Dance Of The Dragons
Chapter 296 : A Powerful Ally (4)

Chapter 296: Chapter 296 : A Powerful Ally (4)

Liu Wenyuan and Xie Jianzhi left the small chamber and headed outside.

"So, what is your plan?" Xie Jianzhi asked in a low voice.

"I am but a weak, defenseless omega. We need to ask for the First Demon King’s help."

Reluctance caused Xie Jianzhi to stop in his tracks.

"But he is a demon king," Xie Jianzhi said in an urgent whisper.

Liu Wenyuan shot him a sad smile.

"Unfortunately no one else will help."

"But why? Can we not approach the other palaces one by one?"

A cheerless laughter escaped Liu Wenyuan.

"Which palace do you have in mind?"

Xie Jianzhi fell silent.

He had just recently been promoted within Fuxi Palace’s ranks, but he had zero interaction with other palaces -- save for Wuyang Palace of course.

"What about... Asking the Crown Prince for help?" Xie Jianzhi suggested. Fuxi Palace would be his in the future. His relationship with Xie Jianyu, the current master of Fuxi Palace, was not too bad. Or so he thought.

He did not see how Liu Wenyuan’s eyes flashed with malice the moment Xie Jianyu’s name fell into the conversation.

"Forgive me. I know that the Crown Prince is your half-sibling, but I hate him to the bone."

Xie Jianzhi cursed his forgetfulness. How could he even make such a stupid suggestion?

Of course, Liu Wenyuan hated the Crown Prince! Liu Wenyuan was the one who delivered him to the First Demon King’s hands!

It was not necessary to mention that the hatred must be mutual, for the Crown Prince was unlikely to forgive Liu Wenyuan for his traitorous act.

"I am sorry," the alpha apologized in a hurry. "I... I forgot."

Liu Wenyuan sneered.

"So you heard about my notorious reputation."

"....."

What else was there to say? Xie Jianzhi did not claim to be without flaws and he had no right to judge, but Liu Wenyuan had done something utterly unforgivable toward the Heavenly Empire.

"Do you favor the Crown Prince?" Liu Wenyuan asked.

"He hasn’t done anything to harm me," Xie Jianzhi answered. "If I understand his intention correctly, he is planning to hand over the palace master position to me."

They made a turn at a corner, and Liu Wenyuan sneered.

"How generous of him, to finally return a stolen spot."

Xie Jianzhi knitted his brows in confusion.

"Stolen spot? What?"

"Didn’t you know?"

Liu Wenyuan turned around and stood in front of Xie Jianzhi, preventing him from advancing in their path.

"Xie Jianyu, the Crown Prince, differentiated into an omega. He was never an alpha."

A deafening silence settled on them, interrupted only by the gentle pitter-patter of water droplets falling to the cave floor. Xie Jianzhi stared at Liu Wenyuan in disbelief, his mind struggling to process what he had just heard.

"What did you just say?"

Liu Wenyuan tilted his head to the side and smiled at Xie Jianzhi.

"You heard me loud and clear."

"But... the throne inheritance rule... Only alphas..."

"Hence, ’stolen spot’. The throne was supposed to be yours, the only alpha son of the Heavenly Emperor, right?"

Xie Jianzhi’s face turned ashen.

He remembered the day he differentiated into an alpha.

The orphanage celebrated his successful differentiation by holding a private party.

The orphanage head, who knew nothing of Xie Jianzhi’s background, gifted him a pair of leather boots. They were the most expensive gift he had ever received, but they were nothing compared to the Fuxi Palace Master seat and the title of Crown Prince that Xie Jianyu, an omega who did not deserve to sit on the throne, was given upon his differentiation.

Xie Jianzhi clenched his fists, his nails digging into his flesh. He shook with anger, his heart burning with envy and resentment. How could it be that an omega was given everything that was rightfully his?

He was the alpha son.

The only alpha son born to the Heavenly Emperor!

He was the rightful heir to the throne.

Why did the Heavenly Emperor not seek him out when he reached the differentiation age?

Or when Xie Jianyu differentiated into an omega?

Was it all because he was an illegitimate son? A shameful mark in his unblemished reputation as the Heavenly Emperor?

"Your Highness, your hands."

Liu Wenyuan gently cupped Xie Jianzhi’s trembling fists in his hands. Xie Jianzhi was startled to see the rivulets of blood dripping from his palms. His rage had been so intense that he had pierced his palms with his fingernails.

"It must be painful," Liu Wenyuan said, his voice dripping with sympathy. "I know how it feels to lose something, or someone dear."

"... You do?"

Xie Jianzhi lifted his reddened eyes, their gaze piercing Liu Wenyuan’s. The omega nodded slightly, his heartbreak was hardly concealable.

"The Crown Prince shamelessly seduced my then betrothed, Prince Zhang Fengxi, and put a spell on him. I was too naive -- I did not know what was happening. By the time I came to the realization, it was all too late. The Crown Prince had stolen the love of my life away."

Xie Jianzhi squeezed Liu Wenyuan’s hands hard.

"Is that why you colluded with the First Demon King?"

Beautiful tears fell from the ends of Liu Wenyuan’s eyes.

"I was consumed by jealousy. I know that I am guilty. I already apologized many times, but they would not accept my apologies..."

"How despicable!" Xie Jianzhi exclaimed. "It was the Crown Prince who stole your betrothed first! And it was not like he sustained a great loss there! He not only escaped unscathed but also shoved all the blame onto your lap!

Transformation into an omega! Hah!!! How ridiculous! It makes no sense at all! Do the heavenly officials have water inside their heads instead of functioning brains???"

Liu Wenyuan continued sobbing pitifully.

"Your Highness, your words are too kind. I do not deserve them. I was unlucky enough to step into the Crown Prince’s path. This is a sin that I will carry to my grave.

But you and my father are different. The two of you have not done anything wrong."

"Indeed," Xie Jianzhi gritted his teeth.

It was time to set things right.