Chapter 22: The Truth

"Qi Ran, when do you think you were happiest in your life?"

"Being with you all these past months."

"Cough—well… except for that."

"Probably when I was a child," Qi Ran said, his face looking at the sky filled with a faint warmth. "I was so young then, didn't even know what rights were. A few older brothers, whether or not we shared the same mother, all cared for me dearly. Eldest brother taught me martial arts, second brother taught me studies, third and fourth brothers spent every day playing wildly with me…"

"Back then, I didn't call them Imperial Brothers, I just called them brothers…"

I supported the blood‑soaked Qi Ran, coldly gazing at the crowd surrounding us, finally fixing my stare on Xiao Qifeng.

Blood dripped from his sword—all of it Qi Ran's—but his white robe bore not a single stain, fresh as a carefree young swordsman.

"Sixth Younger Brother, don't blame second brother for being ruthless; blame only that you shine far too brightly. As long as you exist, we'll never have a chance to rise."

A bitter smile flickered on Qi Ran's ghastly face. Indeed, from the moment his body was pierced by the sword, he hadn't shown any surprise—only sorrow and disappointment. Could it be… he already knew Xiao Qifeng would kill him?

"Second Imperial Brother…" Qi Ran had lost much blood, his organs grievously wounded, yet his blue eyes remained so clear that one dared not stare deeply, "I've kept my distance this far, and it's still not enough…"

"Yes!" Xiao Qifeng's previously composed face suddenly showed impatience and murderous intent. "All these years of probing, I know you truly have no desire for the throne. But what of it? Does that give us a fair chance to compete? Don't make me laugh! As long as that old fool is willing, even if he kills us all he'll still place you on that seat! Your very existence is Heaven's greatest injustice! Do you know how much I've hated you since childhood? While we were desperately practicing basic skills, you effortlessly mastered top‑grade swordsmanship. While we burned the midnight oil, fearing the Emperor's tomorrow inquiries, you had already memorized every military classic. The most hateful…" Xiao Qifeng's once handsome face twisted with boundless hatred, "…is those eyes of yours. How can you possess such clear eyes? How can you be sheltered by everyone's wings and still obtain everything, while we must scheme and fight for it? How dare you!"

Qi Ran furrowed his brows, unconsciously turning his face aside, and softly said, "I'm sorry."

"Don't say sorry to me!" Xiao Qifeng swung a fierce sword at the nearby railing, roaring, "What I hate most is this about you! I stopped treating you as my younger brother a long time ago—no, I've never treated you as my younger brother!"

"But I regarded you all as brothers," Qi Ran's body trembled, he coughed up a mouthful of fresh blood.

"Qi Ran—" I hurriedly supported him; the silver needle wasn't nearby, without being able to press points or guide his Qi, and without Bu Sha I could do nothing. What should I do?

Qi Ran steadied me, offering a comforting smile, still looking straight at Xiao Qifeng, his tone sorrowful and bleak: "You don't see me as a younger brother, yet I can't forget how you taught me the characters 'Qi Ran' hand‑by‑hand when we were kids…"

"I tell you to shut up!" With a roar, a sharp sword aura surged forward. I hurriedly held Qi Ran and stepped back; even so, the exposed skin was cut and stung painfully.

"Since I was six, I knew that, aside from eldest brother, you all wanted to eliminate me…"

"Ha ha…" Xiao Qifeng seemed to have heard something amusing, sheathed his sword and laughed uncontrollably, after a long while sneering, "Besides Qi Xuan? Don't make me die of laughter; among all brothers, the one who hates you most is him!"

"You deceived me!" Qi Ran shouted miserably, his hoarse voice trembling uncontrollably from his wounds, revealing boundless fear inside him.

"I deceived you? Then have you ever carefully investigated why he disappeared five years ago?"

Qi Ran's expression hardened, his brows knitting together.

Xiao Qifeng gave a pitying smile, saying, "It's because that old fool suddenly demanded he relinquish his claim to the throne!"

"What did you say?!"

"What do you think Xiao Qixuan's purpose was? From the start, he was merely a pawn to get you onto the throne. Laughable that he was arrogant all his life; he was just a target, shielding you from all harm before adulthood! Would he not resent you?"

"No… impossible… Father Emperor wouldn't treat eldest brother that way…"

"Won't? Ha ha… you say that old fool wouldn't? Then do you know why, after all these years, people only today discovered your Bu Sha identity?"

Qi Ran's whole body jolted violently, and another gush of blood erupted uncontrollably.

"Xiao Qifeng! You mother‑fucking shut up!" I one‑handed steadied the wobbling Qi Ran, my face turning iron‑blue, "Each of you thinks you're the most pitiful. Have you never considered that Qi Ran is just that old man's pawn? Rather than hating him, hate your own cowardice for never daring to resist that old man!"

"Oh?" Xiao Qifeng seemed to notice me only now, sneering at me, after a pause said, "You're the girl whose background even the Bingling intelligence organization can't trace?"

"What?" I was stunned. The Bingling Nation is investigating me?

"Sixth Younger Brother, second brother also forgot to tell you some good news," Xiao Qifeng said, a cruel smile spreading across his face. I instinctively wanted to stop him, but it was too late. "Our Father Emperor has issued an order: all Bingling citizens must hunt down the 'Wuyou Group' hideous strange girl—Shui Bingyi. Anyone who shelters or conceals her will be killed—no—pardon!"

A sudden shock struck me: why would Qi Ran's father order a hunt for me? Could it truly be as Lan Yan said?

Alas! Rather than seeking reasons, shouldn't I be thinking about how to evade a organization whose influence spans the whole realm?

The Qi Ran I was supporting suddenly stood up on his own; I looked up in astonishment, dumbfounded.

Qi Ran's face remained ghastly pale, lips a sickly violet, yet his gaze was unprecedentedly steady. In an instant he seemed to revert to the composed genius he usually was, as if the recent lapse had never happened.

"Second Imperial Brother is to execute the imperial decree?"

Xiao Qifeng was also startled, then lowered his head to see the scarlet bloodstain on his chest, and scoffed, "Of course, I was just looking for a chance to show off before Father Emperor!"

Qi Ran took two slow steps forward, unconsciously radiating a powerful aura that made sword‑wielding Xiao Qifeng and his followers involuntarily step back.

I stared blankly as Qi Ran picked up an ordinary long sword from the ground and casually crossed it over his chest.

A series of faint breezes blew, his light robe and black hair fluttered, his sleeves drifting like a celestial being. That peerless elegance, not even a splash of crimson could mar, not even the ugliest things of the world could blemish it.

Though he merely stood idly, it seemed the entire mortal realm and heavens were unjustly offended by his presence.

He spoke calmly, his tone gentle yet indifferent: "Second Imperial Brother, I'm not without a shred of self‑preservation ability—you all know that. I gave you a chance because I owe you greatly; I accept this sword! I don't want you to hate me, but since you do, I can only be hated. Any injury, deep or shallow, is irrelevant, because I intend to repay the years of suffering you've caused! But Shui Bingyi and Bu Sha are off‑limits!" Qi Ran's blue eyes flashed a thin light, the sword "whoosh—" slashing to his side, "You know my nature; I won't threaten anyone lightly. Yet if anyone dares to hurt those two, I will repay a thousand‑fold!"

A heavy killing aura burst from Qi Ran's body, a pressure so intense it nearly shattered one's spirit, a force previously seen only on Bu Sha.

He slowly lifted the sword, its tip pointing at Xiao Qifeng; the surrounding air seemed to solidify, gently supporting his wind‑tossed hair, and time froze at that instant.

His tone remained cool and detached, his pale face still unnaturally beautiful: "At any cost! Even Father Emperor… the same!"

Wind Capital Palace.

In the vast hall, dim lights flickered; at the far end, on a gold‑inlaid dragon throne, a middle‑aged man in blue sat leisurely, while a skinny boy obediently lay on his lap, enjoying the man's gentle caress.

Suddenly, the boy lifted his head, his bright eyes fixed on the blue‑clad man, and asked anxiously, "Your Majesty, will Brother Ran die?" The boy's eyes shone in the deep night, oddly displaying a gold‑and‑silver dual hue.

The blue‑clad man smiled, "No."

He gave no explanation, yet the boy immediately relaxed, fully believing those two simple words.

"Xiao Chi, do you think my actions are right?"

The boy tilted his head cutely, thought for a moment, then looked up and said, "Xiao Chi isn't sure either. If the Emperor does this, Brother Ran will certainly be sad. But if he doesn't, those bad guys will hurt him. Xiao Chi knows the Emperor does it for Brother Ran's sake."

The blue‑clad man gave a faint smile, then said, "Perhaps."

"Your Majesty, Xiao Chi has something he can't figure out." The boy buried his head on the blue‑clad man's knee, speaking softly.

"Speak."

"Your Majesty has always intended to pass the throne to Brother Ran, but any king of Bingling must be cold‑blooded and ruthless. Why do you still…"

"Xiao Chi wants to ask why I don't treat him like the other princes—throwing him into the ugliest struggles so he grows a cruel heart. Instead I sent him out of the palace to study, to hide in a secluded valley, is that right?"

"Xiao Chi dares not."

The blue‑clad man sighed deeply, a hint of helplessness in his words: "That's because you don't understand Brother Ran."

From the moment Ran Er came of age, I resolved that, for Bing Ling's future, he must replace Qi Xuan to inherit the throne, and I have made many preparations for this. At first, I gave him small animals; after he gradually formed attachments to them, I ordered them to be secretly killed. Then came people, such as his personal maid or study companion. I wanted him to understand that a prince needs no emotions. I originally thought it would be easy, because Ran Er's temperament is exceedingly gentle and pure, and such a heart is precisely the most easily corrupted. Yet, a month later, I realized how wildly wrong I was.

The boy raised his head in surprise and asked, "Isn't that so?"

I had thought that, at least the Qi Xuan who had cared for him since childhood and his most beloved sister, would affect him differently. Unfortunately, I was still wrong; the weight was far insufficient. Even when he was sorrowful to the point of anguish, angry enough to tremble, his gaze remained clear and pure, without a trace of hatred.

Ran Er's temperament appears gentle and kind on the surface, trying to save everyone around him, even loving everyone. In fact, he has never even loved himself. Let alone me, Qing Ya, or his imperial brother and sister?

The blue‑clothed man let out a slow sigh, then looked at the bewildered boy with a hint of pity and said, "Of course, he never loved you either!"

"I don't believe it!" the boy rose angrily, his crisp childish voice low growling, "In this world only Brother Ran would smile gently at me; everyone else treats me like a monster. Brother Ran loves Xiao Chi, he must love me!"

The blue‑clothed man ignored him and continued calmly, "I only realized after a long time that Ran Er holds no attachment to anything in the world. When those around him die, he feels sorrow but not despair, let alone hatred. It is as if he has long been accustomed to life and death, never investing deep emotion. When betrayed or framed, he becomes melancholy but never thinks of retaliation; he only knows to endure. If not for his superhuman spiritual perception, his poison‑impervious constitution, and my protection, his passivity would have led others to kill him long ago. Xiao Chi, do you know why? Because Ran Er never cared whether he would die; he does not cling to his own life, or perhaps cannot cling at all. How can you make him cling to power or affection? Though he was born in this world, born in the dirtiest imperial palace, he is indifferent like a divine child mourning human suffering, transcended beyond it. How can I cultivate such a person to become Bing Ling's king?"

The boy stared blankly at the blue‑clothed man for a long while, then murmured, "So, Your Majesty now…"

A chilling smile suddenly curled at the corner of the blue‑clothed man's mouth; his eyes unfocused, he gazed somewhere and said slowly, "Just as I was about to abandon this pawn, Bu Sha appeared."

"That useless assassin?" the boy snorted coldly, "He thinks he's the best in the world, yet Xiao Chi can defeat him with just his left hand." He muttered something else, then leaned back into the blue‑clothed man's arms.

"But Ran Er, this is the first time he has become attached to a person,"

"Your Majesty, on what basis do you say…"

"Because he does not want to die," the blue‑clothed man said lightly, "He doesn't want to die at the hands of Bu Sha, nor does he want Bu to kill him."

"At that moment, I knew the net I had been weaving for over a decade was ready to be cast. Ah! Indeed, in this world, the one who understands Ran Er best is Qing Ya."

"The Empress?"

The blue‑clothed man gave a noncommittal smile.

"And… what about that ugly freak?" Xiao Chi suddenly looked up, his golden‑silver eyes flashing.

The blue‑clothed man's eyebrows knit slightly, then he said slowly, "I… cannot be sure; she is the only variable not in the plan. To Ran Er, she seems a threat even more terrifying than Bu Sha. The risk is too great, so I must eliminate her early."

"But what will the consequences be…?"

"Xiao Chi, do you know I'm playing with fire?" the blue‑clothed man gently stroked the boy's obedient hair, his gaze deep and hazy, then he smiled faintly, full of interest, "I am playing with Bing Ling and the whole world as fire."

(End of Chapter)