I Faked My Death After Choosing the Wrong Protagonist - Chapter 18

Shen Qingzhuo remained expressionless, exuding the natural aura of a cold, noble scion as he approached. The moment he spoke, even more people turned to watch the scene.

Behind him stood Qi Ye, looking startled and frozen in place.

Lin Sheng was bewildered. He leaned toward Qi Anning and whispered, “What is Master Shen saying? What does he mean?”

Qi Anning was speechless.

What is happening? Shouldn’t Master Shen be thanking me? Why is he taking issue with this first?

Perhaps Master Shen saw how much he desired the Seven-Leaf Jialan and decided to give it to him right here?

Qi Anning nervously twisted his small hands. Truthfully, the herb wasn’t a necessity for him; as long as he had someone to protect him and remained beautiful, his cultivation level was secondary. He simply wanted others to believe he held a special place in Master Shen’s eyes.

“…What a coincidence, Master Shen. We meet again!” Qi Anning raised a hand, attempting to act familiar.

Shen Qingzhuo ignored the pleasantries. “The Seven-Leaf Jialan—may I see it?”

Qi Anning didn’t know what to do. If he spoke up now, everyone would know he had lied. But if he didn’t, the consequences of Master Shen’s anger would be even worse.

He stammered, his eyes darting about as he tried to signal a silent plea for help to Shen Qingzhuo. “Master Shen, do you want to take the Seven-Leaf Jialan back? I’m sorry… I didn’t know you still wanted it, so I put it up for auction. It’s no longer in my hands, but if you want it, I can take you there!”

In reality, Qi Anning had commissioned a fake imitation of the herb. He figured that since no one had actually seen a Seven-Leaf Jialan, its appearance was whatever he claimed it to be.

In the Underground Market, transactions between cultivators are kept confidential. For major items, bidders often hide their identities to avoid being targeted for their treasures.

On the Nine Provinces Continent, there are two types of people: ordinary citizens and cultivators. While ordinary people live in harmony and regulations mandate peaceful coexistence between the two groups, cultivators are different amongst themselves their world is often one of savagery and blood.

Qi Anning never expected that Shen Qingzhuo would actually appear at the Underground Market.

Shen Qingzhuo raised his gaze slightly, signaling for Qi Anning to lead the way.

Qi Anning panicked completely. Did Master Shen not understand my hints? Why does he still want me to lead the way? Left with no choice, he could only push forward.

The “Seven-Leaf Jialan” brought by Qi Anning was currently on the auction stage. The bidding had ceased at a final price of 70,000 Profound Crystals.

Before Shen Qingzhuo even reached the stage, his voice rang out: “I bid 200,000.”

A collective gasp filled the hall. Even the auctioneer took a moment to recover before shouting:

“200,000, going once!” “200,000, going twice!” “200,000, three times! Does any other cultivator wish to increase the bid? If not, the Seven-Leaf Jialan belongs to this gentleman!”

For smaller families, 200,000 crystals was a sum they couldn’t produce even if they liquidated their entire estates. Though tempted, they could only watch.

All eyes fell on Shen Qingzhuo. Many did not know his identity but wished to see the man who would throw away 200,000 crystals on a single herb.

To everyone’s shock, the moment Shen Qingzhuo received the “Seven-Leaf Jialan,” he took one look and crushed it into powder between his fingers.

“This… who is this man? This is such a waste of a heavenly treasure!”

“But he is a Heavenly Profound!” When Shen Qingzhuo moved his energy, the pale blue light belonging only to top-tier Heavenly Profound experts was visible to all. Someone speculated, “With such cultivation and grace, could it be Master Shen Qingzhuo?”

Shen Qingzhuo did not explain. He simply stated, “This Seven-Leaf Jialan was a fake. I have never given such an item to the Second Young Master of the Qi family.”

Having spoken, he saw the youth behind him following with a face full of terror. Qi Ye stopped a short distance away, not daring to come any closer.

Shen Qingzhuo shed his icy demeanor and offered a smile to Qi Ye, walking toward him.

“Let’s go. I don’t believe him.” Shen Qingzhuo reached out gracefully, naturally taking the boy’s hand in his own.

Qi Ye’s hand was ice-cold compared to his, coated in a thin layer of sweat. Shen Qingzhuo lifted it, wiping the sweat away with both hands, and teased, “Why are your palms sweating? Are you that scared?”

Qi Ye was reeling from the fact that Shen Qingzhuo hadn’t abandoned him, yet his heart hammered with lingering fear. He realized Shen Qingzhuo wasn’t always gentle; he simply hadn’t directed his temper at him yet.

If Shen Qingzhuo ever finds out I’ve been lying to him this whole time…

The crowd was amazed to realize this truly was Master Shen, but they were even more incredulous at the scene before them. Rumor had it that Master Shen was as elegant and distant as the moon, yet here he was, displaying such tenderness in private.

But… what was the deal with the Second Young Master of the Qi family?

To use a fake herb to deceive people and boast that it was a gift from Master Shen? It seemed Master Shen didn’t have a shred of affection for him at all.

The middle-aged cultivator who had nearly spent 70,000 crystals on the fake spat on the ground, his face full of disdain as he walked away without looking back.

The auction staff bowed their heads in deep apology. Usually, items were verified by experts, but they hadn’t dared offend the Qi family. Furthermore, Qi Anning had insisted on a rushed auction. The young female cultivator in charge had sensed a trace of herbal spiritual aura from the item and had grown lax.

She was terrified; such a massive blunder could cost her everything. To her surprise, Shen Qingzhuo followed through on his word, paying 200,000 crystals for the fake he destroyed.

After the commission was deducted, the remaining crystals were handed to Qi Anning. As the truth came to light, those who had previously praised him fell silent, staring at him coldly.

Lin Sheng was completely lost. “Anning, what… what is going on? Why did it suddenly turn out like this?”

Having been raised only on praise, Qi Anning could not handle criticism. Although most people in the market said nothing, he felt as though they were all pointing fingers at him, calling him a liar and a cheat. He lowered his head, his eyes welling up until he finally burst into loud sobs.

“I’m not a liar! I’m not! All of you get lost! Get away from me!”

The onlookers clicked their tongues in wonder. With the truth laid bare, they clearly chose to believe Shen Qingzhuo.

The Underground Market, usually bustling and loud, fell silent in the area surrounding them.

Shen Qingzhuo had already started to lead Qi Ye away. Hearing the piercing cries, he frowned. He wondered briefly if he had been too harsh, but he decided he hadn’t done anything wrong. He had merely exposed a lie and saved an innocent buyer from a loss. Besides, he had still given Qi Anning the money he wanted.

Suddenly, the youth’s hand tightened its grip on his. Qi Ye slid his fingers into the gaps between Shen Qingzhuo’s, locking them together in a ten-finger clasp.

Shen Qingzhuo paused, his train of thought interrupted. Though they had held hands many times, they had never used this specific, intimate gesture. His heart couldn’t help but tighten.

This contact allowed him to feel the other’s emotions more clearly. He didn’t know if Qi Ye could feel his as well. Shen Qingzhuo found he didn’t quite like this loss of composure.

While Shen Qingzhuo was uncharacteristically lost in thought, Huangfu Ying appeared in the distance, his face cold. His scouts had finally located Qi Ye he was here at the Underground Market, with Shen Qingzhuo.

Huangfu Ying materialized at the scene, his gaze landing on their interlaced fingers. After a moment’s thought, he gathered his deep blue Profound energy and launched an attack at Shen Qingzhuo.

With Shen Qingzhuo’s cultivation, he normally wouldn’t have failed to dodge such a move. But this time, his mind was occupied by that strange feeling, and for a moment, he forgot everything else.

At the critical second, Qi Ye’s figure flashed, shielding Shen Qingzhuo. Before the blue energy could reach them, a thick, heavy black gas flowed from Qi Ye’s palm, blocking the attack.

Huangfu Ying, knowing he was no match for the boy, was knocked back several steps by the superior force. However, a cold sneer played on his lips his goal had been achieved.

From the start, his target wasn’t Shen Qingzhuo; it was Qi Ye. If he had attacked Qi Ye directly, the boy might have refrained from fighting back to keep his secret. But if he forced Shen Qingzhuo to see Qi Ye’s true nature to see that he possessed power, and even Demonic energy…

He had bet correctly. Qi Ye truly had developed feelings for Shen Qingzhuo.

They were still holding hands, fingers interlaced.

When Shen Qingzhuo snapped back to reality, he saw the youth who usually seemed so innocent and timid standing before him with a dark, sinister expression. Beneath those pitch-black eyes was something that looked like pure murderous intent.

Shen Qingzhuo finally realized what had happened. Huangfu Ying had nearly harmed him, and Qi Ye had protected him.

He found the reality difficult to accept. He froze, his hand sliding out of Qi Ye’s grasp. He had never known that Qi Ye actually possessed cultivation.

Shen Qingzhuo stood in disbelief for a long while before asking, “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I always thought you had no power,” Shen Qingzhuo continued, “I wanted to help you recover.”

Qi Ye turned blankly to look at him. The murderous intent in his eyes vanished instantly, replaced by a deep, hollow terror. His dark pupils dilated as his entire body began to tremble.

It was over. Shen Qingzhuo would never forgive him now.