Whoever can strike me hard will be rewarded handsomely.

To frighten me.

This is a move that I've grown tired of using with my two cheap disciples.

Qin Ji, quick-witted and agile, snatched the accessory and jumped back three feet.

He unfolded his folding fan, the side depicting "A great scholar's belly can hold a boat" facing Jiang Jibai, and said with a smile, "You are a reasonable person. You know that my leaving wasn't out of rudeness, but rather out of necessity due to my status. You wouldn't hold it against me, would you?"

Jiang Jibai didn't say a word, glanced at him, walked around the screen wall, and went straight to the study.

Why is the bad guy reacting like this?

Could I have guessed wrong?

Based on his understanding of drug addicts, this shouldn't be the case.

Qin Ji craned his neck and looked for a while, but Jiang Jibai didn't turn around to call him. He looked at the accessories in his hand and followed hesitantly.

As soon as I entered the study, I saw Jiang Jibai walking unhurriedly toward the vase on the antique shelf.

Seeing this, Qin Ji stepped forward and stuffed the accessory back into Jiang Jibai's hand.

Compared to the accessory, there were several terrifying things in that vase.

Good fortune is best in moderation!

Qin Ji exclaimed, "No way, no way! Could it be that someone deliberately let their disciple escape, and then insists on settling scores with their own master and disciple?"

"Shouldn't those who let their apprentices run away be treated the same way?"

Seeing the boy's arrogant and infuriating demeanor, Jiang Jibai pinned him against the wall with one hand, picked up a ruler, and laughed as he scolded, "You still dare to talk back to me? Just now in the private room, I saw you were quite at ease."

Qin Ji was incredulous. "I didn't drink, and I didn't act crazy while drunk. You can't just beat me up because you don't like me, can you?"

Jiang Jibai raised his hand: "Knowing that Pei Lian was drunk, you still deliberately provoked him. Don't you just want to make things worse?"

Qin Ji winced in pain, tears streaming down his face. He struggled and said, "What does this have to do with me? That shorty was clearly drunk and causing trouble for no reason. I just said something along with what he said, and you're blaming me for that? You're being unreasonable!"

Jiang Jibai didn't use much force to hold him down. The little disciple, a martial artist and the emperor's secret guard, struggled for a long time but couldn't break free, which showed that his resistance was just a token gesture.

"You just said I was a reasonable person, and now you say I'm unreasonable," Jiang Jibai commented with a smile. "Contradictory."

Qin Ji cried and accused, "Times have changed! You've changed!"

Not satisfied with that, he added, "You used to punish me for Shen Jiangliu, you punished me for Fang Yanqing, and now you're punishing me for some unrelated little dwarf! You're biased!"

Jiang Jibai's tone grew increasingly dangerous: "What did I tell you before? Who are you calling 'little shorty'?"

"At the last poetry gathering at Mangshan, you tried to provoke Pei Lian by attacking his sore spots, and now you're doing it again, calling him a 'little dwarf' over and over, even more outrageous than before?"

Qin Ji choked, muttering under his breath, "I didn't call him that in front of him."

He was severely punished as soon as he finished speaking.

Qin Ji trembled and burst into tears.

Jiang Jibai admonished him: "A gentleman is cautious when he is alone, and does not deceive himself in the dark."

Qin Ji argued illogically: "It's not exactly a dark room, is it? You're here, aren't you?"

Jiang Jibai was too lazy to waste words with him and gave him a good beating.

Qin Ji cried out incoherently, tears streaming down his face.

Jiang Jibai stopped: "Stop joking around with me, let's get down to business."

Qin Ji asked incredulously, "We haven't even gotten to the main point yet, so what about everything before?"

Jiang Jibai slapped the dragon head, "You're so glib."

Qin Ji pounded the wall angrily and cried out, "Poison Master!"

Jiang Jibai's voice rang out calmly: "Since you are unwilling to see the Chancellor of the Imperial Academy, you must not want people to know that His Majesty's study companion is my student, so as to avoid trouble?"

Qin Ji always felt that Jiang Jibai's tone was trying to set a trap for him, and that there was some kind of trap hidden in his words.

He nodded hesitantly.

Sure enough, Jiang Jibai followed up with a question, his tone slightly inquisitive: "Then why did you meet Pei Lian and the others in your true form?"

"They are all tribute students. As His Majesty's study companion, you will inevitably have to deal with them sooner or later. When that happens, will it still be possible to hide the fact that my disciple Jiang San is Bian Yushu, the Emperor's study companion?"

Qin Ji suffered a sudden cardiac arrest.

Constantly robbing Peter to pay Paul, he eventually dug up his own foundation!

How can we reconcile the contradictions and the internal conflict between the left and right hemispheres of the brain?

Qin Jilong's mind raced, and he immediately said, "Of the seven scholars from Songjian Academy, five have seen 'Jiang San's' true face. Once they enter officialdom, they will find out sooner or later; there's no way to avoid it."

"Secrets lead to success, while leaks lead to failure. The more people who know, the greater the risk." Jiang Jibai frowned slightly upon hearing this. "If I had known this would happen, I shouldn't have gone to the Mangshan Poetry Gathering."

If he doesn't go, his junior disciple won't compete with Pei Lian to avoid tarnishing his reputation, thus gaining fame and recognition.

Qin Ji didn't like hearing this. He frowned, turned around, and grinned, saying, "I'm happy to show off for you, but by saying that, you're negating your little disciple's filial piety."

Jiang Jibai held his shoulder: "I know you are protecting my filial piety, but..."

"There's nothing to it!" Qin Ji interrupted him decisively.

Jiang Jibai sighed: "Given your status, acting on emotions can easily lead to danger."

Qin Ji raised his eyelids and stared directly at Jiang Jibai, his eyes sharp and unparalleled: "As long as I am strong enough, all weaknesses are no weaknesses, all vulnerabilities are no vulnerabilities, and I can handle all dangers."

When the young disciple spoke these words, it was like a sharp sword, its edge fully revealed, brimming with confidence, even to the point of arrogance.

As the emperor's sword, even if it looks youthful at times, it still possesses a hidden sharpness within its scabbard.

Jiang Jibai looked at him without saying a word.

Qin Ji suddenly averted his gaze, sheathed his sword again, and waved his hand dismissively: "Don't worry, I guarantee those seven scholars from Songjian Academy won't go around spreading rumors."

It wasn't that Jiang Jibai didn't believe him, but after seeing them drinking and partying, it was hard to believe that those people could keep their mouths shut, especially Pei Lian, who was his sworn enemy.

Jiang Jibai thought to himself: Fortunately, he and Zhao Siye have some connection, so perhaps he can ask him for a small favor.

Seeing that Jiang Jibai remained silent, Qin Ji winked and made a suggestive gesture: "Don't forget what I do. I can find out everything about them, from their ancestors to what they ate for dinner. As long as I have something on them, I..."

Before he could finish speaking, Qin Ji clutched his back and jumped three feet high: "What are you doing all of a sudden?"

Jiang Jibai's precise pursuit: "Using prying into people's private affairs to blackmail them, is that something to be proud of?"

"Do you have a better idea?"

See, they're not saying anything now!

"Hiss—Breaking Bad, stop! We've got even dirtier methods in our line of work. You can't hold me to your own standards; that's nitpicking!"

...

First update delivered, second update after 1 AM. Still 321 chapters to go, powered by love! Keep it up!