The Villainous Senior Brother Doesn't Want to Wash White [Transmigration] - Chapter 34

Ji Yanqing remembered that in the original plot of Path of the Demon Immortal, Qi Ye had only vaguely sensed a powerful, surging force within himself during a sect training mission. After returning to the sect, he happened to find that the Sect Leader, Qin Shu, had just emerged from seclusion, so Qi Ye went to seek confirmation.

Qin Shu had remained silent for a long while before finally telling Qi Ye that he did, indeed, carry demon blood.

At that time, humans and demons were at odds, and the Qingmen Sect would never allow a disciple with demon blood to remain. Upon learning the truth, Qi Ye had immediately knelt, stating: “Thank you, Master, for your years of cultivation. I shall leave the Qingmen Sect at once.”

But Qin Shu only looked at Qi Ye, raising him with a wave of his sleeve, and said calmly: “There is no need for concern. One’s lineage is not something one chooses; this is simply your path. Though it may be more difficult than others, it is a path nonetheless.”

“There is no need to mention this matter again, nor let others know.”

With those words, Qin Shu had turned and departed, leaving Qi Ye standing there in deep thought.

Qin Shu’s words were like a prophecy, outlining Qi Ye’s future—surviving Heavenly Tribulations, proving his Dao heart, awakening his lineage, and ultimately becoming a Demon Saint.

As a serious cultivation “level-up” novel, the protagonist’s lineage was never an obstacle; rather, it was a turning point for his ascension, allowing him to walk a broader and further path in his pursuit of the Dao.

This was the origin of the title Path of the Demon Immortal.

Although the current plot differed greatly from the original due to certain “small issues,” Ji Yanqing could guess from Qi Ye’s recent behavior that the youth had already sensed something.

However, Ji Yanqing hadn’t expected Qi Ye to skip the step of seeking confirmation from Qin Shu, directly learning of his lineage and coming to ask him instead!

It must be because of Meng Xingchen and that Demon Core!

Ji Yanqing thought secretly. To confirm his suspicion, he asked Qi Ye tentatively: “When… did you find out?”

Senior Brother didn’t directly deny it!

Hearing Ji Yanqing ask this, Qi Ye felt a surge of pleasant surprise. Given Ji Yanqing’s past personality, he had expected his Senior Brother to fly into a rage out of embarrassment before he even got a chance to confess his heart.

But before receiving Ji Yanqing’s answer, Qi Ye restrained his true emotions and replied softly with his head lowered: “I sensed it a while ago, but only confirmed it recently.”

Sensed it a while ago, confirmed it recently…

Ji Yanqing mulled over Qi Ye’s words, and his expression immediately turned certain.

Qi Ye indeed knew.

Ji Yanqing remembered that in the original book, Qi Ye learning of his demon blood was a crucial plot point that directly influenced the protagonist’s worldview. So, what should he do now?

Directly denying it likely wouldn’t work, but as a villain, he couldn’t very well steal Qin Shu’s lines either…

While contemplating, Ji Yanqing surreptitiously observed the Qi Ye before him.

Having learned such explosive news, Qi Ye appeared slightly uneasy, but fortunately, his emotions seemed relatively stable.

As expected of the protagonist!

Ji Yanqing gave Qi Ye a mental “thumbs up” and finally reached a conclusion.

Actually, Qi Ye’s demon blood had little to do with his own villainous plot line, and Qi Ye didn’t look like he needed much counseling anyway. He would just gloss over the matter for now and let Qin Shu and Qi Ye have a heart-to-heart after they returned to the sect!

Ji Yanqing raised his eyelids and said with a cold, indifferent face: “If you know, you know. Why tell me?”

Ji Yanqing thought he had disguised his emotions perfectly, but through their recent time together, even without the system’s favorability prompts, Qi Ye knew well that his Senior Brother was a classic “tsundere”—someone who said the opposite of what he felt.

For instance, although Ji Yanqing’s tone sounded impatient and his expression was cold, his slightly clenched hands betrayed his nervous state.

Qi Ye raised his eyes, his gaze focused intently on Ji Yanqing, and asked seriously: “Because I want to know what Senior Brother thinks.”

Knowing his Senior Brother was a tsundere, Qi Ye weighed his words. He didn’t directly say he knew his Senior Brother liked him or that he liked his Senior Brother back; instead, he asked quite euphemistically.

What can I think?? What else am I supposed to think???

Ji Yanqing felt like his whole world was falling apart.

But soon, he had a change of heart and finally understood why Qi Ye would ask this.

I, the villain who has always disliked Qi Ye, how could I have zero reaction after learning that he has demon blood!

Qi Ye must have noticed that I didn’t use this leverage to threaten him and felt something was wrong, which is why he came to ask for clarification.

Having figured this out, Ji Yanqing immediately donned his villainous persona.

He studied Qi Ye with a half-smile, then leaned in slightly, whispering into Qi Ye’s ear: “As for what I think, it naturally depends on your future performance.”

Sure enough, upon hearing this, Qi Ye’s body stiffened for a moment.

Ji Yanqing felt quite smug.

Was his threat finally successful! But why didn’t the Villain Points increase?

Ji Yanqing found it strange. He had no idea that the reason for Qi Ye’s reaction was pure, unadulterated joy.

By saying that, is Senior Brother willing to give me a chance?

Qi Ye thought dazed, his heart nearly overflowing with happiness. After a long while, he snapped out of it, his ink-black eyes looking deeply at Ji Yanqing as he said: “I understand.”

“What would Senior Brother like to eat? I’ll go make it for you,” Qi Ye asked after a moment.

After all, “performance” naturally had to start now.

Ji Yanqing: “…”

Before Ji Yanqing could speak, Qi Ye answered himself: “I’ll just make one of everything I’ve made before.”

With that, he turned and left, leaving Ji Yanqing standing there, completely bewildered.

This threat… was actually that effective?

Over the next few days, Ji Yanqing deeply experienced the effects of that threat.

Qi Ye practically took over every aspect of his daily life. Not only did he keep Ji Yanqing’s stomach full with various delicacies, but he also provided meticulous care in all other areas. If cultivation didn’t require Ji Yanqing to do it himself, he believed Qi Ye would have done that for him, too.

Finally, on the fifth day after leaving the Secret Realm, Ji Yanqing’s cultivation returned to the Soul Manifestation stage.

“Senior Brother, your soul is now complete.”

Right then, Qi Ye entered the room with a freshly made midnight snack and sensed the abundant True Qi emanating from Ji Yanqing.

Clearly, through the training in the Yunjian Secret Realm, Ji Yanqing’s soul had reached perfection, leaving him only one step away from forming his Golden Core.

“Mn.” Hearing Qi Ye say this, Ji Yanqing only gave a faint response, but his expression didn’t look particularly happy.

According to this world’s settings, there are three grades of Golden Cores. A high-grade Golden Core focuses on one’s state of mind and is condensed after the soul reaches perfection. The process is incredibly difficult, and cultivators who can form one are often one in ten thousand.

As for the others, a mid-grade Golden Core can be formed with the help of spiritual herbs, while the lowest grade involves using a demon beast’s inner core as one’s own Golden Core.

In the original plot, given the host’s state of mind, he was naturally unable to form a high-grade Golden Core and eventually promoted using a Demon Core.

So, if Ji Yanqing were to form a high-grade Golden Core now, the scene would be extremely awkward.

Ji Yanqing pondered, even considering looking for ways to stop the core from forming. However, cultivation usually happens naturally when the time is right. The only method he could think of was to rush back to the sect before the high-grade core formed and use the Demon Core to refine a low-grade one.

Since Ji Yanqing had restored his cultivation, he and Qi Ye boarded a cloud carriage early the next morning, heading for Jingtian Prefecture.

Originally, Ji Yanqing hadn’t wanted to go back to the Ji family with Qi Ye. But after several days of being fed multiple times a day by Qi Ye, his stomach had been thoroughly spoiled. Except for Qi Ye’s cooking, nothing else could satisfy his palate.

Thinking that if he didn’t bring Qi Ye, he would not only be freezing but also starving during his time facing Ji Yanhui, Ji Yanqing finally reluctantly agreed to Qi Ye’s proposal to go together.

At this moment, only four days remained before his agreed-upon deadline with Ji Yanhui to retrieve the Cloud Pendant.