The Male Lead I Wronged Has Blackened

CHAPTER 38: Ruthless

　　Si Yao froze at Jiang Shuo’s words. She knew the situation was serious, but she hadn’t expected him to actually say something like that.

　　Jiang Shuo was proud, confident in his own strength. If even he spoke this way, it could only mean one thing—the danger was so severe that he was prepared to risk everything.

　　Si Yao couldn’t help but think, not without admiration, that he truly was the hardest boss in the story. Even as the male lead, winning would be incredibly difficult.

　　He had prepared for the worst, determined to protect her no matter what.

　　But he couldn’t have foreseen that if something happened to him, even if she escaped to the ends of the world, death would still follow.

　　If Jiang Shuo fell, the mission would fail, and her soul would be erased from existence. Her fate and Jiang Shuo's were already inextricably linked.

　　Compared to Jiang Shuo’s heavy heart, Si Yao felt surprisingly light. Her brows curved, her eyes soft as she looked at his serious gaze and smiled gently. “I’m not going anywhere.”

　　“I’ll stay right here. I’m not going anywhere at all.”

　　Her smile was tender, yet full of resolve, leaving Jiang Shuo momentarily stunned.

　　The Beast King and Demon Lord were prodigies of their realms, each with a thousand years of cultivation. Facing both alone was reckless, but his only fear was being stretched too thin in battle, unable to protect her fully.

　　Jiang Shuo shook himself, frowning, and for once argued against her: “No, you have to leave here. If—”

　　“There is no if!”

　　Si Yao cut him off with determination, reaching out to hold his hand, steadying him.

　　“Nothing is going to happen like that!”

　　Her expression was unwavering, though in her mind she silently grumbled. If Jiang Shuo dies, I won’t survive alone either. This damn system will just erase me. No matter where I run, it’s the same death. Why even bother.

　　Jiang Shuo, looking into her eyes, felt his heart light up. A joy bloomed inside him, and he gripped her hand even tighter.

　　He heard her heart clearly, though he chose to selectively ignore the latter part. In his mind, only the words “If Jiang Shuo dies, I won’t survive alone” echoed.

　　To him, there was no sweeter phrase in the world. A warm, sweet feeling spread through his chest, sweeping away the exhaustion of the past days.

　　So this is what happiness feels like, Jiang Shuo thought.

　　Yet, even though her words made his heart ache with sweetness, he still could not simply follow her wish. He was already planning to find a way to send her safely far away from danger.

　　Jiang Shuo didn’t stay long this time either. Si Yao barely had time to take a sip of the tea before he hurriedly left again.

　　On the third day after the former Sect leader’s passing, Si Yao finally stepped out of her room. The entire Xuanming Sect was shrouded in gloom, and no one had the energy to care about her.

　　While reading the book, she had once thought this part of the story was dull, just the calm before the storm. But now that she experienced it firsthand, she realized the weight of war’s shadow—how it pressed down on everyone’s hearts.

　　Si Yao wandered around the sect for a while before heading back. As soon as she stepped into the courtyard, she saw Mu Yuanbai standing there, dressed in white, hands clasped behind his back.

　　He had clearly been waiting for some time. Judging by his grave expression, she knew he had something important to say.

　　Si Yao greeted him with a smile and invited him inside.

　　Mu Yuanbai sat down at the table, one hand resting on the surface, his gaze fixed on her. He didn’t waste any words, diving straight into the matter: “It’s no longer safe within the sect. I’ll find a way to get you out of here, but you must protect yourself—”

　　He spoke quickly and urgently, rambling almost, yet he didn’t notice that Si Yao’s smile had already vanished.

　　“I am part of the Xuanming Sect. I’m not going anywhere.”

　　Her voice was firm, stubborn with a touch of defiance.

　　Since the turmoil began, all the disciples had been determined to defend the Xuanming Sect to the death. While her cultivation level was initially low, that wasn’t an excuse to run.

　　Besides, thanks to the system’s rewards, her cultivation had reached mid-Nascent Soul stage, making her one of the stronger disciples in the inner sect. She could at least protect herself.

　　If weaker disciples hadn’t thought of running, how could she abandon the sect in its time of need?

　　Mu Yuanbai hadn’t expected her to refuse so firmly. His thoughts darkened for a moment, his black eyes trembling slightly. He pressed his lips together and asked in a low voice, “Is it because of Jiang Shuo?”

　　The possibility brought a pang of sorrow to his heart. He feared the answer but couldn’t stop himself from asking, “Have you really decided to marry him?”

　　At the same time, Jiang Shuo, just returning from a meeting at Yuanming Hall, froze at the door.

　　Hearing another man’s voice inside, his first instinct was to storm in and chase him out. But when he caught Mu Yuanbai’s words, something inside him made him pause, his hand halting mid-push on the door.

　　Si Yao hadn’t expected Mu Yuanbai to pin the reason on Jiang Shuo. She felt a flicker of anger. Though she had only recently returned to Xuanming Sect under the identity of Si Luo, ten years ago she had been an inner disciple, having received much from the sect. Both by reason and by sentiment, she shouldn’t be thinking only of herself while the sect faced danger.

　　Mu Yuanbai looked at Si Yao with complicated emotions. When he saw her expression darken, he quietly clenched his fist and continued, “Back then, Jiang Shuo refused to succeed as Sect Leader. Elder Situ lied to the outside world, saying you and I were going to become Daoist Partners. That was what forced Jiang Shuo to take the position.”

　　“After Jiang Shuo took over, the elders told you to keep him steady. All this time, I believed you were only getting close to him because you were following their orders. Or is it that you truly…”

　　“Fell in love with Jiang Shuo…?”

　　Mu Yuanbai was always calm and self restrained, yet Si Yao’s attitude threw his heart into chaos. When he finally asked that last question, it nearly stole his breath. If Si Yao truly loved Jiang Shuo…

　　He could not even bear to think further.

　　Mu Yuanbai looked at her in panic, desperately hoping to hear her deny it.

　　Outside the door, Jiang Shuo stood frozen, listening. A dull ache spread through his chest.

　　He knew Si Yao had not willingly agreed to the engagement with him. He had thought what she wanted was the position of Sect Leader’s wife. He never imagined it had all been a setup, a scheme she planned together with others to deceive him.

　　Even these past days of gentle words and sweet moments between them were part of that plan, all meant to keep him in place.

　　Jiang Shuo almost wanted to laugh. At his own ignorance. At his own foolishness.

　　If not for the elders’ orders, she probably would have rejected him again that very day.

　　He heard Mu Yuanbai ask her whether she had truly fallen in love with him.

　　In that instant, Jiang Shuo clenched his fist tightly. Pain flickered in his eyes, mixed with a nearly pleading hope. Even though he knew it was impossible, he still foolishly wished to hear her say it.

　　“Yes. I fell in love with Jiang Shuo.”

　　Mu Yuanbai’s question left Si Yao stunned. Had she really fallen in love with Jiang Shuo?

　　She had asked herself that question countless times these past days. Perhaps she had already known the answer for a long time, even earlier than she realized.

　　Yes. I fell in love with Jiang Shuo.

　　She answered quietly in her heart.

　　But when she looked at Mu Yuanbai with reddened eyes, the words that left her lips were different.

　　“I have never loved Jiang Shuo.”

　　“Not now. Not in the future. Never.”

　　I have never loved Jiang Shuo.

　　Si Yao’s ruthless words reached Jiang Shuo’s ears like a dull blade, striking his heart with brutal force, leaving it bleeding.

　　It hurt.

　　His tightly clenched fists suddenly relaxed, yet a self-mocking smile tugged at the corner of his lips.

　　What exactly was he hoping for? He had known all along, had mentally prepared himself, yet why did it still hurt this much?

　　Si Yao spoke with unwavering resolve. Her eyes were red, and when she looked at Mu Yuanbai, there was a hint of anger in her gaze.

　　She gripped the teacup tightly, her fingertips whitening from the pressure. In front of her eyes, a blur of shimmering tears threatened to spill, but she held them back with all her strength.

　　Her voice was cold: “I stay here for the Xuanming Sect. It has nothing to do with Jiang Shuo. Nothing at all.”

　　“Who I like… will never be Jiang Shuo.”

　　Her words were ice-cold, void of any emotion.

　　Outside the door, Jiang Shuo’s face drained of color in an instant. The excitement he had felt at the thought of seeing her was extinguished like a bucket of cold water thrown over him, leaving him chilled to the bone.

　　His usually proud and composed eyes now held a shadow of pain. He left as if fleeing for his life.

　　Si Yao straightened, her body tense, every nerve wound tight. Only when she sensed that the person outside had truly left did she allow herself a slight release.

　　She set the teacup down and said again: “I will handle everything the elders asked of me. Senior Brother need not worry. I will not see you off any further.”

　　Her expression remained blank, her voice cold, the message clear.

　　For some reason, even as Mu Yuanbai heard the answer he had hoped for, there was no joy in his heart. Seeing Si Yao’s restrained composure made his chest tighten. Could it be true… that she really did not love Jiang Shuo?    

　　Si Yao was a little angry, which made her attitude sharp. Mu Yuanbai knew his question had been abrupt, so it was understandable that she reacted this way. He lowered his head, gave her a brief nod, and left.

　　Once Mu Yuanbai had gone, Si Yao finally released the emotions she had been holding back. Tears spilled from her eyes like pearls, dropping one by one.

　　With Jiang Shuo’s cultivation, no one could sense his movements in advance unless he chose to reveal himself, except for Si Yao.

　　Thanks to the system’s help, she had already known Jiang Shuo was coming long before he arrived.

　　Mu Yuanbai’s question had struck like a sharp blade, piercing through the illusions she had been holding onto.

　　The time she had spent with Jiang Shuo in these past days had drawn her in, but the moment Mu Yuanbai asked that question, she realized things could not continue like this.

　　A love that was never meant to be should not give anyone even a sliver of hope.

　　She knew Jiang Shuo had been eavesdropping outside, which is why her answer had to be so firm and ruthless, cutting off every possibility.

　　Si Yao had never thought there could be words so hard to speak, as if they had drained all her strength.

　　There was no future for her and Jiang Shuo. She had to sever all ties as soon as possible. Only then, when she disappeared from this world, would Jiang Shuo be spared from going mad over her.    

        

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