Once, I Was a Legend | Chapter 100 | The Mastermind's True Face | Novela.app

"It is quite simple. The person standing before us is not Xie Mingyuan at all—but someone else entirely." A deep male voice carried through the air, cutting through the chaotic sounds of marching infantry and clashing blades. Everyone gathered before the bedchamber turned toward the source. It was Ye Zhao! No, it was not Ye Zhao. It was... Tianshu! The hem of his black robes fluttered gently in the wind as Ye Zhao led the young Wei Yang by the hand, slowly walking into everyone’s line of sight. Under the warm glow of the torchlight, a vivid, arrogant drop of crimson sat at the center of his brow upon that jade-like, handsome face, shining as brightly as a flickering flame. This was not an expression Ye Zhao would ever wear. Even if the faces were identical, one could distinguish the two almost at a glance. The soldiers to the left and right parted to make a path. Hundreds of elite troops swarmed in, surrounding the Crown Prince and his followers. Wei Feng led the Yulin Guards at the forefront, charging directly to Emperor Wei’s side to shield him. In the blink of an eye, the situation had reversed. Those who were the hunters moments ago had now become the prey. "Hahahaha! Wei Ze, oh Wei Ze... I never expected that while I was the cicada and you were the mantis, Imperial Father would be the true oriole behind us both! Hahahaha!" Wei Ling pointed at the Crown Prince and laughed hysterically, tears welling in the corners of his eyes. Success and failure had flipped in an instant. How could Wei Ze accept such a staggering fall? His eyes turned bloodshot with hatred. "Shut your mouth! Shut up! What right do you have to compare yourself to me?!" The sight of his brothers acting so differently from their usual selves, combined with the carnage of the scene, left Wei Yang in a state of panicked confusion. The ground was littered with corpses; the air was thick with the stench of blood. Wei Yang unconsciously gripped Ye Zhao’s hand tighter, pressing himself against the man's leg. He called out in a small, trembling voice, "Big Brother... Second Brother..." Hearing that weak voice, Wei Ze’s gaze shifted toward Ye Zhao. When he saw Wei Yang, his lips curled into a grin. "Ah, it’s the fourth little one... Why are you here? This is no place for you." His tone was exceptionally slow, devoid of its usual warmth, sending a shiver down Wei Yang’s spine. The brother who had always been gentle toward him now seemed like a different person, one who made his blood run cold. In contrast, Wei Ling, who no longer had any soldiers to rely on, remained remarkably calm after being seized by Ye Zhao’s Yulin Guards. He seemed to have made peace with his fate, appearing utterly unafraid of death. He cast a lukewarm glance at Wei Yang and gave a disdainful snort at Wei Ze. "You can only put on the airs of an elder brother while you still have the chance. Hmph." Wei Ze, protected in the center of his soldiers, glared fiercely at Wei Ling. However, as he looked at the troops closing in from all directions, panic inevitably began to seep into his heart. The priority was to find a way out. Wei Ze tugged at Xie Mingyuan’s sleeve. "Teacher, what should we do now?!" "What should we do?" Xie Mingyuan murmured softly, appearing to ponder. Under Wei Ze’s tense and hopeful gaze, he asked quietly, "Is there anything left to do?" Wei Ze froze. Xie Mingyuan slowly smiled—a silent, thin smile. He said, "Everything that needed to be done, I have already finished." ... "No, no, no! Teacher! Teacher, you cannot abandon me!" Seeing Xie Mingyuan’s resigned expression, as if the matter were already settled, Wei Ze instantly became like a headless fly that had lost its backbone. His words were a jumble of desperation. "We haven't lost yet! You said you would protect me and see me onto the throne! You cannot break your word!" "Sigh..." Ye Zhao watched as the nearly broken Crown Prince clung to the old man’s robes like a drowning man clutching at a final straw. Ye Zhao let out a long, low sigh and looked at Xie Mingyuan. "Even at this moment, you still won't tell him the truth?" "Tell him that everything tonight was designed by you. His forced abdication, his fratricidal struggle with Prince Rong—it was all the result of your deliberate guidance over the years." Ye Zhao paused, then dropped a bombshell. "Because you wanted revenge. You wanted to subvert the entire Wei Imperial Family." "The Crown Prince is nothing more than a puppet in your hands. You intended to use him to restore the glory of the Xie clan, when they once stood dominant over imperial power." Everyone present was stunned. Even those who had arrived a step late stood frozen in place. The Crown Prince was the first to snap out of it, shouting in a rage, "Nonsense! Ye Zhao, stop playing ghost! Tianshu disappeared long ago! What are you still pretending for?!" The fact that Ye Zhao had frequently impersonated Tianshu was no secret to the Crown Prince’s intelligence network; they had known about it for a long time. But this time, Ye Zhao was not acting. He said calmly, "If you don't believe me, look at the guards beside you. See if they listen to you, or to Xie Mingyuan. They are the private army Xie Mingyuan has been raising outside Tianshangjing for years!" Wei Ze’s eyes widened. He remembered that when they set out, his teacher had told him something else. He had said, *'These are soldiers under the command of my former students in the military; they are willing to follow your banner.'* As if trying to prove something, the Crown Prince issued several successive commands, but not a single soldier obeyed him. Wei Ze was finally forced to realize the truth. His throat tightened. "Teacher... these soldiers... where did they really come from?" He did not dare to think deeply about why Xie Mingyuan would have a private army. The truth was too heavy, too impossible to believe. In the silence, the sound of someone clapping softly rang out. Standing atop the flickering stone steps, Xie Mingyuan looked down at Ye Zhao and stopped his rhythmic applause. As if reminiscing, he asked, "I remember you were the one who taught me this gesture. You said it signifies approval and admiration. Did I remember correctly?" Wei Ze unconsciously stumbled back two steps, staring blankly at the old man. "Tea... Teacher..." Xie Mingyuan turned his head, his voice uncharacteristically gentle. "It is a credit to you that you still call me teacher. Your Highness, it is time you grew up." Under that kind and gentle gaze, Wei Ze’s voice trembled uncontrollably. "Back then... your willingness to serve as the Crown Prince’s tutor... was it... was it for..." "Yes." As if anticipating his words, Xie Mingyuan admitted candidly, "A pawn raised from childhood is more likely to trust the hand that holds him, and more reluctant to escape its control. Your Highness, you were very obedient." Though it was a compliment, it felt like a knife driven deep into Wei Ze’s heart. "You... you used me for nearly ten years?" Wei Ze’s voice shook violently. He gasped for air, his face filled not only with disbelief but with profound hurt. Xie Mingyuan simply looked at him. Though he did not speak, his silence was the ultimate answer. Wei Ze’s legs gave way. He collapsed into utter darkness, his face as pale as paper, sitting on the ground like a fool. "Idiot." Decades of teacher-student bond turned out to be the result of a calculated plot. It was hard to say who was more pathetic. Wei Ling glanced at the Crown Prince expressionlessly, muttered that single word, and fell silent. Ye Zhao and Xie Mingyuan locked eyes. After a long silence, Ye Zhao spoke first. "Won't you reintroduce yourself? At least let me know which opponent I am facing." Xie Mingyuan looked up at the night sky, his gaze hollow, drifting toward some unknown point in the distance. Yes, who was he...? He had asked himself that very question during countless dark nights. The memories he had carefully hidden in the depths of his mind were slowly unfurled; the heavy shackles were cast off. Xie Mingyuan finally remembered the glorious self he once was. "Xie... Lang..." "My name is Xie Lang." Xie Mingyuan lowered his eyelids, his cold gaze piercing Ye Zhao like a needle. In this moment, he finally shed all disguises, revealing a sharp, murderous intent that reached the heavens. "The eldest son of the Xie clan, Xie Lang, courtesy name Changlin." As the aged, deep voice fell, the people standing at the palace gates were struck dumb with horror. It was because that name—once famous throughout the capital, known to every member of the younger generation—had echoed in their ears once again. Someone gasped, a trembling sentence leaking from their throat. "The world is full of beautiful gems, but none compare to the Xie family's son, a peerless jade." "You are the eldest son of Lord Xie, Xie Changlin!" Xie Mingyuan cast a faint glance at the people by the gate, his expression unreadable. "It is a credit to you all that you still remember that name." "Tianshu, I must thank you for your 'care' during those years." "Heh..." Having kept a bomb by his side for so many years, Ye Zhao couldn't help but let out a self-deprecating laugh. "There was no need for my care. I only have myself to blame for meddling in things that weren't my business, mistaking a pearl for a common pebble. The genius of the Xie clan truly lives up to his reputation." Back then, although Xie Changlin was famous for his talent, it was rumored he was in poor health and stayed within the manor year-round; few had ever seen his face. Who would have thought that when the Xie manor was exterminated, through a twist of fate, Tianshu had mistaken him for a mere plaything kept by the Xie family's profligate sons and 'rescued' him? This was truly... a massive misunderstanding. What everyone thought was a debt of immense gratitude turned out to be nothing but a facade of false pretenses, concealing a sea of blood and a mountain of hatred. It was no wonder Xie Mingyuan had turned traitor today; it was only natural. Because he was never the "Xie Mingyuan" who had been abducted into the manor; he was the one born and raised there—the eldest son and heir of the Xie family, Xie Changlin. "Xie Changlin, you are a truly terrifying enemy." Ye Zhao’s face was as grim as still water, his icy gaze fixed on the man. Xie Mingyuan—or rather, Xie Changlin—slowly broke into a smile. "You taught me a great deal, Tianshu. Many things I know were learned from you." He reminisced, "Do you remember? The day you took me out of the Xie manor, you told me that without sufficient power, all resistance is merely stupidity. Only by surviving can one day become strong enough." "You kept me by your side, let me watch you, and let me learn from you. Tianshu, you really are..." The smile on Xie Changlin’s lips widened. "...my best teacher." Ye Zhao pressed his lips together, his expression unchanging, but Wei Yang, who was standing beside him, felt the grip on his hand tighten significantly. "I suppose this is a case of the apprentice surpassing the master and starving him out," Ye Zhao quipped, though there was no lightness in his eyes. He suddenly changed the subject. "Your plot to put the Crown Prince on the throne has failed." Xie Mingyuan could clearly see the dense ranks of soldiers surrounding him, yet he showed not a hint of panic. "Yes. But Tianshu, do you remember what you once praised me for? You said I was meticulous and always liked to have a backup plan." Xie Mingyuan said slowly, "This time is no different. Guess what other preparations I made, should the Crown Prince fail to take the throne?" ... He simply watched Ye Zhao, his demeanor too calm—as calm as a pool of stagnant water. Aside from a deep, dark abyss, no other emotion could be found in his eyes. This look gave Ye Zhao a very bad premonition, one that felt hauntingly familiar. He let out a long sigh. "...To burn both jade and common stone." Xie Changlin smiled—that same light, shallow smile. It looked peaceful, yet it did nothing to lighten the heavy atmosphere. Ye Zhao knew he had guessed correctly, but he couldn't be sure what Xie Changlin had actually done. He asked, "What do you intend to do?" "In the decades you were gone, I imagined countless ways to take my revenge. But it wasn't until the moment you reappeared that I truly began to implement my plan." Xie Changlin’s gaze turned incredibly dark, his voice dropping low. "I want to make you hurt! I want the entire State of Wei to pay back everything it owes me!" "On what basis do you get to be a hero, worshipped like a god? Tianshu, can you even count the number of innocent corpses you've stepped on? "Your heart is with the common people; you view the Great Families as a cancer. But what did my parents and kin do wrong? What was the crime of the children?!" His hoarse, low voice was swept up in the wind, carrying years of resentment and grievance, striking the heartstrings of those listening with a heavy weight. "They praise my mercy, they sing of my kindness, yet in the blink of an eye, they can cast all gratitude aside and cheer for our downfall. They follow the crowd, piling hatred upon us. The commoners are fools. It is truly a mockery that the members of my Xie family, who never committed an evil act, died for their virtue." Heroes are born from white bones; beggars die of weakness. "This bustling Tianshangjing... in my eyes, it is nothing but a grand illusion dyed with the blood of tens of thousands from the Great Families!" Xie Changlin said eerily, "If the Wei of old were to return today, Tianshu, could you save the people from the fire and water once again?" Everyone’s heart skipped a beat. Ye Zhao knew his guess was right. He looked at Xie Changlin with a complex gaze. "You intend to destroy Tianshangjing?" Xie Changlin replied, "I have long grown tired of this illusory scenery." "Sigh..." Ye Zhao sighed softly. "There is something I must tell you." His voice was very calm as he narrated, "The troops from North Yue will not be entering the capital of Wei. They have been stopped at the border." Xie Changlin’s expression faltered for a moment, then a cold sneer touched his lips. "The moment I saw you standing alive before me, I already suspected as much." "Your plan to sow discord between North Yue and Wei and open the gates for them has failed. Are you not disappointed?" Xie Changlin said, "I already expected they wouldn't have the ability to kill you." Hearing this, Ye Zhao’s sense of foreboding deepened. He stared fixedly at the other man and said, "I am starting to fear the trump card you have left." Xie Changlin had not shown a hint of panic even now, which meant his hidden card was significant enough. Ye Zhao’s gaze swept over the soldiers surrounding the Crown Prince. He finally noticed something wrong, his eyes sharpening. "Where did you send the rest of your men?" "You should be able to guess." Xie Changlin spoke unhurriedly. "Since it is a matter of jade and stone burning together, why would I go to hell alone? "You, and the hundreds of thousands within Tianshangjing... let us all go on this journey together." Thinking rapidly through the possible actions his opponent could take, Ye Zhao’s expression became grave. "Did you have people poison the water of Tianshangjing?" "No." A mysterious and eerie smile played on Xie Changlin’s lips. "I am using something you once told me about." He said, "I have successfully refined gunpowder, Tianshu. Are you surprised?" ... This was truly... one hell of a surprise! Ye Zhao felt a chill run through his entire body. He truly hadn't expected Xie Changlin to have the capability to actually produce gunpowder... He couldn't even force a smile. He stared coldly at the old man, whose face was now alight with excitement. "You really are insane." "I personally sent my own flesh and blood to the chopping block and wiped out my own kin and friends just to earn your trust. I spent so many years climbing step by step to reach my current position... Tianshu, you call me insane?" Xie Changlin’s gaze was as cold as a venomous snake, filled with shadow. "I became a madman long ago. Today, everything shall come to an end." *** **Glossary** Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation --- | --- | --- 谢琅 | Xie Lang | Xie Mingyuan's true name; eldest son of the Xie clan. 长林 | Changlin | Xie Lang's courtesy name (Zi). 火药 | Gunpowder | A substance Ye Zhao (as Tianshu) had described in the past. 玉石俱焚 | To burn both jade and common stone | An idiom meaning total destruction of both good and bad; mutual destruction. 世有琳琅满目，不及谢氏谢郎，华玉无双 | The world is full of beautiful gems, but none compare to the Xie family's son, a peerless jade | A famous poetic praise for Xie Lang's youthful brilliance. 禁脔 | Plaything / Forbidden meat | Historically refers to a person kept for sexual pleasure; Tianshu mistook Xie Lang for one.