ji no longer hesitated. He dragged the corpse of the White Bone Messenger to a secluded spot in the deep forest and buried it, then dragged Zhou Daiguan's body to the foot of the hill.

"Those who do too much evil will eventually destroy themselves! Lieryang Mountain, Lieryang Martial King."

As Yang Ji wrote these words, he suddenly had a thought and added another name:

"Jade Crowned Young Master."

Yang Ji didn't know if "Lieryang Mountain" existed, but "Lieryang Martial King" was a fabrication to deceive the Lady. As for "Jade Crowned Young Master," it was a spur-of-the-moment idea inspired by the golden mask, to create a new identity for himself for future convenience.

Scholars value "jade," and Xiao Ji is the "Crowned King Snake." Combining these, he became "Jade Crowned Young Master."

"Lieryang Wanderer, Jade Crowned Young Master," these names sounded like those of a master and disciple. In the future, even if someone investigates, they can trace back to the source, making it easier for Yang Ji to act.

"Leaving."

After handling these matters, Yang Ji turned and left. He believed that when the Lady saw these, she would know what to do.

Three days later, Zhou Daiguan's body was discovered.

The Lady stood beside his body, pale-faced, for a long time.

"Lady, should we send someone to investigate?"

A guard asked cautiously.

"No need."

The Lady's voice was slightly hoarse, "Lift Zhou Daiguan and take him back. Change his clothes and give him a proper burial."

"Yes, Lady."

The guard responded.

"Have the names been investigated?"

The Lady tilted her head back, eyes closed.

"Reply, Lady, we have no clue about 'Lieryang Mountain.' We can only guess that the murderer is this 'Lieryang Martial King.'"

The guard's lips moved, but he hesitated to speak.

"Speak!"

The Lady said without turning her head.

"Lady, could this be related to Yang Ji? Should we...?"

The guard mustered his courage, but before he could finish, he was interrupted.

"No need. From today on, without my order, no one is to mention 'Yang Ji' in front of me!"

The Lady's eyes snapped open, cold as ice. Although she tried to remain calm, everyone could feel the anger beneath her calmness:

"Send my order, write a letter to the eldest son, tell him what happened here, and ask him to return to the manor faster!"

"Yes, Lady!"

The group was startled and took the order.

Zhou Daiguan's death did not cause much of a stir. Apart from the Lady and a few others, no one knew that this unassuming Zhou Daiguan was actually a martial realm expert!

...

Time passed quickly. Three days later, Yang Ji's injuries were almost healed, and he finally left the mountain.

"I should go home and see Uncle Liang."

Yang Ji thought to himself.

Leaving the deep mountains, Yang Ji first went to the market and bought a set of silk clothes from a clothing store. After changing, he waited until evening when the streets were less crowded, then put on the golden mask and headed southeast.

Soon, he saw a luxurious building standing among taverns and pharmacies, brightly lit and grand.

"Baicao Xing!"

Yang Ji looked up at the sign. "Baicao Xing" was the business operated by the Li clan.

"A mountain cannot have two tigers," the Li clan and the Yang clan were far apart. This "Baicao Xing" was the only place in Pingchuan County where the Li clan sold "Baicao Pills."

Entering, he was guided by maids and beautiful attendants to the main hall of "Baicao Xing," where he met the manager.

The manager was dressed in fine clothes, sitting on a sandalwood chair, flanked by two martial realm guards, exuding the air of a wealthy family.

In front of him, the hall was crowded with merchants from all over, all there to buy "Baicao Pills."

"Sir, you look unfamiliar."

When it was Yang Ji's turn, the manager raised an eyebrow and glanced at him.

"What, are the Li clan's Baicao Pills not for sale?"

Yang Ji asked.

"Heh, not at all."

The manager smiled and said, "The imperial examinations are coming soon. Our Baicao Xing has three rules: no selling to those surnamed Yang, no selling to those under twenty during the examinations, and no selling to those from Pingchuan County. The last two rules apply only to the martial examinations. Sir, you look young, are you here to buy Baicao Pills for the martial examination?"

Yang Ji's heart skipped a beat. The manager's words were straightforward, clearly aimed at the martial examination. As long as others did not threaten the Li clan, the chances of the Li clan's descendants succeeding would be much higher.

"Hum! I only heard that the Li clan's Baicao Pills are sold to those who pay, not that there are age restrictions."

Yang Ji's eyes flickered, looking at a pair of merchants in the crowd. They were a father and son, the father around forty, the son no more than eighteen or nineteen.

"Heh heh, they are from outside the county. As long as you can provide a household registration from outside Pingchuan County, there will be no problem."

The manager said.

Yang Ji smiled, not arguing, and handed over two household registrations and travel permits. These were the identities he had obtained from the White Bone Messenger.

The manager took them, glanced at them, and his eyes showed surprise.

"Is there a problem with me selling for my family?"

Yang Ji smiled.

"It's fine."

The manager waved his hand, saying no more. He didn't even mention the strange mask on Yang Ji's face.

Merchants came from all over, with all sorts of peculiarities—bald heads, bare chests, painted faces, scarred faces... all kinds of people. One more with a half-covered face was nothing unusual. As long as they paid promptly, it was fine.

"Baicao Pills, ten taels of silver each. How many do you want?"

"Sixty."

...

Leaving Baicao Xing, Yang Ji was deeply moved. The six hundred taels of silver he had obtained from the cult follower and Zhou Daiguan had turned into a small porcelain bottle of pills.

His first "large sum" of money was gone.

"I hope this money was worth it."

Yang Ji returned to the Yang manor with the porcelain bottle. Everything in the clan was as usual, with only occasional mentions of Zhou Daiguan and "Lieryang Martial King."

"It seems no one knows Zhou Daiguan's true identity."

Yang Ji knew his strategy had worked. The fabricated identity of "Lieryang Martial King" had made the Lady very cautious, suppressing the matter. No one suspected him yet.

After meeting the old steward at the edge of the Yang clan, Yang Ji returned to his room.

"Let's try a Baicao Pill first and see how effective it is."

Yang Ji closed the door, opened the bottle, and sniffed. Immediately, a strong medicinal aroma filled his nose. Poria, Polygonatum, Angelica, ginseng... all were high-quality materials. Just the smell was invigorating.

Yang Ji took one pill and swallowed it. Immediately, a flame seemed to burn in his abdomen.

"What a strong medicinal effect!"

Yang Ji immediately calmed down, assuming the posture of the "Divine Dragon Bone Marrow Training Posture" and quietly absorbing the medicinal effect of the Baicao Pill.

The medicinal effect spread, first hot, then cool, seeping into his flesh and blood from the inside out. After some time, Yang Ji felt his flesh and blood become full, as if he had just eaten a satisfying meal.

"The absorption of the Baicao Pill has reached its limit; I can't take any more."

Yang Ji moved his limbs, and his joints cracked. He felt his strength had increased significantly.

The Baicao Pill was too potent, concentrating the essence of over a hundred precious herbs. Generally, one could only take one pill a day, and a few could take two. Any more would be a waste.

"Ten taels of silver each, though expensive, the effect is immediate. It's worth it."

Yang Ji thought.

Unconsciously, it was already late at night. Yang Ji was about to go to bed when he suddenly heard a knock on the door.

"Brother Ji, are you there?"

A deep voice came from outside the door.

"Huh?"

Yang Ji was startled, quickly got out of bed, opened the door, and saw a young man in white, about twenty years old, and was stunned: "Yang Meng!—"

Yang Ji never expected that the person visiting him late at night would be "Yang Meng," whom he had only met once!