NOVEL NEXT Chapter 39: Misconception
Haoran's face turned grim beneath his visor. I see… this was all a ploy.
Putting two and two together, he immediately understood that he had been played. When the prince gave him information on the suspect, he had conveniently left out the fact that he was a martial artist—intentionally screwing Haoran over.
Though he had long come to the conclusion that Spark must have been a cultivator of some kind if he was truly the Bloodied Shadow, he never expected him to be such a big shot!
Though Bloodied Shadow broke the city law by committing such a mass slaughter, one had to remember the crime was committed on criminals and vagabonds who had it coming anyway. Offending such a figure for them was outright stupid.
He wasn't a fool—yes, he believed in justice, but that reason only worked when he had the bigger sword. In a case like this… it was best to learn to be versatile.
Now he was stuck between a rock and a hard place. He had already detained Spark in front of so many people, and releasing him unjustly would bring about rumors of him being corrupted.
He gnashed his teeth in annoyance. No wonder the sneaky bastard sent someone to retrieve the guy in secret.
Now he somewhat regretted turning the prince down. If he had passed Spark over to the prince, this guillotine wouldn't be hanging above his neck. He dug a pit for me, I fell in, he offered me a lifeline and I burnt it… now I'm trapped.
Glancing back at Cai'er, he was just about to speak when someone walked in. Seeing who it was, he immediately bowed. "Greetings to His Highness Jian, to what do I owe this pleasure?"
On hearing this, Cai'er immediately turned around and followed suit, bowing and greeting also. "Greetings to His Highness Jian," her melodious voice rang out.
Prince Jian, who had just walked in, nodded at their greetings, and with a smile he addressed Cai'er gently, "Oh my, is that Lady Cai'er of the Merchant Express? You are as beautiful as they say. Even with a veil, your eyes still reveal your beauty. I pray I might be fortunate one day to witness your full glory."
"His Highness flatters me, I consider myself ordinary," she replied humbly.
Prince Jian playfully snorted. "If you claim to be ordinary, every other woman in this empire might as well be ugly."
She just smiled without replying further.
Prince Jian gave a meaningful smile to her. Their little chat might have seemed ordinary to others, but he knew that he had just been rejected. He didn't take it to heart—there was still enough time for wooing later…
But for now, he was here for business.
He glanced at Captain Haoran, who was quite excited at this moment. Prince Jian's arrival was like the presence of another lifeline, and this time he would hold tightly.
"Haoran, why did you detain an esteemed guest of our empire?" His words confused both Cai'er and the captain.
Seeing their confusion, he clarified with a smile, "My father and I are martial artists, and apart from rogue martial artists, there is only one martial school in the entirety of the Southern Wasteland mortal lands.
And the mister you apprehended happens to be a martial artist from our Heaven Scaling Sect. Calling him an apprentice brother of the emperor isn't far-fetched at all."
By the time he was done speaking, Haoran was drenched in sweat, his mind blank from fear. How had this matter escalated so quickly?
Now he regretted taking Prince Ji's tip. Clenching his teeth in anger, he cursed the crown prince internally. "A-ah, Your Highness, this must have been a misunderstanding on my part. I never intended to do so."
Cai'er right now was having a hard time holding in her laughter. This glib-tongued prince sure has his way with words.
She was clear on the fact that even if there was only one martial school in this region, there were still countless martial art cultivators—those labeled rogues by the prince. He conveniently left out the fact that these rogues themselves could be quite powerful, some stronger than those of the sect.
So concluding Spark was a fellow sect member was actually far-fetched, as there was no verification to back this claim. Shaking her head, she spectated quietly. She didn't care what tricks the prince used—as long as they released Spark, she was good.
Seeing the ever-stoic Captain Haoran fidgeting in panic, the prince couldn't help but chuckle and wave dismissively. "No worries. As long as you know your wrongs, the emperor wouldn't hold you accountable."
Walking toward the captain's office, he instructed, "Release the guest. Make sure to apologize sincerely that all this was a misunderstanding."
Hearing these instructions, Haoran couldn't help but feel a rush of relief. At least now he had valid reasons for releasing Spark without damaging the image of the prosecutors.
"Miss Cai'er, before you leave with the guest, I would like to have a word with him in private," the prince stated briefly before he entered the office and closed the doors, probably waiting for Spark.
…
Meanwhile, the subject of discussion—Spark—was back at the waiting cell sleeping…
Yes, what was he supposed to do?
He waited for a while for the interrogation to start, but they didn't come. So instead of spending precious time worrying about nothing, he'd rather continue sleeping. They were the ones who woke him up anyway, so he wasn't to blame.
Honestly, if Spark was present listening to the way he had been dignified so far, he would be speechless. After all, he was fully aware that the only reason he survived those sect masters was because of the intervention of someone—and not by his own power.
If anything, he would have been dead by now.
Clang! The sound of the metal cell opening woke him up.
Squinting his eyes at the newcomer, he was surprised to see that it was the gold-armored man himself who came to fetch him. Tch! I haven't gotten enough rest, why do you guys keep waking me up? he lamented inwardly.
Meanwhile, Haoran was in awe. Indeed, this is an expert. Even though he was detained unjustly, he still kept his composure and can still sleep at the base of his enemies. Such mental fortitude can only belong to an apex expert.
Just when Spark was wondering why the captain was here, suddenly Haoran fell to his knees—his face planting to the ground, a gesture that startled Spark.
What the hell? he marveled.