IWYTBW - Chapter 18
Chapter 18
“You’re not exactly following the rules,” Rong Hongxue said, “Well, their rules.”
Even as he spoke his words of blame, his tone was indeed pleasant.
Being scolded by Yi Zhen was one thing, but hearing Yi Zhen scold someone else was an entirely different matter.
As Yi Zhen gazed at the six little trash cans sitting before him, their faces pale and blue, he felt his heart fill with a sense of exhilaration. He even ignored Rong Hongxue’s snide remarks whispered into his ear.
In the end, he will be the one who takes the blame. However, I am but a weak and helpless widower, utterly alone and forlorn.
The only sounds in the silence were the crisp clinking of silver cutlery against the marble table. The appetizer had been served, and the soup and side dishes were also arranged one after the other. The ever-changing starlight swayed with the candlelight. If it weren’t for the fact that everyone at the table had ulterior motives, it could have been a great evening.
Ai Ling did not speak. By Yi Zhen’s side, she had gradually learned how to stand up for herself. She was the victim; the ones who should apologize were the ones sitting before her. Why would she compromise?
Natalia was chewing her food as if it were tasteless wax when she exchanged a glance with Ursula across the long table.
According to the elders, this matter was not a big deal. During the yearly end-of-year academic examination, there were an unknown number of students that died in the chaotic air currents, but because this time the victim was Rong Hongxue’s only sister—even though he basically didn’t care about Ai Ling’s affairs, this out-of-hand prank suddenly became serious.
So they went to the banquet alone, without butlers, a host of servants, or guards, in order to keep the situation low-profile: this was a conflict between peers and should be handled by peers themselves.
... And then Yi Zhen showed up out of nowhere. This “beautiful and charming widow from a wealthy family” wasn’t at all as timid and weak as people said. Instead, he was like a wild card – a sword that didn’t play by the rules, cutting through the niceties, pleasantries, and the sophisticated negotiation tactics that everyone else was eager to display... And he wasn’t afraid of mental suppression! Oliver, who had already become an A-level mecha pilot, almost burst an eye vessel from straining his mental power, but Yi Zhen was still acting as if nothing had happened, and his demeanor was entirely unaffected. It must be because his paramour gave him some kind of device to defend against mental invasion, such backing is why this wretched harlot dares to be so presumptuous.
Ursula received the secret message directing her to break the ice, so she gracefully put down her spoon, cleared her throat, and said, “Ai Ling, the dress you’re wearing today is very pretty.”
Ursula StellaObscura’s father was Thomas StellaObscura, one of the ministers of the Azoth Imperial Cabinet who held the rare privilege of impeaching the emperor. This girl with deep purple hair was usually incredibly aloof. If someone spoke kindly to her today and she responded in kind, it might be the first occurrence in her lifetime.
“Is that so?” Ai Ling smiled slightly, “Thank you.”
“It’s true,” Ursula said earnestly. “You see, usually... I’m not sure if it’s appropriate to say this, but you always seem so distant from us. We don’t feel like friends; it’s more like we’re polite strangers.”
Ai Ling held a mouthful of soup in her mouth; she really wanted to say that they were never friends to begin with, and even if she were stranded on the edge of the desolate star, she would not make friends who wanted to kill her, but with the words at the tip of her tongue, she actually hesitated a bit – Ursula’s expression was earnest, as if she really wanted to confide in her.
As if driven by some unseen force, she hesitated. It felt as though an invisible hand was plucking at her heartstrings, enticing her to believe that she should listen to their statements.
“It’s true!” Jin Qi chimed in, “You always treat us… like this. Like you’re very afraid of us. But there’s no need for you to be so scared. Sometimes, I want to talk to you about things in life, but in the end, I end up being the only one talking, and you just nod along… That’s not what friends do.”
“I understand, perhaps you’re simply not used to how we interact,” Oliver said softly, his hair like flowing gold under the candlelight and stars, “I promise we’ll change, we’ll fully accept you, and be true friends with you.”
For the first time tonight, Qi Jiayou, of Eastern descent, spoke to Ai Ling. Shaking his head, he said, “Ai Ling, I truly regret it. We... we just wanted to get closer to you.”
Ai Ling’s secret crush, the boy named Hiroki Nishikawa, also bowed his head uneasily. His skin was as white as jade, his hair as black as ink, and his entire person looked as clean and elegant as a small portrait painted on rice paper.
Get a little closer, damn it!
In the 《 Book of Poisons 》, there is a record of a ruthless hidden weapon technique known as the Heavenly Demon Rain. It involves using a specially crafted bamboo tube to store a concoction of potent poison. When coupled with a unique throwing technique, the poison would spread like an opening umbrella, enveloping the enemy’s head. The effect was instantaneous—bones would dissolve, skin would melt. At this moment, Yi Zhen wished he could spew the soup in his mouth like the Heavenly Demon Rain, drenching these sarcastically smug little bastards one by one.
Strangely enough, Ai Ling was actually a little moved. She pinched the spoon, her eyes filled with a conflicted expression.
[Don’t forget, Player,] Tai’a said, [Ai Ling is a supporting character whose personality will not change. If you want her to change, it would be like making her go against the world’s will.]
Yi Zhen was startled and then remembered.
“Yes, I actually forgot about this…” Yi Zhen said in a low voice, “Then I will have to do it myself.”
Natalia saw the wavering Ai Ling, and a triumphant smile blossomed on her lips.
“Fool!” she thought venomously. “She’s nothing more than a stray dog without a hint of spine, and yet she dares to imitate me by wearing red? Even if things go awry this time, during the year-end exams—or perhaps the championship—I can finish her off. By then, that damned Rong will be trapped in Crimson Cloak, barely able to protect himself. Who would dare care about the life and death of a lowly peasant then?”
Seizing her advantage, she let out a soft sigh.
“Actually, you really didn’t have to bring Mr. Yi to our gathering,” said Natalia, her expression hesitant. “Yes, I know my personality isn’t the best, and sometimes I’m quite awful to you... but our conflicts can be completely resolved between the two of us without needing anyone else to interfere.”
Natalia lowered her gaze. “Besides, while I know your older brother is highly accomplished, and you are a very dedicated scholar, my family still has reservations about our relationship. You understand why, I suppose.”
She smiled faintly and said in a calm but clear voice, “…Mr. Yi understands it too.”
Ai Ling caught the intent in her words and hurried to defend him, “No, he’s not what you think. He’s actually a very good person...”
“You can’t judge a book by its cover, Ai Ling.” Oliver said righteously, “I admit that Mr. Yi seems charming, but can you deny that all those rumors are false?”
“If a man loses his husband and soon gets entangled with his husband’s younger brother—I don’t know what others think, but I can only assume that this man is unfaithful and restless, completely disregarding morality and integrity.” Qi Jiayou said with a cold smile, taking the opportunity to vent his previous frustration, “Sorry, my family has strict rules and a rigorous family style. I can’t help my mindset.”
“Please,” Ursula frowned in disgust, “can we refrain from discussing these nauseating people and topics during our meal?”
Jin Qi laughed out loud: “Ursula, there’s an ambiguity in what you said! Do you mean the topic is more disgusting, or... the person is more disgusting?”
Malicious, mocking laughter gradually melded into a continuous cacophony. Yi Zhen listened quietly until it subsided. He then set down his spoon, the gilded handle clinking softly against the pure silverware, producing a melodious sound.
Night has already risen to its height. He looked up, seeing the spectacle of a star’s death that, crossing countless light-years, was captured by the crystal mirror and splashed out onto the zenith.
Ten thousand crimson lotuses, blooming with a beauty that could topple a nation, burst forth upon the mortal realm. Never before had the world witnessed such a sorrowful and magnificent blaze, as if it were consuming the entirety of the universe’s time. The brilliance of youthful stars framed the steadfast radiance of the constellations, much like young maidservants attending to a dying beauty. Though this beauty had aged, the final moment of her life shone with a last burst of radiance, making her appear as if she were still the peerless sovereign who once dominated the world.
“You know what?” He turned his gaze back to the group. “Look over there.”
Yi Zhen’s finger pointed upwards, and even though aside from Ai Ling, the people present were all waiting to see his combination of shame and indignation, they could not help but look up as he did.
This star had died 700 million years ago, back when Earth bore no trace of humanity and thick glaciers locked the land and unformed oceans in their icy grip. Yet as the radiating glory of its dying breath made its way through the universe, cutting through time and space, life had been evolving.
Ai Ling looked at Yi Zhen in astonishment; what did he want to say?
“Fifty million years ago, primates began to branch out. Ten million years ago, Australopithecus struggled to survive on the African continent. Two and a half million years ago, Homo habilis crafted stone tools and lit the first torches. Language, writing, painting, sculpture... gradually, all aspects of civilization began to flourish. Through the cycles of birth, aging, sickness, and death, we pushed the grand wheel of the world forward, advancing until we reached an era where we could live among the stars.
Meanwhile, on this long journey, after a trek of seven hundred million years, the radiance of a dying star finally pierced through the entirety of human evolution, to land before our eyes.”
He calmly said, “We are but mayflies, fleeting in the vast world, mere grains of millet in the boundless sea. What we witness now is the most extraordinary sight, one that truly reveals our insignificance and the triviality of mundane life. So, close your mouths and enjoy the view, or I’ll be forced to shut them for you.”
Under the magnificent stretch of the galaxies above, Ai Ling gazed absentmindedly at the cosmos. Indeed, as he had mentioned, these lights existed long before the birth of humankind... No, wait, back up!
She snapped back to her senses, staring at Yi Zhen in horror. How could he make such a declaration, almost tantamount to declaring war? These six people were all the cream of the crop, the elites among elites. Some people might never become pilots in their entire lives, yet these individuals had already touched the threshold of Class A at their age, with Oliver being the most outstanding among them. What level was Yi Zhen? He didn’t even have his own mecha. If a fight broke out, it would be hard enough to flee, let alone take him along with her!
She tapped her fingertips hard on the dinner plate several times, intending to use the urgent signal to alert Yi Zhen, but Jin Qi had already stood up abruptly and sharply said, “Who do you think you’re talking to... Argh!”
She let out a convulsive scream, her heart feeling as if it had been pierced by a red-hot steel needle. Jin Qi collapsed back into her seat, then rolled off onto the floor. Her spasming arms knocked over the wine glass in her struggle. The renowned “Magnificent Night” wine spilled like blood, staining her pale golden dress.
“Yi! Yi Zhen!” Ai Ling called his name for the first time. She looked back to check whether anyone had heard Yi Zhen say he was about to slap them. As she let out a sigh of relief, she couldn’t help but find it a little strange. “Yi Zhen!”
Her hand reached out and tapped the table several times. Those only recently healed, carefully painted crimson nails tapped on the cold marble like a frantic woodpecker. “You misspoke! Change the subject quickly!”
Ursula dashed over and picked up Jin Qi, checking for life signs. Natalia’s fury exploded as her mental power expanded a hundredfold, enveloping the top floor of Starfall. Her long hair danced and her skirt billowed violently.
“You dare to plot against us, you little bastard!”
Yi Zhen took a sip of red wine and turned his head in surprise, “Did I say something wrong?”
Ai Ling gritted her teeth: “If a fight breaks out, my mecha has an automatic navigation system. It’ll take you away, so you must quickly inform my brother... Don’t look at me like that, you won’t be able to defeat them!”
Yi Zhen said: “Knock twice more.”
Oliver’s silhouette formed an illusion, moving at a speed that the naked eye couldn’t capture. The force of his punch sliced through the darkness, striking Yi Zhen at the top of his head.
Ai Ling didn’t understand what he meant, but she knocked twice, just as he had said.
The handsome face of the blond youth contorted. Like an eagle shot mid-flight, he plummeted from the air, crashing heavily onto the opulent marble table adorned with dishes and goblets. Several crystal glasses shattered, and silverware and bowls fell to the ground in a chaotic symphony.
He was supposed to sweep through Yi Zhen’s life like a storm, but in the end, all he overtook was tonight’s dinner table.
“Good,” Yi Zhen nodded in satisfaction, “If you feel flustered, just knock a few more times, to calm yourself down.”
Ai Ling: “...... What?”
“What sort of trick… Did you poison us?” Qi Jiayou questioned loudly in disbelief, “Do you know who we…”
He could no longer speak, his throat emitting the creaking sound of bones deforming. Excruciating pain gripped Qi Jiayou’s mind. After undergoing extensive and rigorous training, his body was supposed to withstand more hardship and harsher tribulations than ordinary people. Yet at this moment, something was gnawing at his nerve endings, like acid seeping through his veins, burning every inch of his flesh, inside and out. Only death could bring an end to such agony.
“If you knew me a bit better, you would understand what distance is needed to stay safe around me,” Yi Zhen stood up and rolled up his sleeves. “Unfortunately, your understanding is rather limited.”
“Don’t get too cocky! Those underhanded tricks you just pulled are hardly what I would call an honorable duel!” exclaimed Natalia.
She was not without assassination experience. Her grandfather, Norst Rauðr Dreki, was renowned throughout the empire for his ruthlessness and iron-fisted rule. He had encountered countless assassins, but in the eyes of a true powerhouse, the methods of those assassins were laughably feeble.
Thus, Natalia possessed absolute confidence. The biological annihilation field she wore could eradicate any toxins invading her body, and the ring on her hand had been soaked in a universal antidote concocted by a Grand Alchemist. No matter what vile poisons the enemy employed, she had a way to counter them. Now, all she needed to do was summon her mecha, the renowned “Valkyrie of the Red Dragon,” which had followed its masters through countless campaigns, earning fame across the lands…
Natalia’s expression froze on her face.
The summoning button remained unresponsive, as if it had died. Her body was stiff, her limbs felt as if they had been encased in cement; she couldn’t even summon her own mecha.
“So, locking a classmate inside an asphyxiating vacuum is considered a fair and square duel?” asked Yi Zhen, “Well, if that’s the case, then I’m a whole lot fairer than all of you.”
A fierce wind howled behind him as a long blade, crackling with blinding electric light, whistled towards Yi Zhen’s back!
Nishikawa Hiroki, the quiet teen, unexpectedly endured the blood worms’ excruciating pain. Like a lone wolf, he rose up and launched a fatal blow at Yi Zhen.
The Nishikawa family, to which Hiroki belonged, was neither of royal lineage nor held any position within the cabinet. However, for generations, his family had served as advisers to the royal court, providing services from the shadows to those in power. There were always whispers that during the eras of war, whenever a stalemate loomed over a battle, the Emperor of Azoth would remove his white gloves and let them fall into the unheeded shadows. Within three days, the head of the enemy commander would be served on a golden platter, placed before the Emperor’s desk.
Rather than saying he was the companion of these people, it would be more accurate to say he was in charge of protecting them at the same time.
This strike was supposed to be unavoidable, impossible to dodge—a flawless Iaido[ e/n: This is a Japanese martial art that focuses on the smooth, controlled movements of drawing a sword from its scabbard, cutting down an opponent, and then re-sheathing the sword. It emphasizes precision, efficiency, and the fluidity of the actions. ] cut aimed directly at Yi Zhen’s neck.
Yi Zhen chuckled lightly and said: “So, who do you intend to kill, the me standing before your eyes or the me beneath your blade?”
Nishikawa Hiroki’s pupils contracted. Yi Zhen’s back trembled slightly and, in an instant, he had already turned to face the lone wolf teen.
He extended his hand, his palm as smooth as jade, seeming as though he intended to stroke the edge of Nishikawa Hiroki’s blade with a gentle caress.
How could this be possible!?
He swiftly turned his blade to strike, but Yi Zhen’s arm twisted and rotated fluidly as if boneless, coiling up, with the middle finger like lightning, striking Hiroki’s chest with unprecedented force. The bloodworm within the teen was stimulated even more intensely, causing it to surge violently; Nishikawa Hiroki immediately spat out a mouthful of fresh blood, and the long blade, once held so confidently, clattered to the ground.
“Stay put,” Yi Zhen casually waved his hand, pushing him aside. “Since you didn’t make a move back then, I won’t trouble you now.”
He walked towards the dining table, lifted Oliver’s collar with one hand, dragged him to the nearby terrace, and then deactivated the protective system on the top floor.
The night wind howled as Natalia suddenly grasped his intention. Her face turned deathly pale, and she screamed, “What are you trying to do? Stop it! I command you to stop!”
The building where StarFall Restaurant was located had a total of one hundred and forty-six floors. Falling from such a height, the only possible outcome for a person was to be reduced to a smear of flesh. Even if there were any changes in fate, the best one could hope for was to collide with a flying hovercar on the way down, thus cushioning the fall and possibly leaving behind an intact bone or two.
Oliver’s face was ashen, and he struggled with great difficulty. The piercing pain bored into his brain, leaving him utterly without the strength to free himself from Yi Zhen’s grip.
“Still not planning to apologize?” Yi Zhen pressed him against the edge of the balcony railing, half of his body hanging precariously over the side. Behind him, the night was pitch black, stars glittering brilliantly. The bustling hovercar lanes emitted a myriad of colorful lights, while below them yawned an abyss with no end in sight. “Or perhaps,” Yi Zhen continued, “have you just never learned the commoners’ way of apologizing?”
“Really So-Sorry... I’m so sorry!” Oliver cried out desperately. He had once been a valiant and handsome young man, so much so that the girls at the Star Alliance University had even formed a fan club for him. However, at this moment, this image had cracked completely, along with his voice, wailing at an impressive pitch that could stir up jealousy in any choirboy. “I was wrong... I was wrong!”
“Wrong about what?”
“I shouldn’t have... I shouldn’t have played such a prank. I almost caused Ai Ling’s death. I was wrong. I’m sorry to her, I shouldn’t have looked down on her or insulted her... I’m truly sorry!”
“Anything else?”
“I’m sorry... I’m sorry! I shouldn’t have bad-mouthed you behind your back! I know I was wrong, bad-mouthing people behind their backs... it’s a rotten habit! I was wrong!”
Yi Zhen chuckled, “Very good, it seems that adversity education isn’t entirely useless after all, is it? Look at you, you’ve quickly learned to express your apologies frankly, rather than beating around the bush or using sarcastic tones.”
He let go, and the other person’s heavy body lost balance immediately. Before he even had a chance to scream, he fell backward, disappearing without a trace.
Jin Qi burst into tears, and Natalia’s mind went blank.
“Ol... Oliver...” Her lips trembled. “You killed... you killed him! You killed him, how dare you kill him, you bastard! Bastard!”
She started roaring and screaming like a madwoman, tears streaming down her bright red cheeks, but Yi Zhen turned a deaf ear to it. He walked up to Qi Jiayou, lifted him up again, and then did the same, pressing him against the edge of the terrace.
“Is there hope for an apology from you? You, our dear friend known for his strict family discipline and rigid household rules?” he inquired politely.
Qi Jiayou struggled to speak, “Don’t... kill me... Anything you want, I’ll give it to you...”
“So, you are not planning on apologizing?” Yi Zhen asked.
“I, I…” Qi Jiayu trembled vigorously. “You… madman…”
“Oh, then I’m very sorry,” said Yi Zhen.
As his hand was about to let go, Ursula cried out desperately: “I will apologize for him! I will...please let him go, I beg you, I will apologize!”
Yan Zhen said: “Saying sorry on his behalf won’t do, only he himself can personally make amends for his actions.”
“I am sorry! Sorry, alright? I know I was wrong. I nearly got Ai Ling killed; I failed her. I gossiped about strangers’ private lives; I failed you too! Are you satisfied now?”
Yi Zhen smiled and released his hold once more.
“It was passable, I suppose.”
He turned around, and in Natalia’s eyes, it was as if a terrifying ghost with a ghastly face and gleaming fangs had slowly emerged.
Ursula gritted her teeth and hissed, “I don’t believe that... you can throw all of us down. The Rong family, and even Rong Hongxue, can’t protect you. Not only can they not protect you, but they will all be finished.”
“If I die, my brother will tear you into a thousand pieces,” Natalia glared at him with venomous hatred. “Don’t count on your lover either; he will meet his end in Crimson Cloak. He won’t be able to save you!”
“Oh, the water is quite deep,” Yi Zhen said with a hint of mock surprise as he clapped his hands. “So, are you willing to apologize?”
“I… I’ll do it…” Jin Qi suppressed her sobs, tears streaking down her cheeks. “I apologize. You can throw me out, but please let them go…”
“No... Do not touch her!” Filled with bloodshot eyes, Natalia roared at Yi Zhen. “If it is an apology you seek, then fine, I will say it! I am willing to bear all the consequences of my actions. I swear on the honor of Rauðr Dreki, as long as you leave them alone!”
Ursula unwillingly fixed Yi Zhen a death glare, slowly saying: “I’d like to apologize as well, to Ai Ling, and to you. I just ask that you... no longer harm others.”
Yi Zhen nodded gently.
——Then he threw them all down one by one.
The last one was Nishikawa Hiroki. Yi Zhen said, “I originally didn’t want to throw you, but there’s no other way. So… don’t be afraid, it will be over soon.”
Meanwhile, as Natalia plummeted towards her death, even her piercing scream was trapped in her throat by the sensation of weightlessness. Natalia closed her eyes in despair, scenes from her life flashing before her eyes like a revolving lantern. She was like a meteor, hurtling towards an inevitable destruction…
“……Miss, Miss?”
Her whole body trembled at the cautious calling that came from her ear as she slowly opened her eyes.
The waiter stood beside her, the candlelight dancing before her eyes and the exquisite tableware glittering brilliantly. The “Splendid Night” red wine rippled in the crystal glass, exuding a delightful fragrance.
Her companions sat in a row, their expressions filled with fear and confusion as they gazed around themselves in bewilderment.
“……What?” she asked dazedly.
“He just asked you if you’d like some after-dinner sweets.”
Natalia lifted her head, only to see a handsome young man, as elegant as jade, sitting diagonally opposite her. He held a small spoon in his hand, a gentle smile playing on his lips as he answered her question.
“Would you like some?” he asked, gesturing with the spoon. “Freshly cut rose petal pudding, it tastes quite exquisite.”
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