The Villain Slaps The Protagonist’s Halo - Chapter 56

Chapter 56: The Protagonist Must Die

As Nie Jia's voice fell, the palace doors were pushed open from outside, and a group of palace attendants flowed in like a stream, one after another, serving him to change clothes and groom. Each one of them lowered their heads cautiously, fearing that someone might be dragged out and executed today.

"Take all these things down." Nie Jia casually pulled down a silver bell, and the room was instantly filled with its jingling.

The old eunuch who brought the robes over paused at his words, his eyes slightly reddening at the corners as he nodded in understanding. He quickly instructed the young eunuchs and palace maids to clean up these myriad bells.

These silver bells and the eerie emptiness of the bedchamber all stemmed from the fear of Jun Changsheng. Although the world knew the tyrant on the throne was devoid of humanity, they didn't know of the fragility and fear beneath his ferocious shell.

Jun Changsheng hadn't always been this cruel. Quite the opposite, the young Jun Changsheng was intelligent, gentle, kind-hearted, with the demeanor of a scholar and the pride of a ruler. He understood from a young age that his ability to enjoy delicacies was due to countless soldiers dying on the front lines, safeguarding the peace of Yan Country. He also understood the responsibility as the crown prince—to eventually unify the world and ensure the people's peace and prosperity. Thus, from a young age, he immersed himself in military texts, diligently trained in martial arts, hoping that one day, he could personally lead campaigns to quell the chaos in Yan Country.

But Yan was just a small nation. Before Jun Changsheng could lead an army, the enemy cavalry breached the defenses, massacring their way to Zhuolu City.

Realizing the inevitability of the country's downfall, the people of Zhuolu City panicked, with most of the palace inhabitants fleeing. At the time of Jun Changsheng's ascension, he knew that if the country were to fall, he had prepared himself to sacrifice for the nation. However, he couldn't bear to let his younger brother, still a child, meet the same fate. Hence, he ordered a secret guard to quietly escort his brother, Jun Changyue, out of the city, away from the chaos.

But what awaited Jun Changsheng wasn't the invading enemy, but the fury of the Yan citizens!

The invading enemy ravaged and slaughtered every city they captured, resorting even to cannibalism to satisfy their hunger, approaching Zhuolu City. The people of Zhuolu City, realizing the incoming threat, panicked. Someone, nobody knew who, suggested offering the heads of the king and the prince to the enemy, hoping to spare the city from annihilation.

Before the enemy cavalry reached Zhuolu City, the rioting citizens stormed the palace, dragging the sleeping Jun Changsheng from his bedchamber to the courtyard. Ignoring the panic of the young ruler, they aggressively demanded to know the whereabouts of Prince Jun Changyue.

Naturally, Jun Changsheng remained silent. Consequently, the furious mob promptly broke his legs on the spot. On that frigid snowy night, they mercilessly beat Jun Changsheng for two hours. Eventually, it became unclear whether these rioters were reveling in tormenting the once lofty king or genuinely seeking Jun Changyue's location.

At the age of thirteen, with his legs shattered and his martial skills rendered useless, Jun Changsheng, who once aspired to unify the world, was broken by the relentless beating.

As Jun Changsheng lay on the verge of death, the commanding officer of the army hung the enemy's leaders in prominent places to awe the soldiers. At that moment, Sikong Han finally arrived with his troops, successfully saving Zhuolu City. Returning to the palace, he was met with the humiliating sight of Jun Changsheng.

Of course, Sikong Han ordered the execution of all the rioters. Jun Changsheng barely clung to life, but his legs were irreparable. From then on, Jun Changsheng's temperament drastically changed. Bloodthirsty and merciless, he executed anyone who displeased him without considering their reasons.

Later, regardless of what Sikong Han and the others did, five of them always stayed hidden to protect the safety of the young ruler. However, the experience of being dragged away and tortured in his sleep had filled Jun Changsheng's heart with shadows and unease. Hence, nothing was left inside his bedchamber except for these silver bells. The moment someone stepped closer to him inside, it would immediately jolt him awake.

Nie Jia never made any comments on the original owner's past but held some silence regarding Jun Changsheng's experiences.

It wasn't until the weary voice of the old eunuch brought him back to reality that he responded, "Your Majesty, the snow outside is heavy today, bitterly cold. Please add another cloak to keep warm." Saying so, he draped a black fox fur cloak over Jun Changsheng's legs, aware of the weather's impact, knowing the young ruler's legs would be in excruciating pain.

Wrapped in the deep black cloak, Nie Jia sunk into the fur. While the room was still warm, the biting cold outside nearly made him shiver, intensifying the pain in his knees. Since the crippling of his legs, Jun Changsheng's health declined year by year. He feared that even in summer, he would be unable to do without thick furs.

"Brother..." Jun Changyue knelt on the ground, earnestly looking at the advancing ruler, bloodstains on his forehead dried and reopened, marking him disheveled and miserable.

"Come here." Nie Jia's hands remained tucked in the white fox fur, his eyes indifferent, gazing at Jun Changyue.

Jun Changyue tried to stand up hastily but, after kneeling for too long, his frozen knees almost caused him to stumble and fall. However, none of the palace attendants dared to assist him; they all lowered their heads, observing in silence. Supporting himself against the steps, Jun Changyue barely managed to regain his balance, looking at Nie Jia with tear-filled eyes.

"I've already shown mercy, sparing him from prolonged torture. Aren't you satisfied?" Nie Jia's tone was cold and detached.

"The Sikong family has been exterminated. No one poses a threat to you anymore, and besides, he's now a cripple. Spare him, Brother," Jun Changyue pleaded. "He once saved the entire Yan Country. We both owe him. Can't this outweigh his life?"

"It's me whom you owe, not Sikong Han," Nie Jia responded indifferently, no longer looking at him, ordering for the execution site.

Jun Changyue's mind was wholly occupied with his beloved; he had no thoughts for anything else. He hurriedly followed behind Nie Jia.

Sikong Han was scheduled for execution at noon, only an hour away, but he had already been taken to the execution site.

Amidst severe winter, heavy snowflakes fell, causing the guards and the executioner at the site to shiver. However, the figure kneeling on the execution platform, despite having his hands and feet disabled, remained unmoved, exhibiting an air of pride. Even though everyone knew about his shattered limbs, his straight posture

in the biting wind was still intimidating—an embodiment of Yan's war god.

Nie Jia's lips grew paler from the cold, even wrapped in layers of heavy fur, his complexion as pale as fragile porcelain.

Sikong Han waited calmly for his death. Suddenly, all the attendants at the execution ground knelt down, and even the executioner hurriedly descended from his position, prostrating deeply in the accumulating snow.

Sikong Han turned his head and saw the young ruler calmly approaching, seated on a sedan chair. Instantly, his eyes filled with a fierce intent to kill, his breath forming quick puffs of white fog. He glared at Nie Jia like a starving beast eyeing its prey, desiring nothing more than to pounce and devour him on the spot!

"Sikong Han, your treasonous actions attempting to seize power have led to the extermination of your entire clan by the law. Do you consider this unjust?" Nie Jia gently brushed away a snowflake that had landed on his eyelashes. His shallow golden eyes devoid of emotion, he stared at the once-bloodstained figure of the former war god.

"Tyrant!" Sikong Han cursed furiously, showing no sign of bowing to his own predicament. "Your bloodlust will eventually meet divine retribution! I've failed to serve justice in this lifetime, but if there's a next, I'll crush you and offer the innocent lives you've taken as a blood sacrifice!"

Nie Jia glanced wearily at Jun Changyue. "Did you hear that? He wants to kill me, yet you plead for mercy, asking me to spare him. Do you also want me dead?"

Jun Changyue, despairing, rushed to the execution platform, kneeling before Sikong Han, tears streaming down his face, crying uncontrollably.

"Changyue, let our love persist in the next life," Sikong Han, usually resolute, softened. He couldn't embrace him due to his disabled hands, but gently kissed him by the ear, feeling the pain in his heart.

"You can't die! If you do, I won't live much longer!" Jun Changyue was desperate, almost blinded by tears. Clinging to a sliver of hope, he pleaded with Nie Jia, "Does Elder Brother Wang truly want his death? If he dies, then I shall take my own life to follow him!"

"Changyue!" Sikong Han's heart ached as he scolded him.

However, Jun Changyue remained unmoved, glaring at Nie Jia, using his life as leverage.

Nie Jia frowned deeply, enraged. "Deal with this confusion! Drag him down and execute him immediately!"

Two guards immediately pulled the distraught Jun Changyue away, and the executioner prepared his blade.

KK, feeling the malicious intent of the Public Prosecution Department, anxiously advised Nie Jia, "Mr. Nie, the main aggressor's death will lead to an immediate reincarnation, which will be disadvantageous for you. Killing him is too risky. Besides, he's already incapacitated. Why not spare him and watch how things unfold?"

Nie Jia coldly snorted in response: "I fear him not. I want him dead. Even if he reincarnates, he will die again for me!"

"Execute!" Nie Jia's gaze locked fiercely with Sikong Han's.

Amidst Changyue's heart-wrenching cries, Sikong Han, unafraid, stared at Nie Jia with a gaze filled with hatred and defiance. As the executioner raised the blade, ready to strike the fatal blow, Sikong Han suddenly turned, his eyes filled with an endless, chilling intent to kill, reminiscent of his battlefield prowess. The executioner staggered back in fear, sweating in the chilling winter air.

Sikong Han laughed aloud, arrogantly addressing Nie Jia, "Do you see, Jun Changsheng? In all of Yan Country, you only have those twenty-one dogs by your side. A kingdom's downfall is just a snap of the fingers. This man has lost his nerve. He's useless. Go call your dogs, I'll be waiting here!"

Indeed, a true war god, carrying such grace.

Nie Jia smirked slightly, whispering to someone nearby, "Fetch the heavy bow."

The young eunuch, startled, swiftly retrieved the incredibly strong bow. Before he could ask whom to hand it to, a slender, fair hand reached out, swiftly grabbing the bow and arrow.

With two fingers on the arrowhead, Nie Jia, with a sudden calmness, drew the bowstring to its limit!

The palace attendants and guards at the execution ground were stunned. Even Sikong Han was briefly surprised. That bow required the strength of a seasoned warrior to draw, yet the frail monarch, who struggled even to lift a wine jug on ordinary days, effortlessly pulled it!

A swift whoosh, before anyone could react, the arrow was already in flight.

"No!" Jun Changyue desperately pushed the guards away, trying to shield Sikong Han, but he was too late.

The sharp arrow sliced through the air, cutting a lock of Changyue's hair before thunderously piercing Sikong Han's throat, instantly nailing him to the execution platform!

Nie Jia gazed at Sikong Han's lifeless body, his eyes ominously fixed. "Sikong Han, I await your revenge."

As Jun Changyue turned, all he saw was a ground covered in blood and Sikong Han's body. He collapsed slowly, gasping for breath, before fainting.

"Hang the rebel's body on the city gate for display!" Nie Jia tossed aside the bow and arrow, then, seeming weakened, huddled into his cloak. Exhausted, he murmured, "Tired. Let's return to the palace."

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