CHAPTER 69

The Devil’s Betrayal

The carriage halted with a gentle jolt, and I peered out the window. The salty breeze of the sea kissed my face, the air carrying with it the distant cries of seagulls. A sprawling mansion stood before me, its whitewashed walls glinting in the sunlight. I was momentarily struck by its beauty, the clear blue sky framing the grand structure, but unease quickly settled into the pit of my stomach.

Was this truly where I was to find salvation?

The coachman tipped his hat to me, his face expressionless. He did not wait for any instruction and turned his cart around the moment I stepped out. As his carriage disappeared down the winding road, a figure approached—a eunuch, distinguished by his pale robes and thin, high-pitched voice.

"Welcome, Priest Luo," the eunuch said with a bow, his eyes scanning me briefly before motioning for me to follow. "His Majesty awaits."

His Majesty? My chest tightened. I had been expecting a reclusive healer or perhaps a scholar of obscure medical techniques. But the emperor?

I followed the eunuch inside, marveling at the mansion's opulence. High ceilings painted with intricate designs stretched overhead, and polished marble floors gleamed beneath my worn boots. The air smelled faintly of jasmine and saltwater, an odd but strangely soothing combination. Despite its beauty, an invisible weight pressed down on me with every step.

Finally, we entered a vast room where sunlight streamed through enormous windows overlooking the sea. At the center of it all, seated casually on a plush chair, was a man I instantly recognized — Emperor Gao of the Silang Empire.

My breath caught. Why would the emperor of Silang involve himself in my affairs?

I bowed respectfully, masking my confusion. "Your Majesty," I greeted, my voice steady despite my racing thoughts.

He smiled, a laid-back expression that didn’t quite reach his eyes. "Priest Luo," he said, his voice smooth and deliberate. "Welcome to my humble residence. I trust your journey was uneventful?"

I nodded, unsure how to respond. "Your Majesty, I am honored by your kindness, but I admit I am confused. May I ask why I am here?"

Emperor Gao chuckled, a sound that prickled at my nerves. "Straight to the point. That’s good." He waved a hand, dismissing my question for the moment. "First, let us ensure that a certain obligation is fulfilled."

He turned to a man standing at attention nearby, clad in a general’s uniform. "Deliver the scroll to Sect Leader Ruan, as we agreed."

At those words, my blood turned to ice. The room seemed to tilt, and my knees threatened to buckle.

As we agreed.

"What... what agreement?" I managed to ask, though my voice came out hoarse.

The emperor tilted his head, his expression almost pitying. "Did Sect Leader Ruan not tell you? How unfortunate. You see, we struck a deal. He had something I wanted, and I—" He gestured to me with a flourish, "—have something he wanted."

My heart pounded painfully in my chest. "No," I whispered, unable to believe what I was hearing. "He wouldn't."

But the emperor only raised an eyebrow, amused. "Wouldn't he?"

This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

I felt the world close in around me. It couldn’t be true. Not Ruan Yanjun. He had been with me through everything—through my betrayal, my fall, my suffering. He had stood by me, shielded me, even if it was in his own arrogant and overbearing way. But now... this?

I was too stunned to react when the emperor gestured to his guards. They approached me, their hands firm but not rough as they led me to another room. My body moved, but my mind stayed behind, frozen in shock.

When the heavy door closed behind me, I slumped onto the bed. The walls were simple, the room comfortable enough, but it felt like a cage. My thoughts spiraled as I stared at the intricate carvings on the wooden ceiling, unable to comprehend what had just happened.

Ruan Yanjun had sold me out. He had betrayed me.

The man I had begun to trust—the man I thought had cared, in his strange and frustrating way—had delivered me into the hands of a man known for his debauchery and negligence. Emperor Gao, a ruler whose own people mocked his incompetence, now held my fate in his hands.

I curled my fists against the blanket, anger and hurt warring inside me. My heart ached, but my mind rebelled against the truth. No matter how I tried to rationalize it, the betrayal felt personal. For hours, I sat there, staring at nothing, the silence of the room echoing my shattered trust.

Somewhere deep inside, a part of me still clung to the hope that this was a mistake, that Ruan Yanjun would come storming in to drag me out of here, his usual infuriating smirk on his face.

But he didn’t come. And the hours dragged on.

*****

A sudden knock at the door broke the heavy silence, followed by the steady thud of heavy boots against the floor. I sat on the edge of the bed, my gaze lost in the emptiness of the bare walls around me, still grappling with the sting of Ruan Yanjun's betrayal. The door creaked open, and two guards entered, their faces blank and unreadable.

"His Majesty has summoned you," one of them said curtly.

I didn’t move at first, my body rigid with unease. Every instinct in me screamed to resist, but I knew it was pointless. My weakened state and lack of cultivation left me at their mercy. Reluctantly, I rose, and the guards escorted me through the winding halls of the mansion.

We arrived at an ornate chamber. The double doors were carved with depictions of dragons and lotus blossoms, symbols of power and prosperity. Inside, Emperor Gao reclined on a cushioned seat, a satisfied smile playing on his lips.

"Ah, Priest Luo," he greeted, his voice smooth but carrying an undercurrent of malice. He rose to his feet and approached me, his gaze sweeping over me like I was a prized artifact. His hand reached out, brushing against my cheek. I recoiled instinctively, but the guards behind me gripped my shoulders, forcing me still.

"You are such a beauty," he murmured, his fingers tracing the line of my jaw. I felt bile rise in my throat as his touch lingered too long. His eyes burned with lust, and I could feel his gaze stripping me bare.

My voice was cold and firm despite the fear surging within me. "What do you want from me, Your Majesty?"

He chuckled, a sound that sent chills down my spine. "Straight to the point. I like that. You’ll need that spirit where you’re going." His smile widened, his tone dripping with mock sympathy. "Unfortunately, I lost a bet with my dear cousin, so the pleasure of taking you first shall go to him. But don’t worry, after a month, I’ll take you back. If I find you… pleasing, I’ll make you my male consort."

The weight of his words hit me like a physical blow. Fury, disgust, and helplessness all rose within me in a single, suffocating wave. "I am not an object to be traded or gambled away!" I spat, my voice shaking with rage.

Emperor Gao’s smile faltered for a brief moment, then twisted into something far more sinister. "Oh, Priest Luo, it seems you’ve misunderstood your position. You’re not a guest here—you’re mine. Your defiance will only make things worse for you."

I fought against the guards' hold, adrenaline surging through me despite my weakened state. I twisted and lashed out, managing to land a kick on one of the guards. For a fleeting moment, I felt a spark of triumph, but it was short-lived. One of the emperor’s bodyguards stepped forward, his presence exuding raw power. A grandmaster.

Before I could react, he moved with lightning speed. His strike was precise, hitting a pressure point that sent pain coursing through my body. My vision blurred, and I crumpled to the floor.

I tried to rise, but the emperor bent down, smirking as he held out a small pill between his fingers. "You’ve got fire, I’ll give you that," he said. "But it’s time to put that out."

I clenched my teeth, refusing to open my mouth, but the guards pinned me down. With practiced ease, the grandmaster pried my jaw open, and the emperor slipped the pill inside. I tried to spit it out, but my struggles were futile. A bitter taste flooded my mouth, and moments later, a wave of dizziness overtook me.

"Sleep well, Priest Luo," the emperor murmured as darkness claimed me. "We’ll talk again once you’ve adjusted to your new role."

The last thing I saw was his satisfied smirk before my vision went black, and I fell into the abyss of unconsciousness.