The sage was determined to die.

Gongsun Yang nodded first.

Then he thought about it for a moment. After all, Yan Ming was Yan Ming. He could only rub his fingers together in a very mercenary way and wink at the other party.

Yan Ming was taken aback for a moment, then subconsciously slapped the other person's hand away: "Is your hand cramping?"

Gongsun Yang: "..."

He coughed softly and said, "Brother Yan, aren't you trying to win me over?"

Yan Ming blushed slightly and stammered, "That's what I meant."

"That's right." Gongsun Yang spread his hands, pointing a few fingers upwards. "Don't you always have to give something in order to win people over?"

"You're asking me for money?" Yan Ming's eyes widened. "Didn't my words just now move you?"

"I was a little touched."

Gongsun Yang looked troubled and seemed very conflicted. "But I'm not a citizen of Qi after all. Once we leave the mountain of books, we'll go our separate ways. I need something tangible to see..."

Provoked by these words, Yan Ming almost blurted out the boastful statement, "At worst, I'll get you a Wenxin." But before he could finish, he changed his tone and glared at the man.

"Forget it." Yan Ming turned and left. "You should continue following Ji Bai."

Gongsun Yang shrugged innocently.

……

Ji Bai, returning from his stroll, naturally didn't miss Gongsun Yang's deliberate waiting.

He raised an eyebrow, asking curiously, "I even gave that guy a chance to poach her, and it seems the deal fell through?"

"Nothing was discussed." Gongsun Yang sighed deeply.

"So stingy?"

Ji Bai asked curiously, "Didn't Yan Ming first emphasize my glorious past to prove how unreliable I am, and then appeal to your emotions and interests to win you over to work for him?"

He paused, then added, "Although I don't know what you can do..."

Gongsun Yang selectively ignored the other party's next sentence and said regretfully, "Perhaps I'm just not worth it. He really didn't give me any benefits."

Ji Bai nodded, even offering to explain for Yan Ming: "After all, you're a smart person. He's not usually this stingy. The main problem is that he's currently engrossed in his studies; he doesn't want to give you what he has, and you wouldn't believe his empty promises."

"But I think you're much smarter than me."

Gongsun Yang spoke sincerely, puzzled, "Young Master Yan told me some things about your past. If you really came from a humble background, why did you have to provoke the Imperial Preceptor...?"

Ji Bai waved his hand dismissively and said, "Why is it still about this? If you want to fight, then fight."

After saying that, he revealed a very wicked smile, looking nonchalant and unserious, his phoenix eyes staring at Gongsun Yang with an extremely oppressive gaze.

Ji Bai pointed to himself: "I'm the kind of person who won't be a big fish in a small pond or a small fish in a big pond. If I'm going to do something, I have to be the best."

"I am unwilling to walk the paths that others have walked."

After saying that, he seemed to realize it was a bit silly and added, "It's just an analogy, don't take it as me actually walking like that."

Gongsun Yang suddenly breathed a sigh of relief and revealed a somewhat mocking smile: "Sometimes I really envy you."

"I am from a small country."

Gongsun Yang lowered his eyelashes and said, "In a previous assessment, it was predicted that even if I obtained a high-grade literary heart, I wouldn't be able to keep it. A mid-to-low-grade one would be fine too, but a mid-to-low-grade one can't save a small, low-status country."

He looked at Ji Bai, and the words he had been keeping to himself suddenly came out: "If there is a way to obtain a top-grade literary heart and escape the clutches of the five great families, I am willing to give anything."

"Everything about you?"

Ji Bai's smile faded, and he said seriously, "This is something that takes a lot of courage."