The jujube-red horse galloped through the forest.
Xie Yi held the reins, effortlessly controlling its direction as he followed the cries for help.
Lin Zhiji was still somewhat dazed.
The Host actually agreed to save someone!
Were the words “I’m begging you” really this effective?
Then—
【Host, when we go back later, I want Eight Treasures Tower’s Eight-Treasure Duck.】 Lin Zhiji pressed his palms together. 【I’m begging you.】
Xie Yi smiled without smiling.
【Was I too polite to you today?】
Lin Zhiji instantly withdrew his probing little feet.
【No no no, I was just joking hahaha.】
As the two spoke, the horse leapt across a stretch of woodland, and a ruined temple appeared before them.
Outside the ruined temple, a group of bandits dressed in fitted martial clothing were surrounding and attacking two people.
Judging from their clothing, the two appeared to be ordinary commoners. The man in front wielded a sword while fighting the bandits. His swordsmanship was not bad, but because he had to protect the person behind him, he was restrained at every turn and steadily forced backward.
The bandits toyed with them like cats teasing mice, surrounding the two tightly. The leader mocked:
“In this godforsaken wilderness, how could anyone possibly come save you? I advise you to save your strength and obediently come back with us. Prince Qi taking a liking to your younger brother is your blessing. Once he enters the Prince’s Manor, he’ll enjoy luxury and fine food. Isn’t that far better than following you around this remote mountain wasteland?”
The sword-wielding youth wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and said coldly:
“Keep dreaming!”
Seeing his refusal to submit, the bandit lost patience.
“Surnamed Cen! Don’t refuse a toast only to drink a forfeit! Even if we kill you, we can still take your brother away!”
Something seemed to flash through Lin Zhiji’s mind.
But before he could think further, Xie Yi’s arrival had already alerted both sides of the standoff.
“Who’s there?!”
The bandit leader looked over warily.
The young man before them wore a jade crown and brocade robes, elegant and composed, like a noble young master out on a spring excursion.
At first, the bandit chief worried someone had come to ruin their plans. But upon seeing only Xie Yi alone, he relaxed and warned:
“Boy, we’re carrying out orders from Prince Qi’s estate. If you know what’s good for you, then get lost now, or don’t blame us when blades lose their eyes and accidentally injure you later.”
When Cen Junce noticed someone approaching, he had initially been overjoyed. Yet seeing there was only one person—and such an obviously pampered young noble at that—his heart sank again.
Still, he advised earnestly:
“This matter has nothing to do with you, brother. You should leave quickly.”
Even in a life-and-death moment like this, he still considered another person’s safety. Clearly, his nature was genuinely kind.
Even without the System mission, Lin Zhiji would have wanted to save him.
He was not worried about Xie Yi’s martial skill. After all, the Host could easily handle the Scarlet Halberd Guards; a few low-level bandits were nothing.
The only problem was that Xie Yi’s temperament was far too erratic and impossible to predict.
Lin Zhiji rolled his eyes and deliberately stirred the fire:
【These people are truly blind. They actually dare speak to you like this. Host, hurry! Show them what happens!】
Xie Yi saw through Lin Zhiji’s little schemes completely.
He had always hated people playing tricks on him, yet somehow found Lin Zhiji’s desperate scheming and borrowing a tiger’s might for intimidation rather amusing.
He let out a soft laugh.
The horse lifted its hooves and slowly advanced several steps.
Scattered shadows from the trees brushed past like gauze, first revealing skin pale as cold jade, then features far sharper and deeper than ordinary people’s, carrying a trace of gentle amusement.
Despite possessing such an apparently harmless face, the bandits inexplicably felt uneasy.
But remembering their mission, they still grit their teeth.
“If you don’t scram now, then don’t blame us for getting rough!”
Yet the moment his words fell, the tree shadows shifted slightly, exposing an eye clouded in gray haze.
Like a venomous snake locking onto prey.
The hairs on the back of the bandit’s neck instantly exploded upward as overwhelming terror swept through his entire body.
But at that moment, Xie Yi had already urged his horse forward like an arrow released from the bowstring.
A dagger slid into his palm and lightly slashed.
He moved with astonishing speed, arriving almost instantly.
The bandit did not even have time to react before pain exploded in his eyes. Both eyeballs fell out and were crushed beneath the horse’s hooves.
A miserable scream instantly echoed through the entire forest.
These bandits lived daily with blood on their blades and were long accustomed to death, yet from this beautiful young noble, they experienced for the first time a chill that seeped into the marrow.
The group completely abandoned the Cen brothers and instead attacked Xie Yi together.
Cen Junce cried out:
“Careful!”
But Xie Yi remained utterly composed. The thin dagger danced in his palm like a dazzling performance. Amid wave after wave of screams, he plucked out their eyeballs as effortlessly as picking flowers and leaves.
Smiling pleasantly, Xie Yi said:
【As expected, truly blind.】
Lin Zhiji: …
When the bandits surrounded Xie Yi earlier, Cen Junce had been frantic with worry.
This righteous stranger had gotten involved solely to save the lives of him and his brother. How could he stand by and watch the other party fall into danger? Even at the cost of his own life, he had intended to save him!
Yet before he could even rush over, the ones in danger had already become the bandits instead.
Cen Junce froze completely, nearly dropping the sword onto his own toes.
“Big Brother, are you alright?” Cen Xuezhou anxiously tugged his sleeve.
Cen Junce finally snapped back to himself.
“N-no, I’m fine.”
His emotions had practically gone from the depths to the heavens in an instant.
He had already prepared himself for mutual destruction, only for the situation to reverse completely in the blink of an eye.
Filled with gratitude, he brought Cen Xuezhou forward to thank Xie Yi.
After saving them, Xie Yi intended to leave immediately, only to have his path blocked.
Looking down from horseback at Cen Junce, a trace of displeasure flashed through his eyes.
Cen Xuezhou shrank timidly behind his brother, but Cen Junce noticed nothing. Instead, he bowed deeply toward Xie Yi.
“My name is Cen Junce. Thank you, benefactor, for saving the lives of my brother and me. Such great kindness cannot be repaid, but should you ever command it, I would not refuse even death!”
Lin Zhiji had already found the surname “Cen” somewhat familiar. Upon hearing the name “Cen Junce,” he instantly remembered.
In the original novel, the protagonist Liu Muzhi had a strategist famed as unmatched in wisdom and schemes.
His name was Cen Junce.
Originally born from an official family, after the clan’s downfall he and his younger brother Cen Xuezhou depended on one another for survival. Later, Prince Qi took a liking to Cen Xuezhou’s beauty and intended to keep him as a male concubine. Cen Junce fled overnight with his brother, only to be captured by Prince Qi’s men. Cen Junce was gravely injured, while Cen Xuezhou was dragged into the Prince’s Manor and tortured to death within less than a month.
The once kind and passionate Cen Junce darkened completely overnight and later massacred the entirety of Prince Qi’s Manor, not even sparing newborn infants.
Back when reading the novel, Lin Zhiji had already pitied these brothers. Now that they had accidentally been saved, he felt genuinely happy.
Compared to him, however, Xie Yi was far colder.
“There’s no need.”
With that, he turned the horse to leave.
Yet as if making up his mind, Cen Junce suddenly knelt directly before him.
“Benefactor, please hear me out! My brother and I come from the Cen Clan of Lingchuan, a family known for integrity passed down through generations. Yet Prince Qi, blinded by lust, seeks to force my younger brother into his manor. Unable to coerce us through threats and temptation, he instead sent people to hunt and seize us. My younger brother is weak and sickly—he cannot endure continued flight. I beg Benefactor to save us once more. Junce is willing to become your servant or slave in repayment.”
After speaking, he forcefully kowtowed three times.
Xie Yi had no interest in his gratitude to begin with, much less being moved by him.
He merely said coldly:
“Move aside.”
Cen Junce’s face turned deathly pale, but he did not continue pestering him. Instead, he knocked his head once more toward Xie Yi before standing and numbly stepping aside.
Yet just as Xie Yi grasped the reins again, he heard Lin Zhiji speak hesitantly:
【Host…】
Xie Yi: 【What now?】
Lin Zhiji said softly:
【Look how pitiful they are. Please help them.】
Xie Yi refused without hesitation.
【No.】
Lin Zhiji hurriedly added:
【This Cen Junce is called unparalleled in strategy in the novel—he’s incredibly capable! If you save them, he’ll definitely be grateful to you and wholeheartedly offer strategies for you…】
Xie Yi coolly interrupted him.
【I do not lack strategists.】
Lin Zhiji: …
Lin Zhiji continued:
【But you already saved them anyway. You might as well finish the good deed completely. Otherwise, what if Prince Qi catches them again?】
Xie Yi: 【What does that have to do with me?】
Lin Zhiji tried persuading him with both emotion and reason.
Yet Xie Yi was utterly cold-hearted, completely unmoved.
Lin Zhiji still wanted to continue speaking.
Xie Yi said casually:
【If you keep nagging, I’ll kill them instead.】
Lin Zhiji immediately manually shut his mouth.
But watching the two brothers standing there utterly lost and hopeless by the roadside, and thinking about how the cold words from the book would become their future reality, his heart could not help softening with pity.
At that moment, Lin Zhiji suddenly thought of one more method.
Although he did not know whether it would work, at this point he could only treat a dead horse as if it were alive.
【Host, I’m begging you.】
Xie Yi’s voice instantly turned cold.
【Deliberately repeating the offense despite knowing better. Your courage is growing by the day, I see.】
Lin Zhiji trembled slightly, yet still bravely continued:
【Please, I’m begging you.】
Xie Yi: 【…Lin Zhiji.】
【Please please.】 Lin Zhiji said pitifully. 【You know, I left home since I was little. As a lone System, I finally managed to bind to a Host, and I just want to complete some missions and earn a few points…】
Xie Yi: 【……】
After being rejected by Xie Yi, Cen Junce was half remorseful and half lost.
Fortunately, his will was resilient. After sinking into gloom for only a short while, he forced himself to regain his spirits.
After all, Xuezhou was still young. If he, as the older brother, became muddled and hopeless, then what would happen to his brother?
Besides, even if Prince Qi held overwhelming power, that did not mean there was absolutely no way out.
As long as the two brothers remained together, what if they gambled on that sliver of survival?
Thinking of this, guilt surged within him once more.
Their benefactor had saved them. He should already be willing to repay such kindness even by carrying grass in his mouth or forming rings to repay gratitude, yet instead of simply being thankful, because their benefactor appeared upright and honorable, he had actually tried to shift his own predicament onto him.
It was truly despicable and shameless.
Cen Junce almost wanted to slap himself twice. What he had done utterly betrayed the Cen family’s ancestral teachings of integrity.
Their benefactor was a gentleman and did not mind such things.
But he himself could not pretend nothing had happened. Instead, he ought to sincerely apologize.
Yet just then, the jujube-red horse before them shifted uneasily, breaking the silence.
The man in sky-blue brocade robes looked at him indifferently and practically forced out two words through clenched teeth:
“Follow.”
Cen Junce: !!!
—
Xie Yi handed the two brothers over to Qingli.
Qingli was extremely reliable in handling affairs. Not only did she clean up all traces behind them, she also secretly brought the brothers back into the capital and settled them inside an empty residence.
As the saying went, the most dangerous place was often the safest place.
Moreover, Qingli had deliberately left behind misleading traces, making Prince Qi’s people believe the brothers had already escaped the capital long ago.
After hearing Qingli’s arrangements, Cen Junce’s eyes grew brighter and brighter.
Qingli had even thoughtfully prepared food and daily necessities for them, informing them:
“For the time being, the two of you should remain hidden here. I’ll send people to deliver food regularly. If you need anything, just inform them. Once things calm down, Master will naturally make arrangements.”
Cen Junce nodded repeatedly.
“Many thanks, Miss Qingli. We absolutely will not go outside and cause trouble for Benefactor!”
After speaking, he revealed a somewhat embarrassed expression.
“And also, please tell Benefactor that my brother and I thank him for his thoughtfulness. There’s no need for him to worry over us.”
Qingli fell into strange silence for a moment before vaguely replying:
“I will report it to Master.”
Only after Qingli left did the brothers finally relax completely.
Ever since Prince Qi’s affair began, they had lived every day in constant fear, never once sleeping peacefully. Now at last they could finally rest properly.
After finishing making the beds, Cen Junce noticed Cen Xuezhou sitting on the couch with a serious expression, seemingly lost in thought.
Now that the burden weighing on his heart had lifted somewhat, he even found himself in the mood to tease his younger brother.
“What are you thinking about so intently? Your brows are practically tied into knots.”
Cen Xuezhou looked up hesitantly.
“I… I was just wondering why Benefactor changed his mind.”
Cen Junce immediately withdrew the smile from his face and sternly said:
“Xuezhou, how can you think like that? Benefactor never had any obligation to save us in the first place. What he has done for us now is already kindness impossible to repay even if we were ground to dust, much less question it. Are you trying to become the sort of petty person who repays a liter of kindness with a bushel of resentment?”
“Brother, I didn’t mean…”
Yet Cen Junce only grew stricter.
“Later, go copy the Cen family ancestral teachings one hundred times. As your elder brother, I bear responsibility for guiding you, so I will share the punishment as well.”
Knowing his brother’s temperament well, Cen Xuezhou stopped arguing and obediently lowered his head.
“I know I was wrong.”
Seeing his dispirited appearance, Cen Junce softened slightly.
“Alright. You’re still young and don’t understand. Benefactor is simply soft-hearted despite his harsh words.”
Cen Xuezhou looked as though he wanted to say something, but ultimately only nodded.
“Brother, I understand.”
Though he said so aloud, a trace of doubt still lingered in his heart.
He always felt that Benefactor genuinely had not wanted anything to do with them at first. Later, when he decided to keep them, it felt more like… he had been persuaded by someone.