Saving the Heartthrob Frenemy-Chapter 413: A little blood

Qie Xieling was a little surprised that he knew who Luo Muchen was. If he did know then why did he run?

"I can’t live happily with him if he isn’t safe. That’s why I need to open this," he said and Balin lowered his head eating the rest of his meal. After he was done he suddenly said,

"Let me tell you a story... In a distant past, nestled among the stars, were two brilliant researchers named Dr. Marianne and Dr. Charles. They embarked on a remarkable journey together. Not only were they partners in their groundbreaking studies but they were also bound by a deep love that had blossomed into marriage. Together, they had adopted a son, a baby from a long-dead star, his origins shrouded in mystery.

As fate would have it, while engrossed in their research, Marianne and Charles stumbled upon something unimaginable. Deep within the annals of their studies, they uncovered a sinister secret. The nobles of the Zeden Coalition, the ruling elite of the star system, were engaging in a macabre practice. They were transferring their souls into the bodies of their own children into new bodies, prolonging their lives at the expense of innocent lives.

Overwhelmed by terror and compelled to expose this abomination, they sought guidance from the grandmaster of the Dwarfs, the ingenious inventor who had initially created this soul-transfer technology. To their dismay, they learned that the technology had been stolen from him, twisted into a monstrous tool by those with sinister ambitions.

Recognising the gravity of the situation, the grandmaster entrusted the couple with a secure box containing all the evidence they needed to expose the truth. It was now their responsibility to ensure the world knew of this vile conspiracy. Yet, their quest for justice came with a heavy price. The Zeden Coalition, threatened by their discovery, painted Marianne and Charles as dangerous criminals, their faces plastered across every corner of their star system.

Faced with imminent danger, the couple had no choice but to change their appearances and seek refuge among the shadows. They joined a group of desperate individuals, desperate to have a better future in Capital Star but lacked the legal means to do so. They hoped to reach the heart of power, where they could reveal the truth and bring an end to the cruel practices of the noble class.

However, as fate would cruelly remind them, their path was fraught with peril. During a treacherous journey, an ambush orchestrated by the Zeden Coalition claimed the lives of the smuggled people, leaving destruction and despair in its wake. Among the rubble and chaos, their beloved son managed to hide, his young heart burdened with grief and uncertainty.

Now, alone and having witnessed his parents’ murder he carried with him his parents’ legacy and vowed to avenge them. With the secure box clutched tightly in his hands, he set out on a solitary journey, determined to bring justice... Does that story sound familiar to you?"

Qie Xieling had no idea of some of the details of this character’s parents except that they had been brutally murdered by that general. "You have already killed the man who killed your parents so why bother?" asked Balin.

Qie Xieling leaned in closer and asked, "What of your clan? Don’t you want their deaths not to be in vain?"

Balin clenched his jaw tightly before saying, "They are better off dead. Your kind used my kind to create a lot of weapons and technology... what did they get in return? Betrayal." 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

Qie Xieling could see where he was coming from but he wouldn’t be able to leave this world without getting that sorted so he said, "You might not want to avenge your people but I do. Now tell me... how do I open it."

Balin sighed. He knew what these people were capable of, what they would do to keep that secret. They slaughtered an entire clan for it and vilified them. But what could he do to stop him if he wanted to die for this?

"A little of your blood will do the trick. Your parents made sure you could open it too though I don’t think they intended to make you fulfil their mission," he said but Qie Xieling was determined to get this done.

"Thank you," he said and immediately got up leaving a confused Balin behind. He watched him leave in a hurry and was at a loss. When Qie Xieling stepped out he met Luo Muchen in the passageway.

"Blood will do the trick. Come," said Qie Xieling as he excitedly grabbed his wrist. Luo Muchen heard it too but he didn’t like the idea of Qie Xieling cutting himself intentionally for this.

***

Meanwhile, Lee Ya was kneeling on the ground tremblingly. Her face was drained of all colour, as her father, unleashed his anger upon her. His voice thundered through the cabin, echoing off the walls.

"Find out where your half-brother is headed," the king bellowed, his eyes ablaze before coughing out a mouthful of blood. "And I want you to drug him when the time comes. He needs to come back home and take my place."

Lee Ya’s heart sank, her eyes widening with disbelief. Surely, Luo Muchen could do no wrong in their father’s eyes. Even after damaging the army’s fleet of warships to evade arrest, he was still allowed to ascend to the throne.

She was jealous and angry at the same time but she still bowed her head in submission, her voice barely a whisper. "Yes, Father," she replied, her voice quivering.

As the communication with her father came to an end she straightened her back and got up to her feet. The fear that had gripped her moments earlier dissipated, replaced by a sinister smile that curled upon her lips. The weight of her father’s expectations, and the years of being overshadowed, all fueled a burning ambition within her.

She would not only drug her brother, but she would seize this opportunity to replace him and become the future ruler of the Zeden coalition. She had had enough and it was finally time to take her place on that throne. Little did she know that it had nothing to do with Luo Muchen taking the throne but her father snatching Luo Muchen’s body so he could carry on living.