Vindicated After a Wrongful Death - Chapter 41

Yun Yanli did not believe it.

The reason the Demonic Dragon was feared as an “Evil Dragon” was that, upon demonization, it would become a beast devoid of reason, knowing only slaughter. How could someone whose desires were controlled by a heart demon recover their sanity so quickly?

Gu Congxu didn’t even spare Yun Yanli a glance, walking toward Xiang Zhongjing with a dark expression.

Behind his veil, Xiang Zhongjing was resting his head on his forearm, eyes half-lidded as he watched the dragon, it was unclear whether he was still drunk or had finally sobered up.

Seeing that the murderous aura around Gu Congxu had yet to dissipate, Yun Yanli feared he might harm Xiang Zhongjing and stepped forward quickly. “Stop!”

Just as he spoke, the groggy Xiang Zhongjing shifted slightly on the narrow couch and rolled right off.

Gu Congxu moved with lightning speed, catching Xiang Zhongjing’s limp, burning body in his arms, his brow furrowed into a tight knot.

His mood was grim. His usually gentle features were as cold as a blade’s edge. Yun Yanli’s words from earlier were still rankling him, but he did his best not to show a cold face to Xiang Zhongjing.

Placing Xiang Zhongjing back onto the couch, Gu Congxu tried to keep his tone level as he asked, “What is it?”

Xiang Zhongjing didn’t even seem afraid of nearly falling. Seeing Gu Congxu, he let out a giggle. “Why aren’t you coming to coil around me anymore?”

Gu Congxu froze.

Xiang Zhongjing was likely still in a daze, his fingers tracing unconscious circles on the couch beneath him, his eyes brimming with a smile as he looked at the dragon.

Gu Congxu stayed dazed for a long while, his ears turning slightly red as he whispered, “I’ll coil later. I’m doing serious business right now.”

Having said that, and fearing Xiang Zhongjing might say something scandalous like “do me” in front of a stranger, Gu Congxu clamped a hand over the man’s mouth. “Just stay here and don’t move.”

Xiang Zhongjing wanted Yun Yanli to take him to the Cloud Province, and while Yun Yanli was an obnoxious person, he was likely Xiang Zhongjing’s blood relative. No matter how furious Gu Congxu was, he had no intention of swallowing the man whole.

Once Gu Congxu saw that Xiang Zhongjing was obediently resting his head and staying still, he turned a dark, predatory gaze toward Yun Yanli, his eyes filled with bloodthirsty killing intent.

The little phoenix trembled and whispered, “Young Lord, see? The dragon is truly angry now.”

Yun Yanli: “…”

Gu Congxu had no desire to listen to anything else from Yun Yanli’s punchable mouth. After ensuring Xiang Zhongjing wouldn’t groggily roll off the couch again, he lightly flexed his unsheathed claws. As the talons scraped against one another, they produced a sharp, metallic ring like clashing sword blades.

Yun Yanli was not one to back down either. He gripped his sword and said provocatively, “Come then.”

Before his voice had even faded, Gu Congxu charged forward like a bolt of lightning. His claws were sharper than any blade, and a piercing whistle of displaced air echoed in their ears.

Yun Yanli’s spirit sword was not to be outdone. He channeled his full spiritual power and raised the blade. Clang! Clang! Two collisions rang out as claws met steel, sending a shower of sparks flying.

After a few brief exchanges, the two broke away from each other. A nearby bookshelf was sliced into five clean segments and collapsed with a heavy thud.

Yun Yanli had lived a pampered life. Although he had fought countless battles, he had never crossed paths with an Evil Dragon. The True Dragon’s inherent pressure was enough to make even human cultivators feel a deep, instinctive dread.

I need to end this quickly. For the first time, Yun Yanli felt a sense of crisis. He gripped his sword and gave it a sharp twist, planning to finish the fight fast. Otherwise, he would be at a severe disadvantage against a True Dragon with a powerful, tireless physical body.

Fortunately, Gu Congxu hadn’t fully demonized yet, making him somewhat easier to handle.

As his thoughts raced, their massive spiritual energies clashed once more. Though the Demonic Dragon’s human form was tall, he moved with the agility of a ghost. In a split second of distraction, Yun Yanli lost track of his silhouette.

The room fell into a deathly silence, save for the faint sound of Xiang Zhongjing’s fingernails tracing light circles on the soft couch.

Yun Yanli scanned his surroundings warily; Gu Congxu had seemingly vanished into thin air.

Gu Congxu also wanted to finish him off quickly. The moment Yun Yanli turned his back, the True Dragon reappeared. A cold glint flashed from his claws as he swung them down toward Yun Yanli’s back.

Yun Yanli’s reflexes were sharp and he spun around instantly, but Gu Congxu’s talons were already inches away.

The “Xianting” array in Yun Yanli’s pupils suddenly spun at a frantic speed. Within his constricted pupils, he saw the future a split second before it happened: the Demonic Dragon would reach him instantly, claws swinging down to leave five bone-deep gashes from his neck to his waist.

Blood would drench his body.

The Xianting array only functioned for a heartbeat, allowing Yun Yanli to glimpse the immediate future. He didn’t even have time to raise the spirit sword that was within reach. A thought flashed through his mind, and a circular barrier appeared instantly, wrapping his entire body tightly.

The phoenix let out a shrill cry, reverting to its magnificent true form and spitting a gout of phoenix fire at the charging Gu Congxu.

Xiang Zhongjing was tilting his head, watching the exchange with a bewildered gaze. In his tilted, swaying world, the two seemed to be playing house, their movements slow and sluggish as if filmed at a fraction of the speed, devoid of any visible flashing blades.

He only saw a burst of fire that seemed like it might burn Gu Congxu. He thought dazed, It was supposed to be a one-on-one fight, why is there outside help?

Xiang Zhongjing gave a casual flick of his finger. Two wisps of Nether Fire surged forward. With a deafening boom, they intercepted the phoenix flame.

Sparks collided like falling meteors, pitter-pattering onto the floor.

Accompanied by a sudden crack of dry thunder outside, the fires died out. Gu Congxu stood tall and elegant, his wide black sleeves hanging down, his claws having just barely pierced through the tortoise-shell-like barrier.

Yun Yanli’s pupils shrunk to pinpricks as he stared in shock at the dragon claw hanging half an inch from the center of his brow.

This barrier was his personal protective restriction. In all his years, Yun Yanli had never had it pierced through so directly.

Gu Congxu stood before him. Though his claws could have easily pierced through his spiritual altar with one more step, he seemed to have calculated the distance perfectly—not half an inch more, not half an inch less.

It felt like a deliberate humiliation.

No, it was a deliberate humiliation.

Yun Yanli glared at Gu Congxu, his eyes turning red with hatred. He felt a deep sense of shame, while also feeling a delayed cold sweat drenching his back.

This was the most crushing defeat the favored Young Lord of the Cloud Province had ever suffered, he hadn’t even been this pathetic during his previous fight with Xiang Zhongjing.

Gu Congxu looked at him coldly and asked, “What did you call me?”

Yun Yanli bit his lip hard. He knew Gu Congxu was threatening him to submit, otherwise those claws would likely move forward another three inches and skewer his head.

After his eyes remained red for a long moment, Yun Yanli ground out two words through his teeth.

Gu Congxu hadn’t heard clearly and shook his claws. “Louder.”

Yun Yanli snapped his head up and shouted as requested, “I called you a Demonic Dragon!”

Gu Congxu: “…”

This person won’t shed a tear until he sees his own coffin; he’d probably even lie down and close the lid himself.

Gu Congxu stared at him with a dark expression for a long time. Just when Yun Yanli thought the dragon was about to kill him, the claws at his brow moved slightly.

Yun Yanli’s eyes widened, but he saw Gu Congxu slowly slicing through his protective barrier as if it were tofu. The dragon retracted his claws, which transformed back into slender fingers, and gave him a cold, sidelong glance.

As the protective restriction dissolved, it turned into strands of pure spiritual energy that scattered into the surroundings. Gu Congxu quietly hooked them with his fingers, absorbing them into his body.

Yun Yanli was taken aback, completely ignoring the state of his own energy as he stepped forward in a fury. “What is that supposed to mean?!”

Gu Congxu looked at the man in disbelief. He had spared his life, yet the man was demanding to know why—did he want to die that badly?

Yun Yanli took Gu Congxu’s look as an act of charity, and he began to shake with rage. He moved to charge forward and argue with him.

The phoenix, still shaken, hurriedly spread its wings to block Yun Yanli.

“Young Lord, Young Lord, forget it! Keeping our lives is more important!”

“Forget it?! What does he mean? Is he pitying me?!”

“I don’t want charity from a Jiuzhou person! Ghak! Take it back!”

“I lost fair and square! Come back right now and kill me with one claw! If I so much as blink, I’ll stop using the surname Yun!”

The phoenix was nearly in tears from the stress, yet it still found the energy to correct him: “Young Lord, Young Lord, the title! You used the wrong title!”

They really were a pair of oddities.

Gu Congxu couldn’t be bothered with Yun Yanli’s pestering and walked slowly back to Xiang Zhongjing’s side.

If Gu Congxu’s true form hadn’t been sealed, a hundred Yun Yanlis wouldn’t have been a problem at his peak. But currently, his body and power were formed from only two segments of dragon bone. That sudden, thunderous strike just now had exhausted all his spiritual energy; there wasn’t a single drop left to command.

If they had kept going, it was a toss-up as to who would have lost.

Furthermore…

Gu Congxu looked out the window at the dissipating storm clouds and gave a cold sneer.

If his claws had actually pierced Yun Yanli’s brow just now, that certain someone in the Cloud Province would likely have instantly summoned a lightning tribulation to blast Gu Congxu into ash.

Xiang Zhongjing was still resting his head on his arm and watching him. Because he had been tracing circles for so long, his fingertips were a bit red.

Seeing that he had held that pose for a while and his arm would surely be sore, Gu Congxu frowned and pulled his hand away, letting him lie flat on the couch.

Yun Yanli’s spiritual energy was indeed useful. After absorbing the energy from the restriction, the seal that had only budged slightly actually pulled away from the Nascent Soul, leaving only half the dragon’s body still coiled around it.

It was still just a bit short.

Gu Congxu frowned, glancing at Yun Yanli, who was still glaring at him with a face full of humiliation.

He couldn’t fleece any more energy from him for now; he would have to wait patiently.

***

Xiang Zhongjing slept until evening. When he woke, he was lying on a large bed with a blanket over him.

Although the medicine had been foul, the side effects of the soul fusion had completely vanished, and the spiritual energy in his body even seemed to have recovered a little.

Xiang Zhongjing sat up and pulled back his long hair. Just as he was about to call for Gu Congxu, he saw a person sitting in a nearby chair, staring at him with an expressionless face.

“Yun Yanli?” Xiang Zhongjing asked, surprised. “What are you doing in my room?”

Seeing that he seemingly remembered nothing, Yun Yanli became even angrier. He coldly brought up old grievances: “Weren’t you going by the name Gu Sange, Sovereign Xiang?”

Xiang Zhongjing: “…”

I almost forgot about that.

Xiang Zhongjing put on his shoes, his skin thick as ever. “Well, you know, when traveling the world, it’s easier to get a meal if you have a few extra names.”

Yun Yanli was nearly driven to laughter by his audacity.

Seeing how angry he was, Xiang Zhongjing asked in confusion, “Who upset you?”

Yun Yanli glared at him coldly. “That dragon by your side. Tell him to come out.”

Xiang Zhongjing: “Come out to do what?”

Yun Yanli: “To kill me.”

Xiang Zhongjing: “…”

Xiang Zhongjing suspected he was still drunk. He asked in disbelief, “Huh?”

Yun Yanli said coldly, “If he doesn’t kill me, he is insulting me.”

Xiang Zhongjing was completely baffled. He had no idea what had happened between the two while he was asleep, or why it had escalated to talk of killing and insults.

On the small table nearby sat a bowl of medicine Man Qiuxia had delivered at some point, kept warm with fire spirit stones. Xiang Zhongjing tried to hand the medicine to Yun Yanli, thinking it might help his brain.

“How about… you have a sip?”

Yun Yanli: “…”

Xiang Zhongjing had no choice but to drink the medicine himself. He thought it might help his spiritual energy recover, and he didn’t want to waste Man Qiuxia’s efforts. So this time, he only took a few sips to avoid losing consciousness again.

Seeing him still drinking the medicine like a fool, Yun Yanli’s head throbbed with anger. He tried his best to stay calm, saying with a tone of frustrated concern, “Do you even know the true origins of that dragon by your side?”

Xiang Zhongjing shook his head. He had yet to find out exactly who Gu Congxu and his master were.

“You don’t know, and yet you dare keep him with you?” Yun Yanli had suddenly developed the heart of a nagging mother. Seeing Xiang Zhongjing’s carefree attitude made him want to speak up. Ignoring his previous beating, he began to expose Gu Congxu’s background again, saying with hatred, “He is a dragon who has already fallen into the demonic path. If he loses his mind, your neck won’t even be enough for one bite.”

“Oh.” Xiang Zhongjing took a sip and stopped, saying casually, “He doesn’t bite me.”

Yun Yanli scolded him, “How can you be so careless?!”

When Yun Yanli had seen the black dragon coiled around Xiang Zhongjing during the day, the monster’s cold vertical pupils had practically screamed “I want to eat him.”

Xiang Zhongjing set the bowl down. “I’m fine. Tch, why are you being so naggy?”

When they first met, he had been so arrogant he wanted to strangle him. Now, why was he meddling in things that were none of his business?

Yun Yanli was choked by the response and realized he was indeed acting out of character.

Right. Whether Xiang Zhongjing lives or dies, what does it have to do with me?

It would be best if the dragon swallowed him in one bite; then I wouldn’t have to take him to the Cloud Province and be punished by my father.

Yun Yanli stayed silent for a long time before asking with forced impatience, “So, have you helped me find that person?”

Xiang Zhongjing brushed him off. “I’m looking, I’m looking.”

Yun Yanli looked at him through narrowed eyes. “To be honest, you haven’t given it a second thought, have you?”

Xiang Zhongjing’s mouth was full of the taste of medicine. He took some tea from the side to rinse his mouth, saying muffledly, “In any case, I’ll find him and bring him to you within the agreed time. Isn’t that enough? If I can’t find him, you can just take me to the Cloud Province.”

Yun Yanli: “…”

Yun Yanli shot him a glance. “That person is my younger brother, born of the same mother. He is the Second Young Lord of the Cloud Province. If he hadn’t been kidnapped, his status would be so noble that you’d have to thank your ancestors just to catch a glimpse of him. Take you back to trick my father? He’d likely kick me into Luochuan and never let me come home again.”

Xiang Zhongjing froze, his cheeks bulging with the tea in his mouth. He looked at Yun Yanli in shock.

Younger… younger brother?

Shouldn’t it be an older brother?