Breaking Army - Chapter 22.1

You Chang and Xiao Chen actually shared a similar train of thought, though not regarding the unrequited love part. Rather, Xiao Chen was wondering if Rong Yuan might be one of his admirers. It wasn’t that the Prince of Po Jun was conceited, but he had seen that specific look in the eyes of countless juniors. It was human nature to admire the strong, and his own legends were so numerous that many of his stories were captivating just to hear.

Xiao Chen had not yet made the connection between Rong Yuan and the “Ghost Face” who had followed him centuries ago. Although Ghost Face wore a mask, his spiritual energy was that of a genuine inhabitant of the Heaven Realm. Who would ever associate that prickly Ghost Face child with the current Sovereign of the Underworld?

He still felt that he and Rong Yuan had very little overlap in the past, and thus concluded that Rong Yuan’s feelings were likely just those of deep respect.

This estimation was off by more than ten thousand miles.

With only the two of them left in the hall, Xiao Chen had a stomach full of things to say. However, as the words reached his lips, he couldn’t decide on the order. Every sentence wanted to rush out first, but he only had one mouth. For a moment, Xiao Chen could only fall silent. Since he was quiet and Rong Yuan was unable to speak, the hall suddenly became so still that one could hear a pin drop.

While Xiao Chen was still debating which sentence to use as an opening gambit, Rong Yuan suddenly manifested three large characters: “I am sorry.”

The handwriting was much larger than usual, as if he were terrified someone wouldn’t see it clearly. Even the strokes were thicker. Xiao Chen wasn’t blind. “Why are you apologizing?”

“My true form descended to the mortal realm, and you are angry,” Rong Yuan struck first, listing everything he could think of. “Also, hiding the matter of the Purple Lotus from you and secretly following you to the mortal realm, I am very sorry for all of it.”

Good grief, Xiao Chen thought. You’ve done all the deeds and said all the words, what’s left for me to do? “Sovereign,” Xiao Chen said helplessly.

Rong Yuan: “Just call me Rong Yuan.”

He loved hearing Xiao Chen call him by his name.

Whether Xiao Chen acknowledged it or not, after that journey to the mortal world, the relationship between them had indeed undergone a subtle change. Most notably, the attitude in his heart toward Rong Yuan had become different. He nodded and followed suit, changing the address: “Rong Yuan.”

Xiao Chen set the zither aside and finally managed to pull out one sentence. “Did it hurt?”

Hmm? Rong Yuan didn’t react for a moment. Seeing that the ink didn’t move, Xiao Chen knew he didn’t understand. “I mean, when Mu Qing was injured.”

Ah. Rong Yuan shook his head: “It didn’t hurt.”

“Liar. A piercing blow through the heart and bones, who would dare say it doesn’t hurt?” The corners of Xiao Chen’s mouth twitched. Though he smiled, the warmth didn’t reach his eyes. “Is there even one truth in every ten words you say?”

Rong Yuan could not stand to see Xiao Chen distressed or disappointed. He hurried to write: “I may have secrets from you, but I do not wish to lie to you.”

“Oh,” Xiao Chen said leisurely. “Then what about that ‘heart’s beloved’ Mu Qing mentioned?”

Rong Yuan: “…”

The older ginger was indeed spicier, Rong Yuan had walked right into the pit.

Back in the mortal realm, Rong Yuan hadn’t expected their travels to end so quickly. Furthermore, the atmosphere at the time had been just right to let the words flow. His identity as Mu Qing hadn’t lasted long enough to cover his tracks, and now it had become a massive pitfall.

Seeing his body stiffen, Xiao Chen said knowingly, “It seems it was true. Since you have someone you love that much, yet you married me just to save my life, it is I who have wronged the both of you—”

“No.”

“Hmm?” Xiao Chen stopped as he looked at the two words appearing before Rong Yuan.

Rong Yuan hadn’t intended to reveal his heart so soon because, to Xiao Chen, he was merely someone he had known for a short time. He didn’t want Xiao Chen to find it abrupt. But if he remained silent now, the misunderstanding would be too great. In the several hundred years since his birth, Rong Yuan had only ever been moved by one person. Others could speculate all they wanted, but Xiao Chen… he absolutely did not want Xiao Chen to think he loved someone else.

Thus, the writing before him changed: “That person is you.”

He saw Xiao Chen’s expression freeze for a split second, his eyes slowly widening.

Rong Yuan’s hand, hidden by his long sleeve, quietly clenched. His palm was slick with sweat. Wearing a mask had its perks, at least Xiao Chen couldn’t see his current gaze. He waited quietly for Xiao Chen’s verdict, or perhaps.

He heard Xiao Chen let out a sigh.

Rong Yuan’s heart tightened instantly.

In the mortal realm, when his avatar’s heart was pierced, he truly hadn’t felt much pain because he was used to it. The sting of mortal iron was negligible. Yet at this moment, he felt the long-forgotten, tight thudding of a heart, coming from deep within, far more agonizing than any physical wound.

He understood. It was still too early. He knew that. But even if his mind understood clearly, his emotions were uncontrollable. Rong Yuan took a light breath, desperately suppressing his bitterness, telling himself there was no need to rush.

Xiao Chen sighed, reaching out to pat Rong Yuan on the shoulder. Rong Yuan lowered his gaze, not daring to look at him for a moment.

He heard Xiao Chen say, “You can’t be like this.”

Rong Yuan swallowed. His throat, which hadn’t made a sound in centuries, felt filled with bitterness. He tried to curl the corners of his mouth, preparing to show Xiao Chen a handsome smile when he looked up, but he knew without a mirror that his smile would not look good.

Xiao Chen spoke with the tone of a concerned elder. “You’ve only heard stories. You’ve developed an admiration for the ‘me’ in the legends. That cannot be considered true love.”

Rong Yuan: “…”

He slowly raised his head, completely stunned.

“I was only guessing before,” Xiao Chen said in all seriousness, “but did you see the reaction of the underworld officials when I played the zither just now? That is the normal reaction. Young man, you’ve been far too poisoned by the legends.”

The reason Rong Yuan could remain as steady as a mountain amidst that music was because he had been there during the Battle of Wangfeng Valley! He was the one who had brought the zither to Xiao Chen in the first place.

Back then, Xiao Chen had placed a barrier in front of their army to block spiritual energy. Then, carrying the zither, he went alone to break the enemy formation. He poured his spiritual power into the music, shattering the enemy’s arrays and scattering them into a mess. Even with the protection of the barrier on their side, many soldiers were still shaken to the point of vomiting by Xiao Chen’s zither music. Although they won that battle easily, the participating soldiers all returned with pale faces, their awe of Xiao Chen growing by leaps and bounds.

The Fox Song of the Yao Tribe, who used to pretentiously pester Xiao Chen to discuss elegance and music, never dared to mention it again after that battle. He even tucked away his precious flute. No one dared to flaunt a musical instrument in front of the Star King anymore, fearing they might pique his interest and cause him to play a tune.

Rong Yuan had heard that earth-shattering melody with his own ears. What was there left to endure? If anything, hearing it again after all these years made him feel quite nostalgic.

Xiao Chen adopted the tone of a senior, offering patient guidance. “Simple admiration is one thing, but how can you give your whole heart and soul to someone you don’t actually know? The legends exaggerate many things about me. Aside from the fact that I am indeed very good at fighting, you can’t believe the rest. Look at me, from our first meeting to now, do I look like someone high and mighty and omnipotent? In matters of love, you must see your own heart clearly. You cannot just follow the crowd. You are the master of a realm. Although you aren’t very old, since you sit on the throne of the Sovereign, you must learn to be mature and steady.”

Rong Yuan: “…”

He wasn’t, he didn’t. He saw his own heart with absolute clarity. “Xiao Chen” was carved onto it in giant letters, there was no room for anyone else.

Xiao Chen thought he couldn’t distinguish between admiration and love, yet he had been pondering this for centuries. No matter what seed the feeling had sprouted from, by now, the person his heart desired was Xiao Chen and only Xiao Chen.

Ghost Face had once insisted on leaving the Underworld because he thought the hearts of the world were ultimately chaotic and that the Star King of legend might just be a hypocritical gentleman. He had approached Xiao Chen with malicious speculation, only to find that after meeting him, a piercing light had shattered his endless abyss of night. From then on, the man named Xiao Chen took root in his soul and could never be moved.

If he were just Ghost Face, Rong Yuan would have likely confessed everything. He would have told Xiao Chen that he didn’t just have fantasies based on legends, that his deep-rooted love wasn’t without cause. The person he liked was never the Xiao Chen in other people’s mouths. The one he loved was the Xiao Chen who showed Ghost Face what it meant to be “human.”

But he couldn’t say any of that now.

He could only write: “Please believe me, my feelings are not shallow.”

Xiao Chen nodded with a solemn expression. “I know. I don’t doubt your sincerity. You just haven’t recognized your true heart yet.”

Rong Yuan: “…”

Rong Yuan deeply experienced the meaning of the phrase “shooting oneself in the foot” twice in one day.

Actually, getting this result was considered not bad. At least Xiao Chen hadn’t pushed him thousands of miles away or shown any signs of repulsion. It was truly an improvement. The fact that Xiao Chen could get so angry over his true form descending to the mortal realm proved that he already felt some level of closeness to Rong Yuan. However, this also made him even more afraid to tell Xiao Chen certain things… because those things were even more out of line than descending in his true form.

Rong Yuan slowly calmed his mind. Although revealing his feelings had caused a bit of a misunderstanding, at least they were out in the open. He no longer had to deliberately hide them. A line of text floated before him: “Give me some time, and I will prove it.”

Xiao Chen said nothing, his gaze very understanding. What he was thinking was: I’ll give you some time, and you’ll figure it out for yourself.

Having “understood” why Rong Yuan was so devoted to him, Xiao Chen spoke plainly. “I’ll be straightforward then. Sov… Rong Yuan, I asked before if you needed any repayment. Have you thought of it yet?”

Rong Yuan shook his head. Xiao Chen gave him a look as if he were a hopeless case and said, “Then I’ll keep it in mind. I will definitely return this favor.”

Rong Yuan did not refuse. He nodded, choosing to retreat in order to advance.

Since the favor hadn’t been returned, there was one thing Xiao Chen wouldn’t bring up for now, and that was divorce.

Even though Geng Xie kept mentioning “divorce” during their talk, given Xiao Chen’s character, there was no way he could say it at this moment. Look at it this way: someone admires you, you are essentially strangers, yet he is willing to use his soul-born Purple Lotus to save you, and afterward he is unrepentant and asks for nothing in return. And you? You get the poison cleared and immediately want to divorce him, running away after using him? Just hearing it made him feel like a total jerk.

Well then… he would wait until Rong Yuan recognized his true feelings before divorcing. Regardless, Xiao Chen couldn’t return to the Star Realm for now, and the underworld energy wouldn’t affect him. He had to stay somewhere, and if he encountered something where he could help Rong Yuan, he could use the opportunity to return the favor.

That was assuming everything Rong Yuan said was true.

Now that the matter of his poisoning had revealed the tip of the iceberg, anyone who could actively enter this game could not possibly be an innocent white flower. Whether Rong Yuan was merely caught up in it or had plans from the start remained to be seen.

“Don’t just keep standing there. You’re in your own territory, what are you doing?” Xiao Chen didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. Rong Yuan was still standing there like a student being scolded.

Rong Yuan didn’t mind: “Apologizing this way shows more sincerity.”

“Don’t be like that, please sit.”

With everyone else gone, Xiao Chen personally poured a cup of tea for Rong Yuan. Rong Yuan obediently sat across from him and picked up the cup. Xiao Chen’s gaze brushed over his jawline. “Speaking of which, was Mu Qing’s face your actual appearance?”

“Yes, it was how I looked in my youth.”

It really was. Xiao Chen couldn’t help but think that on the day Rong Yuan finally took off his mask, the title of the number one handsome man in the six realms might just fall on his head. “Didn’t you say before that you couldn’t show your true face?”

Rong Yuan’s drinking did not hinder the text appearing before him, but every time he “replied,” his lips would not be touching the cup, remaining perfectly polite: “It was my ‘current’ true face that I couldn’t show.”

“I see.” Xiao Chen understood. He really was playing with words, the current face was a no-go, but a past one was fine.

Seeing the topic had shifted, Rong Yuan brought up official business. “I just interrogated Hua Wuhen. He is related to your poisoning.”

The Star Kings had discovered the “Yearning,” but they didn’t know why it was toxic. Rong Yuan recounted the clues he had searched from Hua Wuhen’s memory. Xiao Chen listened, realizing this also involved the Yao Realm. He mused, “It seems a trip to the Yao Realm is necessary.”

“There is more.” Rong Yuan set down his teacup, the porcelain clinking softly. Writing slowly drifted before him: “On our wedding day, I saved some of your poisoned blood. I detected the presence of Underworld Water within it.”

Saving Xiao Chen’s poisoned blood in secret wasn’t exactly something that sounded good, but since Xiao Chen now believed he was an admirer, many actions could be explained away. An admirer doing things for Xiao Chen and caring about him wasn’t unusual, right?

As expected, Xiao Chen didn’t take issue with the matter of the blood. He gave Rong Yuan a surprised look. Underworld Water could only be obtained by someone from the Underworld. If there was Underworld Water in the poison, it confirmed that an inhabitant of the Underworld was involved. Rong Yuan had even told him this, was he not afraid that Xiao Chen would suspect him as well?

Xiao Chen weighed this in his mind, his face showing an appropriate expression. “Thank you for telling me.”

“When Your Highness suppressed the rebellion, you finally ended the days of countless wandering souls. You have done a great service to the Underworld. If there truly is an Underworld inhabitant with ill intentions trying to harm Your Highness, I will certainly not show favoritism. I will give Your Highness justice.”

“Since you’ve asked me to call you by your name, you don’t need to keep using honorifics for me,” Xiao Chen said. “Just call me by my name as well.”

Rong Yuan paused. He nodded and raised his hand. While he didn’t need to use his hands to manifest words with spiritual energy, at this moment, Rong Yuan’s fingertips traced the air. Lightly yet solemnly, stroke by stroke, he outlined Xiao Chen’s name.

“Xiao Chen.”

It was the name carved into his very life.

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