Chapter 19

Because I had been unable to hear for so long, my other four senses were exceptionally sharp.

I could be certain-this was the scent of Long Shuang.

Without further thought, I turned and followed.

The carriage sped through the city and stopped at a secluded villa on the outskirts.

I crouched in a tree, watching as the unconscious Long Shuang was thrown from the carriage, barely clothed and covered in wounds.

The person who walked out from the villa was also someone I knew well.

It was the Second Prince, Baili Yu, the one with the crippled leg.

Long Shuang was awakened by a bucket of water, struggling to open her eyes and look at him.

He kicked her aside with his good leg, then rolled his wheelchair over, slowly approaching her.

“I heard you’ve been getting close to the Shadow Guard from Third Prince’s household lately?”

He hooked her chin up with his Cloud Boots.

“What are you trying to do? Let me guess, you want to seduce the Third Prince? You like him, don’t you?”

“No…”

“Why do you never learn your lesson…” Baili Yu ignored her explanation, grinding her ear under his foot until it bled, his voice growing ever colder. “In your eyes, everyone in this world is better than me. You look down on me too, don’t you?”

He tossed Long Shuang back to the ground, his tone indifferent.

“Since you’re so desperate for men, I will naturally satisfy you.”

The bandit-like men around them, having received permission, began to crowd around.

Baili Yu, as if disgusted, withdrew some distance, his expression icy, quietly watching the lifeless Long Shuang.

I felt a sudden roar in my mind, and could no longer hear anything.

My lord said, protect yourself above all.

My lord said, kindness without ability is only a burden.

My lord… What did my lord say?

But I am not without ability.

I am not a sickly tiger, a wolf without claws, or a bird with broken wings.

Pei Su said, I am strong.

Pei Su said, he and his family had their lives changed because of what I did back then.

Pei Su asked me if I too had something I wanted.

So kindness can be meaningless.

Then, how can I stand by and watch, how can I abandon others?

When I came to, bodies littered the courtyard.

After so many years without killing, my skills had dulled somewhat.

But they were just enough.

I ground my foot into Baili Yu’s leg-the one that had supposedly just regained a bit of feeling-and pressed down hard.

He let out a twisted, agonized scream.

I ignored him.

Fresh from the fight, I was in too much pain.

I tied the weakened Long Shuang to my back with strips of cloth, bloodied all over, and ran back to the Third Prince’s Mansion on instinct.

The moment I saw my lord, I finally collapsed in relief.

My ears could hear nothing but a ringing buzz.

Through blurred vision, I saw my lord’s face twist in unprecedented anguish as he stumbled toward me.

It seemed to be raining.

Raindrops struck my eyelids, strangely hot.

I knelt with my eyes closed, clutching my lord’s robe tightly, apologizing over and over.

I said, “I’m sorry, I’m sorry.”

I can’t do anything right, and I never listen-I’m sorry.

The rain kept falling, and my lord seemed to say something.

But I couldn’t hear a word.