Chapter 50: Zhen Jili’s Overlord’s Aura

Chapter 50: Chapter 50: Zhen Jili’s Overlord’s Aura

Seeing she was still running her mouth, Gu Yutian said angrily, "I advise you to think carefully before answering..."

"And I advise *you* to think clearly before *you* speak!"

Ji Huan, who had just opened her mouth to speak, snapped it shut. She wasn’t the one who had said that.

Zhen Jili pushed open the door and walked out, stretching lazily in front of everyone.

"Isn’t the food ready yet? I’m starving."

Ji Huan rolled her eyes and turned away, pretending she hadn’t seen him.

Gu Yutian’s threat was cut off mid-sentence, ruining his imposing air. He was thoroughly displeased.

"Where did this brat come from, spouting such nonsense! You’re still wet behind the ears, yet you dare challenge me!"

Zhen Jili thrust his head forward, glared, and stomped right up to him.

"I could let other insults slide, but not this one! You want to talk about whether my hair has grown in? Let’s drop our pants and compare! Mine is all there, I guarantee it. As for whether yours has all fallen out... Well, you are an old-timer, after all. A man’s got to accept his age!"

Ji Huan: "..."

Zhen Jili winked at her. "A young lady like you shouldn’t be hearing such vulgarities."

Gu Yutian was stunned by his utter shamelessness, his face turning a deep, purplish red.

"You... You... You uncouth peasant! Enough of this nonsense! Miss Ji, if you keep stalling, you’d better think about the consequences of offending the Bai Family!"

"The Bai Family? What kind of ’thing’ is that? Sounds impressive," Zhen Jili said, looking at Ji Huan with a curious expression.

Ji Huan raised an eyebrow. "The Bai Family isn’t a ’thing.’ It’s said that in Yeyang, they can walk sideways..."

"Oh, so they’re not ’things’!" Zhen Jili’s face lit up with mock realization. "Then they must be crabs."

Their little routine was more than even Wang Shun could stand. "You two must have a death wish!"

"I think *you’re* the one with the death wish! Your master isn’t even here. Why is a bootlicker like you barking so loudly?"

Ji Huan silently gave Zhen Jili’s verbal sparring skills a thumbs-up.

Ignoring a lightweight like Wang Shun, Zhen Jili turned to Gu Yutian. "Since the Bai Family is so formidable, I have a question. Who is more powerful: the Bai Family or General Kou?"

"Well, naturally, General Kou..." Gu Yutian stopped short. "What does this have to do with General Kou?"

"Oh, nothing. Just curious. No ulterior motive. Please, you were saying?"

Zhen Jili adopted a very agreeable expression and even addressed the group of thugs.

"So, what’s the plan? Are you going to smash the place first, or just set it on fire? This old shack might not be worth much, but it’s an heirloom passed down to my sister and me. If we can’t even protect this, we’ll be too ashamed to face our ancestors. I suppose we’ll have no choice but to ask the General to step in and demand justice from the Bai Mansion."

He went on about "heirlooms" and "siblings" so much that if Ji Huan didn’t know the truth, she might have started to believe him herself!

Wang De, however, was growing suspicious and uncertain.

He remained cautious and had his nephew go check the carriage outside. Once he confirmed it bore the military camp’s insignia, he quietly retreated to the side, feigning indifference.

Gu Yutian, however, was not convinced. "She’s clearly an orphan whose parents are dead! Where would a brother come from?"

’An orphan, huh...’ Zhen Jili gave Ji Huan a look of pity, then turned back with an infuriatingly smug grin. "We’re long-lost siblings. You got a problem with that?"

"..." Ji Huan decided to cede the floor and watch him go nuts.

"Don’t even try to fool me! A bum like you, trying to claim a connection to General Kou? Go take a piss and look at your own reflection!"

"Hey, what’s wrong with being a bum?" Zhen Jili rolled up his sleeves, planted his hands on his hips, and struck what he thought was a dashing pose. "This humble bum happens to be an insignificant military physician serving General Kou. So what? You got an opinion on that?"

Zhen Jili’s nonchalance made Gu Yutian hesitate. "You... What proof do you have!"

"I thought my face was proof enough."

Zhen Jili cleared his throat and ran a hand through his hair.

An awkward silence fell.

He coughed. "Fine. You country bumpkins are so unworldly... If you don’t recognize me, you should at least recognize this, right?"

He pulled a bronze medallion from his robes. It was intricately carved and adorned with a red tassel, clearly no ordinary object.

Gu Yutian leaned in to get a closer look. The medallion was inscribed with the name "Kou" on one side and the word "Order" on the other. It had to be the General’s private token, something that could not be easily counterfeited.

The color drained from his face instantly.

"Well, Steward Gu? Did you get a clear look?"

"I... I did." Gu Yutian wiped the sweat that had suddenly broken out on his forehead and forced a pained smile.

Having stood on the sidelines for some time, Wang De thought things over and finally understood.

’So Miss Ji gave the formula to her brother, and her brother presented it to General Kou. The military physician who supposedly shot to fame and became the General’s new favorite... it must be this man right here.’

He couldn’t help but feel a wave of relief that he hadn’t made the same stupid mistake as Gu Yutian.

’A military physician isn’t a big deal on his own, but being a favorite of the General is another story entirely. As they say, even a prime minister’s doorman holds the power of a third-rank official. Never mind me; even my own master would have to treat this man as a guest of honor.’

With this in mind, Wang De stepped forward and bowed with cupped hands to Zhen Jili and Ji Huan.

"I have long heard of the esteemed military physician’s great name. It is a true honor to finally meet you. You and your sister must be enjoying a rare reunion. I merely brought my fool of a nephew here to apologize to your sister. We have no other business, so we won’t disturb you further. Farewell, farewell."

Seeing that he knew when to back down, Zhen Jili didn’t press the matter and returned the gesture with his own cupped hands.

"You’re too kind. I’m often away from home. If my sister here offends you or the Bai Family in the future, I hope you’ll show me some courtesy and be lenient with her."

Wang De quickly replied, "Of course, of course..."

Ji Huan pointed to the boxes beside them. "Manager Wang, I can’t accept rewards I haven’t earned. Jishi Hall and I don’t owe each other anything. I have no need for these. Please take them back."

Wang De looked troubled. "But..."

Zhen Jili nodded in solemn agreement. "My sister is right. It’s a family principle of ours: we don’t take what we haven’t earned."

Ji Huan discreetly nudged him with her elbow.

Seeing no other choice, Wang De had his men load the gifts back onto the carriage and departed in a hurry.

Zhen Jili looked at the crestfallen Gu Yutian. "What’s the matter? Were you planning on staying for lunch? You brought so many people; we don’t have enough food for all of you."

"N-No... I’ll leave right now. I’ll take them and go... Farewell, farewell!"

"Hold it!"

Zhen Jili followed him out of the courtyard, sauntered slowly over to Gu Yutian, and leaned in close, staring directly into the man’s eyes.

"Listen to me, and listen well. I don’t care how powerful your Bai Family is, and I don’t care how vicious a dog you are. If you ever dare to come after my sister again, I’ll make sure you won’t even know what hit you. Understand?"

He kept his voice low, completely stripped of its earlier playful tone. Each word seemed to be forced out from between clenched teeth.

A chill shot down Gu Yutian’s spine. He was rendered speechless, only able to nod before scrambling onto the carriage with his men.

Only after they had completely disappeared from view did Zhen Jili straighten up and let out a breath.

"Spend enough time around the General, and you’re bound to pick up some of his domineering aura. Scaring people is a piece of cake after that, hehe!"