Redeem The Villain [Quick Travel] Chapter 9

Chapter 9: I Am the Top One – Revised

Lu Qinian silently followed behind them. The cave was filled with countless winding paths and intersections. He couldn’t possibly remember the route, so he could only leave a trace of his affinity at every corner to prevent Aleksi from wandering aimlessly once he arrived.

After an unknown amount of time, Scarface stopped at an intersection, his eyes wide as he commanded, “Get in.”

Lu Qinian shrugged and slowly stepped into the cave. He was slightly surprised when he saw the interior decoration. The entire stone chamber was almost identical to the main hall of the Merfolk Crystal Palace, down to the placement of the decorations and up to the mismatched carpet on the floor. The only difference was whether the walls were crystal or reef rock.

The most striking feature was the crystal throne in the center of the hall.

This Sea Demon Leader is quite the copycat.

“How dare this damned Elf look down on us Sea Demons?!” Scarface roared viciously, “Kneel!”

Hearing this, the Elf raised an eyebrow, his emerald eyes coldly looking at him. Scarface subconsciously recalled the kick to his abdomen. A faint thread of pain traveled through his nerves to his brain. His gaze was sheepish, but he didn’t look away.

The Elf’s golden short hair was slightly messy, but there was no trace of panic in his eyes. Instead, he scanned his surroundings with indifference. He didn’t look like a lamb waiting to be slaughtered at all, displaying an unexpected composure.

Since this was their home base, Scarface naturally couldn’t lose face in front of the leader. “Are you deaf, you bastard!”

With that, he raised his hand, intending to teach this ignorant Elf a lesson.

Lu Qinian subtly stepped back, his emerald eyes calm and steady as he glanced toward the back of the throne. The moment their eyes met, a dry, hoarse voice slowly spoke, “Stop, you rude fellow.”

The Sea Demon Leader smiled with interest.

Scarface looked ferocious. His face darkened when the Elf easily dodged his attack with a slight movement. Before he could act, he was interrupted by the leader. He could only glare with resentment, grinding his teeth as he backed away. “Yes.”

Glares couldn’t kill people. Lu Qinian nonchalantly patted away the dust Scarface had kicked up, looking utterly disgusted, which made Scarface’s chest heave violently with anger.

“Tap—”

“Tap—”

“Tap—”

The Sea Demon Leader ascended the throne step by step. His blood-red eyes openly scrutinized the Elf before him, then he let out a soft chuckle. “No wonder you survived Aleksi’s hands. With that appearance, no one could remain unmoved.”

While the Sea Demon Leader was observing him, Lu Qinian was also secretly observing the other party.

Sea Demons have stronger genes than Merfolk; naturally, their physique and height are the most robust. However, among the Sea Demons Lu Qinian had seen, even the leader before him was at most on par with Aleksi. Based on appearance alone, it was hard to tell who was superior.

No, Lu Qinian internally disagreed.

Aleksi was better looking than all of them.

However, Sea Demons were simply too blatant compared to Merfolk.

The leader on the throne had long, straight, dark green hair that hung casually but neatly by his ears and fell onto his chest. But that chest… was bare, with the two strands of hair barely covering it.

Across his exposed upper body, a thick, long scar slanted from the side of his neck all the way down to his waist, where it disappeared beneath the fabric. His dark green fish tail shimmered coldly under the illumination of the night-glowing pearls. As if tired of being stared at, the tail impatiently slapped the ground rhythmically.

Only his face struck Lu Qinian as strangely familiar.

“Am I good-looking?” The Sea Demon Leader’s smile had vanished at some point.

Lu Qinian chuckled lightly. “You are.”

The Sea Demon Leader’s appearance was indeed good. Although not as refined as Aleksi’s, he could certainly be called handsome.

However, Lu Qinian hadn’t expected the Sea Demon Leader’s face to instantly turn gloomy the moment he finished speaking. His dark green eyes looked at Lu Qinian as if he were looking at something filthy.

The Elf awkwardly rubbed his nose. Just as difficult to deal with as Aleksi.

The leader clearly saw the Elf’s expression. The Sea Demon Leader slowly rose and walked to his side, his dark green eyes engraving Lu Qinian’s figure into his sight. His slightly thin lips parted as he slowly spoke, “Elf Saint? I heard you are one of the top prodigies on land, a gifted genius among all Elves. But you are famously cold and arrogant. Why would you get involved with someone like Aleksi? How many times have you been with Aleksi? Dump him and be with me. I promise I will treat you better than he ever did.”

Are Beastmen this straightforward?

Lu Qinian pursed his lips. Aleksi was a lunatic, and the Sea Demon Leader wasn’t any better. They both wanted to use him to kill the other; neither was superior.

He wasn’t sure when Aleksi would arrive. Given his personality, it was possible he wouldn’t show up until Lu Qinian was dead.

He couldn’t put all his hope in Aleksi. Although his willing compliance was for the sake of the mission progress, he still needed to survive.

His emerald eyes flickered. “I am the top one.”

The Sea Demon Leader’s steps halted. He froze on the steps for a long time without moving. Scarface looked up in astonishment, his eyes wide with surprise, and even the timid Sea Demon covered his mouth.

I hope Aleksi doesn’t ask any questions and just deals with them immediately. Otherwise, I’ll be the second one to die, Lu Qinian prayed silently.

“Do you take me for a fool?” The Sea Demon Leader quickly strode toward Lu Qinian, reaching out to grab the Elf’s neck.

“How could I lie to you? Look, my hands are still tied.” Lu Qinian blinked, then held up his bound hands. The other end of the rope was still in the hand of the timid Sea Demon.

The Elf before him certainly couldn’t escape, nor did he have a reason to lie.

The Sea Demon Leader frowned deeply. While that was true, believing that Aleksi was the bottom one…

He paused. The hand that wanted to strangle the Elf dropped to his side. A sudden image of Aleksi being pressed down flashed in his mind… It was absolutely terrifying!

The Sea Demon Leader’s eyes shifted. He turned and walked back up the steps to sit on the throne, seemingly intrigued. He smiled and said, “Then tell me, how did you manage to press Aleksi down?”

If he talked, he could stall for time. If he didn’t, he would die now.

Lu Qinian steeled his heart. “Of course, he fell in love with me at first sight at the banquet. Because I didn’t understand his feelings back then, I angered him. When he couldn’t have me, he got angry and retaliated. But later, he couldn’t bear to see me suffer and immediately released me. That very day, he had me move into his sleeping quarters. Not only did he confess his feelings, but he also gave me… intimate apparel.”

The Sea Demon Leader looked at Lu Qinian suspiciously. He didn’t believe the first few sentences, but moving into the sleeping quarters and receiving that kind of clothing… The Sea Demons lurking near the palace had indeed sent back such news.

The Sea Demon Leader pondered for a long time before asking doubtfully, “If that’s the case, why did he throw you into the Reef Zone?”

Lu Qinian’s heart sank. He had a bad feeling.

The Sea Demon Leader narrowed his eyes, the cold light in them piercing Lu Qinian. “Why are you silent? Are you trying to fool me?”

Lu Qinian smiled faintly. “I wasn’t then. Everything I said was true.”

Before the Sea Demon Leader could speak, Scarface quickly shouted, “Then hurry up and tell us!”

His face was full of curiosity and eagerness to hear more. Sea Demons are this gossipy? Lu Qinian’s mouth twitched. Before he could speak, a chill ran down his spine, and his upward curve of his lips instantly froze.

Lu Qinian: I’m finished.

On the other side, after the Guard fell outside the cave, Yang Luo quickly returned to the camp.

Ling Tang checked all the necessary items, and after confirming everything was correct, he knelt before Aleksi. “Your Majesty, everything is ready. The Elf Saint has been inside the cave for half an hour. If we delay any longer…”

Aleksi waved his hand.

Ling Tang stood up, his voice solemn. “Prepare to depart.”

Aleksi stood outside the cave, his eyes dim. The strong scent in the cave had long dissipated, and the Elf’s scent was barely noticeable. A persistent, irritating restlessness lingered in his heart.

He wondered how he was doing.

The team had stopped for too long. Any further delay would surely attract the enemy’s attention. Yang Luo reluctantly spoke, “Your Majesty?”

His thoughts interrupted, Aleksi rubbed his tired brow. “It’s nothing.”

The Merfolk King, clad in soft armor but wearing ordinary clothing on his legs to avoid hindering his fish tail transformation during battle, entered the stone cave with steady steps. The Merfolk army followed closely in neat formation.

There was not a single Sea Demon Guard visible inside the entire cave.

Ling Tang frowned deeply. Everyone realized something was wrong.

Once the arrow is shot, there is no turning back. Having come this far, it wouldn’t be easy to leave.

When they stopped outside the hall where the affinity was strongest, Aleksi made a gesture with his slender fingers. Everyone paused, stopping in place.

Aleksi leaned to the side, quickly scanning the interior of the hall and observing everything carefully. Then he frowned slightly.

There were only four people inside the entire hall, including the Elf.

The next second, the Merfolk’s scarlet tongue licked the corner of his mouth. “Found him.”

Before he could make a move, he heard a voice he utterly detested say, “How many times have you been with Aleksi?”

Not only did the grim-faced Aleksi hear this, but all the other Merfolk heard it clearly. The bolder Merfolk cautiously glanced at their King.

But the Elf’s reply astonished everyone even more.

“I am the top one,” the clear voice replied with a slight laugh.

Aleksi’s body stiffened. He abruptly looked up, and the air around him instantly turned icy. What nonsense was this damned Elf saying?! Was he implying that Aleksi was the bottom one?!

“Aleksi fell in love with me at first sight. He not only let me live in his sleeping quarters, confessed his love, saying he couldn’t live without me, but he even deliberately prepared intimate apparel for me. If he didn’t truly love me, how could he do such a thing for me? He must be madly in love with me…”

Aleksi: “…” I’m going to kill him!

Yang Luo stared at Aleksi’s face for a long time until he was glared at darkly. He then turned to look at Ling Tang, blinking repeatedly: Is that true? Does His Majesty play such games?

Ling Tang rolled his eyes: You dare to discuss His Majesty? Do you have a death wish?

Yang Luo quickly shook his head: No, no, I wouldn’t dare.

Facing the Sea Demon Leader’s meaningful smile and Scarface’s eagerness beside him, the coldness behind Lu Qinian intensified. Aleksi had truly arrived. He kept his lips tightly sealed, refusing to speak no matter how much Scarface urged him.

Are you kidding me? That pervert is right behind me. He doesn’t even know how much Aleksi heard. Today won’t just be the annihilation of the Sea Demon group; it will also be his death anniversary.

Scarface was both anxious and angry. “Say something!”

Say what, you idiot! Lu Qinian wished he could grind his teeth to dust.

“It doesn’t matter if he won’t speak. Why don’t you ask Aleksi yourself?” The Sea Demon Leader’s voice was cold, his eyes filled with killing intent. “Go, invite His Majesty Aleksi in.”

“Yes.” The Head Guard stepped out from the shadows and walked straight to the hall entrance. “Our leader requests your presence.”

With fierce, deep eyes, Aleksi’s voice was frigid. “It seems you are ready to die.”