Surprise! The Straight Man Long Aotian Actually Steals the Villain's Skirt - Chapter 22: The Saint of Southern Border Obsessed with Gu Poison 22

Chapter 22: The Saint of Southern Border Obsessed with Gu Poison 22

Xie Rong, Liu Zhanyi told me before he died that you are the true Saint of Southern Border, Jin Jiuzhou said. He left the Southern Border two years ago just to make you happy. He said you were always unhappy in the Southern Border, likely because of your mother.

Xie Rong showed a strange expression.

He wasn’t unhappy in the Southern Border because of that – it was because the Main Storyline hadn’t started yet, and he was bored. He wanted to torment the protagonist.

As for Liu Zhanyi, someone outside the plot, he couldn’t be bothered to pay attention.

Rosy Valley has been restored. Come back and see it.

What’s there to see? Xie Rong curved his eyes, maliciously curling his lips. Do you miss that place?

These men were truly despicable – actually nostalgic for the place where they suffered.

Jin Jiuzhou fell silent.

Let’s talk after you recover from your illness, Lu Yi stepped forward, tightly grasping Xie Rong’s hand. Xie Rong, nothing is more important than your health.

Xie Rong shook off his hand. My illness can’t be cured. I don’t want treatment anymore.

Knowing it was the system’s doing, why would he drink that unbearably bitter medicine? Wasn’t that just torturing himself?

Extremely irritated, Xie Rong drove both anxious men out.

At first, Lu Yi thought he was just throwing another tantrum, but Xie Rong not only refused medicine – he even stopped eating.

Xie Rong truly wanted to die. In just one day, his vision began failing.

Getting up in the middle of the night, even though the room was filled with candles, he groped in darkness, stumbling and falling to the ground, all just to see that nest of Snake Gu he kept in the cellar.

Lu Yi silently carried him back to the bed, painfully closing his eyes.

Protagonist Pain Value +5

I’m dying, and you’re this sad? Xie Rong was curious. Why?

Xie Rong, Lu Yi embraced him, his voice trembling and hoarse, I love you. Do you really not know?

I know, Xie Rong’s voice was light, without a trace of sadness, even somewhat excited. But what does love matter? Isn’t it enough that you understand it yourself? Why should I understand? If I understood, wouldn’t I suffer like you?

Lu Yi looked at him, smiling bitterly: Yes, it’s enough that I understand alone.

His suffering alone was enough.

If loving me makes you suffer like this, could you suffer just a little more? Xie Rong glanced at the Pain Value on the system panel. I still need a little more.

Lu Yi seemed to laugh. Okay.

Congratulations, Host! Protagonist Pain Value has reached maximum. Countdown begins for immediate departure from this world.

Why are you so obedient? Xie Rong patted his head. Then help me with one more thing, okay?

Two days later, an inconspicuous carriage stopped at the southern gate of the imperial palace.

Inside the carriage, Xie Rong wore a cloak, only revealing his excessively pale arms tightly clutching a large pottery jar, refusing to let go.

The jar contained the snake babies he had raised in Bishan Village over the past six months. Not even Lu Yi was allowed to touch them.

Are we here? Xie Rong perked up one ear.

Yes, Lu Yi picked him up and jumped down from the carriage.

The imperial palace was now completely under the emperor’s control. Thinking Lu Yi had returned to continue serving, they immediately sent people to receive him.

Lu Yi refused. If not for Xie Rong insisting on coming to the palace, he would have preferred staying in Bishan Village forever.

It was deep night, and all the palace lights were extinguished.

Once bustling with activity, Cining Palace now stood desolate. Even as its mistress screamed curses behind covered faces, the guards outside remained cold and unmoved.

A tall figure cloaked in a mantle before Cining Palace. The guard glanced at the Feather Tokenstopped at his waist and silently opened the gate for him.

Everyone in the palace knew that the newly reinstated Commander had brought back a young man with him. If anyone dared cast even a glance at the youth, this usually straightforward Commander would abandon all palace decorum and strike the offender with his fists, like a lion defending its mate.

Xie Rong walked with unsteady steps, slowly crossing the threshold while clutching a large earthen jar.

As the palace doors closed behind him, the corners of his lips curled upward. He quickened his pace until he finally saw the Empress Dowager by the bed.

The Empress Dowager’s white hair was disheveled, with no palace maid to tend to it. Hearing footsteps, she snapped without looking up, Which palace servant dares be so ill-mannered!

The next moment, she found her neck seized by a pair of surprisingly delicate hands.

The assailant was clearly determined to kill her!

Aren’t you the one who wanted to find the Saint of Southern Border? Xie Rong whispered. Now that I’ve come to you, why aren’t you happy?

The Empress Dowager’s eyes widened as she emitted choked, strained sounds.

You old hag, go keep my snake babies company in death, Xie Rong murmured from beneath his cloak, his cheeks flushed with excitement as his fingers tightened. Daring to harm my child? Strangling you is letting you off easy!

The Empress Dowager’s eyes rolled back as her struggles gradually weakened, until finally all life left her.

After a decade of ruling from behind the curtains, she met her end at the hands of a youth unknown even in Shangyun Capital – a truly lamentable fate.

Xie Rong released her, kneeling on the floor as he clutched his stomach and laughed. The laughter grew and grew until he couldn’t stop.

Host, please note: ten minutes remaining until countdown ends.

Xie Rong ceased laughing and expressionlessly knocked over the candlestand by the bed. Flames eagerly licked at every corner of Cining Palace.

Host, what are you doing? the system asked, confused.

Can’t I even choose how I die? Xie Rong’s eyes curved happily as the flames approached, pressing his cheek against the earthen jar in his arms.

His Snake Gu, his Drug slave – they would all die with him!

Xie Rong! Having just dealt with the emperor in the imperial study, Lu Yi had returned for Xie Rong only to find Cining Palace engulfed in flames. Ignoring the firefighting guards’ attempts to stop him, he charged into the inferno and lifted Xie Rong.

But in a final surge of energy, Xie Rong clung desperately to a nearby pillar, refusing to move.

I started this fire myself, Xie Rong raised an eyebrow defiantly between coughs from the thick smoke. Let me be honest – there’s no cure for the Gu poison affecting those fools in Shangyun Capital. When I die, I’m taking them all with me.

All of you will die with me. Though struggling for breath, Xie Rong maintained his cheerful tone.

He waited calmly for the man’s anger, for the mask to shatter, for the condemnation of his cruelty.

Host, please note: ten seconds remaining until separation.

Ten, nine, eight…

Lu Yi showed no trace of anger, simply holding him while murmuring, I’ll accompany you. Just me, alright?

Seven, six, five…

Xie Rong closed his eyes, leaning into Lu Yi’s embrace. His pupils gradually lost focus, his eyelids a deep crimson like blood. He clutched desperately at Lu Yi’s collar, murmuring with a delirious laugh, I want you all… to die with me… Why… why is it only me…

Four, three…

Lu Yi closed his eyes, his voice hoarse as he whispered, I’ve always wanted to ask you—the hatred in your eyes when you look at me, is it truly for me, or is it for someone else you see through me?

If it’s for someone else… did he treat you terribly?

If it’s for me… if my suffering, my life, could ease your pain…

In this life and the next, for all eternity, I would embrace it willingly.

…Two, one.

Warning! Warning! Protagonist deceased. World collapse imminent.

World exit successful.

Soul fragment captured successfully.