Chapter 33: Can a Mad Tyrant Be Forced? [33]

Chapter 33: Can a Psycho Tyrant Be Forced Into It? "33"

Zhao Ruoqian looked up at Mu Jin, meeting those startled eyes, and gave a bitter smile.

"Mu Jin, I'm not going to survive."

"The day I came back, I planted a life-and-death gu on you."

"That was my escape plan. Even if I couldn't kill you personally, half a year from now, if I'm still alive, you're as good as dead."

"By then, I'd have killed you myself, and I could go home..."

Zhao Ruoqian gazed at Mu Jin, trying to catch a glimmer of hatred for herself in those gentle eyes.

But there was nothing. Not a single trace.

She dropped her gaze. "I don't get it, Mu Jin. I tried to kill you—why don't you hate me?"

Mu Jin thought for a moment. "Honestly, plenty of people want me dead, but I don't really give them much thought."

"As for you—though I don't really get this 'guide system' thing, or that other world you talk about—"

"But I think the way things turned out—it's definitely not your fault."

Zhao Ruoqian was bewildered. "Then whose fault is it?"

Mu Jin pulled out a handkerchief and gently wiped the tear-streaked makeup from Zhao Ruoqian's face, revealing the delicate, bright face underneath.

"It's that guide system's fault."

"You have a great home and great family. You were doing just fine before. If it weren't for that system, you never would've had to come to this world or go through any of this."

Mu Jin let out a soft sigh. "You were supposed to have a happy, peaceful life. Even if you hit a few rough patches, you wouldn't have ended up like that."

"It caused your suffering, and then it just abandoned you in this strange world."

"Zhao Ruoqian, you're a good girl. You didn't do anything wrong, so don't blame yourself."

Zhao Ruoqian smiled a dazed, fleeting smile, another tear sliding from the corner of her red-rimmed eyes.

"Mu Jin, why wasn't it you I met first..."

"Mu Jin, if there's a next life, let me be the one to meet you first, okay?"

Mu Jin stared at Zhao Ruoqian, stunned. By the time he realized something was wrong, the blade in Zhao Ruoqian's hand had already plunged into her own chest, blood soaking her silk dress red.

"Mu Jin, A Jin..."

Zhao Ruoqian sat in front of Mu Jin, her eyes crinkling into a smile.

"You have to—you have to live a good life, okay?"

"Someone as good as you will live well, right..."

Her voice grew weaker and weaker, until she finally slumped over completely.

Mu Jin's hand hung in midair, his fingertips only brushing the tips of her hair.

The setting sun outside the great hall spilled into the hall, casting its light on both of them. For a moment, Mu Jin felt dazed.

For "Mu Jin," the one person he'd tried to trust had betrayed him too, pushing him completely over the edge.

For Zhao Ruoqian, the one she'd truly cared for ended up taking her life, leaving her with nothing but hatred.

Mu Jin looked at Zhao Ruoqian and answered softly, "I'll live a good life."

No matter which world he was in, he'd live well.

"Ding—mission successful, points credited. Please check your account, Tasker."

A familiar voice he hadn't heard in a while pulled Mu Jin back to reality.

648 chirped happily, "Host, you're incredible! I can't believe we actually finished this world's mission early!"

Mu Jin was confused. "But Ying Huaifeng hasn't taken the throne yet. Does this mission still count as done?"

648 said gleefully, "The higher-ups said we did an excellent job on this world's mission, saying you discovered the hidden plotline. So now that both villains are dead, they just marked it as complete."

"Ahh, it feels so good to have plenty of energy~"

Mu Jin just smiled slightly. "Yeah, it really is nice."

Noticing Mu Jin seemed a little down, 648 glanced at Zhao Ruoqian's body nearby, immediately figuring out why.

It let out a sigh and said, "Okay, host, don't be too sad. Her suffering wasn't your fault."

Mu Jin said calmly, "When you bonded with me, you mentioned something about Wild Systems. So she ran into a wild system?"

648: "Yeah, but don't worry—we'll send special teams to catch those wild systems."

Mu Jin asked again, "What about her, then? What do you plan to do with her?"

Even though 648 didn't get why Mu Jin cared so much, it explained anyway:

"The Heavenly Dao sensed her resentment and gave her an opportunity."

"At first, it just wanted her to get revenge and then send her home. But unexpectedly, a chain reaction happened that caused the world to collapse, which is why we got this mission."

"But in the end, it's all the wild system's fault. So the Heavenly Dao will send her into the cycle of reincarnation, letting her be reborn normally in this world."

Mu Jin gave a very soft "Mm," and only after a long pause asked again:

"Can't we send her home?"

"Huh?"

648 thought it must have misheard. "Host, what do you mean?"

Mu Jin's voice was quiet, but firm. "I want to send her home."

"She said she was fourteen when that system brought her to this world, stayed in this world for three years, and after being reborn, she only lasted a few months..."

"So that means she's lived three lives across two worlds, and she's only seventeen now—still just a kid."

"She's already done more than enough."

"Xiao Liu, the story barely describes them at all. I don't know what she went through, or what I can do for her, but I want to send her home."

648: "It's possible, but it'll cost half of this world's points to pull some strings."

Mu Jin seemed to think this was a very good deal and agreed almost without hesitation:

"Alright."

648 was at a loss for words for a moment.

He hadn't expected Mu Jin to be so set on sending home someone he'd only known for a short while, so he couldn't help but ask:

"Host, do you like her?"

Mu Jin asked, puzzled: "Do I have to like her to send her home?"

648: "No... it's just, if you don't like her, why go this far for her?"

Mu Jin lowered his gaze, hiding what he was feeling: "But her family's still waiting for her."

"They're still waiting for her to come back."

"If I couldn't help her, that'd be one thing, but since I can, why not send her home?"

This time, it was 648's turn to go quiet.

648: "Alright, leave it to me."

Mu Jin gave a faint smile: "Thank you, Xiao Liu."

"She did get her revenge, after all. If she hadn't accidentally caused the world to collapse, and I hadn't come to this world, she'd probably be home by now."

Mu Jin said slowly, "They were right—I'm a curse. Getting close to me is the start of bad luck."

648 felt a twinge of discomfort seeing Mu Jin like this: "Host, don't say that..."

Mu Jin blinked. "So Xiao Liu, you absolutely, absolutely... absolutely can't abandon me."

"A host like me, born to play the Villainous Cannon Fodder, isn't easy to find."

648 wanted to comfort him, but in the end, he just changed the subject:

"Host, we finished the task early, but you can still stay in this world for another year. During this year, you don't have to worry about the male lead—just do whatever you want."

"Of course, if you want to leave now, that works too."

Ying Huaifeng's face popped into Mu Jin's mind, and after a moment of thought, he spoke:

"Then let me stay in this world for another year."

"He promised to buy me sanmei cake, and I haven't had it yet."

"Alright, then I'll... wait, the male lead bought you pastries? While I was offline, you two got this close?"

648's tone was full of confusion—something felt off, but he couldn't quite place it.

Mu Jin nodded seriously: "Mm, even though he used me, I think we're friends now."

648: "..."

A Villainous Cannon Fodder being friends with the male lead?

That sounded like something straight out of one of those other groups' scripts.

But seeing Mu Jin still so calm and composed, 648 figured he was overthinking things.

Why couldn't there be pure friendship between a male lead and a Villainous Cannon Fodder? Of course there could!

Ying Huaifeng had already changed into clean robes, but in his rush to get back to Mu Jin, his wounds had reopened and stained the new clothes with blood. When he saw Mu Jin safe and sound, the weight on his heart finally lifted.

During this time, Ying Huaifeng had even forgotten that Mu Jin carried his same-heart gu, and that he'd long ago given his Lifebound Gu to Mu Jin. If anything had really happened to Mu Jin, he would've been the first to know.

Ying Huaifeng gazed deeply at Mu Jin, slowing his steps as he climbed the high stairs, one by one, until he stood before him.

He knelt in front of Mu Jin and placed the package of sanmei cake into his arms.

Even though his new robes were stained with blood, the package of sanmei cake stayed perfectly clean.

Ying Huaifeng smiled and said, "Your Majesty, everything's been taken care of."

Mu Jin clutched the pastries in his arms, looking at Ying Huaifeng in front of him.

Even though 648 had said their task was complete and he didn't need to worry about Ying Huaifeng anymore, he still wanted to see the plot through.

He wanted this man to take the throne—the position he was supposed to hold in the original storyline.

Mu Jin raised his hand to stroke Ying Huaifeng's face and suddenly asked:

"Ying Huaifeng, do you want to be the Imperial Advisor?"

Ying Huaifeng, who had been squinting and nuzzling against Mu Jin's palm, snapped his eyes open at those words and spoke with a rather aggrieved tone:

"Your Majesty knows I don't want to be the Imperial Advisor."

Mu Jin: "Huh...?"

He didn't know that—it had never come up before!

Mu Jin hesitated: "Then what do you want to be?"

Ying Huaifeng smiled, his eyes curving with deep affection that almost made one want to drown in them:

"Your Majesty knows—what I've wanted all along is to be Empress."

Mu Jin: "???"

No! He didn't know! Wasn't that just some nonsense he'd said to lower his guard before?!

648: "???"

Wait! What happened to pure friendship? So while he was offline, it turned into lip friendship, huh?!

Mu Jin said sternly: "I—I don't like men!"

Ying Huaifeng stared at Mu Jin's slightly reddened ears with some regret, but didn't push it, just bowing to him:

"Then, I shall serve as the Imperial Tutor."

Mu Jin felt relieved.

That was the right move—first, have Ying Huaifeng become the Imperial Tutor, then reveal that he was the true royal heir.

That way, he could leave this world with peace of mind.

Mu Jin schemed inwardly, a pleased smile tugging at his lips.

It wasn't until night fell that Ying Huaifeng pushed open his door, two jars of wine in hand and a pale yellow silk dress draped over him.