Transmigrated as the Villain and Driven Crazy by the Vengeful Male Lead - Chapter 74

Chapter 74: Is it a Demand or a Request? — The Evacuation Procedure is authorized to begin.

Li An took a breath. “The Second Master blew up the Medical Hall. The spatial array is broken…”

“What did you say?!” Su Xun glared, his eyes filled with fury. “What kind of place is the Medical Hall?! Su Cheyue has truly gone mad!”

Yang Yuan’s voice tightened: “…Did he discover the spatial array?”

Li An: “Yes… however, I followed them secretly to investigate. They only found that group of people and don’t know the truth yet! Moreover, looking at the situation, the two sides don’t seem to get along.”

Su Xun sneered: “The brains of a group of ants aren’t even fit for alchemy; did you expect them to distinguish who is who? Fortunately, I made sure you were masked when I sent you, leaving no fatal evidence.”

Li An said: “Sect Master, what should we do now? Why not do it once and for all and trap them all inside… Haven’t we been unable to find the Second Master’s Desire-Seeking Bead? If we use his own body to refine a new one, wouldn’t we get twice the result with half the effort?”

Su Xun studied him by the lamplight and suddenly asked: “Who beat you?”

Li An froze, and a wave of torrential hatred filled his eyes. The bloody scars all over his body throbbed with pain at those words.

“Su Cheyue knows it was you who personally took Lyu Shurao to the Stalactite Terrace, so he retaliated, didn’t he?” Su Xun said.

Li An said hatefully: “I’m just not reconciled… Why are they born with such extraordinary talent? The Second Master was already in that state, yet he comes back from one trip fully recovered. If that isn’t the unfairness of fate, what is? And then there’s Lyu Shurao—why did he reach the Golden Core stage so easily? Why did he mock me using the Stalactite Terrace? Just because I want to become strong but don’t have their luck?”

“They left the sect whenever they pleased, showing zero regard for whether I lived or died. Fortunately, the Sect Master is magnanimous and doesn’t hold it against me, even willing to share the secret that the Desire-Seeking Bead can aid in rapid cultivation. The Desire-Seeking Bead… whether I refine it myself or snatch it from the Second Master, I will definitely help the Sect Master obtain it!”

“Good.” Su Xun nodded, then shifted his expression: “Since you know they were born with great fortune, why do you think you can win against them?”

Li An was speechless.

“Are you aware of their current strength?” Su Xun said coldly. “Never mind you, even I—combined with the entire Baoshan Sect—might not be their match. Furthermore, Lyu Shurao’s spiritual power is unusual. I have only seen that kind of spiritual energy once before, twelve years ago when the Ghost Prison opened—”

He stopped abruptly.

“Ghost Prison?” He chewed on those two words.

After a long silence, he said eerily: “If Cheyue found out that the person he is so deeply in love with has inextricable links to the Ghost Prison that killed his kin… what would he think? What would he do?”

Yang Yuan was startled: “Husband, you mean…”

“Lyu Shurao will be a disaster sooner or later. This matter must be made known to all the major sects for a joint interrogation and crusade. In today’s world, perhaps only Su Cheyue can defeat Lyu Shurao, and only Lyu Shurao can defeat Su Cheyue. There is a blood feud between the Baoshan Sect and the Ghost Prison. When the time comes, can the two of them still stand hand-in-hand on the same side?”

“I understand!” Li An realized. “Then the matter at the Medical Hall tonight… how should it be handled?”

“With such a big commotion, it would be unreasonable for us not to show up.” Su Xun thought for a moment. “Send A-Yang over.”

Yang Yuan said in shock: “No! How can you let our son wade into these muddy waters!”

“Trust me, Madam,” Su Xun soothed. “Sending A-Yang is the most appropriate course of action.”

…

In the underground passage, there was a long silence, save for the tireless crackling of the fierce fire. A-Jie suddenly sneered: “Is the Second Master playing the thief shouting ‘catch the thief’?”

Lyu Shurao said: “Are you going to talk or not?”

He rarely got angry; it seemed every time he did, it was because of Su Cheyue. Su Cheyue placed a hand on his chest, soothing him like stroking a dog’s fur: “Don’t be angry.”

Lyu Shurao’s voice softened instantly. No one had ever coaxed him like this.

He pressed his nose against Su Cheyue’s ear. He loved this feeling of leaning on each other, like two small animals licking and comforting one another.

“Then let’s go back,” Lyu Shurao said petulantly. “Forget about them.”

Su Cheyue smiled: “Angry words.”

Just then, several sets of footsteps approached. Everyone looked up to see several Baoshan Sect disciples in their robes, surrounding a man in green clothes with a sword.

“A-Yue?” Su Qingyang stood at the front, appearing somewhat stunned. “Why are you here? Are you hurt?”

Su Cheyue shook his head: “I’m fine.”

He looked around. “What is going on with this tunnel?” His gaze landed on the scarred crowd. “You people…”

“It’s a long story.” Seeing the large group arrive, Su Cheyue knew it wasn’t the right time to make them talk. “These people need to be settled, their wounds treated, and then sent back to their homes.”

Lyu Shurao said: “There’s no need to trouble Big Brother. They’ll all come back to the Moon-Resting Pavilion with us.”

Hearing this, A-Jie shouted: “I will never go with you!” He pointed at Su Cheyue. “He is the culprit! He is the demon who built this tunnel! Anyone who goes with him is walking into a trap, seeking their own death!”

Su Qingyang frowned and scolded: “What nonsense are you talking?”

Lyu Shurao said: “Big Brother can see for himself that slandering doesn’t even require a script nowadays. This matter must be investigated thoroughly.”

Su Qingyang said: “Bring them back to the Main Hall and report to my father—”

“Eh.” Lyu Shurao said nonchalantly. “Someone built a killing den inside the Baoshan Sect’s Medical Hall. What kind of place is the Medical Hall? A place to save lives. Once this gets out, the reputation of the Baoshan Sect will be severely damaged. Instead of troubling Uncle, why don’t Big Brother and we figure out the cause and effect first? Then, reporting to Uncle would be seen as sharing his burdens.”

Su Qingyang hesitated: “But such a big matter…”

“I have only just returned and have been under Uncle’s care. If I can share Uncle’s burdens in these matters to show a bit of my heart and repay his kindness, please allow me, Brother.” Su Cheyue added.

The couple spoke in harmony, sounding extremely sincere and reasonable, so Su Qingyang agreed.

A-Jie still fought tooth and nail: “I’m absolutely not going to the Moon-Resting Pavilion!”

Su Qingyang said: “Then you shall all go to my Yueyang Pavilion.”

Su Cheyue said: “Brother, where do you think the investigation should begin?”

“Naturally, by summoning the medical cultivators. These people were sent to the Medical Hall for treatment; why did they fall into a tunnel to be tortured?”

Su Cheyue nodded. “Settle them tonight. Tomorrow, Brother and I will interrogate them together.”

After watching the group follow Su Qingyang away, Lyu Shurao familiarly picked Su Cheyue up in a horizontal carry. Su Cheyue was stunned, the corners of his thin lips lifting slightly. He said nothing, but reached out to hook his arms around Lyu Shurao’s neck.

As boots stepped over fragrant grass covered in fallen pear blossoms, Su Cheyue’s eyes were quiet, fixed on one spot. Lyu Shurao’s steps were a bit erratic, and he eventually took a wrong turn.

“It seems… I went the wrong way?”

Su Cheyue’s gaze didn’t move. He said flatly: “Mn. To the right.”

Half a minute later.

Lyu Shurao stopped, slightly out of breath: “Su Cheyue… you lied to me.”

Su Cheyue tried not to laugh, but a leaked breath betrayed him: “I didn’t. I remembered it wrong too.”

He had lived here for twenty-seven years; how could he remember it wrong? He was clearly playing with him!

Lyu Shurao’s ears turned red with anger, but he didn’t dare explode. He only said: “My arms are sore.”

Su Cheyue: “…” “My wound hurts, it’s bleeding through.”

Su Cheyue sighed, loosened his grip, and said softly: “Put me down.”

“No. You’re injured too.” Lyu Shurao looked down at him. “Put your hands up.”

“My injury is fine,” Su Cheyue said.

“…Fine.” Lyu Shurao tightened his arms. “I lied to you.”

Su Cheyue was silent for a moment, then said: “Turn right and we’re there.”

This time it was for real. Lyu Shurao carried him into the pavilion room. Su Cheyue said: “Let me see your wound.”

Lyu Shurao: “Yours first.”

Su Cheyue didn’t speak. He took off his blood-stained outer robe. From the front, his inner garment was very clean.

Lyu Shurao was confused: “You…”

“I’m not injured.” Su Cheyue looked at him calmly. “I simply hadn’t opened my spiritual protection for a long time and didn’t react immediately when attacked. Later, when the stone wall fell, I had already applied a protective shield. They couldn’t hurt me.”

Hearing this, Lyu Shurao’s worry crumbled like loose sand. Right, this was the real Su Cheyue; it wouldn’t make sense for him to be easily ambushed by others!

However.

He said with a hint of complaint: “Why didn’t you tell me earlier? I was very worried.”

Su Cheyue said: “…Sorry.”

…He apologized? He apologized!

Su Cheyue had such a cold and arrogant personality, especially toward him—he never used polite words. Now he was actually apologizing!!

Tao Xuanxuan, is the person you brought back really the original Su Cheyue?! Has he been possessed?!

Lyu Shurao stammered: “It’s… it’s fine. No need to apologize…”

“Come sit beside me.”

Lyu Shurao sat down by his side. Seeing the right shoulder still soaking with blood, he immediately stood up again: “Your shoulder, let me apply medicine.”

The medicine Su Cheyue had prepared for Lyu Shurao was by the bedside. Lyu Shurao took it and looked at Su Cheyue: “…Take off your inner garment too?”

He was prepared for Su Cheyue to refuse. After all, even when his legs were impaired, Su Cheyue never voluntarily took off his clothes in front of him, let alone exposed his skin.

To his surprise, Su Cheyue only gave a soft laugh and reached out.

He only pulled the garment down to his shoulder.

Lyu Shurao: “…”

The last time he had seen him like this was during that New Year’s Eve accident. But back then, there were no lights in the room, and aside from a fair body soaked in moonlight, Lyu Shurao hadn’t seen anything clearly.

But now, the candlelight flickered. He couldn’t put out the light to apply medicine. Lyu Shurao saw his winding collarbone, his straight and thin side shoulder, and further up, a pale pink earlobe…

It was like a pipa player half-hidden behind her instrument; the less was shown, the more soul-stirring it was.

Lyu Shurao was flustered, and the powder was applied poorly, clinging to the smooth skin like a panicked invasion.

Su Cheyue dressed himself again and repeated: “Let me see your wound.”

Lyu Shurao gave a dazed “Oh.” As soon as Su Cheyue touched his belt, his spine stiffened.

Su Cheyue’s expression remained unchanged. His long fingers were agile, undoing the clothes with ease. Lyu Shurao closed his eyes, alert that something was wrong. He grabbed the hand pressed against his waist, his voice a bit dark.

“No need to look… I’m really fine.”

Su Cheyue looked up at him, the smile that had faded earlier reappearing.

…Before, when he was in the wheelchair, Lyu Shurao never saw him smile. Back then, he always hoped he would smile more, even if just a twitch of the lips.

But since returning from Pingluan Town, Su Cheyue smiled significantly more. He smiled when angry, smiled when happy. Lyu Shurao gradually couldn’t distinguish his emotions and attitudes, which made him feel very unadapted and guilty with fear.

After all, in the original book, when Su Cheyue finally killed Lyu Shurao, he was also smiling brilliantly!

The more he thought about it, the more eerie and terrifying it became. Yet, despite the horror, when Su Cheyue wanted to undress him, he was still embarrassed—he still had a physical reaction!

Do I have any backbone?! When did things develop to this point?!

Lyu Shurao tried his best to suppress it, his teeth almost chattering: “…What are you laughing at?”

“It seems you don’t ‘dislike’ it that much,” Su Cheyue said.

“…!”

Su Cheyue carefully examined the wounds caused by the stalactites; there was no bleeding.

Lyu Shurao had an excellent constitution. As long as his wounds were treated promptly, they healed quickly. Su Cheyue felt relieved, straightened up, and turned his head: “Tonight…”

“Tonight I’ll sleep on the couch.” Lyu Shurao pointed at the “sofa” he had bought.

Su Cheyue raised an eyebrow slightly. “The couch is uncomfortable.”

How is it uncomfortable? I spent half the day picking it out at the foot of the mountain and paid a high price to move it back! You never cared if I was comfortable sleeping there before; what’s with this delayed concern?

“You sleep on the bed.” “Then what about you?” “Where do you want me to sleep?” “…”

Su Cheyue narrowed his eyes and said softly: “A reminder: we are husband and wife.”

We ‘used to be’ husband and wife, let’s be precise, Lyu Shurao countered in his mind.

He didn’t answer. Su Cheyue waited for a moment, sat back down beside him, looked ahead, took a light breath, and suddenly said: “You haven’t given me an answer to what I said in the dungeon.”

Lyu Shurao lowered his eyes. He probably knew which sentence he was referring to. At that time, his reason had been shattered by the bloodstains on Su Cheyue; he didn’t even remember if he had answered or how he had answered.

Lyu Shurao, stay by my side.

…Why did he make such a request? Was it a demand or a request? If he stayed, what did he want to do?

“Lyu Shurao,” Su Cheyue didn’t turn to look at him. The candlelight made his eyelashes tremble slightly. “Can you answer now?”

Every word was like a soft hammer striking his heart, making it beat in a mess.

To stay—was it to be killed, carved up, or thanked? The uncertainty was too great. He couldn’t gauge what Su Cheyue was thinking, or if his current thoughts would change later.

Moreover, even regardless of what Su Cheyue thought—even if he looked at it from a thousand miles away… he didn’t belong to this world. How could he stay?

Thinking about it, he still had his original life. Although Lyu Yizhou didn’t want him and Shen Yun didn’t want him, he had studied for over ten years; he had to finish university at least… even if they didn’t want him, he had to go to work to earn money to repay them for raising him… And there was the game he hadn’t finished, and the Snail Rice Noodles and Single’s Day sales before he transmigrated. He didn’t know what the timeline was like over there now…

But… why.

Knowing the road ahead was uncertain and Su Cheyue’s motives were unclear. Knowing which choice was correct and how things should be. Knowing that the dawn of the Hatred Value clearing was right before his eyes.

Why was he unable to speak the words of rejection?

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the person beside him quietly waiting for his answer. The scent of pear blossoms drifted in the air. Su Cheyue’s fingertips paused on his robe, pinching out a wrinkle.

Lyu Shurao couldn’t help it. He turned his face to look at him—at his thin lips pressed tight, his long hair half-scattered on his shoulder, covering his ear and the loneliness cast by his eyelashes.

He suddenly remembered the first time he picked him up from the floor by the bed. He had that same expression—tense, raw, yet fiercely stubborn, prepared to lose everything but at a loss for the sudden embrace.

He suddenly remembered a quote from the book, spoken by Su Cheyue later at the peak of Kunlun Mountain.

“It turns out Kunlun has no moon. How can Kunlun have no moon?” “How can I wake to rule the world and sleep in the lap of luxury, yet still be lonely? Not even a shadow accompanies me.”

…If Su Cheyue really needed Lyu Shurao. If Su Cheyue still needed him even now.

“I…”

His chest hummed and vibrated. The system, choosing a terrible time, jumped out and interrupted him.

[Congratulations, Host. All conditions for leaving Su Cheyue have been met. The Evacuation Procedure is authorized to begin.]