The Villain Slaps The Protagonist’s Halo - Chapter 61

Chapter 61: The Protagonist Must Die

Nie Jia held Shi Chen by the nape, his slightly cool nose lightly brushing against his nose bridge as he softly murmured, "Can I give myself to you?"

They were incredibly close, Nie Jia could clearly see Shi Chen's boundless black pupils trembling with urgency, various emotions exploding within his eyes.

Shi Chen wrapped his arms around Xiao Guojun's waist, pulling him close, his voice hoarse as he said, "My lifelong wish is for your eternal joy and peace."

Nie Jia nestled against his shoulder, feeling a slight pang in his nose, "I will, as long as you stay by my side forever. No one can take away my happiness as long as you're with me." He leaned in, kissing Shi Chen's lips gently and gazing into his slightly bewildered eyes, "Don't you want me? I'll listen to you. Don't you want me?"

Shi Chen's pupils tightened, seemingly enduring to the limit, before pulling Nie Jia into his embrace, kissing him passionately. How could he not want this, he longed for it deeply. His actions were possessive and dominant, yet they held an overwhelming tenderness. He asserted his dominance by pinning Nie Jia down but never did he exert enough force to cause him any pain throughout the entire night.

The next day was sunny but unusually cold due to the melting snow. Nie Jia snuggled in Shi Chen's arms, warm as a furnace. He slept until late morning, checking that Shi Chen was still beside him, then relaxed and went back to sleep, clinging to Shi Chen's robe as if afraid he'd vanish.

Shi Chen looked at Xiao Guojun tenderly, pulling him closer, accompanying him in quiet rest.

Six members of the Xuanjia who were stationed in the northwest front had been summoned back by Nie Jia before the festival. At this moment, the bulk of the northwest army belonged to Sikong Han, and even Prince Jing Jun Changyue was in the northwest. Summoning the Xuanjia back would only destabilize the northwest, potentially leading to the northwest army supporting Prince Jing and the entire Yan Country fracturing.

However, even though Xiao Guojun had ordered it, Shi Chen didn't stop him. He hoped his king could live freely without any concerns. If the northwest army truly rebelled, he'd slaughter them all for Xiao Guojun!

Soon, all twenty-one members of the Xuanjia withdrew to Zhuolu City. At this point, attempting to assassinate the tyrant would be near impossible, and the courtiers became more obedient than ever.

Not long after, Xiao Guojun's legs fully recovered. The Xuanjia marveled at what remedy their commander brought back. Normally, due to his leg injury, a mere cough could break his ribs, but in less than two months, he was running around like never before. They even witnessed him practicing archery, his lower body more stable than theirs.

However, only a few Xuanjia and palace attendants in the inner court knew about Xiao Guojun's restored legs. With Xiao Guojun absent from court, neither courtiers nor commoners knew. Even spies sent by certain people couldn't step beyond the gates of Chiyang Palace with the presence of the twenty-one Xuanjia guards.

After a sweaty training session with one of the Xuanjia, Nie Jia didn't bother to bathe but rushed to the Hall of Diligent Government, burying himself against Shi Chen, who was busy handling documents.

This was a regular occurrence, leaving for a short while and then returning to cling onto Shi Chen for ages before getting back to his own tasks. Shi Chen often accompanied him, never straying far, but with time, the pile of documents to be reviewed grew, and Nie Jia paid no attention, leaving them for Shi Chen to manage when he found a moment.

"My Changsheng has grown taller." Shi Chen put down the documents, reaching out to pull Nie Jia, who was leaning against him, closer for a kiss. He was ecstatic; his king, who had just entered adulthood, previously looked frail like a fifteen or sixteen-year-old. Now, not only had his legs recovered, but in just two months, he had grown taller, indicating his improving health each passing day.

Nie Jia knew what he was thinking, brandishing his still slender fists, boasting, "I almost cut off a Xuanjia's arm just now, and he admitted defeat to me. I'm now capable of fighting alongside you on the battlefield."

Shi Chen's heart squeezed, "These matters, I'll handle them for you."

" I know the battlefield is dangerous." Nie Jia shifted, straddling him, arms wrapped around his neck as they met gazes. "So, I want to protect you. How can I wait for you in the palace while you face life and death on the front lines?"

He never forgot how Shi Chen was surrounded and killed by Sikong Han's troops in this life. Whenever he thought of it, even when beside Shi Chen, Nie Jia couldn't conceal the hostility emanating from him.

Shi Chen could glimpse the bloodlust in his eyes and suddenly realized, his king was no longer a child.

"Of course." Shi Chen solemnly took Xiao Guojun's hand, kissing his fingertips, a smile tugging at his lips. "I also want to fight by your side and conquer the world together with you."

Nie Jia smiled, nibbled his lips briefly, then descended from him. "I'll go bathe and change."

But Shi Chen caught his hand, pulling him back and scooping him up. "Together."

Nie Jia chuckled, perched on his shoulder. The Xuanjia members lurking in the shadows couldn't help but wish for self-destruction when they saw the two together. They silently reproached themselves for not protecting the king well, allowing them to ascend the royal bed... How would they face the former kings in the afterlife? Tsk!

During dinner, as Xiao Guojun tinkered with his pile of precious metal parts, Shi Chen called over the Xuanjia who had practiced swordsmanship with him that afternoon, inquiring about the session.

The Xuanjia knelt down. "Your Majesty, although the King lacks internal energy, his swordsmanship is unmatched. This afternoon, if the King hadn't stopped in time, I would have lost an arm."

This was incredibly strange. Xiao Guojun's body had weakened since the incident at thirteen, how could he suddenly possess skills surpassing the Xuanjia? The Xuanjia, any one of them at twenty-one, could easily rival a hundred elite soldiers. Xiao Guojun defeating them was like a fairy tale. If it hadn't been witnessed that afternoon, the other Xuanjia wouldn't have believed it. After all, he wasn't just an ordinary person but the king growing up before their eyes.

The King's extraordinary skills puzzled them.

Shi Chen, upon hearing this, showed no surprise. He simply confirmed the Xuanjia hadn't gone easy, feeling relieved. Yet, he thought he might have been overthinking it. His king cared so deeply for him; how could he be reckless enough to venture to dangerous places like the battlefield without adequate capability?

A clatter sounded behind him, as if something had fallen. Shi Chen dismissed the Xuanjia, lifting his robes and returning to the table. He found Nie Jia accidentally knocked down the papers he had just sorted.

Watching Nie Jia engrossed in tinkering with delicate parts, a hint of amusement appeared in Shi Chen's eyes. He squatted down to pick up the papers.

"What's that?" Nie Jia asked.

"The latest victories from the northwest," Shi Chen said, sitting beside him, embracing Nie Jia's waist and whispering by his ear. "Although we haven't engaged in a major war with Qi Country yet, continuous small battles have all ended in Yan's favor. I've already received seven or eight reports at the palace."

Nie Jia's lips curved in a disdainful smirk. Leaning back against Shi Chen, he placed a black wristguard made of cold steel on his wrist. "Did they mention someone?"

"How did you know?" Shi Chen smiled, sniffing the faint fragrance in Nie Jia's hair. "The reports were written by General Yun from the northwest, and King Jing also sent two greeting notes in the past half month. Both mentioned the same person, Du Yuxian."

"He was an unknown soldier, but he beheaded the enemy's commander during a Qi ambush, catching the attention of General Yun and King Jing. They found Du Yuxian not only brave but also strategically adept in warfare. Leading the northwest army, he repeatedly defeated the Qi forces, earning him a promotion as the vanguard. Isn't that so?" Nie Jia sneered.

Shi Chen nodded slightly. "If what they say is true, this person is indeed valuable."

"He is Sikong Han, reborn after his death. This Du Yuxian is just a disguise," Nie Jia dismissed it disdainfully.

Shi Chen naturally had no doubt about Nie Jia's words, but he was surprised. He tightened his grip on Nie Jia's waist, remembering how Sikong Han's neck had been severed by an arrow from his king. Now, reborn, he probably wouldn't settle for the battlefield but seek revenge.

This person should be killed sooner rather than later!

"Sikong Han will return to Zhuolu shortly after the new year. You'll be able to see him then, no need to go all the way to the northwest," Nie Jia said, slowly pushing a steel needle about half an inch into Shi Chen's wristguard.

Shi Chen's eyes darkened. "If it's Sikong Han, King Jing must know. If so, his earnest recommendation of this 'Du Yuxian' shows his sinister intentions. He must be killed!" He felt he had spoken amiss. His king had always regarded King Jing as a precious gem, indulging him everywhere. As a child, he had almost been killed for King Jing. His affection for King Jing couldn't be underestimated. Now, King Jing, acting so ungratefully, made him wonder how heartbroken he should be.

"If you find that venomous creature bothersome, killing him is fine by me. But personally, I feel death is the most blissful thing in this world. It's too easy to end their lives with a single stroke." Nie Jia inserted five steel needles into the wristguard, finally finishing.

Shi Chen was slightly taken aback, gripping his hand firmly.

"If I kill Sikong Han, he'd wish to devour me alive. I won't bother with him anymore." Nie Jia felt something, turning around to smile at him. "In this world, only you reside in my heart. Anyone else is dead to me."

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