Chapter 48: The Storm at Ji Residence

Ji Bozhai stared at her in silence.

Although this reaction was exactly what he expected from Mingyi, hearing it from her still felt incredibly forced.

Lowering his gaze, he noticed the handkerchief resting on his chest and asked hoarsely,

“Why are you here?”

Mingyi calmly sat down beside him again. Using the cloth, she carefully wiped the dried blood from the corner of his lips.

“My lord is injured,” she replied with complete sincerity. “Where else should this servant be?”

After all, he had given her so many gold bars.

Ji Bozhai tried to turn away, but her hand followed his movements. Unable to escape the relentless wiping, he grimaced slightly.

“I didn’t hurt you?”

“My lord was very considerate of this servant even in his sleep,” Mingyi said earnestly. “I’m deeply moved.”

He paused.

Then he lowered his eyes and looked away.

“In sleep,” he murmured, “who can tell who is who? It was merely instinct—self-preservation.”

Mingyi raised an eyebrow inwardly.

Is this man so badly injured that he’s gone stupid?

He actually believes that explanation?

And now he’s even trying to justify it himself.

But since he had already said so, she saw no reason to argue.

Taking advantage of the fact that he was awake, Mingyi moved quickly. She wiped away the remaining blood from his face, changed him into fresh sleepwear, and helped him lie down on the couch nearby.

Despite his weakened state, Ji Bozhai still spoke.

“Situ Ling sent you to break into Cyan Tile Courtyard because he wanted you dead.”

Mingyi thought about it briefly.

Then she shook her head.

“What value does this servant’s life have?” she said lightly. “He wanted to use me to uncover my lord’s secrets.”

Ji Bozhai snorted faintly, clearly annoyed.

“What secrets could I possibly have?” he muttered. “That courtyard is merely a place for me to hide and recover.”

He gestured faintly.

“The spirit tablet inside belongs to my benefactor. I have no idea where Situ Ling heard that there was a makeup box buried there.”

A benefactor’s tablet.

Meng Shi?

Mingyi pondered this quietly.

If that were the case, it truly needed to remain hidden. If anyone discovered it, it could bring terrible disgrace upon the family.

Considering the importance of such a secret, it made sense that Ji Bozhai had set up an Essence Power barrier around the courtyard.

But one question remained.

If the place had been hidden so carefully—

How had Situ Ling discovered it?

Ji Bozhai glanced at her sideways.

“Don’t assume everyone is kind,” he said flatly. “In this city, many people want your lord dead.”

His eyes darkened slightly.

“Some people treat you well only because you stand behind me.”

Mingyi thought back to the girls selling Phoenix Tail Flowers she had encountered on the street earlier.

A trace of resentment flickered across her face.

“That’s not necessarily true,” she said stubbornly. “Precisely because this servant stands behind my lord, many people are jealous.”

She crossed her arms.

“If Young Master Situ hadn’t intervened that day, I might have ended up fighting in the street.”

Ji Bozhai closed his eyes briefly.

He was talking about one thing—

And she insisted on dragging the conversation somewhere else.

Usually Mingyi was incredibly perceptive. She always knew exactly what to say to please him and what to avoid.

But when it came to Situ Ling, she suddenly became as dense as a stone.

Impossible to reason with.

He’s a bad man.

All you need to do is say “I understand” when I warn you not to trust him.

Why must you always argue back?

“My lord? What’s wrong?” Mingyi asked suddenly.

Noticing the tension in his expression, she hurriedly patted his back.

“Weren’t you feeling better just now?”

“I’d recover faster if you left,” he said through clenched teeth.

Without hesitation, Mingyi sat down even more firmly beside the couch.

“That won’t do,” she declared. “My lord would be afraid if no one stayed in the room. This servant will remain here and keep watch.”

Afraid?

Ji Bozhai stared at her in disbelief.

Who would be afraid?

Was he a three-year-old child who couldn’t sleep alone?

He glared at her fiercely.

But he was too exhausted to argue further.

Breathing heavily, he sank back into the pillow and closed his eyes again.

Strangely enough—

With Mingyi sitting beside him, he truly had no more nightmares.

His sleep became calm.

Peaceful.

In his dreams there were faint scents of grass and flowers drifting through the air.

He vaguely wondered—

She was just a fragile girl who couldn’t even shield him from a drop of rain.

So why did her presence make him feel so safe?

With that thought lingering in his mind, Ji Bozhai slept deeply.

---

When he woke again, the sun was already high in the sky the next day.

Mingyi was still sitting beside the couch.

The moment she saw his eyes open, she jumped up excitedly.

“My lord, you’re finally awake!” she exclaimed.

Her expression turned serious immediately afterward.

“Something has happened outside.”

Ji Bozhai slowly pushed himself upright.

His strength had mostly returned.

“What is it?” he asked quietly.

Mingyi cracked sunflower seeds noisily as she spoke.

“They say my lord killed a Fighter during the selection trials yesterday.”

She tilted her head slightly.

“That Fighter was quite famous this year. Technically it wasn’t a crime since the fight followed the rules, but the others are furious.”

She gestured toward the gate.

“More than a dozen of them have gathered outside. They’re shouting and demanding a spar with you.”

Ji Bozhai sneered coldly.

“Let them shout.”

“I won’t accept.”

Mingyi blinked curiously.

“Selection trials usually allow for mercy,” she said thoughtfully. “Why did my lord kill him?”

She cracked another seed.

“Did you have some grudge against him?”

“No.”

Ji Bozhai sounded almost bored.

“It was the first time we met.”

Mingyi stared at him.

To kill someone the first time you meet them…

This man’s aura was truly terrifying.

No wonder everyone both feared and respected him.

The deceased Fighter was named Xue Sheng.

He was well known throughout Star Yearn City’s Fighter circles.

Xue Sheng had always been generous and kind. He often helped others and was known for his philanthropy. For a long time he had been one of the most admired Fighters in the city.

But after Ji Bozhai rose to prominence, Xue Sheng’s reputation gradually faded.

His abilities simply couldn’t compare.

Even so, Mingyi had assumed he might still be selected as one of Ji Bozhai’s companions.

She never imagined he would die so suddenly.

At that moment—

A streak of Essence Power shot toward the residence like a blazing arrow.

Mingyi sensed it immediately.

But Ji Bozhai reacted faster.

With a flick of his arm, the Mystic Dragon roared into existence once more, coiling protectively around the entire Ji residence.

Its immense power filled the sky.

Normally such a display would have forced the challengers to retreat.

But instead—

They became even more aggressive.

They had sensed Ji Bozhai’s weakness.

Though their attacks could not break through the dragon’s defense, they continued striking relentlessly.

Each clash drained Essence Power on both sides.

Yet the Fighters seemed convinced that numbers alone could wear him down.

Even ants could kill an elephant.

“Stop this at once!” a voice suddenly called out.

Meng Yangqiu arrived quickly with several men after hearing the commotion.

“What exactly do you think you’re doing?”

Luo Jiaoyang stepped forward from the crowd, his expression cold.

“Lord Meng,” he said sharply, “are we not even allowed to request a spar with Lord Ji?”

He gestured toward the residence.

“If Lord Ji looks down on common Fighters like us, then we greet him using Essence Power—as is our custom.”

His eyes narrowed.

“Must you bring soldiers just to stop us?”

Meng Yangqiu sighed heavily.

“I understand that you’re upset about Xue Sheng’s death,” he said calmly. “But a life-and-death contract was signed before the match.”

He spread his hands.

“Lord Ji did not torture him deliberately. Xue Sheng simply refused to admit defeat.”

“That stubbornness led to this tragedy.”

The crowd erupted in angry voices.

“We know right from wrong without your reminders!”

“That’s right!”

“We were all there watching!”

Luo Jiaoyang continued coldly,

“We’re not here to cause trouble for Ji Bozhai.”

“All we want is for him to come out and exchange a few moves.”

The shouting grew louder.

Their anger clearly had not subsided.

After all—

Xue Sheng had been a good man.

Kind.

Generous.

Most of these Fighters had come from villages and small towns. They had arrived in the capital unfamiliar with everything around them.

It had been Xue Sheng who helped them settle in.

And now—

Ji Bozhai had beaten him to death without mercy.

They had witnessed the entire fight.

Xue Sheng’s Essence Power had been far weaker than Ji Bozhai’s.

If Ji Bozhai wished, he could have simply forced him to surrender.

Or restrained him.

But instead—

He struck directly at a vital point and killed him.

What use was immense power if it was wielded by someone so ruthless?

If the Grand Minister chose such a man to lead the Six Cities Tournament, they would refuse to follow him.

Better to compete on their own terms than serve under someone with such a cruel character.