Redeem The Villain [Quick Travel] Chapter 11
byChapter 11: The Demand
“I didn’t give you food and forced you to sleep with me?”…
Lu Qinian followed silently behind Aleksi, wishing he could bury himself in the sand. He was terrified the Merfolk might suddenly turn around and stab him to death. After all, those words had already been spoken. He hoped the Merfolk would spare him, considering he had saved him.
After walking for a long time, Aleksi neither questioned him nor took his life. Instead, his steps remained steady as he walked forward, though the blood on his chest continued to spread.
The Merfolk’s hair, slightly curled and reaching his waist, was black and glossy. From behind, it looked like a rushing black waterfall.
Lu Qinian lowered his gaze, his eyes fixed on Aleksi’s legs.
The moment the Sea Demon Leader rushed over, Lu Qinian had expected to see Aleksi’s fish tail. Even later, when the Sea Demon was about to stab his back, Aleksi could have used the power of a fish tail to dodge, yet he still didn’t manifest one.
He felt a little disappointed, but when he thought about the Merfolk’s childhood experiences, the disappointment of not seeing the tail was overshadowed by a pang of sympathy for the young Merfolk.
The Elf’s gaze was too intense; Aleksi couldn’t even ignore the Elf’s presence. Thinking about the words the Elf had spoken, his face flushed. The more he thought, the more he felt like he was being intensely scorched by a raging fire, making his face even hotter.
Aleksi didn’t understand Lu Qinian’s thoughts, nor could he figure out what purpose the Elf had in helping him so willingly. Was it because his initial killing intent was too strong, making the Elf feel coerced?
The Merfolk paused his steps for just a second before steadily moving forward again.
It had been a long time since Aleksi had thought about killing him. In his idle moments, his mind was filled entirely with the Elf’s image. Even he couldn’t figure out why he had appeared in the outer Reef Zone during the Blood Moon Night, or why there was that embrace.
Aleksi’s deep eyes lowered, his gaze seeming to be veiled by a layer of mist.
Lu Qinian was unaware of the turmoil in the Merfolk’s heart. Seeing the increasing number of reefs on the path, he pursed his lips. If they followed this route back, his soles would likely be covered in blisters.
Seeing the Elf stop, Aleksi hesitated for a few seconds, then pursed his lips and said, “Whatever you want, I can grant it.”
The Elf was truly too delicate. Sleeping one night in the Black Reef Zone made him shiver all over, and walking for a few hours would rub blisters on his feet.
Considering he acted as bait, Aleksi was willing to grant the Elf one request.
Lu Qinian blinked, looking up at the Merfolk. The moment their eyes met, he felt even more certain of the conviction in the Merfolk’s words. He slowly opened his mouth and said, “I do have one request.”
Aleksi watched him silently, waiting patiently for the answer.
“Release the Beastmen in the Dungeon.”
Aleksi frowned. “That’s all you ask for?”
Lu Qinian nodded. “Yes. I know why you kept the Beastmen. Now that the matter is over, releasing them back to the land is the best choice.”
In the original plot, Aleksi used the Beastmen to locate the Sea Demon Leader. Not only did he fail to find the Sea Demon, but he also aroused the Sea Demon Leader’s vigilance. The Sea Demon Leader captured and tortured most of the Beastmen to death. Because this incident started with Aleksi, the mainland tribes, filled with indignation, united to crusade against Aleksi, including the Elven tribe who had lost their Holy Son.
Now that the Sea Demon Leader was dead, the Beastmen were useless to Aleksi. Returning them to their tribes was the best option.
Aleksi remained silent for a long time. He naturally understood the Elf’s meaning and the importance of the Beastmen to their tribes. However, he had never cared about the Beastmen’s hatred for him, because even if he did nothing, he was already considered unforgivable.
But… Aleksi was puzzled why the Elf would bring up those Beastmen.
Was it because of that Deer Beastman?
The Merfolk was silent for a second, then finally uttered a single word: “Fine.”
“I…” Lu Qinian’s gaze fell on his wound. Just as he was about to speak, he heard several voices from behind him.
A silver-tailed Merfolk, holding several vials of medicine, swam toward them rapidly. “Your Majesty!”
Lu Qinian had no choice but to swallow his words. Aleksi tilted his head and smiled at him. The two exchanged a knowing glance, leaving the unspoken words hanging in the air.
Ling Tang frowned and quickly injected the medicine into the Merfolk’s wound, saying worriedly, “Your Majesty’s wound needs treatment. We must return to the Palace as soon as possible.”
The Merfolk’s smile was somewhat dazzling. Lu Qinian, noticing Ling Tang’s defensiveness, silently turned and distanced himself.
Injecting the medicine required removing his clothes. The blood on Aleksi’s chest was constantly seeping out, his skin covered in fine pores like a leaking sieve. If one looked closely, peeling back the skin would reveal the mangled flesh beneath.
He was severely injured. If Aleksi had been in the throes of poison, he would have already become a corpse.
Upon reaching the Palace, Lu Qinian tactfully did not follow them in. He stood quietly at the entrance, silently watching the severely blood-loss-stricken Aleksi.
He hadn’t felt anything when he personally witnessed the Sea Demon Leader’s death, and even when Yu’s fish tail was exposed to the bone, he only felt pity. Since arriving in this world, he had treated everything before him as a game, and the dead Merfolk were merely NPCs in that game. But now, he felt that such a beautiful world shouldn’t be filled with bloodshed and war.
Aleksi’s wheat-colored skin was somewhat pale. Catching sight of the Elf’s vacant, dazed expression out of the corner of his eye, he paused his steps. His voice was hoarse and weak: “First, have the Witch Doctor examine the Holy Son.”
“Your Majesty…” Ling Tang urgently spoke, trying to object.
Aleksi’s eyes darkened. “Do it.”
“Yes.”
Thump, thump, thump—
Lu Qinian had just stepped into the familiar room when a knock sounded on the door.
The Elf’s emerald green eyes met his. Ling Tang respectfully bowed to the Elf who opened the door, then said, “Holy Son, His Majesty has sent the Witch Doctor to examine you.”
He had only been in the room for less than ten minutes. If he remembered correctly, the entire Merfolk tribe had only one Witch Doctor, and it was the same one who had collaborated with the Sea Demon Leader to create potions.
Although the Witch Doctor collaborated with the Sea Demon to create a potion that allowed the Sea Demon to manifest a fish tail, which in no way affected the Merfolk, and was the main reason the Witch Doctor earned extra money, still… given Aleksi’s sensitive and suspicious nature, he shouldn’t possibly accept the Witch Doctor again.
The Merfolk before him was not Aleksi. Lu Qinian didn’t feel the need to ask about that, and instead asked, “Has Aleksi’s wound been treated?”
Ling Tang paused his movement into the room, then looked up at the stunningly beautiful Elf before him, and slowly said, “No.” She paused, then added, seemingly displeased, “His Majesty ordered the Witch Doctor to come here first.”
At most, he only had a few bruises from the rope, and his body was just a little tired from the ordeal. Aleksi was ignoring his own severe wound to have the Witch Doctor check on him first?
Even so, what did the silver-tailed Merfolk’s displeasure toward him matter?
Lu Qinian didn’t mind, shaking his head in refusal. “No need. I’m not injured.”
Ling Tang knew she shouldn’t be displeased and regretted speaking those words immediately. But the words had been spoken and couldn’t be taken back. She had expected the Elf to be angry, but instead, he gently refused, leaving her momentarily stunned.
Everyone prioritizes themselves. Doesn’t the Elf before her fear being injured?
“Quickly take the Witch Doctor to see your King. His wound cannot wait,” the Elf slowly stated, then turned and closed the door.
Ling Tang’s gaze deepened. The next second, she turned and quickly left.
In the following days, Lu Qinian never saw Aleksi again. However, that same afternoon, he heard the news that the Fish Butler and others had been dealt with. He wasn’t clear on the specifics of the punishment. In the subsequent days, Aleksi devoted himself entirely to handling state affairs, completely failing to mention the request from that day or… those few words.
Lu Qinian knew Aleksi had boundaries and wouldn’t let those Beastmen die in the Dungeon, but he was also worried about unforeseen complications. Just as he was about to give in and search for Aleksi, a knock sounded on his door.
The Elf opened the door, and the turbulent feelings in his heart instantly calmed when he saw the visitor.
Familiar small deer eyes came into view.
“Holy Son, long time no see.” Lu Li showed a familiar smile, waving his hand at Lu Qinian.
Deer Beastmen were not small, but Lu Li’s physique, in particular, was too thin compared to other Beastmen. Now, after being imprisoned for so long, the flesh on his face was sunken, and he wasn’t as fair-skinned as before, looking sallow and sickly.
Lu Li was the first person to speak to him when he arrived in this world. Lu Qinian smiled. “Long time no see.”
“Holy Son, thank you.” Lu Li sniffled, then continued, “We all heard that the tyrant forced you to go to the Sea Demon camp as an undercover agent, even hanging you on the reefs for several days, nearly dying there. As soon as you were rescued, you demanded he let us go. The tyrant was so enraged that he locked you up and refused to give you food. You… you did all this for us.” By the end, Lu Li couldn’t help but cry.
Lu Qinian twitched his mouth speechlessly. Where did these rumors come from? “That’s not true. I went to the Sea Demon camp voluntarily.”
Although he was thrown in initially, he went voluntarily afterward. He couldn’t blame Aleksi.
The Deer Beastman cried heavily, mumbling through his sobs, “Really? I heard… I heard you were also forced to… sleep with the tyrant. He must have forced you, otherwise, otherwise how could he possibly release us?”
More and more Merfolk leaned in to listen, especially the Guards on both sides of the door, whose eyes were bulging out. Their hands gripped the long swords at their waists, eager to stab Lu Li to death.
Lu Qinian wished he could bite off his own tongue. He had carelessly spoken those words, so he couldn’t blame others for adding fuel to the fire. If he let Lu Li continue, the baseless rumors might become reality. He quickly interrupted loudly, “No! None of that is true!”
“Really?”
“That’s good, that’s good that it’s not true. Holy Son, don’t worry! I can’t save you now, but when I return, I will definitely find the Elven Clan Elder Grandpa and ask him to figure out a way to rescue you!” Lu Li wiped away a tear, his brown deer eyes fixed on Lu Qinian with unwavering determination.
The Elf refused, but until Lu Li left, the stubborn little deer kept repeating that he would save him. Since the little deer couldn’t help him anyway, Lu Qinian didn’t insist further.
The little deer, full of confidence, left with the other Beastmen. Before leaving, he turned back and vigorously waved his arm. Only when Lu Qinian raised his hand and waved back did he leave the Undersea satisfied.
Compared to the other Beastmen, this little deer was indeed quite cute. Lu Qinian slowly turned around, and the smile on his face instantly froze when he met a certain gaze.
The next second—
A deep, hoarse, and chilling voice entered his ears. Lu Qinian’s body subconsciously trembled.
“Tyrant? Forced? Imprisoned you in the bedchamber in a fit of rage? Didn’t give you food and forced you to sleep with me?”