The Villainous Senior Brother Doesn't Want to Wash White [Transmigration] - Chapter 14

One thousand high-grade spirit stones? For a single meal?

Shen Xiao first looked at the white fluff-ball in Ji Yanqing’s arms with an expression of astonishment, then asked back with a smile, “Is this perhaps the legendary four-legged gold-swallowing beast?”

His tone made it clear he didn’t believe Ji Yanqing at all.

Ji Yanqing heard the suspicion in Shen Xiao’s voice and said unhurriedly, “If you don’t believe me, why not check the spirit stones on your person?”

Shen Xiao instinctively swept his divine sense through his storage bag, and the smile that had been hanging on his face finally began to fade. The spirit stones that had been kept in his storage bag were gone, and the only thing that had come into contact with him just now was that Le.

Shen Xiao’s eyes darkened slightly. After appearing to give it deep thought, he spoke again. “I’ve just reconsidered. Since the Young Master is heading to the Yunjian Secret Realm, how can he not carry a magic artifact or two? Furthermore, your expenses for spirit stones during these few days in Yunjian City will, naturally, be fully covered by the Ji family.”

After a quick calculation, Shen Xiao suddenly felt that compared to the massive sum of one thousand high-grade spirit stones per meal, giving Ji Yanqing some spirit stones and artifacts wasn’t such a bad idea.

Plan successful!

Ji Yanqing had successfully swindled spirit stones and artifacts from Shen Xiao. Just as the corners of his mouth curled up slightly, he heard Shen Xiao continue, “However, the Treasure Pavilion of Wanbao Tower has always only allowed one person to enter. If the Young Master wishes to go and pick out artifacts, your Junior Brother must remain here.”

Having said this, Shen Xiao looked at Ji Yanqing with a meaningful gaze, waiting for his choice.

Ji Yanqing understood. Shen Xiao’s purpose in saying this was to drive a wedge between him and Qi Ye. As he had thought before, the person Shen Xiao was targeting was not him at all, but Qi Ye.

According to Shen Xiao, if he chose to go pick out artifacts, he would definitely be leaving Qi Ye alone with Shen Xiao. Taking advantage of this opportunity, Shen Xiao would surely try every means to convince Qi Ye to kick Ji Yanqing to the curb so the two of them could enter the secret realm together.

Hehe, trying to turn the tables on me?

Knowing Shen Xiao’s plan, Ji Yanqing sneered in his heart and stated without hesitation, “I’ll go to the Treasure Pavilion. Qi Ye will wait for me here.”

Did this choice even require thinking? Not to mention that the Yunjian Secret Realm he was about to enter was extremely dangerous—one more artifact meant one more chance of success. He would naturally choose to sell his Junior Brother for magic tools.

Furthermore, if Shen Xiao truly succeeded in convincing Qi Ye, he would actually have to thank Shen Xiao. To be able to complete his task without risking his life in the secret realm—where else could he find such a good deal?

With that, Ji Yanqing couldn’t wait to follow the Wanbao Pavilion deacon out, happily heading off to choose his artifacts.

“Senior Bro…”

Qi Ye originally wanted to say something, but before he could speak, Ji Yanqing had already left the room.

In Senior Brother’s heart, am I someone who can be left behind so easily?

Watching Ji Yanqing’s silhouette as he left without hesitation, Qi Ye’s heart sank slightly. His eyes dimmed for a moment, and the teacup he had been holding loosely was gripped a bit tighter. He looked somewhat like a puppy abandoned by its owner.

Beside him, Shen Xiao looked at Qi Ye with a gaze of slight sympathy once again. Now that the youth had begun to see Ji Yanqing’s true colors, all he needed to do was add a bit more fuel to the fire.

Shen Xiao thought to himself as he unfolded his folding fan and asked Qi Ye with a smile, “Don’t you think Ji Yanqing is a bit strange?”

When Ji Yanqing returned with a storage bag full of artifacts, the “Shen Xiao successfully instigates Qi Ye to kick him out” plot he had been looking forward to didn’t happen.

Only Qi Ye was left in the private room, and on the table was a bag full of spirit stones prepared by Shen Xiao. Ji Yanqing picked up the storage bag and estimated there were at least a thousand high-grade spirit stones inside. Combined with the various artifacts he had just taken from the Treasure Pavilion, the disappointment in his heart lessened slightly.

A deacon from Wanbao Tower came in afterward and said respectfully, “Young Masters, Manager Shen has instructed me to escort you back.”

“That’s more like it. Let’s go back,” Ji Yanqing nodded with satisfaction, speaking to Qi Ye.

However, on the way back to Zuiyunjian, Ji Yanqing noticed that Qi Ye was acting a bit strange. Throughout the journey, Qi Ye kept stealing glances at Ji Yanqing, his eyes full of things he wanted to ask but found difficult to say.

What kind of dark history did Shen Xiao tell him about me? Look at how much the kid is spooked.

Ji Yanqing thought this way but didn’t pay it much mind. After all, regarding what kind of person he actually was, Ji Yanqing believed Qi Ye was already very clear—no need for Shen Xiao to say anything.

The two were silent all the way. Just as they returned to Zuiyunjian, Ji Yanqing saw a group of people waiting at the entrance from a distance.

“Young Master Ji! You’re finally back!”

The owner of Zuiyunjian, who had previously been indifferent to Ji Yanqing, was now bowing and saluting him respectfully, his tone incredibly flattering. “Previously, this humble one had eyes but failed to recognize Mount Tai, and actually neglected the Young Master. These are the spirit stones you previously prepaid; I hope the Young Master can take them back.”

As he spoke, he respectfully handed a full bag of spirit stones to Ji Yanqing, containing more than half again as much as they had originally paid. Then, as if remembering something, he added, “Manager Shen also instructed that during the time the Young Master and his Junior Brother are in the secret realm, we are responsible for taking care of your pet.”

As the owner spoke, his gaze drifted to a certain cute, weak, but gluttonous white fluff-ball in Ji Yanqing’s arms, saying in wonder: “This must be it! This snow-white fur—one look and you can tell it’s a one-in-a-million divine beast!”

To be honest, this divine beast was picked up at your place. And once you find out exactly how much this fellow can eat, you’ll definitely regret agreeing to Shen Xiao.

Ji Yanqing complained in his heart, but Zuiyunjian was a Ji family property. Letting this owner be responsible for the feeding meant the food would come from the Ji family’s spirit stones; it had nothing to do with Shen Xiao. Ji Yanqing suddenly discovered that Shen Xiao’s talent in certain areas seemed to be on par with his own.

Declining the owner’s offer to move to a luxury suite, Ji Yanqing was finally able to properly count today’s harvest.

Ten Heaven-grade high-rank escape talismans, one Earth-grade high-rank defensive artifact—the Universal Bell, one Heaven-grade low-rank offensive artifact—the Jade Thunder Umbrella…

Qi Ye watched Ji Yanqing happily counting his artifacts. His eyes suddenly brightened, and he asked, “Senior Brother, the Yunjian Secret Realm is a Golden Immortal’s residence, but as far as I know, the Golden Light Retrograde Glazed Lamp is only an Earth-grade mid-rank artifact.”

Ji Yanqing’s movements paused briefly. He quickly understood why Qi Ye would say that. Looking at the artifacts he brought back from Wanbao Tower, almost every one was of a higher rank than the Glazed Lamp. It was as if someone gave you ten thousand dollars to buy an item worth one thousand; no wonder Qi Ye found it strange.

However, Ji Yanqing quickly came up with another reason: “Perhaps that Gold Core master also visited the Yunjian Secret Realm and unfortunately perished there.”

Is that really it?

Qi Ye’s gaze became increasingly meaningful. The words Shen Xiao had said to him back at Wanbao Tower surfaced in his mind.

“Don’t you think Ji Yanqing is a bit strange?”

At that time, Qi Ye had just been left behind by Ji Yanqing, and his mood was inevitably a bit dejected. But as soon as he heard Ji Yanqing’s name, he couldn’t help but be drawn in, turning to look at Shen Xiao.

Shen Xiao shook the white jade fan in his hand and continued meaningfully, “The Young Master is not a sword cultivator; why would he risk entering that secret realm to find a Heaven-grade spiritual sword?”

Qi Ye could roughly guess that Shen Xiao meant to remind him that when things are abnormal, there must be a catch, and that he needed to be more wary of Ji Yanqing. But in reality, as soon as Shen Xiao said those words, Qi Ye felt as if struck by lightning, and his whole body froze.

Qi Ye understood. The item Senior Brother Ji had written on the transmission stone just now wasn’t the Golden Light Retrograde Glazed Lamp, but a Heaven-grade spiritual sword. Qi Ye completely forgot what Shen Xiao said afterward, because even now, Shen Xiao’s sentence was still echoing in his head.

“The Young Master is not a sword cultivator; why would he risk entering that secret realm to find a Heaven-grade spiritual sword?”

In Qi Ye’s view, Ji Yanqing had already voluntarily given up on looking for the Glazed Lamp for the sake of that Heaven-grade sword. The answer to this question was already self-evident.

“System, have I not been malicious enough toward Qi Ye lately?” Ji Yanqing noticed the complex gaze Qi Ye was giving him and quietly asked the system.

The system thought carefully and replied, “It seems so.”

To consolidate his character persona and prevent Qi Ye from asking further, Ji Yanqing simply darkened his face and said to Qi Ye impatiently, “Qi Ye, you’d better understand that everything you are doing now is because you owe me.”

“I’m hungry now. Go get something to eat and drink. Didn’t they say they have the finest ‘Thousand-Mile Drunk’ here? Bring that too. You can keep the extra spirit stones as a reward.”

As Ji Yanqing spoke, he threw a small bag of spirit stones at Qi Ye, his attitude as dismissive as if he were treating a servant who comes and goes at his beck and call.

Qi Ye instinctively caught the spirit stones Ji Yanqing threw. But there was no hint of displeasure in the eyes he used to look at Ji Yanqing; instead, there was a bit more gratitude and joy. He said each word with extreme seriousness: “Senior Brother, thank you.”

“I know you are a good person.”

After saying that, Qi Ye turned and left the room, leaving Ji Yanqing standing there in a daze, completely at a loss.

Thank you??? You’re a good person???

What kind of ghostly situation is this!

Holding this “good person card,” Ji Yanqing thought seriously for a long time before having an epiphany, telling the system: “I know where the problem is.”

System: “Where?”

Ji Yanqing felt a bit desperate. “Actually, Qi Ye is a total masochist, isn’t he? Otherwise, why is it that the meaner I am to him, the happier he gets!”