The Male Lead I Wronged Has Blackened
CHAPTER 15: The Vermilion Bird Hatchling
Si Yao’s words were merciless, leaving no room for pretension. The moment they fell, the Yun clan’s greed and shamelessness in making unreasonable demands of Jiang Shuo became even more glaring.
Yun Xiangxiang’s face turned pale. The genius girl, always surrounded by admiration and coddled like a jewel in the palm, had never faced such humiliation before.
Deep down, she had always felt that Jiang Shuo owed her a life, yet she had never thought to demand anything from him.
Si Yao’s words snapped her back to reality. All the trouble Jiang Shuo had faced with the Xuan Yang Sect—she had caused it. Even the day she had risked her life to save him had, in a sense, brought him trouble. Jiang Shuo could have stayed safe without her interference. Her one-sided devotion had only moved herself.
However, though delicate, Yun Xiangxiang was the heir of a great clan. She held back her tears and asked stubbornly, “Brother Jiang… have you always thought I was a trouble?”
When Si Yao was confronting the Yun clan, Yun Xiangxiang had looked at Jiang Shuo for help several times. He had ignored her every time. She could not accept that, and she wanted to prove that all the effort he had put into her safety while she was poisoned had been genuine.
Jiang Shuo still refused to acknowledge her. Seeing his indifferent attitude, Si Yao, from a hidden angle, quietly tugged on his sleeve.
Only then did Jiang Shuo lift his gaze to Yun Xiangxiang.
His starry eyes were beautiful, yet calm and detached.
“The Xuan Yang Sect may act like villains, but they are worthless. They do not qualify as my trouble.”
“Only you, Miss Yun, acted on your own, giving me a savior and causing me unnecessary trouble.”
His voice was cold and distant, leaving no warmth. His stance was clear and indifferent.
Jiang Shuo’s attitude was cold and unforgiving. Si Yao, seeing Yun Xiangxiang’s heartbroken state and frail body, felt a pang of pity.
However, if they didn’t act, the Yun clan would undoubtedly use the life-saving debt to blackmail Jiang Shuo, repeatedly hindering his fight against the boss level enemy.
“So that’s the truth,” someone murmured. “The Yun clan played their cards well. They were trying to cheat Jiang Shuo.”
“They really went too far. If they got their way, Jiang Shuo wouldn’t even be able to defend himself.”
Yun Xiangxiang’s expression had already told the truth. What Si Yao said was real, and some onlookers felt compelled to defend Jiang Shuo.
Yun Xia bit her lip, realizing the situation was slipping from her control. Her gaze toward Si Yao practically burned.
Si Yao thought, You’re glaring at me? I saved your life.
If it weren’t for Si Yao calming Jiang Shuo, given how unreasonable the Yun clan had been, he could have wiped them out long ago.
Si Yao smiled at Jiang Shuo, her eyes curved in a playful crescent. “See, I’ve got your back.”
Jiang Shuo remained silent. He had never taken the Yun clan seriously. Without Si Yao here, those Yun clan lackeys would probably be dead already.
He understood that Si Yao’s actions were to protect his reputation, to prevent him from gaining a fearsome, merciless reputation.
He also knew it was her way of gaining his favor.
Thinking this, a corner of his mouth lifted into a faint smile. Watching Si Yao argue on his behalf, even if not genuinely, felt… nice.
【Target Favorability +30, Task Complete, Reward: Points +30, Charisma +20, Cultivation +1 minor realm】
Hearing the system’s notification, Si Yao’s lips curved slightly, her eyes sparkling like stars. This trip to Feng City had elevated her cultivation to the peak of Foundation Establishment.
Meanwhile, the Xiao clan, having witnessed the whole spectacle, couldn’t resist mocking the Yun clan, given their long-standing rivalry.
Jiang Shuo and Si Yao had no interest in the grudges between the two clans. After storing the Vermilion Bird egg in her spatial ring, they left Xiaoyao Tower together.
Everyone had assumed Jiang Shuo and Yun Xiangxiang were a perfect match made in Heaven. What happened at Xiaoyao Tower completely overturned that perception. The story of Jiang Shuo and the stunning woman in pale ocean blue dress quickly spread across the continent.
—
Si Yao had no patience for all the gossip. Originally, she had been resistant to the task of getting close to Jiang Shuo, but things had progressed far more smoothly than she expected.
Jiang Shuo did not linger in Feng City. Together, they returned to his secluded manor.
This was one of Jiang Shuo’s strongholds. He had set up powerful formations around it. Anyone who tried to intrude without permission would be reduced to ashes within moments, even if they were at the Mahayana stage.
By the time they arrived, night had fallen.
Moonlight spilled across the grounds, stars twinkled above. Si Yao had intended to rest first. Speaking out at Xiaoyao Tower had left her parched and exhausted.
“Crack—”
At that moment, Si Yao heard the sound of something breaking.
Startled, she quickly retrieved the Vermilion Bird egg from her spatial ring.
Placing it on the ground, she watched as the shell shimmered and glowed with a fiery red light. Tiny cracks had already appeared at the top.
Her eyes shone like stars in the darkness as she turned to Jiang Shuo, her expression tense with excitement. “Is it coming out?”
Seeing her reaction, Jiang Shuo nodded slightly. He knew Si Yao had always had a soft spot for animals and rare magical creatures.
Si Yao’s dark, shining eyes stayed fixed on the Vermilion Bird egg, unblinking.
The egg, covered in strange, swirling patterns, slowly began to crack. The fissures widened, and from them burst a dazzling red light, so intense it lit up the small courtyard as if it were daytime.
Si Yao quickly closed her eyes and raised her arm to shield herself from the blinding glow.
After a long moment, the light finally began to fade.
She slowly lowered her arm and looked toward the source.
The patterns on the Vermilion Bird egg, which had once glowed, were now completely dim. The top of the shell had shattered entirely, and from the broken pieces, a tiny head peeked out.
The little creature’s eyes were jet black and shiny. It tilted its head slightly, blinking curiously at Si Yao.
So cute. Seeing the small Vermilion Bird with its big, red-tinted eyes, Si Yao couldn’t help but smile, reaching out a hand to touch it.
Startled by her movement, the little one flapped its wings and leapt out of the shell.
The Vermilion Bird hatchling’s feathers blazed a fiery red, shimmering brilliantly as if it carried a miniature sun with it.
A strange light flickered in its black eyes. Being a divine beast, it was born with intelligence far beyond ordinary creatures.
Si Yao thought she might have scared it and stayed still, extending her hand gently from a distance to call it.
But the hatchling did not move. It tilted its head, looking at her with innocent confusion.
“Vermilion Bird are divine beasts. Even as hatchlings, their power can rival that of Golden Core cultivators. It carries divine flames in its body. If you touch it, you could be badly burned instantly,” Jiang Shuo warned kindly.
So tiny and adorable—how could it possibly hurt anyone?
Si Yao turned to argue, but before she could speak, a soft, childish voice came from beside her.
“Mommy.”
Si Yao: “Huh?”
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T/N: Tada, this cute little Vermilion Bird hatchling is actually one of the plot holes. So, don’t get your hopes up about this little guy. 🤭
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