This villain has become a ghost

Yue Liuyun was dreaming again.

It was still the same dilapidated room, desolate and bleak. The difference from before was that it was cleaned very well. Although the furnishings were simple, they were spotless.

As the sky darkened, the surroundings gradually became quiet.

A handsome young man with a delicate face walked out of the room holding a long knife. His long hair was tied up casually, and he was dressed simply. His arms, with sleeves rolled up, were covered with wounds of various sizes, looking hideous and terrifying.

This is Nangong Mingzhu when he was young.

Withered branches and spreading weeds. A deserted fountain stood there quietly, the water had long since dried up, leaving only a desolate ground.

He swung his knife with a fluid, clean, graceful movement. The blade was sharp, and his eyes were filled with murderous intent. Wherever the blade passed, the air seemed to freeze. His eyes were like a bottomless pool, deep and cold, revealing an indescribable cruelty and determination.

Suddenly, another young man in black climbed over the wall and appeared in front of him. He saluted respectfully and said, "Greetings to His Royal Highness the Fourth Prince."

Yue Liuyun looked closely and found that the person was Feng Ning.

He and Nangong Mingzhu...it turns out they have known each other for a long time.

Nangong Mingzhu put away his knife and the murderous aura in his body, and waited calmly.

"I have done as you instructed. His Royal Highness the Second Prince has already believed that it was His Royal Highness the Third Prince who burned down his library, and he has reported it to His Majesty." Feng Ning reported.

Nangong Mingzhu said coldly: "It's not enough."

It would be enough to make them want to kill each other, to make them... as cruel as their mother, and to wish to take each other's lives.

"My subordinate understands."

Feng Ning pulled out a small porcelain bottle from his bosom, handed it to him, and said, "Your Highness, you were caned twenty times by the Imperial Concubine last time. Your body hasn't fully recovered yet, so you shouldn't do any strenuous exercise."

Nangong Mingzhu nodded, took the porcelain bottle and responded readily: "Okay."

Feng Ning climbed over the wall and left again.

Nangong Mingzhu immediately started practicing with the sword again.

Yue Liuyun: “…”

This child has been rebellious since he was young.

The moon was above the treetops as Nangong Mingzhu practiced swordplay in a self-torturing manner until blood started coming out of his knuckles, half of the wounds on his body were torn open, and he was in so much pain that he was convulsing. Only then did he stop.

Yue Liuyun gasped and frowned, but he could do nothing.

If he didn't find a way to protect himself, he would surely die in this silent and cruel palace. It was unknown how much he had to go through to survive until now.

I don’t know how long it took, but suddenly, Nangong Mingzhu became alert, his eyes glanced fiercely at a certain place in the yard, and he endured the pain all over his body and walked over step by step.

Under the dim moonlight, an unidentified object was seen wriggling in the corner of the wall, and a faint sobbing sound could be heard.

Nangong Mingzhu coldly placed the knife on the neck of the unknown object.

Yue Liuyun then realized that it was actually a dog hole, and the person who came out of the dog hole was probably, possibly, perhaps, should, seemed to be... a person?

Who was so bored at night that he dug a dog hole in the courtyard of an unfavored prince?

The unidentified object whimpered and uttered indistinctly, "I'm sorry... I'm sorry. I don't mean any harm. I, I just want to hide here for a while."

Hearing this voice, a hint of shock appeared in Nangong Mingzhu's calm eyes. He put away the knife, frowned and asked, "Is it you?"

The man curled up on the ground seemed to have heard Nangong Mingzhu's voice. He raised his head, revealing a dirty face. He struggled to stand up from the ground. His legs were trembling. He staggered a few times and held on to the wall.

"Sorry, I'm leaving now."

The young man's white clothes were stained blood-red, and some parts were congealed into purple-black. One of his legs seemed to be injured. He limped a few steps and almost collapsed to the ground.

Yue Liuyun: “!!!”

This person... is actually Ling Chaomian!

How... did he end up like this?!

"Stop," Nangong Mingzhu called out to him, walked up to him, raised his eyebrows with a hint of a smile, his eyes filled with deep vigilance and murderous intent, and asked, "Aren't you the disciple next to the Imperial Master? What's going on?"

Ling Chaomian shook his head slightly and continued to limp towards the door, saying in a trembling voice as he walked, "I... I remember you too. You are His Royal Highness the Fourth Prince. I'm sorry, I thought no one was here. Since you live here, I won't disturb you. Let me go."

Nangong Mingzhu picked up the knife again and placed it on Ling Chaomian's neck. He smiled lightly, with a hint of youthful mischief in his voice, but his words were as if poisoned.

"Speak clearly, otherwise... I will kill you directly."

Ling Chaomian froze in his place, then smiled bitterly and said, "I know your situation. If I told you this, it would only bring disaster upon myself. You have the appearance of an emperor, and you shouldn't die like this."

Nangong Mingzhu's eyes darkened.

The appearance of an emperor.

He sneered, tightened his grip on the knife, his face frosty, and said in a leisurely tone, "Then let me guess. Were these injuries of yours...inflicted by the Imperial Master?"

Ling Chaomian struggled to stand, his body slightly unsteady. He pursed his lips and said nothing.

"If I'm not mistaken, all those divinations and deductions in the past were done by you. In other words, it was the National Master who used you, forced you, and even impersonated you to take your credit. Am I right?" Nangong Mingzhu observed his expression carefully and stated it plainly.

Ling Chaomian's eyes widened, his face filled with disbelief, and he trembled as he said, "You...how did you know?"

Nangong Mingzhu said casually: "I guessed."

Ling Chaomian smiled bitterly.

It is more accurate than his deduction of destiny.

"Since you already know, let me go quickly. The Imperial Master will catch up with me soon. He won't kill me because I am still useful to him. But you are just an unpopular prince. No one will care if you die here." Ling Chaomian said with some difficulty, his words full of anxiety.

Nangong Mingzhu didn't move.

Seeing that Nangong Mingzhu was reluctant to put down his knife, Ling Chaomian gritted his teeth, made up his mind, and was about to charge at his knife.

Or… if he died, Nangong Mingzhu might still have a chance to live. Anyway… being used and tortured, even if he had the talent to see into fate, what good would it do? Living like this was meaningless.

Nangong Mingzhu was startled and withdrew the knife in time to stop the man from committing suicide. A hint of surprise and incomprehension flashed in his eyes.

He frowned and said, "You... are determined to die? And for someone like me, who has nothing to do with you?"

Ling Chaomian had used up all his strength and courage in this collision. He collapsed to the ground, groaning in pain, his breath weak and even breathing was extremely difficult.

Nangong Mingzhu sneered, "That's just stupid!"

"In this world, no matter what happens, there's hope only as long as you're alive!" he said coldly, "...Since you've come to my territory, your fate is mine, not yours."

"Really?" A deep, steady voice rang out from the doorway, the already dilapidated door shattered by the intruder's kick. He was a middle-aged man with an honest appearance, dressed in a white Taoist robe, and followed by several burly guards.

The Imperial Master smiled sinisterly, approached them with his men, and said slowly, "It's so hard for me to find it..."