CHAPTER 27: CHAPTER 27: CORRUPTION, SCHEMES, AND EMPOWERMENT

Zhao Yi increasingly felt like the villain in a book!

Bullying widows and orphans, threatening old monks.

He doesn’t do a single decent thing!

Not even villains are as wicked as him!

"This should be considered as my blackening!" Zhao Yi thought to himself.

In the original story, Zhao Yi’s character was a deeply affectionate supporting male lead, pouring his heart and money out for the female lead.

He ultimately died amidst chaos, fulfilling the earth-shattering love of the main couple.

Now Zhao Yi has awakened, no longer the female lead’s sycophant, and instead started to resent her.

Hatred born of love.

This is the standard blackening plot in a novel!

Zhao Yi reflected on his actions and felt increasingly delighted.

A moment of blackening is a moment of thrill; constant blackening brings constant thrill!

What kind of life had he been living before?

A dignified prince of the Great Xia, yet hastening to be someone’s sycophant.

And still looked down upon!

The empress didn’t slap him to death, which already showed deep motherly love!

Zhao Yi thought to himself, yet he remained expressionless.

Next to him, Huang Ying was eager to give it a try.

She looked at the old monk, constantly giving him looks, hoping he would refuse.

That way, she could bury the old monk in a dung pit.

"Amitabha!"

The old monk saw Huang Ying getting ready, his mouth twitched slightly.

He put his palms together and bowed to Zhao Yi.

"Benefactor, that dead egg is actually the eye of an ancient array."

The old monk explained, "When I was young, I traveled around the continent and accidentally discovered that ancient array! I studied it for a year and eventually determined that there is an ancient tomb inside that array!"

An ancient tomb?

When Huang Ying heard this, she instantly lost interest.

The Great Xia Dynasty has dominated the continent for a millennium; who knows how many rare and precious treasures the Royal Treasury has collected.

A mere civilian tomb, Huang Ying really didn’t take it to heart!

The old monk cultivated well, and his skill in nurturing his temperament was not something a half-baked protagonist could compare to.

He saw Huang Ying’s disdain and didn’t refute her, instead saying to Zhao Yi, "Benefactor, did what this poor monk just said answer your question?"

Zhao Yi nodded, "It did!"

Zhao Yi was not like Huang Ying.

If it were someone else, Zhao Yi wouldn’t believe there were treasures in an ancient tomb.

But this old monk was different.

He was not only the protagonist’s cheat but also one of the most famous golden fingers!

There must be treasures in the tomb that the old monk valued!

Zhao Yi straightforwardly asked, "Master, where is that ancient array?"

The old monk seemed to have anticipated Zhao Yi’s question and promptly revealed the location.

Zhao Yi looked at Huang Ying, who nodded, indicating she had memorized it.

"And the way to break the array," Zhao Yi continued to ask.

It seemed that Zhao Yi had forgotten the transaction just made; if the old monk revealed the purpose of the dead egg, he would let the old monk go back to reunite with the protagonist.

Now the old monk not only explained the dead egg’s purpose but also disclosed the location of the ancient array, yet Zhao Yi had no intention of letting him go.

The old monk was very good-tempered.

Regarding Zhao Yi’s questions, he answered everything he knew.

Huang Ying, seeing the old monk being bullied like this, even felt a bit embarrassed.

Zhao Yi remained expressionless, feeling nothing amiss.

He noted down the critical points of breaking the array as told by the old monk, checked repeatedly, and only after confirming it was correct did he nod with satisfaction.

Finally, Zhao Yi asked, "Master, what is inside the ancient tomb you studied for over a year outside the ancient array?"

The old monk put his palms together, "I am not sure of the specifics. Based on some clues, I speculate that there might be an egg of a divine beast inside!"

Another divine beast’s egg?

Zhao Yi’s expression turned strange.

He had just acquired a dragon egg, and now a divine beast egg suddenly appeared.

Are the divine beasts of this world all so careless?

Laying eggs everywhere!

Zhao Yi nodded to the old monk, "Master, endure for a while longer! Once I confirm what you said is true, you’ll be able to reunite with your disciple!"

After speaking, Zhao Yi casually tossed the ring to Huang Ying.

The old monk’s soul body dispersed along with it, retreating to the ring to heal.

Huang Ying instinctively caught the ring and asked Zhao Yi, "Master, what should be done with this ring?"

"Throw it in the dung pit!" Zhao Yi answered casually.

Hmm?

Huang Ying’s eyes widened.

She looked at Zhao Yi, then back at the ring in her hand, nearly unable to process it.

Huang Ying was confused, "Master, didn’t you make a deal with the old monk that if he revealed the purpose of that dead egg, you’d let him go?"

Zhao Yi nodded, "Correct, that’s what I said! But since I can’t be sure if he’s telling the truth, I can only keep him for now!"

Huang Ying: "..."

Is this how you keep someone?

Such a grudge, throwing him directly in the dung pit!

"What if what the monk said is all true?" Huang Ying asked.

Zhao Yi replied sincerely, "If it’s all true, I will apologize to him!"

But that won’t happen!

Zhao Yi was almost sure that the old monk was definitely hiding something.

Zhao Mian pushed the protagonist off a cliff, nearly scattering the old monk’s soul.

The old monk wouldn’t let that go without revenge!

The old monk must be hiding some key information, waiting to trap Zhao Yi!

Zhao Yi knew he couldn’t get the truth, so he decided to throw him in the dung pit.

Huang Ying looked at the ring in her hand, a hint of sympathy on her face.

The old monk couldn’t preserve his integrity to the end!

Zhao Yi ignored her and instead asked, "Has anyone from the Imperial Clan Court arrived?"

Upon hearing this, Huang Ying quickly nodded, "They have arrived and are drinking with the Second Prince in the side hall."

Zhao Yi nodded, "Inform them to finish their business first before drinking!"

Huang Ying agreed and quickly headed to the side hall.

Soon, the Second Prince Zhao Mian led in an elderly, gaunt man.

The man’s cheekbones protruded, his eyes sunk, and his eyes were bloodshot, lifeless and unfocused, looking like a walking corpse!

Zhao Mian explained, "Uncle Zhao Yuan often has nightmares and goes mad if he sleeps. He hasn’t rested for a long time, which is why he seems a bit odd!"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Yi’s expression instantly became serious.

Although he’d heard "Mad Dragon Technique" was terrifying when mad, Zhao Yi had no concept of what being mad actually looked like.

Now seeing Uncle Zhao Yuan, Zhao Yi finally realized the danger.

The side effects of "Mad Dragon Technique" are based on each person’s personality, amplifying their flaws infinitely!

For instance, Zhao Mian loves drinking, so his madness will likely involve drunkenness.

That’s still manageable.

The unluckiest are like Uncle Zhao Yuan!

Who knows what experiences he had, for his flaw to be nightmares!

One can avoid drinking, but you can’t stop sleeping, can you?

Can anyone control themselves from dreaming while sleeping?

Dreaming leads to madness!

Not sleeping long enough also leads to madness!

That Uncle Zhao Yuan is still alive is proof of his sheer tenacity!

Zhao Yi looked sympathetically at Uncle Zhao Yuan and cupped his fists, "I must trouble you, Uncle!"

Uncle Zhao Yuan mechanically nodded and extended a thin, claw-like hand.

Zhao Yi sat cross-legged, allowing that hand to rest on the Baihui point on his head!

Zhao Mian, seeing this, stepped forward, keeping a close watch on Uncle Zhao Yuan.

He had to guard against Uncle Zhao Yuan suddenly going mad!

Uncle Zhao Yuan showed no expression, his aged, gaunt face twitching slightly, and his eyes suddenly shining with a brilliant golden light!

Boom!

Zhao Yi felt as if he had been hit with a hammer, his brain buzzing, and his eyes seeing stars!

PS: Please add to your collection and follow the updates!