I Faked My Death After Choosing the Wrong Protagonist - Chapter 26

Shen Qingzhuo grew anxious. “Did I hurt you? Tell me, and I’ll be even gentler.”

The black dragon in his lap squirmed a few times, trying to pull its tail away.

Shen Qingzhuo held it steady. “Wait a moment, the medicine isn’t fully applied yet.”

Qi Ye spoke in a tiny, fearful voice, “I’ve done bad things. Are you really not going to hit me?”

Shen Qingzhuo replied nonchalantly, “What ‘bad thing’ could be so serious you’d need a beating? Or do I seem that fierce to you?”

The black dragon muttered aggrievedly, “I fought with Huangfu Ying.”

“Mm, and he injured you.”

Qi Ye added, “His injuries are heavier than mine; I wounded him too.”

Hearing this, Shen Qingzhuo’s heavy mood finally lifted slightly. He gave the uninjured part of the tail a playful rub. “That was self-defense, not a ‘bad thing’.”

“But he is the Crown Prince,” Qi Ye pointed out.

“Should I be afraid of him?” Shen Qingzhuo countered.

Qi Ye still couldn’t believe it. “You’re really not angry?”

Taking advantage of Qi Ye’s distraction, Shen Qingzhuo finished bandaging the last section. He wrapped the white gauze around the black dragon’s tail with just the right amount of pressure and tied a neat knot.

Once finished, he didn’t move the tail off his lap. Instead, he gathered Qi Ye into his arms, cradling the dragon by the neck. “I would only be angry if you let yourself be harmed and did nothing about it.”

Qi Ye didn’t dare look up. “I also broke things in your room.”

Shen Qingzhuo didn’t care. “I’ll have someone clean it tomorrow.”

Shen Qingzhuo continued, “I’ve just helped you catalyze the Origin-Returning Pill in your system. Try to circulate your power and absorb it; let’s see if it works.”

Qi Ye nodded vigorously, directing his energy to his dantian as instructed. No wonder his body had felt so warm earlier—Shen Qingzhuo had already been helping him even then.

Qi Ye knew that this pill was obtained through great effort and cost 100,000 taels of gold. Recalling the taste as it went down, he no longer found it bitter. He vowed to save up a vast amount of money in the future to pay Shen Qingzhuo back not just for the pill, but everything. He wanted to give Shen Qingzhuo everything!

Shen Qingzhuo watched him circulate his power. He watched as the massive black dragon coiled up, a faint light emanating from its body. After a long while, Shen Qingzhuo felt the pill was indeed having an effect.

However, after about two hours, the black dragon stopped and crawled back to him with a crestfallen expression.

“How do you feel?” Shen Qingzhuo asked.

Qi Ye looked aggrieved. “I still can’t change back.”

“Is it just that you can’t change back, or does your body feel any better?”

Shen Qingzhuo’s original goal was to stabilize Qi Ye’s primordial spirit so he could control himself and suffer less. If the only issue was that he couldn’t change back, but other areas were improving, it was still a win. He could always find other ways to help the boy later.

Qi Ye shook his head, feeling a sudden surge of endless power. Then, with a sudden movement, his body shrank countless times. The form that was once larger than Shen Qingzhuo was now only the size of a palm.

The tiny black dragon wagged its tail and crawled into Shen Qingzhuo’s palm like a student seeking a reward.

Shen Qingzhuo had mentioned he’d like it if he became smaller.

Qi Ye was excited. “I think I can control myself now!”

Shen Qingzhuo looked at the little dragon in his palm with surprise and delight. He raised his hands higher and extended a finger to tease the creature. The little dragon cooperatively chased the slender finger. Shen Qingzhuo’s hands were long, elegant, and soft; they were well-maintained, without a single callus.

Qi Ye unhesitatingly lunged forward, coiling himself around the man’s finger and arm. He took the tip of a slender finger into his mouth, sucking and nibbling.

The pressure wasn’t heavy, so it didn’t hurt, but the nibbling was tingling and itchy. The inside of the little dragon’s mouth was soft likely the warmest part of its entire body.

Shen Qingzhuo didn’t know he could be this childish, but he was addicted to playing with Qi Ye.

After a long time, the little dragon finally released his finger, leaving a trace of saliva behind. Belatedly realizing what he had done, Qi Ye feared Shen Qingzhuo would find him disgusting, so he leaned in and used his tiny tongue to lick it clean.

The little dragon observed Shen Qingzhuo’s expression. Seeing no sign of loathing, it climbed onto his shoulder, moved from his neck to his cheek, and rubbed against him affectionately.

For some reason, after turning into a dragon, his fear of abandonment had intensified. The terror was omnipresent; if he couldn’t see Shen Qingzhuo for even a moment, he became restless.

“I like you so much,” Qi Ye murmured. “I’ve liked you since the very first moment I saw you.”

Shen Qingzhuo paused, then stroked the restless head. He laughed. “Mm, I like you very much too.”

He truly did like Qi Ye in this form; the boy clung to him as if he were a beautiful, obedient pet. No—pets couldn’t understand their masters. Qi Ye would learn to cook for him, wait for him to sleep, huddle against him when scared, and hold him tight. Shen Qingzhuo felt he was like a younger brother he shared a deep bond with.

As Qi Ye continued to rub against him, a hand pressed down on his head. He tried to rub against the palm instead, then looked up to see Shen Qingzhuo watching him with a playful smile.

“Don’t you think we are like brothers?” Shen Qingzhuo asked.

Before Qi Ye could speak, Shen Qingzhuo used both hands to lift the little dragon and hold it before him. His eyes were incredibly gentle as he smiled. “I am two years older than you. Won’t you call me ‘Brother’ (Gege)?”

Shen Qingzhuo’s gaze was full of expectation.

Qi Ye’s heart turned cold. His coiled body suddenly slumped. He knew then that Shen Qingzhuo’s “liking” was not the same as his own. He didn’t want this kind of liking; he wanted…

Qi Ye felt he was too greedy. Shen Qingzhuo had already given him enough.

His breath was full of the man’s scent, and he was wearing a bandage tied into a bow by the man’s own hands. Qi Ye gave his tail a little wiggle, pressed his face into the man’s palm, and whispered a shy, unpracticed, “Brother.”

Shen Qingzhuo was satisfied. He gave the little head one last stroke before gathering the dragon into his arms and standing up.

“This place is a mess. I’ll take you out tonight. Have you ever seen the sunrise at the hour of the Rabbit? I’ll take you to see it.”

The winter sunrise was at its most beautiful when the sun first broke over the horizon.

Qi Ye nodded, burrowing against the man’s chest. “Mm!”

He loved anything Shen Qingzhuo took him to do. He felt the temperature of the man’s heartbeat. Shen Qingzhuo’s chest was so warm!

It was unclear exactly what time it was, but it was likely approaching the Fifth Watch. Only a few places outside still had lanterns lit.

Shen Qingzhuo put on his light-blue fur-collared cloak over his thin white inner robes. His attire was simple yet exuded nobility. The little dragon in his arms would occasionally poke its head out.

Distance was no obstacle for a cultivator, especially one at the peak of the Heavenly Profound stage. Even without a teleportation array, he could traverse a city in an instant.

He took Qi Ye to a place called “The Moon upon the Branch” (Yue Shang Shao), the highest point in Yun City the place closest to the moon. It was also the best spot to see the sunrise.

Standing at the peak of the architecture, they could see for thousands of miles. The city at night appeared quiet, yet undercurrents were swirling. In the direction of the massive Shen estate, lights began to flicker on one by one after their departure, a trail leading all the way to the Imperial Palace.

Shen Qingzhuo subtly pulled his cloak tighter, wrapping the little dragon completely. Bringing Qi Ye out was a spontaneous decision. If he hadn’t gone to get medicine after Qi Ye was wounded by Huangfu Ying, he wouldn’t have known his home would be so “lively” tonight.

Since that’s the case, let them have their fun.

Suddenly, the little dragon in his arms moved, poking its head out again. “They are all here to catch me,” Qi Ye said. “You should hand me over. I will only bring you trouble.”

Qi Ye knew well that without him, Shen Qingzhuo would still be the revered Young Master of the Shen family, the star pupil of the Canglan Academy, and the renowned “First Gentleman” of the Nine Provinces. Countless outstanding men admired him. Wherever he went, this beautiful person was the most honored. Shen Qingzhuo would be better off without him as a burden.

Then, Qi Ye had a sudden thought wait, he didn’t even know if Shen Qingzhuo liked men or women. Shen Qingzhuo was so wonderful, and so many people liked him, yet he remained unmoved and kept everyone at a distant. What if he doesn’t like men at all?

At the thought, Qi Ye’s tiny body shivered in Shen Qingzhuo’s hands.

Seeing his reaction, Shen Qingzhuo teased, “Hmm? If that’s what you’re asking for, should I really throw you out?”

Qi Ye’s whiskers trembled with terror. It felt as though the pain of hitting the ground after being cast away was already reaching him the pain of having nothing again, just like the first ten years of his life. But he wouldn’t blame Shen Qingzhuo. This wasn’t something he deserved anyway.

However, when Qi Ye snapped back to reality, there was no pain. He hadn’t been thrown out. Instead, he felt Shen Qingzhuo holding him tighter. Qi Ye looked up blankly, only to meet Shen Qingzhuo’s downward-looking, smiling eyes.

“I told you, I am here for you,” Shen Qingzhuo said. “If I pushed you out over such a small matter, wouldn’t I be too disloyal?”

Qi Ye shook his head. “This isn’t a small matter. I really will bring you trouble.”

“Then let it be. It’s not a big deal anyway.” Shen Qingzhuo didn’t care. The rooftop of Yue Shang Shao was spacious; holding Qi Ye, he walked over and found a place to sit casually. “Want to hear some music?”

Qi Ye hadn’t known Shen Qingzhuo played the zither. He nodded and jumped into Shen Qingzhuo’s lap. “Mm!”

Shen Qingzhuo pulled a long zither from his Spatial Ring one he hadn’t touched in a long time.

The instrument had seven strings and was named “Dawning Light” (Dong Fang Ji Bai), also known as “Aurora” (Shu Se). Long tassels matching the color of the body hung from both ends. It was a treasure left over from ancient times.

It had to be said that the original host possessed many spiritual artifacts and treasures. When he first arrived here, he couldn’t adjust, feeling a sense of guilt as if he were stealing someone else’s life. Eventually, he accepted that the original host would not return, and he was the only one left here.

After all, this is just a book world. Everything seen is an illusion why take it so seriously? In the real world, there were no gods, ghosts, or monsters, nor could he fly across thousands of miles with a flick of his finger. He just needed to do what he had to do.

The original host possessed immense power, which Shen Qingzhuo had inherited, but he himself didn’t care much for martial force. When he first arrived, while his brothers practiced every day, he preferred to “slack off” using the original host’s things to play the zither, write, garden, or raise fish.

Yet he was talented and powerful. Despite his behavior, his masters and uncles only praised him, and his peers viewed him as a role model. Back then, he had felt quite guilty.

Strangely, Shen Qingzhuo had never touched a zither before. When he first took it out a year ago, it felt familiar, as if he had known it in a past life.

As he played, his thoughts didn’t interfere with the music. His speed varied, but the tone wasn’t aggressive; it was more like a clear breeze over the moon or water flowing slowly.

The little dragon on his lap watched the hands on the strings, watching his fingertips glide. Suddenly, it crawled out, grew back to its original size, coiled around Shen Qingzhuo once, and finally stopped behind him, pressing its body against him.

Shen Qingzhuo didn’t mind the antics. Once the song finished, he turned his head toward the massive dragon. “Come here.”

At the sound of his voice, the body coiling around him didn’t move, but the head poked out between his arm and waist, coiling toward him until it was right in front of his face.

“Do you know the name of the piece I just played?” he asked.

The black dragon shook its head.

“It’s called ‘Carefree Joy’ (Xiao Yao Le).”

Shen Qingzhuo continued, “Didn’t you just ask me to hand you over? A person walking between heaven and earth shouldn’t live according to the judgment of others. As long as your heart is clear and you don’t actively harm others, then anything else even if it’s considered wrong is their problem, not yours.”

Qi Ye didn’t care how others treated him. He had tried being kind, but he found that kindness didn’t earn the goodwill of others. People simply felt he was born wrong an ill omen. Whether as Qi Ye or as a monster.

But meeting Shen Qingzhuo, he realized that there truly was someone who would be good to him.

Qi Ye gave him a smile and happily coiled around him one more time. “Mm!”