Guards scattered all across the imperial palace were mere decorations in front of the Wu god. This was hardly an unexpected matter, yet it was exceedingly an eyesore.
Over the past few days, aside from occasionally popping out a few baffling rule-breaking comments, the system had remained silent. That meant Xie Chen was entirely useless once again.
Why bother paying attention to something useless and unpleasing?
Ever since his rebirth, living such an aimless life was already tedious enough, let alone having to endlessly entangle himself with this group of people in hypocritical posturing. No one could possibly maintain a pleasant demeanor under such circumstances.
Refusing to spare Xie Chen even half a glance any longer, he closed his eyes to inhale the faint, calming sandalwood fragrance. At least this incense would not magically alter its properties simply because he happened to be a villain.
Seeing that Nan Rongchen appeared completely indifferent, Xie Chen inexplicably felt a surge of irritation. He could no longer remember in which year or month he had last experienced such mundane mortal emotions. Nan Rongchen truly possessed a unique talent.
“Knowing that medicinal diet was poisonous, you still ate it?”
There was no longer any need to put on a show of taking the pulse. He bent two fingers and tapped them against Nan Rongchen’s brow, only to have his hand ruthlessly swatted away. The offending hand then brazenly stretched out right before him.
Xie Chen had long since learned of Nan Rongchen’s foul temper. Instead, he reached out to check the pulse. Before his fingertips could make contact, however, Nan Rongchen lowered his gaze and spoke: “Give the book to Gu and get out.”
A sovereign naturally possessed an inherent majesty. Nan Rongchen’s pair of phoenix eyes overflowed with impatience; any ordinary palace maid or eunuch would have already dropped to their knees, trembling as they respectfully obeyed the royal command.
Xie Chen finally seemed to acquire the basic observational skills of a normal human being, raising his hand to place the book into Nan Rongchen’s palm, though the curve of his eyes was genuinely abnormal.
[Level 1 rule-breaking comment: Shout one more word and what on earth is this? Oh my god, is this a male-lead web novel? Don’t tell me these are all brotherhood vibes. Oh no, they are enemies.]
[Don’t ask, asking means the Wu god has his own rhythm, purely for passing the tribulation and resolving the fate contract (protective armor on, self-contained universe, please don’t flame).]
Nan Rongchen could not be bothered to care about these remarks. He curled his fingers around the spine of the book, braced himself against the sandalwood low table covered in brocade cloth, and prepared to stand up. With nothing better to do, sleeping was far superior to bickering in empty words with that bunch of people.
His waist suddenly slackened, and he uncontrollably tumbled back into his seat. Those cool fingers ultimately brushed against his brow. He instinctively furrowed his brows and glared at Xie Chen, only to have his frown forcefully smoothed out.
“This deity shares a karmic tie with you, but saving you requires considerable effort, and this affinity isn’t meant to be wasted like this.” As he spoke, Xie Chen drew two drops of blood from his fingertips, leisurely yet irresistibly prying open Nan Rongchen’s pale lips. Even after being bitten a few times, his expression remained unchanged. “Let us establish some rules today.”
Seeing that enough blood had been fed, Xie Chen withdrew his fingers, lingering long enough to lightly stroke those lips twice before trailing his red robes and slouching down casually beside Nan Rongchen.
The stench of blood should have been nauseating, yet Nan Rongchen honestly admitted that the taste of the Wu god’s blood was quite acceptable.
As for its effects, whether it was meant to take his life outright or hypocritically save him, they could scheme however they pleased.
“Are you expecting Gu to be eternally grateful to you?” The immobilization spell on Nan Rongchen’s body had already been lifted. He tossed the book aside and retorted: “Xie Chen, do you deserve it?”
Originally, the question of whether he deserved it was irrelevant. Across both his lifetimes, this was the first time he had ever questioned someone in such a manner. In his past life, many people had told him he was unworthy of being a sovereign and unfit to be human.
Yet Xie Chen was truly detestable. Coupled with the fact that he was a villainous tyrant, speaking in harsh tones and stern colors was only normal.
Xie Chen automatically ignored those words and reached for the sash of Nan Rongchen’s outer robe: “From now on, self-harm is forbidden.”
“Could it be that Gu truly is the Son of Heaven, whose life is bound to the Wu god?” Being bound by the immobilization spell meant he was entirely at the mercy of another. Knowing when to yield, Nan Rongchen stopped struggling and mocked as his sash was untied: “Those injuries were all inflicted by others. Why doesn’t the Wu god kill them for me?”
Xie Chen’s movements paused momentarily. With an unfathomable expression, he withdrew his hand and instead formed a hand seal to undo the second sash: “Call me Xie Chen.”
Nan Rongchen let out a cold sneer without answering, but then he heard a rapid succession of Nan Rongchen mingling with the obstruction of palace maids and eunuchs, followed by the sight of Qi Yan bursting into the Zichen Palace with his sword in hand.
Turning his head back, he found that Xie Chen had already reverted to his initial appearance: red robes and white hair, leaning far more toward demonic than righteous. Presumably, this was another sight visible to him alone.
Qi Yan had originally intended to cause some vexation for Nan Rongchen. Intentionally withholding his waist token, he had forced his way into the tyrant’s bedchamber, yet he never expected Nan Rongchen to be so utterly disregardful of propriety.
In broad daylight, even if evening was approaching, the outer hall should not have been in such a state of disarray.
Finding the noise grating, Nan Rongchen waved a hand to signal the eunuchs and guards to withdraw, adding a single instruction: “There is no need to block him from now on.”
Since the blade he had brought in was restless, there was no reason to keep the maids and eunuchs of the Zichen Palace in a state of constant terror day after day.
Once the hall ostensibly held only the two of them, Nan Rongchen treated Xie Chen completely as air and addressed Qi Yan directly: “If you have nothing to do, do not disturb Gu. If you have business, go find Chen Ping.”
The moment those words left his mouth, he caught a hint of a smile blooming across Xie Chen’s otherworldly yet eerie face.
The words “Withdraw” that had already reached the tip of his tongue were hastily swallowed and replaced with: “If you truly have nothing else, go find your Prince Su and clear up whatever is going on with that master of Shiming.”
Their Prince Su? This tyrant clearly had known all along that he wasn’t someone from Prince Su’s residence. Treating him like a complete fool to be toyed with, Qi Yan hugged his sword to his chest and interrupted sharply: “My only mission is to kill…”
Mid-sentence, a section of bandage exposed near the tyrant’s neck caught his eye, inexplicably reminding him of the scene at the Hot Spring Hall days prior. With a sluggish realization, his face flushed hot: “Put your clothes on properly first!”
Nan Rongchen had no interest in figuring out what madness Qi Yan was suffering from this time. Instead, Xie Chen formed a hand seal in the empty air, effortlessly casting an illusion spell.
Wasn’t he just trying to check the sword wound over his heart out of fear that he would drop dead? Excessively dragging his feet. Nan Rongchen discarded any intention of troubling the Wu god further and reiterated: “If you have nothing to do, withdraw.”
The very instant the final syllable escaped, a numbing itch spread across the skin of his chest, accompanied by a wave of comforting warmth. Nan Rongchen lowered his gaze to look, only to find his outer robes securely and tightly wrapped.
[Rule-breaking comment: We all get it, Xie Chen is just rushing against the clock.]
[I can vouch, Qi Yan was also just trying to lower the cat’s guard. They all have their own rhythms.]
Facing Nan Rongchen’s undisguised impatience, Qi Yan unexpectedly experienced a ridiculous thought: Since he is injured, let us spare him this once?
Remembering at last the legitimate business that had brought him here today, he tossed out an awkward sentence: “Do you actually think Helian Yi will truly be of use to you? During the spring hunt in March, the numerous attendants at Jiuan Palace might not all be loyal to you.”
Hardly anyone was loyal to him to begin with. Nan Rongchen spoke with genuine candor: “Their blades aren’t sharp enough. Gu is simply waiting for you to do the killing.”
Watching Qi Yan retreat in frustration as if hexed, Nan Rongchen didn’t bother asking further, especially since he had zero impression of Qi Yan from his past life.
Blundering in headfirst and unhesitatingly calling him a tyrant to his face, the fellow was most likely a manipulated foreigner, nothing more than a disposable tool.
As the sound of footsteps faded into complete silence, Xie Chen dispelled the illusion and said to Nan Rongchen: “Alright, the poison is neutralized and the injury is treated. Now it is time to attend to real business.”
Real business? What did the protagonist group’s business have to do with him? Nan Rongchen rose once more and headed toward the inner hall, continuing to treat Xie Chen as a nonentity.
Xie Chen assumed his original form, sat down upon the sovereign’s bed, and spoke with absolute unconcern: “Let us take a nap first. The other rules can be discussed tomorrow.”