The Male Lead I Wronged Has Blackened

CHAPTER 32: He Indulges Her

　　Si Yao was feeling smug. Mimicking the way those girls had mocked her earlier, she crossed her arms over her chest and put on an overbearing, high and mighty look, so infuriating that Lin Churou and the other female disciples were glaring so hard their eyes practically popped out.

　　They were so angry that the spiritual energy in their bodies surged uncontrollably. They wanted nothing more than to teach Si Yao a brutal lesson. But the elders had already issued a strict order. During this period, anyone who caused trouble within the sect would be severely punished.

　　With so many eyes watching, if they dared lay a hand on Si Yao, punishment under sect rules was guaranteed. And so, they swallowed their fury whole.

　　Seeing how furious they looked, Si Yao finally felt her own anger ease. Her eyes curved with delight as she smiled brightly.

　　Just as she was happily about to turn around and leave, a dangerously calm voice rang out behind her.

　　“You’re getting married to who?”

　　For a moment, Si Yao did not react. She thought it was just more people coming to pick a fight. She waved her hand dismissively, not even bothering to turn her head. “Who else could it be? Senior Brother, obviously.”

　　“If you really can’t stand me and want to oppose this marriage so badly, go take it up with the elders. What’s the point of cornering me here every single day and throwing tantrums?”

　　She lifted her chin slightly, snapping back without looking behind her.

　　“Mu Yuanbai?”

　　That dangerous voice sounded again.

　　Si Yao froze on the spot.

　　Why did that voice sound so familiar?

　　Jiang Shuo had originally been watching quietly from the side. But the moment he spoke, all eyes instantly turned toward him.

　　Over the past few days, the sect had been buzzing nonstop over Mu Yuanbai’s succession as the next Sect Leader. Yet Jiang Shuo, one of the main figures in all this gossip, had never shown his face. Now that he had finally appeared, everyone was eager to see what kind of attitude he would take.

　　To put it simply, they all wanted to know whether Jiang Shuo would fall out with Mu Yuanbai over this. After all, compared to Mu Yuanbai, Jiang Shuo had once been the more likely candidate to inherit the position.

　　Si Yao’s steps toward Yuanming Hall came to an abrupt halt. She nervously clenched the corner of her robe, quietly cursing her luck. Damn it, why did it have to happen at a moment like this?

　　Had Jiang Shuo heard all that nonsense she had just blurted out?

　　Was she really going to marry Mu Yuanbai?

　　After hearing Si Yao’s answer with his own ears, Jiang Shuo felt a violent surge of emotion churn through his chest, raging with nowhere to go. His handsome face turned icy as he walked toward her step by step, his presence cold and oppressive, like a hellish asura that made people instinctively afraid.

　　A chill ran down Si Yao’s spine. She stood frozen in place, too stiff to move forward, too awkward to turn around.

　　Jiang Shuo stopped just behind her, his dark, cold gaze fixed on the back of her head.

　　“You’re going to marry Mu Yuanbai?”

　　His voice sounded calm and hoarse, but beneath it lurked an overwhelming hostility, tightly restrained by sheer will.

　　In her heart, Si Yao was already ranting like crazy. Who she married was none of his business anyway. Wasn’t he being way too nosy?

　　On the surface, though, she just stammered, unable to squeeze out a single word, completely at a loss for how to answer him.

　　Perhaps feeling that having her back to him was a bit disrespectful, Si Yao forced herself to relax. She rolled her stiff neck, then turned around and flashed Jiang Shuo an awkward smile, letting out a couple of dry laughs.

　　Unfortunately, in Jiang Shuo’s eyes, that smile looked nothing but foolish.　　

　　Si Yao let out an awkward cough and smiled at Jiang Shuo, deliberately changing the subject. “Long time no see. Where have you been these past two days?”

　　Jiang Shuo’s brows furrowed tightly. Completely unmoved, he cut her off. “Answer me. Are you going to marry Mu Yuanbai?”

　　His gaze was locked onto Si Yao, thin lips pressed into a hard line. His eyes were bloodshot, and his long fingers curled into fists as he forced himself to suppress the raging anger inside, waiting for her to give him an explanation.

　　Seeing him like this, Si Yao instinctively avoided his gaze. She lowered her head and muttered, “Well… you know… when someone insists on forcing a melon off the vine… I really don’t have a choice either…”

　　She put on a look of helplessness, as if she truly did not want this and was being forced into it. That only earned her more hostile stares. In the eyes of others, she was clearly benefiting from the situation yet still pretending to be innocent.

　　After learning that Si Yao was not marrying of her own free will, Jiang Shuo’s anger eased slightly. But then another thought struck him. If someone told her to marry, she would just go along with it? The anger that had just subsided flared up again in an instant.

　　He recalled how she had looked earlier. Not only had she not objected to marrying Mu Yuanbai, she had even seemed happy about it.

　　Jiang Shuo’s heart sank straight to the bottom. An overwhelming sense of unease washed over him. The redness in his eyes, brought on by anger, was now mixed with pain. He clenched his teeth and asked, almost holding his breath, “Do you like Mu Yuanbai?”

　　Was her lack of objection to the wedding because she liked him?

　　Did she want to marry him?

　　Just thinking about it made Jiang Shuo feel like he could barely breathe. He did not dare imagine what would happen if Si Yao answered yes, whether he would completely lose control.

　　The pain in Jiang Shuo’s eyes stunned Si Yao. A sudden impulse rose in her chest. She wanted to smooth the crease between his brows and tell him that she had never wanted to marry Mu Yuanbai, that she did not like him at all.

　　But reason had always outweighed emotion for her. She suppressed the impulse, dropped her playful attitude, and put on a cold, serious expression as she looked at Jiang Shuo. “Does it even matter whether I like him or not?”　　

　　Si Yao did not answer Jiang Shuo’s question directly. Instead, she asked one of her own.

　　Jiang Shuo froze. Si Yao continued, “If I marry him, I get to be the Sect Leader’s wife of Xuanming Sect. Why would I refuse?”

　　“What reason would I have to refuse?”

　　Her voice was not quiet. Everyone present heard her shameless words, and a wave of murmurs rippled through the crowd.

　　Listening to her earnest answer, Jiang Shuo suddenly laughed.

　　Right.

　　Did liking someone even matter?

　　Marriage was marriage. As long as she achieved her own goal, that was enough.

　　How could he forget? Si Yao had always been this kind of person, someone who would stop at nothing to get what she wanted.

　　He had underestimated her; he hadn't expected her to be willing to give herself to someone just for the position of Sect Leader's wife.

　　Jiang Shuo let out a cold scoff. The chill around him seemed to deepen, as if the temperature itself had dropped.

　　“Fine.”

　　His voice was hoarse, laced with a violent edge that made hearts tremble.

　　“If you want to be the Sect Leader’s wife, then be it.”

　　His bloodshot eyes lingered on Si Yao for a long moment before he turned and headed toward Yuanming Hall.

　　The instant Jiang Shuo left, the crowd erupted into noise. No one had dared speak earlier under the weight of his presence, but now discussions broke out everywhere, all centered on what had just happened.

　　Si Yao’s gaze dimmed slightly. She lowered her head, hiding the sadness in her eyes, unsure whether she should still go to Yuanming Hall.

　　At least for now, she did not want to see Jiang Shuo.

　　Just as Si Yao was about to leave, the crowd stirred again. She looked up and realized that Mu Yuanbai had arrived.

　　Mu Yuanbai walked up to her and spoke gently. “The elder summoned you as well? Let’s go together.”

　　This road was the only path to Yuanming Hall. Elder Situ had summoned both Mu Yuanbai and Si Yao, which was why they ran into each other here.

　　Although Si Yao did not really want to go, she could not bring herself to turn Mu Yuanbai down. In the end, she went with him.

　　After the Immortal Sect Assembly ended, Elder Situ laid out the entire plan to Mu Yuanbai. He knew very well that everything was merely a scheme to force Jiang Shuo into action.

　　Even though he felt disappointed, the elders were acting for the greater good. He was more than willing to continue playing his part in this carefully staged act.　　

　　When they arrived at Yuanming Hall, Mu Yuanbai and Si Yao greeted the elders together. Standing side by side like that, they looked unexpectedly well-matched, a sight that made Jiang Shuo’s eyes sting.

　　Elder Hongfang smiled kindly and waved at the two of them. “No need for formalities.”

　　Mu Yuanbai and Si Yao took their seats to the side.

　　The moment Si Yao sat down, she felt a cold, piercing gaze lock onto her, sharp enough to prickle her skin. She deliberately pretended not to notice, acting as if she could not see him at all.

　　Seeing this, Elder Situ continued the topic he had been discussing with Jiang Shuo. Turning toward him, he said, “The council has already announced before the entire sect and the leaders of the four factions that Mu Yuanbai will succeed as Sect Leader. On what grounds do you think we would revoke that decision just because of your objection?”

　　Ever since Jiang Shuo returned to the sect, they had tried countless times to persuade him to take on the position of Sect Leader, only to be rejected every time. It had given them no end of headaches. Who would have thought that Elder Situ’s seemingly absurd method would actually work? Elder Hongfang’s aged face looked as though it had suddenly grown ten years younger.

　　He leisurely stroked his snow-white beard and added with relish, “The council’s decision has already been made. Stop making trouble. We still need to discuss Mu Yuanbai and Si Yao’s marriage, as well as the arrangements for the succession ceremony.”

　　When Jiang Shuo heard Elder Hongfang mention Si Yao and Mu Yuanbai’s wedding, his expression darkened to a frightening degree.

　　With a heavy face, he spoke slowly. “Because I am the strongest person in the entire Xuanming Sect. The strong are respected. I am the one who should inherit the position of Sect Leader.”

　　“In terms of strength, I surpass Mu Yuanbai and can protect the sect for hundreds, even thousands of years.”

　　“In terms of reputation, my name is known throughout the world. I have the people’s support.”

　　“I am more suitable than Mu Yuanbai.”

　　Jiang Shuo seemed to have completely forgotten how disdainful he had once been toward the position of Sect Leader, now doing his utmost to sell himself to the elders.

　　Elder Situ nodded, appearing to seriously consider Jiang Shuo’s words. After a long pause, he let out a sigh and said in compromise, “What you say does make sense.”

　　“In that case, you shall take over as Sect Leader.”

　　Si Yao was a little speechless when she heard Elder Situ agree so lightly. Just like that? At least pretend to refuse a couple more times.

　　Elder Situ then took out a gleaming golden token, carved with the character “冥”(Ming).

　　Holding it up before Jiang Shuo, he said, “Drip a drop of your essence blood onto it, and we will acknowledge you as the next Sect Leader.”

　　This was a special divine artifact that would bind itself to its Master for life. Once blood-bound, Jiang Shuo would have no way to back out.

　　The token symbolized the identity of the Xuanming Sect's Leader, and it appeared many times in the original storyline. Si Yao naturally knew exactly how powerful it was.

　　She watched Jiang Shuo nervously, silently urging him to hurry up and drip his blood already so everything could finally be settled.

　　Jiang Shuo was a little surprised by how easily Elder Situ agreed, but he had no regrets. Just as he pierced his fingertip and was about to let his blood fall onto the token, a strange thought suddenly crossed his mind.

　　Why did Mu Yuanbai get to marry first and then inherit the position, while he was expected to inherit right away?

　　He wanted to get married too!

　　He pulled his hand back and looked at Elder Situ. “No. I’m not married yet.”

　　Everything had been so close to success, yet Jiang Shuo suddenly lost his mind and stopped the binding midway.

　　Si Yao was so angry she nearly wanted to slap him on the spot. She glared at him furiously.

　　Jiang Shuo, however, looked back at her with a victorious smile in his eyes.

　　“I also want to marry Si Luo.”

　　If it was just the position of the Sect Leader’s wife she wanted, he would give it to her.

    

    

   

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