Chapter 473: The Eccentricity Under Dan Liang Royal City (33)

Chapter 473: Defiance Beneath the Dan Liang Royal City (Thirty-Three)

Rong Feng escorted the old Cloud King to the Bureau of Foreign Guests for rest. However, just after stepping out of the palace gates, the old Cloud King halted and told Rong Feng to stop here—there was no need to accompany him further.

With the turmoil that had broken out in the royal city today, the people within must already be in a state of panic. As the Crown Prince of Dan Liang, Rong Feng should put the people first. The old Cloud King assured him that he would be escorted by the Assistant Minister of the Bureau of Foreign Guests and did not need Rong Feng to follow.

Though the Dan Liang royal family had personally taken charge of today’s events, Rong Feng, as the Crown Prince, should still visit the streets to reassure the citizens and prevent further unrest in the royal city caused by this turmoil—for the good of the country.

After the old Cloud King finished speaking, Uncle Yun drove the carriage away first. Rong Feng had no choice but to stop and cease his escort, though he stared blankly after it as it gradually disappeared from view.

His face gave nothing away, making it difficult to discern his thoughts. What happened after he returned to the palace that night, how he spent the latter half of it, and whether anything else occurred during that time—only he knew what truly happened.

After watching for a moment, he turned and walked toward the streets without seeking further instructions from the Dan Liang royal family.

...

The sunset after the storm was more enchanting and dreamlike than usual, coloring the sky in breathtaking shades.

Clouds swirled, the evening glow blazed, and the radiant sunset cast golden light upon the figure whose breath came heavier. Yet, despite the warmth of the sun, his entire being seemed untouched by its warmth.

Though bathed in sunlight, Su Rao could still feel a coldness creeping under her skin, making her heart ache.

Her heart ached for him, this man who had managed to restrain his bloodthirsty nature and suppress the turmoil within himself.

After pulling Su Rao away from the palace in large strides, Han Mochen simply walked on foot, wordless and determined.

The streets stood empty, shops on either side tightly shut, leaving the road deserted as the two walked hand in hand.

Han Mochen remained silent the entire way, and Su Rao did not press him. Only when they reached the street stained with blood did Han Mochen suddenly stop, his phoenix eyes fixed on the flapping clinic banner ahead.

The banner bore traces of splattered blood, now smeared and faded by the rain, staining the originally white characters red.

Once again, a homicidal glint surfaced in his eyes, flushing them red—yet this time, it did not cloud his mind or rob him of reason.

He stared unblinkingly.

After a long silence, he finally spoke in a hoarse voice:

"Rao Rao, he’s here."

The words seemed directed at Su Rao, yet his voice was so soft it almost sounded like he muttered under his breath.

"Not only has he come, but he’s also playing the doting father-in-law with that demon. Did you see? I saw it clearly."

His breathing grew uneven again, and tears welled up, glistening in his eyes.

"Rao Rao, I don’t want to see him. I refuse to see him. But why did he have to come...?"

His voice dropped lower.

Guilt over failing his mother stirred turmoil in Han Mochen’s heart, and in an instant, his gaze went distant.

The shift happened without warning—his other self took over without the need for unconsciousness, and Han Mochen retreated once again.

He had promised his mother that he would never allow his grandfather and grandmother to come here, to see their daughter.

His vision blurred again without warning. The surrounding buildings faded into haze in his eyes, leaving only the girl beside him still vivid.

Even though his vision was blurred again, further obscured by the glistening moisture hidden in his eyes, he could still see clearly.

The figure of Han Mochen reflected in Su Rao's eyes, along with the deep concern she concealed for him, betrayed her true heartache—her heart ached for Han Mochen.

Being cherished like this, to be placed so dearly in someone’s heart, was simply having Han Mochen treasured and cared for within her heart.

Abruptly, their clasped hands jerked, and Yun Ji, now awake, pulled Su Rao into his embrace. Gradually, his heavy breaths steadied, and the inner darkness stilled.

"Rao Rao, for the first time, Yun Ji truly feels his own heart. This clarity makes Yun Ji realize just how deeply the hatred gnaws at him. Even if they were dismembered a thousand times, their tendons torn and bones shattered, it would never extinguish Yun Ji’s vengeance, nor purge the years of accumulated hatred that has seeped into his marrow."

This time, there were no gaps in his memory. Yun Ji keenly sensed the all-consuming hatred in Han Mochen’s heart, as well as his resistance to the old Cloud King’s arrival—his refusal to accept the old Cloud King’s presence in Tanliang.

This resistance, coupled with the old Cloud King’s genuine affection for him even when he was merely Han Mochen, left Yun Ji panic-stricken and unmoored.

So he chose to hide. If he didn’t see, he wouldn’t know his grandfather had come. That way, he could fulfill his mother’s demand—he would personally destroy those demons.

This version of Yun Ji only made Su Rao’s heart ache even more.

Yet at this moment, a fresh tendril of worry also sprouted in her heart.

"Yun Ji, you are Yun Ji. You are the Yun Ji who can remain completely rational. There are things I couldn’t say to Han Mochen, but now, I want to say them to you."

Su Rao also embraced Yun Ji, but this time, she didn’t repeat the comforting words she had often spoken to Han Mochen.

If there was hatred, then take revenge—purge the hatred from your heart.

Resting her head against Yun Ji’s chest, Su Rao shared with him her current state of mind.

From the initial desire to feast on their flesh and crack their bones, she had now reached clarity—hatred only brought joy to enemies and pain to loved ones. Beyond that, it held no meaning.

"Yun Ji, always remember—you are Yun Ji. You are Prince Yun Ji of Cloud King Manor. From the moment you chose to become Yun Ji, that is who you are. Just as I am now Su Rao of the Su family.

Whether it’s Han Mochen or Rong Xiao, they're just names. They must never become the chains that constrain you.

No matter how dark your heart grows, you must never allow yourself to sink into it, to become a second Qin Rao. Don’t let Rong Xiao’s willingness to let go become the price I pay—losing you in the end. Please."

Some hatreds, if not personally experienced, can still be rationally judged. But when memories merge, when those marrow-deep grudges and past sufferings become real sensations, Su Rao understood the depth of that pain. An ordinary person could hardly presume to endure it, let alone Yun Ji, whose heart was already burdened.

Since Yun Ji had accepted all his memories, truly feeling every moment of his past, though he had never shown any outward signs of distress—even rejoicing that he no longer needed others to tell him about Su Rao and Han Mochen—deep down, how had he endured it all? Death by a thousand cuts would be kinder.

Before, Su Rao had not pressed or spelled things out, because she believed in Yun Ji. Because he was Yun Ji—the Yun Ji who could keep his heart lucid and untroubled.

But now, the old Cloud King’s appearance had unsettled Han Mochen to his core that Su Rao knew she had to speak. She feared Yun Ji, too, might lose his way at this moment.

The old Cloud King was different from others. He had an influence on Han Mochen. If the darkness in Han Mochen’s heart grew any stronger, the consequences could be dire—either the alter ego seizing full control, or the primary personality being consumed by it. If that happened, Yun Ji's life force would rapidly diminish.

Master Hui Shan had once said Yun Ji would not live past thirty. Perhaps, overnight, he might not even reach twenty-five. Such an outcome was something Su Rao would never accept—she would never allow it to happen.