Ji Bo'an froze.
Ji Xiangyun and Wu Lingyun both looked at Chen Jinzhao in surprise, not understanding why Chen Jinzhao would suddenly say such a thing.
"I'm taking advantage of the fact that I'm two cycles older than you and daring to call you Little Chen. You don't mind, do you?" Ji Xiangyun said.
Chen Jinzhao said calmly, "Of course not."
Ji Xiangyun's father, the old master of the Ji family, was a renowned military general and the commander of the three armies in the Three Northeastern Provinces. In terms of status, he was no less than the old masters of the Su and Han families, and perhaps even superior.
As for Ji Xiangyun, he had served in the army with competence and had never made any mistakes.
Such a person was Chen Jinzhao's senior, and he deserved the respect.
Ji Xiangyun nodded and said, "I can tell that Little Chen has some reservations about our Ji family. I'd like to know why?"
"Has our Ji family offended Little Chen in some way?"
"Just tell us, and our Ji family will correct it."
Chen Jinzhao was also very surprised.
Ji Xiangyun gave him a very kind and amiable impression, and was willing to humble himself to talk with Chen Jinzhao, unlike the aloof attitude of the Su and Han families. Chen Jinzhao wondered if he had misjudged, and if the Ji family had no problems at all.
Then how could Dai Yin's behavior be explained?
"Since the elder has spoken, I won't beat around the bush with your Ji family. Don't you think the Ji family, from top to bottom, exudes a strange aura? Everyone appears to be smiling, but it's a smile devoid of emotion, like a machine. Coupled with the surveillance every three steps within the Ji family, it's truly unsettling. If you're here for me, then please, just make your move."
"Cousin, what are you talking about?" Wu Lingyun sounded anxious.
Chen Jinzhao stared into Ji Xiangyun's eyes. If Ji Xiangyun were lying, he wouldn't be able to hide it. Ji Xiangyun's expression became even more puzzled. "Really? I don't feel anything wrong. Or is it that I'm old and senile and can't see it?"
Wu Lingyun chimed in, "Yes, cousin, I also think the Ji family is fine."
Obviously.
Wu Lingyun was lying.
Since entering the Ji family, she had mentioned more than once that there was something fishy about the Ji family.
What puzzled Chen Jinzhao even more was Ji Xiangyun. The old man's gaze was sincere, and it was clear he wasn't lying.
This further muddled Chen Jinzhao's thoughts. He tried to untangle the threads of the situation, only to find it all shrouded in mystery, impossible to see through.
"Then perhaps I was mistaken," Chen Jinzhao said, shaking his head.
Wu Lingyun seized the opportunity, picked up Chen Jinzhao's wine cup, and said, "Cousin, Brother Ji is still waiting for you to toast him. Why don't you two have one first?"
Chen Jinzhao turned to look at Ji Bo'an, who was still standing there, holding his wine cup.
Meeting Chen Jinzhao's gaze, Ji Bo'an raised his cup to Chen Jinzhao, "It is my honor to toast with you. Please grant me some face."
Chen Jinzhao naturally did not toast him.
Everything that had happened in the Ji family was so bizarre that it made Chen Jinzhao feel deeply uneasy. He now felt that perhaps he shouldn't have come to the Ji family.
"General Chen, what's wrong?" Ji Bo'an asked with a smile.
The next moment, Chen Jinzhao felt his head swim and his vision distort and blur.
Ji Xiangyun, sitting opposite him, still had that benevolent smile on his face. Ji Bo'an continued to smile and raise his cup, and Wu Lingyun was also smiling at Chen Jinzhao.
Clatter!
Chen Jinzhao dropped his cup and suddenly stood up.
He couldn't stay in this damned place any longer, or something bad would happen.
Wu Lingyun placed her hands on Chen Jinzhao's shoulders and asked with a look of confusion, "Cousin, what's wrong?"
"I don't feel well. Perhaps I should leave," Chen Jinzhao said.
He was trying to steady his shaking body, not wanting the Ji family to notice anything, lest it lead to his demise.
Wu Lingyun chattered, "Cousin, you seem quite serious. Why don't we rest here at the Ji family for a while?"
Chen Jinzhao's tone became firm, "No, I need to leave now."
What made Chen Jinzhao feel even more ominous was that his limbs were gradually losing strength. If he didn't leave soon, he would become a lamb to the slaughter at the Ji family's hands.
Wu Lingyun nodded, then turned to Ji Bo'an and said, "Brother Ji, my cousin isn't feeling well, and I'm truly sorry that we can't stay any longer."
"Cousin, let's go."
Wu Lingyun helped Chen Jinzhao to walk out. Before they reached the door, they saw ten sturdy young men in black standing at the entrance of the main hall, completely blocking their path. Chen Jinzhao clenched his fists tightly, contemplating a plan.
"Brother Ji, what does this mean?" Wu Lingyun's face darkened.
These ten men in black held iron bars and stood at the doorway, making it obvious to anyone that they had ill intentions.
Ji Bo'an put down his wine cup and sat down.
Ji Xiangyun said with a smile, "Little Chen, let's talk things over. If you're not feeling well, I can have the family's private doctor examine you. Let's finish our meal first."
Wu Lingyun looked at Chen Jinzhao anxiously.
Chen Jinzhao took a deep breath. His vision remained distorted. In his eyes, Ji Xiangyun and Ji Bo'an appeared as two monstrous figures with ferocious faces. Their smiles were no longer polite, but rather bloody and cruel.
After calming down, Chen Jinzhao said to Wu Lingyun, "Let's sit down first. I'm currently incapacitated and will leave after resting for a while."
"Then, alright." Wu Lingyun helped Chen Jinzhao to sit down again.
Chen Jinzhao felt a little better after sitting down, though his vision remained distorted. It felt like a dream, because he knew that the scene before him was not real.
"Ji Bo'an, your methods are truly brilliant," Chen Jinzhao said with a wry smile.
"I've been on the battlefield for many years, and I've never encountered such a terrifying poison. I just want to know how it was administered to me?"
"Airborne poisoning?"
"If nothing unexpected happens, this seems to be a neurotoxin."
Upon hearing Chen Jinzhao's words, Ji Bo'an was a little surprised. "As expected of the Candle Dragon. You've guessed most of it in such a short time. But what use is it even if you've guessed it? You're already weak all over, having difficulty breathing, and experiencing hallucinations. In other words, you've become my plaything, with no chance of escape."
Wu Lingyun turned to look at Chen Jinzhao. Chen Jinzhao's expression was calm. "How do you know I have no power to resist anymore?"
"Do you believe that with my current strength, I can still kill all of you?"
A dismissive smile appeared on Ji Bo'an's lips.
"I believe you."
"Of course, I believe you. After all, you are the world-renowned Candle Dragon. We would never dare to underestimate a terrifying existence like you."
"But if you kill us, you will die too."