The sage was determined to die.

Ji Bai was completely unaware that he had become an unforgivable sinner.

He looked at the Chen people who were looking around, stammering and not saying a word, and then at Chen Ji, whose face was ashen and who looked like he could faint at any moment.

Ji Bai had already put the writing tablet away. He scratched his head somewhat embarrassedly and asked in a low voice, "I can only keep this writing tablet for you for a few days. Come and get it when you're better."

How many days should it be stored?

Chen Ji sneered inwardly. The five great families had been keeping the literary treasures of the people of various countries safe for so many years, but they had never seen them returned.

Sometimes, when a person gets really angry, their brain actually becomes much clearer.

Chen Ji gathered his tattered outer robe. Despite his disheveled appearance, he gradually put his proud self back on his feet.

His eyes were dark, and although he was seething with hatred, he was no longer as aggressive as before. He almost calmly squeezed out a line: "No need, I don't want it."

With his vast knowledge and profound understanding of literature, Chen Ji believed that with his talent, he would not stop there.

He would rather abandon his literary talent than let Ji Bai pay the price.

Of course, the most important reason is that his body has a very low compatibility with these two literary hearts.

The low compatibility with Wenxin means he will have to spend more time learning about Wenxin. He used to not care, but now Chen Ji has changed.

He must become stronger so that he can't be easily fooled like a monkey.

"I'm very touched that the examiner is so considerate of me," Chen Ji said, suppressing his nausea and feigning composure. "But with two 'literary hearts' in your possession, won't you be punished by the Mountain of Books?"

Ji Bai touched his nose somewhat awkwardly.

He couldn't very well say that the rules of the Book Mountain were practically meaningless to him, so he didn't offer much explanation.

He's feeling guilty.

Chen Ji said expressionlessly, "Since I have no affinity with these two literary hearts, may I take my people and leave first?"

Ji Bai looked at the large and imposing group of people from the Chen Kingdom and suggested, "Does anyone else not want to participate in the assessment?"

"No need," Chen Ji made the decision for the others.

If he hadn't lost his own Wenxin, even if he hadn't obtained a second Wenxin, Chen Ji would still give others a chance.

But right now, Wen Xin's heart is still in Ji Bai's hands. Knowing that this is a trap, he naturally won't let anyone else fall into it.

Most importantly... if another person from Chen Kingdom were to obtain the Wenxin, where would Chen Ji's face be?

The people of Chen Kingdom naturally dared not disobey Chen Ji's decision.

They arrived arrogant and domineering, but left quietly and discreetly.

The people of Chen looked at Chen Ji, who stood tall and proud, trying hard to appear arrogant, yet was actually disheveled, and found him inexplicably comical.

But no one dared to laugh.

If this were in the state of Chu, seeing Chu Ze in such a disheveled state, some people would still dare to show concern and offer their regards.

But in the State of Chen, no one dared to do so.

With a heavy heart, Ji Bai escorted the person to the edge of the Puppet Forest. He didn't linger, his face filled with melancholy, making him appear to be the victim to anyone who didn't know better.

He didn't linger long, and with a quick step, he returned to the forest.

As soon as Ji Bai left, Chen Ji immediately stopped in his tracks.

The people of Chen were completely silent. Chen Ji gritted his teeth in hatred, without roaring or venting his anger, but the gloom in his eyes was almost tangible.

After a while, he walked up to a Jinshi from the State of Chen who was about the same height and build as him. The man was obviously tall, but at this moment he looked like a quail, feeling a little uneasy under Chen Ji's sinister gaze.

Chen Ji turned his head away and spat out a mouthful of blood.

He said hoarsely, "Take off your clothes and give them to me."