They all want to change my future.

Chapter 22 The Three-Day Pact

A cold voice came from the shadows, carrying displeasure at having his whereabouts exposed:

How did you know I didn't leave?

Lin Yueyin's figure slowly emerged from the darkness, her crimson eyes coldly staring at Li Zhi.

"I guessed," Li Zhi said frankly. "The reason is simple: the saintess behind you arranged for you to come here, so you wouldn't leave so easily."

"Do I look like such an obedient person?" Lin Yueyin snorted coldly, expressing her dissatisfaction.

"Of course not."

Li Zhi offered another seemingly reasonable reason: "However, a deep-seated blood feud can still make you submit."

Lin Yueyin's crimson eyes dimmed; clearly, Li Zhi was right.

Li Zhi smiled nonchalantly. "So, what are you betting on this?"

"What reason do I have to bet with you?"

In response to this defiant statement, Li Zhi said:

"Because my participation in the Dragon Gate Trial is part of your plan. If I'm not strong enough and can't even get past the first round, you'll look bad."

"Who told you this was our plan?" Lin Yueyin clearly didn't believe this claim.

Li Zhi glanced at Lin Yueyin, and seeing her so frank, shook his head: "It seems that Miss Lin really doesn't know."

"What do you mean by that?"

Lin Yueyin felt that she was being looked down upon. With her status and identity, how could she not know?

Li Zhi didn't explain, but said something that made Lin Yueyin even angrier:

"Miss Lin, just be the one who relays this message. Go back and tell your Holy Maiden that I want to have a bet with her."

He paused for a moment, then said, "As for what to bet on, let's bet on whether I can reach the third realm in seven days."

Are you sure?

Lin Yueyin's first reaction was that it was impossible; how could it be done in seven days?

Even Ji Baizhi looked at Li Zhi with some concern, although she believed that Li Zhi would soon reach the third realm of cultivation.

But seven days is too short, too fast.

It's so fast that it's laughable if you say it out loud.

"Of course I'm sure."

Li Zhi said confidently, "Cultivation requires motivation. After all, I'm not like the two of you. One of you carries a deep-seated blood feud, and the other shoulders a mountain of responsibility. We can't do without putting some pressure on ourselves."

Lin Yueyin, who had been singled out, glared at Li Zhi: "What are you going to do if you don't finish?"

"Do whatever you want with me," Li Zhi said nonchalantly. "I'll do whatever you want with me."

Before Lin Yueyin could speak, Ji Baizhi couldn't help but say, "Young Master, your bet is inappropriate."

"Isn't that inappropriate?" Li Zhi looked at Ji Baizhi: "Then tell me, what should I bet on?"

I think it's best not to bet on anything.

Ji Baizhi looked at Li Zhi with some resentment, like an incompetent wife watching her spendthrift husband squander the family fortune.

"That won't do, it's not fun at all."

Li Zhi refused outright and turned his gaze to Lin Yueyin: "What do you say?"

"What use are you to me?" Lin Yueyin replied with disdain.

Li Zhi didn't care about the stares; he clapped his hands lightly and said something to stir up trouble.

"I forgot that you don't have the final say anymore. Just go back and tell the Holy Maiden that she's very interested in me."

"Are you so sure the Saintess will agree?"

"Definitely." Li Zhi looked back at Ji Baizhi: "You must have heard Miss Ji's analysis just now. As a chess player, how could she let go of such a useful piece as me? She will definitely agree, after all, I am very precious."

"Shameless." Lin Yueyin squeezed out the four words from between her teeth.

"It's alright. If I were truly shameless," Li Zhi said, "I would probably say the wager is that if Miss Lin loses, she has to listen to me and do whatever I tell her to do."

"Shameless!" Lin Yueyin commented again, her crimson eyes flashing with anger. "You wish!"

"It's not that I'm being naive," Li Zhi shook his head, "but rather that I have a feeling that your saintess will definitely do it."

As he spoke, Li Zhi looked at Ji Baizhi and said, "I think Miss Ji, you probably guessed it already."

Ji Baizhi was stunned for a moment, then lowered her head to think. Soon, she understood.

If that saintess, like herself, also saw Li Zhi's future.

So, what would be her most direct and effective way of winning over and controlling others?

For a young man with immense potential but currently rootless and adrift.

What kind of bond is the strongest, the easiest to influence, and the hardest to break?

woman.

No wonder the Holy Maiden of the Heavenly Sect sent Lin Yueyin to pick up the person, and when she failed to do so, she even arranged for her to come to the young master's house to spar.

So, do you have any solutions?

No, absolutely not.

Li Zhi has now cooperated with Tianzong and has even made contact with Lin Yueyin.

Sigh, are all men this fickle?

Having figured it out, Ji Baizhi sighed softly, but there was little helplessness in her sigh; instead, there was a kind of resigned indulgence.

She turned to Lin Yueyin, her voice gentle yet clear: "Miss Lin, we may have to get along well from now on."

Lin Yueyin suddenly turned to look at Ji Baizhi, her eyes filled with disbelief: "What do you mean by this?"

The tone was so strange that Lin Yueyin felt her hair stand on end, as if she were about to lose something.

"I feel that Miss Ji must have misunderstood," Li Zhi echoed.

Ji Baizhi looked at Li Zhi with increasingly resentful eyes: "Young master, then tell me, if you win, what will you ask Miss Lin to do?"

"Anyway, I definitely won't do what you're thinking." Li Zhi shook his head.

"Young master, how do you know what I'm thinking?"

Ji Baizhi was somewhat unconvinced.

Lin Yueyin, seeing the two arguing in front of her, interrupted, "What are you two talking about?"

Ji Baizhi turned her head and looked at Lin Yueyin with some pity. This look made the sword-practicing genius of the Sword Sect subconsciously take a few steps back.

"Look, I scared that young girl." Li Zhi shook his head somewhat dejectedly: "Forget it, let's not gamble anymore."

"That's for the best." Ji Baizhi also withdrew her gaze.

Feeling like she'd made a fool of herself again, Lin Yueyin stepped forward: "Why not gamble?"

"Miss Lin, you shouldn't gamble anymore." Li Zhi waved his hand: "Miss Ji and I deliberately set this up just now to lure you into this trap."

"What you're saying is that you're guaranteed to win."

Lin Yueyin's tone was cold: "I don't believe you can do it. If you can't, you can just wait to serve me tea and water."

"What an innocent child," Li Zhi exclaimed. "All she does is serve tea and water."

"Young Master," Ji Baizhi scolded, "you still say it's not what I think."

"Miss Ji, you're wronging me." Li Zhi spread his hands, looking completely innocent. "If I were really that kind of person, how could you still be alright?"

Ji Baizhi fell silent, lowering her head shyly, letting the blush spread to her ears.

Even if Lin Yueyin was slow to react, she would realize that something was wrong with this appearance.

But the words have already been spoken; should I take them back?

Seeing Lin Yueyin's hesitation, Li Zhi teased with a smile, "It seems that Miss Lin doesn't want to gamble anymore. As expected, the people of the Sword Sect are not decisive enough in their actions."

This simple provocation instantly ignited the pride deep within Lin Yueyin.

"I'm betting," Lin Yueyin gritted her teeth. "I don't believe you can do it."

"Very good." Li Zhi extended his palm: "Let's make a vow with a high five."

"Hmph!" Lin Yueyin snorted coldly, but also extended her hand just as decisively.

"Snapped!"

A crisp clap rang out in the silent room, and the bet was made.