Can a Scholar Be Called a Villain

Chapter 84: The flowers and Bai Lao Bo

Murong Lin sat on the swing in the gardens of the imperial palace.

He swayed effortlessly on the swing, the breeze catching the petals that swirled around him. The vibrant flowers pirouetted gracefully through the air, controlled by his spiritual powers.

Next to him stood Bai Lao Bo.

Bai Lao Bo watched as Murong Lin leisurely enjoyed himself on the swing, his expression conflicted.

On one hand, there bloomed a sense of elation witnessing his master’s ascension to the imperial throne; however, on the other, an undercurrent of dread surged within him due to his master’s unsettling deeds.

Even as someone who had watched Murong Lin grow up, Bai Lao Bo was acutely attuned to a facet of Murong Lin’s character that lay hidden beneath the surface: a disposition tinted with darkness and fueled by envy.

However, a genuine sense of compassion welled up within him for this prince, a title borne in mere formality, and Bai Lao Bo had unfailingly harboured the prince’s best interests deep within his heart.

But now, Murong Lin’s schemes had revealed the other side of his personality: His cruelty, his insidiousness.

His cruelty and insidiousness, it seemed, were fundamentally rooted in selfishness, devoid of any inclination towards altruism. A character marked by these traits was far from ordinary; rather, they were embodiments of the devil that recklessly sowed the seeds of discord and calamity.

A shiver traced its way up Bai Lao Bo’s spine.

The emergence of the formidable power under Murong Lin’s control, comprising the two Sky Reaching realm experts and the people clad in green attire, remained a mystery to Bai Lao Bo.

Bai Lao Bo knew nothing of where they came from, or when they appeared.

All he could discern was that he no longer held the position of highest trust in Murong Lin’s eyes.

This realisation had left a subtle but discernible pang of disappointment within him.

He spoke from the side, “Your Highness, a multitude of influential factions have converged in the capital and are encircling the imperial palace. Even the imperial guards have reached a number of 40,000 men. How should we proceed?”

“Don’t worry, I have a plan.” Murong Lin responded with a joyful expression.

Within the garden’s confines, only the two of them remained, accompanied solely by a myriad of petals dancing in the air.

Bai Lao Bo fixed his gaze upon Murong Lin’s radiant smile as a nagging sense of peculiarity gnawed at his consciousness.

This disconcerting sensation had become a recurring companion of late, yet its source eluded him.

He couldn’t pinpoint when this shift had begun, but Murong Lin’s once impulsive fits of anger had dwindled, and his propensity for curses and animosity tempered.

The shift was discernible—Murong Lin had outgrown the petulance of a child, the tantrums of unfulfilled desires, and the green-eyed pangs of jealousy.

He even refrained from his usual outings to engage in leisurely pursuits within establishments like bars and brothels.

Nevertheless, his shadowed disposition persisted; he showed no restraint in merciless slaughter and had an unsettling penchant for consuming blood.

This feeling was akin to an adolescent wolf that had suddenly transformed into a seasoned, mature wolf.

Murong Lin’s instantaneous change had eluded his eyes.

Bai Lao Bo attempted to conduct covert investigations of his own, but his efforts proved futile, as if an invisible barrier prevented him from finding any answers.

Gradually, he began to comprehend the truth.

Bai Lao Bo inquired, “And what about his majesty, Murong Tong, and concubine Xue? How does your highness intend to handle them?”

“The unseen hand of the divine shapes destiny. I’ll patiently wait and see how they plan on dealing with me.

They’re my blood-related parents, after all. It would be inappropriate for me to take matters into my own hands, wouldn’t it?”

Murong Lin responded nonchalantly.

“Allow this humble servant to boldly plead for your mercy on behalf of concubine Xue.” Bai Lao Bo spoke with his hands cupped together.

Prior to Bai Lo Bo’s unwavering allegiance to Murong Lin, he had served as the esteemed bodyguard of concubine Xue’s clan.

Having closely witnessed Murong Lin’s growth from young, concubine Xue bestowed upon him the role of chamberlain, serving as a precious gift to Murong Lin.

Devoid of any children of his own, Murong Lin naturally became the object of his deepest affection. Bai Lao Bo’s unwavering loyalty was evident as he diligently oversaw the affairs of Faith Manor, solely dedicated to serving Murong Lin.

Nevertheless, a residue of loyalty towards his former master, Concubine Xue, lingered within him.

Yet, in the recesses of Bai Lao Bo’s heart, his allegiance to Murong Lin surpassed even that which he held for Concubine Xue.

“Why are you pleading on her behalf? It’s not like I sent anyone to deal with her.” Murong Lin responded casually.

“It’s a small effort, nonetheless,” Bai Lao Bo replied.

The flower petals swirling around Murong Lin fell to the ground instantaneously, akin to a vibrant shower of colours.

The entire flower garden was swiftly drenched in a rain of flower petals, transforming into an unsightly spectacle.

The ground was adorned with mounds of petals.

Murong Lin came to a gradual halt on the swing, fixating his gaze on Bai Lao Bo with a strange expression.

Bai Lao Bo stood dutifully by his side, his posture marked by reverence as he lowered his head, and his eyes veiled by a lacklustre gaze.

“When did you find out?” Murong Lin asked.

Find out?

Find out what?

The two questions appeared in Bai Lao Bo’s mind, but he quickly understood what he meant.

Murong Lin was asking him, when had he grasped that Murong Lin was no longer himself.

Or more accurately, when had he discovered that the soul residing in Murong Lin’s body was no longer the same.

Bai Lao Bo lifted his gaze towards Murong Lin, whose eyes were fixed on the distant sunset. He let out a bitter chuckle, “I didn’t discover anything distinct – the body remains the same, the memories are unchanged, and even the resonance of spiritual power maintains its familiar cadence.

Nonetheless, an unsettling intuition crept in. I can’t decipher when or why it surfaced, perhaps because my time alongside Murong Lin has deepened my understanding of him.”

Bai Lao Bo’s voice resonated as he gradually unfurled his palms.

He was now confessing to the truth. He acknowledged that he had sensed Murong Lin’s change long before, yet he opted to withhold his observations.

This was what confused him the most.

Initially, Bai Lao Bo had presumed that Murong Lin was replaced, akin to the subordinates he commanded. However, an individual’s essence couldn’t be altered.

And the aura enveloping Murong Lin still radiated with that familiar essence.

The very essence he had perceived for well over a decade.

“So that was the case! I really underestimated old people like you.” Murong Lin remarked with a casual shrug.

He rose to his feet with deliberate motion, striding purposefully toward Bai Lao Bo.

Bai Lao Bo exhibited no outward reaction, his lips parting slightly as he inquired, “Who exactly are you?”

Murong Lin didn’t respond.

Of course, he had no intentions of telling Bai Lao Bo his true identity.

“Sometimes, ignorance is indeed bliss.

Once you’ve delved too deeply, comprehended with excessive precision and grasped the undeniable truth, you would inevitably push someone’s buttons.”

“Admittedly, if one possesses the might to unravel every secret and the fortitude to preserve their rationality, there’s no need to avoid such pursuits.

Regrettably, you don’t possess those attributes.”

Bai Lao Bo’s smile carried a trace of bitterness. “Had you already intended to deal with me?”

He was clever, he knew that the repercussions of exposing Murong Lin’s secrets were weighty, and yet, he still wanted to know.

“Nope. If you had persistently feigned ignorance, perhaps I might have permitted your safe retirement.”

Positioned before Bai Lao Bo, he channelled his spiritual power, coaxing the petals scattered on the ground to ascend and dance in the air as they encircled Bai Lao Bo.

“Would you have truly let your guard down?”

Bai Lao Bo asked.

He knew that the current Murong Lin was cruel and unfeeling, the act of killing had become numb to him, and there was no boundary he wouldn’t transgress.

“Of course, but I would have left you an imbecile, so that you can enjoy your retirement.”

Murong Lin smiled as he waved his arm, guiding the petals in the sky to converge towards Bai Lao Bo, ensnaring him within their embrace.

“That mother of mine contacted you, didn’t she?”

Bai Lao Bo no longer hid anything from him.

“Yes, she dispatched a messenger. Leveraging our past ties, she attempted to manipulate me into poisoning your food.”

“Then why didn’t you do it? You’ve managed my meals thus far, poisoning it would’ve been simple for you.”

“I didn’t want to harm her, I know what kind of a person you are.”

Murong Lin smiled, “In actuality, these grievances originate from the original Murong Lin—I am merely fulfilling his desires.”

Bai Lao Bo stared at Murong Lin as he spoke dazedly, “Perhaps had I nurtured Murong Li differently, none of this would have happened.”

“It’s regrettable.”

He waved his arm, and the petals that filled the sky shrouded Bai Lao Bo. The fragrance of the blossoms hung heavily in the air, carried by the wind.

As the petals dispersed, nothing remained.

Countless petals descended lifelessly onto the earth, infusing it with a resplendent yet ethereal vibrancy.

Translator’s note

Rip. This chapter was pretty good too.

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