The Dynasty of Cultivating Immortality

Chapter 5

C5 – This’s My Written

Ni Huibo stumbled and nearly fell. He steadied himself against the doorframe, his brow furrowed in confusion.

What had just happened?

Had he done something wrong?

And what was Ni Situo implying? His father was the second brother of his eldest uncle, wasn’t he? Why was the Ni family telling everyone that he was the second son of Ni Xianjian? It seemed he was the only one in the dark about this.

Ni Huibo couldn’t make sense of it all. He considered asking Ni Situo for clarification but then remembered his recent words and decided against it. Instead, he turned and retreated to his room.

He chose to avoid the issue.

That way, he wouldn’t invite any new problems.

But after a short while, the people from the main hall followed him to his room.

Ni Huibo looked up from where he was starting a fire; his hands and face smeared with soot, he resembled a chef.

At the sight, someone couldn’t suppress a chuckle.

Ji Fanwei wore a smirk and even stepped forward to wipe the soot from Ni Huibo’s cheek, much to Ni Situo’s irritation.

Suddenly serious, Ji Fanwei gestured for someone to bring a piece of calligraphy and placed it before Ni Huibo, asking, “Did you write this?”

Ni Huibo gave it a look and nodded.

“Are you certain?” Ji Fanwei held up the scroll, leaning in to scrutinize Ni Huibo. “If I’m not mistaken, the prime minister once penned a famous poem before his talent test, but the original has been lost for ages. You claim you wrote this? Yet, why do I feel it might actually be the prime minister’s authentic work?”

Many were taken aback by Ji Fanwei’s words. Could this calligraphy be the prime minister’s original work? It did possess a certain saintly quality at a glance! But how could such a treasure end up with an ordinary person?

Ni Situo also frowned, sensing that something was amiss.

As expected, Ji Fanwei’s next remark was laced with derision.

“This is unmistakably the prime minister’s creation. Yet you have the audacity to assert it’s your own work, even brazenly affixing your name to it. Can it be that the esteemed Second Young Master of the Ni family indulges in such childish and shameless antics? Or perhaps, you are as simple-minded as the rumors suggest?”

?The search by officials from the City Hall and the Immortal Cultivation Hall turned up nothing in Ni Huibo’s room. Of all the rooms in the Ni family estate, his was the most spartan, furnished with just a table, a chair, a bed, a water tank, and a stack of books. There seemed to be no conceivable hiding place for a thief.

Yet, Ji Fanwei’s visit was not fruitless.

The Prime Minister was a figure of legend in the Croburg Kingdom, held in high esteem by all. His works were exceedingly rare and highly valued, particularly those from before his ascension to the Prime Minister’s office, which were considered beyond price. The “Castle Wave” was among his most renowned pieces. Sadly, it had been lost for years, and the world thought it would never be seen again.

To Ji Fanwei’s astonishment, the long-lost “Castle Wave” had surfaced in the residence of the Ni family’s second son. The discovery thrilled him. But his excitement turned to ire when he saw that the signature on the painting was not Xue Gui’s, but Ni Huibo’s.

As a cultivator and a scholar, Ji Fanwei cherished the scholarly temperament above all else. Ni Situo, despite his high status, was known for his love of fame and his ruthless nature—traits Ji Fanwei despised. What shocked him even more was that Ni Situo’s younger brother, seemingly untouched by worldly desires, appeared to be cast from the same mold. They were cut from the same cloth, indeed.

The thought of the Prime Minister’s original work in the hands of such a person seemed to Ji Fanwei a desecration. He instructed his scribe to secure the painting, declaring that the Prime Minister’s work should not be left to languish in obscurity. He intended to take it to City Hall for the mayor to decide its fate.

Ni Situo, naturally, objected. The painting was a Ni family possession, and if it were to be presented to City Hall, it should be by his own hand. Ji Fanwei had no right to intervene. Ni Situo reached out to reclaim the painting.

Ji Fanwei had anticipated this reaction. Blocking Ni Situo’s path, he smiled and said, “I am authorized to conduct this investigation. I have the right to take any item from the Ni family to City Hall for examination. Are you attempting to obstruct justice? As a member of the Immortal Cultivation Hall, you surely understand the gravity of such an action.”

The City Hall indeed had such a regulation, but as a cultivator, Ni Situo was acutely aware of the value of the Prime Minister’s genuine work. If he could present the authentic work to the Mayor, his prospects would be boundless. Thus, for Ni Situo, this was not just about the artifact; it was about his future.

Neither party was willing to yield, and the tension escalated.

Without warning, Ni Situo made his move. With a single step, he transformed into a blur, materializing behind Ji Fanwei. Regrettably, he couldn’t stabilize his stance before Ji Fanwei spun around and delivered a heavy kick to Ni Situo’s hand.

Ni Situo evaded with swift agility. Once again, he executed his movement technique, darting behind the scribe at a speed imperceptible to the naked eye, with Ji Fanwei in hot pursuit. Then, in an unexpected twist, Ni Situo halted and retreated a step, dodging Ji Fanwei and seizing the opportunity to snatch the painting.

Ji Fanwei, taken aback, spun around and lunged forward, also grasping the painting. As he tugged it back, he realized Ni Situo’s grip was firm. Concerned that the Prime Minister’s authentic work would be irreparably damaged if he didn’t release it, Ji Fanwei was caught off guard when Ni Situo yanked the painting away.

Both men staggered backward. Ji Fanwei could only watch in dismay as the Prime Minister’s authentic work tore in two before his eyes. Staring at the fragment in his hand, he was momentarily stunned.

Ni Situo, too, was taken aback. He had anticipated Ji Fanwei would be the first to release his hold, which is why he had applied force.

“Ni Situo, this is the Prime Minister’s authentic work!” Ji Fanwei exclaimed, his face losing its usual smile for the first time.

With a sneer, Ni Situo retorted, “This belongs to the Ni family; it cannot be taken from you.”

“I will report this to the Mayor!” declared Ji Fanwei, shooting a fierce glare at Ni Situo before storming off.

Ni Situo sneered again and followed. He was convinced he had done nothing wrong. The room fell into a sudden hush.