The Villain Slaps The Protagonist’s Halo - Chapter 73

Chapter 73: The Protagonist Must Die

With a spurt of blood, the main hall instantly descended into chaos. General Yunhui quickly sent Sikong Han back to rest. Jun Changyue anxiously examined Sikong Han's pulse, only to find that he was unharmed. However, he was consumed by intense hatred; his heart and eyes brimming with resentment.

"I'll go find him!" Jun Changyue's nose turned red as he stood up, agitated.

Sikong Han, holding Jun Changyue's sleeve with blood-stained hands, laboriously spoke, "It's useless."

"But how can he treat you like this..." Jun Changyue, holding his hand, helplessly knelt by the bedside. Whether in the past or present, he had given everything, even his life, for the Yan Country. Why, after coming back, did he have to endure so much hardship from him again?

"I was too reckless in Zhuolu City before. He has already placed me under 'Sikong Han.' We hate each other. It's better not to provoke him easily." Sikong Han spit out another mouthful of blood, speaking with unresolved resentment.

"He no longer cares about me," Jun Changyue said.

Sikong Han asked, "Are you confident about the epidemic?"

When the topic of the epidemic was raised, Jun Changyue felt despair. "It's an epidemic, not just a simple fever! Wang Xiong tasked me with finding a solution within two months. How is that possible! Throughout history, when a plague spreads, cities are abandoned. If there really was a way to cure the plague, the once prosperous Yan Country wouldn't be in such a vulnerable state now. Moreover, treating the epidemic means going to Danyang County and being with those infected people every day..."

Thinking of this, Jun Changyue couldn't help but feel a wave of despair. Was Wang Xiong planning for him to die in Danyang County?

Seeing his troubled expression, Sikong Han understood. He sighed deeply and said, "We've already reached the northwest. Don't panic."

Jun Changyue nodded with a heavy heart, and that night, he stayed with Sikong Han.

On the other side, Nie Jia, riding under the night sky, arrived at the military camp and found that Shi Chen was not in the royal tent. Inquiring, he learned that Shi Chen had gone for a bath.

Nie Jia didn't wait in the royal tent; he went to find him. They had arrived in Danyang County in the morning, and after a hasty lunch, Shi Chen went to arrange things at the military camp. Nie Jia had spent the afternoon patrolling in Danyang County and then went to Kaisen City. In total, it had been a day since he last saw Shi Chen, and he was quite upset about it.

"Your Highness, please wait." A cavalryman boldly intercepted Nie Jia outside the tent, saying nervously, "The commander ordered that if you come, you should wait in the tent. I'm to keep an eye on you and not let you in."

The hidden royal guards grumbled discontentedly in the shadows. The commander was getting more and more unruly because of the king's favoritism! Even refusing entry when the king wanted to see him. Wasn't it just because the king liked him!

Nie Jia, hands behind his back, frowned at the cavalryman.

The royal guards became excited, hoping that their commander would fall out of favor.

The cavalryman hurriedly explained, "The commander has been to Danyang County, and he's afraid of carrying the disease to you."

"Step aside." Nie Jia showed displeasure, and the cavalryman quickly stepped aside.

Nie Jia lifted the curtain and entered. Inside the tent, there was a faint mist, and Shi Chen was leaning against the bath barrel, pretending to sleep. Wet strands of black hair hung on his back. Hearing the sound behind him, he turned with a gentle smile, and the red pearl tiger teeth hanging on his neck glowed faintly in the mist.

Shi Chen helplessly said, "Why don't you listen?" He reached out, "Come here."

Nie Jia entered the tent. The imposing aura of a commanding general dissipated, and he watched as Shi Chen threw the wet strands of hair behind his shoulders, revealing a handsome and sharp face. Unable to resist, Nie Jia blushed quietly.

In this world, both Nie Jia and Shi Chen were true to their original appearances. However, Nie Jia was still young, while Shi Chen was the epitome of a mature man. Although the previous world's Huo Qing was also like this, Nie Jia often wondered if Shi Chen looked like this in the real world.

Just a casual glance, and his heart couldn't help but beat faster.

Nie Jia walked over, took Shi Chen's hand, and couldn't help but bend down to kiss him.

The two lingered in the tent for a long time. After about half an hour, Shi Chen, carrying the weak small king, came out, directly returning to the royal tent.

At night, Nie Jia lay on Shi Chen's legs, chatting with him. He had spent the whole day in Danyang County, and the back of his neck was sunburned. Shi Chen applied some ointment and gently massaged his neck with his fingertips, listening to his drowsy voice.

"You asked Jun Changyue to treat the epidemic. Can he do it?" Shi Chen asked indifferently.

Nie Jia smiled, "He has a halo; of course, he can. Otherwise, why would I keep him for so long?"

"Danyang County is not a critical area; you don't need to worry so much," Shi Chen said.

Nie Jia agreed with a sound. Turning on his side on Shi Chen's legs, the two gradually fell asleep.

Before the night had passed, news spread throughout the northwest that Princess Jiayong, who was supposed to be sent to Qi Country for marriage, had been appointed as the General of Guide by the king. The king wasn't elevating the princess's status for the purpose of marriage; rather, he highly valued her. Not only did he grant her military power, but he also assigned three royal guards for her use. For someone so highly regarded by the king, how could she be sent away for marriage!

The road of a political marriage was completely blocked, causing a commotion among the military and the common people. They were all puzzled and indignant. The ruler of the small nation not only killed people upon arrival, but also disrupted the favorable opportunity for a peace treaty with the Qi Country. Was he determined to destroy the Yan Country?

As long as a county princess could bring about a truce with the Qi Country, even General Sikong, it was believed, would agree. How could the foolish ruler not understand the consequences of this decision? The news stirred up unrest in the city of Kaixuan. Both the citizens and the soldiers were discontented. Some even knelt outside the Northwestern King's mansion, pleading with the county princess to consider the lives of the innocent people of Kaixuan and numerous soldiers and go for the peace treaty.

In the dim light of dawn, Ji Jiarong stood beneath the royal flag on the city wall, watching the anxious and grieving citizens of the city. A touch of unprecedented sadness appeared on her charming face.

Old Nine in black armor squatted on the flagpole, his mouth and nose covered by a face mask. His eyes, cold and sharp in the morning light, looked at Ji Jiarong with indifference. "General Guiding, if the king gets angry, it's the lives of the people in this city that are at stake. Don't provoke the king's anger."

Ji Jiarong's tears finally fell, but her expression remained unchanged. She sighed, "You misunderstand. I'm just very sad... For the people of Kaixuan, I went to the battlefield when I was as young as the sword I carried. I almost lost my life several times, with countless scars on my body. On rainy days, the pain is so unbearable that I can't stand up. But in times of crisis, they only want to give me away to others, sacrificing me for a chance to survive. I would rather the citizens of the city pick up their clubs and go to the battlefield with me, sacrificing themselves for the country. Even if the Yan Country truly falls, I won't shed a tear. But what do they see me as in the end?"

She is now General Guiding personally appointed by the king. She acknowledges that her military achievements throughout her life go beyond just being a general. Even against General Sikong Han, she dares to claim she can compete. However, both the citizens and the soldiers are dissatisfied with her as a general. They only hope she removes her military uniform and saves the country through marriage.

Old Nine remained indifferent. "Fool, if you have the knife in your own hands, that's enough. Why give it to others? If you give the knife to others, don't blame them for using it against you."

Ji Jiarong was stunned. When she looked up, she found that the figure on the royal flag had disappeared. After a moment of contemplation, she felt a sudden realization.

"General Ji, care to accompany me?" Ji Jiarong lowered her head and saw General Yunhui standing below the city wall with soldiers, seemingly intending to go to the military camp and wait under the king's tent.

This call from the general improved Ji Jiarong's mood. She said something to the guards beside her, then smiled and said, "General Song, what a coincidence. I was about to leave too."

General Yunhui blushed instantly and chuckled along.

In front of the gate of the king's mansion, twelve people knelt and begged the county princess for a political marriage. All of them were men, and they were killed in broad daylight.

Before Ji Jiarong and General Yunhui reached the military camp, this news reached Nie Jia's ears.

He was patrolling the camp with Shi Chen, nibbling on a steamed bun. Occasionally, he pointed to a dense forest and gave orders to the cavalry following him. After receiving Xuanjia's report, he smiled pleasantly. "Good, my judgment of her wasn't wrong."

With the death of these twelve people, Ji Jiarong, who was already unpopular, would surely face even more insults. She knew it, but she no longer cared.

Taking the remaining half of the steamed bun from him, Shi Chen chewed on it and walked with him to a riverside.

Xuanjia asked, "Should they wait in the tent or come over now?"

"Let them come, and also assemble a hundred soldiers," Nie Jia ordered.

Shortly after, Ji Jiarong and General Yunhui arrived. They followed the king on foot through the military camp early in the morning, and no one knew what the king intended.

"Has Prince Jing gone to Danyang County?" Nie Jia asked casually.

Before Ji Jiarong could reply, he continued, "If he hasn't gone by noon, let Old Nine throw him over."

Ji Jiarong, although puzzled, replied, "Before I left, His Highness Prince Jing was still asleep."

"If he hasn't gone by noon, let Old Nine throw him over," Nie Jia repeated.

Although Ji Jiarong was confused, rumors had it that the king was extremely fond of Prince Jing, his younger brother. How could he be willing to let Prince Jing take such a big risk to treat the plague in Danyang County? But thinking about it, the rumors of the king being a ruthless and heartless wastrel were also laughable.

"Yes," Ji Jiarong responded.

As the four walked through the military camp, the soldiers and generals of the Northwestern Army knelt down one after another to pay their respects. After they left, they privately sneered at them.

"I delivered water to the king's tent last night and saw the king. That tender appearance, no wonder he can cling tightly to someone like General Xuanjia. He looks imposing in front of others, but at night, he should kneel down and acknowledge the real master..."

"Lower your voice, don't let others hear."

"Do you think others don't know? Only you newcomers don't know."

A few soldiers were chatting not far ahead, and Shi Chen's face turned extremely cold. Ji Jiarong and General Yunhui both paled, then flushed with anger.

"Outrageous! Actually criticizing the king. Let me see how many lives you have!" General Yunhui angrily shouted, "Guards! Drag these three down and behead them!"

The three soldiers knelt down in fear, unable to utter a word of plea.

Nie Jia, however, didn't even spare them an angry look. He calmly said, "Forget it, we're in a hurry. Let's go." After speaking, he walked past them and left.

The three of them escaped a disaster, but they couldn't believe it. Would the ruthless king spare those who dared to criticize him?

After Nie Jia left, Shi Chen lowered his voice and said fiercely, "Bring them in front of the entire army. Each person receives a thousand lashes on the mouth. If they survive, spare them from the death penalty."

"Yes!" Xuanjia responded with fiery eyes.

"Why didn't the king deal with them?" Ji Jiarong was so angry that she could hardly catch her breath and couldn't help but ask.

"I'm in a good mood, so I forgive them," he smiled slightly, turned to look at the approaching Shi Chen, and said, "This is the privilege of those in power."

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