I Faked My Death After Choosing the Wrong Protagonist - Chapter 28

“I heard… that at a certain time every year, demon kind will… will…” Qi Ye gritted his teeth, unable to bring himself to say the remaining words. They were too vulgar; such filthy terms should never reach Shen Qingzhuo’s ears.

However, Shen Qingzhuo did not understand the meaning behind his hesitation, nor did he recognize the carnal desire within the dragon’s red eyes. He leaned in closer and pressed, “Will what?”

Qi Ye refused to say another word. He struggled, trying to flee, but Shen Qingzhuo caught him and held him down.

Suddenly, at the moment of contact, Shen Qingzhuo stiffened. He understood everything.

Qi Ye buried his head in the snow, his eyes red enough to drip blood half-closed as he awaited Shen Qingzhuo’s judgment. He was in absolute agony, unable to speak a single word. In his heart, he thought that this time, he was truly going to lose Shen Qingzhuo.

He was simply too wretched; he could do nothing, and he was so disgusting. Shen Qingzhuo would surely never want to stay with him again.

Qi Ye made one last struggle, murmuring, “Immortal Brother…”

“I’ll be better soon, really…”

“I definitely… definitely won’t touch you. If I do, you can just kill me…”

His consciousness was muddled. He felt as if his body were about to explode; the only scrap of vigilance he had left was used to observe Shen Qingzhuo.

Shen Qingzhuo remained frozen for a long time. He had never been this discomposed. Suddenly, he moved, lowering his eyes to look at the Qi Ye on the ground, forcing a smile.

“It’s alright. You said it yourself it’s something all demons go through. Since you are half-demon, it’s only natural you’d be like them.”

“Besides, even for normal people, having such needs is… normal. You don’t need to feel ashamed.”

Shen Qingzhuo spoke haltingly; for the first time, his speech was not fluid. He feigned an air of ease, yet he didn’t dare touch Qi Ye again. He didn’t even dare look at him, silently backing away a few steps.

Outside, the heavy snow fell in large flakes, striking the dragon’s head. Suddenly, Shen Qingzhuo’s mood turned irritable and fearful. Observing his current posture relative to Qi Ye, he had a sudden, overwhelming urge to run away.

He felt that if the great dragon truly wanted to move against him, he wouldn’t be able to escape. Behind him was the dragon’s thick body; above him was the dragon’s body as well. Qi Ye had used himself to build a sanctuary against the snow for him.

Qi Ye’s eyes were frighteningly red. Watching Shen Qingzhuo say he didn’t mind while his actions were clearly distant, the boy felt not only physical pain but also deep sorrow. He didn’t know if Shen Qingzhuo loathed him in his heart. If so, he would rather Shen Qingzhuo use the harshest words to pierce him than give him a glimmer of hope only to leave him.

Thinking this, Qi Ye nudged closer to Shen Qingzhuo again, reclaiming the distance the man had just created. Qi Ye moved his head forward and bit the man’s sleeve. Due to the pain, his speech was slurred. “Don’t ignore me. I’ll really… be better soon…”

Shen Qingzhuo instinctively wanted to pull his arm back, but catching a glimpse of the dragon looking like he was about to cry, he was suddenly at a loss. It wasn’t that he didn’t want Qi Ye to feel better, but… he had never seen such a situation before. Finally, he took a deep breath, pulled his sleeve from the dragon’s teeth, and gently raised his hand.

Shen Qingzhuo no longer hid. His fingers descended slowly onto the dragon’s head, stroking along the scales and horns on his forehead.

“I’m not ignoring you. Don’t be afraid,” Shen Qingzhuo said softly. Looking at Qi Ye now, he suddenly felt that this wasn’t some terrifying, ferocious beast, but just an obedient and helpless great dragon.

He had said he would help him and wouldn’t look at him with judgment like others, yet at the moment Qi Ye was struggling, he wanted to leave him. If he had really pushed Qi Ye away and run just now, how heartbroken would the dragon be? How dangerous would it be for a lone dragon out here?

And the obedient dragon, even now, didn’t forget to shield him from the snow.

Shen Qingzhuo watched him, taking in every bit of Qi Ye’s appearance, and said in a negotiating tone, “Let me get up first. I can hold an umbrella to block the snow myself. You shouldn’t be drenched either; you’ll get sick.”

“If you get sick, you’ll feel even worse.”

Qi Ye’s consciousness was hazy. He thought Shen Qingzhuo was abandoning him. Yet, he still listened. After a moment, he moved his heavy body with difficulty, retreating from around Shen Qingzhuo.

The moment he left, the light from the sky brightened, and snow immediately began to fall on Shen Qingzhuo’s cloak and dark hair. Shen Qingzhuo stood up. The snow that had fallen half the night was deep enough to bury his entire foot.

Qi Ye could no longer hold on. His heavy body crashed into the snow. He forced his eyelids open to look at Shen Qingzhuo. He believed that this time, Shen Qingzhuo would surely leave him.

To his surprise, Shen Qingzhuo didn’t go. Nor did he put up an umbrella as he had said. Large flakes of snow fell on the man’s long hair and eyelashes. Shen Qingzhuo knelt in front of him and cupped his head with both hands.

Qi Ye was stunned.

Suddenly, the sound of footsteps and loud laughter came from behind.

“Is this the Demon Seed? Truly, it takes no effort at all! I thought he’d be formidable, but he’s nothing more than this!”

Hearing the voice, Shen Qingzhuo turned around. The newcomer was dressed in gaudy, multi-colored clothes with a large vermilion mole between his brows. His appearance didn’t quite match his flashy attire.

The man was Lei Yuze, the son of the powerful Prince Regent of the Kingdom of Lei the Heir of Lei. He was also the nephew of the Master of the Cold Moon Palace.

Legend had it that the Kingdom of Lei was a cursed land. A thousand years ago, it was the strongest place on the continent, until one day the spiritual power of the entire nation was exhausted. For generations after, no one was able to cultivate. Lei Yuze didn’t know the details; he only knew his father had done a favor for the Palace Master. Later, he left Lei to go to the Cold Moon Palace, calling the Master “Uncle.”

The Uncle rarely came out, but everyone on the continent said he was powerful. It was thanks to the pills his Uncle gave him every month that Lei Yuze became the first person to break the curse of Lei.

Lei Yuze pointed his chin at Shen Qingzhuo haughtily. “Who are you to try and steal my credit? Behind me is the Cold Moon Palace; the Palace Master is my uncle! The only reason they came to the Cloud Kingdom to exorcise demons is because of me. I suggest you hand the Demon Seed over to me immediately.”

Shen Qingzhuo spared him a single glance before turning back. He lifted the great dragon from the snow by its neck, his face dusted with frost expressionless.

Then, a pale blue Profound energy surged from his fingers. Before Lei Yuze could finish speaking, he collapsed unconscious onto the ground.

Shen Qingzhuo stood up and brushed the snow from his clothes, preparing to take Qi Ye away. Suddenly, someone else approached from the shadows. Shen Qingzhuo’s spiritual energy gathered, his face calm and cold.

As the person drew near, Shen Qingzhuo raised his hand.

Qi Yannian clearly sensed the intent and shouted hurriedly, “Master Shen, it’s me! I heard what happened with my son in the city recently; I’m here to help him!”

Shen Qingzhuo withdrew his energy and looked at him indifferently.

Qi Yannian hurried over, but Shen Qingzhuo didn’t stop him. He watched the man stop ten feet away from the dragon, his eyes seemingly full of fear. Qi Yannian gasped in shock. “This… this is Qi Ye?”

He knew Qi Ye was half-demon, but he never expected his beast form to look like this. Shen Qingzhuo didn’t answer. He watched as the man retreated a few more steps, then he picked up Qi Ye entirely.

At this point, Qi Ye had nearly lost consciousness, drifting in and out. When Shen Qingzhuo picked him up, he instinctively burrowed his head into the man’s embrace.

Seeing him about to leave, Qi Yannian chased after him. “I am truly here to help. Previously, I was indeed neglectful, but even a tiger does not eat its cubs. No matter what, Qi Ye is my son. I cannot watch him die!”

Shen Qingzhuo stopped, his back to him. “How can you help?”

“This…” Qi Yannian faltered. After a long while, he rubbed his stubble and said, “After last night, Prince Huangfu has ordered a lockdown of the city. The royal legions are everywhere. If Master Shen trusts me, I have a way to temporarily get my son out of the city.”

Shen Qingzhuo turned and looked at him coldly.

Qi Yannian added, “If Master Shen still doesn’t trust me, look at this.” He pulled open his clothes, revealing a strangely shaped, dark red mark over his heart.

“To be honest, I truly do not like this son of mine, but I have never thought of harming him. Because… of this Life-Sharing Contract, my life and his have long been tied together.”

Seeing Shen Qingzhuo remain unmoved, Qi Yannian grew anxious. “I am his father. No one knew he was part demon earlier than I. I indeed hate him, but if a person could threaten your very life at any moment, who could treat them like a son in peace? But if he dies, I cannot live either. For sixteen years, I never thought of taking his life. No one in this world wants him alive more than I do!”

Below the hundred-foot-high Yue Shang Shao tower, the mercenaries and guards of the royal family and various clans were packed densely, surrounding the city despite the snow.

Qi Yannian continued, “You see the situation now. I don’t know what you see in my son, but I have an absolutely hidden location. You can leave Qi Ye with me for now. When the search slackens, you can take him away. What do you think?”

By the end, Qi Yannian’s eyes were full of exhaustion, looking as though he had aged several years in an instant the weariness of a man who realized his life was in someone else’s hands.

Shen Qingzhuo thought for a moment. “Where is this place? Lead the way.”

Returning to the Shen estate was currently out of the question. If what Qi Yannian said was true, he likely wouldn’t dare do anything against Qi Ye at a time like this.

Qi Yannian was stunned. “Master Shen is coming too?”

Shen Qingzhuo didn’t say a word, his back to the man. Holding the massive black dragon, he began to walk. Qi Yannian hurried to follow. “Master Shen, wait! I’ll take you there. It’s just a small, simple place; I worry it’s beneath you!”

The place was indeed hidden. While called “simple,” it wasn’t bad likely a private residence Qi Yannian kept outside.

Upon arrival, Shen Qingzhuo immediately raised a barrier. He said coldly to Qi Yannian, “You may leave.”

Qi Yannian looked confused, seemingly not expecting to be dismissed. “Master Shen?”

But soon, he was blocked by the barrier. He bowed toward the interior and took his leave.

After he left, Shen Qingzhuo placed Qi Ye on the bed. When he pulled his hands back, they were trembling. Having held Qi Ye for so long on the journey, the scalding heat had clearly seared into his skin through his clothes. After setting him down, Shen Qingzhuo made a quick escape.

He didn’t see that as he rose to leave, the black dragon opened its eyes a sliver. Watching the direction of his departure, the dragon’s eyes held not just the torture of lust, but also deep sorrow.

Qi Ye slammed his head against the wall with force, and a single tear of blood fell in his agony.