In Order To Ascend, I Became A Modern Wage Slave - Chapter 25: Xi Yu (5)

Chapter 25: Xi Yu (5)

 

Xi Yu felt that there were two things in this world that were the hardest to refuse: one is the mission that assigns all expectations to you, and the other is the things that are persuaded (or forced) upon you using moral standards.

 

And these things don’t come suddenly. From a young age, they gradually press down on you, until one day, you suddenly wake up and realize that you can’t breathe.

 

You want to run, but a whole bunch of people follow you, saying this is your mission, and if you run, it’s immoral!

 

Xi Yu is from the royal family. Since childhood, he has been taught to be kind to the common people and not ignore them. And with the title of “immortal” attached to him, Xi Yu began to contemplate the relationship between gods and humans early on, which led him to a desperate desire to escape, eventually becoming who he is today.

 

If he had started off as an ordinary person, he wouldn’t have cared about any of these things. He would have just followed the crowd and become one of the followers of the gods.

 

Xi Yu thought that if he were to die now, Xi Yi would probably be unwilling to let him go.

 

His value to Xi Yi is probably even greater now, isn’t it?

 

In fact, if Xi Yi hadn’t invited him to dinner that day, he might not have stayed at the border. He would have been more selfish, sneaking into the Bow Country and heading somewhere farther, somewhere Xi Yi could never find, and never look back.

 

But he didn’t expect Xi Yi to be a person with morals and a sense of duty. It was truly surprising.

 

Once the contract was signed, he was free.

 

—

 

The ruler of Bow Country is named Nima, and Xi Yu had specifically looked him up beforehand. The name means “sun, hope, and vitality” in their language.

 

Nima indeed lived up to his name. His hair was a bit messy, tied into two braids, his face was full of stubble, yet he didn’t seem sloppy, but rather somewhat bold. He wore an open, sleeveless long robe with a large collar, and his belt appeared to be made of animal skin, likely from a tiger.

 

When Nima saw him, he gave a big smile and invited him to sit across from him. He poured wine into a cup and pushed it toward him, sighing: “I’ve heard of the second prince’s great name, but seeing you in person, you are indeed extraordinary.”

 

Xi Yu ignored the wine he handed over and asked, “How am I extraordinary?”

 

Nima replied, “Usually when people meet me, they have to tremble for a bit. But you, second prince, meet me without even a ripple.”

 

Xi Yu said, “Are you afraid? I didn’t come to fight you. We’re here to discuss peace terms, aren’t we? There’s nothing to be afraid of.”

 

When Nima noticed that Xi Yu hadn’t touched the wine, he understood the reason and laughed: “You’re afraid I poisoned the wine, right? Don’t worry, we’re different from your side. We’re straightforward. When we kill, we do it openly; we don’t engage in underhanded tricks like stealing and poisoning. I find those things beneath me!”

 

Xi Yu found an excuse: “No, I just don’t like drinking. If you had tea, I’d try it.”

 

Thinking he’d declined politely while giving face, he didn’t expect Nima to be so enthusiastic. As soon as he heard Xi Yu wanted tea, he quickly said, “I’ve got tea ready, I’ll go make it for you right now!”

 

Xi Yu nearly cried and laughed at how eager Nima was. If he had said he wanted sugar water, Nima would have likely gone to fetch it.

 

The tea quickly arrived, bitter and astringent. Xi Yu thought it was several thousand times worse than what he’d had from Shan Bei. He took a symbolic sip and set it down, saying straightforwardly: “Back to the point, peace terms.”

 

Nima seemed to forget the purpose of their meeting for a moment. After a pause, he realized and laughed heartily: “Right, right, before we get to that, I want to show you the sincerity I bring today.”

 

Saying this, he pulled out a huge wooden box from beneath the table and pushed it in front of Xi Yu. “Open it and see.”

 

Xi Yu didn’t want to give a bad impression by hesitating, as their peace talks hadn’t even started yet. He lowered his head and glanced at the box. It wasn’t locked, and with a flick of his hand, he could open it and see what was inside.

 

Before opening it, Xi Yu gave the box a curious look and asked, “What are you giving me?”

 

Nima laughed strangely: “You’ll see once you open it. I guarantee it’s something you’ve been dreaming of.”

 

Dreaming of?

 

This piqued Xi Yu’s curiosity. His life had been dull and uneventful, with no desires or wants, and after thinking for a long time, he couldn’t come up with anything. Nima encouraged him with temptation: “Go ahead, go ahead, you’ll definitely like it!”

 

Xi Yu held the bottom of the box with one hand, and with the other, he slowly lifted the lid…

 

—

 

“Are you sure you haven’t taken the wrong path? How could peace talks be in such a remote place?”

 

Fang Yuan had nearly tripped on the road earlier and cursed. He was out of breath, “That’s why we’re going to check, to see what he’s up to.”

 

“There’s a small cabin ahead, it should be there,” someone else said.

 

Fang Yuan quickly covered their mouth and whispered, “Keep it down, be careful not to let them hear us.”

 

“But we’re far from them, how could they hear us?”

 

Fang Yuan said, “I don’t know either, but people like their leaders have strange ears. Last time I secretly snuck into Xi Yu’s room to steal something to eat, I opened the cabinet, and he was sitting there with his arms crossed, watching me.”

 

“That’s amazing!”

 

Fang Yuan carefully led the others around the cabin, making sure it was safe. Large bushes covered the area, and even if someone walked past, they probably wouldn’t notice. The view was excellent, and they could see the door and windows clearly.

 

Fang Yuan instructed, “Just the two of us, we have to carefully watch what’s inside. If anything goes wrong, we rush in to rescue him.”

 

“Got it!”

 

Five minutes later, the four inside the cabin exchanged glances with the two just arriving.

 

Ten minutes later, the six hiding in the bushes exchanged glances with the two new arrivals.

 

Fifteen minutes later, the six people packed into the bushes exchanged glances with the two just arrived.

 

“…………………”

 

None of them were listening to Xi Yu, were they?

 

—

 

Xi Yu’s mind didn’t calm down for a long time.

 

Nima, as if he had anticipated it, burst into laughter, “How is it? Do you like it?”

 

Inside the box was a head.

 

The head was unmistakably Xi Yi’s.

 

It looked like he had been killed with a swift blow, the neck cut cleanly, and there were still fresh bloodstains below. His pupils were dilated, staring blankly ahead, and his mouth was open. He must have been cursing someone at the time.

 

Xi Yi definitely would never beg for mercy.

 

To be honest, when Xi Yu saw Xi Yi’s head, his first reaction was that he was dead, and it was somewhat satisfying.

 

But then he was shocked, and asked, “How did you kill him?”

 

Nima smacked his lips and said nonchalantly, “It was simple. He called me to meet and said some very nasty things. I wasn’t happy, so I just killed him.”

 

Xi Yu didn’t understand, as Xi Yi should have been in the imperial city by then. “Why did he call you to meet?”

 

Just as Xi Yu was about to close the lid, Nima’s long arm reached out and lifted it again. Nima said, “He wanted to kill you, but he was useless and could only beg me to cooperate. How about that? Did it surprise you?”

 

This was the first time Xi Yu heard someone say Xi Yi was useless.

 

Xi Yi was the best at chess and strategy. He could always turn the board around with various methods, and he would never make a move that would lead to his own death.

 

And if his head was truly at risk, it definitely would not be his own.

 

Xi Yu stared at Nima and began to recall the conversation between the two from when they entered the room. The countless questions posed by the person who stood with such a high-status attitude.

 

The wine glass. Did the Bow Country’s wine glasses look so small?

 

And he had forgotten the most important thing: the person across from him had no accent!

 

Every word was clear and distinct!

 

This head was fake, and the person sitting opposite was Xi Yi in disguise!

 

Calm down.

 

Don’t show any flaws.

 

Xi Yu kept telling himself to stay calm in his heart.

 

Xi Yi personally made the move today and tricked him here, so he must have made thorough preparations!

 

Xi Yi was still drinking, and when he raised his gaze and met Xi Yu’s eyes, he smiled and said, “What’s wrong?”

 

Xi Yu remained steadfast: “The terms of the peace talks.”

 

The opponent demanded: “Five cities, and I choose them myself. Otherwise, no deal.”

 

Xi Yu slammed the table and shouted, “No deal then!”

 

His fierce tone caught the attention of the eight people squatting nearby. One of them whispered, “Looks like the negotiations have failed. What kind of condition could make Xi Yu this angry?”

 

“It must be something unreasonable!”

 

“Hey, hey, hey! Where did the figure go? Did something happen? Hurry, hurry!”

 

Just as Xi Yu’s hand was about to touch the door lock, a pair of hands stopped him. “Ni Ma,” behind him, asked in confusion, “The peace talks broke down, so what are you in such a hurry for?”

 

“Ni Ma” blocked him from leaving. Xi Yu immediately threw an elbow, and with a swift, precise, and harsh move, he grabbed his neck.

 

The quickest way to control someone is to control their vital point— the neck is the most vulnerable and easiest place to dominate.

 

Xi Yu said, “You better not anger me. If it comes to a fight, you definitely aren’t my match. I’m giving you face, Ni Ma.”

 

He emphasized the last two words, not sure whether he was calling his name or insulting him.

 

“Ni Ma” raised both hands in surrender, helplessly conceding, “Alright, alright, if I had known you were so clear about your own interests, I should have waited before talking to you.”

 

Xi Yu released “Ni Ma” and said, “There’s nothing more to talk about between us. If you try to approach me again, I will never accept a second meeting.”

 

His words were so ruthless that “Ni Ma” looked extremely disappointed and said, “That’s a shame. Since this is the last time, let’s hug and say goodbye.”

 

Xi Yu hated physical contact with other men, but he couldn’t avoid it, as “Ni Ma” already embraced him.

 

At that moment, Xi Yu heard the sound of a sharp blade cutting through the air from afar, growing louder and closer.

 

Xi Yu started struggling violently, but “Ni Ma” seemed to be prepared. He gripped his hands tightly, stepping on his feet, leaving Xi Yu with no point of leverage!

 

Then, the head next to his shoulder, close to his ear, began to speak.

 

Indeed, Xi Yu’s guess was spot on— the head was a fake, and the person was disguised as Xi Yi. Every ending sound of Xi Yu’s words carried a hint of smugness: “I knew you’d come in. My good brother, the one who serves the people and the citizens.”

 

Poof!

 

An arrow flew through the air and directly pierced his chest, without a bit of deviation!

 

Xi Yu groaned, his body trembling violently, and in his ears, Xi Yi’s voice continued. He was almost about to laugh out loud: “If I really wanted to deceive you, I wouldn’t have shown any flaws.”

 

“You think your martial arts are good enough to escape?”

 

“Xi Yu, your death has great meaning. I’ll tell them you’ve ascended, and that you’ll be the guardian god of our country. With you as our protector, those scheming dogs will quiet down.”

 

“Brother, rest assured. You’ve already fulfilled your purpose in this world, in this country, by being my brother. You should feel no regrets at your death.”

 

“How magnificent—!”

 

Xi Yi almost had to bite his teeth to force out a little strength to speak: “I… even as a ghost, I won’t… forgive you.”

 

Xi Yi was not threatened at all and laughed: “Alright, I’ve never seen a ghost. When you turn into one, make sure to let me see, I’ll be looking forward to it!”

 

With that, he let go of Xi Yu, and Xi Yu fell backward. The deadly arrow in his back pierced straight through his chest, and drops of blood sparkled under the sunlight.

 

Xi Yu died at the age of seventeen, at noon.

 

The sunlight was just right, but the flowers had withered.

 

“Xi Yu!!!”

 

“Second Prince!!”

 

“Second Royal Son!!”

 

At the moment Xi Yu was struck by the arrow, a group of people suddenly stood up, shouting and rushing over. But by the time they arrived, it was too late— Xi Yu’s pupils had already dispersed, and he was beyond saving.

 

The sorrow and joy between people were indeed disconnected. Seeing their tearful faces, he just wanted to laugh!

 

When someone glared at him, Xi Yi thought to himself, “Anyway, I’m using someone else’s body and face, so what’s there to be afraid of?”

 

Xi Yi shrugged, his face full of innocence: “It wasn’t me who killed him. You all were sitting there, with your eyes wide open, so it’s clear it’s not me.”

 

Fang Yuan spat and said: “Do you think we’ll believe you? Besides you, who else would know Xi Yi came here today?”

 

Xi Yi sowed discord: “Then why don’t you suspect one of them might have done it?”

 

Fang Yuan scoffed: “They’re all idiots! They can’t even figure out the way, how could they find someone to lead them to kill? And we, none of us have a single coin to our name. How could we hire an assassin?”

 

Xi Yi: “…”

 

Fang Yuan, too lazy to argue, counted their eight and their opponent’s one. From any angle, they had the upper hand!

 

Xi Yi seemed to have seen through Fang Yuan’s thoughts and mocked his naivety: “Did you forget I set up archers in the mountains? With a single order, you all will be turned into porcupines. Want to give it a try?”

 

At this, someone immediately threw him under the bus: “Hah! It’s really you!”

 

Xi Yi, like a pig not afraid of boiling water, responded, “So what if I did it? What’s it to you?”

 

Then—

 

Boom~!

 

What was that sound?

 

Suddenly, the sky became covered with dark clouds, and thunder rumbled.

 

Thunder sounded, but no rain fell.

 

At this moment, someone noticed that the darkest clouds were right above Xi Yu, and there was a faint flash of lightning within. It seemed to be brewing.

 

Just as everyone was confused, a bolt of lightning struck down in a curve with a deafening roar, heading straight for Xi Yu!

 

Xi Yu’s body was immediately shrouded in a white mist.

 

For a moment, it quickly dispersed!

 

Everyone’s eyes widened in disbelief, their mouths open enough to fit an egg.

 

They saw Xi Yu, who had previously lain lifeless on the ground, now slowly standing up, covering his head, looking around in confusion.

 

The fatal wound on Xi Yu’s chest was gone!

 

The most reactive was Xi Yi, who kept muttering, “Impossible, impossible, you should be dead, dead!”

 

Everyone thought they had seen a ghost. The bolder Fang Yuan stepped up to touch Xi Yu’s hand and exclaimed, “Holy shit, it’s real!”

 

At this moment, a woman walked out from somewhere and approached Xi Yu, saying, “Congratulations. You’ve accumulated enough merit on Earth and ascended successfully. Though I’m not sure why you didn’t stay a little longer in the mortal realm, still, congratulations, Deity Zhi Yi. Please come with me to the Heavenly Court for further understanding.”

 

With that, the two disappeared from everyone’s sight in the blink of an eye.

 

The atmosphere fell into silence—

 

One second…

 

Two seconds…

 

Three seconds…

 

Fang Yuan finally came to his senses, shouting excitedly, “Xi Yu ascended! Holy shit! He’s really a god, a real god!”

 

Upon hearing these words, Xi Yi uncontrollably took a step back, distancing himself from the noise, trying not to hear it.

 

Xi Yu really ascended?

 

Xi Yu really ascended!

 

Xi Yu really ascended——!