The Heirloom Talisman and the Parting Gifts

Prefectural Lord Ji Youyang spoke. "Second Brother, hear me!"

"Elder Brother." Ji Lie closed his eyes, then abruptly opened them with a low growl. "There is no need for more words. Starting today, Ji Ning is the heir to our Ji Clan's Prefectural Lord position. I, Ji Lie, will obey his commands, swear loyalty to him, and fight for our Western Prefecture without the slightest disobedience. I am utterly convinced by Ji Ning. But as for you? I will never be convinced!"

Ji Lie rose abruptly and turned to leave.

"Father." Ji Wuyu, who stood beside him, called out, then quickly followed.

Ji Youyang silently watched Ji Lie leave, a faint smile creeping onto his face. He knew his second brother well. Ji Lie was fiercely stubborn, battle-hungry to the bone. He yielded to the strong and disdained the weak. From youth to the present, Ji Youyang had never been able to match his younger brother in strength, so of course, Ji Lie would not accept his authority. But Ji Lie had once said... that if Ji Yichuan became Prefectural Lord, he would have no objections at all.

Now Ji Ning was even more monstrous than his father, Ji Yichuan. He had crushed seven opponents to win the Golden Sword with such overwhelming force. Naturally, Ji Lie was convinced.

Convinced was convinced!

Unconvinced was unconvinced!

He, Ji Lie, would never in his life be convinced by his elder brother, Ji Youyang.

…

That evening.

A grand feast was being held in the Drifting Snow Hall of the Western Prefecture. The heir to the Prefectural Lord had finally been decided—a matter of immense importance to the Western Prefecture. When Ji Youyang stepped down and Ji Ning assumed the position, Ji Ning would concurrently hold a Steward's post. Ji Youyang, as a Xiantian lifeform and the former Prefectural Lord, would retain a Steward's seat as well.

The Western Prefecture had a total of ten Stewards. Matters of critical importance to the Prefecture's fate were decided collectively by these ten. Once Ji Ning ascended, the weakest among the current ten Stewards would be forced to withdraw. The power structure would shift, and it was easy to imagine that the main bloodline's faction would grow even stronger.

"Wusa, wusa ya!"

In the center of the hall, over thirty barefoot, nearly half-naked兽皮少女 danced.

On both sides of the hall, musicians played and struck instruments such as chime stones, bells, and xun ocarinas. The sounds were sometimes low, sometimes ethereal, echoing through the hall. Within the hall, the highest authority figures of the Western Prefecture clinked their cups and laughed heartily.

Ji Ning, as the heir, sat alone at a low table piled high with delicious food.

"Hua, hua, hua~" A兽皮少女 carrying a large wine jar stood beside him, refilling his beast-headed cup whenever it was empty. The jar weighed dozens of jin, yet the girl poured without spilling a single drop.

"It truly has its own unique charm." Ji Ning shook his head, swaying slightly.

At the table next to Ji Ning's, more than one person was seated.

Ji Yichuan naturally sat in the center, with Yuchi Snow beside him. A snow-white hound lay nearby—the divine beast, the Whitewater Hound.

The only people who could have a table to themselves in the main hall of Drifting Snow Hall were those of extremely high status in the Western Prefecture. Even his mother, Yuchi Snow, had to enter as Ji Yichuan's wife and was not qualified for a seat of her own.

…

One by one, the Xiantian lifeforms arrived, some with their families, some with their tamed spirit beasts.

Soon, night fell. The musicians and dancers withdrew one after another, and even the attending maidservants were dismissed. It was time to discuss important matters. For conversations of extreme secrecy, even the family members and spirit beasts present had to be sent away.

"Everyone." Prefectural Lord Ji Youyang said with a smile, "The Golden Sword Ceremony has just concluded. Ji Ning, at ten years of age, defeated seven opponents in a one-versus-seven match to claim the Golden Sword, earning his place as the Prefectural Lord's heir. However, Ji Ning is still young. I believe he should take on the Prefectural Lord's position once he is older and has experienced more. How about we set it for when he is twenty years old?"

"Agreed."

"Ji Ning's talent is no less than Yichuan's; he is the most suitable candidate for Prefectural Lord." The other Stewards all nodded. Even Ji Lie raised no objection.

Ji Yichuan, sitting nearby, even allowed a rare smile to appear on his face. He spoke up. "Prefectural Lord."

"Yichuan, what is it?" Ji Youyang looked over.

"I request a certain item for my son." Ji Yichuan said.

Ji Youyang was puzzled. "What item?"

"The Ten-Thousand-Mile Trace-Away Talisman!" Ji Yichuan said solemnly. The moment the words left his mouth, the entire hall fell silent. Many of the Xiantian lifeforms exchanged glances, their faces filled with shock.

"The Ten-Thousand-Mile Trace-Away Talisman?" Ji Youyang frowned, looking at Ji Ning. "Ji Ning, you want this Ten-Thousand-Mile Trace-Away Talisman?"

Ji Ning, who had been holding his beast-headed cup, was startled. He glanced at his father, then nodded. "Yes."

Ji Yichuan then said, "Ji Ning is the next Prefectural Lord. He should be entitled to the Ten-Thousand-Mile Trace-Away Talisman, shouldn't he?"

"Agreed." Ji Youyang nodded. He took a deep breath and flipped his hand, producing a strange jade talisman that shimmered with jade light. The talisman was covered in complex patterns that resembled celestial script. A strange, fluctuating aura emanated from it, causing the surrounding space to distort. Ji Youyang tossed it directly to Ji Yichuan. "Yichuan, this Ten-Thousand-Mile Trace-Away Talisman is the heirloom treasure of our Western Prefecture. Do not use it lightly."

Ji Yichuan nodded. "I understand."

…

On the way back from Drifting Snow Hall late that night, Ji Ning walked with his parents and the Whitewater Hound.

"Father, Mother." Ji Ning asked, puzzled. "What is the Ten-Thousand-Mile Trace-Away Talisman? Why did Father ask for it?"

Yuchi Snow smiled at her son. "This is why your father wouldn't let you go out until you won the Golden Sword Ceremony. Only after you became the undisputed next Prefectural Lord could you obtain the heirloom treasure, the 'Ten-Thousand-Mile Trace-Away Talisman.'"

With a cold face, Ji Yichuan said, "The Ten-Thousand-Mile Trace-Away Talisman is an extremely precious Dao talisman. It was obtained by pure chance, three hundred years ago, by an ancestor of our Western Prefecture. He originally obtained three of them, but two were used... leaving only this last one, which became the clan's heirloom treasure."

"What does it do?" Ji Ning asked.

Ji Yichuan smiled. "Simply activate the Ten-Thousand-Mile Trace-Away Talisman, and you will instantly arrive at any location within ten thousand li."

"What!" Ji Ning was stunned. Instantly arriving at any location within ten thousand li?

"Taliss of this level cannot be bought no matter how much you spend. Our ancestor was just fortunate enough to obtain them," Ji Yichuan said with emotion. "For our Ji Clan, obtaining a treasure of this level was a stroke of tremendous luck. As the next Prefectural Lord, I could claim it in your name without any opposition."

With that, Ji Yichuan flipped his hand and produced a blood-colored jade sword, handing it to Ji Ning. "This jade sword was refined through long soaking in my blood. No matter how far away you are, I can sense its location. Keep it on you at all times during your travels. Remember, if you encounter a crisis, break this jade sword immediately. The moment you break it, I will know, and I will use the Ten-Thousand-Mile Trace-Away Talisman to teleport to your side instantly and protect you."

"Ah." Ji Ning suddenly understood why his father needed the talisman.

Ji Yichuan barked, "When you go out to train, you are not to stray too far from our West Prefecture city. The Ten-Thousand-Mile Trace-Away Talisman can only reach locations within ten thousand li. I will be able to sense the jade sword's distance from the city. If I sense you have ventured beyond ten thousand li, I will immediately go and drag you back and lock you in the dungeon for three years!"

Ji Ning blinked. Locked in the dungeon? The dark, sunless dungeon where the Western Prefecture held death-row prisoners and heavy criminals.

"Your son will remember." Ji Ning quickly replied.

Ten thousand li?

That was more than enough. After all, the Western Prefecture's territory only spanned a few thousand li. Beyond that lay the domains of other powers.

"Ning'er." Yuchi Snow asked with concern, "When do you plan to set out?"

"I'll do some preparation first." Ji Ning nodded. "Let's say, three days from now."

…

Three days passed in the blink of an eye.

At dawn, the sky was just barely brightening. Inside Ji Ning's room.

"Ning'er, take all of these with you." Yuchi Snow waved her hand, and two large stacks of beast-hide clothes and various other sundries appeared on the bed.

"Mother," Ji Ning couldn't help but say, "I've already prepared everything myself. Clothes, food, supplies."

Ji Yichuan scolded coldly, "If your mother tells you to take them, then take them. Your mother sewed every single stitch of these clothes herself."

Ji Ning felt a pang in his heart. He couldn't help but look at his mother. Yuchi Snow's gaze was fixed on her son. Ji Ning could feel the boundless love in her eyes... Ever since he was a child, his mother had cared for him in every possible way. He was everything to her. This time, going out to train, his mother would surely worry a great deal.

A mother's worry follows her son a thousand miles. And he was going out to take risks and face dangers.

"Father." Ji Ning felt the weight of it. He quickly changed the subject. "When I'm gone, will Ji Lie do anything in secret..."

"No." Ji Yichuan said coldly. "Our Ji Clan has survived on this land until now through unity. Internal conflict is absolutely forbidden. Anyone who violates this will be hunted down by all five Prefectures of the Ji Clan. I also know Ji Lie's character well. He is simply unconvinced by Prefectural Lord Ji Youyang. In his heart, he acts for the sake of the Ji Clan. He is proud at his core and scorns such underhanded actions."

Ji Ning nodded thoughtfully.

"Don't worry about Ji Lie." Ji Yichuan scolded. "What you need to worry about are the great demons. Each great demon has different talents and methods. Our Western Prefecture's Xiantian lifeforms often die in battle, let alone you, who hasn't become Xiantian yet!"

"Enough!" Yuchi Snow quickly interrupted. "Our son is about to go out and take risks. Can't you say something nicer? Ning'er, your mother has another gift for you." She produced a golden book from her hand. The pages seemed like gold foil, and the book bore four ancient characters—"Windwing Evasion."

"This is a movement technique, the most valuable immortal-demon secret art I possess. Wait until you become a Xiantian lifeform before reading it." Yuchi Snow instructed. "Also, you are forbidden from teaching it to anyone in the Ji Clan."

"Yes." Ji Ning nodded.

His mother had taught him the "Windshadow Steps," a movement art known only to her. It wasn't part of the Ji Clan's inheritance, and she had instructed him never to pass it on to any other Ji Clan member. This "Windwing Evasion" was another exclusive art of hers, also forbidden from being taught to others.

"Alright, you can leave now." Ji Yichuan said. "If you're going to go, then go. Be decisive."

"Father, Mother, I'm leaving." Ji Ning looked at his parents.

Then he turned and walked out. Mo Wu and the maidservant Autumn Leaf were already waiting outside.