Chapter 119
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A’Zhu’s fleeing figure dashed Xue Yao’s hopes of completing the fluttering heart quest.
The courtyard returned to silence.
Xue Yao turned to look at Lu Qian and conceded, “We shouldn’t argue in a place like this.”
Lu Qian lowered his eyes. “You triggered a mechanism.”
“This is truly an evil sect, setting up such treacherous traps.”
Lu Qian remained silent, staring at the little reader-in-waiting as if waiting for something.
Xue Yao avoided his eyes. “I’m starting to suspect if they poisoned the chicken legs. I feel a bit dizzy now.”
Lu Qian continued to fix his eyes on him.
Xue Yao still attempted to evade. “Let’s go back to the room. At least it’s safer than here.”
Lu Qian remained unmoved.
Xue Yao, with no way to avoid it, locked gaze with those tea-colored eyes.
The silent confrontation began in the gaze between the two brothers.
Xue Yao was well aware: without hearing those words, this petty Long Aotian wouldn’t let him off.
Alright.
Pretending nothing had happened, Xue Yao’s eyes slowly lowered, finally stopping at Lu Qian’s chin. He whispered, “Many thanks, Your Highness.”
Recognized as the protector, Lu Qian smirked, lazily pushing himself up from the ground, extending his hand toward the little reader-in-waiting who needed protection.
At this age, how much did a boy want to prove his strength?
Especially when wanting to prove to someone that he had all the essential qualities to protect them, demonstrating that with his strength, he could more than adequately safeguard them.
Therefore, Lu Qian concealed the fear he almost cried out when he saw the trap being triggered just now. With a confidence, he reached out to help the little reader-in-waiting, showcasing ample strength.
Putting all his effort, he silently tried to convey an impatient inquiry — Look from afar, isn’t your grandpa more formidable than Eldest Brother?
Subconsciously, Lu Qian knew he couldn’t surpass his eldest brother. This urgency fueled his desire to prove himself.
Ten years later, Lu Qian would, on the contrary, try to conceal his sharpness as much as possible, but the confidence derived from stability and self-awareness was a state of mind the seventeen-year-old Lu Qian couldn’t attain.
Ironically, at this moment, Xue Yao adopted the mindset of an elder, refusing to yield the position of protector, nurturing the pride of the boy before him eager to become a man.
The two of them were still secretly competing.
That was why Xue Yao didn’t place his hand in Lu Qian’s palm. Instead, he braced himself against the ground, determined to stand up on his own, turning to walk towards the corridor.
Lu Qian’s petty side started acting up again. Mischievously, he imitated the sound of a “bang!” as if another trap had been triggered.
Startled like a little rabbit, Xue Yao jumped in place, then turned around, actively wrapping his arms around Lu Qian’s neck, looking around in fear.
The two hearts synchronized in the moment of the embrace.
The joyous heartbeat made Xue Yao’s ears start ringing.
The ringing drowned out the notification that the progress of the【Tyrant’s Fluttering Heart quest 21%】.
It took a moment for him to realize he hadn’t triggered another mechanism. The sound was just Lu Qian trying to startle him.
“Why did you scare me like that!” Xue Yao, coming to his senses, released Lu Qian, shot him a reproachful look, then turned and ran into the room.
Xue Yao couldn’t comprehend Lu Qian’s rebellious prank. Though his current body was only twenty-one years old, he lived through university in his previous life and added thirteen years of royal kindergarten experiences in this one. Believing he possessed the wisdom of a thirty-year-old, he remained unaware of the gap in his understanding — an absence of an emotional experience that would provide a more comprehensive view of the world.
The lack of understanding towards this world of emotions led Xue Yao to treat Lu Qian in a manner similar to dealing with a child, fueling Lu Qian’s desire to prove himself.
“A’Zhu won’t help us slip away now.” Xue Yao sat alone at the table, feeling disheartened.
“What’s the need to slip away?” Lu Qian asked him.
“Does Your Highness want to be trapped here forever? Your fifth brother is getting married!”
“Next month,” Lu Qian reminded him.
“That’s why we need to escape!” Xue Yao was getting anxious. He didn’t want to miss the beeper cub’s wedding.
“They will release us.”
“What’s the reason?”
“Your grandpa doesn’t know Gu Qingyuan.”
“Not knowing doesn’t guarantee our release. What if they silence us directly? They are from the dark and evil sect.”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“The underground dares not offend the Sword Saint.”
Upon careful consideration, Xue Yao found it reasonable. “Even if you don’t know your senior martial brother, they can’t deny you’re the Sword Saint’s disciple. By the way! Do you still have the letter from the Sword Saint?”
“Why?”
“Quick, bring it out for me to eat!”
“Haven’t you already eaten a chicken leg?”
“I’m not hungry. If they see the Sword Saint’s disownment letter, they might dare to kill us.”
So, Lu Qian pulled the letter out from his sleeve.
Xue Yao reached out to take it.
Lu Qian didn’t give it to him. He lowered his head and tore a small corner of the letter, handing it to the little reader-in-waiting. “Eat slowly.”
Xue Yao took the triangular piece, thinking rebellious as Lu Qian might be, he still cared. Surprisingly, he only gave him a small piece at a time.
Holding the small corner, Xue Yao turned away, slowly putting it into his mouth and chewing.
While chewing, he noticed the person beside him was gone. Xue Yao turned his head and saw Lu Qian lighting a lamp in the corner of the room — burning the disownment letter.
Xue Yao: “…… There’s a lamp in this room?”
Lu Qian shook the remaining burning corner of the paper in his hand and raised an eyebrow at the little reader-in-waiting. “Want more?”
“You did it on purpose!”
Lu Qian admitted guilt with a mischievous smile.
“Why is Your Highness not obedient at all now?” In Xue Yao’s memory, the book Lu Qian didn’t have time to play pranks on people. Why was this kid misbehaving now?
“Where is Your Highness misbehaving?”
Wasn’t this how you handle things in the underground?
The little reader-in-waiting expressed dissatisfaction with his mischievous prince and refused to sleep on the same bed at night.
Spreading the mattress on the floor, Xue Yao curled up on it.
“Yaoyao.” Lu Qian sat on the bed and called him.
“Humph!” Xue Yao determinedly turned his back.
“Give the mattress back to me.” Lu Qian laughed.
Xue Yao: “……”
A knocking sound came from outside.
It was so late. What did they want?
Were they delivering a midnight snack?
Xue Yao, who had only eaten one chicken leg, decided this time he would claim all the meat.
However, the person entering didn’t have a food box in hand.
“The Sect Master requests your presence.” The newcomer had an unfriendly expression.
“This late?” Xue Yao felt it wasn’t an appropriate time for a meeting.
“Please, both of you.” The newcomer showed no intention of being polite.
The two followed the person and went outside.
The person probably knew where the traps were in the courtyard and walked ahead. “Follow me closely.”
Upon leaving the courtyard, they realized it wasn’t the territory of a certain gang, just a secluded residence in the mountains.
Following the person in black, Xue Yao took the opportunity to get close to Lu Qian and whispered, “We can find a chance to knock him out.”
Lu Qian whispered back, “There are at least forty hidden weapons aimed at you around.” Xue Yao obediently fell silent.
Arriving at an entrance, the guide stopped and let them enter first.
As they entered, two escorts came forward. “Please come inside.”
Their voices sounded somewhat immature.
By the light of a dim lantern, Xue Yao could clearly see that the two escorts were no more than thirteen or fourteen years old, two boys with double buns.
This suddenly reminded him of a rumor from the novel—
The Xuanye Sect had a sinister cultivation technique that could absorb the vitality of virgins. Therefore, many elders in the sect secretly raised numerous young boys to absorb their vitality when they grew up.
This dreadful memory made Xue Yao’s heart skip a beat. He turned to look at Lu Qian in horror!
Lu Qian looked at him in puzzlement.
“Please hurry up and follow.” The boy in front turned back to urge the two.
Xue Yao couldn’t find an opportunity to explain the situation. Feeling uneasy, he followed the boy into the hall and was led into a side room.
“Please have a seat. Let me inform them.” One boy went inside to inform, while the other stayed to serve tea.
This was already an inner room. Xue Yao wondered where the boy went to inform. However, he saw the boy walk to a painting and rotate a vase beside it.
The wall where the painting hung made a “creak” sound and slowly ascended, revealing a secret passage leading to the underground.
Xue Yao: “……”
It really was a setup worthy of a cult!
Seizing the opportunity, Xue Yao leaned in close to Lu Qian’s ear and voiced his concerns.
“What is vitality? How do they absorb it?” Lu Qian asked a practical question.
“How should I know? Regardless of how they absorb it, it’s definitely dangerous.”
Again, the wall on the side made a “creak” sound, and the secret passage reopened.
The boy who informed the master hurriedly ran up and asked, “May I inquire which young master is a disciple of the Sword Saint? Please follow me.”
“It’s me.” Xue Yao instinctively stood up to shield Lu Qian.
Lu Qian looked at the little reader-in-waiting with confusion.
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