They all want to change my future.

Chapter 69 One Step Too Late

Lin Yueyin and Li Zhigang had not gone far from the Jingzhao Prefecture when they saw a familiar carriage speeding towards them.

The carriage also saw the two people and slowed down.

It then slowly came to a stop in front of the two of them.

The carriage curtain was gently lifted by a fair hand, and Ji Baizhi peeked out, her gaze first falling on Li Zhi, then sweeping over him to see Lin Yueyin standing beside him.

She didn't ask any pointless questions like "How are you?" or "Are you alright?" The scene before her eyes was enough to explain a lot.

It seems I'm a step too late again.

She had originally planned to arrive around the time the trial was scheduled to begin at the Jingzhao Prefecture, anticipating a result or a potential upheaval, whether to intervene in the name of the Zhaoyang Prefecture or to exert pressure as the Princess.

Unexpectedly, Lin Yueyin, who had been by his side all along, actually made a move. She hadn't made a move at the Red Silk Pavilion before, so why was she making a move now?

Shouldn't she be someone who wouldn't easily expose herself?

As a grandmaster sent by the sect to operate in the shadows, how could he be exposed so easily?

Did she want to do it herself?

In that case, are we going to ignore the responsibilities of the sect and the deep-seated hatred of blood feuds?

Obviously not. The fact that they took action only means that they received clear instructions from someone behind them.

Does that Heavenly Sect Saintess think so highly of the young master?

Ji Baizhi's mind raced, and her gaze toward Li Zhi was filled with resentment. Just how many people have you offended, young master?

But she still said softly, "Get in the carriage, young master."

Before Li Zhi could answer, Lin Yueyin, who was next to him, got into the car without hesitation.

Seeing this, Ji Baizhi did not object, but simply moved aside.

Seeing such restraint and the way they looked like they were about to fight, Li Zhi shook his head and got into the car as well.

The carriage was fairly spacious, so Ji Baizhi naturally sat in the main seat, while Lin Yueyin chose to sit diagonally opposite Ji Baizhi, creating a clear distinction between them.

Li Zhi casually sat down next to Lin Yueyin and faced Ji Baizhi.

Ji Baizhi frowned slightly. There was nothing wrong with Li Zhi's seat. It was the same seat when Li Zhi was brought to Zhaoyang Mansion last time. But now there was an extra person.

Her gaze swept over the excessively close distance between Lin Yueyin and Li Zhi, but before she could speak, Li Zhi seemed to suddenly understand something, and naturally stood up, moved to a different spot, and sat down directly next to Ji Baizhi.

This natural and considerate gesture instantly dispelled most of Ji Baizhi's earlier embarrassment at being a step too late, causing her brows to relax and even a hint of a smile to appear in her eyes.

Lin Yueyin, on the other side, saw all of this.

She curled her lips into a slight sneer, letting out a clearly mocking laugh: "You care about that much?"

Ji Baizhi, however, remained frank and open, meeting her gaze with a soft yet clear voice: "Of course I care."

She paused, then changed the subject, "And Miss Lin, if you didn't care, why did you take action today?"

Lin Yueyin wasn't angry at this counterattack; instead, she laughed, a somewhat mischievous laugh.

"If I said I cared about him too, which is why I protected him, and now I've even revealed my identity and moved into Zhaoyang Mansion with him, what would you do?"

Ji Baizhi wouldn't fall for such jealousy; she went straight to the point:

"By doing this, you are putting the young master in an even more dangerous position."

Li Zhi had only attracted so much attention because of his sect's background when he moved into Zhaoyang Prefecture. Now, a grandmaster had appeared, and was even protecting him, moving into Zhaoyang Prefecture to provide close protection.

Isn't this tantamount to telling everyone that he is extremely important, so important that a grandmaster needs to be by his side at all times?

Isn't this putting him on the hot seat?

Li Zhi naturally understood this principle, and Lin Yueyin understood it even better. She chuckled softly.

"So, you're objecting to me moving in? But is your objection even valid?"

Then, Lin Yueyin looked at Li Zhi and said, "I want to live in the courtyard that the emperor bestowed upon you. Do you agree?"

Li Zhi is currently living in a small courtyard with Ji Baizhi, and Lin Yueyin's words made the meaning quite clear.

Choose one side, me or her?

Faced with this sudden and chaotic scene, Li Zhi showed no fear or worry whatsoever. Instead, he looked at Ji Baizhi with great interest:

"Miss Ji, it's your turn to name your price."

Seeing this nonchalant attitude, Ji Baizhi immediately found it amusing and shook her head: "Young master, I don't have much to offer. You can go wherever you want."

"So it's to give me freedom. This price is good."

Li Zhi looked at Lin Yueyin, as if he was about to cause trouble.

But Lin Yueyin seemed to have expected this, her tone calm:

"Whatever he wants to do, I'll do for him."

"Oh?"

Li Zhi was somewhat surprised by this announcement, because it was not something Lin Yueyin would say; it was clear that someone had taught her to say it.

There are very few people who can teach.

"Given these conditions, what has the saintess behind you promised you?"

Lin Yueyin paused for a moment, seemingly considering her words.

Ji Baizhi held her breath and waited. Last time she lost to that mysterious saintess, and this time it was also her doing.

What kind of future did she see for the young master, and how did she persuade Lin Yueyin?

Facing the expectant and curious gazes of the two, Lin Yueyin spoke, her voice still flat, "It's my priority to show myself and protect him."

"So, you've obeyed?"

Ji Baizhi spoke up directly. She didn't believe that someone with Lin Yueyin's personality would give in so easily. There must be something else going on.

Li Zhi was also somewhat skeptical. He looked at the open and aboveboard Lin Yueyin, pondered for a moment, and then understood:

"I forgot, Miss Lin is a swordswoman, not an assassin. I think even without me, you would have to come out of the shadows at some point."

A hint of surprise flashed in Lin Yueyin's crimson eyes. She hadn't expected Li Zhi to guess that only an assassin would hide in the shadows, waiting for the right moment to deliver a fatal blow.

But she was not an assassin after all, nor was the Way of the Shadow.

Hearing Li Zhi's words, Ji Baizhi realized what was going on and said directly, "You're using my Zhaoyang Prefecture as a front to lure people into attacking."

Lin Yueyin remained silent in the face of such accusations, for they were, after all, true.

Seeing the awkward atmosphere in the carriage, Li Zhi smiled and said, "Alright, we're all in the same boat now, let's not talk about this anymore."

Lin Yueyin breathed a sigh of relief; she still had some sense of shame about this kind of thing.

Ji Baizhi was still somewhat unhappy. Seeing this, Li Zhi said again, "So, Miss Lin, you'll be staying in that courtyard by yourself."

"Huh?" Lin Yueyin was a little confused.

However, Ji Baizhi said directly, "It's settled then."

The matter has been resolved satisfactorily; congratulations!

Li Zhi shook his head and changed the subject: "Miss Lin, your identity has been exposed to Qu Hongxiao. What's your solution?"

Since it was destined to be exposed, the sect would definitely find a way to deal with the Star Gazing Tower.

What Li Zhi is curious about now is how the sect will deal with it.

But Lin Yueyin calmly replied, "She doesn't know."

Seeing Li Zhi's surprise and confusion, Lin Yueyin added, "She really didn't tell me, but she said she had a way and told me not to worry."