Chapter 74: Aren’t You Afraid He’s a Monster?

Chapter 74: Are You Afraid He's a Monster?

Pei Yuhuai suddenly snapped out of it, realizing there were still so many people watching.

Ji Huaiyu's face was uglier than if he'd swallowed a raw pig's liver.

In his eyes, Pei Yuhuai's overly practiced movements and habitual physical reactions all told him that this kind of thing with Lan He was way too routine.

Lan He slowly lifted his eyelids, meeting Ji Huaiyu's gaze.

Just like back then in the Marquis's garden, he couldn't care less that he'd been caught, and even looked a little proud of himself.

"Lan He, you're a monk—have you no shame? Let go of him right now!"

Pei Yuhuai's face flushed red as he tried to push Lan He away, but the guy was like a block of iron, holding him in a tight grip.

Lan He wrapped one arm around Pei Yuhuai's waist, pressed the other against the back of his head, and curled his lips slightly.

"The Imperial Son-in-Law likes watching other people get cozy? Too bad—you won't get to see it no matter how hard you stare."

"You... you..."

"Of course, having something so private seen by others is truly embarrassing."

His voice was lazy and smooth, and with the hot breath spreading over him, Pei Yuhuai weirdly felt his mind start to wander.

Guess it had been too long since they'd gone all the way—such a light tease was already getting to him.

Lan He clearly felt his body respond and held him even tighter.

The low whisper in his ear sounded like pure heaven.

"Wait for me a sec. Once I kill all these people."

Pei Yuhuai nodded, trembling: "Mm."

He seemed to have gone completely cold, stripped of all compassion—whether those maybe-innocent guards lived or died didn't seem to matter to him anymore.

Lan He ruffled his hair affectionately and smiled.

When Ji Huaiyu saw that smile, the hairs on the back of his neck stood up, and he instinctively took a few steps back: "I'm warning you, we all saw that you're a monster. Countless commoners will back us up. You'd better not try anything."

Lan He cracked his neck stiffly: "Oh? Is that so? You saw it? Then I'll just kill you all—problem solved, right?"

"What did you say?"

"I said, I'll kill every single one of you."

Lan He's smile widened, and suddenly he moved like a ghost, flashing in front of Ji Huaiyu. He slammed his palm down on the top of Ji Huaiyu's head, then grabbed his throat.

Ji Huaiyu's eyes bulged as he desperately clawed at Lan He's wrist, his pale face getting redder and redder.

Lan He grinned and squeezed harder.

Seeing this, a guard shouted: "Quick! Kill the monster! Save the Imperial Son-in-Law!"

The guards all drew their swords and rushed at Lan He.

Pei Yuhuai didn't know martial arts, so he could only try to stay out of the way and not slow Lan He down.

The clash of blades rang out sharp and clear.

Pei Yuhuai watched the slaughter from the sidelines—or more like a one-sided massacre.

Strangely, a feeling of pleasure welled up inside him, as if he were born to be the kind of villain who treated human life like dirt.

Corrupted...

Those two words exploded in his head, and Ji Huaiyu's earlier words came flooding back.

Vaguely...

The sound of hoofbeats grew closer.

Prince Qi rode up on horseback, with an unconscious woman draped over the saddle.

It was Li Li, of all people.

"Everyone, stop! Lan He, if you dare kill Ji Huaiyu, I'll kill this woman, and then you'll have to answer to my crown prince brother."

The sword Lan He was about to bring down stopped mid-air.

Pei Yuhuai's brow furrowed: "Prince Qi, isn't it a little low to use a woman as a hostage?"

Prince Qi laughed heartily: "Great people don't sweat the small stuff. Never mind using a woman as a hostage—if the situation demanded it, even using a child as a hostage wouldn't be out of the question."

Absolutely shameless.

Lan He's voice was dark and cold, and when his gaze landed on him, it blazed with murderous intent: "Let her go."

Prince Qi tilted his head lazily: "And what if I don't? What's the National Preceptor gonna do about it?"

"I'll kill you."

"We're right under the emperor's nose. I'm the Emperor's son. If you dare kill me, aren't you afraid you'll lose your own life?"

With that, Prince Qi looked at Pei Yuhuai thoughtfully: "Oh, right—I know exactly where the eldest Miss Pei is. And the third young master, Pei Rongjing—he's out there living the good life right now. Would you like to know?"

"If you dare touch them, I'll make sure you die a horrible death." Pei Yuhuai glared at him, eyes red.

Prince Qi shrugged: "I wouldn't dare. All I want is for Ji Huaiyu to stay alive. After all, this is the capital—causing a scene wouldn't be good for anyone."

"Fine."

Lan He kicked Ji Huaiyu away: "I'll give this dog back to you. Let Miss Li go."

"Wouldn't it have been easier to just do that from the start? Saves me all that talking."

At least Prince Qi was true to his word.

Lan He and Pei Yuhuai supported the unconscious Miss Li, watching Prince Qi take Ji Huaiyu away.

As for the guards, not a single one was left alive.

Pei Yuhuai clenched his fists tightly: "He knows where my sister is. Do you think he's behind this?"

Lan He looked down: "Then we'll ask him."

"Huh? You have a way?"

"Yes."

Having received his word, Pei Yuhuai didn't ask further, and the two of them brought Miss Li to the Pei residence.

The Guoshou Mansion (the Grand Sorcerer's residence) had been burned down, and it was clear they couldn't stay there any longer.

Just as they reached the entrance of the Pei residence, Lan He suddenly vomited a mouthful of black blood and collapsed to the ground.

"Lan He!"

Pei Yuhuai's shout drew the attention of the people inside the mansion.

After getting Lan He and Miss Li situated, Pei Yuhuai leaned wearily against the table.

His head was throbbing.

So much had happened over these past days, and Prince Qi had repeatedly committed offenses right under the emperor's nose, yet the emperor turned a blind eye.

He couldn't believe the emperor didn't know.

The emperor clearly held the Grand Sorcerer in high regard, yet when the sorcerer had repeatedly been put in danger, the emperor showed no reaction at all—it was really strange.

Pei Yuhuai was furious.

He called for writing materials and immediately drafted a memorial, hell-bent on accusing the Imperial Son-in-Law and Prince Qi.

And Princess Quying as well—the emperor had yet to issue a decree, probably trying to drag his feet.

Hah. Not a chance.

In bed, Lan He opened his eyes and immediately spotted the figure hunched over the desk, a brush clamped between his lips, his cheeks puffed out in a way that was utterly endearing.

He smiled despite himself, not wanting to interrupt.

Or rather, he dared not disturb him, and even dared not ask Pei Yuhuai whether he was afraid that he might be a monster.

His gaze was too intense, and Pei Yuhuai sensed it and looked up, his eyes meeting Lan He's midway.

Through the curtain, it felt as if a whole mountain range and river separated them.

Pei Yuhuai swallowed involuntarily, his Adam's apple bobbing, a fiery restlessness quickly spreading through his entire body.

He hadn't realized that his body could be so defenseless against Lan He.