Ji Liantan had never been entirely clear about what he truly wanted.
All he knew was that whenever he witnessed Ye Qingchen's glory or heard news about him, an indescribable jealousy and resentment churned within him.
This unresolved emotion clouded his judgment, leaving his thoughts perpetually unsettled.
So he decided to destroy everything that displeased him—sending his junior sister Shen Ying to seduce Ye Qingchen and lead him astray.
Yet, at the same time, he was convinced that Ye Qingchen wasn’t the type to crumble so easily.
Whether this confidence stemmed from lingering familial affection buried deep in his subconscious or simply his own arrogance, Ji Liantan couldn’t say.
But when he learned that Shen Ying had effortlessly made Ye Qingchen lose his composure, his reaction wasn’t the triumphant satisfaction of a plan fulfilled.
Instead, he felt only disappointment and fury toward Ye Qingchen.
The fact that Ye Qingchen had collapsed so readily felt like a mockery of the years Ji Liantan had spent seething with envy.
This twisted contradiction—this uncertainty over what outcome would truly satisfy him—left Ji Liantan simmering in frustration.
Now, however, he finally understood what would bring him pleasure.
It was the knowledge that what Ye Qingchen desired most would, without hesitation, choose Ji Liantan instead.
Just as he had always resented, Ye Qingchen had always been the one favored, the one chosen.
The rush of vindication, coupled with an unfamiliar physical thrill, sent shivers of exhilaration down Ji Liantan’s spine.
When the sensation of lips against his own withdrew, he instinctively leaned forward, chasing the contact.
Shen Ying pressed a hand against his face, stopping him, then raised a finger to her own lips and whispered directly into his ear, "Senior Brother, don’t be reckless. What if Ye Qingchen finds out?"
Her rejection irked him, yet for some reason, those few words only intensified the thrill coursing through him.
Ji Liantan couldn’t even comprehend what made them so intoxicating.
Outside, after calling out a few times with no response, Ye Qingchen—perhaps worried—stepped away from the room and went downstairs to search.
Only then did Shen Ying release Ji Liantan and say, "Senior Brother, we don’t have much time."
"Though I’d love to explain in detail how I managed to sway Ye Qingchen, now isn’t the moment."
"But you believe me now, don’t you?"
"Huh? Oh!" Ji Liantan was still fixated on her earlier remark about their limited time, relishing the thought of Ye Qingchen frantically searching while oblivious to the fact that the woman he loved was entangled with him in the next room.
His delayed reaction made Shen Ying sigh. "Since you acknowledge that I’ve done my job well, you can’t keep finding fault with me, can you?"
Ji Liantan’s face darkened. He hated seeing her so smug, but after what had just happened, he found himself lacking the usual sharpness to retort.
Instead, he deflected. "I didn’t just come here to confirm you weren’t slacking off. There’s something else."
Shen Ying raised an eyebrow. "What?"
Ji Liantan: "The Alliance Tournament is coming up soon. You’ll need to return and help me secure the Demon Ancestor’s True Blood."
The moment he said it, a strange discomfort flickered through him. He had openly declared to his father that he didn’t need his junior sister’s assistance.
Why had this been the first thing to come to mind?
He quickly added, "But if it’s inconvenient, you don’t have to come back."
"After all, infiltrating the Profound Extremity Sect isn’t easy. Leaving abruptly might raise suspicion."
It was a weak attempt to backtrack, but Shen Ying’s eyes lit up with sudden understanding. "Ohhh—"
"Senior Brother, you want me to abandon Ye Qingchen and return in time for your birthday, don’t you?"
Only then did Ji Liantan remember—the tournament coincided with his and Ye Qingchen’s shared birthday.
If Shen Ying returned to the Joyous Harmony Sect to accompany him, Ye Qingchen would be left alone, abandoned on their special day.
The realization sent another surge of excitement through him. Though he hadn’t initially planned to demand her return, he now insisted, "Exactly. You will find a way back."
Shen Ying nodded. "That’s doable. But we still haven’t settled the matter of you doubting my abilities."
Ji Liantan narrowed his eyes. "...What do you mean?"
Shen Ying: "Earlier, I said I’d let it go, but you kept pushing. Now that I’ve proven myself, shouldn’t you take responsibility for your relentless accusations?"
Ji Liantan scoffed. "And what do you want?"
Shen Ying: "An apology. And a way to make sure I don’t hold a grudge."
Ji Liantan smirked, leaning closer until his hand braced against the wall beside her. "Getting carried away again, are we?"
"Don’t forget who’s in charge here."
Shen Ying pouted. "If that’s how you feel, then I suppose there’s no point in humoring this little game anymore."
"Since the sect leader cares more about you securing the Demon Ancestor’s True Blood, he’d surely praise me for focusing on preparations instead of getting caught up in petty sibling rivalry."
She moved toward the door. "I’ll just bid farewell to Ye Qingchen now. It’s not like I enjoy his company anyway."
Ji Liantan’s temper flared. He grabbed her wrist. "You wouldn’t dare."
But if he forced her to stay, the struggle might alert Ye Qingchen and ruin everything.
How could he savor that intoxicating, unspoken thrill then?
For the first time, Ji Liantan yielded. "Fine. I apologize. Your senior brother shouldn’t have doubted you. Happy?"
Shen Ying tilted her head. "And?"
Ji Liantan’s expression turned baffled—What more could there possibly be?
Seeing her impatience grow, the usually self-absorbed demonic heir scrambled to recall every neglected social cue he’d ever witnessed.
From childhood memories of his father placating his mother to the sight of a junior brother hauling a cart of spirit fruits to impress a girl—
In an instant, Ji Liantan had an epiphany.
He pulled a hair ornament from his head and handed it to her. "Here. You’ve always wanted this, haven’t you?"
Shen Ying’s eyes sparkled as she took it. It was a treasure indeed—crafted from the fang of an ancient dragon king, a priceless artifact bestowed upon Ji Liantan by the Demon Venerable himself.
Currently, it served as mere decoration because its true power remained sealed until the wielder’s cultivation reached a certain level.
In the original story, this very ornament had been the weapon that accidentally killed her.
System: [...]
Shen Ying beamed. "Senior Brother, you really are the best."
Ji Liantan smirked. "Have I ever been stingy with you? Unlike Ye Qingchen—for all his sweet words, he hasn’t given you anything substantial, has he?"
Otherwise, she wouldn’t still be relying on trinkets from Lian Ying.
Shen Ying nodded sagely. "True. Ye Qingchen is perfect in every way… except for being a bit cheap."
What could Ye Qingchen possibly offer that compares to me?
Just as the thought crossed his mind, his gaze landed on a jade pendant dangling from her waist.
Ji Liantan's expression immediately darkened—how could he not recognize this jade pendant?
He possessed an identical one himself, a childhood gift from his mother, something of profound significance to Ye Qingchen. Never did he expect Ye Qingchen to have given even this to Shen Ying.
Ji Liantan's smile vanished as he said coldly, "I never thought he'd give this to you as well."
Before parting, Ji Liantan declared he would remain on this continent for a few days, intending to settle some matters before returning.
Shen Ying assured him they could stay in touch, and the two went their separate ways.
Emerging from the adjacent room, she returned to her private booth, only to find Ye Qingchen already waiting inside.
Noticing her relaxed and cheerful demeanor, he understood immediately.
He was more than pleased to see his dear junior sister growing closer to his so-called brother—after all, it would make his future plans all the more entertaining.
Seeing Shen Ying's expression now, he could guess their earlier interaction had gone well.
Raising his wine cup in a toast, Ye Qingchen said, "Congratulations, Junior Sister Shen. The day you achieve your desire may not be far off."
Shen Ying smiled. "I’ll take your auspicious words to heart."
Then she brought up the upcoming Demonic Sect Tournament: "Senior Brother suggested I find a way to return to the Joyful Harmony Sect by then."
"Without your cover all this time, it’ll be quite the hassle."
Ye Qingchen paused, a thought striking him, before uttering something utterly unexpected.
"What if I accompany you, Junior Sister, to the Joyful Harmony Sect for the tournament?"
Shen Ying’s gaze turned even more intrigued as she studied him. "Just as I suspected. Compared to a senior brother who only talks big, you’re far more reckless in action."
