Chapter 73

Chapter 73

Unable to discern his intentions, the young superpower user paced anxiously. A powerhouse of such caliber must not join the Abyssal faction!

"Stop pacing," Ping Yunhan said, feeling dizzy from the constant movement.

"Brother Ping, do you think Mr. Lin might be swayed?" The young superpower user couldn't help but worry. "It's a shame there are so few of us here; it's hard to even advise Mr. Lin properly."

Lin Juan observed the monstrous creature, guarded by half-snake beings.

Half-human, half-snake, with striking, exotic features, green scales dusting the corners of its eyes, and a long, flickering forked tongue constantly hissing.

The other half-snake monsters mimicked it—or perhaps it was their instinct—filling the air with their incessant hissing.

The half-human, half-snake creature fixed its greenish-blue eyes on Lin Juan, its gaze a swirling vortex. To meet its gaze was to risk being pulled in, never to escape.

"Of course, child, the snake tail is a symbol of power. You possess the purest white snake tail, destined to be the next leader of our clan."

"Your kind?" Lin Juan seized on the key point. "You're a tribe? All half-snake beings?"

Looking around, there were at least fifty half-snake monsters here, all hatched from eggs after Lin Juan and the others fell. Where were the others? Hidden in this club as well?

"Of course not. Only those with snake tails are the highest caste," the half-snake creature replied.

Lin Juan understood—all human-beast hybrids were categorized within this "tribe."

"So, you're their leader? Did you create my tail too?"

The half-snake creature nodded.

So, you’re the one behind this.

Lin Juan clenched his fist and struck without warning.

He moved so fast that no one had time to react. He charged into the crowd of half-snake, half-human monsters and subdued the leader.

With a punch that snapped its head to the side, Lin Juan said tonelessly, "You think it's justified to change me into this without my permission?"

"Ahhhhhh!!!!!" The half-snake creature let out a shrill scream, its aloof facade completely shattered. If Lin Juan hadn't been holding it, it would have writhed on the ground in pain.

The young superpower user, who had been worried about Lin Juan joining the Abyssal faction, gaped in shock. He just attacked out of nowhere? And with such brutality?

He’s a violent beauty.

The prettier he was, the more ruthless he became.

Little did the young man know that Lin Juan had been bottling up his frustration with this tail for a long time.

The tail was heavy and seriously hampered his mobility. What good was a tail compared to two legs?

Controlling his strength to keep the half-snake creature conscious, Lin Juan gripped its neck. The creature's long forked tongue lolled out, unable to retract.

Lin Juan tightened his grip. "Now, turn my companions and me back."

Hearing this, the young superpower user was almost tearful with gratitude. Mr. Lin still remembered them. His first priority was to have the creature restore them to their original forms.

The half-snake creature closed its eyes, playing possum.

Lin Juan's anger flared. He shook its neck vigorously. "Playing dead? Want me to make it real?"

"I—cough, cough." The half-snake creature clutched its neck, coughing violently. It thought, *If only you’d let go so I could speak!*

Seeing its face turn red, Lin Juan realized something and loosened his grip slightly, offering a perfunctory apology. "Sorry, didn’t control my strength. But it’s infuriating that you altered someone’s body without permission."

The young superpower user nodded repeatedly: Exactly!

"Cough, cough," the half-human, half-snake creature coughed for a while before finally managing to speak. "Have mercy, great one. I didn’t transform you or your companions. I can’t change you back."

"Then what you said earlier—"

"My mistake!" The half-human, half-snake creature backpedaled fast. "I truly don’t have that ability. I can only command the brood from my eggs..."

Its voice trailed off toward the end.

It had heard of Lin Juan's exploits and had some schemes. Coincidentally, Lin Juan had been influenced by that being and grown a snake tail. Wasn’t this a godsent opportunity?

If it could trick—no, convince—Lin Juan to become its successor, with Lin Juan's terrifying combat strength, wouldn’t it rule this treacherous realm?

The plan was ambitious, but reality was brutal. It had already failed at the first step.

Whether Lin Juan would be swayed was one thing, but its direct claim that Lin Juan was its successor was too sudden, with no buildup, making it seem utterly absurd.

"So you're just a bragging liar." Confirming it wasn’t lying this time, Lin Juan scanned the surroundings. "Take me to whoever can change me back—"

"No, no..." Before Lin Juan could finish, the half-human, half-snake creature seemed to see something utterly terrifying. Its eyes widened in terror, and in Lin Juan's grasp, it transformed into a large green snake.

The slippery scales made Lin Juan instinctively let go.

The green snake swiftly slithered to the ground, coiling up and remaining still.

The other half-snake monsters also reverted to snake forms, covering the floor around them.

Lin Juan and the others were surrounded by snakes.

Thick mist spread from the direction the half-snake creature had emerged, quickly enveloping them. Visibility dropped sharply, and Lin Juan could no longer see anything beyond half a meter away.

"Lu Yanzhou, grab hold of me!" Lin Juan reached back.

Dammit, he shouldn’t have brought Lu Yanzhou out.

He was some distance from Lu Yanzhou, but Lu Yanzhou heard his voice and moved toward the faint shadow in the mist.

"Cough, cough." Inhaling the mist caused a fit of choking coughs.

Lin Juan turned to search for Lu Yanzhou.

In the mist, a few meters apart felt like miles.

"Young Master, it's time to wake up."

A clear voice roused Lin Juan from his daze.

Lin Juan opened his eyes to a ceiling carved with intricate, sacred patterns.

His snake tail swayed as he pushed himself up.

Lu Yanzhou...

He seemed to be looking for someone just now.

Who was he looking for…

His vision swayed as a serpent head descended from the ceiling beam, stopping a certain distance from Lin Juan's face.

Its tongue flicked out, and it spoke with a human voice: "Young Master, today is your first day presiding over prayers. You must not be late."

What prayer?

Such an unfamiliar term.

Lin Juan blinked, looking down at his snow-white serpent tail.

Was this how he was supposed to be?

It didn't feel right to him.

The serpent tail felt somewhat unfamiliar to use, though it didn’t hinder his movement.

The serpent that had woken Lin Juan leaped down from mid-air, transforming into a boy of about thirteen or fourteen upon landing.

"Young Master, your robes have been delivered. Shall I fetch them for you?"

Without waiting for Lin Juan’s reply, the boy skipped out of the room.

Lin Juan took the opportunity to look around the room.

The architecture here leaned toward medieval European style, retro yet with a touch of technological feel, and Lin Juan felt completely alien with it.

The boy attending to him explained that this was because he had just recently been brought back by the bishop and that it was normal for him to feel unaccustomed.

Lin Juan was skeptical of his words.

After changing into a pristine white holy robe adorned with intricate patterns, Lin Juan somewhat awkwardly maneuvered his tail and made his way to the sanctuary.

Along the path, he encountered various individuals with human upper bodies and animal lower bodies. From his observations, those with serpent tails held higher status.

Inside the sanctuary, many people had gathered for prayer.

Upon Lin Juan’s arrival, they respectfully made way for him, their fervent gazes fixed upon him.

Lin Juan slithered to the very front.

His mind was blank—he had no idea how to lead the prayer—yet he showed no trace of hesitation on his face.

At the front of the sanctuary stood a magnificent statue.

It was a massive serpent.

Pure white, almost faintly emanating a holy light, its scales so lifelike it seemed as though a real massive serpent was coiled there.

Standing beneath the massive serpent sculpture, Lin Juan had the sensation of being watched by some gaze.

He looked up—the serpent’s eyes were slightly closed, its head bowed, like a lofty deity bestowing pity upon the mortal world.

Was it an illusion?

Lin Juan didn’t think so.

This gaze followed him relentlessly—whether during prayer, meals, inspections, or even while washing—Lin Juan could always sense its presence.

Lin Juan could feel the faint, unintended possessiveness seeping from the owner of that gaze.

Who—or what—was watching him?

After the prayer, Lin Juan needed to bathe, change into everyday garments, and proceed to the next part of the schedule.

The bathing chamber was spacious. Lin Juan stood amidst the steamy mist, slowly removing his garments.

As the sacred Young Master’s ceremonial robe was unfastened and slipped from his shoulders, Lin Juan distinctly felt the gaze upon him grow more intense.

"Peeping at someone bathing isn’t a good habit," Lin Juan said, holding his robe closed with displeasure.

The intense gaze was withdrawn, as if afraid to anger the long-haired Lin Juan, gradually fading from perception.

Lin Juan let out a breath, took off his outer robe, and immersed himself in the water.

Everyone addressed him as Young Master, spoke of him as the future ruler of this world, revered him, and paid him homage as their lord.

Yet Lin Juan always felt a sense of disbelief.

He had no sense of belonging whatsoever here.

Even though his subconscious mind repeatedly told him that he belonged to this place, that he needed to learn how to curry the deity’s favor, how to govern this land, and lead his people to prosperous lives.

When had he become a believer of a god?

Lin Juan asked himself.

Why did it feel so unreal?

Official duties piled up like snowflakes—from major issues like provocations from neighboring countries to minor disputes among neighbors—all required Lin Juan’s ruling.

Exasperated, Lin Juan threw down his pen: "I’m just the Young Master. Why am I responsible for all this?"

Shouldn’t these matters be handled by the actual ruler?

Could it be that he had usurped the real ruler’s authority?

The attendant’s response confirmed Lin Juan’s suspicion. Hearing the servant’s trembling voice, Lin Juan massaged his forehead.

This didn’t feel like him—he wasn’t one to take on unnecessary burdens.

"Where is he? Take me to him," Lin Juan ordered calmly.

He didn’t care what his past self had thought; now, he just wanted to free the man as quickly as possible.

Forget sidelining! Come and work for him immediately!

"This…" the attendant hesitated.

Lin Juan grew impatient: "What? Didn’t you say I’m the Young Master? Can’t I give you orders?"

The attendant quickly knelt. "This servant wouldn’t dare, my lord. I will take you there at once."

In the underground prison, Lin Juan saw the figure curled up in a dark cell, so tortured he was barely recognizable, and understood why the attendants here were all so afraid of him.

Was he really such a brutal person before?

Lin Juan was plunged into deep self-doubt.

"Open the door." Despite his inner turmoil, Lin Juan betrayed no emotion on his face.

The cell door opened, and Lin Juan strode in.

Hearing the noise, the man on the ground lifted his head with difficulty.

He should have hated him—hated the person who had dragged him down from the pinnacle of power, hated the one who had tortured him to a state worse than death. But when he forced his eyes open in pain and saw the long-haired youth standing under the clear moonlight, as cold and divine as a deity, his hatred faded, replaced by an intense possessiveness.

This person should be his.

He could give him power, status, wealth—all of it.

As long as he belonged to him.

The attendants formed a protective circle around Lin Juan, fearing that the man known for his iron-fisted methods—the one who had frightened neighboring countries from invading—might lash out in a frenzy and attack them.

This gaze was all too familiar to Lin Juan.

Wasn’t this the same gaze that had been watching him all day?

Just more restrained.

Could it be him?

If it was, how had he managed it?

Lin Juan looked down to study him, his expression unreadable.

The man’s short hair was disheveled, his body streaked with blood. His face and clothes were smeared with blood and dust, so grimy his features were indistinguishable.

The only notable thing was that he had a pair of normal human legs.

Even though everyone here was part-human, part-beast—including himself—why did he subconsciously feel that having human legs was normal?

Lin Juan tried to search his memory for an explanation but found nothing.

"Clean him up and deliver him to my quarters." Initially worried that this man might not be useful for labor, Lin Juan now saw that, despite enduring prolonged torture, his will remained undimmed—he was practically born to labor!

After just one day, Lin Juan was already figuring out how to shirk work.

Perfect—this man had previously administered this territory and was surely familiar with local policies. A quick cleanup, and he’d be ready to work. How perfect.

Thinking of the leisure time approaching, Lin Juan looked at the man with growing satisfaction.

Ignoring the attendants’ expressions of hesitation and internal conflict, Lin Juan waved his hand. "Take him away."

Lin Juan returned to his chambers first and waited. Half an hour later, the cleansed man was brought in.

For a moment, Lin Juan was momentarily stunned at the sight of the approaching man.

But he quickly recovered his composure.

The man walked slowly but steadily.

His body was covered in wounds, each step equivalent to suffering torture anew, yet he revealed no trace of suffering—his expression remained impassive.

A doctor who had been waiting for some time.

Cleaned up, the man revealed a handsome appearance—sword-like eyebrows and starry eyes, handsome features, pleasing to the eye.

Lin Juan made no attempt to conceal his satisfaction. Pointing at the man, he said, "Examine his wounds."

The doctor, born and raised here, instantly recognized the man Lin Juan pointed to—he was the former master of this palace.

The newly ascendant Young Master hadn’t dared to declare openly he’d imprisoned and tortured the rightful ruler of these lands, instead claiming the man was convalescing from illness as an excuse to seize power.

The doctor tended to the man’s wounds.

The more he saw, the more alarmed he became.

These injuries were clearly not naturally caused. As a court physician, he’d seen many covert cruelties—he knew exactly how these wounds had been inflicted.

Eyes lowered, the doctor treated the injuries without uttering a word.

The secret to longevity in his profession: avoid undue curiosity, keep your mouth shut, and never speak a word about what shouldn’t be asked or said.

Unaware of the doctor’s internal alarm, Lin Juan asked, "How are his injuries? Can he work?"

Truthfully, the injuries were severe.

The doctor didn’t dare speak truthfully. Despite their newly ascendant Young Master’s stunning beauty, he was notoriously vicious—anyone who opposed him had been executed with brutal methods.

Now, everyone both respected and feared him.

In private, they called him a tyrant.

Only those deceived by his outward appearance believed he was the divinely chosen leader destined to guide them toward a brighter future.

Those who knew the truth had all been disposed of, one by one.

The doctor cautiously asked, "What kind of work do you mean? This…"

He trailed off, not daring to outright reveal the man’s identity, and spoke vaguely.

"His injuries are quite severe. He may not be able to handle heavy labor."

The wounds, left untreated, had worsened with each round of torture, festered and penetrated to the bone. If not for the man’s strong will, he wouldn’t be conscious now.

The best course was complete rest and recuperation.

The doctor carefully offered his opinion.

"Does he need bed rest?" Lin Juan had thought the man’s injuries weren’t too serious, given how steadily he moved, only appearing fearsome. He hadn’t realized they were this severe.

"Bed rest would be best."

Lin Juan pondered. "Can he handle official duties then?"

The doctor was baffled.

"You mean…"

Lin Juan pointed to the pile of documents on the small table. "These. Would being bedridden hinder his capacity to handle these?"

The doctor was stunned.

Not only was he surprised, but the man was also extremely surprised. He knew very well how much this Young Master craved power. Now that he had finally seized control, why would he give it back for no reason?

Handling these official duties gave him direct access to power. Did he not realize that once the initiative fell into his hands, many matters would no longer be up to him?

If Lin Juan knew what he was thinking, he would surely urge him to take all the power back immediately—preferably even stepping down from the Young Master position, so nothing would trouble him anymore.

Sensing the man’s puzzled gaze, Lin Juan turned his head and smiled: "Why bring all these annoying matters to me? I really don’t know how you managed being king before."

"It seems it’s not too much trouble. I’ll have the daily documents sent to your place. Don’t worry, I’ll pay you."

"Salary?" The term was unfamiliar, yet somehow familiar.

"In short, you’ll be rewarded. I won’t make you work for free." Lin Juan himself disliked working without pay, and by putting himself in the other’s shoes, figuring the man felt the same.

The man had no idea what the Young Master was up to. That very night, a large stack of unfinished documents was delivered to his desk.

The man opened them one by one—they were reports on important matters from all over. Some had annotations, but most were blank, awaiting responses.

The man picked up a pen and wrote a line.

Since deciding to operate from the shadows, he hadn’t handled such matters in a long time.

Late at night, a man in tight-fitting clothes slipped silently through the window.

"Master."

The man stood by the desk, lightly tapping the surface with his knuckles: "Well?"

"Everything is arranged as you instructed."

"Good." After a pause, the man added, "Don’t make a move yet. Things might change."

Having grown up in the heart of power, the man was not someone who could be easily defeated. The emergence of the "Young Master" and the power grab was all part of his plan. This land was now filled with bizarre occurrences that defied explanation, and working from the shadows gave him more freedom to act.

The sudden rise of the Holy Snake Cult, people suddenly growing bestial lower bodies, the "Young Master" with a white serpent’s tail being put into power…

Everything was absurd and bizarre, yet the people here seemed accustomed to it, as if things had always been like this.

But the man clearly remembered—everyone originally had normal legs. The current half-human, half-beast appearances were the abnormality.

The "Young Master" had changed.

The man was certain of it.

Even with the same appearance, the current Young Master felt completely different from the previous one.

The most obvious difference was in the eyes.

A fleeting glance in the dungeon revealed the youth’s eyes—clear and transparent, like premium glass, untainted by filth, so clear you could see right through them.

What had happened in the outside world while he was in the dungeon? What had happened to the "Young Master"?

Reports from his shadow guards showed nothing unusual.

The moon hid behind the clouds, the last glimmer of light disappeared from the ground. The man lying in bed uttered a pained murmur.

Saturated with fresh blood, the scales grew even more lustrous.

Thick, massive tentacles extended from the man’s body, enveloping him in a spherical shape.

Outside, invisible tendrils of white mist were drawn by something within the room, streaming in from all directions, continuously absorbed by the "sphere" at the center of the bed.

Somewhere else.

A giant white serpent coiled deep within a cavern, sensing its power being siphoned away continuously, issued a furious hiss.

Who is it?!

Dawn broke.

The scaly tentacles withdrew, and the man lay flat on the bed, his wounds completely healed.

Waking up and seeing his flawless, unharmed body, a look of gravity flashed in his eyes.

He too was caught up in strange happenings.

Out of concern for his long-term worker, Lin Juan decided to check on the man.

Lin Juan had already pumped the attendants for information about the man—the king of this land, brave and skilled in battle, undefeated in hundreds of fights, who went by the single name "Yan." It was said he had fallen seriously ill and could not be seen.

Based on what happened yesterday, it was clear the man wasn’t ill—he’d been locked up and tortured.

On the way, a middle-aged man dressed in the robes of a Holy Snake Temple priest hurried over with an aide.

"Young Master." Father Moxi bowed.

The subordinate, seeing the serpent-tailed youth standing ahead, widened his eyes.

Oh my god, isn’t that Boss Lin?

The subordinate was none other than Deng Wenruo, a young superpower user who had been pulled into this strange world alongside Lin Juan.

Soon, Deng Wenruo realized with surprise that Lin Juan didn’t seem to recognize him.

Suppressing his shock, Deng Wenruo bowed as well.

"Young Master, I heard you brought that person out. Do you have any idea what you’re doing?" Father Moxi hissed in a low voice.

"I have no idea," Lin Juan replied matter-of-factly. "Who are you talking about?"

Father Moxi was exasperated: "Who else?! The one we worked so hard to overthrow! Are you out of your mind? Bringing him out—aren’t you afraid he’ll seize the chance to take revenge?"

Just then, the man, who had stepped out and reached the corner, paused upon hearing the youth’s careless voice: "Let him take revenge. It was his to begin with. Wouldn’t returning it to him be giving back what’s his?"

Giving back what’s his?

The man’s heart stirred slightly, his eyes deepening.

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Author's Note: Time for some enemies-to-lovers romance [wicked grin].