Chapter 42#

Kill That Gentleman (5)#

Shen Jue was chosen to attend the honored guest at Yishui Pavilion, and all the other Tianluo Bodies breathed a sigh of relief, except for Liu Xuan, who looked at Shen Jue with reddened eyes.

After being selected, Shen Jue was taken away alone. He was locked in a room, and it wasn’t until sunset that the door was opened from outside. The Left Protector, dressed in white, strode into the room.

His gaze fell on Shen Jue, who stood behind the table. He pulled something from his sleeve and placed it on the table. “Drink this.”

Shen Jue looked at the medicine bottle on the table and already knew what it was.

It was a mute potion. He had drunk it several times before. After taking it, he would never be able to make a sound again.

He lowered his gaze slightly and reached for the medicine bottle. Just as his fingertips were about to touch it, the Left Protector spoke.

“There are still a few bottles of this medicine. Even if you accidentally knock one over, it won’t matter. But then your roommate Liu Xuan will also be given a bottle.”

The Left Protector was threatening Shen Jue.

Shen Jue paused for a moment before picking up the bottle. He glanced at the Left Protector and asked in a low voice, “Left Protector, what kind of medicine is this?”

“A medicine that will help you live longer.” The Left Protector smiled faintly. “Drink up quickly. I still need to report back to the Island Master.”

Shen Jue let out an “oh” and slowly opened the bottle. As soon as it was opened, a pungent medicinal smell rushed out. He pressed his lips together and looked at the Left Protector again.

The Left Protector still wore a faint smile on his face, though a trace of impatience flickered in his eyes.

Shen Jue looked away. He stared at the liquid in the bottle, closed his eyes briefly, then tilted his head back and drank it down.

As soon as he swallowed, a burning pain like fire seared through his throat. He couldn’t help but reach up and touch his throat, his face pale as he collapsed to the ground. The medicine bottle slipped from his hand and shattered into pieces on the floor.

Seeing that Shen Jue had drunk it, the Left Protector shook the fan in his hand and declared loudly, “This medicine does cause some pain right after drinking it, but it will ease in a few days.” He paused. “Your good days are coming, so make sure to enjoy them.”

Shen Jue gritted his teeth, his whole body trembling like a sieve from the pain in his throat.

What did he mean by “good days”? It was nothing more than the final days.

After saying that, the Left Protector turned and left. Naturally, someone came to lock the door again.

He returned to report to Yu Ci. At that time, Yu Ci was drinking wine and watching dancers perform. Seeing the Left Protector arrive, he didn’t even lift his eyes.

The Left Protector approached Yu Ci, bent over with his head lowered, and spoke cautiously, “Island Master, I have administered the mute potion to Shen Jue. Shall we train him a bit before sending him to Yishui Pavilion?”

Yu Ci downed a cup of wine, his expression indifferent. “No need. He’s the type who loves to act like a gentleman. Sending someone who’s been trained is worse than sending someone who knows nothing.” He paused, a sarcastic smile curling on his lips. “Men—deep down, they’re all the same.”

In the minds of Yu Ci and others, Tianluo Bodies weren’t considered human. Sending a Tianluo Body to a beloved was like giving them a martial arts manual or a fine weapon. But a Tianluo Body was ultimately alive, and something alive could influence its master’s thoughts. Even a weapon, after long use, could stir emotions—let alone a living being.

“Before sending him over, put a mask on him. Forbid him from taking it off privately, and don’t let the one at Yishui Pavilion see his face. If he does, there’s no need for him to live.” Yu Ci ordered in a deep voice.

“Yes.” The Left Protector nodded.

Having given these instructions, Yu Ci no longer concerned himself with Shen Jue’s matter. It would be handled properly by others. However, a few days later, the Left Protector came to visit late at night. Yu Ci was woken from his sleep, his androgynous face filled with irritation. “What’s so urgent that you need to come looking for me at this hour? If you don’t have something important to say, go punish yourself.”

The Left Protector lowered his head, speaking nervously, “Island Master, I followed your orders and sent the Tianluo Body to Yishui Pavilion today. But…” His voice trailed off.

“But what?” Yu Ci asked impatiently.

“That Shen Jue guy knocked out… the great master Sang,” the Left Protector said awkwardly. “Today, I deliberately drugged Master Sang’s tea. When the effects took hold, I sent Shen Jue in. Who would have thought that Shen Jue would be so audacious as to knock out Master Sang with a candlestick? I’ve already had Shen Jue tied up and locked in the woodshed at Yishui Pavilion. I’m awaiting your orders on how to handle this.”

Yu Ci: “…”

He immediately got up from the bed, grabbed his outer robe from the screen, threw it on, and hurried out. As he walked, he asked, “How badly is he injured?”

“The physician has examined him. He’s just temporarily unconscious; his injuries aren’t serious,” the Left Protector replied.

They soon arrived at Yishui Pavilion. Yu Ci first went to the main room to check on Sang Xinghe, who was lying on the bed. Seeing him unconscious, Yu Ci flew into a rage. He sat at the bedside and glared at the Left Protector. “Bring that little shorty to me.”

Little shorty?

It took the Left Protector a moment to realize that Yu Ci was referring to Shen Jue.

When Shen Jue was brought in, he looked a complete mess. Not only was he tied up, but his long hair was disheveled, his clothes were torn and ragged as if someone had ripped them, and his face was even worse—his left cheek was swollen high, as if he’d been slapped many times.

Yu Ci was momentarily stunned at the sight of Shen Jue. He looked at the Left Protector.

The Left Protector explained awkwardly, “Island Master, I didn’t order anyone to harm him. This is how he was when I found him.”

Yu Ci frowned. Did Sang Xinghe do this?

Although Sang Xinghe had been drugged, it shouldn’t have caused such a drastic change in personality, right?

Yu Ci had to admit that seeing Shen Jue in such a pitiful state instantly halved his anger. After all, Shen Jue looked far more wretched than Sang Xinghe.

“Who hit your face?” Yu Ci asked.

Hearing this, Shen Jue shrank back and didn’t respond.

Yu Ci’s frown deepened. He glanced at the Left Protector again.

Cursing inwardly, the Left Protector could only force a smile and step forward. “Shen Jue, don’t be afraid. Tell the Island Master honestly: were the injuries on your body caused by the person on the bed? If yes, nod. If no, shake your head.”

Shen Jue lowered his head further. After a long moment, he gave a slight nod.

After nodding, he suddenly looked up at the Left Protector, letting out anxious, unintelligible sounds as if he wanted to say something, but could only produce meaningless monosyllables.

The Left Protector’s eyes flickered. “Can you write?”

Shen Jue nodded.

“Then write down what happened.” After saying that, the Left Protector sent for brush, ink, and paper.

When the written statement reached Yu Ci, he felt as if he were reading a pornographic novel.

Yu Ci: “…”

The noble and virtuous Master Sang in his mind, as described by Shen Jue, was nothing but a depraved lecher. Shen Jue claimed that Sang Xinghe’s actions had terrified him, so he accidentally hit Sang Xinghe with the candlestick.

As if afraid Yu Ci wouldn’t believe him, Shen Jue, now untied, quickly pulled down his pants to show Yu Ci the injury between his legs.

Yu Ci: “…”

The Left Protector turned his face away and coughed lightly, a flush of red spreading across his fair cheeks.

Among men, many things didn’t need to be spelled out; they were understood implicitly.

If the marks on his face could have been self-inflicted, the teeth marks between his legs certainly couldn’t have been made by himself.

Yu Ci took a deep breath and crumpled the paper in his hand. “Regardless, you were sent to attend to him, so you must serve him well. Whatever he does, you have to endure it. Even if…” He paused, looking at Shen Jue, who was practically exposing himself, and said with barely concealed annoyance, “Pull your pants up first.”

It wasn’t just him and Sang Xinghe here. There were several other men.

Did he think spreading his legs like that meant something? Was he trying to cuckold Sang Xinghe?

Shen Jue pressed his lips together and obediently pulled his pants back up.

Yu Ci rubbed his tired brow. Had he made a mistake by choosing this little shorty to attend to Sang Xinghe?

He glanced at Shen Jue and beckoned. “Come here.”

His gesture was like calling a dog or a cat.

Shen Jue looked up at Yu Ci, his watery blue eyes full of fear. When he heard Yu Ci telling him to come over, he didn’t move forward but instead shrank back toward the Left Protector. Seeing Yu Ci’s eyes narrow, he even hid directly behind the Left Protector.

The Left Protector wanted no part of this, so he quickly stepped aside.

As he moved, Shen Jue followed, determined to stay behind him.

Yu Ci frowned, displeased, and looked at the Left Protector. “Get out.”

The Left Protector: “…”

“Yes.” The Left Protector obediently left, taking the others in the room with him.

Now only the unconscious Sang Xinghe, Yu Ci, and Shen Jue remained in the room.

Seeing that they were alone, Yu Ci beckoned to Shen Jue again. “Come here.” He paused and added, “If you don’t, watch your life.”

Threatened like that, Shen Jue had no choice but to step forward obediently.

Yu Ci looked Shen Jue over and after a moment said, “Which hand hit him?”

Shen Jue blinked and pointed at his right hand, then at the person on the bed.

Yu Ci closed his eyes and snapped, “I’m asking which your hand hit him with? What, you think I’m going to punish him for you? Do you deserve that?”

Damn it, forcing him to swear.

As the Island Master of Shijue Island, he hadn’t spoken such crude words in a long time. This damned shorty—not only was he short, but his brain was slow too. No wonder he got pushed into the water.

How had he even survived this long?

This short-lived little bastard!

Suddenly cursed at, Shen Jue quickly withdrew his hand and looked at Yu Ci uneasily. After a moment, he held out his right hand, palm open, to Yu Ci.

Yu Ci looked at him irritably. “What? Begging for candy?”

Shen Jue shook his head, then used his left index finger to point at his right palm.

Yu Ci understood—Shen Jue meant that his right hand had hit Sang Xinghe.

“Since it was your right hand, it’s not too much to cripple it, is it?” After his outburst, Yu Ci became calm again.

Shen Jue’s right fingers curled slightly, but he still offered his hand to Yu Ci. As he did so, he turned his face away, looking terrified, his chin trembling faintly.

Yu Ci had no mercy for jade-like beauties, especially since he had never regarded Tianluo Bodies as human.

A Tianluo Body was just a weapon. If a weapon didn’t obey, you destroy it and replace it with a new one. It was the same.

He felt that crippling just one of Shen Jue’s hands was already lenient and merciful.

Just as Yu Ci was about to act, he saw the little shorty quickly withdraw his hand. His gaze turned cold, and he was about to lose his temper when he saw the shorty extend his left hand instead.

Shen Jue turned his head and looked at Yu Ci pitifully, shaking his left hand.

Yu Ci squinted. “No. Give me your right hand.”

Disappointment flashed in Shen Jue’s eyes, but he still offered his right hand.

Yu Ci grabbed Shen Jue’s right wrist to prevent him from pulling it back again.

He looked at Shen Jue and said slowly, “Actually, I don’t want to cripple your hand. But your lie was just as clumsy as that day’s. He has no martial arts skills—how could he have shattered your mask with a single palm strike, as you wrote? So let me teach you one thing first: if you’re going to lie, be prepared to bear the consequences.”

With that, the hand gripping Shen Jue’s wrist suddenly tightened with force.