Chapter 293: Staging a Fake Death

“Why are you doing this?” Long Yinwen asked.

‘What he really wanted to ask was, what was the point of Chu Fan doing this? Their relationship had never been harmonious; in fact, there was even some enmity between them.’

“Because there’s a high probability that after I leave the Secret Realm, Long Jingyao will target me, maybe even have me killed. You could say we’re kindred spirits in misfortune, and I’ve taken pity on you. To fall from the lofty position of Imperial Grandson into the dust… you’re probably unwilling to accept it. But this is your fate. You are not of the Long Clan’s bloodline. You’ve enjoyed over twenty years of wealth and adoration; it’s finally time to pay it all back.”

“Perhaps from now on, you should focus only on seeking the true Dao. If you reach the pinnacle of the Martial Dao in the future, the genuine admiration people will have for you will be far more real than the superficial respect they showed for your illusory, mirage-like status.”

Chu Fan’s words deeply moved Long Yinwen.

“What’s the price?”

“You’ll take on a new identity. When a suitable opportunity arises in the future, you will return to Yan Ying’s side and serve her wholeheartedly.”

“What exactly is your relationship with her?”

“She’s my woman.”

“Ah!” Long Yinwen cried out, staring at Chu Fan, dumbfounded.

“So, now you understand why I said Long Jingyao would come after me, right? When it comes to the succession of imperial power, you should know his methods better than I do.”

“But Long Jingyao is Yan Ying’s father, after all. I can’t put her in a difficult position, so my only choice is to avoid a direct confrontation.”

Long Yinwen fell silent upon hearing this.

‘Did he feel hatred in his heart? Of course, he did. But could he really seek revenge on Long Jingyao?’

‘It wasn’t just that he lacked the ability. Even if he had the power, he wouldn’t do it. After all, he had gained a great deal from his status over the past twenty years.’

Avoiding a direct confrontation… essentially, he had no choice but to make the same decision as Chu Fan.

“Before that, we have to put on a show,” Chu Fan said.

“A show? What do you mean?”

“Make everyone think we’re dead.”

At this very moment, Guo Zi and the others were under attack by countless beasts. They were already mentally and physically exhausted, their will to survive the only thing keeping them on their feet.

Although the beasts weren’t exceptionally powerful, their sheer numbers were overwhelming.

Just as they were about to collapse, they were suddenly teleported into a mountain valley.

It wasn’t just them. All three hundred-plus people who had entered the Secret Realm were teleported to this spot. As they looked around in confusion, the sound of a fight up ahead drew their attention.

A group of Stone Giants was surrounding and violently pummeling Chu Fan and a now tall and sturdy Long Yinwen.

The wounds on Chu Fan and Long Yinwen looked particularly gruesome.

Moreover, the Combat Power of those Giants was so shocking that the three hundred-plus onlookers were horrified. These Giants were by far the strongest beings they had seen in the Secret Realm.

“Don’t just stand there watching! Hurry up and help!” Chu Fan shouted to the crowd of onlookers.

Someone heard him and snorted in contempt. “If you’re asking for help, you should have the right attitude. What the hell is with that commanding tone? It’s not like we owe you anything.”

“Exactly! These Stone Giants are so strong. We’d just be throwing our lives away if we went up there!”

Everyone started chattering at once, clearly content to just watch the show.

However, two people from the crowd leaped into the air and rushed forward.

These two were none other than Wei Mian and Ye Xiaohan.

After they charged out, Yao Zhi and their group of seven exchanged glances and also rushed forward.

Chu Fan and Long Yinwen were, of course, just acting, and they were also testing the character of the others.

‘Seeing Wei Mian, Ye Xiaohan, and the other seven rush over to help without a second thought, Chu Fan was genuinely moved.’

But it was just an act, after all. Chu Fan directed a few of the Stone Giants, which sent all nine of them flying with a single punch each.

They struggled back to their feet but were completely powerless to fight on.

Seeing this, the rest of the crowd was even less likely to go up and help.

‘They’re so strong, who the hell would want to go up there and die? Besides, most of them didn’t have a very high opinion of Chu Fan anyway.’

As time went on, the wounds on Chu Fan and Long Yinwen grew heavier and heavier. Eventually, they fell to the ground and were brutally pummeled, punch after punch, by the Stone Giants until they were drenched in blood.

Wei Mian and Ye Xiaohan watched this scene, their eyes bloodshot and filled with utter despair.

They hated their own powerlessness, able only to watch helplessly as Chu Fan was beaten to death, punch by punch, by the Stone Giants.

Yao Zhi and the others could only sigh in silence.

Even those who had been gloating earlier now fell silent.

It wasn’t that Chu Fan wasn’t strong. Especially in the Butterfly Forest, he had single-handedly slain the Giant formed from countless butterflies with just his Sword.

But now, an expert of his caliber was being beaten to a pulp by this group of Stone Giants.

After the Stone Giants had smashed Chu Fan and Long Yinwen to a pulp, they turned and charged toward the onlookers. Seeing the Giants coming for them, the crowd immediately scattered and fled.

Even Wei Mian and Ye Xiaohan didn’t have time to think about retrieving Chu Fan’s body.

As they all ran for their lives, in the next moment, they were all teleported out of the Secret Realm.

The Imperial Forest Guard standing watch by the Palace City North Garden River Channel were astonished to see so many people emerge at once.

Yan Ying happened to be waiting there as well.

Three hundred and sixty people had entered the Secret Realm. Excluding her, who had left early, there were now a total of three hundred and fifty-seven people present.

The only ones missing were Chu Fan and Long Yinwen.

Yan Ying frowned, walked up to Ye Xiaohan, and asked, “Where is Chu Fan?”

“Senior Sister, Brother Chu… he…” Ye Xiaohan was young, after all. Upon seeing Yan Ying, he could no longer hold back and burst into tears.

At that moment, Yan Ying’s heart clenched. Her voice rose sharply. “What happened to Chu Fan?”

“Brother Chu, he…”

“Brother Chu Fan… is dead!” Wei Mian said from the side, his voice choked with emotion.

“No! Impossible! You’re lying to me! How could he die? He wouldn’t die! He’s Chu Fan, how could he possibly die!” Yan Ying screamed.

“He’s really dead. All of us saw it with our own eyes. He and another sturdy man were brutally beaten to a pulp by more than ten Stone Giants. Their brains were even bashed out.” The one who spoke was Guo Zi, and the gloating tone was gone from his voice.

Hearing this, Yan Ying froze completely.

Her eyes became utterly vacant.

There is no greater sorrow than a heart that has died—this was the only way to describe Yan Ying at this moment.

She simply could not accept this reality.

The Crown Prince, Long Jingyao, arrived after hearing the news. He counted the people and, seeing that two were missing—Chu Fan and Long Yinwen—he couldn’t help but frown.

After making inquiries, he heard that Chu Fan and a tall, sturdy man had been beaten to a pulp by Stone Giants. He immediately realized that the tall, sturdy man must have been Long Yinwen.

Long Jingyao felt that something was bizarre. The Hua Xu Secret Realm had been opened hundreds of times over the years, and no one had ever died inside it before.

‘Why would someone die this time? And why would it be the two of them, Chu Fan and Long Yinwen, specifically?’

“I want to enter the Secret Realm!” Yan Ying said, walking up to Long Jingyao, her tone cold.

Long Jingyao shook his head. “The Secret Realm can only be opened once every thirty-six years. Don’t you know that? It opens on the sixth day of the sixth month. Unless you wait for the next thirty-six years, you can only exit, not enter. Even if you want to go in now, you can’t. I know you’re in pain, but this is beyond our control. The dead cannot be brought back to life.”

“I don’t believe he’s dead! I want to enter the Secret Realm!” Yan Ying roared.

Yan Ying’s roar made everyone present break out in a cold sweat. ‘No one had ever spoken to the Crown Prince like that before. Her audacity was astounding!’

“Seal the Secret Realm! Everyone who has exited is to proceed to Liangyi Hall and await my decree,” Long Jingyao commanded loudly.