The sage was determined to die.

After saying this, Wang Zhong looked around warily, momentarily missing the slightly embarrassed expression on Ji Bai's face.

Ji Bai coughed softly, wiped his face, his voice slightly hoarse, his face haggard, and he spoke with some difficulty breathing, saying, "Don't look anymore, there's no ambush."

He propped up one long leg and leaned against the stone wall, exuding a sense of desolation and loneliness. He looked disheveled, yet he was very alert.

"If you don't want to be my enemy," Ji Bai said, "I advise you to leave quickly."

The group exchanged bewildered glances. Although they recognized Ji Bai, they had rarely interacted with him and knew little about him. Adhering to the principle of avoiding trouble, they hadn't considered betraying him after he had served his purpose. But if they just left like this, for some reason, they felt a sense of loss...

Ji Bai didn't speak first; he pretended to wait.

Finally, Wang Zhong couldn't hold back any longer. He coughed lightly, looked at Ji Bai, and asked, "Brother, why are you here alone? Where are your fellow countrymen?"

as predicted!

Wang Zhong's eyes lit up. As expected, things had turned out exactly as he had anticipated. Upon hearing his words, Ji Bai became like a wildcat with its fur standing on end. A subtle ruthlessness and mockery flashed in his eyes, and his entire face tensed up.

The person in front of him tensed up, trying to calm their breathing, and asked, "What's it to you?"

Wang Zhong was overjoyed. He had heard some things about Ji Bai along the way. He generously untied the water pouch from his waist and reluctantly handed it to Ji Bai: "Hey, I didn't expect this, it seems you're also..."

"I've heard that you, brother, are a noble son from a humble background, and that you don't fit in with those nobles of Qi. Indeed... sigh..."

Wang Zhong kept observing Ji Bai's expression, appearing very considerate of the other's feelings, his sighs filled with affection.

Ji Bai seemed to be persuaded by him, and froze on the spot. Could it be that he had encountered such an understanding actor, which made him feel a surge of acting desire?

He took the water bag, looked at the dirty spout, and found it hard to drink from it.

He covered half his face with his hand, and after a long while, slowly said, "So you all know?"

knowledge?

What do you know?

Ji Bai slightly raised his chin, looking somewhat dejected, and sighed, "Alas, I won't hide it from you all. Although I am the most talented, the most brilliant, and the most capable person in Qi..."

Upon hearing this, the corners of everyone's mouths twitched downwards. They had seen people who could boast, but they had never seen anyone boast this much.

After laying the groundwork, Ji Bai changed the subject and continued, "But that's just the surface. In reality, the one who calls the shots in our Qi state is the Yan family. He's a noble young master from a powerful clan, while my family doesn't even have a door..."

"They've disliked me for a long time."

When Ji Bai said this, there was even a somewhat sad expression on his face: "As soon as I entered the Book Mountain, they kicked me out and told me to find clues on my own. I didn't expect that I would be so lucky and actually get a literary heart."

As the group listened, they initially felt some empathy for Ji Bai's experience, having read many stories of rags-to-riches tales in their leisure reading. However, upon hearing the last sentence, their initial sympathy vanished instantly, replaced by a growing clench of their fists...