The Villainous Senior Brother Doesn't Want to Wash White [Transmigration] - Chapter 2

Ji Yanqing felt that something was very wrong.

He had waited for a long time, but the sword strike meant to sever the hem of the robe—symbolizing the end of their brotherhood—never fell. Qi Ye’s gaze toward him remained cold as ever, yet it contained a nearly imperceptible hint of scrutiny.

Could it be that Qi Ye had figured something out? Impossible; his acting was flawless!

Unable to find a reason, Ji Yanqing quietly asked the system: “System, what’s going on? According to the original plot, Qi Ye should be utterly disheartened and sever ties with me right now. Why isn’t he reacting?”

The system answered somewhat uncertainty: “Maybe… it’s glitched? Let’s wait and see?”

Glitched? What kind of excuse is that? Do I need to try a forced restart?!

Ji Yanqing complained wildly in his head. Fortunately, before long, Qi Ye seemed to snap out of it. The long sword in his hand transformed into a streak of white light and vanished.

Qi Ye continued, “Between us… there is plenty of time in the future.”

Ji Yanqing slowly typed a question mark in his mind.

No, ‘Future’ is innocent! Let’s just go back to severing the robe!

Ji Yanqing knew very well that since Qi Ye had even retracted his spirit sword, severing the robe was out of the question.

Watching those 100 Villain Points slip away was agonizing, but his rich experience as a villain told him things were not simple.

He said to the system, “This is definitely not normal. System, check if there’s an error in Qi Ye’s data.”

“Alright, I’ll check right away.”

As the system’s voice faded from Ji Yanqing’s consciousness, he immediately readjusted into his villainous persona.

He slowly stood up, looking at Qi Ye with a venomous gaze. He let out a cold, mocking laugh. “Why talk about the future? We might as well settle all our old and new grudges today. Or is it… that Junior Brother Qi doesn’t dare?”

As he spoke, true qi began to leak from Ji Yanqing’s body, acting as if he were certain Qi Ye wouldn’t dare fight him again. He hadn’t completely given up; he was trying one last time to provoke Qi Ye.

However, Qi Ye had completely lost the mood to struggle with him. The two stood face to face—one sharp with overflowing spiritual energy, the other silent, calmly watching the person before him.

The disciples below the Sword-Testing Platform clearly felt the pressure emanating from the two. No one dared to speak, and the atmosphere became even more oppressive and heavy than before.

“Ji, nephew, come to Yuheng Peak immediately. I and the elders have important matters to ask you.”

Just then, a gentle male voice echoed in mid-air. The voice wasn’t loud, but it reached the ears of every disciple like a stream of clear spring water. The suffocating spiritual pressure instantly vanished.

Hearing this voice, Ji Yanqing’s expression changed slightly.

The speaker was Si Hongzheng, the current First Seat of Yuheng Peak, Acting Sect Master of the Qingmen Sect, and a Golden Core stage cultivator.

Ji Yanqing guessed that the reason Si Hongzheng wanted him at Yuheng Peak was likely because the news of Qi Ye being intercepted by rogue cultivators had reached an elder’s ears. Since Ji Yanqing had targeted Qi Ye multiple times before, he was naturally the prime suspect.

According to the sect rules, harming a fellow disciple is a grave offense punishable by expulsion. If he were truly kicked out for this, his future missions would be ruined. That would be a true net loss.

After weighing the pros and cons, Ji Yanqing decided to head to Yuheng Peak first.

“Hmph, I won’t bother with you this time.”

With a flick of his long sleeve, a golden dragon carriage descended from the sky. He dropped that harsh sentence, and the carriage soared into the air, quickly vanishing from sight.

Once Ji Yanqing left, Qi Ye finally withdrew his gaze. He cupped his hands toward the surrounding crowd. “Junior brothers, I shall also take my leave.”

Immediately, white sword light wrapped around him, and he flew away from the Sword-Testing Peak.

Qi Ye’s departure was a bit sudden, but compared to a domineering and unreasonable senior brother like Ji Yanqing, he could be described as approachable and polite. Furthermore, Qi Ye was usually cold and taciturn, so the Qingmen disciples knew he wasn’t good with words and didn’t find his behavior aloof.

An outer disciple who had just joined the Qingmen Sect said indignantly, “Senior Brother Qi has been so patient, yet Ji Yanqing is still so aggressive. It’s truly frustrating to watch.”

The senior brother beside him, who had joined a few years earlier, knew a bit about the feud between Ji Yanqing and Qi Ye and had already seen through the situation.

“Senior Brother Ji is more than just aggressive. I suspect Senior Brother Qi almost missed the competition because of Senior Brother Ji’s meddling. Otherwise, why would Uncle Si Hong summon him to Yuheng Peak for questioning?”

The outer disciple hurriedly asked, “Does that mean Ji Yanqing will be severely punished? That would truly be satisfying!”

The senior brother shook his head and sighed. “Three years ago, Ji Yanqing caused Senior Brother Qi to be heavily injured, yet he was only punished with reflection at Yaoguang Peak. I expect this time will also end without consequence.”

In the main hall of Yuheng Peak, just as the outer brother had guessed, Ji Yanqing faced the elders’ questions regarding the interception of Qi Ye by rogue cultivators with a consistent defense:

“It wasn’t me.” “I didn’t do it.” “You have no evidence.”

He left the elders speechless. Hampered by Ji Yanqing’s status, they couldn’t directly scold him. They could only turn their gazes toward the young man sitting at the front of the hall and ask respectfully:

“Sect Master Si Hong, what do you think?”

That young man was the Acting Sect Master, Si Hongzheng. He had a gentle and refined appearance, dressed in a green Taoist robe; he was the perfect personification of a “gentleman as polished as jade.”

Ji Yanqing, however, knew very well that Si Hongzheng was not as simple as he looked.

Hearing the elders, Si Hongzheng raised his eyes and looked quietly at Ji Yanqing. Those gentle eyes somehow made Ji Yanqing feel a bit spooked. After a long silence, Si Hongzheng replied, “I believe Nephew Ji has no need to do such a thing.”

Ji Yanqing was surprised that Si Hongzheng would speak up for him. His intuition told him things were likely not that simple.

“But…”

One elder wanted to say more, but Si Hongzheng interrupted in a warm but non-negotiable tone: “Qi Ye almost fell victim to the ‘Three-Needle Passion Poison’ of those rogue cultivators. I believe Nephew Ji would disdain to use such methods.”

The “Three-Needle Passion Poison” is a needle poison refined from fire-attribute spiritual herbs. Once struck, it ignites the “yang fire” in the body; it is often used as an aphrodisiac and is looked down upon by most cultivators.

Ji Yanqing’s heart skipped a beat, but a smirk already graced his face. He looked at the elders and asked smugly, “Thank you for the trust, Uncle Si Hong. Elders, I may leave now, yes?”

Although the elders suspected him, since Si Hongzheng had spoken and there was indeed no evidence linking the rogue cultivators to Ji Yanqing, they had to let him go.

The moment Ji Yanqing stepped out of the Yuheng Peak hall, his smug smile gradually vanished.

He recalled Qi Ye’s expression when he was about to sever ties. At that time, Qi Ye seemed stunned, his breathing suddenly became rapid, and his gaze was different from usual.

Hearing Si Hongzheng mention the poison, Ji Yanqing realized: Qi Ye’s reaction back then looked exactly like a passion poison flare-up!

Although Ji Yanqing had told his subordinates to use “any means necessary” to stop Qi Ye, he hadn’t expected those cannon fodder to be so dedicated that they’d even use passion poison. Had he known, he wouldn’t have given them so many spirit stones! He also lost 100 Villain Points for nothing!

But… is Qi Ye okay?

Finding himself in a “losing the wife and the soldiers” situation, Ji Yanqing felt both heartache and a bit of worry for Qi Ye.

Qi Ye was already bad with words; he certainly wouldn’t tell anyone about being hit by something as shameful as passion poison. Coupled with his usual cold demeanor, it was no wonder Si Hongzheng thought Qi Ye had merely “almost” been poisoned.

Even if the Three-Needle Passion Poison wasn’t fatal, Qi Ye was still a normal man. If he truly tried to suppress it without treatment, who knows when it would flare up again?

Wait, that ‘Three-Soul Purifying Pill’ I got earlier happens to be the cure for that poison. I could give one to Qi Ye…

Ji Yanqing was even preparing to take the bottle out of his storage bag when he suddenly realized something was wrong.

Wait, I’m the villain!

As a villain, upon learning Qi Ye is poisoned, shouldn’t he look for an opportunity to mock or ambush him?

Even if the poisoning wasn’t part of the plot and was largely due to his own work error—potentially leading to more accidents like today—at the very least, he absolutely could not directly hand over the antidote!

If he did that, it would be an insult to his professional ethics as a villain!

Ji Yanqing scolded himself in his mind. He decided to ignore Qi Ye’s poisoning and return to Yaoguang Peak first.

Just then, a voice full of astonishment reached his ears.

“Uncle Ji?!”

Ji Yanqing snapped out of it. Standing before him was a young boy in a light blue Taoist robe, staring at him as if he had seen a ghost.

Ji Yanqing blinked. If he remembered correctly, this was the Taoist attendant by Qi Ye’s side.

He looked up. The cave dwelling in front of him with the words “Falling Star Pavilion” inscribed upon it… wasn’t this Qi Ye’s residence?