Chapter 3: Protagonist, Come With Me!

The Prime Minister toyed with the ring in his hand.

Zong Ming knew what he was thinking. The identity of an elf was a grave issue. All existing races, including the dragons, held a deep-seated hatred for the elven race, viewing them as sinners and harbingers of disaster. This fact had once moved the long-scorned undead to tears of joy—at last, there was someone more detested than they were. Had the circumstances been different, the undead might have even bowed to the elves in gratitude: "Thanks, brother!"

But this was merely a slave. Moreover, a thousand years had passed, and the elven race had long since been wiped out. The Prime Minister simply felt that keeping an elf near his child would invite calamity, especially since not only Zong Ming but others as well were curious to see what kind of creature an elf really was.

It was precisely because he knew this that Zong Ming wanted to claim the person immediately. Forget about "playing"—what if he were turned into a potion while being played with? Of all the things to play with, why choose to gamble with his life?

"The elven race is steeped in sin; they are far too close to the abyss," the Prime Minister finally remarked. Zong Ming leaned back, his waist slack: "That’s exactly what makes it interesting."

The man straightened up slowly upon hearing this and narrowed his eyes. Zong Ming quickly sat up straight, his expression becoming more serious: "I want to know what the secret potion of the elven race is. Father, please, just help me with this."

The Prime Minister picked up the cup on the table and took a sip. He pressed the cup back onto the table and stood up abruptly. Zong Ming followed him out, walking all the way to the room where the prisoners were held. He watched as the man circled in front of the cage. The Prime Minister remained silent, while the scarlet gaze from within the cage fell upon him. Even in its coldness, it was stained with an even more intense and unmistakable murderous intent.

However, the restraints on the elf remained secure. The Prime Minister glanced at Zong Ming, and seeing him staring intently at the cage as if he were looking at some rare treasure, he sighed inwardly.

In truth, Zong Ming wasn't thinking of anything at all.

He simply felt that the few paragraphs he had typed out word by word on his computer had now become real, living things appearing before his eyes. It was truly incredible.

"Father..." he urged.

The Prime Minister glanced at him, his eyes returning to the elf: "It is nothing more than a dog in a cage. If you like it, take it and play."

Once he finished speaking, he prepared to leave. Zong Ming’s heart tightened, and he blocked the Prime Minister’s path: "Father, you haven't given me the key to the restraints. I need to unlock them for alchemy."

"Nonsense!" The Prime Minister looked him up and down before finally handing over the key: "Under no circumstances are you to remove all the restraints."

The silver-haired elf had witnessed everything in silence. It wasn't until the moment the Prime Minister produced the key that those hollow eyes slowly lifted, fixing precisely on Zong Ming.

The blue-haired youth suddenly felt a chill run down his spine. He turned his head and met a pair of blood-red eyes.

Even locked in a cage, even imprisoned and reduced to this state, the aura of the protagonist remained firmly fixed upon him, carrying an inescapable, icy coldness.

In that instant, he felt as if Lv was about to skin him alive.

He must definitely be thinking that, right?

Zong Ming stood before the cage, locking eyes with that gaze. After a moment, he said: "Elf, come with me."

The man still did not speak.

His aura was chilling—like a corpse, an undead, a dead body—a creature of the abyss.

Zong Ming shook the key in his hand, and only then did the man lift his face slightly. His gaze rested on Zong Ming’s face, as if he were carefully memorizing his appearance. Zong Ming comforted himself, thinking the protagonist must surely remember his kindness and wanted to recognize his benefactor. Yes, he was absolutely not remembering his face to plot revenge once he got the key and broke the restraints...

Zong Ming shook the key again.

The protagonist’s eyes followed his movements, like a kite in the wind, a predator tracking its prey, or a dog watching its food.

When Zong Ming jingled the small bell in his hand, he would follow it with his eyes.

When Zong Ming put the items away, the protagonist stopped looking at him, likely contemplating how to find an opportunity to kill him.

The blue-haired youth was terrified that the man might break out of the cage in the next second. He had originally wanted to have him carried back, but then he thought that treating him like a pet and letting everyone see him in that state would only be more humiliating.

Zong Ming met those eyes and had no choice but to order someone to pull the man out: "The cage is too heavy. You, come out with me."

The protagonist narrowed his eyes. As the cage slowly opened, the person who had been trapped inside emerged like a beast released from a floodgate. The moment the barrier was pulled back, his chilling aura erupted, filling the entire room in a fleeting second.

Lv sat there in the cage, locking eyes with the youth without any obstruction.

Only at this moment did he realize that the person before him truly intended to release him from the cage... and keep him by his side.

Interesting.

The man’s silver hair finally stirred, shimmering in the darkness in a way that hurt the eyes. Elves were creatures that glowed in the dark. Slowly, he extended his fingers, gripped the edge of the cage, and pulled himself out bit by bit.

Like a wild beast breaking free, the moment the elf crawled out, the surrounding guards raised their weapons, sensing a grave threat.

Only when he left the cage did everyone realize with such clarity: he was so tall.

With long, pointed ears, a fierce face, and scarlet eyes.

Lv stood before them all. Just from crawling out, he couldn't help but stretch his body. The man cracked his own neck, the distinct sound echoing clearly. A few pieces of alchemical equipment fell to the floor, revealing the clear neck bone beneath.

He reached out his fingers, unconcerned, and plunged them into his own flesh to straighten his crooked bone. The moment he withdrew his hand, the flesh slowly fused back together, and the elf let out a sigh of relief.

It was as if, having been trapped in such a cramped space, he could finally breathe.

The alchemical equipment lay on the floor. The man reached out to pick it up, but the guards, as if triggered by something, shouted: "Stop!"

The protagonist paused. Zong Ming watched this scene; though he felt a chill, he forced himself to adapt.

He was the protagonist, after all; it was normal for him to be different from ordinary people... besides, he wasn't human to begin with.

But his sense of oppression was terrifying—so much so that the guards' legs were trembling. Generally, they wouldn't be like this, but the protagonist carried the bloodline of the abyss.

He rubbed his temples and said: "Follow me. You lot, clean this up."

Those blood-red eyes watched him quietly. Zong Ming exchanged a look with him before looking away. He would have liked to pamper the protagonist—perhaps by begging him to be magnanimous and not turn him into a potion later—but he didn't want to die an inexplicable death one day.

A guard gathered his courage and stepped forward, kicking the alchemical instruments aside. The protagonist’s gaze swept over them, but he said nothing. "Those were precious alchemical instruments."

His voice was melodious and deep, carrying a strange, bewitching quality. Zong Ming let out a cold snort. When Lv’s eyes finally landed on him, they no longer looked as if he were staring at a dead man.

Instead, he was looking at a useful tool.

Zong Ming said: "Elf..." He had wanted to say something, but the protagonist was so tall that he had to tilt his head back to look at him: "Get down here!"

The protagonist narrowed his eyes at him, and after a moment, he slowly lowered his head. The guards watching this felt as if their hearts were stuck in their throats; it was bone-chilling.

Zong Ming whispered in his ear: "I’m letting you out on one condition. If you don't listen to me, I’ll lock you back up!"

"Then I shall have to thank you properly," the elf said with refined grace.

Zong Ming pushed him away and said: "Now, come back with me."

He glanced at the guards and cursed: "Follow!"

The carriage for the return trip was already prepared. Zong Ming had originally intended to put the protagonist in a different carriage, but thinking of his abilities, he suddenly felt a chill. Under the astonished gazes of others, Zong Ming had the protagonist board the same carriage as him. The moment the man stepped in, the magical beasts in front seemed to let out a terrified shriek. The coachman panicked for a moment, and only after whipping them for quite a while did they reluctantly start moving, though they remained incredibly skittish throughout the journey, causing the carriage to shake incessantly.

Inside the carriage, Zong Ming regretted his decision the moment the man entered.

Who could have known this guy would make the magical beasts tremble so violently? He was large, and the moment he squeezed into the carriage, he blocked off half the room. Zong Ming could only sit there stiffly; the beasts were shaking, the carriage was shaking, and he was shaking along with them.

As they jolted, Zong Ming nearly fell into the man's arms. Lv had been silent the entire way, but just as Zong Ming tried to steady himself, the man opened his arms and caught him. The handsome youth fell into that cold embrace.

And then... Zong Ming felt a cold hand rest on his neck.

It was very cold, and very hard.

Not like a living thing.

A melodious voice sounded in his ear: "My lord, what is it that you are doing?"