Chapter 2078: How to Tame the Unruly Youth 27

Ji Lai zhi, do you know or not— that poison is almost incurable.

Ji Si Yao stepped half a pace forward and whispered in Ji Lai zhi's ear, "Your mother also died from the poison's outbreak."

Ji Lai zhi's pupils contracted, the vermilion mole at the corner of his eye reddened to the point of dripping blood.

After tearing apart their faces, Ji Si Yao once again provoked Ji Lai zhi; he knew the signs of the poison's outbreak all too well.

Ji Si Yao lightly curled his lips, gave a faint smile, and stepped back a few paces innocently, waiting for Ji Lai zhi to lose his mind in front of everyone.

Feng Yang was puzzled, only seeing Ji Lai zhi's forehead veins start to throb, his gaze gradually turning dark and cold, as if shrouded in a layer of obscure killing intent and shadow.

He recalled the Venerable's instructions, hurriedly stepping forward to press on Ji Lai zhi's shoulder, "Brother Lai zhi! Don't get agitated!"

"Tsk, indeed still that mad..." "Shut up!"

Feng Yang's chess piece flew from his wrist and struck the black-clad youth's face, "I don't know who Ji Si Yao's master is, but my master Feng Xuzi is currently accompanying the Venerable of the Formless Office inside the Martial Alliance."

Everyone fell silent at once.

Feng Xuzi is who? A red‑hot figure before the grand master, and being one of the three top aides of the Formless Office is no exaggeration.

Ji Si Yao has the Flowing Cloud Chasing Moon protecting him; they do not.

Perhaps the several doses of antidote he had taken earlier were taking effect, allowing Ji Lai zhi to clearly sense that he was gradually becoming abnormal.

"Must not get agitated," he told himself, wrapping his arms around his own arms, his dark pupils hardly showing any light.

This is only Ji Si Yao's one‑sided account; nobody can prove it, and maybe Ji Si Yao deliberately said it to provoke him.

Ji Lai zhi drew several deep breaths, closed his eyes and pictured Jin Chen's face, forcibly suppressing that mad impulse.

"Let's go." Ji Lai zhi's trailing tone trembled like a string pulled to its limit, yet he stubbornly clung to the last shred of dignity.

Just then, the carp in the bridge hole scattered with a boom, and Ji Si Yao could no longer restrain himself, striking first.

"Who let you go? And let me test how your brother's internal strength cultivation is now!"

He really hadn't expected Ji Lai zhi to actually endure it; in the moment he forgot propriety and raised his palm to chop.

Ji Lai zhi leapt aside, counting his heartbeats to control his breathing, the tip of his tongue pressed between his teeth, tasting the blood he had bitten.

"Ji Si Yao, you're courting death."

After the Flowing Cloud Chasing Moon's short‑term special training, Ji Si Yao thought about how to exchange moves back and forth, to draw out Ji Lai zhi's madness.

But as soon as they clashed, he was almost being beaten down while pressed!

By the time Ji Si Yao realized something was wrong, he could no longer disengage.

Amid the crowd's exclamations, Ji Si Yao was seized and slammed hard into the bridge‑head pillar.

"Brother Lai zhi!! Ji Si Yao can't die!" Feng Yang shouted in fright and chased after him, "The Flowing Cloud Chasing Moon—"

Before the words finished, Ji Si Yao was first flung by Ji Lai zhi like a torn cloth into the river beneath the bridge, sinking into the rapid current.

Ji Lai zhi stepped onto the bridge's edge, his eyes steeped in malice, lightly sweeping over the few people who showed fear but dared not move.

After a while, Ji Lai zhi finally spoke.

"He's not dead; if we don't go down to rescue him, and he gets choked to death, it's not my fault."

Feng Yang didn't bother with Ji Si Yao; he only saw Ji Lai zhi enduring great pain, his dangling palms bleeding, wounds he had dug into himself.

"Brother Lai zhi, let's hurry back to look for… look for your master." Feng Yang tried to help Ji Lai zhi up, but was dodged.

"Don't touch me yet." Ji Lai zhi's voice low and hoarse, he staggered half a step.

As Ji Lai zhi walked back to the Martial Alliance without looking back, Ji Si Yao was only then fished out of the river by a few followers.

"Good heavens!" the black‑clad youth exclaimed in fright, feeling for Ji Si Yao's breath, which was so faint it was almost nonexistent; the arm that first bore the impact hung limp in an extremely twisted posture.

"Quick, go tell the Flowing Cloud Hermit!"

Du Gu Wen was then training disciples at the East Gate of the Martial Alliance.

Seeing Ji Lai zhi return obviously abnormal, he couldn't help frowning and stepping forward to ask what had happened.

Feng Yang gave a perfunctory glance, half‑blocking Ji Lai zhi's face, "Hahaha, it's fine! Senior Brother Du Gu, keep training—we two just played too hard, and Lai zhi is worn out."

Du Gu Wen: "I can tell Ji Lai zhi just finished a fight."

Feng Yang declared bluntly, "It was me he fought."

Du Gu Wen: "…"

Du Gu Wen glanced at Ji Lai zhi and couldn't resist advising, "You are the Venerable's disciple; now is the crucial moment for all plans, Brother Lai zhi had better not stir up trouble, lest you add to the Venerable's worries."

"He's already been tired enough lately."

His tone was still fairly gentle, but Ji Lai zhi simply didn't like to hear it.

Some principles you know yourself, but repeatedly advising others is quite another matter.

Ji Lai zhi's brows and eyes slightly lowered, beneath his thick black lashes revealing a hint of icy chill, then he lifted his gaze to look at him.

"Are you meddling a bit too much?"

Feng Yang trembled with fear and alarm, seeing the black‑clad youth driving the carriage already nearly reaching the Main Gate, he hurriedly patted Ji Lai zhi's shoulder to warn him.

"Let's run!"

Ji Lai zhi glanced back, roughly brushing past Du Gu Wen's shoulder, covered his chest and hurried away.

If he ran into that lot again, he really wouldn't be able to hold back.

——

Jin Chen emerged from the Martial Alliance's Discipline Hall, took the black‑handed handkerchief and wiped the blood, his moon‑white robe unstained by a speck of dust.

Moments later, the corpses of dozens of rebels were lifted out and sent away through the Secret Gate.

"Venerable, only a few high‑ranking individuals remain, and then all the insiders will have been rooted out." Feng Xuzi couldn't help stroking his beard in sigh.

Du Gu Alliance Chief also nodded, "I originally thought all the insiders were members of the Demonic Cult, never expecting there to be so many sects harboring ulterior motives."

"Dad! Venerable!"

Du Gu Wen hurried over, his expression solemn, "Dad, the Flowing Cloud Hermit wishes to see you."

His disciple was injured by Brother Lai Zhi, breaking several bones, and even forced his internal energy to surge backward; he might… he might even become a cripple.

Jin Chen's hand-wiping motion paused slightly, 'Lai Zhi?'

Du Gu Wen returned the salute with clasped fists, 'Venerable, I have advised Brother Lai Zhi, but he did not come out to apologize; he only hides in the courtyard, refusing to come out.'

Jin Chen frowned, his gaze sweeping lightly over Du Gu Wen, 'What did you advise him?'

After Du Gu Wen finished repeating it, Jin Chen's expression was not pleasant.

'Young Master Du Gu, how Lai Zhi conducts himself is no need for you to advise; I also do not think he needs to come out and apologize.'

'Mo Hei, go handle it.' Jin Chen walked past Du Gu Wen toward the inner courtyard, his steps a bit quicker than before.

'Yes.' Mo Hei responded.

Du Gu Wen's face turned a little pale, 'Father, why is the Venerable reprimanding me? I only wanted to share his worries.'

'…Other people have disciples; what worries do you have?'

Du Gu Alliance Leader pinched his brow and sighed, 'My son, I know you still want to be the Venerable's disciple, but you cannot be so reckless; moreover, you don't know… the Venerable's relationship with Ji Lai Zhi is not ordinary, not just a typical teacher–student bond.'

Feng Xu Zi couldn't help stroking his beard and laughing, 'If you truly want to be the Venerable's disciple, you'd do better to go the opposite way and let Young Master Ji accept you; that would be about right.'

'Not to discipline Young Master Ji on behalf of the Venerable.'

Du Gu Wen seemed to suddenly understand, his face paling further, and only then realized what mistake he had made today.