I Faked My Death After Choosing the Wrong Protagonist - Chapter 32

“So you are the ‘Master Shen’ they speak of? Seven days ago, you knocked me out, and I haven’t settled that score yet! No matter how powerful you are, could you possibly be stronger than my uncle? Listen well, I am the nephew of the Cold Moon Palace Master Lei Yuze!”

A city full of royal guards had already surrounded the two with spears leveled. Lei Yuze strode forward arrogantly, swaying a jade ruyi in his hand, followed by five members of the Cold Moon Palace. Out of the twenty palace members currently in Yun City, they were all present or nearby.

The first sight of Shen Qingzhuo left them stunned, though they quickly denied the thought. He looks too much like him.

Lei Yuze had claimed the half-arm-length jade ruyi from the imperial palace. Because he had been knocked unconscious by Shen Qingzhuo during their first meeting, his impression of the pair was abysmal. He spun the ruyi rapidly. “I’ve also notified the Crown Prince. I’m eager to see who is truly more formidable: you or Huangfu Ying? Hahaha!”

As his laughter rang out, Huangfu Ying landed on the scene, his spiritual light significantly dimmer than before, though he had reached the eighth level of the Heavenly Profound stage. “Stop being stubborn,” he said to Shen Qingzhuo. “He is a demon. There is no such thing as a demon that isn’t vicious. You haven’t seen his true face; he is merely deceiving you.”

Qi Ye shook his head frantically, a single tear of blood falling. His voice was incredibly weak. “No, Master, what I said is true! I really bought Yue Shang Shao; I didn’t steal it from anyone…”

He never had, not now, not before…

But… he had killed people. Qi Ye hesitated, his eyes turning a deeper shade of red. He was in such pain; he wanted to hold Shen Qingzhuo, to bite his neck, to kiss his lips and his body. Just the thought of it made him tremble with excitement.

Shen Qingzhuo will kill me, won’t he? Qi Ye told himself. But even if he kills me, I am willing! No, I’m not like that. I won’t harm him, I won’t force him into things he doesn’t like!

Principal Li Lan of Canglan Academy and his junior brother also arrived. Seeing the two of them kneeling in the middle of the crowd with the blood-covered monster clutching their prize student’s hand they looked on with deep concern. Aside from the Old Master Shen, who had spoken but not yet appeared, almost everyone of importance had arrived.

Shen Qingzhuo felt Qi Ye’s hand tighten on his shoulder, more blood smearing onto his white robes and face. Qi Ye pressed his face against Shen Qingzhuo’s as if terrified; Shen Qingzhuo was nearly pushed over.

Qi Anning stood behind Qi Yannian, who was in a wheelchair due to his unhealed injuries. Anning clutched the chair. “Father, I’m scared…”

Qi Yannian’s legs were shaking like sieves, his teeth chattering. He held Anning’s small, soft hand with his own sweaty palm. “Don’t be afraid, Anning. Someone will subdue this Demon Seed!”

I hope Qi Ye doesn’t go on another rampage, and I hope he doesn’t die too soon he must live until the contract is broken…

For some reason, Shen Qingzhuo felt a warm current rushing toward his dantian intermittently, making him uncomfortable. This phenomenon had first appeared on the second day of his imprisonment. He didn’t know if something was wrong with his core, but right now, he just wanted Qi Ye to stop talking and move less. At this rate, he wouldn’t have enough blood left to cough up.

However, the current situation… Shen Qingzhuo didn’t want to admit it, but it seemed even he couldn’t save Qi Ye now. If Qi Ye hadn’t grabbed his hand to stab himself earlier, they might have had a chance to escape today.

Shen Qingzhuo furrowed his brows in irritation. “Listen, no matter what happens today, you must get out of here alive. I never intended to kill you. We can talk about everything else once we’re out!”

He retrieved his sword the blood still un-wiped and sheathed it. He helped Qi Ye up, letting the youth lean against him. His gaze was cold and resolute. “I am taking Qi Ye with me today. If he has done anything to wrong any of you, charge it to me. I will provide a satisfactory answer.”

“I, Shen Qingzhuo, have no further connection to the Shen family as of today. I alone will bear the consequences of my actions.”

Countless members of the Shen clan and fellow students from Canglan Academy rushed forward. “Cousin? Young Master? Senior Brother?”

They were speechless, unable to believe what they were hearing. “Senior Brother, you can’t! If you take him today, you can never go back! He killed many people, and he will kill more!”

“Yes, Young Master! Your character is known to all. He may be your betrothed in name, but who could have known he was such a murderer? How many people have died in Yun City these past few days? Do not ruin yourself for a moment of confusion!”

“Altogether, there must be at least a thousand dead! If he were a demon who didn’t harm anyone, we could understand, but this blight didn’t even spare women or children! Master Shen, if you protect him today, can you be sure he won’t turn on you tomorrow?” someone cried out hysterically.

The crowd parted as several corpses were brought forward citizens who had died in the last seven days. Their blood had been drained, leaving them as dry mummies or skeletons in rags. Clearly, they had been victims of an evil cultivation technique.

“Such a thing has never happened in Yun City before. If not this Demon Seed, then who else could it be?”

Every finger pointed at Qi Ye. Shen Qingzhuo looked at the rotting, mummified remains and nearly lost his footing. He turned slowly toward Qi Ye.

Qi Ye continued to shake his head, staring intently into Shen Qingzhuo’s eyes. “It wasn’t me. I didn’t kill them…”

Shen Qingzhuo turned back to the crowd, his eyes full of finality. “A day as a couple brings a hundred days of grace. Regardless of whether the wedding happened, regardless of what he is, Qi Ye is mine. Since you all find him unforgivable, come at me. Whatever punishment he deserves, I will take it in his place.”

As he spoke, he let go of Qi Ye and walked into the center of the crowd with a cold, open expression. He knew these people were prepared; even if they weren’t before, they were now. There were traps and hidden weapons waiting for Qi Ye.

The royal guards and clan members with drawn swords retreated, unsure of what to do. Huangfu Ying’s brow was furrowed into a deep ‘V’, his teeth nearly grinding to dust.

Qi Ye stumbled after him. Every movement caused more blood to flow from his chest wound. He almost reached Shen Qingzhuo’s robes, his voice growing raspier as he shouted, “No, Master! You don’t have to take my punishment! No!”

Shen Qingzhuo used a faint, nearly transparent spell to push him back.

Lei Yuze laughed heartily. “Perfect! I just got a little treasure from my uncle that I haven’t tested yet. I’ll try it on you today and see how powerful it is!”

Lei Yuze strode toward him, followed by the screech of a Roc the same tenth-rank beast that had attacked Shen Qingzhuo before. In his hand was a lightning-rod, about a meter long and as thick as a half-arm. With every step, different colored sparks crackled from the rod. He touched it against a tree, and it immediately smoked and snapped, charred to the ground.

Huangfu Ying called out sharply, “Cousin!”

Lei Yuze turned back with a wild grin. “What, Prince Huangfu? Do you pity him? But isn’t our mission to eliminate the demon? He chose to protect that blight and said he would take the punishment—how can you blame me?”

The Roc beast followed Lei Yuze, its eyes fixed on Shen Qingzhuo as if ready to pounce.

Shen Qingzhuo stood still, a figure of frozen elegance in the snow. He watched it all with absolute calm. The wind caught his clothes and hair. He slowly closed his eyes, then opened them.

Huangfu Ying’s fist was trembling. He raised his hand, wanting to knock the rod out of Lei Yuze’s hand.

Lei Yuze saw the intent and sneered. “What, you want to go against my uncle? Prince, have you forgotten? I am the one Uncle loves most. My father and Uncle share a deep bond. You being taken as a disciple was just a whim. Go ask Uncle how many disciples he’s had can he even remember them all? I see him every day. What about you, Prince?”

Huangfu Ying hesitated and slowly withdrew his fist. As a future ruler, he possessed immense patience; he wouldn’t have reached his position otherwise. Finally, he looked at Shen Qingzhuo for a long moment. Seeing that the man hadn’t looked him in the eye once, he bitterly withdrew his gaze.

“He is still the direct heir of the Shen family. Do not injure him too severely.”

Lei Yuze gave an ominous smile, shaking the rod. “With this in my hand, I can’t guarantee anything. How about you stop talking, Prince, and I’ll use it on him quickly to see if I can kill him?”

Satisfied by Huangfu Ying’s grim silence, he drew closer to Shen Qingzhuo until the rod was almost touching the man’s face. “Knocking me out… was it fun? Should I play a game with you too? Do you want to pass out quickly, or should I take my time and play with you?”

Lei Yuze ranted for a while, but seeing the cold, unmoved face, his anger flared. “The ‘First Beauty,’ is it? I’ll see how you claim that title after today. You want to take his punishment? Where is my blade? Bring me my blade! You think you’re so strong? Who knows if you’re sincere or just waiting to attack me! To prove your sincerity, Master Shen, cut your own tendons and hamstrings right here in front of everyone.”

Shen Qingzhuo had already sheathed his sword. Lei Yuze held out a short dagger. Shen Qingzhuo remained silent and didn’t take it.

Huangfu Ying was tensed to the limit, his eyes fixed on the scene.

Suddenly, Qi Ye who could barely stand gathered his demonic power and flashed in a black mist before Shen Qingzhuo. The dagger and lightning-rod fell from Lei Yuze’s hands as he was sent flying dozens of feet away.

The Roc beast, recognizing its master’s enemy, lunged at Qi Ye. Lei Yuze crashed to the ground with a scream, wiped blood from his face, and roared, “Kill them!”

Shen Qingzhuo looked at Qi Ye, his brow furrowing with worry. No one else knew, but Shen Qingzhuo could see that Qi Ye was fighting with his very life. To his surprise, Qi Ye managed to hold off the high-rank beast for a long time and eventually overcame it.

The Roc lay dying, unable to rise. Qi Ye fell to one knee, coughing up another mouthful of blood as he struggled to stand.

Suddenly, a powerful pressure from the void once again made everyone bow their heads. The white-haired elder in gray robes descended. His face half-mortal, half-immortal carried a natural authority as he looked at the two.

Qi Ye glared at him with a vicious expression. He transformed back into his dragon form and struck at the Old Master, only to be swatted to the ground with a single wave of the elder’s hand.

The elder walked slowly toward Qi Ye, looking down at him. He raised his hand, and an invisible force gripped the black dragon by the neck. Everyone saw Qi Ye’s true form for the first time and retreated in terror.

Qi Anning squeezed his foster father’s hand, tears flowing like a broken string of pearls. Even Qi Yannian, seeing the dragon form for the third time, was so terrified he fell out of his wheelchair.

“Grandfather!” Shen Qingzhuo cried out, wanting him to stop. Based on what he knew, the Old Master should be a kind and indulgent elder.

The elder turned to look at him, the invisible grip on Qi Ye never wavering. The great dragon began to lose the strength to struggle, its long body hanging limp. Only those two blood-dripping eyes remained fixed on the elder, baring his fangs in defiance.

“My grandson, do you wish to defy me?” he asked Shen Qingzhuo.

Shen Qingzhuo hesitated, then nodded. “Grandfather, you cannot kill him.”

The elder laughed for the first time. “There is nothing in this world I cannot do. Grandson, if you wish to not be controlled by others, you must become stronger. Right now, you are far from enough.”

“Grandfather,” Shen Qingzhuo called again. “If he has done wrong, I will discipline him and ensure it never happens again. I will personally apologize and comfort the families of the deceased. But if it wasn’t him, wouldn’t it be an injustice?”

The elder continued to laugh. “Do you think that even if he hasn’t killed anyone, this continent will let him live? Better to give him a swift end than a life of constant terror.”

Shen Qingzhuo finally understood. Regardless of whether it was Qi Ye’s fault, Qi Ye was “wrong” today. His grandfather had never intended to spare him. Shen Qingzhuo wished, for the first time, that he were stronger.

A sharp pain shot through his chest. Shen Qingzhuo crouched down, clutching his heart, feeling as though something were burning his dantian.

Suddenly, a gust of wind blew, and Shen Qingzhuo felt a wave of dizziness. When he recovered, he found himself inside a grand hall. At his feet lay the dragon-form Qi Ye coughing blood, covered in wounds. Before him, Shen Shuangyi stood with his back turned.

The Hall of Priests was brighter today than usual. Outside, two plum branches had begun to bloom.

“He is in bad shape. Look after him here,” Shen Shuangyi said, before vanishing from the hall.