The Villainous Senior Brother Doesn't Want to Wash White [Transmigration] - Chapter 23

Qi Ye had no idea that Ji Yanqing’s heart was already stirred by a restless urge. Noticing that Ji Yanqing was staring at him, Qi Ye felt a desire to look away out of shyness, yet he couldn’t bear to break the gaze.

Ji Yanqing’s lips were a vibrant cinnabar red, their shape exceptionally full. Even the faint lines on them appeared remarkably beautiful to Qi Ye, making him unable to resist the urge to draw closer.

If I move a bit closer now, will Senior Brother be angry?

Qi Ye thought with trepidation. As the two of them stared at each other, an inexplicably ambiguous atmosphere began to permeate the silent air.

At that moment, Ji Yanqing finally made up his mind. Fixing his eyes on the corner of Qi Ye’s mouth, he licked his lips again, only to feel his mouth and throat grow strangely more parched.

And right before his eyes sat a thirst-quenching cherry.

Anyway, we’ve already kissed once before. Another kiss now shouldn’t be a big deal.

Ji Yanqing’s actions were always a step faster than his thoughts. Just as this self-consoling thought surfaced in his mind, he leaned forward toward the corner of Qi Ye’s lips!

However, just as he was a fraction away from “tasting the cherry,” Qi Ye suddenly moved.

Ji Yanqing: “!!”

It all happened too fast. Ji Yanqing didn’t have time to adjust his target. With a soft mwah sound, he kissed an even softer spot.

I missed?

Ji Yanqing thought. But when he focused his eyes—

He had actually kissed Qi Ye’s lips!

Qi Ye was equally shocked. He had originally intended to move just a little closer to Ji Yanqing, never expecting that Ji Yanqing would take the initiative to kiss him.

If he had been dreaming earlier, then now… what was he doing?

For a moment, neither of them moved. The air grew thick and sweet.

Ji Yanqing was the first to snap back to his senses. The corners of his mouth curled into a faint arc.

He had originally only wanted to lick that “cherry,” but now he had eaten it directly.

As expected, besides being soft and thirst-quenching, it was also quite sweet.

Ji Yanqing looked up at Qi Ye. A thin layer of crimson had stained the younger man’s cheeks, and his wavering eyes were filled with shock and bewilderment.

In Ji Yanqing’s eyes, Qi Ye now looked like a giant cherry himself.

Should I… go a bit deeper?

Seeing Qi Ye’s reaction, the “cat” in Ji Yanqing’s heart scratched even harder. He even felt the urge to do something more.

Anyway, I’m a Fox Demon right now. No matter what I do, it’s justifiable.

Unlike Qi Ye, who was still in a state of naive confusion, Ji Yanqing—despite having zero practical experience in romance—had enough theoretical knowledge from the information-rich future to write a book.

However, before Ji Yanqing could put his theories into practice, the sound of a spiritual sword hitting the ground made him instantly alert.

Almost instinctively, Ji Yanqing pushed Qi Ye away and looked toward the source of the sound.

In a corner of the secret chamber, a man in white seemed to have just regained his senses. He hurriedly picked up the Heavenly-grade spiritual sword he had dropped.

That was… the actual Fox Demon.

Ji Yanqing recognized him; the man in white was indeed the fox from earlier. His racing heart eased slightly.

The Fox Demon, however, looked a bit embarrassed.

Having stayed in the cultivation world for many years, the Fox Demon had guessed exactly what they had been doing after seeing their movements.

“Sorry for the interruption.” Saying this, the Fox Demon turned to leave, but when he saw the wall behind him, he suddenly realized—where did the exit to his secret chamber go?!

On the other side, after being pushed away by Ji Yanqing, the unique scent belonging to his Senior Brother vanished from Qi Ye’s breath.

He looked at the newcomer with a hint of disappointment, but his eyes lit up slightly upon seeing the Fox Demon’s appearance.

Qi Ye asked the Fox Demon, “Are you a Fox Demon?”

Ji Yanqing: “?”

How did Qi Ye know again? Has he really not peeked at the script?

Compared to how Qi Ye knew, Ji Yanqing was more worried about the Fox Demon blowing his cover. But since he was a thousand-year-old fox, he shouldn’t be that stupid… right?

“How did you know?”

Just as Ji Yanqing thought this, the Fox Demon blurted out the question, completely failing to notice Ji Yanqing frantically signaling him from the side.

I just thought you wouldn’t be that stupid… and you go and admit it directly?

Ji Yanqing wanted to spit blood. Seeing that the Fox Demon seemed ready to keep talking, he rushed forward to interrupt: “Yes, he is a Fox Demon, just like me.”

Since the Fox Demon’s identity was already exposed, the most urgent task was to wrap his own “vest” (cover) tighter.

Fox Demon: What’s going on?

It was the Fox Demon’s turn to be dazed.

He turned to look at Ji Yanqing. Ji Yanqing’s face was calm as if what he said was the absolute truth, but his eyes were flashing a wild hint: Don’t contradict me, don’t explain, don’t answer!

Forget it, probably some kind of roleplay kink, the Fox Demon thought secretly. He had heard long ago that human cultivators sometimes dressed as other demon races to interact with their Dao companions. The two in front of him were likely playing a similar game.

“Ahem, what happened after I left?”

To prevent the Fox Demon from blurting out the truth and creating an awkward situation, Ji Yanqing tried to change the subject.

Hearing this, the Fox Demon’s expression immediately became serious.

He fell silent for a moment before answering: “After you stayed at the Sword Immortal Hall, I followed the Ling Estate servants to their room.”

“But it’s very strange. After you and your Junior Brother vanished, the others didn’t seem to care at all. I couldn’t feel the item I was looking for in the Ling Estate, and I was worried my illusion technique would fail, so I took advantage of the night to slip into the secret chamber. I didn’t expect to run into you two.”

Ji Yanqing sensed something wrong: “It’s already night?”

The Fox Demon nodded: “Yes, and it took me almost the whole night to enter this chamber. So, you two have been missing for nearly a full day.”

Ji Yanqing remembered that according to the time within this Secret Realm instance, they should have returned to the Ling Estate around noon after completing the rescue mission. From the moment he and Qi Ye accidentally entered the secret chamber until now, at most an hour should have passed.

Unless the Fox Demon was lying, then the flow of time in this secret chamber was different from the outside. In other words, this chamber and the outside were two different dimensions.

Ji Yanqing asked again: “Did you find that ‘Clear Sword Heart’ (通明劍心)?”

The Fox Demon asked back in surprise: “How do you know I’m looking for the Clear Sword Heart?”

As soon as the words left his mouth, the Fox Demon reacted and instinctively covered his mouth.

Oops, accidentally let it slip.

Ji Yanqing: “…”

Ji Yanqing suddenly felt that it was a miracle this Fox Demon hadn’t been discovered and forged into a spiritual sword by humans all these years.

He helplessly pointed to the text on the wall: “It’s all written up there.”

The Fox Demon saw that Ji Yanqing bore no ill will and didn’t intend to capture him for sword-forging. He simply nodded and admitted: “Oh, right. Yunjian promised he would give that heart to me…”

Ji Yanqing suddenly interrupted him: “Wait.”

“What is it?” The Fox Demon looked at him, confused.

Ji Yanqing recalled carefully. He was certain he had heard the name “Yunjian” from the Fox Demon’s mouth. However, that single sentence revealed too much information, so he had to confirm again.

“You said… what was that sword cultivator’s name?”

The Fox Demon replied: “Yunjian. His name is Ling Yunjian.”

Ji Yanqing and Qi Ye exchanged a look, both seeing the astonishment in each other’s eyes.

Seeing them fall into a synchronized silence, the Fox Demon asked cautiously: “Did I let something slip again?”

Ji Yanqing: You let way too much slip.

Having received this piece of information, Ji Yanqing felt like he had found the final piece of the puzzle. The setting of this Secret Realm had basically taken shape in his mind.

The ending of the story was the one Ji Yanqing had heard before: the Golden Immortal Yunjian built a city and left a Secret Realm here.

This Secret Realm was an infinitely looping dungeon instance.

The Fox Demon was the most important NPC in the Secret Realm. Every cultivator who entered would receive a mission to save someone.

The cultivators who entered previously, including Meng Xingchen, would not have cooperated with the Fox Demon even if they didn’t kill him. They certainly wouldn’t have brought him into the Ling Estate. This directly caused the plot of the instance to stall. The ending would always stop at the point where everyone returned from the rescue, only to reset to the beginning of the mission, trapped in an infinite loop.

That was until the NPC Fox Demon met Ji Yanqing. Only then did the plot move forward.

This was likely a result even Meng Xingchen hadn’t anticipated. That was why he hadn’t made a move after the rescue mission, choosing instead to wait and see what would happen.

Based on Ji Yanqing’s knowledge of dungeon designers, they wouldn’t go to such lengths to build an instance unless they wanted to achieve a “Perfect Ending.”

For the Golden Immortal Yunjian, what was the perfect ending?

Ji Yanqing looked at the Fox Demon.

This fox had already given him the answer.

Ji Yanqing said: “Only by finding that Clear Sword Heart—or rather, finding Golden Immortal Yunjian—can we leave this Secret Realm.”

And I can get that Heavenly-grade spiritual sword, Ji Yanqing added silently in his heart.

“Secret Realm… Yunjian… Golden Immortal?”

The Fox Demon was still confused. He repeated Ji Yanqing’s words, and blurry memories seemed to flash through his mind.

But before he could catch those fleeting memories, the secret chamber suddenly began to shake, and the surrounding decorations started to distort.

Ji Yanqing understood. This distortion was because the illusions within the Secret Realm were becoming unstable. Perhaps Meng Xingchen had already started taking action.

“Can you lead us out of here?” Ji Yanqing asked the Fox Demon. Since the fox could enter, he must have a way out.

The Fox Demon shook his head. When he first arrived, he discovered that the exit of this chamber had been modified by someone; it was sealed tight. If he hadn’t left an entrance for himself, he wouldn’t even be able to appear here now.

He focused his gaze on the two men. Ji Yanqing had no spiritual pressure or protective Qi; he was likely restricted by the local seals. Conversely, the sword intent on Qi Ye was several times stronger than before.

“Can you still use your sword techniques?” the Fox Demon asked Qi Ye.

“Yes.”

Qi Ye nodded. It seemed that ever since the Fox Demon appeared, Qi Ye had reverted to his previous demeanor. While Ji Yanqing spoke with the fox, he merely stood silently by Ji Yanqing’s side.

Seeing his current cold, “one-word-answer” persona, he was a completely different person from the flustered, shy youth from moments ago.

Ji Yanqing felt a wave of emotion but also guessed why the fox asked. He warned: “If you break out by force, it might destroy this Sec— secret chamber.”

Ji Yanqing caught himself halfway and changed “Secret Realm” to “secret chamber.”

Although he knew the Fox Demon was just an NPC, the character felt too real, and he couldn’t bring himself to reveal the truth.

Hearing that the chamber might be destroyed, the Fox Demon’s expression became hesitant.

After contemplating for a long time, his gaze drifted between Ji Yanqing and Qi Ye before he slowly spoke: “What if you could restore your True Qi?”

Ji Yanqing answered confidently: “I naturally have a way.”

Most of this realm was made of illusions. To leave an illusion without destroying it, only illusion techniques would suffice.

Ji Yanqing’s answer didn’t surprise the Fox Demon. The fox nodded.

“I can help you restore your True Qi, but…” A hint of craftiness appeared in the Fox Demon’s eyes. He looked at Qi Ye, and the corners of his mouth curled into a gossipy arc. “This requires your Junior Brother’s help.”

Seeing that smile, for some reason, Ji Yanqing had a bad premonition.

“A ‘Union of Breath’  can restore your True Qi.” The Fox Demon’s expression was quite serious, but Ji Yanqing could see the corners of his mouth twitching from holding back a laugh.

Ji Yanqing was speechless: “Hey, what time do you think it is? Stop joking around.”

The Fox Demon whispered into Ji Yanqing’s ear: “I’m not joking. Yunjian once set a restriction here. Once activated, only sword cultivators among the locked-on cultivators can continue to use their True Qi. That’s why yours failed. The way to restore it is, of course, through Breath Transfer. Just tell your Junior Brother that!”

Ji Yanqing: “…”

A “Union of Breath” (implying sexual/intimate cultivation) and a simple “Breath Transfer” are two very different things, okay!!

“The method is as I said. Do as you see fit. I’m going to go stare at the wall now.”

The Fox Demon’s smile was nearly overflowing. Dropping that line, he turned around and performed a silent, hysterical laugh against the wall.

Ji Yanqing could tell the Fox Demon said that on purpose, but now that the term “Union of Breath” had been uttered—combined with that previous kiss—he felt a bit awkward facing Qi Ye.

So, how should I explain this so Qi Ye will cooperate?

Ji Yanqing was at a loss for a moment, his eyes unintentionally drifting toward Qi Ye.

Qi Ye’s eyes were slightly downcast, his fan-like eyelashes trembling slightly. His quiet appearance lacked coldness and gained a bit of sweetness.

For some reason, Ji Yanqing felt a pang of guilt, like he was “corrupting” a child.

“The Fox Demon said earlier that this Secret Realm was once…”

Ji Yanqing spoke with difficulty. He felt he might need to explain the difference between a “Union of Breath” and a simple “Breath Transfer,” making him feel even more exhausted.

However, before Ji Yanqing could finish, Qi Ye had already walked toward him.

Ji Yanqing stopped mid-sentence. He watched Qi Ye approach, his mind dazed.

Did Qi Ye hear what the Fox Demon said to me?

“Did you…” hear something?

Ji Yanqing didn’t finish his sentence because the moment he spoke the first word, Qi Ye was already in front of him, reaching out to pull him into an embrace.

Qi Ye’s body carried a faint, cold fragrance—not overwhelming, but with a trace of subtle chill that was quickly melted by his body heat, slowly seeping into Ji Yanqing’s skin…

Qi Ye possessed an Ice Spirit Root, so his True Qi was naturally ice-attributed. He first circulated the Qi through his own body to convert it to Ji Yanqing’s fire-attributed Qi before merging it into Ji Yanqing’s meridians.

“No need to explain. I believe you.”

Qi Ye’s voice resonated through Ji Yanqing’s body and into his ears.

Hearing these words, Ji Yanqing’s heart couldn’t help but stir.

Qi Ye… believes him?

All this time, Ji Yanqing had only treated Qi Ye as a “tool” to farm villain points and progress the plot. Even the kiss he initiated earlier was just because he was temporarily attracted to Qi Ye’s face.

It wasn’t until this moment, hearing those words, that he realized Qi Ye wasn’t just a character in a book. He was a living, breathing person.

He had his own thoughts, his own ways of caring for people, and people he was willing to trust.

Ji Yanqing felt moved. His hand slowly rose, though he hesitated, unsure if he should return the hug.

But at that moment, Qi Ye’s voice came from beside his ear: “It’s done.”

Just as the Fox Demon said, after the exchange of True Qi, the restriction on Ji Yanqing was indeed lifted. The three of them quickly returned to the Ling Estate.

However, unlike the Ling Estate they saw before, the surroundings were unnervingly quiet, with an eerie atmosphere everywhere.

Ji Yanqing sensed the area carefully and felt the most intense fluctuation of illusion techniques in a certain direction. Whether intentional or not, someone was trying to destroy the illusions of the Secret Realm.

“Over there.”

Ji Yanqing pointed to the west—the exact direction of the Sword Immortal Hall.

Qi Ye walked toward the direction Ji Yanqing pointed without hesitation. Ji Yanqing and the Fox Demon followed behind him.

“You two did this and that, and you still haven’t made up?”

Adhering to the principle of “see no evil,” the Fox Demon didn’t know exactly what happened between Ji Yanqing and Qi Ye during the hug. He just felt the atmosphere was a bit strange and couldn’t help leaning in to ask Ji Yanqing.

Ji Yanqing gave a cold “Heh.” He refused to answer and shot the Fox Demon a chilly glare: “I suspect you did that on purpose.”

The Fox Demon looked innocent: “Not at all. I was helping you progress your relationship.”

Ji Yanqing glanced at Qi Ye walking ahead and quietly cast a Soundproofing Spell on himself to settle the score with the fox: “‘A Union of Breath can restore your True Qi’—that’s what you said, right?”

The Fox Demon threw up his hands with a hint of regret: “Yeah, but you two didn’t actually do it.”

Ji Yanqing stumbled for a step. As if trying to escape the topic, he quickened his pace.

Suddenly, the Secret Realm shook again, making Ji Yanqing’s figure unsteady.

“Be careful.”

Almost simultaneously, Qi Ye grabbed Ji Yanqing’s hand.

With the sudden contact, Ji Yanqing was reminded once again of that abruptly ended embrace. Even though he kept telling himself to stay calm and that he didn’t care, in reality, his heart had been cursing up a storm until just now.

That’s it? That’s all?!

Qi Ye, is this what a “Union of Breath” is in your head!!

And you only lasted one second! One second!!

Where did the Qi Ye who was affected by the Love Poison go?!