The Villainous Senior Brother Doesn't Want to Wash White [Transmigration] - Chapter 20

“I am not his Dao companion.”

The words “Dao companion” seemed to carry a searing heat. The moment they entered Ji Yanqing’s ears, he couldn’t help but feel his earlobes burning, and he instinctively denied it.

“Oh—I get it. A cold war.” The fox demon, however, seemed to understand something and let out a meaningful sound.

While fighting Qi Ye earlier, the fox demon had already noticed that the boy in white was a rare sword cultivation genius. Unfortunately, he only had an Earth-grade spiritual sword, which didn’t seem to match his spiritual root attribute. On the other hand, a certain someone was not a sword cultivator, yet had proactively chased after him upon seeing his spiritual sword. It was obvious who it was for.

“Rest assured, I will keep my distance from your Dao companion… ah, no, your Junior Brother. Once our cooperation is over, you can discipline him alone as much as you like.”

Seeing this, the fox demon naturally took Ji Yanqing’s denial as a sign of a cold war with Qi Ye. His tone carried envy alongside the teasing. If I could find that person, could we be like these two—still caring for each other even during a cold war?

Ji Yanqing: “…”

Seeing the fox demon’s misunderstanding deepen, Ji Yanqing wanted to continue explaining.

“Senior Brother, is that you?”

At this moment, Qi Ye had plucked up his courage. While asking, he walked toward Ji Yanqing. His voice trembled slightly. He stepped forward, wanting to pull “Ji Yanqing” to him, but stopped when there was still half a zhang between them.

In the mist illusion just now, he had seen Ji Yanqing countless times, only to find every time that it was just his own hallucination. This time, he couldn’t be sure if the Ji Yanqing before him was real or fake.

The fox demon whispered to Ji Yanqing, “How should I answer?”

Ji Yanqing replied via divine sense, “Nonsense, who else could it be but me?”

Fox Demon: ?

No, even if you two are in a cold war, the guy risked his life to find you. Is it really okay to answer like that?

Ji Yanqing didn’t know what the fox demon was thinking. Thinking he hadn’t heard clearly, he repeated, “Tell him, ‘Nonsense, who else could it be but me?’ Remember to sound mean and impatient.”

The fox demon hesitated but repeated the words exactly as Ji Yanqing said. Then, during his apprehensive wait, Qi Ye’s eyes lit up, and he seemed to breathe a sigh of relief.

“It really is you, Senior Brother.”

Fox Demon: “Mhm.”

On the surface, the fox demon gave a calm “mhm,” but internally he was quite amazed. He couldn’t help but exchange whispers with Ji Yanqing: “You and your Dao companion… ah, no, your Junior Brother, actually interact like this?!”

Ji Yanqing: So tired. I don’t want to explain anymore.

The fog around them that had been too thick to dissipate finally began to clear. Soon, Liu Ningyun and the others found them one after another. Liu Ningyun asked concernedly about Ji Yanqing’s situation. Upon learning the fox demon had “escaped,” the group set out on the road back once more. Aside from “Ji Yanqing,” no one noticed that behind them, a footprint would occasionally appear out of thin air and then quickly vanish.

Unwittingly, the group arrived at the long street outside the Ling Mansion. Ji Yanqing, walking at the very back, looked around and found that it was completely different from before. The previously dark, rainy street had turned into a bustling thoroughfare.

Both sides of the street were lined with various shops and stalls selling daily necessities. Seeing the group walk by, the street vendors called out even more vigorously. If Ji Yanqing hadn’t remembered he was currently in a secret realm, he would have truly thought he had arrived at a marketplace.

Ji Yanqing was currently in an invisible state, so he naturally saw everything from a “God’s eye” perspective with great clarity. For a while, he followed the fox demon, admiring his own peerless beauty; then, he carefully observed the others.

Liu Ningyun wore a veil and looked gentle, but the lines of muscles could still be vaguely seen beneath his wide sleeves. Meng Xingchen was gripping that longsword tightly; wait, that badge at his waist looked a bit familiar—he’d look closer if he had the chance. Liu Ziyi was a girl; it’s improper to stare, so he looked away.

As for Qi Ye…

Ji Yanqing’s gaze turned to Qi Ye. Qi Ye had his spiritual sword hanging at his waist, his white clothes fluttering as he walked. His dark eyes were as clear as a mirror, currently focused on the path ahead.

The boy in white is truly good, Ji Yanqing thought, letting out a faint sigh.

His sigh was very light and faint, yet Qi Ye seemed to hear it. He stopped in his tracks and looked toward the direction where Ji Yanqing was. Ji Yanqing immediately stopped moving and held his breath.

…Hey, hey, hey! Are you here to help me or to seduce me! The fox demon noticed Qi Ye’s abnormality. Complaining internally, he pretended not to notice and asked Qi Ye, “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.”

Qi Ye blinked, took a few quick steps, and caught up with “Ji Yanqing.”

Crossing the long street and led by a servant, the group returned to the starting point—the main hall of the Ling Mansion. The previously pale-faced girl had finally regained some of her spirit, gracefully thanking everyone: “Thank you all for rescuing my dear Chen.”

The middle-aged man acted purely as a tool for handing out rewards, saying cheerfully, “Thank you for bringing back Chen Jia. Please follow me.” As he spoke, he led the group toward a side hall.

The side hall had three large characters written on it: “Sword Immortal Hall.” Upon entering, the group saw a portrait depicting a youth in Taiji Daoist robes.

Liu Ningyun seemed to sense something and asked, “Which immortal master is depicted in this painting?”

The middle-aged man explained dutifully, “A thousand years ago, two immortals came to the Ling Mansion. They were the ones who left behind the treasures and this painting.”

Liu Ningyun’s eyes lit up, wanting to ask more, but the man had already walked straight into the inner hall. Realizing the opportunity for NPC Q&A was likely once-in-a-lifetime, Liu Ningyun withdrew his gaze from the painting and followed.

All of this was, naturally, seen by Ji Yanqing. Treasures? Is the item the fox demon is looking for among those treasures?

But before Ji Yanqing could find a chance to ask the fox demon, he saw the Golden Light Retrograde Glazed Lamp sitting on a long table in the inner chamber of the Sword Immortal Hall.

…It seems there’s no getting rid of this thing, Ji Yanqing thought desperately. He even began to consider destroying the jinxed lamp right then and there in front of everyone.

Fortunately, just as Ji Yanqing thought he really had to take a risk, the middle-aged man spoke.

“Although you have brought back Chen Jia, the wedding of my daughter and Chen Jia is in two days. I worry the fox demon will return. If you don’t mind, why not stay here for two days? If you wish to leave, I won’t stop you, and the promised treasures will be given to you as well.”

The man’s words were convoluted, but they boiled down to one thing: a new task has appeared. If you’re willing to take it, stay; if not, take the previous rewards and leave.

Liu Ningyun and Meng Xingchen had said before that the items they wanted weren’t in the reward list. Hearing there was a new task, their eyes lit up, and they agreed almost without hesitation. Liu Ziyi hesitated, glanced at the Book of Myriad Laws in the room, and also nodded.

That left only Qi Ye and “Ji Yanqing” who hadn’t spoken. Qi Ye’s gaze turned toward the glazed lamp, the light in his eyes flickering, seemingly thinking about what to do. His purpose for coming to this secret realm was this Golden Light Retrograde Glazed Lamp. Now that it was in hand, there was absolutely no need for him to stay.

Precisely because he knew what Qi Ye was thinking, Ji Yanqing was anxious. If Qi Ye left the secret realm now with the lamp, wouldn’t all his previous efforts go to waste? Ji Yanqing was about to secretly tell the fox demon to keep Qi Ye there no matter what.

But then, Qi Ye spoke: “I am also willing to stay.”

Ji Yanqing finally breathed a sigh of relief.

The middle-aged man nodded with satisfaction and instructed servants to prepare rooms for them before leaving first. The others left the Sword Immortal Hall, but Ji Yanqing remained motionless, staring at the glazed lamp on the long table.

The fox demon asked curiously, “Beauty, aren’t you leaving?”

Ji Yanqing replied, “You leave first, I’ll be there in a bit.”

“Oh.” The fox demon responded. He didn’t seem to like this place and left quickly.

Once everyone was gone, Ji Yanqing was the only one left in the inner hall, and he could finally act. His purpose for staying was, naturally, to destroy the lamp directly to end the trouble permanently.

Ji Yanqing looked at the golden-shimmering glazed lamp on the long table and let out a sinister laugh. Spiritual light gathered in his hand, pointing straight at the lamp. With one move, the lamp would turn to dust.

However, before Ji Yanqing could strike, a figure suddenly appeared before him.

Why is Qi Ye back again??!!

Seeing the newcomer, Ji Yanqing’s eyes widened. He instinctively extinguished the spiritual light, ensuring his Illusion Art hadn’t failed, while repeatedly chanting in his heart: He didn’t see me, he didn’t see me…

However, it seemed that since the sect competition, most things were no longer under Ji Yanqing’s control. Qi Ye, who shouldn’t have been here, not only didn’t leave but walked toward Ji Yanqing step by step.

Looking at the approaching Qi Ye, Ji Yanqing could only back up, eventually retreating to the edge of the long table with nowhere left to go.

As if sensing something, Qi Ye stopped. Nothing was reflected in his dark eyes, yet he seemed to have seen something already, saying softly, “Senior Brother, stop hiding. I see you.”

Ji Yanqing’s heart skipped a beat. His Illusion Art flickered and failed, and his whole person appeared before Qi Ye.

Ji Yanqing: !!

Seeing his own face reflected in Qi Ye’s eyes, Ji Yanqing knew there was no hiding now. The only thing he could do was think of how to explain to Qi Ye.

Suddenly, a flash of inspiration hit Ji Yanqing’s brain, and an explanation blurted out: “Who is your Senior Brother? I am the fox demon!”