Chapter 20: Prince Huai

At the break of dawn, under the dim morning light, the spectral horde lingered, ghosts roaming in daylight.

Countless ghostly figures surrounded Ren Ye on the high platform, forming a crescent arc. Their hollow, venomous gazes fixated on the gathered officials.

Each vengeful spirit bore the ghastly marks of their tragic deaths: some were bloody and mangled, others reduced to half their bodies. Among them, countless hanging ghosts swayed in mid-air, their long tongues protruding, limbs stiff, and dark energy coiling around them like an oppressive fog that obscured the sky. The sight alone sent shivers through every onlooker, raising the hairs on their necks.

Ren Ye, standing amidst this eerie spectacle, had performed the art of Yin-Yang, opening the gates of Hell. The backlash from the Yin energy consumed him, his body now exuding the aura of death. His eyes were bloodshot, and his face had turned a purplish blue.

“Who among you will tell me where the blade meant to kill me is now?!”

Surrounded by the restless spirits, Ren Ye shouted once more at the officials and soldiers below.

His voice echoed through the air, but no one dared to answer.

Silence lingered, reverberating with a sense of dread. The officials all bowed their heads, their thoughts racing.

Anyone who spoke up now would be an absolute fool, as well as a blatant betrayer. It was evident that Prince Huai, the so-called “worthless prince,” was prepared to stake his life.

In the practice of Yin-Yang, cause and effect were paramount. For a mortal to open the ghostly gates and summon wandering souls to the mortal realm was an act intolerable to the Heavenly Dao. By demanding answers in this way, Prince Huai clearly signaled his desperation: “If I’m doomed to suffer backlash anyway, I might as well drag out the rats determined to rescue Liu Ling’er and destroy them all!”

Nearby, the Strength Corpse of Old Daoist Xu lay crumpled on the ground, his bones shattered. Now reduced to a mere husk, even his facial features were indistinguishable—a horrifying end that terrified everyone present.

Even the emperor’s confidants had failed to deal with the so-called “worthless prince.” Why should anyone else succeed? Furthermore, if one were to step forward, who could guarantee support from others? The political games here were far too treacherous. Until the very last moment, no one could confirm who was a true ally.

Feigning ignorance was undoubtedly the safest move.

The officials each calculated their odds, and the leaderless soldiers naturally held back, unwilling to act rashly.

Quiet. Utter silence.

Ren Ye stood on the platform for a moment, observing the crowd’s lack of response. He then walked to the hall’s entrance, seized Liu Ling’er by her hair, and once again shouted loudly:

“If there is no blade seeking my life, then this prince will execute her here and now!”

Below the platform, Chief Historian Li Yan’s eyes flickered briefly, but he ultimately remained silent.

The Prefect of Qinglian, Wu Asi of the Secret Intelligence Division, and the other high-ranking officials lowered their heads even further, avoiding any gaze toward Liu Ling’er.

“So it turns out this woman has no accomplices,” Ren Ye sneered, his voice cold. He swept his gaze over the officials, laughing mockingly. “It seems you all truly care only for this prince’s safety!”

With a dismissive wave, he gestured for the attendants holding Liu Ling’er to step back.

The attendants withdrew, leaving Ren Ye facing Liu Ling’er directly. He crooked his finger and murmured, “Rise, spirits.”

Swish, swish!

Two vengeful spirits that had been suppressing Liu Ling’er emerged from her body and drifted down into the courtyard.

The moment the spirits departed, Liu Ling’er slowly regained consciousness. Her dazed eyes quickly took in the scene around her, including the corpse of Old Daoist Xu.

He was dead. Completely defeated.

Impossible. How could that worthless Prince Huai have done this?

Despair washed over her. Her body collapsed limply to the ground, drained of all strength. This was the aftermath of her recent contamination with unclean forces—it felt as though she had suffered through a grave illness.

Ren Ye crouched slowly, his determined gaze fixed on Liu Ling’er’s pale yet delicate face. With a pointed finger, he gestured toward the gathered officials below and asked in a low voice:

“Take a good look. Do you recognize anyone among them? If you do, speak up… and perhaps I’ll spare your life and send you to the dungeon to keep the Imperial Inspector company.”

The high-ranking officials below the platform remained indifferent to Ren Ye’s words, their expressions calm and unreadable.

Kneeling on the ground, Liu Ling’er desperately wanted to name a few “accomplices” to save her life, but the reality was that she couldn’t. The only player she had communicated with through the Disc Command was “Little Wolf Warrior,” but she had no idea who they were in reality.

Inside this Stellar Gate, there were two teammates from her real-world organization who had entered together, but she couldn’t reveal their identities—not even in death.

Meeting Ren Ye’s gaze, Liu Ling’er’s eyes flashed with malice. She whispered, her voice low and sharp:

“In the real world, I’m part of an organization. You might have heard of it—it’s called the Bell Society. Anyone who crosses them never comes out unscathed, do you understand?”

The Bell Society? What nonsense organization was that? Never even heard of it.

Before I entered here, I was in prison sewing uniforms on a factory line! What’s this? You want to play hardball with me in real life?

Seeing Ren Ye pause, Liu Ling’er assumed he was frightened. She pressed further:

“This Stellar Gate is strange—many organizations are keeping a close eye on it. Your real-world identity won’t remain hidden for long. If we end up mortal enemies, not only will you be in danger, but your family won’t fare well either!”

The moment Ren Ye heard the word “family,” his previously hollow gaze suddenly sharpened, his pupils contracting.

He leaned down again, slightly tilting his head, and asked:

“What did you say? Say that again.”

“I said your family won’t—”

“You know,” Ren Ye interrupted her, his face expressionless, his voice barely audible as he leaned close to her ear:

“Before I came here, I was a convicted criminal serving time. Do you know why? Two fools like you tried to threaten me and my friends by using our families. In the end, I shot them seven times and shattered their skulls.”

Liu Ling’er froze upon hearing this, her mind blank.

“No more questions. I want your head now!”

Without hesitation, Ren Ye stood upright and swung his sword with all his might toward Liu Ling’er’s neck.

“Swoosh!”

The blade gleamed as it slashed through the air. Liu Ling’er stared at the Nation-Stabilizing Sword’s edge, her expression dazed. All sound faded from her ears, and time seemed to freeze at that moment.

I am Liu Ling’er.

To most people, I am nothing but a worthless whore.

For some reason, as the blade descended toward me, the face of that little brat, that ungrateful child, flashed through my mind.

I’ve lost. I’m about to die…

My little brat, your unclean mother is leaving this world. From now on… I hope the world will treat you kindly.

“Buzz…!”

The sound of the blade slicing through the air pierced her ears, the sharp edge drawing closer with no sign of stopping.

“Splat!”

Liu Ling’er’s head flew from her body, tumbling down toward the ground. Her wide-open eyes held a trace of lingering regret as her head bounced and rolled toward the bottom of the steps.

Her headless body spurted blood before collapsing heavily onto the ground.

Ren Ye looked at her lifeless body without a trace of pity. He had never been one to show mercy, especially after witnessing the depths of human darkness during his time at the border and in prison. To ensure his own survival, he never left any loose ends.

[Congratulations to Prince Huai for successfully killing a player. You have obtained the item of the “Songstress,” Spring Breeze Delight. This item allows you to bring one player into this Star Gate.]

Standing atop the platform, Ren Ye heard the cold, mechanical notification echo in his ears.

At the same time, hidden players in the Prince’s manor, beneath the great hall, and those scattered across the capital and other regions all received the same announcement from the Stellar Scar Gate.

[Special Notice: The Court faction’s layout has failed, and a player has been killed. Act One, “Agents in the Shadows,” has prematurely ended. This Stellar Gate will enter dormancy in ten minutes. All players, please prepare to leave.]

In the capital, inside a quiet inn, a serene-looking woman suddenly felt a pang of unease. Her eyes snapped open, and she thought to herself:

“Someone has died?”

On the official road leading to the southern border, a man on horseback muttered in disbelief, “A kill in the first act? That fast?”

Beneath the grand hall, a player hidden among the crowd quietly thought to himself:

“That woman must have been part of the Court faction. No need to panic… no need to panic…”

Ren Ye had no idea what other players were thinking, but he understood the rules clearly—he still had ten minutes before he would leave the Star Gate.

With that in mind, he slowly descended from the high platform, walking alone toward the officials and soldiers.

He had already killed, paid the price for it, so why not finish the job and root out every potential threat?

That was Ren Ye’s most honest thought at the moment—he was ready to take down a couple more troublemakers.

“Step, step…”

In the silent courtyard of the hall, the hundred ghosts stood like sculptures, motionless, staring at the gathered officials.

Chief Historian Li Yan furrowed his brows as he saw Ren Ye heading in his direction.

“Step, step…”

The courtyard was so quiet you could hear a pin drop, with only the sound of Ren Ye’s footsteps reverberating like drumbeats, striking fear into the hearts of everyone present.

The officials, bent at the waist, stole cautious glances at the disheveled Ren Ye. Their hearts pounded furiously, fully aware that he intended to kill again.

At that moment, the previously silent Li Yan clasped his hands together and spoke:

“Your Highness, we are all ministers of the Court, and naturally, we are also Prince Huai’s subjects. The sun has risen, marking the start of another busy day. Both the Emperor and Your Highness will need us to carry out your duties, won’t you?”

However, Li Yan received no reply.

Ren Ye continued his slow approach, dragging the heavy Nation-Stabilizing Sword in his right hand. The blade scraped along the ground, producing crisp, metallic sounds.

Seeing this, the other officials secretly sighed in relief. Yet, some players hidden among the crowd quietly prepared for a desperate fight.

A few moments later, Ren Ye stopped just one step away from Li Yan. The Nation-Stabilizing Sword in his hand glowed with a faint, eerie light, and his eyes burned with murderous intent.

Li Yan straightened his back slowly and immediately lowered his head, saying:

“Today, Daoist Master Xu lost his Strength Corpse, and that female traitor was beheaded by Your Highness. The Hall of Tranquility’s affairs have been resolved. Isn’t this outcome satisfactory?”

“Heh…”

A crazed smile appeared on Ren Ye’s face, a twisted expression born from extreme exhaustion. He grinned at Li Yan, slowly raising the Nation-Stabilizing Sword.

“Swoosh!”

At the same time, he raised his arm and gestured, calling out softly:

“Hundred-zhang ghosts, heed my command!”

On the high platform, the shadow of the female Daoist wearing a black crown suddenly opened her eyes.

“Woo… woo…!”

A sinister wind rose. The wandering ghosts, originally stationed at the sides of the platform, collectively floated into the air, swiftly gathering together.

The hundred ghosts moved under the daylight, hovering in the sky as if emerging from the depths of the Yellow Springs. They pressed down on the officials and soldiers like a foreboding storm cloud.

The chilling atmosphere spread, and goosebumps erupted across the officials’ skin. They didn’t dare look at the vengeful spirits above them, only daring to sneak glances at the deranged Ren Ye, their muscles taut with fear.

Li Yan gritted his teeth. The calm expression on his face vanished, and he spoke rapidly:

“Your Highness! Although Wang Jingzhong is dead, the Emperor has decreed that his family be escorted to the capital for trial. However, before coming here, I took the liberty of bringing Wang Jingzhong’s family to the gates of the Prince’s manor. If Your Highness agrees, they can be dealt with by you personally. As for the Court’s side… I can handle it!”

With his words, the Nation-Stabilizing Sword froze mid-air.

Ren Ye wore a smile on his face, and after a long pause, he spoke in a hoarse voice:

“Lord Li, you truly know how to balance your moves.”

“I must follow the Emperor’s orders, yet also remain loyal to Your Highness. It is a difficult situation…” Li Yan, seeing Ren Ye’s response, immediately felt more at ease, his posture loosening.

“Swish!”

Suddenly, Ren Ye’s smile vanished, and his gaze turned cold and sinister.

With a sharp motion, he tapped the tip of his sword onto Li Yan’s official robe, gently dragging it across the chest:

“But I really don’t like the tone with which you speak to me.”

The officials, who had started to relax, instantly tensed up again.

The hall fell into complete silence.

The two locked eyes for a long while, and as Li Yan stared at Ren Ye’s expression, veins bulged on his forehead. With great determination, he raised his arm.

“Snap!”

A crisp sound rang out as Li Yan swatted away the Nation-Stabilizing Sword’s blade with his hand.

The officials began to sweat profusely. They wondered: was the Chief Historian really backing himself into a corner, preparing for a desperate fight?

“Thud!”

Before they could make sense of it, Li Yan suddenly knelt to the ground, stretching out his arms in full prostration.

“Long live Prince Huai! Long live, long live a thousand years!”

Li Yan shouted as he knelt in the traditional form, his movements impeccable.

“Hahaha!”

Ren Ye paused for a moment, then burst into laughter. He lifted the Nation-Stabilizing Sword again and turned to look at the other officials and soldiers.

They exchanged glances and then looked at the kneeling Li Yan…

“Whoosh!”

The crowd parted like the retreat of a tide. More than two hundred officials and soldiers in armor all knelt to the ground, shouting in unison.

“Long live Prince Huai! Long live, long live a thousand years!”

“Long live Prince Huai, his achievements will last forever!”

The shouts swept across the Hall of Tranquility like a wave, with the hundred ghosts standing above their heads, slowly dissipating.

“Haha, you’re truly a model of the Court’s powerful ministers, capable of both yielding and enduring.” Ren Ye looked away, turning to head towards the high platform. “Wang Jingzhong died for me, and I should protect his family. Now, all of you get lost!”

With that, he reached the doors of the hall and helped Second Fool to his feet, saying:

“Let Lian’er take care of you from now on.”

“Your… Your Highness really means it?” Second Fool, though weakened, did not forget his obsession.

After a moment, Ren Ye returned alone to his quarters, exhausted, and lay down on the bed, waiting quietly.

Time passed, and eventually, a flicker of light appeared. He saw stars begin to form on the ceiling, gradually spreading out until they transformed into a brilliant door.

“Whoosh!”

The surroundings twisted, and Ren Ye’s body instantly disappeared from the bed, returning to the real world.

…

Prince Huai’s manor, the dungeon.

The Imperial Inspector Liu, who had been ruthlessly beaten by Ren Ye at the start, now stared despairingly at the ceiling, his breath barely a whisper…