I Failed to Fake My Death After Scumming the Demon Lord [Transmigration] - Chapter 11

Chapter 11

Qin Gu originally wanted to go see Ji Yun, but the Alliance Leader’s edict had confined him to his room; if he even attempted to leave, he would be mercilessly bounced back by golden light.

Helpless, he entrusted Qing Li and the others to pass a message, urging Ji Yun not to plead for him.

Perhaps it was because of their fighting side-by-side against Yan Baishu that Ji Yun’s attitude toward him had undergone a 180-degree turn; his grand plan of feigning amnesia was showing initial success, but it shouldn’t have been happening here.

Qin Gu was now a sinner of the Immortal Alliance; Ji Yun could not stand on his side. If he didn’t know that Ji Yun’s temper would never allow him to agree, he would have even wanted to persuade Ji Yun to draw a line between them.

With his knuckles tapping the table rhythmically, Qin Gu looked out the window, and after a long while, he let out a heavy sigh.

Visits were forbidden before the punishment. Under the effect of the edict, even a mosquito couldn’t enter Qin Gu’s door, let alone the disciples of the Medicine Supervision Division.

Consequently, his daily spiritual nourishment therapy was forced to be canceled, despite Shan Cang’s thousand urgings and ten thousand warnings for Qin Gu to take his spiritual medicine on time to prevent long-term illness.

But Qin Gu did not follow the doctor’s orders.

He always felt that Qin Rulian’s gaze carried profound meaning, and the Alliance Leader’s edict was riddled with strange elements.

Qin Rulian could have dragged him to the execution ground immediately; why wait for three days? Furthermore, Shan Cang couldn’t possibly have failed to report his physical condition; in other words, Qin Rulian couldn’t be unaware that he was currently unable to withstand such severe punishment.

So why this harsh tone?

Qin Gu couldn’t figure it out. Anyway, there was still some time until the three days were up, so he sat on the bed cross-legged, pressed three fingers of each palm together, and channeled his internal energy to heal himself.

When practicing internal arts, cultivators easily enter a state of selflessness. Qin Gu felt his consciousness sinking deeper and deeper, and soon, a light appeared before him.

“Senior Brother.”

A deep, magnetic call rang in his ear, carrying a thick layer of mockery.

Qin Gu opened his eyes and asked vigilantly: “Who is it?”

He could sense intense murderous intent approaching, yet he hesitated because of that call of “Senior Brother.”

“Senior Brother,” a leg stepped out of the black mist, followed by the hem of a black robe and a purple vest dragging on the ground. Further up, a pair of dark purple eyes were watching him with great interest. “Don’t you recognize me anymore?”

The newcomer was tall—a full head taller than Qin Gu—and his features were as exquisite as if carved from ice. One couldn’t help but sigh that anyone could be born so flawlessly perfect. Qin Gu’s alarm grew as he tried to identify him, and once he saw those familiar eyes and the black-purple dragon mark between his brows, he couldn’t control himself and took a step back.

His voice trembled: “Ji Yun!”

This was not the fourteen-year-old youth Ji Yun he knew, but the adult Demon Lord Ji Yun from the original story!

What is going on? Why am I seeing Demon Lord Ji Yun?

He looked around and realized he was on the training stage of the Drink Maple Pavilion—the very spot under the giant maple tree that supported the entire mountain gate.

Qin Gu retreated while calling for the system in his heart, but no one responded.

He stepped back once, and Ji Yun stepped forward once, like a cat toying with a mouse. Even their pace was synchronized, and the smile on his face grew deeper.

Ji Yun smiled: “Why is Senior Brother retreating? Could it be that you don’t want to see me?”

As he finished speaking, his figure vanished from the spot. The next moment, rolling demonic aura surged over. Qin Gu instinctively raised his palm to defend, but he didn’t last even a second before his whole body was sent flying back by the demonic aura!

His back slammed heavily against the maple tree trunk, and a coldness like a venomous snake suddenly climbed up his neck. Ji Yun’s ice-cold palm clamped down, and as his knuckles tightened, the veins on Qin Gu’s neck bulged.

The adult Ji Yun had incredible arm strength; he lifted Qin Gu off the ground with one hand. As his feet were forced off the floor, the feeling of suffocation intensified aggressively.

As death approached, Qin Gu struggled to lift his eyes: “Why are you…”

Ji Yun grinned, suddenly letting go of his hand, leaving Qin Gu to collapse against the maple tree with his legs feeling limp, clutching his throat and gasping for air.

“Senior Brother,” he smiled brightly, with a hint of distortion, “Why aren’t you begging me this time?”

With a pfft, Qin Gu felt sweetness in his throat, and soon, thick blood foam sprayed from between his lips.

Ji Yun’s sword had pierced through his chest.

His vision began to dim and fade. He struggled to look at the Demon Lord Ji Yun—mad, bloodthirsty, and shattered.

Qin Gu trembled uncontrollably, feeling fear deep into his marrow.

The sound of the door opening dragged Qin Gu out from the depths of his nightmare. He opened his eyes, and the same Demon-Slaying Division disciples bowed to him again: “Young Alliance Leader, please.”

His eardrums were throbbing. Qin Gu caught his breath, then got out of bed and gestured for them to lead the way.

He had adjusted his breathing for three days and three nights, but instead of feeling relaxed, he was exhausted because of the appearance of Demon Lord Ji Yun. His complexion was even more frightening than three days ago, causing the Demon-Slaying Division disciples to steal extra glances at him.

Qin Gu called the system in his heart, and this time the mechanical voice responded:

The ‘Grand Reunion System’ is currently updating and upgrading. Are you satisfied with the ‘Immersive Reading (Trial Version)’ feature?

Qin Gu: …

What a great ‘immersive’ experience. Directly experiencing the original body’s way of death—truly a one-step solution.

He viciously replied, “Not satisfied!” and just as he did, the footsteps of the leading disciple stopped.

Qin Gu raised his eyes, and upon seeing the scene before him, he felt dizzy.

The place of punishment was nowhere else but the training stage of the Drink Maple Pavilion.

Knowing that he had just been pierced through by Ji Yun here, he couldn’t help but feel his scalp tingle.

Many people surrounded the training stage. Seeing him escorted by the Demon-Slaying Division, they all looked over.

Their gazes were complex—curiosity, pity, gloating… all of them.

Qin Gu ignored them all.

Halfway through his visual sweep, his expression stiffened.

Beside Shan Cang, who looked pained, stood a delicate young man, upright and straight. A pair of dark purple eyes were watching him without blinking.

His breathing became labored again. Qin Gu took a deep breath, avoiding Ji Yun’s gaze.

It wasn’t that he didn’t want to see Ji Yun; it was simply that the psychological shadow hadn’t dissipated yet, and seeing him made him want to run away.

The whispering suddenly stopped.

Qin Rulian wore red, like a dazzling maple leaf, standing at the highest point of the training stage.

Lu Mi, the Master of the Demon-Slaying Division, whom he had met once before, walked down the long steps. As he walked, Qin Rulian’s voice rang out simultaneously.

“Sinner Qin Gu, you have violated the First and Sixteenth Decrees of the Immortal Alliance. Through negligence, you allowed monsters to escape, causing innocent commoners to suffer. According to the law, you are to be punished by the whip.”

As she finished speaking, Lu Mi had reached Qin Gu.

Everyone else retreated to the side. Lu Mi pressed his palms together, condensing spiritual power into a soft whip, dragging it on the ground. The tail of the whip curled up like a venomous scorpion, its silver hook cold and sharp.

This whip was called the Scorpion Bone Whip, forged from the exoskeleton of the Four-Eyed Scorpion, a beast from the Demonic Realm.

The sound of people gasping in shock followed one after another, but Lu Mi remained unmoved: “Young Alliance Leader, please.”

Qin Gu said: “Thank you for the trouble, Master Lu.”

Removing his outer robe, he knelt on his knees in only his thin inner garments.

The inner clothes were pure white, yet the youth’s face was devoid of color; for a moment, it was hard to tell who was paler.

The silver hook broke through the air with a swish. To Lu Mi, the heavy whip was nothing more than a casual swing.

The Scorpion Bone Whip moved like a snake in the air; it looked soft, but when it landed, it was harder than steel.

Qin Gu had clearly underestimated the power of the Scorpion Bone Whip. With the first lash, his vision went black, and he sprayed a mouthful of blood into the air!

With that, not only was he stunned, but the entire field of cultivators fell into dead silence. Even Lu Mi’s hand, which had been swinging the whip, paused.

Blood was splattered all over the training stage. Qin Gu breathed out shakily, straightening his back again.

Twenty-one lashes. That was only the first one.

Lu Mi sneered: “You still have some backbone.”

Having the first lash as a baseline, Qin Gu had a much clearer understanding of the Scorpion Bone Whip. Thus, the following few lashes didn’t result in any more shocking scenes of vomiting blood.

However, holding back the bloody sweetness in his throat did not mean he didn’t want to vomit.

Lu Mi had absolutely no intention of showing mercy. Every lash tore flesh from bone. By the time a few lashes had passed and the Scorpion Bone Whip was raised again, drops of blood followed it, drawing an arc in the air.

Another lash fell. The forced-up internal energy was completely shattered. Qin Gu could no longer support himself, tipping forward, his elbows barely propping him up from hitting the ground directly.

His white clothes had become blood-stained; his long hair was disheveled, and he was in a state of utter wretchedness.

The disciples of the Drink Maple Pavilion were all there, as were the Masters of the various divisions of the Immortal Alliance.

Everyone was watching him receive the punishment.

If the original body were here, he would probably have felt unspeakable shame and been embarrassed enough to die; however, the experiences of his first half of life had made Qin Gu accustomed to the pitying gazes of others, so he didn’t feel any dissatisfaction.

He pushed his palms against his knees to straighten his body, swallowed a mouthful of blood and foam with a bob of his Adam’s apple, and Qin Gu said: “Master Lu, please continue.”

Lu Mi made a gesture to raise the whip, but a figure suddenly leaped down from the viewing stand.

“Master!” Ji Yun leaped over in two or three steps, kneeling heavily, “Senior Brother is already injured; he really cannot take any more lashes!”

Qin Gu never expected it would be Ji Yun pleading for him first. The back of the youth before him overlapped with the figure of the Demon Lord, leaving him speechless for a moment.

Before Qin Rulian could respond, Lu Mi snorted first: “How can the Alliance Leader’s decree be changed as you wish?”

These words were very harsh. Qin Gu’s eyelid jumped when he heard them: Why does Lu Mi have such hostility toward him? What did the original body do to offend Lu Mi?

He thought again: the original body had offended many people, so he probably couldn’t even remember himself.

He hurried to say: “Ji Yun, don’t be unruly!”

He didn’t even realize how intimate that sounded, like a big cat holding the scruff of a naughty cub’s neck.

Ji Yun’s brow twitched. He turned to face Lu Mi, their gazes meeting, sparking silent smoke.

Ji Yun said: “I was also involved in this matter. If Master Lu insists on carrying out the punishment, I will take the remaining eleven lashes in my Senior Brother’s stead.”

Qin Gu: …

He had gone to such great lengths to clear Ji Yun of any involvement. He felt a sudden tightness in his chest and covered it, coughing up a mouthful of blood.

The training stage, which had been filled with constant whispers due to Ji Yun’s outburst, fell into dead silence.

The next moment, two more green figures leaped down.

Qing Li knelt beside Ji Yun: “Qingsong Temple also shares the fault. We request the Alliance Leader to allow the two of us brothers to take the punishment for the Young Alliance Leader!”

Qing Yu nodded: “Yes.”

Shan Cang cried out even louder: “Alliance Leader, if you keep hitting him, the Young Alliance Leader will bleed dry! You are fair and impartial—you must wait until he has fully recovered before carrying out the rest of the punishment!”

His words gave Qin Rulian a ready-made step to take, but Qin Rulian did not answer directly, instead looking around: “What is everyone’s opinion?”

Except for Lu Mi, no one dared to openly go against the Alliance Leader’s son. They immediately said in unison: “We request the Alliance Leader to show mercy.”

Qin Rulian then said: “Since that is the case, then follow Elder Shan Cang’s request. Qin Gu, I shall spare you this time.”

Qin Gu was immediately helped up by the others, but Qin Rulian did not let him leave: “Qin Gu, you stay.”

Qin Gu had no choice but to stay. Once the crowd had dispersed, he walked to Qin Rulian’s side.

Qin Rulian’s gaze lingered for a moment on the bloodstains crisscrossing his back, and she asked: “Do you know how your father died?”

Qin Gu looked up in astonishment, only to see Qin Rulian’s expression was calm, as if she were talking about something that had nothing to do with her.

She took a step and said to Qin Gu: “Follow me.”

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