“Shuidong Liu…
Shuidong Liu…”
“It’s all you, it’s all your fault!” Musician shrieked.
“If you hadn’t gone on that blind date with me, I never would have ended up like this!”
“Shut up!
You have no shame, and you dare slander Master Shui!”
One of the escorts slapped her hard across the face, then opened the prison cart and dragged her out.
This wasn’t an actual execution ground.
To draw a larger crowd, Xiao Yue’Er had one built temporarily just outside the city.
Even Xiao Liang marveled, “My little sister is treating you incredibly well.
I mean, Celestial Fragrance City is the Xiao Family’s fiefdom.”
“The Xiao Family holds the power of life and death over everything in our fiefdom, but this is a first!”
Shuidong Liu smiled faintly.
‘If this were Earth, Xiao Yue’Er would be the type of stunningly rich girl who would throw everything away for her poor boyfriend!’
She was good to him, and he would be even better to her!
“Shuidong Liu!”
A long, shrill cry cut off the words Shuidong Liu had been about to speak.
“Shuidong Liu, you ruined me!”
“Shuidong Liu, you’re nothing but the son of a disgraced minister!
Was I wrong?!”
“Shuidong Liu, I curse you and Xiao Yue’Er!
May your love turn to hate, and may you never be together, lifetime after lifetime!”
“Shuidong Liu…”
“Shut up!” Shuidong Liu’s anger flared as he remembered the concern in Xiao Yue’Er’s eyes when she saw his injuries.
His voice thundered, making everyone who had been throwing rotten eggs freeze.
Shuidong Liu walked up onto the execution platform, one step at a time.
“Musician, you were the one carrying another man’s child, trying to pin it on me!”
“You were the one who threatened to kill me if I refused!”
“I heard the rumors and paid them no mind, because…
I am the son of the Champion Marquis.
That is a gift from my parents, a continuation of my bloodline that I will never deny!”
His gaze as sharp as ice, Shuidong Liu punctuated each step with a phrase.
“But since you looked down on me, why did you start the rumor that I was involved with you?”
“I, Shuidong Liu, entered the mines at age seven.
That day was the first time I ever walked out!”
“You look down on me, yet you won’t allow Yue’Er to have feelings for me?”
“I won’t allow it!
So what if she’s Xiao Yue’Er?
So what if she’s the number one genius!” Musician roared like a madwoman.
“If I can’t have something, neither can she!”
“Spreading rumors and slandering me is one thing, but…
I will not allow you to slander Yue’Er!”
Shuidong Liu stared daggers at Musician.
“I’m just an illegitimate son, ridiculed throughout my childhood!”
“At seven, I was sent to the mines.
For nearly eleven years, I’ve been whipped countless times, had my arms and legs broken, and been forced to eat slop.”
“Twenty-three times, I was nearly buried alive in collapsing tunnels.
Three times, I was mistaken for a corpse and thrown onto a pile of bodies to rot.”
“I came to the blind date hoping to clear my name.
Was I wrong to do that?”
“You refused to give me a chance, and I don’t blame you for it!”
“But besides my mother, Yue’Er is the first person in this world who hasn’t looked down on me, who hasn’t held my status against me.”
“If you dare slander her, I will kill you with my own two hands!”
His voice as sharp as a blade, Shuidong Liu stood before Musician.
He had thought Xiao Yue’Er was just toying with him, but she had given him such a precious token of her love and had even captured Musician’s entire family for him.
Even Xiao Liang and the others had acknowledged his status.
How could any of it be an act?!
Faced with such deep affection from a beautiful woman, and not being heartless himself, how could he not be moved?!
“How dare you…”
“You’re going to die today regardless.
Why wouldn’t I dare?”
Shuidong Liu roared, his hand shooting out to grab Musician’s neck.
In a surge of terror, Musician yelled, “Shuidong Liu, I know you have a secret!
Xiao Yue’Er only got engaged to you because she figured it out!”
“Why do you think His Majesty didn’t execute you all those years ago?
It’s because you have a secret!”
“Shuidong Liu, haven’t many people been trying to kill you lately?
They all want to pry that secret from you!”
“Shuidong Liu…
urk…”
Shuidong Liu’s hand clamped around Musician’s neck.
“Still spewing nonsense at death’s door!”
“You…
COUGH, COUGH…” Musician clawed desperately at Shuidong Liu’s hand, trying to pry his fingers away.
SNAP!
With that sound, Musician’s arms and legs fell limp, the light in her eyes extinguished.
Le Youcai trembled violently.
“Master Shui, spare me, spare my life!
I didn’t know that wretched girl had done these things, I swear…”
“Master Shui, I’ll give you my entire family fortune in exchange for my life!”
“Master Shui…”
Le Youcai was frantic to save his own skin.
But the people surrounding the execution ground were starting to have doubts.
“What exactly did the Second Miss see in Shuidong Liu to fall for him at first sight?
I heard he was dressed in rags and reeked.
Anyone would have stayed far away.”
“So what Musician said was true?
He has a secret?”
“I don’t know, but it’s true that people have tried to kill him recently.”
A buzz of discussion rose from the crowd, and the news quickly began to spread in all directions.
Even Xiao Liang grew puzzled, stroking his chin as he watched Shuidong Liu.
‘Even now, Shuidong Liu is still sallow and gaunt.
The day they met, he was dressed in rags…
How on earth did my little sister fall for him?’
Shuidong Liu, however, said nothing.
He dropped Musician’s corpse, flicked his hand to shake off the filth, and turned to face the onlookers.
His voice was cold and severe:
“Anyone who dares to slander Yue’Er will answer to me with their life.
Remember that!”
“Brother-in-law!”
“You can handle the rest.” Shuidong Liu gave a slight smile, taking in the murmurs from the crowd.
“Don’t listen to their nonsense!”
Shuidong Liu nodded, but he could see the doubt in Xiao Liang’s eyes.
As all eyes watched, Shuidong Liu walked away into the distance.
Xiao Liang’s gaze fell on Le Youcai, his eyes turning to ice.
‘The Le Family brought this upon themselves!’
「In the Xiao Mansion」
Xiao Yue’Er was draped in pink gossamer, her silken black hair cascading down her smooth back.
She looked serene and dignified.
She held a book in her hands, the corners of her lips curling into a slight smile as she listened to Xiaoyu’s report.
“Did he really say that?”
“He did!” Xiaoyu smiled.
“It seems you’re incredibly important to the Young Master!”
“And he is incredibly important to me.”
“My lady!” Another Maid rushed in, interrupting their conversation.
“My lady, before she died, Musician said that the Young Master has a great secret, and that you only got engaged to him because you figured it out.”
Xiao Yue’Er’s expression turned cold.
The Maid continued, “Everyone at the execution is talking about it, and the rumor is spreading fast!”
“My lady…
what should we do?
The Young Master…”
Xiao Yue’Er set down her book.
“Where is he?”
“He’s already gone back.
He’s alone.”
“I’m going to see him,” Xiao Yue’Er said.
Shuidong Liu didn’t expect Xiao Yue’Er to arrive so quickly.
They were in a pavilion.
A gentle breeze carried the faint, elegant scent of Xiao Yue’Er’s perfume to Shuidong Liu.
Xiaoyu served tea and refreshments before quietly withdrawing.
“Yue’Er…
is something the matter?”
Hearing him use her name, Xiao Yue’Er breathed a sigh of relief.
“There are rumors flying around.
I don’t want them to create a rift between us, Sir, so I came to explain everything.”
“It’s normal for people to have doubts.
You don’t have to—”
“I must!” Xiao Yue’Er’s tone was uncharacteristically solemn.
“You must have your own doubts, Sir.
Just as everyone is speculating, given your appearance that day, what on earth could I have seen in you?”
Shuidong Liu nodded.
“I’m listening.”
To say he didn’t care at all would be a lie.
Besides, Xiao Yue’Er had a point, and Shuidong Liu wanted to hear her explanation.
“Although I possess a Wind Spirit Body, I have been stuck at the Extraordinary Realm for a full year.
My master said I would need another three to five years of training before I could break through to the Ten Realms of Divine Power.”
“And yet, a single line of your poetry allowed me to break through instantly.”
“I won’t deny that this is a factor.”
Xiao Yue’Er was smart to lay all her cards on the table.
If she didn’t explain it now and someone else revealed it later, it would create a huge rift between them, or perhaps even worse…
Shuidong Liu was slightly taken aback.
“‘A single line of my poetry…
A great roc soars on the wind in a single day…
a Wind Spirit Body…'”
“That was your own fortuitous opportunity.”
Shuidong Liu’s words were casual, but another question formed in his mind.
‘In his fragmented memories, the silhouette of that figure who held a Sword to slay the heavens…
it seemed he also possessed such an ability…’
“Yes.
And so, Sir, you are my destiny,” Xiao Yue’Er said with a gentle smile.