LWDC Chapter 153

Chapter 153: Suspicion

The “divine decree” Ning Fei gave to Miel took effect the very next day.

It wasn’t Duan Yunhong who sent people to inquire; instead, early in the morning, someone arrived from the royal palace, saying the King wished to summon Duan Yunhong.

Ning Fei wasn’t even awake yet, so Duan Yunhong brazenly entered the master bedroom. There was no helping it; Ning Fei wouldn’t let Duan Yunhong sleep with him last night. Duan Yunhong, also affected by the light magic, found it psychologically difficult to overstep the boundary, so this Earl actually slept in another room.

“…Who!”

The moment Duan Yunhong opened the door, Ning Fei’s voice came from behind the heavy bed curtains. It was hoarse, but stern, clearly startled awake from a dream.

Duan Yunhong frowned slightly. In previous worlds, he’d often walked around Ning Fei while he was sleeping. Even if Ning Fei sometimes woke up, he wouldn’t be so defensive. But now, even though they were on Duan Yunhong’s territory, Ning Fei’s vigilance was at its highest, comparable to sleeping in a car in the wilderness in the last world.

It seemed that in this native world, Ning Fei only seemed carefree, but he actually couldn’t relax at all.

—Even the most powerful light and wind magic protecting him couldn’t give him peace of mind…

“It’s me,” Duan Yunhong said, not wanting to provoke Ning Fei at this moment. He spoke before stepping forward to lift the curtain by the bed, “The King is calling me in for questioning. I’m letting you know.”

“…Oh? Already at this stage?”

Ning Fei, who had already sat up, relaxed his expression and casually pulled his hand from under the pillow, raking through his messy hair from sleep. “What time is it?”

Duan Yunhong didn’t ask what he was hiding under his pillow, only replied, “Almost nine thirty.”

“That’s pretty early. Seems this matter has scared the royal family, to have such high investigative efficiency. Truly rare,” Ning Fei judged. “Miel must have already taken the fall, right? The name on the plaza should have been discovered too, and it wouldn’t be hard to find out that you met him last night, so they’re calling you in for questioning.”

“You’ve guessed everything already. What’s left for me to say? Looks like I just need to confirm whether you’re as prophetic as you seem,” Duan Yunhong said, looking down at him from the bedside. “The King only sent a servant to deliver the message, so he probably doesn’t see me as Miel’s or your accomplice. But, if Miel is arrested and interrogated, will he expose you?”

“He shouldn’t,” Ning Fei replied. “I told him not to reveal my existence. Didn’t you hear it yourself?”

“Yes, you said, ‘My whereabouts are only known to a few followers, including you. Do not spread it abroad, the time is not yet right.’ He probably wouldn’t say anything about you even if he were beaten to death…” Duan Yunhong replied. Actually, according to his usual way of thinking, he should criticize Ning Fei for being like a deceitful cult leader, but the light magic made him unable to say it for the moment, so he had to give up.

“Then go ahead. Remember, don’t reveal me even if you’re beaten to death,” Ning Fei yawned, waving his hand. “Speaking of which, Miel might not expose me, but he might expose you. If he refuses to admit that he wrote the name himself, you’ll be quite suspicious… Good luck coming back alive.”

Duan Yunhong said, “Aren’t you going to save me?”

Ning Fei scoffed, remaining silent.

“Fine, the ‘God’s Messenger’ won’t save his follower. The follower has no choice but to work hard to come back himself,” Duan Yunhong leaned down slightly, lowering his voice, as if whispering, but also with a hint of something else, “Then if someone offends me later, I’ll write their name on the central plaza, how about that?”

As long as he wrote the name, Ning Fei would have to help him “avenge” it.

“Your hands and feet are on your own body. How can I control you?” Ning Fei raised an eyebrow. “But, even if you could see through the deployment and patrol routes on the plaza last night, and relied on your agility to avoid the soldiers and sneak in to write Deca’s name, the plaza’s guards will definitely be strengthened starting today. Are you sure you can still get through the encirclement and write a name with just your physical skills?”

“How will I know if it works if I don’t try?” Duan Yunhong smiled, straightening up. “I’m leaving. I probably won’t be back for lunch. Feel free to order the housekeeper or servants around.”

Ning Fei complained, “The news in your castle is really blocked. Turns out, besides you, no one knows what ‘Ning Fei’ on the wanted warrant looks like.”

Duan Yunhong said, “That’s because you didn’t come before? They haven’t seen the real person, and the Church’s wanted poster is so abstract, it’s strange that they can’t match it. Besides, when Miel and I were talking last night, I sent the coachman far away. He didn’t know when you got in the carriage, and thought you were sent to me by the Church. With this safe identity in place, who would think you’re the infamous ‘Devil Ning Fei’?”

Ning Fei teased, “After all this, I’m recognized as a ‘holy apprentice’ again?”

Duan Yunhong knew he didn’t like it, but he didn’t want to exaggerate his reaction, so he calmly replied, “You can make up an identity yourself. I’ll tell them when I get back.”

“No need. I don’t care what others think of me. Whether it’s a tool, a plaything, or something else, what difference does it make?” Ning Fei laid back down, not caring at all. “You go ahead. I’ll do what I want when I want to. No need to worry about me being too polite.”

Duan Yunhong was really about to leave now, but before leaving, he said, “There’s a room with things I haven’t given you yet, including clothes. Just have the housekeeper get them for you, or go pick them out yourself.”

“Alright, Earl, get on the road,” Ning Fei turned over, facing away from him. “Remember to close the curtains and the door, thanks.”

Duan Yunhong didn’t care about these “inauspicious words.” He just watched his black hair spread out on the silk of the pillow, feeling that this person’s half-long hair looked pretty good too, before stepping back. “See you later.”

The bed curtains fell again, isolating the bed from the outside. Everything became quiet, dark, and reassuring.

*

Duan Yunhong was relaxed when he entered the royal palace, but the actual situation was even more tense than he had imagined.

Miel was also thrown into the hall, his hands tied behind his back, and though they said he was kneeling, he was actually sprawled out. The robe he was wearing was probably the Church’s internal “house clothes,” originally white, but now covered in bloodstains. Large patches of it, not only starting to turn black, but also smelling fishy and foul, making him look extremely wretched.

Besides the King, the Pope also made a rare appearance, along with a line of Church representatives such as the High Priests and the Holy Son, as well as a group of great nobles such as Dukes and Earls. Of course, there were also fully armed guards. Two of them stood by Miel’s side, including a high-ranking officer, as if the powerless Miel could suddenly attack.

Duan Yunhong only glanced at it before estimating the situation on the scene by eight or nine points. But he pretended not to know anything, asking the King why he had summoned him.

The King’s expression was not good. He had someone from the Church briefly describe what had been investigated.

In short, Miel returned to the Church after meeting Duan Yunhong last night. After changing out of his outdoor clothes, the attendants left his room, and he himself went to Deca’s room. In that room, Miel stabbed Deca in the abdomen, heart, and neck with a dagger.

Deca was caught off guard and hardly resisted. Because his throat was cut, he couldn’t call for help, and soon fell to the ground. Miel stayed by his side until he watched him breathe his last, then left his room. On the way back to his room, Miel was discovered by a passing attendant.

The attendant was terrified by his bloody appearance and immediately screamed. Soon, Deca, who had already stopped breathing, was also discovered. Naturally, Miel was arrested, and the Pope personally interrogated him. But at that time, the Church thought it was a tragedy caused by internal strife between internal personnel, and didn’t think of Ning Fei’s “death prediction.” It wasn’t until dawn, when the drowsy guards finally discovered the name “Deca” written on the plaza. This name was reported all the way up, and verified all the way through, before it matched the dead man from last night.

Undoubtedly, Ning Fei’s prediction had come true. But he didn’t do it himself, but rather bewitched the Church’s candidate for Holy Son to personally end the life of his former friend.

Duan Yunhong felt a sneer in his heart at the description of “former friend.” Even if Miel hadn’t been affected by Ning Fei’s magic, he had actively sacrificed Deca’s name to the plaza. What kind of “friend” was that?

But Duan Yunhong wouldn’t open his mouth to refute it, and Miel didn’t refute it either. The point that this current prisoner and murderer had been refuting was: he wasn’t bewitched by the devil, but rather summoned by the true god. Only by killing Deca could he atone for his sins.

Duan Yunhong almost couldn’t hold back his laughter when he heard this.

Hearing this, normal people would only feel it was absurd, but Duan Yunhong understood very well. Seris would probably understand too.

—This is the power of light magic. What Ning Fei wanted should be this kind of scene, right? Not just killing one person to prove a prediction, but also making this group of people fight among themselves.

The Pope was also trembling with anger when he heard this. He was in his seventies or eighties, and face was more important than anything. The death of a candidate for Holy Son wasn’t important. What was important was that Miel actually recognized the devil as the true god. It was truly a complete reversal of the natural order, utterly outrageous!

“Devil’s words, devil’s words! Stuff his mouth, don’t listen to his bewitching words anymore!” The Pope’s hand was trembling as he pointed at Miel. “He has completely fallen and must be severely punished to completely cleanse the demon on him!”

The King didn’t have time to care about what kind of punishment the Church wanted to inflict on Miel. He just looked at Duan Yunhong. “Earl Andrew, the Church’s attendants said that Miel went back to kill Deca after meeting you by the central plaza last night. The name on the plaza also appeared after last night. Tell me honestly, what did you go to the plaza for?”

“Your Majesty, I’m not the only one who went to see the excitement near the plaza these days. I think you know that.” Duan Yunhong was very clear about the depraved behavior of these nobles. They were people who could watch hangings as entertainment programs, so how could they not want to quietly catch a glimpse of the “legendary Ning Fei” on the plaza? If they could witness the scene of the guards arresting Ning Fei, it would be even more exciting, and they could definitely talk about it for a long time. So, Duan Yunhong wandering around the central plaza was nothing.

The King asked again, “Then what did you take Miel there to do?”

Duan Yunhong: “The carriage next to Central Plaza, exciting.”

Everyone: “…”

It seemed like he didn’t say anything, but it was as if he said everything. Many people showed knowing, teasing smiles, as if they understood this kind of “excitement” very well, and agreed with Duan Yunhong’s statement.

As for Miel’s reaction, that wasn’t important. His mouth was stuffed and he couldn’t respond, and he was also a “devil worshipper,” whose credibility was much lower than Duan Yunhong’s.

The Pope asked at this time, “Then did you see Miel go write Deca’s name?”

“No,” Duan Yunhong replied naturally. “But I didn’t care what he did before getting on my carriage or after getting off my carriage.”

It was another very ambiguous answer, but nobles were indeed so self-centered that it wouldn’t be strange if they didn’t care what their casual partners did afterwards.

The Pope asked again, “Did you see Ning Fei?”

Miel turned his head to stare at Duan Yunhong, as if warning him not to reveal Ning Fei’s existence.

“Didn’t see him.” Duan Yunhong, of course, continued to lie. “But, did someone really write a name last night? I saw that the guards over there were heavily guarded. How could they write a name without the guards knowing? Could Miel do that? Or, did it just suddenly appear…”

“Earl Andrew, don’t talk nonsense!” The Pope immediately stopped his speculation. “This is definitely not a miracle. It’s just a small trick played by that devil and his followers. Don’t be deceived by them!”

“Oh, a small trick…” Duan Yunhong was waiting for him to say this. He solemnly followed his words, fabricating a trumped-up charge.

“Then the most likely thing is that there are insiders among the patrolling guards who let Miel or someone else in, right?”

“Your Majesty, now the guards have to guard your safety closely day and night. You must carefully consider who is closest to you.”

——————–

Ning Fei and Lao Duan: The werewolf game has begun! Guess who the wolf is?