At this moment, it was exactly like that past moment. Chu Yuan’s hands clenched tightly around the food box. This time, he had grown up. He didn’t want to just stand by and watch tragedy unfold again. Seeing the Dragon Emperor, with whom he had grown closer, being abused like this, the chill in Chu Yuan’s eyes intensified. Having been in the [Realm of True Emotions] for over a hundred years, this was the first time he felt such intense, concentrated killing intent.
Just as he was about to step forward to intervene, Chu Yuan immediately stopped himself. ‘No! I can’t act now!’ A century of being tempered through various trials by the Fox Venerable had honed his will, preventing him from charging out recklessly like a hot-headed fool. Currently, there were only two people and one dragon in the bedchamber, with no others present. If Chu Yuan acted rashly, he might only be falsely accused by this Grand Elder. Then, he could end up being framed as the one abusing the Emperor, unable to defend himself. After all, within the alliance, Chu Yuan was still just an Imperial Chef who cooked for the Emperor.
To thoroughly deal with this Grand Elder, he needed to prepare. It would be best to unite more forces, at least to ensure people knew he had just cause. ‘Everything that happens is to my advantage.’ Chu Yuan took a deep breath, carefully organizing the available intelligence. Based on his observations during this time, he clearly understood that the Demon Path Alliance was riddled with factions and was not a monolithic bloc. Although the Eagle-Nosed Grand Elder’s faction was powerful, it wasn’t an absolute dictatorship. For one, he and the Fox Venerable could be considered one faction. There were also other demonic sects like the Hehuan Sect and the Netherworld Sect. If he could get them all here, what would they think upon seeing the Grand Elder abusing the Dragon Emperor?
A plan formed in his mind. Chu Yuan sent a sound transmission command: [Fox Venerable, immediately summon the elders from factions hostile to the Grand Elder! Don’t ask why! It must be fast and discreet!]
The Fox Venerable seemed to have anticipated something. Without excessive questioning, she replied: [Yes, Holy Son!]
After giving the order, Chu Yuan kept watch inside the bedchamber. During the wait, the sound of the whip continued. With each lash, the dragon beast’s back tensed, yet it never cried out. Chu Yuan watched as the whip was raised and fell again and again. The sound of flesh splitting was dull and drawn-out, like someone using a blunt knife to slice at his heart over and over. Chu Yuan couldn’t imagine what the Emperor had endured over the past century.
Actually, he had already noticed clues before. This dragon beast suppressed by the formation wasn’t truly the leader of the Demon Path Alliance; it was merely a blank sheet of paper put forward. What was written on that paper wasn’t her will, but someone else’s ambition. She sat in this cold palace, even transformed into human form wearing luxurious black robes and a heavy crown, but that was just another, prettier chain.
Chu Yuan inexplicably recalled the scripts the System had given him over the years. The scripts dictated what he should say, do, and what expressions to show toward his Senior Sister. Back then, Chu Yuan thought it was just completing tasks, going through the motions. But he soon understood: the script meant—if it tells you to laugh, you cannot cry; if it tells you to kneel, you cannot stand; if it tells you to be a licking dog, you have to wag your tail and fawn. Even if your Senior Sister gives you a cold glance or kicks you away, you have to wag your tail and approach again next time.
And so, he acted as a licking dog for over a hundred years. He acted until he himself almost couldn’t distinguish whether that servility and fawning were the System’s commands or his own true nature. Chu Yuan only knew that every time he stood behind his Senior Sister, watching her cold, aloof back, an indescribable ache would surge in his heart.
He knew very clearly that the humble Junior Brother he played at the Heavenly Sword Sect was never truly himself—he was just a pawn clutched in the System’s hand. Following the trajectory of the script drawn by the System, Chu Yuan walked step by step toward the predetermined end, all for the sake of being free and unfettered after being reborn again.
And the Dragon Emperor? Who wrote her script? Was it the person who taught her obedience with a whip? The person before him who hatched her from an egg? Those who pushed her onto the throne to be their puppet? She never had a choice. From the moment she hatched, her life was written by others—to be an obedient dragon! She couldn’t have her own will, her own preferences, not even her own emotions. She could only be a useful tool, a decorative ornament. She had to be aloof, looking down upon all beings with her golden pupils, because that was how an “Emperor” should be.
But an Emperor shouldn’t be chained by iron, shouldn’t be whipped, shouldn’t have to secretly swallow saliva over a piece of Osmanthus Cake. Chu Yuan remembered the first time he brought her Osmanthus Cake. When she tasted it, her dragon eyes repeatedly shone with a brilliant light. That light wasn’t imperial arrogance; it was the delight of a child seeing sugar-coated haws. She held the food box, devouring the cakes ravenously, osmanthus honey smeared at her mouth, her expression vivid and alive.
That was her true nature. Not an ice sculpture, not a puppet, not a blank sheet of paper, but just a little girl who could crave snacks, secretly smile, and coil people close with her tail. Yet, she was forced by the masterminds behind the Demon Path Alliance to not even have the right to be herself.
“Thwack!” The Eagle-Nosed Grand Elder’s whip fell once more.
Chu Yuan listened to the sound of flesh splitting, watched the dragon shadow tremble yet unable to hide, his expression darkening to the extreme. Recalling his days in the Demon Path Alliance, he no longer had a Senior Sister he had to fawn over. Instead, he had the Dragon Emperor, who earnestly tasted his cooking and gave him praise. The Dragon Emperor always looked forward to his arrivals. When he made mistakes, she would intentionally or unintentionally shield and protect him.
Yet, this Dragon Emperor who treated him so well was actually suffering such abuse. Chu Yuan absolutely would not permit it! Unlike him, who was constrained by the System, the Emperor was constrained by this very real, physical beast before him. If he wanted to “deal with this beast,” it was clearly much simpler than “freeing himself from the System’s control.” In this life, Chu Yuan might not be free, but he could make the Emperor free!
[Holy Son, the elders are almost at the bedchamber entrance. What is the next step?]
Hearing the seductive voice echo in his consciousness sea, Chu Yuan took a deep, heavy breath. [Good! Follow my command when the time comes!!!]
With that, he manifested at the entrance to the bedchamber, fists clenched so tightly his nails dug deep into his palms, even drawing traces of blood. Seeing several streams of light descend at the chamber door, Chu Yuan swept his gaze over the elders who had secretly arrived. Cupping his hands, he transmitted his voice:
[Esteemed elders, tonight, when I intended to deliver a late-night snack to His Majesty the Emperor, I discovered a horrifying scene!]
[Please, follow me into the bedchamber to rescue His Majesty!]
[I, the Sacred Son of Taixu, will bear all consequences!!!]
Hearing his words, the elders were initially somewhat bewildered. But upon hearing the final phrase, “bear all consequences,” they felt somewhat reassured and instead grew curious: What exactly had happened inside the bedchamber?
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