Chapter 80: Renaming the Shadow

Ji Xiao woke up sitting on a desk. In front of the desk knelt a man in black, head bowed.

“Get up.”

Hearing his voice, the kneeling man stood up sharply. His body was taut and powerful, like a hunting leopard. He wore a dark, dull mask.

Ji Xiao took one look and knew this man’s combat prowess was no joke.

‘Have I transmigrated into someone with power again?’

[Plot.]

Black Cat: “Got it.”

The original owner was Yan Xiao. The name was fierce, but he was a frail scholar.

He was born weak, so his father gave him that name, hoping he would recover quickly and become strong and agile.

Despite his frailty, he had a photographic memory and was exceptionally intelligent.

His family was neither poor nor wealthy. He was the son of a county magistrate.

He passed the county-level imperial exam at nine, won first place three times in a row at twelve, and became a provincial graduate at fifteen, earning the title of Jieyuan.

That same year, his father died of illness. His mother, already soft and weak, followed in depression, leaving only him and his older sister.

To make matters worse, he fell ill.

Yan Xiao’s father was an upright official, leaving little savings. They barely scraped by.

After covering funeral expenses, Yan Xiao had no money for treatment.

His father had been so principled that he had refused all favors from relatives, who subsequently cut ties.

Yan Xiao’s sister, Yan Wan, begged their relatives for help, but they refused.

Yan Wan was Yan Xiao’s only remaining family.

She gritted her teeth and agreed to marry a merchant’s son, Chen Fang, who had long admired her. The condition was that he would pay for her brother’s treatment. She would observe a three-year mourning period before the wedding.

Chen Fang was deeply in love with her and had no shortage of money, so he gladly agreed.

Yan Wan knew Yan Xiao would never consent. So she secretly took her birth chart and documents, settled the engagement with Chen Fang, and exchanged marriage certificates.

It wasn’t until Chen Fang sent people to move them to a comfortable detached villa that Yan Xiao, delirious with fever, learned of this. He was so enraged that he fainted.

After being revived, he protested silently, refusing to cooperate with treatment. His condition fluctuated.

He remained consumed by grief and indignation. His parents were dead, and as the family’s pillar, he had to rely on “selling his sister” to survive.

He hated himself. He hated his sister for marrying without consulting him.

Even after she married into the Chen family, she wanted to take him with her, but he absolutely refused.

He stayed in that villa, provided by the deal, cared for by servants Chen Fang arranged. His heart was heavy, and his health never improved.

Five years passed like that.

It was only then that his eyes, long clouded by resentment, finally opened. He saw how doting his brother-in-law was to his sister, how warm and happy her smile was, how gentle and kind her in-laws were to her.

So they were willing to come here to preside over his coming-of-age ceremony.

His father’s old friends and his former teachers and classmates were also invited. They urged him to recover and pursue an official career, to support his sister.

Yes, his sister’s natal family had only him left.

After the capping ceremony, Yan Xiao suddenly saw the light. The knot in his heart loosened. His ambition soared. He devoted himself to recovery and resumed his studies.

His photographic memory and intelligence shone through.

He had forgotten nothing he had learned.

In fact, the years of haze and the sudden clarity elevated his mind and improved his calligraphy and painting.

Once recovered, he made it just in time for the metropolitan exam.

With travel funds from his sister and brother-in-law, he went to the capital with only a young servant.

Though ill for years, his constitution was strong. He didn’t become a ghost of himself. His complexion was poor, but his features were handsome and refined. He was thin and looked frail, but not ugly.

Once he gained clarity, his temperament settled, and he became inexplicably attractive.

He had been a provincial graduate. Though delayed, he passed the metropolitan exam with top honors and dazzled at the palace exam, earning the emperor’s praise. He achieved the Triple First: first in the county, first in the province, first in the capital.

Three first places, three yuan in succession.

Those who knew his story said that if illness hadn’t held him back for eight years, he would have achieved fame long ago.

Others said that enduring eight years of pain while never forgetting his studies or losing his ambition was truly admirable.

Scholars and literati saw his exam papers and were dazzled by his talent.

Occasionally, some military men or commoners said he looked frail and might die young, but the scholars shot back.

Clearly, his knowledge was profound, his insights unique.

The Fifth Princess, who had never been betrothed, was spoiled and bold in love and hate, took a liking to him. She wanted him to be her consort.

Yan Xiao, burdened by his weak body and lacking family backing, saw marrying the princess as the fastest shortcut.

If he refused, he might never achieve high status.

So he agreed.

The Fifth Princess was straightforward and playful.

Later, when he saw the dark guard summoned by the Fifth Princess, Yan Xiao had a reaction.

He wasn’t stupid.

The charming princess had appeared before him many times, but his heart remained untouched. He thought he was indifferent to romance, focused only on success and ambition.

But he was wrong.

It was only for a masked man whose face he didn’t know, whose body was taut and powerful, that he felt desire.

Already past his coming of age and never intimate with anyone, he was seduced by the dark guard’s physique.

After much thought, knowing the princess liked him, he asked for the dark guard.

He claimed he was weak and worried about accidents, and having a guard would make him feel safe.

In this dynasty, dark guards were not exclusive to the royal family. Officials could train them, but not in large numbers.

He was the emperor’s personally appointed top scholar and the future consort. Asking for a guard wasn’t inappropriate.

The princess gave him the guard and ordered that Yan Xiao would be his new master.

The dark guard accepted the order. From then on, he changed masters.

During training, dark guards were deeply embedded with the command to obey only their master.

If the master changed, they would only listen to the new one.

It was the same for any dark guard.

This dark guard now belonged to Yan Xiao.

That very day, Yan Xiao slept with him.

From then on, the guard meant to protect his master’s life became Yan Xiao’s outlet for release.

He still married the princess and became her consort.

Every time he had s*x with the princess, he would first go to the dark guard to stir himself up, then force himself to perform.

Paper can’t wrap fire. What he did with the dark guard was eventually discovered by the princess.

The princess was furious. Yan Xiao begged forgiveness, claiming it was a momentary lapse, and ordered the guard to commit suicide to prove his resolve.

Without a word, the guard killed himself.

As a result, Yan Xiao’s entire clan was executed.

Ji Xiao: “…”

Black Cat said, “The client’s mission is: not to marry the princess, but the dark guard is essential, and protect his sister.”

Ji Xiao was surprised.

Black Cat continued, “Yan Xiao thought that the royal family had far-reaching means, and he couldn’t help being attracted to men. Marrying the princess would eventually be found out. He couldn’t forget the dark guard, and it would be a waste to let him die or be discarded.”

Ji Xiao: [Heh.]

“As for protecting his sister, it’s because in his previous life, he didn’t get the chance to repay his sister and brother-in-law before he was executed. He considers himself a loyal and grateful person.”

[Bullshit!]

Black Cat: “…”

Ji Xiao looked at the dark guard standing ramrod straight.

From the moment he arrived, the first person he saw was the mission target. Even while receiving the plot, he kept an eye on him.

So during the plot reception, he caught the moment when the guard’s aura fluctuated distinctly.

The person was the same person, but the soul might not be.

Ji Xiao crooked his finger at him. “Come here.”

The guard didn’t hesitate. He walked over and stood before him.

“What’s your name?”

“Please give me a name, master.” His voice was cold.

Ji Xiao thought for a moment. “Then you’ll be Ying. Eagle. What’s your original surname? Add it to become your new name.”

“Lian Ying thanks the master for the name.”

“Your surname is Lian.”

“Yes.”

Black Cat: “Why did you change his name?”

In the original plot, Yan Xiao gave him a perfunctory name: Yan Ying, meaning he was his shadow, his dark shadow. A shadow in the dark.

Ji Xiao said flatly, [I don’t like his original name. What’s wrong with changing it? Does changing his name make him a different person?]

Black Cat: “Fair enough. Change it then. Whatever makes you happy, host.”

Ji Xiao: ‘It seems the system doesn’t know the mission target has a problem.’

Then he must not reveal it.

Ji Xiao tapped the table. “Take off your mask.”

Lian Ying didn’t hesitate. He removed his mask, revealing a sharply defined face with eagle-sharp eyes.

Unfortunately, there was a brand of the character “dark” on the right side of his forehead.

“Are you afraid of pain?”

“No.”

Ji Xiao nodded. [Cat, give me a tattoo tool kit. Something ancient-style.]

Black Cat: “Can’t you save some points?”

Ji Xiao: [Didn’t I just finish a mission in the last world? Not enough points?]

Black Cat: “Fine, I’ll buy it for you. Honestly, you’re always so wasteful. With the materials, you’ll only have eighteen points left after this purchase.”

Ji Xiao: [Buy it.]

Black Cat: “What colors?”

Ji Xiao: [Black and red.]

Black Cat: “Got it.”

Ji Xiao pointed to the lounge couch beside them. “Lie down. Close your eyes.”

Lian Ying’s cold eyes showed no emotion. He obeyed.

Ji Xiao picked up the tattoo tools and pigments and walked to the couch.

Through Black Cat’s verbal instructions, he ran through the process in his mind, then began.

Half an hour later.

Ji Xiao’s sore hands stopped. He wiped his sweat.

This body was really too weak.

He had Black Cat stow the tools and material. Ji Xiao lowered his head to admire his work.

The original “dark” character had been replaced by a black branch with a red flower. To completely cover the character, the branch curved gracefully, as if about to bloom. It shouldn’t have matched his sharp features, but on his face, it was surprisingly harmonious.

“Open your eyes.”

Lian Ying opened his eyes and saw Ji Xiao, pale and sweating, but with a gentle smile.

“Do you know what I did to you?”

Lian Ying said coldly, “The master added a few strokes to my brand.”

A few strokes, indeed.

Lian Ying: “Thank you, master.”

“Don’t call me master. Call me brother.”

“Brother.”

Though his voice was cold, he was very obedient.

Ji Xiao had stood for nearly an hour and was tired. His legs went weak.

Lian Ying quickly rose and supported him.

Ji Xiao took the opportunity to wrap his arms around his neck and said softly, “I’m a bit tired. Carry me back to my room.”

“Yes.”

With the winding flower on his right forehead unchanging, Lian Ying carried Ji Xiao toward the master bedroom as directed.

Facing the stares of the servants on the way, he acted as if nothing was amiss.

📚 Also on NHV Novels

A Tangy New Life After Breaking Up with My Girlfriend

HaremRomanceSlice of Life

Read Now →
Not interested