Chapter 184: Hold On, Imperial Advisor! I, the Emperor, Have Recovered 21

Chapter 184: Wait, Imperial Advisor! I've Recovered 21

Inside the bedchamber, the atmosphere was charged with hostility.

When Qin Hanyue's cold, frosty gaze swept over Xiao Xuan, who was dressed in a bright yellow inner robe on the bed, his stare grew even more glacial.

Especially the image from just moments ago—the two of them sitting on the bed, with Lin Huaiqing smiling softly as he fed that man porridge—kept replaying in his mind.

What exactly was their relationship? Why were they so intimate?

Qin Hanyue suppressed the jealousy burning in his heart, his palms clenching tighter and tighter as he awaited Lin Huaiqing's explanation.

"What have I done wrong? Xiao Xuan is my shadow guard. He was injured, and I personally tended to him. Got a problem with that?"

"So, are you saying that all the imperial physicians in the Great Yue palace have keeled over? That His Majesty has to personally tend to him? Or does this shadow guard hold a special place in Your Majesty's heart?"

Qin Hanyue said as he approached Xiao Xuan, trying to get a better look, but Lin Huaiqing promptly stepped between them.

"Qin Hanyue, what are you doing?!"

Could he be getting the wrong idea about him and Xiao Xuan?!

Had his target suddenly fallen for someone else, and now he was throwing a jealous tantrum?

Pissed off by the question, Qin Hanyue dropped it entirely. Instead, he studied his rival's looks over Lin Huaiqing's shoulder.

This guy had a decent build, but at the end of the day, he was just a mortal. His looks were okay, but definitely no match for his own.

In terms of status, he was an elder of the Tianyan Sect, a big shot at the Hua Zhen Realm. Meanwhile, this man was nothing but a lowly shadow guard. Even with all his martial skill, he was nothing against absolute spiritual suppression.

How could he lose to some lowly shadow guard? Unless Lin Huaiqing had gone blind!

Having talked himself down, Qin Hanyue managed to soothe his own bruised ego. He shot Lin Huaiqing a haughty, cold look and said, "You... come out."

Hearing how he addressed him, Xiao Xuan's heart skipped a beat.

Even for a high-ranking official like the Imperial Advisor, calling the Supreme Emperor's master "you" was a capital offense!

He expected his master to blow up in a rage, but he seemed totally unfazed and just followed the advisor into the inner chamber.

So... the Imperial Advisor really was special in his master's eyes, huh?

"Why'd you call me in here? Spit it out. I still have to change Xiao Xuan's bandages."

"From now on, leave stuff like this to the eunuchs you trust. Why do you have to do everything yourself?"

"Xiao Xuan got hurt doing a mission I gave him. Shouldn't I do this?" Lin Huaiqing, for some reason, actually found himself explaining everything to Qin Hanyue.

"Forget it, let's drop that for now. Here, take this." Qin Hanyue pulled something small from his sleeve and shoved it into Lin Huaiqing's hand.

"Huh? What's this?" Lin Huaiqing took it and saw it was a finely polished ring with intricate patterns that rivaled the finest carvings.

Set in the front was an emerald gemstone brimming with immense energy.

If he wasn't wrong, this was a magical artifact from the cultivation world. The second he held it, he could feel the powerful energy inside it.

And Qin Hanyue was just giving this to him?!

"Why... are you giving me this?"

"Didn't you always want a magical weapon? That folding fan doesn't fit you—using it too long would mess up your cultivation. This ring is meant for you."

Qin Hanyue was usually sharp-tongued and quick with his words, but this time he seemed almost clumsy and tongue-tied.

Lin Huaiqing couldn't help but laugh at how serious he looked. He slipped the ring onto his ring finger and showed it off, twisting his hand around.

"Nice! Not bad at all!"

It was more than just not bad—this way, he didn't even have to store it in his spiritual sea. He could wear it out in the open without raising any suspicion.

"How do I use it?"

"Twist it when you want to use it."

Following Qin Hanyue's instructions, Lin Huaiqing lightly twisted the gemstone on the ring with his finger. The six-pointed star-shaped stone started spinning lightly on the ring.

He'd only ever seen designs like this in jewelry stores and gold shops back in the mortal world. He never thought Qin Hanyue's hands could be this skilled.

In an instant, a beam of green light flashed. When the glow faded, Lin Huaiqing's hand held a spiritual sword—light and perfectly balanced.

The blade was lighter than his Shuofeng, but much more agile and versatile. As it twisted and turned, the sword moved like a green serpent, darting around unpredictably.

He didn't know if he was overthinking it, but he felt like this sword was made just for him, as if it had been crafted to fit his hand perfectly.

"Qin Hanyue, did you make this yourself?"

"Mm."

He had no interest in artifact forging, but to make this spiritual weapon for Lin Huaiqing, he'd gone all the way back to the Tianyan Sect to ask his fellow disciples who specialized in artifact refinement.

It had taken him half a month to finish this spiritual weapon.

Now it was Lin Huaiqing's turn to feel embarrassed for misjudging Qin Hanyue earlier.

He had been judging a gentleman's heart with a petty man's measure.

Not only had the guy not held a grudge, he'd even made a spiritual weapon perfectly suited for him.

For some reason, even though he knew Qin Hanyue's ultimate goal was to kill him, he found himself slowly warming up to the guy.

His brain felt weirdly tingly—was he actually developing a crush or something?

By the time Lin Huaiqing snapped out of it and wanted to properly thank Qin Hanyue, the guy had already vanished into thin air again.

Coming and going without a trace—what a handful.

After putting the ring back on, Lin Huaiqing went back to the outer chamber. By then, Xiao Xuan was already up and out of bed.

"Hey? Your wounds aren't healed yet. Why are you out of bed?"

Xiao Xuan's brows were furrowed, like he was enduring great pain, but he stubbornly insisted on kneeling to beg for forgiveness.

"It was my fault... for making the Imperial Advisor get the wrong idea. Please punish me, Master."

"There's no misunderstanding between us. And even if there were, it wouldn't be because of you. I order you to get up!"

Looking at Xiao Xuan, who was battered like a broken ragdoll, the guilt in Lin Huaiqing's heart had been building up for a long time.

He had been using Xiao Xuan like this, sending him on missions way beyond his abilities over and over, leaving him badly hurt.

How is he, so cold and heartless, any different from the original owner?

He only shows up to care for someone after they're hurt—it would be better to simply let Xiao Xuan go free, let him fly off, free from the troubles of the world.

That way, Xiao Xuan wouldn't end up dying by Qin Hanyue's sword one day.

Although doing so would cost him a right-hand man, it'd be worth it for Xiao Xuan's happiness in the years to come.

"It's time to change your dressing." Lin Huaiqing picked up the medicine box, preparing to change Xiao Xuan's bandages. "Take off your clothes first."

Seeing the look in Lin Huaiqing's eyes, Xiao Xuan swallowed the words he had been about to say. He obediently took off his inner robe, baring his broad chest.

His chest rose and fell softly as Lin Huaiqing carefully peeled off the gauze and applied the medicine to Xiao Xuan's wounds.

"Xiao Xuan, let me ask you—if you weren't a shadow guard anymore, what would you want to do?"