Transmigrated as the Villain and Driven Crazy by the Vengeful Male Lead - Chapter 31

Chapter 31: The Palace Master’s Bedchamber — Butterflies Can Bite.

The Palace Master’s bedchamber was the most prominent height in the palace, yet the hardest to approach. Except for the head disciple, Jiang Zhiqing, anyone wishing to enter had to obtain a Palace Master’s Token before nightfall. The token resonated with the barrier outside the hall; only when the barrier opened could one enter smoothly.

A female disciple with thick brows and large eyes came to fetch Su Cheyue. “Second Young Master! We meet again.”

Chang Huichen had specifically modified the stairs in the pavilion into gentle ramps to accommodate the wheelchair. The disciple pushed Su Cheyue along a winding path until they finally reached Chang Huichen.

“Greetings, Palace Master. The Second Young Master has arrived.”

Su Cheyue couldn’t see the situation in front of him; he could only wait quietly for Chang Huichen to speak.

Chang Huichen didn’t address Su Cheyue first. Instead, he asked the disciple, “What is your name? How long have you been here?”

“My name is Manman. I have been here for two months.”

Chang Huichen nodded to acknowledge her. Manman then said, “If the Palace Master has no further orders, I shall—”

“No need to leave. Find a side hall and wait there as you please.”

Manman was surprised, but she couldn’t disobey a direct order. “Yes.”

After she withdrew, Chang Huichen’s voice moved closer, sounding almost directly in Su Cheyue’s ear. “Does the Second Young Master want to chat sitting down, or lying down?”

“…”

He seemed in a great hurry to speak with Su Cheyue. Seeing no response, he picked up the paper and brush he had prepared earlier. “Since Young Master Lyu isn’t here, I have no way to talk to you. Is paper and brush alright?”

Idiot. Su Cheyue was blind; what use were paper and brush?

Chang Huichen didn’t know that a huffy golden butterfly was silently hiding in Su Cheyue’s sleeve, monitoring the outside movements through the gap at his wrist.

When Lyu Shuyao had proposed shifting his soul into a butterfly to enter with Su Cheyue, Su Cheyue had questioned him: Even if it’s feasible, what can you do inside as a golden butterfly?

“I need to know what he plans to do to you!”

Even if he really tries something, a tiny golden butterfly body can’t stop him.

Lyu Shuyao had said, “I… I can bite him.”

… Since when do butterflies bite?

…

“Has the Second Young Master made up his mind?”

Chang Huichen scribbled a few words on the paper until he heard a resonant vibration from Su Cheyue’s chest.

“Speak here. Use the Voice Transmission Spell,” Su Cheyue coughed several times.

The Golden Butterfly: …

“Fine,” Chang Huichen said. “Let’s begin.”

The butterfly, of course, wouldn’t let Su Cheyue keep consuming spiritual power for the spell. Without a word, it pressed against the inside of Su Cheyue’s wrist, uncurled its proboscis, and pierced into his spiritual meridian, injecting its own spiritual power into him.

Using the Soul-Shifting Knot as a medium, Lyu Shuyao was essentially transporting the power of his own body into Su Cheyue. Within the tiny body of the butterfly, he was working feverishly, even causing his wings to heat up.

Feeling the slight movements in his sleeve, Su Cheyue cast the spell: “Since the Palace Master is in a hurry, you might as well speak plainly. What do you want?”

Chang Huichen asked, “How did the Second Young Master know I am in a hurry?”

“I heard it on the way in. A screen-incense-clock is placed in the center of every floor of this palace. At set intervals, the incense burns through a thread, dropping a gold ball into a vessel below to mark the time.” The voice via the spell continued, “The sound of the time-keeper is loudest in this room, and you carry the sweet, cloying scent of the incense clock. You must have been standing by it for a long time. It’s past the Hour of the Dog (8 PM) now, isn’t it?”

Chang Huichen gave a deep smile. “The Second Young Master is sharp of ear and mind.”

“If the Palace Master lost his five senses one by one like I did, you would become sharp as well.”

“Even so, what if the one I want is you?” Chang Huichen said. “I’ve waited so long for you to arrive; my heart is weary.”

Because the spell was used too frequently, Su Cheyue couldn’t help but cough. Though he tried to suppress it, the butterfly noticed.

The meridian at the wrist was a “quiet” vein; the efficiency of transporting spiritual power was too low. The butterfly hatched another plan. It flew deeper into Su Cheyue’s inner sleeve, its wings fluttering like a stone skipping over water across his skin. It climbed over his shoulder, hid at the back of his neck, and inserted its beak into the artery in that fair neck.

A constant stream of heat flowed in.

Chang Huichen asked in confusion, “I haven’t even touched you yet. Why is your face turning red?”

Su Cheyue said, “It isn’t.”

…So butterflies really do bite.

Chang Huichen stared at him and suddenly said, “Su Cheyue, do you know? This look of ‘refusing while inviting’ is truly irresistible. If I were Lyu Shuyao, I would like you too.”

The golden butterfly accidentally stumbled. Who said he… what? Don’t spread rumors, okay?!

Su Cheyue remained rational, catching the hidden meaning: “So, the Palace Master does not actually fancy me.”

Chang Huichen abruptly threw his sleeves back and retreated several steps. “Of course I don’t.”

“Is it because of Miss Jiang?”

Chang Huichen curled his lips. “Guess.”

The incense clock made a “tack” sound. Chang Huichen froze, his tone suddenly becoming fierce: “There’s no time left, Su Cheyue. Tell me, where is the Desire-Sensing Pearl?”

As expected. That was his true goal. When he squeezed Su Cheyue’s wrist today, he was checking his pulse!

“How does the Palace Master know about the pearl?”

“My Master told me! I’ve wanted to find you for a long time, but the Baoshan Sect’s strength is not to be underestimated, and I couldn’t risk this body. Now that you’ve delivered yourself to my door, if you don’t reveal the pearl’s location, neither you nor Lyu Shuyao will leave this place!”

Su Cheyue’s eyes were hollow, meeting movement with stillness. The more impatient Chang Huichen became, the more leisurely Su Cheyue acted. He said, “The pearl is inside my body. Does the Palace Master wish to take it?”

“Strip off my clothes, find a way into my body, and locate it.” He smiled softly, though it made Chang Huichen’s fingertips go numb. “I, too, am curious to know exactly where it is.”

The butterfly at the back of his neck was shocked by his words and gave him a sharp poke as a warning.

“Palace Master Chang, do you want to try?”

Lyu Shuyao thought: He’s a damn lunatic! Tempting someone like that—what if the guy actually does it?! Does Su Cheyue just not care about this kind of thing at all??

However, Chang Huichen actually hesitated and refused to step forward. The more Su Cheyue tempted him, the further he retreated.

“I… I can’t! He will be angry. He will be angry with me.” All his arrogance vanished, replaced by a tone of struggle.

Su Cheyue’s brow knit. He? Who is ‘he’? He was close to finding Chang Huichen’s secret.

Chang Huichen suddenly lunged forward again, grabbing Su Cheyue’s shoulders. “You help me! Do it yourself! Use the Desire-Sensing Pearl to help me find him…”

Su Cheyue: “Find whom?”

“You’re asking me? You actually ask me?!” Chang Huichen was agitated, as if a string in his mind was pulled taut to the breaking point. “Master said it exists! Master said the Desire-Sensing Pearl can find the souls of the dead! Master said it can!”

Who was his Master? Whose soul was he looking for?

Chang Huichen raised a hand to his forehead, tracing that deep, vivid scar. “I can’t hold on much longer. I want him back! I—”

The door was suddenly pushed open. Jiang Zhiqing stood outside, her lips pale. She called out softly, “Huichen.”

Chang Huichen’s voice seemed to hit a pause button. He turned around blankly and locked eyes with her.

“Huichen, Huichen.” He eerily repeated his own name. Jiang Zhiqing walked up to support him. “Palace Master, the hour has come. You should—”

Slap!

A heavy blow fell. Jiang Zhiqing knelt at Chang Huichen’s feet, clutching half of her face.

Chang Huichen looked down at her. “You’ve spoiled my good business.”

Wow. Cheating plus domestic violence—this guy’s scumbag stats are maxed out! Lyu Shuyao almost couldn’t resist flying out to beat him up, but Su Cheyue firmly held him inside his sleeve.

“I am sorry.” Jiang Zhiqing’s shoulders shook; she seemed to be crying. Chang Huichen grabbed her face, leaned down, and bit her lip. Jiang Zhiqing gasped in pain, tears leaking from the corners of her eyes. Chang Huichen said, “Does it hurt? Does it feel good? Whether Huichen hits you or kisses you, you must endure it. You love it, don’t you?”

Jiang Zhiqing whispered, “Yes. I love it. I love whatever Huichen does.”

Satisfied with her answer, Chang Huichen scooped her up, his red robes billowing like spring waves. As the incense clock struck the hour, he carried her out of the hall, acting as if Su Cheyue didn’t exist.

Lyu Shuyao thought weakly: Is there even one normal person in Zhuohua Palace?

The golden butterfly fluttered out in front of Su Cheyue and pecked his ear. “Good chance! Let’s find the Reward Order!”

Su Cheyue: I am a bit worried about Miss Jiang.

One is willing to hit, the other is willing to be hit—worrying is useless. Lyu Shuyao pondered: “While Chang Huichen is busy, I’ll find Manman and ask her to use the token to let my real body in.”

He started pecking Su Cheyue’s sleeve again. Su Cheyue was worn down by him and was about to speak when he suddenly gripped the armrests of his wheelchair tightly, closing his eyes against a wave of dizziness. The butterfly, flying in the air, didn’t feel anything wrong. “What’s wrong? What happened?”

Su Cheyue: Nothing. I just felt a sudden ‘drop’.

Lyu Shuyao was even more confused, cursing his inability to return to his own body. As a mere butterfly, his power was limited. They searched from the top floor all the way down to the first. A person in a wheelchair plus a “fluttering moth”—it was incredibly inconvenient.

They found the place completely empty. Manman was gone.

“Did Chang Huichen send her back?” With Chang Huichen’s erratic and bewitching behavior, it was possible.

“Then I can only stay with you like this.”

Eventually, the “moth” flew around the first-floor courtyard in frustration. The incense clock struck again—the Hour of the Pig (9-11 PM) had passed.

At that moment, Su Cheyue spoke abruptly.

“It’s very strange. Not only is Manman gone, but Chang Huichen and Jiang Zhiqing have vanished too.”

The butterfly’s wings skipped a beat. As it wobbled toward him, Su Cheyue frowned. “Lyu Shuyao, you look very silly like that.”

The butterfly, however, was dizzy with joy. Lyu Shuyao cried out, “Su Cheyue! You can speak! Did you hear yourself?!”

Su Cheyue: “…I can hear. I can see.” He was actually delighted, but he didn’t want to show any excitement. It would make him look pathetic, as if he spent every day begging the heavens to return his senses.

Lyu Shuyao made no attempt to hide his joy. Being a butterfly made him even more reckless. He circled Su Cheyue, landing on his eyelashes, then his earlobe, and almost on the corner of his mouth before Su Cheyue blocked him with a hand. “Do you want to die??”

Lyu Shuyao didn’t want to die, so he settled down. Su Cheyue said, “This might not be a good thing. It means I might hear—”

He stopped mid-sentence. He closed his eyes, then opened them again. “I heard it again.”

Lyu Shuyao: “Heard what?”

“Someone is about to meet with disaster,” Su Cheyue turned his wheelchair quickly. “It’s right here in this hall. Search!”