The Villain Slaps The Protagonist’s Halo - Chapter 60

Chapter 60: The Protagonist Must Die

The army halted, and the commanding officer on the horseback gazed tremulously at the Xuanwu Terrace. His astonished gaze held a possessive tinge, unreservedly intense.

He tossed the reins aside, dismounted swiftly, eyes fixed unwaveringly on the small ruler atop the Xuanwu Terrace. His hurried breath took him a few steps forward, then with a powerful leap akin to a cold flash in the wind, he ascended the terrace in a blink.

Palace attendants took steps back, startled. The palpable aura of menace emanating from him caused even those aware of his loyal role as the vigilant guard of the small ruler to involuntarily recoil in such proximity.

Standing several yards away from Nie Jia, he didn't advance, decisively discarding his bloodied blade and tearing off his chest armor. Throughout, his gaze remained fixed on Nie Jia's radiant eyes until he was clad only in face-concealing steel, then he stepped towards him, kneeling.

"I thought you wouldn't return," Nie Jia spoke before him, voice quivering.

The commanding officer's eyes surged with emotions, enunciating each word with clarity, "Wherever I am, by your side is where I belong."

Nie Jia's weeks of anxious uncertainty dissolved in the tender gaze of that moment.

"Hold me," Nie Jia, teeth clenched, reached out to his beloved like a bullied child.

For anyone else, such a request might instill fear. Yet, the commanding officer remained unfazed. Gently, he encircled Nie Jia's waist, lifting him effortlessly, sensing the faint tremor in the small ruler. He instinctively drew the frail ruler closer, murmuring, "Allow me to escort you back to the palace."

Ignoring the gazes of courtiers and commoners, he simply carried the small ruler away. With a menacing glare at the courtiers beneath the terrace, his mere look instilled enough intimidation to make them avert their eyes.

Throughout the journey, Nie Jia held onto his lover tightly, sensing a faint, almost imperceptible scent of blood on him, treating him like a treasured possession regained. Urgent warmth filled the gap between them, making the commanding officer feel as if he held a tender creature in his arms.

The entire city of Zhuolu remained eerily quiet. Onlookers dared not make a sound before the bloodthirsty cavalry. Courtiers, pallid, felt they had missed an opportunity. The real force behind pacifying the southern tribes wasn't General Gaodi but the small ruler's vigilant guard. What a pity! When would such an opportunity to eradicate a tyrant come again?

Jun Changyue was among the crowd, dressed plainly like a wealthy commoner. Observing the deserted Xuanwu Terrace and the triumphant but bloodthirsty soldiers, he commented with a detached tone, "He's very fortunate."

At such a coincidental time, the guard's valiant return with such intimidating cavalry was enough to suppress any rebellion among the courtiers. If it had been delayed for another day or two…

His attendants silently lowered their heads, not daring to speak.

Jun Changyue looked up at the bloodied corpses on the city walls, his eyes reddening. Then, unwilling to look any further, he murmured, "Let's go." In the end, none of this concerned him.

At the palace, the commanding officer carried Nie Jia back to the Chiyang Palace. Not finding any maidservants within, he merely placed him on the bed, kneeling to cradle his cold feet, asking softly, "Did you get hurt?"

Nie Jia, tears in his eyes, smiled and shook his head, "I'm fine."

"In the southern palace, I found a prescription along with the required herbs. It's said to restore damaged tendons. The preparations have been made; would the King wish to try?" He asked with concern. Recalling the small ruler's disabled legs filled him with unbearable pain and regret, wishing he could go back and kill the past self who arrived late!

Nie Jia nodded, reaching out to touch his lover's cold faceplate gently, his tone gentle, "Could you call me by my name?"

Without hesitation, the officer, his eyes filled with joy and fondness, replied, "Changsheng."

"And you? I never knew your name," Nie Jia said.

His eyes softened, "The twenty-first Xuanjia has no name, Your Majesty."

Nie Jia was momentarily taken aback, remembering indeed, the twenty-first Xuanjia was the guardian of the ruler and didn't need a name.

"Then I'll give you one. From now on, you'll be called Shichen, alright?" Nie Jia, with his chilly fingers, traced the character '谌' in the officer's palm.

"Shichen," he clasped Nie Jia's hand gently in his, a flicker of intense emotion in his eyes.

Nie Jia smiled faintly, tears dried up in his eyes, leaving only tender affection. Noticing Shichen's attire soaked and dried countless times in blood, he sent someone to bring clean clothes for him.

Seemingly realizing his own filth, Shichen carefully placed Nie Jia's legs under a quilt and stepped back, "Allow me to bathe and change before attending to Your Majesty."

Nie Jia tilted his head, immediately filled with reluctance, reaching out, "Take me with you."

Shichen paused, his wolf-like eyes stunned, his expression beneath the faceplate a mystery.

Who could resist the stubbornness of the Little Prince when he became fixated? Not only did he not release him, but he also kept the person at the Chiyang Palace to watch him bathe. Nie Jia didn't join when Shi Chen went into the water. It wasn't until he saw the absence of any new wounds on his body, devoid of any injuries, that he felt relieved. Not being hurt was a relief.

As Shi Chen soaked in the bath, Nie Jia waited nearby, watching his beloved being drenched, feeling a mix of sweetness and itchiness in his heart.

Before long, Shi Chen finished cleaning himself up. Under the intense gaze of the Little Prince, he awkwardly got dressed, his heart nearly leaping out of his chest.

"You've returned from the Southern Yi, weary from the journey, and the weather is so cold. You should rest well." Once again being carried by Shi Chen towards the sleeping chambers, Nie Jia leaned against his broad shoulder, blowing a gentle breeze into his ear.

Shi Chen stiffened. The closer he got to the Little Prince, the more rebellious thoughts brewed in his mind. Having just bathed, sweat already dampened his back. Unaware, Nie Jia continued teasing Shi Chen, scratching at his heart nestled within his embrace.

Fortunately, the palace attendants interrupted Nie Jia's harassment of Shi Chen. Upon entering, they immediately knelt to the ground, not daring to linger their gaze on the sight of the King being carried in.

"Leave," Shi Chen's voice was hoarse, coughing lightly to cover his own lapse in composure.

Nie Jia couldn't help but smile. Gently biting his neck, he immediately sensed the tension and stiffness in his lover's arms.

The attendants quickly retreated, and Shi Chen strode forward, placing Nie Jia on the bed. Beside the bed was a bucket of medicine just brought in by the attendants, emitting a faint medicinal fragrance.

Kneeling by the bed, Shi Chen immersed the Little Prince's injured legs in the bucket, his heart filled not with any romantic emotions but with regret and sorrow as he observed the delicate legs that seemed as if they might break at any moment.

"My legs will heal," Nie Jia could sense his sudden despondency and hastened to console him, "Since it's from the Southern Yi palace, it must be effective. I believe in you."

Looking up at him, Shi Chen's breath was heavy.

Nie Jia simply smiled at him, sweet and devoid of the usual dark intensity.

Gradually, Shi Chen's gaze softened. He gently massaged the Little Prince's legs in the bucket of medicine. "I will find a way to heal your legs."

"Mm, I know you will," Nie Jia pinched his ear.

They continued chatting like this, and after about half an incense stick's worth of time, Shi Chen tucked Nie Jia back into bed.

After lunch, as it began to snow outside, Shi Chen adjusted the charcoal fire and leaned against the bed, narrating the current situation in Southern Yi to the Little Prince. Noticing the fatigue in the person on the bed, he lowered his voice, "If you're tired, sleep. I'll be here watching over you."

Exhausted from using his abilities to repair his broken bones, Nie Jia couldn't keep his eyes open. He held Shi Chen's pinky, lifted a corner of the blanket, and murmured weakly, "It's so cold, I hurt all over. I want you to hold me while I sleep."

Seeing his pale complexion, Shi Chen felt a surge of tenderness. Without hesitation, he kicked off his boots and lay down beside Nie Jia, pulling the slender Little Prince into his arms. Gently comforting him, "Sleep, I'll be by your side."

To someone trained in martial arts, Nie Jia felt warm against Shi Chen, like a heated iron. Satisfied, he nestled in Shi Chen's embrace and fell asleep peacefully.

As Shi Chen listened to the gradually even breathing of the Little Prince, a faint redness crept into his eyes. A very light whistle sounded beneath his face mask, and immediately, a dark figure dropped from the beam, kneeling on one knee.

Shi Chen sat up straight, watching the shadow, his gaze cold as he made two gestures.

The shadow immediately saluted, "Understood, I'll act accordingly."

With a wave of his hand, the shadow quickly left the chamber, disappearing into the endless snow.

Once Shi Chen returned to Zhuolu City, the atmosphere in the city changed instantly. It was like plunging a pot of boiling water into an icy pool. No one dared to show ambition or test the waters anymore. The ambitious courtiers, full of aspirations, now dared not raise their heads and reverted to timid quails.

However, some people were destined to meet their end. That afternoon, a certain minister of the Ministry of War and the commander of the Feathered Forest Army lay dead in the streets, in a horrifying manner. It was obvious who was behind it. Not to mention anyone collecting their bodies, even their families kneeling by the street didn't dare shed a tear.

For a while, not just the court but the whole city of Zhuolu fell into a state of panic.

After Shi Chen's return, Nie Jia paid no attention to anything else, skipping court sessions and spending all his time with Shi Chen, becoming a complete puppet monarch.

Half a month later, Shi Chen held Nie Jia's delicate ankle, filled with worry. "It's been so long, yet there's been no progress."

"There has been," Nie Jia moved his round toe and five toes with difficulty. He could use his abilities to completely heal his disabled legs in one go, but he wasn't sure how long he would need to recuperate afterward. So, over this half month, he intermittently repaired his legs, but the injuries to Jun Changsheng were severe, to the extent that even after half a month, he had only recovered to this extent.

Moreover, before his legs healed, being carried by Shi Chen anywhere was equally comfortable for Nie Jia.

As he finished speaking, Shi Chen stared dumbfoundedly at the movement of Nie Jia's toes. Then suddenly, he looked up at Nie Jia, his eyes filled with immense joy.⑨

"Very soon, I'll be able to walk and fight by your side," Nie Jia smiled sheepishly. He had exerted a lot of effort to repair his bones and tendons, and now only flesh wounds remained, which would heal soon.

Shi Chen continued to gaze at him foolishly, then slowly furrowed his brow, tears welling up in his eyes.

Seeing his lover's joyful yet self-reproaching expression, Nie Jia couldn't help but feel a pang of heartache. Gently tapping his face mask with his fingertip, he asked softly, "Can you take this off?"

Shi Chen's gaze softened, fingers deftly removing the cold steel covering half his face. Nie Jia swiftly kissed him on the lips and looked into his eyes from such proximity, whispering, "You healed my legs. What reward do you want?"

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