The Villainous Senior Brother Doesn't Want to Wash White [Transmigration] - Chapter 33

Ji Yanhui suddenly felt an impulse; he wanted to ask Ji Yanqing what was so good about that white-clad youth that he would willingly beg on his behalf.

But in the end, he restrained himself and nodded, replying: “I agree.”

The conditions Ji Yanqing offered were too enticing; Ji Yanhui truly couldn’t find a single reason to refuse.

Great, Ji Yanhui didn’t reject me. It seems my acting skills are still up to par!

Hearing the word “agree” from Ji Yanhui’s mouth, Ji Yanqing breathed a sigh of relief. Fearing that Ji Yanhui might back out, he urged: “Good, then we shall set out for Jingtian Prefecture immediately.”

Jingtian Prefecture was the most prosperous central region of the Northern Plain Continent and the seat of the Ji family.

Seeing Ji Yanqing so impatient, Ji Yanhui’s brow furrowed even tighter. Although he hadn’t had much contact with Qi Ye, it didn’t stop his dissatisfaction toward the white-clad sword cultivator from growing by another few degrees.

He spoke coldly: “If you return so rashly, how many people in the Ji family do you think will welcome you?”

Ji Yanqing: “…”

He knew he wasn’t popular in the Ji family, but being told so directly was a bit much.

Ji Yanqing knew Ji Yanhui’s reminder wasn’t without merit. Even though Ji Yanhui had made a Dao Heart Vow not to harm him, given his past behavior, there were likely many people in the Ji family who wanted him dead.

After thinking it over, Ji Yanqing replied: “I can use an illusion for a disguise.”

Ji Yanhui glanced at him and mocked: “With your meager initial-stage cultivation?”

If Ji Yanqing were at the Soul Manifestation stage, it would be fine, but after using the Incense Jade Bell, his cultivation had regressed. Any cultivator at the Soul Manifestation stage could see right through his disguise.

But if they couldn’t go to the Ji family now, every day the Demon Core remained in Qi Ye’s body was another day for potential variables to arise.

How can I get Ji Yanhui to give me the Millennial Ice Stone in advance?

As Ji Yanqing pondered this, he heard Ji Yanhui speak: “I can give you the Millennial Ice Stone first, and give you another ten days to restore your cultivation. After that, come to the Ji family to fulfill your promise.”

Ji Yanqing looked up, his eyes filled with pleasant surprise.

But he quickly realized that with Ji Yanhui’s personality, he definitely wouldn’t give the stone for nothing. There had to be a condition.

Sure enough, Ji Yanhui paused and continued: “To prevent any trickery, I want you to make a Vow of the Dao Heart. If you break your oath, you shall obey my commands forever.”

Given the original owner’s long list of priors, Ji Yanhui’s request for an oath was reasonable. However, Ji Yanqing found it a bit strange; usually, the consequence of breaking a Dao Heart Vow was the destruction of one’s soul. Ji Yanhui’s condition of “obeying commands forever” was a first for him.

Nonetheless, since Ji Yanqing had already decided to help Ji Yanhui retrieve the Cloud Pendant, he wasn’t afraid of the oath.

“Fine, I agree.”

Saying this, Ji Yanqing held out his right hand to Ji Yanhui.

Ji Yanhui stared at his hand for a long time before reaching out to clasp it.

The moment their palms touched, mystical sounds echoed in Ji Yanqing’s ears. He closed his eyes and spoke the contents of the oath with his divine sense.

“I, Ji Yanqing, swear to renounce the position of Ji family Clan Head and retrieve the Cloud Pendant for Ji Yanhui within ten days. Should I break this oath, I shall obey Ji Yanhui’s commands forever.”

As Ji Yanqing spoke the final word of the oath, a golden light spiraled around their joined hands before vanishing.

Thus, the Vow of the Dao Heart was complete.

However, Ji Yanhui continued to look at their clasped hands, appearing as if he hadn’t quite come back to his senses.

“The oath is finished. You can rest easy now.”

Ji Yanqing’s reminder caused Ji Yanhui to finally release his hand. With a wave of his long sleeve, the exit to the Flying Star Carriage appeared before Ji Yanqing.

“Remember, the time limit is ten days. If you break the oath, do not blame me for not remembering our brotherhood.”

Ji Yanhui spoke coldly, adopting a posture of dismissing a guest.

The moment Ji Yanqing left the carriage, the surrounding barrier vanished as Ji Yanhui departed in the Flying Star Carriage.

On the other side, Qi Ye, who had been waiting anxiously, rushed forward the moment he saw Ji Yanqing. He inspected his Senior Brother carefully to ensure no “parts” were missing and that he hadn’t been bullied, finally breathing a sigh of relief.

Liu Ningyun asked directly: “I am glad the Young Master is unharmed. I wonder what the two of you plan to do next?”

Ji Yanqing replied: “I will be staying in Yunjian City for a while longer.”

Liu Ningyun’s expression turned knowing; he guessed that Ji Yanqing had reached some sort of agreement with Ji Yanhui. Naturally, as an outsider, he wouldn’t pry.

“Then I shall take my leave. I hope to meet the two of you again if fate allows.”

Liu Ningyun spoke softly and departed on his sword.

With the cooperation of the three families, the matter of the Yunjian Secret Realm finally reached a conclusion.

That night, the cultivators in Yunjian City heard a thunderous roar as the Secret Realm ceased to exist. In Yunjian City, where it hadn’t rained for a thousand years, a light drizzle began to fall.

Through that drizzle, Ji Yanqing and Qi Ye left the now-nonexistent entrance of the Secret Realm and returned to the Drunken Cloud Pavilion.

Ji Yanqing walked in front. He currently only had initial-stage cultivation; without True Qi to protect him, the fine raindrops fell directly on him, soaking his clothes.

“Seni—”

Looking at Ji Yanqing’s back, Qi Ye was about to step forward to shield him, but Ji Yanqing’s previous words—“This is a matter between me and Ji Yanhui; it has nothing to do with you”—flashed through his mind. His footsteps faltered, and he swallowed the rest of his sentence.

Yes… what exactly is the relationship between me and Senior Brother?

While Qi Ye hesitated, Ji Yanqing had already entered the courtyard of the upper suite. As soon as he pushed the door open, he saw a “white fluffball” curled up on a mountain-like pile of spiritual stones. Beside the pile sat a palm-sized, ice-blue stone.

Ji Yanqing recognized it at once: the Millennial Ice Stone.

The distance between Yunjian City and Jingtian Prefecture wasn’t short, yet Ji Yanhui had managed to have the stone delivered before they even got back. His speed was terrifyingly fast.

Thanks to Ji Yanhui’s efficiency, Ji Yanqing now had the stone and the spiritual stones to buy the remaining materials. He set up a formation that very night to extract the Demon Core from Qi Ye.

Everything went smoothly at first. Qi Ye sat within the formation while Ji Yanqing guided the Demon Core out.

However, just as the core was about to be extracted, Qi Ye’s expression became slightly abnormal.

His pupils grew tinged with red, and the gaze he directed at Ji Yanqing turned somewhat demonic.

Could it be… Qi Ye’s lineage is awakening early?

Ji Yanqing’s heart tightened. Fortunately, the Millennial Ice Stone took effect; the ice-blue frigid Qi flowed through the formation into Qi Ye, suppressing the core’s malevolence.

After an hour, the Demon Core was successfully extracted. Except for a trace of nearly imperceptible demonic Qi remaining on him, Qi Ye looked like a normal sword cultivator.

“Senior Brother…”

Despite the core being gone, Qi Ye didn’t seem happy. He looked as if he had sensed something and called out hesitantly.

Ji Yanqing’s heart skipped a beat, but he maintained a calm facade and asked: “What is it?”

Qi Ye shook his head and swallowed his question: “…Nothing.”

Once the core was gone, Ji Yanqing found an excuse to give the Heavenly-grade spiritual sword to Qi Ye.

The moment Qi Ye hesitated but finally accepted the sword, the pleasant notification rang in Ji Yanqing’s ear.

【Congratulations to the Host for completing the mission. Villain Points +300!】

300 Villain Points!!

Ji Yanqing was ecstatic and was about to share his joy with the System, only to remember that shortly after arriving in Yunjian City, his System—a gold-medal assistant—had been drafted by HQ because the eighteen “Top” characters in a neighboring smut-novel world had run off on nine separate bicycles, leaving the “Bottom” protagonist to be beautiful alone, putting that world in jeopardy.

But even without the System to talk to, Ji Yanqing’s joy wasn’t dampened in the slightest.

The main mission was complete, and the influence of the Incense Jade Bell was fading. Within three days, he would regain his Soul Manifestation cultivation.

Now, besides going to the Ji family within the agreed time, Ji Yanqing had one more thing to do—decide how to handle the Golden Light Retroactive Glazed Lamp.

While Qi Ye was out of the room, Ji Yanqing took out the lamp and scrutinized it.

He originally thought he would destroy it without hesitation the moment he got it, but this lamp had apparently been “buffed” by the Fox Demon’s power and was now a Heavenly-grade spiritual treasure. It perfectly complemented Ji Yanqing’s illusions; if used with his formation, the results would be extraordinary.

Because of this, he was a bit reluctant to destroy it.

“Sigh, what to do? If I keep this lamp and Qi Ye finds out what happened three years ago…”

Thinking that Qi Ye might discover his own lineage because of this, Ji Yanqing sighed and spoke with distress to the “fluffball” in his lap.

As if sensing his conflict, the fluffball rolled over and scratched lightly with its tiny white paws, as if to say he should just cast his worries away.

But Ji Yanqing remembered that lately, Qi Ye had been looking at him with strange eyes. And when the Demon Core was being extracted, there was that sentence Qi Ye had started but didn’t finish.

He even had a feeling that Qi Ye had already guessed something. Perhaps Qi Ye already knew he carried demon blood?

While Ji Yanqing was fretting, the door was suddenly pushed open. He instinctively turned his head and saw Qi Ye—who should have been practicing his sword—standing at the door.

Ji Yanqing: “!!”

His Golden Light Retroactive Glazed Lamp!

He hadn’t expected Qi Ye to return so soon and instinctively tried to hide the lamp.

But he was too slow; Qi Ye had already seen it.

Qi Ye stood at the door for a moment, his expression gradually turning to one of realization. He looked as if he had finally made a decision and walked up to Ji Yanqing. Looking at him steadily, he said syllable by syllable: “Senior Brother, no need to hide it. I already know.”

Ever since returning from the Secret Realm, and especially after seeing Ji Yanhui, Qi Ye was no longer content with being just a Junior Brother.

He wanted their relationship to go further, yet he was a bit afraid to move forward.

When Ji Yanqing was extracting the core, it was this mindset that caused him to feel a trace of desire while looking at his Senior Brother, nearly allowing the demonic Qi to take control.

When Ji Yanqing handed him the spiritual sword, Qi Ye had heard the system prompt: 【Ding! Ji Yanqing’s Favorability: 55 points. This person went out of his way to retrieve this sword for you.】

And just now, Qi Ye had finally made up his mind.

He was certain of Ji Yanqing’s feelings for him, and he was ready to confess his own heart.

Ji Yanqing: “???”

Completely different from what Qi Ye was thinking, the first thought that flashed through Ji Yanqing’s mind was:

Qi Ye… actually knows about his demon blood now!