The Villainous Senior Brother Doesn't Want to Wash White [Transmigration] - Chapter 6

Ji Yanqing had no idea what kind of content was in the picture album he had casually selected. More than half a month had passed since his return from Fuyuan Island, and the day for the Qingmen Sect disciples to head out for their experiential training had finally arrived.

Qingmen Sect is one of the five major sects in this world. Compared to other sects, it has always placed the highest importance on the temperament and state of mind of its disciples; thus, at regular intervals, disciples are sent to various locations for trials.

The long tolling of a bell echoed through the Qingmen Sect. The main hall atop Yuheng Peak slowly opened, and disciples from various peaks landed on the Tianji Square in front of the hall, riding all sorts of magical artifacts.

The one with the most pretentious and flashy entrance was, naturally, Ji Yanqing.

A strain of ethereal immortal music drifted through the air as golden flower petals fluttered down from the sky. Ji Yanqing appeared before the multitude of disciples.

Today, Ji Yanqing wore a red Taoist robe draped with a white fox-fur cloak. He reclined lazily on a soft couch with his eyes closed, appearing more indolent and glamorous than before.

Even though the disciples of Qingmen were well aware of Ji Yanqing’s true nature, they couldn’t help but be momentarily stunned by the sight. The square fell silent in an instant.

Today’s entrance style is sufficiently villainous, Ji Yanqing thought with quite a bit of smugness. He rose and walked forward; the disciples blocking his path involuntarily scattered to both sides, and the sound of hushed discussions faintly reached his ears.

“I wonder what location Senior Brother Ji will choose for his training this time.” “Anyway, I absolutely won’t choose the same place as him. By the way, where will Senior Brother Qi Ye choose?”

While the disciples were whispering, the doors of the Yuheng Hall slowly opened, and Si Hongzheng, dressed in a green Taoist robe, appeared before them.

Although Si Hongzheng was the Acting Sect Master and known for his gentle and humble personality, he held great prestige among the disciples. Upon his appearance, the whispering disciples fell silent, their gazes focused on him as if they were students waiting for a principal’s speech.

Even Ji Yanqing, who usually acted with an air of “no one is my equal,” couldn’t help but stand straighter and focus his attention.

Just then, Ji Yanqing suddenly felt someone using their spiritual sense to scan him.

At a time like this, who is distracted enough to look at me? Ji Yanqing wondered. Following the trail of that spiritual sense, he suddenly locked eyes with a pair of deep, fathomless black eyes. Looking closely, it was Qi Ye, standing not far behind Si Hongzheng.

Although Qi Ye and Si Hongzheng were not master and apprentice, it was Si Hongzheng who had personally brought Qi Ye to the Qingmen Sect years ago, so their relationship was naturally close. Since he had arrived at Yuheng Hall early, he likely had already determined his training location.

Does being close to Si Hongzheng mean you can do whatever you want! Hmph, you look at me, and I’ll look at you too!

Finding that the one peeking at him was actually Qi Ye, Ji Yanqing was first startled, but then refused to be outdone. He sent his own spiritual sense to scan Qi Ye.

Qi Ye was still dressed in white, appearing as aloof and handsome as the moonlight.

Sensing Ji Yanqing’s gaze, Qi Ye’s expression remained as calm and cold as ever, showing no embarrassment at being caught peeking. If Ji Yanqing hadn’t traced the spiritual sense directly back to him, he might have thought it was a mere hallucination.

However, seeing that the passion poison in him seemed to be completely cured, Ji Yanqing breathed a slight sigh of relief.

Just as their spiritual senses intersected, Si Hongzheng seemed to have noticed something. With a sweep of his sleeve, he not only interrupted the “flirting” between the two but also caused a sect jade plaque with each disciple’s name to appear in their hands. Before them were three glowing rings labeled with the trial locations.

Si Hongzheng spoke: “Disciples participating in the experiential training, please select your locations in order.”

Once he finished, none of the disciples moved. They looked at each other, but their gazes eventually drifted toward Ji Yanqing.

Being stared at by so many people didn’t cause Ji Yanqing any discomfort. He walked forward slowly, his expression growing more arrogant, as if being the first to choose was only right and natural.

In reality, Ji Yanqing knew very well that they just wanted to see where he chose so they could avoid it.

Ji Yanqing arrived in front of the glowing rings. His gaze swept over the words written on them: Cloud City, Fuyuan Island, and Qiankun Secret Realm. These were the three locations assigned by the sect. Disciples would place their jade plaque into a ring to choose, and once placed, the choice could not be changed.

Ji Yanqing first arrived before the ring for Fuyuan Island. He had just visited Fuyuan Island recently; it was the center of the sect’s outer islands. Because it was safer than the other two, it was the training ground usually chosen by disciples at the Qi Induction or Out-of-Body stages.

Ji Yanqing’s finger brushed lightly against the jade slip. He raised his hand as if he were about to place it into the Fuyuan Island ring.

The lower-level disciples among the crowd widened their eyes. Thinking that they might have to stay with Ji Yanqing for the next three months of training, they couldn’t help but wail in despair.

“No way? Senior Brother Ji is choosing Fuyuan Island?” “I’m only at the Out-of-Body stage; I’m not qualified for the Qiankun Secret Realm. Am I forced to go to Cloud City? No, help!” “This must be a hallucination! Waaa, I’ll never say bad things about Senior Brother Ji again!” “The Sect Master’s top disciple choosing the outer islands… this isn’t a trial, it’s just finding a place to act like a local tyrant!”

On the other hand, those disciples who had broken through to the Soul Realm wouldn’t be choosing Fuyuan Island anyway. While they joined in the verbal criticism, they couldn’t hide the joy on their faces—if Ji Yanqing chose Fuyuan Island, it meant he wouldn’t be going to the same place as them!

However, just as they saw Ji Yanqing about to place the jade slip into the ring and thought they were safe, Ji Yanqing suddenly retracted his hand and walked toward the “Qiankun Secret Realm” ring.

The Qiankun Secret Realm was an underwater realm perfectly suited for Soul Realm disciples. It was said that Qi Ye would choose this place. If Ji Yanqing chose it too, Qi Ye would surely choose somewhere else!

Just thinking about it made the smiles on the Soul Realm disciples’ faces freeze.

Ji Yanqing stood between the two rings, leisurely playing with the sect jade slip, appearing to be troubled over which one to choose. When he looked toward Fuyuan Island, the Qi Induction and Out-of-Body disciples held their breath; when he took a half-step toward the Qiankun Secret Realm, the Soul Realm disciples let out collective gasps.

Ji Yanqing listened to the sighs and groans behind him. He knew exactly what they were thinking; in fact, he was doing this on purpose.

Just then, he felt that calm and cold gaze again. Without looking, he knew it was Qi Ye watching him. From the moment Ji Yanqing stepped forward, Qi Ye had stopped using spiritual sense and was now staring at him openly. But since all the other disciples were also staring intently at Ji Yanqing, his behavior didn’t seem out of place.

What mattered more to Ji Yanqing was that according to the original plot, the location Qi Ye would choose was the Qiankun Secret Realm. Yet when Qi Ye saw Ji Yanqing seemingly about to choose it as well, his gaze remained perfectly calm without a single ripple.

Perhaps Qi Ye was already certain that he wouldn’t choose the Qiankun Secret Realm or Fuyuan Island?

Heh, how could the protagonist possibly guess the thoughts of a dignified villain!

A confident smile appeared on Ji Yanqing’s face, as if he had finally made his final decision. Under the nervous gazes of the disciples, a streak of golden light wrapped around the jade slip in his hand and cast it into the ring labeled “Cloud City.”

That’s right, Qi Ye had guessed correctly after all. From the very beginning, Ji Yanqing had no intention of going to Fuyuan Island or the Qiankun Secret Realm; the place he had long since chosen was Cloud City.

This sect trial didn’t have any specific plot scenes requiring Ji Yanqing’s appearance. For him, it was a rare vacation time where he could take the opportunity to relax.

Fuyuan Island was too close to the sect. Not only was Ji Yanqing’s cultivation level unsuitable for it, but he would also have to maintain his persona as a villainous senior brother there—so it was excluded first.

As for the Qiankun Secret Realm, that was where Qi Ye was going. A new batch of villains would appear there, and there was no place for a cannon fodder villain like Ji Yanqing. Naturally, he wouldn’t choose that place either.

Cloud City, on the other hand, was a cave dwelling opened by a Primal Spirit True Being a thousand years ago, located in the north. The power dynamics there were complex, with both demonic sects and noble families; even Qingmen disciples had to hide their identities. Yet high-grade artifacts and even spiritual treasures often appeared there—it was a place where danger and reward coexisted.

Cloud City was far from the Qingmen Sect and far from Qi Ye. There, Ji Yanqing wouldn’t have to maintain his villainous persona at all times. It was simply the premier choice for this vacation—er, trial!

Just thinking about it made his mind up, but as a villain, he naturally had to toy with everyone else before making the final call.

Seeing Ji Yanqing choose Cloud City, the other disciples visibly breathed sighs of relief. After casting his plaque, Ji Yanqing rode his golden dragon carriage off Yuheng Peak under the watchful eyes of the crowd.

However, the reality was—

Ji Yanqing’s so-called “coolness” only lasted for a few moments. The moment he left the sight of the other disciples, the majestic dragons and the magnificent carriage suddenly transformed into golden light and dissipated.

The illusion vanished so abruptly that Ji Yanqing fell from mid-air. He hurriedly performed a Light Breeze Technique, narrowly avoiding a close encounter with the ground.

Only then did Ji Yanqing remember that there were restrictions on Yuheng Peak that prevented illusions from being maintained for a long time; his grand entrance had likely exhausted the illusion’s daily quota.

Fortunately, no one should have seen his rather disheveled state.

Just as Ji Yanqing was secretly celebrating, a streak of silver sword light flashed past him. Not far away, the youth in white standing upon a spirit sword… wasn’t that Qi Ye?

“Senior Brother,” Qi Ye called out to Ji Yanqing as he descended from the spirit sword.

Based on this reaction, Ji Yanqing felt he had come specifically for him. Ji Yanqing’s reaction was also quick; the moment Qi Ye appeared, he adjusted his state. He didn’t show the slightest surprise; instead, he asked Qi Ye with a face full of arrogance:

“What is it, Junior Brother Qi?”

Qi Ye paused for a moment and asked, “Senior Brother chose Cloud City; is it for the ‘Golden Light Glazed Lamp of Recurrence’?”

The Golden Light Glazed Lamp of Recurrence?

Ji Yanqing was momentarily stunned, and then he remembered what it was. It was a high-grade space-time type artifact that belonged to a Qingmen Golden Core Master three hundred years ago. It could suppress inner demons and trace back past events. Later, that Golden Core Master unfortunately perished in Cloud City, and his lamp was lost there.

But why did Qi Ye think he chose Cloud City for that lamp?

Ji Yanqing was puzzled but couldn’t tell Qi Ye that he actually just wanted a place to go on vacation. He maintained his impatient look, as if he couldn’t be bothered to talk to Qi Ye, and cast a cold glance at him. “What if it is? Where I choose to go has nothing to do with you.”

Regarding Ji Yanqing’s provocative answer, Qi Ye didn’t get angry—at the very least, Ji Yanqing didn’t get a single Villain Point.

He let out a sigh, his gaze toward Ji Yanqing quite complex. “It seems Senior Brother is still brooding over that night three years ago.”

That night?

Ji Yanqing’s expression froze. Three years ago, he and Qi Ye were still living together in the Falling Star Pavilion, but at that time, they didn’t seem to have much interaction.

So, which night exactly was “that night” Qi Ye was talking about?

And why was the way Qi Ye looked at him becoming… stranger and stranger? A hallucination, it must be a hallucination! Likely I caused him trouble on some night! It must be that!

Ji Yanqing told himself this and even wanted to ask the system if it knew anything. But in the next moment, he heard Qi Ye continue in a voice full of guilt:

“I am sorry for what happened to Senior Brother that night.”