The Villainous Senior Brother Doesn't Want to Wash White [Transmigration] - Chapter 13

As soon as Shen Xiao uttered that form of address, everyone present was stunned. Even Qi Ye’s expression became thoughtful as he looked at Ji Yanqing.

Although Qi Ye didn’t know much about the gossip of the cultivation world, he had heard that the Northern Plains Continent had three major families, and one of them was surnamed Ji. However, he never imagined that Senior Brother Ji was actually the young master of the Northern Plains’ Ji family. If that were the case, why would Senior Brother Ji leave his family and travel thousands of miles to join the Qingmen Sect?

After a brief moment of shock, everyone, including the Master of the Wanbao Pavilion, involuntarily looked at Ji Yanqing with eyes full of curiosity and scrutiny.

On the other side, Ji Yanqing had already pulled the data regarding his “cheap” older brother, Ji Yanhui, from his memory bank.

Ji Yanhui was the third son of the previous head of the Ji family, and the eldest surviving son after the “Three-Family Chaos” three hundred years ago. Given his status and Gold Core cultivation, inheriting the position of family head should have been a certainty. Who would have thought that a younger brother, Ji Yanqing, would suddenly appear out of nowhere?

Ji Yanqing was the youngest son of the previous head. Although he was not born to the primary wife, he was exquisitely cute—like a porcelain doll—and quite talented in cultivation. From the day he was brought back to the Ji family, he had been utterly pampered.

Indeed, in the setting of this book, most members of the Ji family were beyond saving when it came to being “face-dogs” (obsessed with beauty).

At that time, Ji Yanhui was already at the Gold Core stage. Seeing such a pink-carved, jade-hewn little person, he appeared calm on the surface but found it impossible to hate the boy. Only Ji Yanhui’s friend, Shen Xiao, vaguely sensed that this child was not simple.

Facts proved that Shen Xiao’s intuition was correct. Beneath Ji Yanqing’s doll-like exterior was a twisted and perverse personality. He was jealous of everyone and wished for the whole world to revolve around him. He drove a wedge between Ji Yanhui and the family head and made all sorts of unreasonable demands of Ji Yanhui. Finally, he even demanded that Ji Yanhui go to a desolate wasteland to retrieve a stone that might not even exist.

Everyone knew this was merely Ji Yanqing’s tactic to force Ji Yanhui away. After all, as long as Ji Yanhui perished in that wasteland, he would be the next head of the Ji family.

Naturally, as a villainous cannon fodder destined to be stabbed by Qi Ye’s sword later, Ji Yanqing would not get his wish so easily. Ji Yanhui was forced away for ten years; by the time he returned, he was already at the Primordial Soul stage, his cultivation surpassing everyone else in the Ji family.

Immediately upon his return, Ji Yanhui found Shen Xiao, who had been driven out of the Ji family by Ji Yanqing. He moved at maximum speed to eliminate dissent and consolidate power. Furthermore, over the years, Ji Yanqing had offended a vast number of Ji family members. By the time Ji Yanqing realized what was happening, he had not a single person left by his side.

The previous head’s lifespan was nearing its end. Seeing his third son possess such methods, he felt relieved, yet he couldn’t stop worrying about Ji Yanqing. Thus, before Ji Yanhui officially became the head of the Ji family, the old head sent Ji Yanqing to the Qingmen Sect. This was considered finding him a sanctuary, and he made Ji Yanhui swear upon his Dao-heart that as long as Ji Yanqing did not leave the Qingmen Sect, Ji Yanhui could not harm him.

But now, Ji Yanqing had not only left the sect but had also run to the Wanbao Pavilion in Yunjian City—a property belonging to the Ji family.

Having finished his recollection, Ji Yanqing finally realized that the “Third Young Master” the Pavilion Master mentioned earlier was Ji Yanhui! Realizing this, Ji Yanqing’s expression turned quite sour.

After all, he still felt a sliver of instinctive fear toward this cheap older brother. If Qi Ye was a cold and aloof handsome youth, then Ji Yanhui was like an entire iceberg brought to life—the kind where a single glance could drop the temperature by three degrees. Many years had passed, and Ji Yanhui’s cultivation must have improved significantly. He didn’t know if his personality was still as silent and gloomy as before; if they met and bad memories were triggered…

Just imagining the scene of bumping into Ji Yanhui made Ji Yanqing shudder involuntarily. He couldn’t wait to leave this Wanbao Pavilion.

Pulling Qi Ye along, he said to Shen Xiao, “Since it was all a misunderstanding, I’ll take my leave now.”

Shen Xiao naturally saw through Ji Yanqing’s thoughts.

“Young Master, there’s no need to worry. I am not a person who seeks revenge for every grievance. If you want to leave here, or even leave Yunjian City, I won’t stop you. However…” Shen Xiao snapped his folding fan open and continued meaningfully, “I know where you can obtain the item you seek.”

At almost the exact same moment, Ji Yanqing’s footsteps stopped.

Inside the VIP cabinet of the Wanbao Pavilion, Shen Xiao looked at Ji Yanqing and Qi Ye across from him with a smile, waiting for Ji Yanqing to speak.

The moment Shen Xiao said those words, Ji Yanqing had stopped in his tracks. He knew Shen Xiao’s personality; although this fellow constantly carried a fan and spoke in riddles, everything he said and did had a basis. However, he couldn’t let Qi Ye know yet that the item he wanted to obtain was actually a Heaven-grade spiritual sword.

Ji Yanqing glanced guiltily at Qi Ye beside him. After weighing his options, he confirmed with Shen Xiao once more: “Shen Xiao, is what you said true?” He waited nervously for the answer, fearing Shen Xiao might accidentally blurt out the words “Heaven-grade spiritual sword.”

Shen Xiao replied, “Young Master need not doubt me. Since I’ve said it, I naturally know where that item is.”

Ji Yanqing felt immensely grateful for Shen Xiao’s habit of being vague. ‘That item.’ Yes, very clever.

Sensing that Ji Yanqing seemed relieved, Shen Xiao assumed it was because he had finally found what he was looking for. His phoenix-like eyes narrowed slightly as he continued, “However, that item will not be easy to obtain.”

Ji Yanqing’s expression immediately became tense. Shen Xiao produced a broken jade pendant, upon which the word “Cloud” (Yun) was faintly visible.

He explained, “Young Master should know that Yunjian City was built a thousand years ago by a Golden Immortal. In fact, he left behind more than just this city; he also left a secret realm, which we call the Yunjian Secret Realm. Not only does it contain ‘that item’ you desire, but it also holds various Heaven-grade spiritual treasures and perhaps even cultivation methods that point directly to the Great Dao. The key to entering and exiting the secret realm is this Yunjian Broken Jade.”

“There are three pieces of this jade in total. Aside from the piece in my hand, the other two are in the hands of the Meng and Liu families. Only by combining the three pieces can the realm be opened. When leaving, the pieces don’t need to be joined, but each person must hold a piece of the jade. This is why the Third Young Master and I have come to Yunjian City.”

The Meng and Liu families Shen Xiao mentioned were the other two major families of the Northern Plains. The Meng family was a clan of sword cultivators, while the Liu family consisted mostly of women who practiced various miscellaneous arts.

Ji Yanqing suddenly remembered why the cultivator who paid for his spirit stones earlier looked familiar. That cultivator was clearly a sword cultivator from the Meng family! It seemed that to open the secret realm, the three families—who usually didn’t get along—had chosen to cooperate temporarily. As for the final harvest, it would depend on their own fortunes.

After hearing Shen Xiao’s explanation, Ji Yanqing nodded, but he didn’t quite understand why Shen Xiao was telling him all this. Shen Xiao was a Gold Core cultivator, and with Ji Yanhui being a Primordial Soul master, wouldn’t it be better to just crush the other two families and sweep the realm? Why bring him along to share a piece of the pie?

Soon, Shen Xiao’s next words cleared up the confusion in his heart.

“That Golden Immortal proved his Dao through the sword, so only a sword cultivator holding the broken jade can enter the secret realm.” As Shen Xiao spoke, his meaningful gaze shifted to Qi Ye beside Ji Yanqing.

Ji Yanqing finally had an epiphany. The person Shen Xiao was targeting wasn’t him at all—it was Qi Ye! The Ji family had no sword cultivators, yet they were unwilling to hand over the Yunjian Broken Jade to others. Seeing the opening of the secret realm drawing near, Shen Xiao had come to Yunjian City early specifically to scout for a suitable sword cultivator.

“My conditions are very simple. I will give this piece of Yunjian Broken Jade to you, and you will represent the Ji family in the secret realm. Aside from ‘that item’ you want, you may choose one other artifact. Everything else must be handed over to the Ji family.”

Looking at Shen Xiao, Ji Yanqing finally understood. So this guy had come all this way from the Ji family to Yunjian City just to give him a quest. This actually made Ji Yanqing feel a bit bad about swindling him too much.

As soon as Shen Xiao finished speaking, Ji Yanqing answered quite decisively: “Fine, I agree.”

This made Shen Xiao startle slightly; he hadn’t expected Ji Yanqing to be so straightforward. The conditions he offered weren’t particularly attractive. In the past, Ji Yanqing would have mocked him and then swindled some spirit stones or artifacts before leaving.

Looking at the white fluff-ball currently nestled in Ji Yanqing’s arms, Shen Xiao felt more and more that the person before him was completely different from the one in his memories. Ji Yanqing used to hate small animals like this. Could it be that after going to the Qingmen Sect, he had truly changed his ways?

Just as Shen Xiao thought this, Ji Yanqing added: “But I have one more condition.”

Starting to negotiate! This is the Ji Yanqing I remember!

Shen Xiao replied politely, “Young Master, please speak. Aside from spirit stones and valuable artifacts, I will do my best to satisfy you.”

Ji Yanqing seemed to have anticipated this answer. He stood up and held the white fluff-ball out in front of Shen Xiao.

“Help me feed this ‘Le’.”

Shen Xiao: “…”

What kind of condition was this? He was actually quite good at raising pets. “Rest assured, Young Master. During your time in the secret realm, I definitely won’t let it go hungry.”

Shen Xiao instinctively caught the white fluff-ball. Just as he gave this promise, he heard Ji Yanqing continue: “By the way, this fellow’s appetite is about one thousand high-grade spirit stones a day. You said it yourself—you won’t let it go hungry.”