This Is What a Villain Is Like

Hearing the commotion in the room, the handmaiden outside hurriedly pushed the door open. Seeing that Xiao Teng was awake, she immediately came over to help him up.

"Cui'Er, how long was I unconscious?" Xiao Teng immediately asked.

"Third Young Master, you've been unconscious for three days and three nights," the handmaiden named Cui'Er replied.

Xiao Teng froze, then pressed again, "Is the Southern Hunting over?"

His heart was in turmoil as he recalled what had happened on the night he went to see Xie Jianjia.

"Yes, Third Young Master. The Southern Hunting ended a day ago," the handmaiden replied.

Hearing this, Xiao Teng's heart sank. He immediately had the handmaiden go find his father, Prince Zhenbei, Xiao He.

Soon, Xiao He rushed over. But compared to Xiao Teng, who was lying in bed, his complexion wasn't good either. His face was filled with sorrow, and he looked more haggard and weary than usual.

"Father..." Looking at Xiao He's expression, Xiao Teng guessed what had happened, his heart filling with self-blame and regret.

"Teng'Er, you're finally awake."

Xiao He forced a smile and personally helped Xiao Teng sit up.

Xiao Teng's eldest brother, Xiao Ye, and second brother, Xiao Wang, were still in the Imperial Capital. Upon hearing that Xiao Teng had woken up, they also rushed over at the first opportunity.

Although they all looked overjoyed, the worry in their eyes was hard to conceal.

"Father, Eldest Brother, Second Brother, what exactly happened in the Imperial Capital while I was unconscious?" Xiao Teng hastily asked about the events of the past few days.

Because he had been attacked, severely injured, and left in a coma, he hadn't been able to inform his father and the others that the Blood Immortal Sect already knew of Emperor Xia's plan.

He felt panicked and anxious, deeply worried that he was the cause of a great disaster.

"Nothing too major," replied Prince Zhenbei, Xiao He. "On the day of the Southern Hunting, the Barbarian Race used a sacrificial ritual to summon a phantom of the Barbarian God and destroyed the Qianyuan Cave Realm. The remnants of the Blood Immortal Sect also took the opportunity to infiltrate the Imperial Palace. They joined forces with numerous moles and traitors, attempting to steal the National Treasure Dragon-Suppressing Seal..."

"Father, the National Treasure Dragon-Suppressing Seal... it's alright, isn't it?" Xiao Teng asked urgently.

Xiao He shook his head. "Heaven protects Great Xia. The National Treasure Dragon-Suppressing Seal should be fine. In fact, because of the Blood Immortal Sect's attack, His Majesty was able to use the National Treasure to successfully break through to the Eighth Realm."

Hearing this, the heavy weight on Xiao Teng's heart was finally lifted.

He let out a long sigh of relief and managed a slight smile. "Then why do you, Father, and Eldest Brother and Second Brother still look so worried? What's the reason?"

"It's about the failure to guard Changsheng Hall. Although His Majesty hasn't blamed us, I'm afraid this incident has made him suspicious of us..." Xiao Ye explained helplessly from the side.

"Logically, His Majesty Emperor Xia's plan shouldn't have gone wrong. We're still investigating where the problem occurred and why the Blood Immortal Sect remnants were so certain that the National Treasure was enshrined in Changsheng Hall," Xiao Wang added with a sigh.

Xiao Teng's heart skipped a beat. 'It looks like it really was my fault that Father and the others got implicated.' Even though the National Treasure Dragon-Suppressing Seal wasn't lost, they had still failed in their duty, nearly causing a catastrophe.

He hesitated, wondering whether or not to reveal the full truth of what had happened.

But what was done was done. Even if he spoke up now, it would be useless.

Not only that, but it would also burden Prince Zhenbei with the crime of deceiving the emperor and treason.

Thinking of this, Xiao Teng was torn. 'Should I say something or not? If I keep quiet, it might be for the best; after all, the losses weren't huge. But if I confess, a furious Emperor Xia, empowered by his breakthrough to the Eighth Realm, will probably make an example of us to establish his authority.'

"Teng'Er, what exactly happened that night? Who was it that attacked and injured you?" Unaware of Xiao Teng's inner turmoil, Xiao He and the others focused on their concern for his injuries.

Xiao Teng thought for a moment and decided to conceal the truth for now. He would first investigate the full story of that night and then consider how to explain everything.

So, he told them that after he went to see Xie Jianjia that night, he was followed and then ambushed on his way back. Unfortunately, his attacker was extremely powerful, far beyond his own abilities, and he couldn't get a clear look at their face or identify their origin.

"It must have been the remnants of the Blood Immortal Sect! They wanted to kill our brother before the Southern Hunting, just to provoke Emperor Xia."

"How despicable."

Xiao Ye and Xiao Wang were both furious after hearing his account.

"Father, while I was unconscious, what happened to those disciples from Yijian Palace? That disciple named Zhang Yuan, where is he now?" Xiao Teng recalled another matter.

Xiao He was slightly taken aback, not understanding why he had suddenly brought up that particular disciple.

'Didn't they seem to be on good terms at the time?'

Xiao Teng explained, "I suspect that disciple, Zhang Yuan, is a remnant of the Blood Immortal Sect. After the banquet ended, he was the one who secretly followed me and attacked, severely injuring me and causing me to fall into a coma. Even though I was unconscious, I could clearly feel someone forcibly using a Secret Technique to break into my Sea of Consciousness, trying to probe my memories..."

As he said this, a worried expression appeared on his face.

𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

Xiao He, Xiao Ye, and Xiao Wang were all stunned. They exchanged a look, and each saw the gravity and shock in the others' eyes.

If what Xiao Teng said was true, then it was highly likely the Blood Immortal Sect remnants had learned of Emperor Xia's plan through him.

After all, during the banquet, the father and sons had a heart-to-heart talk and had discussed this very matter in front of Xiao Teng.