The Villain Slaps The Protagonist’s Halo - Chapter 81

Chapter 81: The Protagonist Must Die

Shi Chen returned, and the generals hastily fled in disarray. Nie Jia chuckled, beckoning the Xuanjia beside him to retreat and gesturing for Shi Chen to join him.

Shi Chen, watching the generals' embarrassed figures, raised his fist in triumph before finally putting down the door curtain. He returned to Nie Jia's side, carrying a meal and feeding him.

As the two chatted casually and Nie Jia regained his strength after the meal, Shi Chen led him out for a stroll around the military camp. They had countless things to talk about, and without anyone following them, they held hands and exchanged words. Along the way, they were met with the reverent and admiring gazes of the soldiers.

"The power of faith is formidable. In this battle, Zhao Wushang lost," Shi Chen said, playing with Nie Jia's fingertips as they walked along the cool Qilin River.

"Qi Jinyu is still in my hands, so of course, he couldn't win," Nie Jia smiled, tilting his head to look at Shi Chen's profile and softly saying, "You seem different from when you were a child."

Shi Chen leaned against a large rock by the river, pulled Nie Jia into his arms, and rested his chin on his shoulder like an unsatisfied dog. "You've changed too."

Feeling a bit guilty, Nie Jia pursed his lips slightly, not saying anything as he rested on Shi Chen's shoulder. He felt Shi Chen's gentle embrace tighten around his waist, and a deep voice sounded in his ear, "My big baby finally knows how to bite."

With that, Shi Chen playfully patted the back of Nie Jia's head, resembling a satisfied father.

Finally, Nie Jia smiled contentedly, turned his head, and pecked Shi Chen's cheek gently. "I love you."

Shi Chen looked at him, "Not enough, say a couple more."

Nie Jia then spent the rest of the evening chatting away on Shi Chen's shoulder.

While the two of them were immersed in affection by the Qilin River, Jun Changyue was sent back to Kaisen City for custody. The king had not yet ordered his execution, and Jun Changyue, although confined, was well taken care of with good food and drinks, though he couldn't step out of his room.

He was anxious, not about himself, but about Sikong Han, who was far away in Zhuolu City. Who could have imagined that his royal brother's blood would have such an effect, pulling someone back from the brink of hell? Now, both Kaisen City and the Northwestern Army regarded Jun Changyue as a true dragon incarnate. The name Sikong Han had long been forgotten, and Sikong Han remained oblivious to all of this.

What should he do?

Jun Changyue stayed up all night, his throat burning with anxiety. With no one useful by his side, he deceived a servant from the Northwestern Wangfu in the afternoon, found a messenger pigeon, and wrote a brief description of the situation. The pigeon, carrying all his hopes, was released.

However, before the pure white pigeon could fly beyond the Northwestern Wangfu, a pitch-black sleeve arrow pierced its heart, causing it to plummet in front of Jun Changyue.

Xuanjia's Ninth Elder withdrew his arm, expressionless, and covered the delicate mechanism on his wrist with his sleeve.

Ji Jiarong walked over, picked up the dead pigeon, and looked at Jun Changyue with sparks in her eyes.

Jun Changyue's face turned pale, and he hastily stepped back, closing the door. But a mere door couldn't stop Ji Jiarong. General Gude kicked it open, terrifying Jun Changyue, who screamed in fear.

"I really can't understand. You, the esteemed Silent King, have always been favored by the king. Why must you engage in such heartless and treacherous acts, colluding with rebels, plotting to usurp the throne? Isn't the king treating you well enough?" Ji Jiarong angrily tossed the dead pigeon at Jun Changyue's feet.

Jun Changyue, suppressed, and the queen retreated without saying a word.

"If the king hadn't decided how to deal with you, I would have killed you!" Ji Jiarong declared.

"He only saved eight hundred people..." Jun Changyue said resentfully, "But do you know how many people he killed?"

"For a traitor, death is the only option," Ji Jiarong stepped forward with an air of a tigress despite her alluring appearance. "You have no right to judge the king. You grew up safely under the king's protection, and even in your childhood, the king went so far as to ruin his legs for you. Even if the king is the most malicious and evil person in this world, you have no right to accuse him. A white-eyed wolf like you will surely be skinned alive and drawn when we return to Kaisen City!"

Jun Changyue stared at the dead pigeon on the ground, not saying a word. Ji Jiarong ordered the cane to beat the servant who had found the messenger pigeon to death. Princess Jiarong, who had been away for a long time, returned and, upon her arrival, vented her anger. The queen dared not ask if she had adapted to military life.

In the evening, the letter that Jun Changyue wrote to Sikong Han was presented to Nie Jia.

Nie Jia extended two fingers, glanced at it, and burned it with a candle holder.

"Does the king feel reluctant towards the Silent King?" Ji Jiarong couldn't help but ask, she really didn't understand why the king kept that white-eyed wolf.

"When a person dies, everything is gone," Nie Jia said indifferently.

Ji Jiarong didn't quite understand, but wisely remained silent.

Shi Chen went to inspect the Iron Cavalry Army for Nie Jia. At the moment, he wasn't in the royal tent. General Yunhui dared to speak, "My king, this humble one has some doubts, I don't know if I should speak."

"If you think it's inappropriate, then don't speak," Nie Jia said.

General Yunhui hesitated, "But I must speak. On the day my king fell into a coma, we, the subordinates, were worried about the king's condition, but we were blocked by Commander Shi and even the military doctor wasn't allowed in. I think, has the king delegated too much power to Commander Shi? If one day Commander Shi becomes another Sikong Han, and he wants to do something to the king, I'm afraid we won't even know."

Nie Jia finished listening with a sneer, the smile on his lips did not have the clear enlightenment of sudden realization, but was filled with an uncontrollable sweetness.

"Don't worry about it. Even if he turns against you, you won't revolt. Go out; Shi Chen is coming back soon. Be careful he doesn't beat you," Nie Jia said.

General Yunhui wanted to say more, but upon hearing the last sentence, he immediately stood up and ran away.

Ji Jiarong couldn't help laughing, "This official takes leave."

When they went out, they happened to encounter the tall figure approaching under the night sky. He exuded an imposing aura like the scorching sun, and if one were to oppose him, heads would surely roll in the blink of an eye.

Ji Jiarong stepped aside as Ji Zhengyu, completely oblivious to her presence, joyfully entered the royal tent with a bag of wild fruits in hand, exclaiming, "Jiajia, I found this in the woods. Do you think it's poisonous?"

The deep voice of the king came from inside, "Weren't you on patrol?"

"Thought of you halfway, so I came back."

Ji Jiarong chuckled and shook her head, then followed General Yunhui's steps.

Meanwhile, Zhao Wushang and his troops arrived at Lu Platform, and the imminent war was about to erupt. Soon, news of the fall of Zhuolu City reached them from Qingyao Pass. Duke Qingguo, Du Yuxian, and the traitorous Left Vanguard, Du Yuxian, collaborated, successfully taking over Zhuolu City while the king was away on the front lines. It was then that the generals realized their supplies were running out, and the army had been without provisions for quite some time.

As the news spread through the camp, a mixture of anxiety and anger enveloped the army. Nie Jia personally climbed the beacon tower and addressed the troops beneath the fluttering royal banner, his stern voice echoing through the entire army, "With supplies depleted, if Lu Platform cannot be taken, we will all die. Put aside whatever beliefs you have, now I only ask you to draw your swords and fight for me!"

At this moment, Zhao Wushang could no longer restrain himself and challenged the enemy at the city gates. Looking into the distance, all he saw was a sea of black heads.

Nie Jia, having detained Qi Jinyu for several days, now mentally broken, brought him to the front lines arrogantly, shouting, "Where is Zhao Wushang? Come and take your master home!"

Kicking Qi Jinyu in the shoulder while on horseback, Nie Jia sneered, "Get lost."

Unbound, Qi Jinyu cast a fearful glance at the tyrant of Yan, then took hesitant steps toward the Qi army on the opposite side. Unbeknownst to him, a black feathered arrow had pierced his leg, creating a bleeding wound.

Realizing the danger, Qi Jinyu ran towards Zhao Wushang. At the first arrow's release, Zhao Wushang, furious, charged out like an arrow from a bow.

"General, come back! Don't be deceived!" the strategist urgently shouted, but Zhao Wushang had already rushed out like a released arrow.

The strategist signaled the guards to follow, hoping the general would return in time to protect the Crown Prince.

About seventeen or eighteen people were charging from the opposite side. Nie Jia furrowed his brow displeased, "Disturbing." He casually released an arrow that pierced Qi Jinyu's shoulder, causing him to collapse to the ground, unsure of his fate.

"Prince! Prince!" Zhao Wushang rushed down from his horse, running a few steps and kneeling by Qi Jinyu, supporting him. He trembled, pressing on the bloody wound on Qi Jinyu's chest.

"General...save me..." Qi Jinyu uttered the words, blood pouring out with each syllable. After two violent twitches of his throat, he stretched his legs and departed for the afterlife.

"Prince? Prince!" Zhao Wushang roared, confirming the death of the Crown Prince of Qi.

His eyes, bloodshot, stared at the tyrant of Yan, who still had an evil smile on his lips as he approached on horseback.

Zhao Wushang was overwhelmed, completely unaware that a dozen or so of his subordinates lay dead around him. The man with the Shura knife, wiping the blood off the blade on his leg, stood nonchalantly, one hand supporting his chin on the horse's head. He tossed the clean Shura knife towards the approaching young tyrant, saying with a light laugh, "Enjoy yourself."

"Jun Changsheng, the entire Yan Country will pay for your actions!" Zhao Wushang respectfully laid Qi Jinyu's body flat and stood up, his eyes filled with a bloody and intense murderous intent.

Nie Jia dismounted and laughed, "I heard you're the number one fierce general among the Five Nations. Draw your sword, let me see."

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