Chapter 67: He Is My Brother!
Shen Tian suddenly had a bright idea. He took out the Phoenix Feather Mask that Zhang Yunxi had left behind and wore it.
One had to say that the size was quite suitable, and there was also a lingering fragrant scent.
Yeap, the mask completely conceals my face now. At the very least, my sixth brother won’t recognize me!
After wearing the mask, Shen Tian took out his mirror to have a look and couldn’t help but exclaim, “This is the perfect disguise!”
Then, he resumed following Shopkeeper Song and headed toward the Sky Spirit Pavilion’s chamber.
When the door opened, they could see Young Shopkeeper Song dozing off beside the door. Meanwhile, the number of palmprints and bruises on Shen Ao seemed to have increased from before.
Shen Tian’s lips twitched slightly upon seeing the tragic figure of Shen Ao, whose hands were bound behind his back, on the cross.
“Sss! You guys sure focused all the beating on his face!”
Initially, Shen Ao was dispirited, but after Shen Tian finished saying his piece, his eyes instantly lit up. He stared at Shen Tian, and in the next instant, his eyes betrayed fear and terror!
“This voice sounds very familiar! Sss, is it possible that it’s you? Thirteenth Brother!?”
WTH, all he needed to recognize me was my voice!?
Shen Tian felt a shiver run down his spine. Although he was astonished, he hurriedly shook his head. “No, I’m not. Don’t speak nonsense!”
The longer Shen Ao stared at Shen Tian, the more the terror his eyes betrayed increased.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtSo that’s why! How could I not be that unlucky!? Of course I would be mysteriously kidnapped once the moment I spent my foot in Myriad Spirit Garden! It’s because my uber-unlucky thirteenth brother is also here!
Had I known this earlier, I wouldn’t have dared to come here. Sigh, it’s really just my luck!
Shen Ao sized up Shen Tian before smiling bitterly and saying, “Thirteenth Brother, you can stop lying. Look at the shoes you are wearing. They are custom-made for royalty.”
The stunned Shen Tian looked down and took a closer look. He was indeed wearing a pair of black boots with gold thread. An azure green jade pendant was embedded at the boots’ side, and the number “13” was carved on it.
Sss, sixth brother is indeed sixth brother. He really is our Country of Fire’s once-in-a-century rare talent. Although his face is swollen to the point his eyes are indiscernible, they are still as sharp as ever.
No matter how Shen Tian admired Shen Ao in his heart, he could not allow him to expose his identity. Thus, Shen Tian lowered his voice and gradually walked toward Shen Ao. “I don’t understand what you are saying.”
“Stop! It’s okay, never mind. If you don’t understand, just stand there to talk,” Shen Ao hurriedly said. “I understand, you’re not my thirteenth brother. You’re an emotionless killer, right?”
Shen Ao helplessly said, “Brother, could you tell me why you kidnapped me? Firstly, I do not wish to fight for the throne, and secondly, I have not bullied you before! Not to mention that even if you killed me, there would be no benefits for you!”
Presently, Shen Ao’s desire to survive was unprecedentedly high, so he tried to persuade Shen Tian with earnest words. He could not wait to instantly disappear from where they were and leave as far as possible from this place.
He would never visit such a place anymore in the future!
Truthfully speaking, I am to blame as well! Since I encountered my thirteenth brother a few days ago, why did I still choose to leave the palace!?
It’s no longer indirect contact, but a direct, face to face encounter! Why do I suddenly have a feeling that I won’t be able to walk out of this room?
Shen Tian could not help but sigh when he noticed the 6th Prince’s terrors-stricken face.
Sixth Brother… Do you think that I am an idiot? You say that you believe I’m not the 13th Prince, yet you call me brother in the next instant? It’s obvious you’ve seen through my upgraded disguise.
How could I possibly let you go without worrying? What if after I release you, you hold a grudge and backstab me afterward?
Although my halo is already green now, and I won’t be as unlucky as before, as the saying goes, “The concern of a thief is more dreadful than his action[1]**.”!
The mere thought of a genius with a green and red halo holding a grudge against him scared Shen Tian witless.
Shopkeeper Song, who was standing at the side, had roughly understood the situation. He carefully asked, “So, Master Celestial, you’re not Shen Ao but Shen Tian?”
Shen Tian could not help but roll his eyes. “What do you think?”
“No wonder, I understand now.” Shopkeeper Song’s lips twitched, and then he turned and slapped his son on his face.
“You good-for-nothing! You haven’t learned a lesson after being beaten!” he barked. “Master Celestial had clearly told you that he was the 13th Prince, Shen Tian, after beating you up! How did you mishear and think he was the 6th Prince? You’re even deafer than Shopkeeper Wang next door!”
Young Shopkeeper Song was confused after being slapped. He looked at Shen Tian in a daze as he recalled the situation that day. He remembered that Master Celestial had clearly said that he was… the 6th Prince!
“I remember that I didn’t mishear it! Is it possible that my head was hit so hard that I imagined hearing it?”
The bewildered Shen Tian laughed softly. Then he coughed lightly and stared at Young Shopkeeper Song coldly. “What do you think?”
Young Shopkeeper Song was terrified.
I have made Master Celestial upset!
He immediately lowered his head in shame and said, “Most likely, I misheard.”
“In that case, this person is?”
“Is it possible that he is really the 6th Prince?”
Upon thinking of that possibility, the father-son duo started to panic.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmAt the same time, Young Shopkeeper Song’s words made Shen Ao feel even more wronged. He had been under the impression that they had kidnapped him as a part of a major conspiracy that targeted him—Country of Fire’s once-in-a-century rare talent.
Who would have thought that I suffered so much pain because that young shopkeeper did not hear clearly!? So all the pain I suffered and the slaps I endured were in vain?
Nothing good happens once my thirteenth brother is involved, indeed!
Boohoohoo, I was still not cautious enough! I should not have left the palace and come here in the first place! If not, I wouldn’t have suffered such inhuman treatment!
After thinking this through, Shen Ao pulled a long face and said, “Since it is all a misunderstanding, then forget it. Thirteenth Brother, tell them to let me go. I promise I will not hold a grudge.”
Shen Ao’s assurance caused Young Shopkeeper Song’s eyes to light up before he asked, “Master Celestial, father, since the 6th Prince promised that he would not hold a grudge, how about we let him go?”
Shopkeeper Song looked at Shen Tian and asked, “Master Celestial, what do you think we should do?”
Shen Tian looked at Shen Ao as if trying to discern if what he said was true or not. Then, he answered Shopkeeper Song with a question of his own, “Shopkeeper Song, do you think my sixth brother will not hold a grudge?”
When Shopkeeper Song heard Shen Tian’s answer, he instantly revealed an “understood” expression.
He took a deep breath and gradually walked toward Shen Ao.
“I understand. Since this has already happened, rather than hoping the other person will not hold a grudge, it’s better to settle it ourselves.
“Master Celestial means that since we’ve already made a mistake, we should go through it regardless of the consequences.”
“As such, taking advantage of the fact that no one knows now, we should directly kill him, right? Just in case he tries to fight against you for the throne in the future!”
Shen Ao’s face drained of color and was filled with horror. Meanwhile, Shen Tian rolled his eyes, and his face was filled with helplessness.
Question! What I just asked was a question!
What the f*ck did you hear that made you think I wanted you to kill him!?
How could I be that cruel and let someone kill my dear sixth brother? That is my most beloved brother!
[1] A Chinese proverb indicating that it’s better that the thief steals the item—a one-time action—instead of the thief being concerned about the item to the point one would worry about when the thief would make his move and steal, thus mentally taxing.