153: Chapter 153 Brother, it was him who bullied me

What is this situation?

Why is the Young Miss of the Ji Family pulling and tugging with a strange man?

Zhou Ming stood among the crowd, watching this scene, his mouth agape enough to fit an egg.

This kid Ye Fan... knows the Ji Family's Young Miss?

And judging by the posture, their relationship is not ordinary?

On the high platform, Ji Haoyue was also stunned.

Watching his sister and that man named Ye Fan pulling at each other, he momentarily didn't know what to say.

He had originally thought this person's background was suspicious and needed a good interrogation. But now it seems, his sister seems to know him?

And this reaction... it's more like enemies meeting again after a long separation?

No, it doesn't seem like enemies.

It's more like... playful bickering?

Ji Haoyue's brows furrowed.

"Ziyue."

He spoke, his voice carrying a trace of authority.

"What's going on?"

Hearing her brother's voice, Ji Ziyue's hands paused briefly, but she still didn't let go. She turned to look at Ji Haoyue, her Face full of excitement:

"Brother! Do you remember what happened at the Tomb of the Azure Emperor a year ago? It's that guy who bullied me! It's him!"

Ji Haoyue was slightly taken aback.

The incident at the Tomb of the Azure Emperor a year ago?

Of course he remembered.

At that time, he was in a fierce battle with Yan Ruyu, and his sister entered the tomb alone, only to be subdued by someone. Later, he learned that the one who subdued his sister was a youth named Ye Fan.

But how could that person appear here?

He looked at the man whose Face his sister was pulling at, a glint flashing in his eyes.

Just then, Ye Fan finally couldn't take it anymore.

His Face was being pulled by Ji Ziyue to the point of distortion. Unable to endure it any longer, he grabbed her hand.

"Enough!"

He growled lowly.

Ji Ziyue was startled by him, and her hands stopped.

Ye Fan took a deep breath and looked at her.

"I admit defeat, alright?"

He raised his hand and wiped it across his Face.

A flash of light.

That ordinary Face disappeared, replaced by a handsome and resolute visage.

Sword-like brows, starry eyes, a straight nose bridge, the corners of his mouth slightly upturned, carrying a hint of the arrogance and unruliness unique to youth.

Ji Ziyue looked at him, her eyes shining even brighter.

"It really is you!"

She laughed triumphantly.

"I told you, I'd recognize you even if you turned to ashes!"

Ye Fan looked at her helplessly.

"Are you part dog? You could still recognize me?"

Ji Ziyue snorted.

"Never mind what I'm part of! I remember you, that's what matters!"

She leaned closer, looking Ye Fan up and down.

"Haven't seen you for a year, you've grown quite a bit taller, and your cultivation has had a Breakthrough. Not bad, you've reached the Dao Palace Realm."

Ye Fan took a step back, maintaining distance from her.

"Thanks to your blessings."

Seeing his evasive demeanor, Ji Ziyue's smile grew even brighter.

"What are you dodging for? I'm not going to eat you."

Ye Fan thought to himself: *You might not eat me, but your brother might.*

...

He stole a glance at Ji Haoyue.

Ji Haoyue was staring at him, his gaze complex.

That gaze held scrutiny, curiosity, and a faint trace of—wariness?

Ye Fan's heart tightened.

He knew his current situation was delicate.

He had come to the Ji Family to be a guard, but was recognized by the Ji Family's Young Miss. And judging by Ji Ziyue's reaction, their relationship was clearly not a friendly one.

Even though Ji Ziyue seemed to harbor no ill intent, what would Ji Haoyue think?

A person who once bullied his sister, sneaking into the Ji Family to become a guard—how could that not look suspicious?

Ye Fan took a deep breath, trying hard to remain calm.

He looked at Ji Haoyue and saluted with clasped fists.

"I am Ye Fan, greetings, Brother Ji."

Ji Haoyue looked at him, silent for a moment.

Then he spoke:

"You know my sister?"

Ye Fan nodded.

"A year ago at the Tomb of the Azure Emperor, I had a brief encounter with your esteemed sister."

Ji Haoyue looked at Ji Ziyue.

Ji Ziyue nodded.

"It's him. At that time, he subdued me, making me unable to move. Hmph!"

As she spoke, she glared at Ye Fan.

But that glare held little real anger, more of a coquettish pout unique to a young maiden.

Watching his sister's reaction, Ji Haoyue's heart stirred slightly.

He knew his sister too well.

If she truly disliked someone, she would absolutely not react like this.

This reaction was more like—caring?

Ji Haoyue withdrew his gaze and looked at Ye Fan again.

"For what purpose have you come to the Ji Family?"

Ye Fan said frankly, "I heard the Ji Family is recruiting guards, so I came specifically to sign up."

"A guard?" Ji Haoyue's brows raised slightly. "With your cultivation level, you could become an Inner Sect Disciple in any Holy Land. Why come to the Ji Family to be a guard?"

Ye Fan was silent for a moment.

He knew he had to answer this question well. Otherwise, he might not walk off this high platform today.

"Ziyue... this is most improper."

Ji Haoyue spoke first, his voice carrying a trace of helplessness and authority. He looked at his sister, who seemed eager to stick to Ye Fan, and frowned slightly.

Hearing her brother's reprimand, Ji Ziyue reluctantly moved away from Ye Fan's side. But her lively, large eyes were still fixed intently on Ye Fan, clearly spelling out the words: *You're done for, you can't escape.*

Ye Fan felt a chill under her stare and subconsciously touched his deformed Face. After that bout of pulling, his disguised Face was almost twisted out of shape. With a wave of his hand, his Qi flowed, restoring his Face to its original appearance.

"Ahem, I am Ye Fan."

He saluted with clasped fists, trying his best to appear composed.

Ji Haoyue did not respond immediately. Instead, he looked at the surrounding crowd. The Cultivators who came to apply, the Ji Family's servants, and a few Elders watching the commotion were all craning their necks to look this way.

He merely glanced at the steward beside him.

The steward instantly understood. He quickly bowed and saluted, then turned and waved at the crowd.

"Disperse! Everyone disperse! Today's recruitment ends here. Those who passed the assessment, come back tomorrow!"

Though filled with curiosity, the crowd dared not disobey the order and had to disperse one after another. The steward himself also left the high platform with several servants. Soon, only Ji Haoyue, Ji Ziyue, and Ye Fan remained on the vast arena.

The night wind blew, making the flags around the arena flap loudly.

Seeing this setup, Ye Fan grew inwardly wary. *Are they going to interrogate me alone?*

Ji Haoyue walked towards him unhurriedly, his steps measured, his bearing extraordinary. His gaze swept over Ye Fan, carrying a scrutinizing, condescending air.

"Ye Fan, is it?"

He spoke, his voice calm yet carrying a sense of pressure.

"A year ago, I heard from Ziyue that someone bullied her."

Ye Fan thought to himself, *Here it comes.*

Ji Haoyue continued, "Ziyue is my sister. In the Eastern Wastelands, who doesn't give our Ji Family some Face? How dare you bully my sister?"

Ye Fan opened his mouth, wanting to explain, but Ji Haoyue raised a hand to stop him.

"Now you even dare to deliver yourself to our doorstep, sneaking into my Ji Family. I will not ask, for now, what your intentions are."

He paused, his gaze growing sharper.

"But none of that matters. What matters is, you bullied my sister. I must get justice for her."