Chapter 30: Can a Mad Tyrant Be Forced? [30]

Yun Fuyue smiled, saying nothing, just watching in silence.

He watched Mu Siyang as he opened the carved jade box.

Mu Siyang had expected Yun Fuyue to react the same way he had when he'd brought out the gu worm—startled, clearly afraid yet holding back.

Now seeing Yun Fuyue's overly calm demeanor, Mu Siyang sensed something was off, and a flicker of panic rose in him.

But as his gaze swept the room, his restless heart settled once more.

Everyone inside and outside the hall was his man. Even if Yun Fuyue had a trick up his sleeve, it wouldn't matter now.

Mu Jin, propping his head up with one hand, watched with keen interest as Mu Siyang hurled the jade box to the ground before Yun Fuyue.

The sudden noise startled the gu worm, but before it could flee, Mu Siyang's blood-stained sword tip flicked up, and the worm died beneath his blade!

Having killed the gu worm, Mu Siyang instinctively looked at Yun Fuyue—and that single glance made it impossible for him to keep the smile on his face.

He had expected Yun Fuyue to collapse in agony and die like the worm, yet there he stood, completely unharmed, still watching him with a smile in his eyes.

He looked at him like he was watching a clown perform.

In truth, that was exactly what Mu Siyang was in his eyes at this moment.

Mu Siyang ground his teeth audibly, his grip on the sword tightening until the veins on his hand bulged.

He turned, searching for the strategist who had come up with the plan and helped him find the gu worm.

But the man who had been standing behind him a moment ago had vanished without a trace.

Mu Siyang cursed under his breath, then sneered, "Yun Fuyue, don't think you'll walk out of here alive just because the gu worm was fake!"

Yun Fuyue sighed in exasperation: "Mu Siyang, oh Mu Siyang, I told you long ago you're a complete fool, but you wouldn't believe me."

Since he already knew the gu worm was fake, he should naturally realize that all of this had been Yun Fuyue's scheme.

How did Mu Siyang still dare to speak to him like this?

The smile in Yun Fuyue's eyes turned to mockery. He raised his hand and clapped, and those who had been pointing their weapons at them all turned their blades on Mu Siyang instead.

Only a small number instinctively stepped in front of Mu Siyang.

But those people were far too few. Looking at the others who had stood beside them a moment ago, now aiming their blades at their throats, they exchanged uneasy glances, panic flickering in their eyes. Some even began to waver, their swords and spears trembling in their hands.

Su Gantang smiled and chimed in at this moment: "I believe you're all reasonable people. You were loyal to the Regent King before, and dying to protect him would have been your own choice."

"But now, what the Regent King is doing is treason. If you don't wish to be branded as rebels, if you don't want your families to suffer needlessly, I trust you all know what to do."

As her words fell, the swords and spears of those who had still been hesitating clattered to the ground.

They hung their heads in silence, distancing themselves from Mu Siyang.

The man who had been holding a sword to Yun Fuyue's neck now withdrew his weapon, respectfully presenting the blade to Yun Fuyue with both hands. With downcast eyes, he said in a low voice:

"My apologies for earlier, Grand Preceptor."

Yun Fuyue waved his hand dismissively, taking the sword from him. The man quietly retreated to the back, never once glancing at Mu Siyang.

Mu Siyang's eyes widened in disbelief. He had guessed Yun Fuyue might have a backup plan, but he never imagined that all the men he had prepared were actually Yun Fuyue's people!

He clenched his jaw, glaring at Yun Fuyue with venomous eyes, intending to make one last desperate attempt to kill him outright!

But when he tried to move, he suddenly realized his entire body had gone weak, and even the hand gripping his sword was shaking uncontrollably.

The sword in his hand clattered to the ground with a sharp clang.

Mu Siyang gasped for breath, beads of cold sweat covering his forehead.

At this point, he had no choice but to accept his defeat.

Pain filled Mu Siyang's eyes as Yun Fuyue approached with the sword in hand, smiling pleasantly:

"Regent King, don't blame me. Who told you to have such wild ambitions, imprison His Majesty, and attempt rebellion?"

Yun Fuyue let out a sigh as he spoke, looking completely innocent:

"Everything I've done is for His Majesty. When the sovereign commands, a subject must obey—even if it means death, especially when dealing with traitors... wouldn't you agree, Regent King?"

By the time Yun Fuyue reached him, Mu Siyang had already gone weak and could no longer support himself, collapsing to one knee.

Hearing Yun Fuyue's words, he looked up and gave Mu Jin a long, lingering look, a bitter smile forming on his lips:

"Your Majesty... is that really what you think?"

His voice was hoarse, tears glistening faintly in his eyes, his disheveled appearance giving him a fragile, helpless look.

Mu Jin regarded him and spoke in a calm tone: "Regent King Mu Siyang, for committing treason against the sovereign and plotting rebellion, the crime warrants death."

Mu Siyang slowly lowered his head, his body trembling violently, making it impossible to tell whether he was laughing or crying.

"Hahaha... so that's how it is... so that's how it is... I thought Your Majesty was still my little emperor, but it turns out this was all a play staged by Your Majesty and this person from the very beginning."

Mu Jin averted his gaze from Mu Siyang. He couldn't understand—at a time like this, how did Mu Siyang still have the nerve to ask him such a question?

He had used him and imprisoned him, and in the end, he actually thought Mu Jin shouldn't take his life?

How absurd.

Mu Jin found it tiresome, rubbing his brow with his fingers as he urged impatiently:

"Hurry up and finish this. I'm getting tired."

A mysterious glint flickered in Yun Fuyue's eyes: "Your Majesty need not rush. It will be done soon."

Su Gantang glanced at Zhao Ruoqian, who was standing nearby.

Their eyes met, and Zhao Ruoqian quickly looked away, silently gripping her wrist.

Su Gantang sighed softly, looking down at Mu Jin as a delicate dagger slid from her sleeve.

At the very moment Yun Fuyue cut off Mu Siyang's head,

Su Gantang slipped the dagger into Mu Jin's hand.

Mu Jin paused, looking up at Su Gantang with a puzzled expression, but still tucked the dagger into his sleeve.

Yun Fuyue had planned for so long, waiting for this exact day, and when he struck, it was clean and decisive.

Mu Siyang had been drugged, without even the strength to resist, and his head came clean off with one easy swing of the sword.

The head rolled right up to Mu Jin's feet, the smell of blood hitting everyone's nose.

Mu Jin's frown deepened. He really hated this feeling, especially with Mu Siyang's eyes staring lifelessly right at him.

Su Gantang noticed his discomfort and thought it was funny.

Was the tyrant, famous for killing without blinking, really bothered by something like this?

She thought this to herself, but kicked Mu Siyang's head away with her foot.

"Oh my, it seems I kicked it a bit too far. I wonder if it'll be carried off by wild dogs."

Su Gantang commented as she glanced into the distance, then looked down at her dirty shoe with a hint of disgust in her eyes.

Yun Fuyue gave a faint smile without a word. With a wave of his hand, several people came forward to drag away Mu Siyang's corpse, while another group rushed over to clean up the bloodstains.

Once that was done, Yun Fuyue made no move to let the others leave.

He wiped the blood that had just splattered on his face and hands with a soft cloth, casually tossed the cloth to someone standing nearby, and walked over to stand in front of Mu Jin.

Yun Fuyue spoke with a smile: "How did Your Majesty enjoy today's performance?"

Mu Jin smiled back: "Passable."

Yun Fuyue raised an eyebrow, thoughtfully repeated: "Passable...?"

"It seems Your Majesty isn't quite satisfied with this show. How about I put on another one for you?"

Mu Jin was still thinking about how one of the two villains had been taken care of, wondering how Ying Huaifeng was doing on his end. He didn't listen to a single word Yun Fuyue said.

Unwilling to keep going back and forth with Yun Fuyue, he merely stated flatly:

"I'm tired. I'll leave the rest to the National Preceptor. Ruoqian, escort me back."

Zhao Ruoqian, who had been standing nearby with her eyes lowered, lost in thought, automatically looked up at Mu Jin when she heard him call her name, caught off guard for a moment.

Zhao Ruoqian pressed her lips together. Her eyes, usually bright and pretty, were now dark as ink, swirling with emotions too tangled to read.

Ignoring Yun Fuyue's cold gaze, she slowly walked over to Mu Jin.

Seeing Zhao Ruoqian approaching, Su Gantang smiled faintly and silently stepped back a few paces, giving Zhao Ruoqian the spot behind Mu Jin.

Zhao Ruoqian stood behind Mu Jin, looking down at his profile, her eyes flickering with a complicated mix of emotions.

Mu Jin sensed Zhao Ruoqian's gaze and also noticed Yun Fuyue, whose smile was slowly disappearing.

He looked up at Zhao Ruoqian, giving her a reassuring smile, and spoke softly:

"Alright, with me here, nothing will go wrong. Let's go back for now."

Mu Jin had no idea just how devastating his words and that smile were to Zhao Ruoqian, who had barely worked up the nerve to make a move against him.

The whole time, he believed that Zhao Ruoqian's alliance with Yun Fuyue was the result of coercion.

So much so that even when the blade in Zhao Ruoqian's hand was pressed against his neck, his eyes still showed a hint of confusion.

Mu Jin asked quietly: "Why?"

Zhao Ruoqian lowered her gaze, said flatly: "I'm sorry, I can't take you back."

Mu Jin sighed: "Alright. Since you wish for me to stay, then I'll stay and see what other big show the National Preceptor has prepared."

He clearly saw the murderous intent in Zhao Ruoqian's eyes, withdrew his gaze with disappointment, and felt a twinge of sadness.

Why would she turn on him?

Was it because he wasn't "Mu Jin," or the person Zhao Ruoqian loved, and so she would attack him?

It stung a little, but not much.

After all, he had helped Zhao Ruoqian from the beginning, not to make her like him.

But her turning against him still brought him a little bit of disappointment...

Yun Fuyue watched the whole thing with a satisfied smile and clapped his hands again.

"Since Your Majesty is tired, it's only right that you should get some rest."