Chapter 59: “Leniency” Through Confession

Feng Wen grabbed my shoulders excitedly. “Lei Xiang, it really is you. When they told me, I didn’t believe it. You’re really back. Where have you been this whole time? Do you know how worried the brothers were?”

A strong warmth of friendship came off him. My eyes reddened. “I made you worry. How’s your injury?”

Feng Wen laughed. “Nothing serious. What man doesn’t get hurt? This is nothing. Tell me—how did you live these days?”

When he asked that, shame surged in my heart. I couldn’t tell him the truth. Forcing down the guilt, I repeated the lie I had prepared.

After Feng Wen listened, he laughed. “So you really are lucky. You could even escape back from the Beastmen side. They told me you defeated four Feng Tong experts by yourself today and kept the honor of the Number One Academy in our Tianshou. I’m proud of you. Look at me—I only won one, and I ended up like this.”

I smiled. “You were already very good. I was just lucky. You can tell—during the nearly one year I was gone, your skill improved a lot. When there’s a chance, let’s spar again.”

Feng Wen said excitedly, “Sure. We haven’t crossed hands in a long time. Then I’ll see whether what they said is true. I won’t hold back.”

I laughed. “Same here. Watch out—I’ll knock you into bed again so you can’t get up.”

We both burst into loud laughter.

“Alright. I won’t disturb your rest anymore. We’ll talk tomorrow. You need to recuperate properly.”

Feng Wen gave a strange grin. “Going to accompany your little Zi Xue, huh? Zi Xue is a good girl. Don’t let her down. While you were gone, Zi Xue was gloomy every day. She got thinner by a whole round. Having a confidante like that is your blessing.”

I nodded strongly in agreement.

Just then, there was a knock at the door. Feng Wen froze. “Who would come this late? Come in.”

The door opened. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠A girl in a green mage robe walked in—it was Kai Lin from Xi Lun Academy, the one who fought Feng Wen that day. Seeing me there, she blushed slightly and bowed. “Hello. I came to check on Senior Feng Wen.”

I was stunned for a moment, then found it amusing. I said politely, “Hello. Please come in.”

When Feng Wen saw Kai Lin come to visit him, a delighted light flashed in his eyes. He said awkwardly, “Miss Kai Lin, hello.”

Kai Lin pressed her lips into a smile. “Why are you still acting that silly? How’s your injury?”

Feng Wen wasn’t nearly as straightforward as he had been with me. He mumbled, “Much better. It’s just that the wound still hurts a bit.”

As he spoke, he kept signaling me with his eyes. This guy really did have romance and no brotherhood. I chuckled and said to Kai Lin, “Miss Kai Lin, I’ll be leaving now. Later, help him check his wound again. My magic isn’t suitable for treating him. You two specialize in the same kind of magic. Maybe using the same elemental power to clear and unblock his meridians will help his injury.”

Kai Lin blushed and nodded. “I’ll take care of him.”

I threw Feng Wen an encouraging look and walked out. Kai Lin was a good girl—always smiling—and she and Feng Wen made a perfect pair. I truly hoped they could end up together.

I left Feng Wen’s room, leaving them their chance, while I was about to face the harshest trial—whether I could get through it depended on whether Zi Yan and Zi Xue could forgive me.

After walking only two steps, I suddenly felt something swaying at my chest. I took it out—it was the heart-protector mirror.

A thought stirred. I took out the mustard-seed pouch. Since it could hold objects, I might as well put the heart-protector mirror inside. I looked at the incantations on the pouch, thought of the heart-protector mirror, and recited, “Mustard seed contains Sumeru—store.”

The mustard-seed pouch opened by itself. It felt as if there were a suction force inside. The heart-protector mirror slowly floated up, gradually shrank, and was taken inside.

Satisfied, I put the mustard-seed pouch away and headed for Zi Xue’s room.

When I reached Zi Xue’s door, I didn’t dare push it open for a long time. I loved them too much. I had only seen them again for half a day, yet it already made me feel even more unable to leave them.

Sigh—there was no avoiding it, was there? Since I had done wrong, I had to bravely shoulder responsibility. I clenched my teeth and pushed the door open.

Zi Yan and Zi Xue were laughing, talking about something cheerful. When they saw me come in, Zi Xue grabbed me at once. “Quick. Tell us—between the two of us, which one do you like more?”

I froze. “Why are you asking this all of a sudden?”

Zi Xue said coquettishly, “Say it. Sister says you like me a bit more, but I think Sister is so pretty—you should like her more.”

I smiled bitterly. “Miss, aren’t you making things hard for me? I like you sisters equally. I can’t do without either of you. What I love is you—both of you—everything about you. In my heart, you both matter the same. Satisfied now?”

Zi Xue puffed her cheeks. “Fine. You barely pass. Now start explaining your own business.”

She and Zi Yan sat on the bed and shoved me onto the sofa. “Until you explain clearly, you’re not allowed to have any physical contact with us sisters. Otherwise… otherwise…”

Zi Xue scratched her head, unable to think of a punishment.

Zi Yan added, “Otherwise we won’t pay attention to him and we’ll throw him out. Heehee.”

If it were any other time, I might have teased them a few lines, but right now I had no mood for it. I sighed. “This matter has to be told sooner or later. I don’t want to hide anything. I hope you’ll quietly listen to the end, and then—however you want to punish me or deal with me, it’s up to you. Alright?”

Seeing how serious I looked, they put away their teasing too. Zi Yan said, “What is it that’s so serious? As long as you’re not leaving us and never coming back, just say it. Whatever difficulty you have, we’ll support you. Say it, and we can talk it through.”

I smiled bitterly. “I’m afraid after I say it, you’ll demand that I leave and never want me again.”

Zi Xue burst into a laugh. “Why are you acting so pitiful? Don’t you know how we feel about you? Stop hesitating. This doesn’t sound like you. Hurry and say it.”

This concerned my lifelong happiness. How could I not hesitate? I nodded and said, “Then I’ll start. Ever since the last time I separated from Zi Yan at the fortress, I returned to the Beastmen nation. Zi Yan, do you remember what I told you back then? I wanted to help the Beastmen nation grow strong. So, relying on the knowledge I brought back from Dragon God, I advised the Beast Emperor and began reforming the Beastmen nation. After a period of time, I successfully brought two territories of the Beastmen nation to submit to the Beast Emperor.”

Zi Yan said, “Submit? Why put it that way? Aren’t the Beastmen already under the Beast Emperor’s rule?”

I shook my head, explained the Beastmen nation’s situation, and also told them how I fought Jin and Yin and Panzong, and how I gained their support in the process. “…Just as I was excited about my achievements, the twenty brothers under my command were attacked. Even though they were my subordinates, after working together for a time, I had already treated them as my own people. Yet in that attack, those twenty brothers—nineteen of them met disaster.”

Zi Xue let out a sound. “All of them were…”

I nodded. “All of them were murdered by the enemy in cruel ways. Not even whole corpses were left behind. And the ones who killed them were the demon race’s fallen-angel troops. Don’t be surprised. I imagine Dragon God already learned about the demon–Beastmen war. My subordinates being killed was the fuse that ignited it.

“The demon race feared we Beastmen would grow strong after reforms, so they used that despicable method. Five fallen angels came to the Beastmen nation to assassinate our people. In my rage, I learned from the surviving lion-clan guard that this covert attack was led by the demon race princess Mo Yue. Zi Yan, you’ve seen Mo Yue—she’s the female fallen angel who abducted you last time.”

Zi Yan made a sound of realization. “So it was her. Then what happened?”

A cold flash passed through my eyes. “After that, with Big Brother Panzong and Jin and Yin helping, we killed four fallen angels. Mo Yue escaped only because she had already snatched my black dragon and returned to the demon race. But my brothers’ lives… could never be brought back. It’s my fault. I should have returned earlier to the meeting point we agreed on.”

Seeing my pain, Zi Yan comforted me. “Don’t be like this. It’s all in the past. Regret won’t change anything.”

I nodded and said, “Because of my hatred for the demon race, I immediately rushed back to the Beastmen imperial capital. With my insistence and my father’s support, the Beast Emperor agreed to let me lead troops in retaliation. So my father and I led the four great legions—the Bimon, Crazy Lion, Viper, and Swift Wolf—into a stealth attack on the demon race’s Dun De Province. In the shortest time, we occupied the entire province and repelled the demon race’s first reinforcement force of two hundred thousand.

“Because of Dragon God’s potential threat, the demon race ultimately had to compromise. The commander-in-chief of their second force—the Demon Emperor’s guard captain, a four-winged fallen angel second only to the Demon Emperor, Gu Chuan · Lu Xifa—decided to negotiate with us.”

Zi Xue said, “Is that what you wanted to tell us? Didn’t everything go smoothly? And what does any of this have to do with us?”

I lowered my head in anguish and said heavily, “What I truly need to tell you starts now. Regret is useless to me.

“On the night before the negotiations, because the mission had already been successfully completed, I was walking alone in the city, wanting to relax a bit. And at that time, an uninvited guest arrived—Princess Mo Yue of the demon race. The moment I saw her, my heart filled with fury, but for the sake of the bigger picture, I didn’t act. I ordered her to leave immediately.

“But she showed me this instead.”

As I spoke, I took out the handkerchief I had carefully kept.

Zi Yan cried out softly. “That’s my handkerchief. I only remember losing it after Mo Yue captured me. How could it be in her hands?”

I smiled bitterly. “Even you don’t know—so I know even less. Mo Yue threatened me, saying you were in her hands and she could harm you at any time. The moment I heard news of you, my mind turned to chaos. I didn’t think carefully and followed Mo Yue out of the city. She flew ahead, and I pursued behind. When we reached a desolate place with no people, she stopped.

“To get news of you, I pleaded with her, threatened her, but she refused to tell me. In the end, she demanded that I remove my arms before she would speak. She came to me to take revenge for the severe injury I inflicted on her back then.”

Zi Xue cried out in shock, “What? She wanted you to… You didn’t agree, did you?”

I gave a faint smile and spread both hands. “Don’t worry. Look—I’m fine, aren’t I? Without definite news about Zi Yan, how could I cripple myself so easily? My patience was worn down by her. I finally couldn’t hold back and struck at her.

“She is a fallen angel, but compared to me, she was still weaker. Yet she launched a sneak attack—using poisoned needles to ambush me. At that time, I almost died in her hands. While she was gloating, I relied on Tianhuang Stone’s detoxifying ability to force the poison needles out little by little. Then, when she wasn’t paying attention, I finally subdued her.”

Hearing that, both Zi Yan and Zi Xue let out a breath of relief. I looked at them and continued to Zi Yan, “At that time, I was furious—I almost killed her. But when I thought of the negotiations that were about to happen, and thought of you still being in her hands, I forced down my fury and compelled her to tell me your whereabouts.”

Zi Yan asked, “What did she answer?”

Since it had come to this, I had no intention of hiding it anymore. I said, “She said she would tell me, but first I had to release her restriction. I was overjoyed and didn’t think much of it, so I agreed.

“But the instant I released Mo Yue’s restriction, she seized the moment I let my guard down and attacked. Caught off guard, I was injured. I felt my blood boiling all over. The hatred from her abducting you, killing my brothers, abducting you again, and repeatedly ambushing me—those grudges blinded my reason in an instant. I… I…”

Zi Xue stared at me with eyes wide. It seemed she had already guessed something, yet she refused to admit it. Her gaze was extremely complicated. With a trembling voice, she said, “You killed her?”

I shook my head in pain. “I didn’t kill her, but I did something worse than a beast. I’m sorry to you. I… I…”

“I… raped Mo Yue.”

The last three words struck Zi Yan and Zi Xue like a thunderbolt. Both of them froze completely. Zi Xue’s lips trembled, and tears fell without her noticing.

“You… how could you do that? How can you face me and Sister? You… you…”

Her body swayed, and she fainted.

Zi Xue’s collapse frightened me. I rushed forward to treat her, but Zi Yan shoved me away. With tears in her eyes, she cried furiously, “Don’t touch my sister.”

I staggered back from her push and stood there, staring at the two of them.

All of a sudden, I felt a strange looseness throughout my body. After all, I had finally said it. Now all I could do was wait for their judgment.

Zi Yan gathered light-element energy and used several healing spells on Zi Xue in succession. Only then did Zi Xue’s complexion gradually regain color, though crystal tears still clung to her delicate face. Seeing her sister was fine, Zi Yan let out a breath and carefully laid Zi Xue down on the bed, then pulled the blanket over her.

I didn’t move. I only watched quietly as she did everything.

After a long while, Zi Yan suddenly stood up. Light flashed in her right hand. She swung hard.

Smack.

Five bright red handprints appeared on my face. The blow made me reel. Zi Yan had used magic in that strike, and I had no intention of resisting at all. A thin line of blood ran from the corner of my mouth.

I didn’t move. I stared blankly at Zi Yan, whose phoenix eyes were cold.

Zi Yan’s sharp gaze looked as if it could pierce my organs, fixed on me. I casually took Mo Ming down from my back, held it with both hands, and offered it to her.

Calmly, I said, “I wronged you. Kill me.”

Zi Yan reached out to take Mo Ming, but how could a weak woman like her lift its weight? Her body pitched forward. Mo Ming clanged and fell to the floor.

Instinctively, I caught her. Zi Yan lifted her hand and slapped my other cheek. I didn’t make a sound. I looked at her and still said calmly, “Mo Ming isn’t suitable for you. Use light-element magic instead.”

Zi Yan’s full chest rose and fell violently. Her eyes were filled with hatred. She raised her hand sharply. A bright light formed in her palm. She hesitated only for an instant, then chopped down. The light fell like a shining chain toward me.

Halfway down, a bitter flicker suddenly passed through Zi Yan’s eyes. The light shifted slightly, slashing toward my shoulder.

At that moment, something struck me. I suddenly raised my left hand to block the downward light. Afraid of injuring her, I didn’t use any energy at all to protect myself. Zi Yan’s magic cultivation had clearly improved greatly.

A crisp crack of breaking bone echoed in the room.

My skin was extremely tough. Though the bone snapped, her strike did not sever my arm. The violent impact forced me down onto one knee.

The intense pain sent cold sweat pouring from my forehead. Zi Yan froze too. Staring at my forearm bent at a right angle, her face turned even paler.

Clenching my teeth against the pain, I said bitterly, “Sorry. I wasn’t trying to stop you. I just wanted to say—after I die, please take care of Zi Xue. You’re stronger than she is. I hope you both find a good place to belong.

“And my mother is in the Beastmen nation. I can’t serve her anymore. Please tell your father—Ling Ling is in the Beastmen nation’s Rui Prince’s Mansion. Let him find a way to bring Ling Ling back himself. I can’t help him anymore.

“I’ve said what I needed to say. You can do it now.”

After that, I struggled to my feet, closed my eyes, and waited for Zi Yan to end me.

A long time passed. Nothing happened.

I opened my eyes again. Zi Yan’s tears had soaked the front of her clothes. Her eyes held a tangle of emotions as she stared at me without moving.

I gave her a ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠faint smile and said evenly, “Kill me. Let my life repay the kindness you sisters gave me.”

To me, death would be a release. Rather than living and being separated from the ones I loved, it was better to die with no attachments at all.

Zi Yan’s face was deathly pale. She sobbed, “It won’t be that easy. You want to die and be done with it? I’m going to make you repay us sisters for an entire lifetime.”

I froze. “You’re not killing me? I don’t dare hope for your forgiveness. Do whatever you want.”

Zi Yan stepped forward and grabbed my injured arm. The pain was so sharp I sucked in a breath. Sweat dripped onto the floor. My whole body spasmed.

Zi Yan lowered her head. I couldn’t see her expression, but I saw her tears and my sweat drip at the same time, slowly blending together on the floor.

Zi Yan pushed me lightly and said in a low voice, “Sit.”

To me, her words were an imperial edict. I obediently sat on the sofa. Zi Yan released my arm and wiped her tears with her sleeve, then turned and picked Mo Ming up from the floor.

I didn’t understand what she was about to ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠do, but my heart was full of guilt. No matter what she did, I would not resist.

Unexpectedly, Zi Yan barely raised Mo Ming with both hands and swung it—not at me, but at the small wooden cabinet by the bed. She had little strength, but Mo Ming’s weight and the momentum still split the cabinet. With a crack, it shattered, scattering splinters across the floor.

Zi Yan dropped Mo Ming, crouched down, and found two wooden pieces of similar size. She came back, sat beside me, and said nothing. I didn’t dare ask either.

She grabbed my arm again. I bit my lip to keep myself from making a sound. Zi Yan felt along the break, then used both hands to set the broken bone back into place. Her movements were fast. She quickly braced the two wooden splints on either side, then tore strips of cloth from her skirt and bound them tightly.

So she was treating my injury.

Did she no longer blame me?

After finishing all that, Zi Yan lifted her head and looked at me through misty tears. “What do you plan to do?”

I froze. “Do about what?”

Zi Yan wiped her tears again. Her nose was red, and she snapped in mild anger, “Of course I mean the person you raped. What are you going to do about that?”

I sighed. “The mistake is already made. It can’t be undone. If you don’t kill me, I want to go to the demon race and find her. My mother’s entire happiness was ruined by my father raping her. I won’t let the same thing happen again. I think… Mo Yue might kill me. But I won’t run anymore. If I did it, then I have to take responsibility.”

Surprisingly, Zi Yan didn’t get angry this time. A trace of approval flickered in her eyes. “Then what about me and Little Sister? If she kills you, what do we do?”

I said in shock, “You two? After doing something so vile and filthy, what right do I have to ask for anything? I can only silently bless you from the shadows and hope you find good places to belong.”

After saying that, I couldn’t hold back the pain anymore. Two hot tears rolled down my cheeks.

Zi Yan snorted. “Not that easy. You think you can just leave like that? Did you forget what I just said? I’m going to make you spend your whole life paying for the mistake you committed. From now on, you are absolutely not allowed to bully me or Little Sister again. And you must take care of us for life. You can’t let us suffer any harm again.”

At first I was stunned, then wild joy surged in my heart. With a trembling voice, I said, “Y-you mean… you’re willing to forgive me?”

Zi Yan shouted, “Of course it’s not that cheap. Didn’t I just say it? You’ll repay it for your whole life. The slap I gave you just now only counts as my part. Little Sister still hasn’t punished you.”

Even though she said that, I couldn’t hide my excitement. I said fervently, “It doesn’t matter. Punish me however you want. As long as you’re willing to be with me—even if you break all four of my limbs, it’s fine. Zi Yan… Zi Yan… I… I truly can’t live without you.

“Do you know? These days, the pain and guilt in my heart almost drove me insane. Zi Yan, I really love you both so much.”

A haze passed through Zi Yan’s eyes. “This is the first time, and the last time. If you commit such a serious mistake again, Little Sister and I will never forgive you. Do you understand?”

I nodded hard and pulled her into my arms. Thick love surged in my chest. Zi Yan closed her eyes and leaned against me with satisfaction. I thought she had long wanted to return to my embrace.

Lowering my head, I cautiously moved to kiss her fragrant lips. Zi Yan cried, “Don’t—”

But she was already too late. The second half of the word cut off abruptly. I successfully kissed her soft, delicate lips.

A powerful burst of light-element energy carrying a holy aura surged violently from Zi Yan’s body. With a crack, the sofa collapsed under the huge impact. Zi Yan sprang up, while I sat amid the “ruins” of the sofa, another thin line of blood slipping from the corner of my mouth. This impact was far stronger than before.

Zi Yan hurried over, complaining, “How can you be so careless? Did you forget? This annoying power—honestly…”

Even though my whole body hurt terribly, I felt immensely happy. The warm softness on Zi Yan’s lips still lingered on my mouth. Looking at her, I said foolishly, “It’s fine. Being able to taste that fragrance—even if it shook me to death, I wouldn’t care.”

Zi Yan scolded, “Hate you. Don’t say nonsense. Count that as punishment on Little Sister’s behalf. Get up.”

She carefully helped me up and checked my broken arm. Luckily, since it hadn’t taken another hit, it hadn’t broken again. She let out a breath and had me sit at the edge of the bed. Then she said softly, “This time you were wrong, but the cause was, after all, concern for my safety.”

Zi Yan’s face reddened. She continued, “So I forgive you. Now there are two problems in front of you.

“First: you must earn Little Sister’s forgiveness yourself. I won’t help you. Don’t think Little Sister is always gentle—on something like this, her reaction is stronger than mine. She loves you very deeply. The deeper the love, the sharper the blame. You must use your sincerity to move her.”

I nodded. With Zi Yan’s forgiveness, my confidence in winning Zi Xue’s forgiveness grew greatly. “I will. What’s the other problem?”

Zi Yan’s face turned cold. “The other is the demon race princess Mo Yue. You must give her an explanation. Even though we’re not the same race, I can understand the pain of being raped. You’re right—if you did it, you must take responsibility. So you must go to the demon race as soon as possible. No matter what method you use, you must make her forgive you too.

“But I have one requirement: you must come back alive. You have to remember—Little Sister and I are waiting for you here. If you die, we will not live alone either. Do you understand?”

As she spoke, Zi Yan used her clothing to wipe the sweat from my forehead. Her movements were gentle, giving me a feeling of comfort and steadiness.

Warmth surged in my heart. I held her in my arms and quietly savored the tenderness after release.

After a long while, Zi Yan gently pushed me away. “Little Sister will wake soon. I’m going back to my room. How you move her is up to you. If you really can’t do it, then come find me.”

I didn’t want her to leave. I said anxiously, “You… don’t go, okay?”

Zi Yan shook her head. “I know Little Sister’s temperament very well. If I stay, she’ll be held back by pride and it’ll be even harder for her to give in. Use your sincerity, understand?”

With that, she stood up and lightly pressed her soft cheek to my face, then turned and went out.

Zi Yan left. I turned to look at Zi Xue beside me. Her brows were slightly knit, her body tense, as if even in sleep she couldn’t find peace. I carefully smoothed her long hair, then lay down at her side. With my fingers I eased her brow and whispered, “Snowy, it’s all my fault. From ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠now on, I’ll love you even more and make it up to you.”

Zi Xue seemed to hear me. She shifted toward me. My heart lifted with joy, and I pulled her into my arms. Holding her, I felt incredibly satisfied. Zi Xue seemed to feel the same. Her brows relaxed, and she hugged me back, burying her face in my chest. Her breathing evened out, her body gradually loosened, and she fell into deeper sleep.

After a hard day, and the injury I had just taken, in this warm environment my eyelids grew heavy. My awareness blurred. Without realizing it, I slipped under the blanket, held Zi Xue, found a comfortable position, and fell into a deep sleep.

In the morning, I woke first. Zi Xue clung to me like a cute little kitten. A deep tenderness filled my heart. If every morning I woke up and could see Zi Yan and Zi Xue, how wonderful would that be?

I simply watched Zi Xue, admiring her lovely sleeping face.

Zi Xue’s long lashes fluttered. Her big eyes slowly opened. Just waking up, her gaze was still hazy. Gradually, she noticed she was in a warm embrace. She glanced at me, then contentedly snuggled closer, closed her eyes again, as if she wanted to doze a little longer. Yesterday’s blow had been too great—letting her sleep more was good.

I held her tighter, wanting to give her more warmth.

Just then, Zi Xue’s eyes snapped open. The haze vanished, replaced by full clarity. Her eyes widened as she stared at me blankly.