Chapter 11: The Unfathomable Assassination
1300 Words
Selena’s expression changed the moment she heard Caesar’s voice. A flash of disgust passed through her eyes, but it quickly vanished, replaced by a perfectly formal smile. She gave him a courteous bow and said,
“Ah, so it’s the Second Prince. I did not expect to see Your Highness here. This is quite a surprise for Selena.”
Caesar’s eyes swept over Selena’s beautiful face and graceful figure, and a strong desire and possessiveness flickered within them. But he quickly concealed it and replied with gentlemanly elegance,
“Selena, you’re being too polite. Didn’t I tell you before? Just call me Caesar. By the way, are you returning from Hirod City?”
Selena nodded.
“Yes. I rushed back to prepare for the auction taking place in ten days.”
But her expression made it obvious she was only giving polite, perfunctory answers. She couldn’t afford to offend him—but she had no interest in entertaining him either.
Yoshua Brave leaned close to Laneya’s ear and whispered,
“Laneya, this guy is a prince? Why didn’t you tell me?”
His posture was incredibly intimate. Laneya felt his warm breath brush across her earlobe—no boy had ever leaned so close to her before. Her face instantly turned red, her mind hazy, and she couldn’t even process what he had said. Her pearly teeth lightly bit her lower lip, and she looked absolutely adorable.
Yoshua felt quite pleased with himself. After spending the last few days together, he had already gained Laneya’s affection. Though they weren’t officially together yet, she had been allowing his occasional little flirtations—wasn’t that practically encouragement? Yoshua’s mood soared.
But Hongya was still rude to him as always. He constantly felt the urge to spank that bratty girl.
Laneya suppressed the tingling in her ears and whispered,
“Please help Selena, Yoshua. We all dislike Caesar—especially Selena. People say he tried something on her before but failed. Even so, he keeps pestering her. You know he needs funds to fight for the throne, and Selena’s family’s Heath Merchant Group is the perfect target.”
Yoshua grinned.
“If you want my help, no problem. But is there a reward? Maybe… a kiss?”
Laneya’s cheeks instantly turned scarlet, but she didn’t answer. Yoshua knew she was shy and didn’t push further. Laughing loudly, he turned to Selena:
“Miss Selena, Laneya introduced you just now, but she didn’t introduce me. So let me do it myself.
My name is Yoshua Brave, twenty years old, talented and promising, handsome and wealthy, still unmarried—the ideal partner for any young lady.
It is an honor to meet someone as stunning as you. Please allow me to offer my sincerest compliment: your beauty is a masterpiece of the gods. I am certain you are an angel who has fallen to the mortal world.”
As soon as he finished speaking, reactions varied:
Selena’s cheeks flushed;
Laneya and Hongya looked both envious and annoyed;
but Caesar’s expression turned a frightening shade of green.
This brat! First he competes with me for Laneya, and now he’s trying to steal Selena?
Just wait until we return to the Imperial Capital—I’ll deal with you then!
Since the three girls hadn’t eaten, Yoshua took out some roasted meat, cut it up, and shared it with everyone—including Caesar’s group.
For Selena and Caesar’s attendants, it was their first time tasting Yoshua’s cooking. They felt it was food fit for the gods. Even the refined Selena couldn’t help but abandon her usual grace as she ate.
Caesar’s group suddenly felt deeply wronged. These past days, while Yoshua’s group enjoyed this heavenly food, they had been chewing stale bread. Their resentment soared as they bit into the roasted meat—each of them wishing the meat were Yoshua instead.
After eating, the three girls gathered together and began chatting energetically.
Yoshua lay on the ground, listening to the sweet voices—it was delightful.
When he looked toward Caesar’s group, he noticed they were also whispering among themselves. He extended his senses to listen—and nearly fainted.
They were plotting how to get rid of him once they reached the capital.
Assassination, poison, framing—nothing was off the table.
Damn it, you three scumbags. So what if you’re princes and nobles?
If you dare provoke me, I’ll make sure you regret it.
When the journey resumed, the three girls squeezed into Selena’s carriage. Yoshua wanted to join them, but for strategic reasons, he held himself back.
Instead, he rode with Bighead and Firehawk, bragging and teasing until Firehawk stared wide-eyed in disbelief, letting out startled cries every now and then.
When the topic shifted to necromancers, Firehawk said,
“It’s strange. Lately, necromancers have become far too active—and far too many. They’re slaughtering villagers in remote areas. The Holy Church keeps sending people to hunt them down, but tragedies continue.
Sinners against the gods… they must be wiped out completely. May the Bright God protect us.”
Yoshua asked,
“Brother Firehawk, I’m from a small place. I don’t know much about the outside world. From what you said, are necromancers really that numerous on the continent?”
“Yes. Necromancy disturbs the souls of the dead and enslaves their bones. It is unforgivable.”
“What if it isn’t necromancy, but dark magic?”
“Dark magic? Brother, most people on the continent worship the Bright God, and darkness opposes light. Unless someone is born aligned with darkness, no one willingly practices dark magic. That’s why dark mages are very rare.”
“The Holy Church doesn’t kill dark mages?”
“No. Only necromancers are hunted by the Church.
Dark magic is disliked, yes—but dark mages aren’t executed.
In fact, the vice-dean of the Imperial Magic-Martial Academy in Serost, Master Fred, is a dark mage—the only one in the Empire.”
Yoshua let out a breath of relief.
He was a jiangshi (corpse-spirit). The magic he could use was earth-based dao-energy, demon techniques, and dark magic. He wasn’t afraid of the Church, but unnecessary trouble was still annoying.
He turned and saw the three girls smiling sweetly.
Sensing his gaze, Laneya gave him a soft smile filled with affection.
Hongya, on the other hand, glared fiercely at him.
Selena actually dared to flirt with him—so he sent a playful look back.
Selena instantly blushed and lowered her head, while Yoshua felt immensely satisfied.
Firehawk burst into loud laughter beside him.
Suddenly, Yoshua felt a chilling surge of killing intent.
His sharp sensitivity to murderous aura warned him immediately—not aimed at him, but his spiritual sense was focused on the girls.
The killing intent was directed straight at Selena.
“Selena, watch out! Assassins!”
He leapt from Bighead’s back, kicked off the air, and shot toward Selena’s carriage.
At the same moment, dozens of black arrows burst out from the forest on both sides.
Yoshua cast Earth Wall instantly. Two massive earth walls rose and blocked the arrows—they struck but failed to penetrate.
Chaos erupted.
The Heath Merchant Group’s guards surrounded the carriage, but dozens of masked men rushed out of the trees, daggers raised. Not all guards were loyal—several suddenly charged from behind, disrupting the defense and attacking their own comrades.
The assassins slipped through the broken formation, about to leap into the carriage—
Time suddenly… slowed.
Everything moved like molasses.
Inside Yoshua’s Time Barrier, only he could act normally.
He approached the assassins one by one, tapping them lightly on the neck, then released the barrier.
The traitorous guards were quickly killed or captured, and Yoshua single-handedly neutralized the ambush.
- Writer
