I Faked My Death After Choosing the Wrong Protagonist - Chapter 23

Shen Qingzhuo read the youth’s clear desire to avoid people, so he dismissed Xuan Yi, sending him to gather information about alchemists instead.

The Origin-Returning Pill was considered a miracle medicine in the medical world, capable of healing all external and internal injuries at high speed while stabilizing the primordial spirit. Its effects were particularly potent on cultivators and half-demons. Finding an alchemist capable of refining this pill was one of Shen Qingzhuo’s primary goals for this return.

Initially, Xuan Yi was worried. “Young Master, are you injured?”

Shen Qingzhuo shook his head, gesturing to Qi Ye, who was clutching his hand. “No, it’s for him.”

At that, Shen Qingzhuo felt Qi Ye’s grip on him tighten even more.

With everyone gone, Qi Ye continued to hold him firmly. Shen Qingzhuo led him to the main courtyard where the original host of this body used to reside. The Shen family’s estate was designed in a classic, elegant style with an abundance of spiritual flora; it was vast, complete with its own mountains and waters. The main courtyard itself was the most luxurious place in the entire residence.

Shen Qingzhuo did not hide his tracks, and many in the household already knew of his return. He was greeted by various young ladies and masters of the branch families, as well as servants, all of whom bowed with reverent joy. It was clear the original host enjoyed an excellent reputation. Shen Qingzhuo, not knowing any of them, offered polite smiles before quickening his pace with Qi Ye.

Though the master had been away, the residence was cleaned regularly; only a few ginkgo leaves lay scattered on the ground. Most of the pear trees in the city were currently bare due to the season.

A servant brought spiritual tea brewed from high-grade spiritual plants. Shen Qingzhuo’s movements were as fluid as flowing water as he poured two cups. He handed one to Qi Ye and took a sip from his own, feeling relaxed. “You didn’t want to see anyone, and now we are alone. Rest assured, with me here, you can do whatever you like from now on.”

Qi Ye looked up, his voice earnest and sincere. “I don’t need the Origin-Returning Pill.”

That pill was the stuff of legends; the ingredients were rare, the refinement difficult, and the recipe nearly lost to time. Shen Qingzhuo assumed Qi Ye was simply worried about the difficulty. He set down his tea and used his free hand to ruffle the boy’s hair. “Don’t worry. Leave it to me. There are so many alchemists in the Nine Provinces; someone is bound to be able to make it.”

He rubbed the boy’s head again. The horns Qi Ye had grown previously had vanished after he woke up, but his hair was soft, and the warmth of his scalp felt pleasant to the touch. Shen Qingzhuo still found it miraculous that someone could grow such beautiful horns.

Suddenly, Shen Qingzhuo stiffened and withdrew his hand. What am I doing? He shouldn’t take advantage of Qi Ye’s honest nature just because the boy didn’t protest.

For Qi Ye, no one had ever touched the top of his head before. The sensation of Shen Qingzhuo’s touch sent a tingling thrill through him, making his soul feel as if it were floating. He remembered that he had tied Shen Qingzhuo’s hair once, which counted as touching his head too. I must help him tie his hair more often in the future, Qi Ye thought.

While improper thoughts played in his mind, the “culprit” stopped. Yet Qi Ye’s heart remained restless. After a long moment of discomfort, his voice changed slightly as he said, “I’m not afraid of pain.”

Shen Qingzhuo was too busy reflecting on his own behavior to notice anything unusual in Qi Ye’s tone. Hearing the boy say he wasn’t afraid of pain, his hand almost reached out again. He feigned a scolding tone: “Who isn’t afraid of pain? Are you made of iron and copper?”

Qi Ye shook his head slowly. He was used to the pain; rather, he hated the version of himself that became like that. But… Shen Qingzhuo cared about him.

Even after being together for so long, Qi Ye still felt this was surreal. He couldn’t understand why Shen Qingzhuo was so good to him. It felt as though everything was stolen, belonging to someone else. He became so lost in thought that he subconsciously leaned toward Shen Qingzhuo, eventually burying his face against the man’s body.

Shen Qingzhuo picked up his tea, ready for another sip of the bittersweet, refreshing brew. Suddenly, the light dimmed as Qi Ye’s shadow pressed over him. Startled, he hurriedly set down the tea and caught the boy.

Qi Ye’s face was buried in the crook of his neck, feeling cool, yet his hot breath hit Shen Qingzhuo’s skin every few seconds. Shen Qingzhuo didn’t understand what was happening, but he didn’t mind the contact, instinctively wrapping his arms around him.

With his consciousness drifting, Qi Ye felt a source of warmth enveloping him. He reached out, his strong arms circling Shen Qingzhuo’s waist and pulling him tighter and tighter.

After a long time, Shen Qingzhuo felt the grip becoming painful. He pushed the youth gently. “Have you hugged enough? Can you let go?” He looked directly at Qi Ye, blinking.

Qi Ye snapped back to his senses. Realizing his improper actions, a flash of panic crossed his face, and he quickly let go. “I’m sorry, I…”

He was at a total loss. He didn’t know how to make amends. If Shen Qingzhuo discovered his hidden feelings, the man would surely find him disgusting and abandon him!

Shen Qingzhuo gave him a generous smile. “It’s alright. Whenever you want a hug, you can come to me.”

I can’t be the only one taking advantage of the other, Shen Qingzhuo thought. If Qi Ye needs comfort, I shouldn’t refuse him a simple hug. He had no idea what was actually going through the boy’s mind.

Xuan Yi brought all the Shen family alchemists for Shen Qingzhuo to review. By nightfall, not a single one had successfully refined the pill. Shen Qingzhuo was slightly disappointed but had expected this. He instructed Xuan Yi to search for external alchemists; the Shen family would provide all materials. He personally drafted a notice: “A reward of 100,000 taels of gold for anyone who can refine the Origin-Returning Pill.”

The handwriting was vigorous and powerful. As soon as the bounty was posted, countless people from across the Nine Provinces responded. Some came for the gold; others came because they had heard of the “Number One Gentleman of the Cloud Kingdom” and wanted to see him. Unfortunately, no one could even complete half of the recipe, and thus, no one got to see Shen Qingzhuo.

That night, the city was abuzz with news that the Young Master of the Shen family, who had been missing for days, had reappeared.

The elders of the Shen family, upon learning of his return, summoned him to the main hall to discuss recent events. Shen Qingzhuo knew he couldn’t avoid it. As the Young Master, he had a duty to share the family’s burdens. He was only troubled by the fact that the pill was still out of reach.

With the old Master in seclusion and the Eldest Miss uninterested in worldly affairs, most family matters were decided by the four elders. Even so, the Shen family remained the preeminent power in the city, with strict internal systems.

Shen Qingzhuo was observant. He noticed that not only did the servants respect him, but the elders were also quite genial. they briefed him on the situation in the city and asked for his decisions on various matters. He let out a quiet sigh of relief; it seemed his status was not merely a title.

However, once the trivial matters were finished, the elders’ expressions became unified. They began to ask about Qi Ye. Shen Qingzhuo had anticipated this. He didn’t deny it: “Yes, I brought him back.”

The elders’ faces grew somber. They each offered their views not as a criticism of Shen Qingzhuo, but out of worry, trying their best to persuade him.

Shen Qingzhuo listened to their arguments before asking calmly, “Have you all forgotten? Qi Ye and I still have a marriage contract.”

The Grand Elder, the oldest and most authoritative, stood up. “How can such a joke be taken seriously? Young Master, please reconsider!”

Shen Qingzhuo smiled slightly. “My mind is made up. If you all wish to take Qi Ye’s life like everyone else, then I will have no choice but to protect him to the end.”

He spoke calmly, as if merely stating a fact. Then, with a faint smile, he asked if there was anything else. When they remained silent, he turned and left the hall.

The massive hall was deathly quiet. After a long moment, no one spoke.

Shen Qingzhuo’s smile vanished the moment he stepped outside. Suddenly, he looked up and saw someone standing against a wall at the corner ahead. The youth was staring at him, unmoving.

Shen Qingzhuo’s footsteps faltered. The youth looked startled, realizing he had been caught. Meeting Shen Qingzhuo’s scrutinizing gaze, he became flustered.

Shen Qingzhuo paused before walking over, his gaze softening. “Were you listening?”

Caught red-handed, Qi Ye nodded guiltily. He had been overjoyoed by Shen Qingzhuo’s admission in the hall but then feared the man was unhappy. He knew eavesdropping was wrong, but he was terrified of not knowing where Shen Qingzhuo was or what he was doing fearful that the man wouldn’t want him anymore.

Qi Ye apologized again, reaching out to touch Shen Qingzhuo’s hand. He caught it, and Shen Qingzhuo didn’t push him away.

“I’m sorry. I won’t eavesdrop anymore. I’ll go back with you right now…”

Qi Ye used both hands to grip the man’s hand tightly. Though Shen Qingzhuo seemed troubled, his hand was warm and comfortable.

Shen Qingzhuo was indeed preoccupied. He wondered if he could truly make the people of the Nine Provinces treat Qi Ye as an equal rather than dragging him into greater danger. If not, would this decision bring ruin to the Shen family?

Seeing Qi Ye, however, made him relax. He didn’t know how much the boy had heard. With the city now full of people wanting Qi Ye dead, if his own elders turned against him, he would have led Qi Ye into a tiger’s den.

Seeing the youth willing to go with him, he nodded. “Mm. Let’s go back.”

Along the way, Qi Ye turned to look at Shen Qingzhuo countless times, only to find him lost in thought with a calm face. Qi Ye felt that although his hand was still held, Shen Qingzhuo had already left him.

I am nothing but a burden to him, causing trouble time after time. Will he grow to loathe me? He only protects me now because he hasn’t seen the ‘complete’ version of me. Once he finds out, he will regret knowing me.

Will the marriage contract he admitted to in the hall actually count? if I can just keep from being discovered…

Qi Ye knew that someone as wonderful as Shen Qingzhuo shouldn’t belong to him. Yet he craved him, and this desire only grew more intense. Every time he saw Shen Qingzhuo, dark impulses stirred; when he couldn’t see him, he wanted to bind the man to his side forever.

His eyes began to turn a dark, unnoticed red.

Suddenly, a hand landed on his head, turning it back forward. Shen Qingzhuo looked at him with a slight smile. “Why are you always staring at me?”

Qi Ye blinked, and his eyes returned to their normal color. Seeing Shen Qingzhuo smile at him again, the dark thoughts vanished, replaced by joy. He asked tentatively, “Are you still angry?”

Shen Qingzhuo paused before giving a warm laugh. He ruffled the boy’s hair. “Why would I be angry?”

So he was staring at me because he was afraid I was angry. How cute.

“I was thinking… what if I can’t protect you?” Shen Qingzhuo’s hand moved from the boy’s head to grip the hand that was holding him. He teased gently, “Besides, we are so close now; you don’t need to be so formal with me. I’m not scary.”

Qi Ye’s cheeks flushed red with happiness. He asked nervously, “Will you marry me?”

Shen Qingzhuo hadn’t expected the question. He stunned for a moment, then shook his head. “Of course not. But we are still friends. I will handle the matter well. Whoever you like or whatever you do, I won’t interfere.”

Qi Ye’s heart froze, turning into stagnant water in an instant. The hand connected to Shen Qingzhuo’s slid down. Throughout the rest of the walk, the youth was despondent and didn’t say another word. He didn’t even look at Shen Qingzhuo again.

Shen Qingzhuo didn’t know what had happened, though he suspected it was related to him. After returning, he waited for Qi Ye to go inside, then stayed at the door to close it for him.

“This courtyard is for you now. Get some rest,” Shen Qingzhuo said, his hands on the door latch.

Qi Ye suddenly spun around, blocking the door with his hand before it could shut, and pulled it back open. The youth looked frantic, his eyes turning a murky, dark red again.

“Are you not sleeping with me anymore?”

For the past few days, they had slept together.

“I… I feel unwell.” Qi Ye looked pained. He lunged out and wrapped his arms around Shen Qingzhuo’s waist, refuseing to let go. His reddened eyes fixed onto Shen Qingzhuo.

Qi Ye felt he was despicable. He was gambling on whether Shen Qingzhuo still cared about him. As expected, Shen Qingzhuo wavered.

Shen Qingzhuo raised his hands, stroking the boy’s eyes and cheeks. “It’s not that I won’t sleep with you; I thought you wanted some quiet time alone.”

Qi Ye stared at him with dark red eyes and shook his head. “Don’t leave.”

Shen Qingzhuo looked down at the arms around him and realized he couldn’t leave even if he wanted to. He nodded, thinking Qi Ye would let go. Instead, the world spun. He gripped Qi Ye’s collar, only to realize he had been swept up in a princess carry.

Shen Qingzhuo was deeply shocked. Being held like this overturned his perceptions; in his mind, Qi Ye was always frail. Even if someone were to do the carrying… it should be him. Though he knew the boy wasn’t weak, this was unexpected.

Qi Ye’s eyes grew even more abnormally red. His grip tightened. Shen Qingzhuo knew this happened whenever the boy was nervous. He didn’t dare move, knowing the youth just wanted to sleep with him. Having told Qi Ye not to be formal, he relaxed and hooked his arms around the boy’s shoulders.

In the few steps to the bed, Shen Qingzhuo kept his eyes on Qi Ye’s. He realized the boy’s claim of feeling unwell was likely true.

The room still smelled of pear and pine incense, Shen Qingzhuo’s favorite. Qi Ye didn’t get up after placing him on the bed; instead, he pressed down over him. Shen Qingzhuo felt Qi Ye’s body growing hotter and hotter, frighteningly so.

When Shen Qingzhuo reached out, he touched something strange. Qi Ye’s legs, which had just carried him into the room, were gone. In their place was a long, thick, scaly tail.

Panic-stricken, Qi Ye immediately covered Shen Qingzhuo’s eyes, his voice a pained low groan. “Don’t look…”

Shen Qingzhuo didn’t resist the pressure, but seeing this new form, he pulled the boy’s hand away, his gaze full of concern.

Qi Ye was terrified. His strength over Shen Qingzhuo faltered, and he scrambled off him as if to flee, trying again to cover the man’s eyes. He had lost his legs; he was now a hideous monster. Will Shen Qingzhuo throw me out?

Shen Qingzhuo grabbed his hand. Qi Ye felt even hotter. That massive, majestic tail was now shivering, trying desperately to hide behind him. Will Shen Qingzhuo be afraid of me? Or is it disgust?

Seeing him acting like a startled deer, unable to adjust to the tail, Shen Qingzhuo pulled the boy into his arms, tail and all.

“Didn’t we say we were sleeping? Why are you so far away?”

The half-dragon youth froze, forgetting to struggle. He huddled blankly in Shen Qingzhuo’s embrace, looking up at him. The thick tail relaxed and draped across Shen Qingzhuo’s legs.

“Can I touch it?” Shen Qingzhuo asked once the boy calmed down. His eyes were fixed on the long tail. It was smooth and beautiful, every scale shimmering with light. He couldn’t look away, momentarily forgetting the boy’s suffering.

He snapped out of it, hiding his obvious interest. Qi Ye was vulnerable right now; if he scared the boy into running away and getting caught, he would regret it forever.

“If you’re unwilling, I won’t touch it. Do you still feel unwell? Is it the heat?” Shen Qingzhuo asked, noting the feverish skin. “Don’t be afraid. I don’t think you look bad, and I won’t tell anyone. I said I would help you, and I will.”

He spoke gently. Then, with a flick of his hand, he used his power to lock the doors. Unless he dispelled the spell, no one could open them Qi Ye couldn’t leave even if he wanted to. After the last incident, Shen Qingzhuo was terrified of it happening again.

Qi Ye seemed not to notice the locking of the doors. After a moment, he leaned closer. That curved tail was remarkably obedient, placed right into Shen Qingzhuo’s hands.

By the lamplight, Shen Qingzhuo saw the youth’s face was an abnormal shade of red.

“You can touch it,” Qi Ye said, burying his head in the man’s chest. His body trembled. He felt even hotter than before, yet his tail was cooling down, becoming soft. “I’m… I’m cold.”

Before Shen Qingzhuo could react to the shock, Qi Ye shifted again. The last of his human form vanished, and he became a long black dragon from head to tail. His massive blood-red eyes were full of exhaustion, and a pair of horns just like the ones before grew from his head.

In the Nine Provinces, a black dragon was a symbol of ill omen and evil, loathed by the world.

The dragon-form Qi Ye curled himself into a ball, hoping Shen Qingzhuo would touch him his head, his tail. But he was too big now, big and ugly. Even though Shen Qingzhuo said he didn’t mind, Qi Ye was terrified.

“Don’t throw me out…” He had never been this scared. He rubbed his dragon head against Shen Qingzhuo, his voice distorted and almost tearful. “So cold…”