"Kill the heretic! End the cycle of evil! Bring an end to this disaster!"
Voices echoed from every direction as villagers waved their rakes in the air, fueling the tension. They yelled and shouted with anger and hatred in their eyes, throwing everything they could find onto the high platform.
On top of the high platform, a frail and pale figure kneeled on the ground with his head lowered, looking extremely indifferent to all the noise surrounding him. By his side were men in shielded body armor as they held their swords at the ready, appearing undisturbed and fully on guard. One of them stood in front and approached the kneeling man.
Instead of facing the man, he turned to face the raging crowd as he declared, "We have caught the Night Killer due to heaven's loving grace!"
After which, he pointed his finger at the kneeling man. "For the crimes this man committed, for every effort we have made, and for the innocents we have lost due to his evil doings, he will be brought to justice."
The man kneeling in front didn't speak. His lips slightly curled up in a faint mockery, unnoticeable to others' eyes.
The Night Killer—the killer who terrorized the nobles and merchants at night—was an infamous serial killer in the kingdom, often assassinating his victims and leaving behind no traces of himself. Many believed he had multiple identities during the daytime, but no one had managed to uncover his true identity.
Due to a slight mistake in his actions, he had been caught and arrested. On the night of his arrest, he didn't resist or fight back against any charges brought against him.
The man supposedly behind the Night Killer was labeled as the disgraced son of a noble family: a reserved and enigmatic man, always lost in his thoughts and shying away from high society circles.
The slight mistake that unveiled his identity was his close relationship with the Queen; suspicion and prying eyes had penetrated through his disguise.
The man declaring in front was dressed in white robes. He kneeled beside the Night Killer and whispered something into his ear.
"Are you aware of how mad you made the King? I believe you understand the gravity of your crimes."
The white-robed man sneered into his ear, glaring at his face with unrestrained disgust and hatred. He turned to face the crowd and continued to declare, "Our King invested many of his treasures to uncover the mysteries of the Night Killer. We shall watch the Night Killer sing praises to him as he kneels before us!
"For many years, he has infiltrated the innocents, and the ancestors know how much we wanted him with his head cut off. Today, our wish has been granted!"
The Night Killer raised his lowered head as his eyes darkened, completely indifferent to all the insults—as though he had predicted everything. His face was shrouded in taciturnity as he glanced toward the crowd, deep in thought.
His stormy gray eyes reflected the many missions he had completed over the years and the regrets he harbored.
The regret that he had been unable to finish the King off.
He had wanted to eliminate the King due to his support and secret endorsement of the corruption that plagued the common people. Many of his close friends and family had been lost during the process.
He got close to the Queen with an ulterior motive: to control her subordinates and have them convey secret intelligence about the King to him.
Eventually, he was caught—all because his own network betrayed him and sided with the King. The King offered them amnesty in return for the Night Killer.
"I wasn't surprised, nor was I angry. I was disappointed because I didn't complete the one thing I wanted to. Even in death, it is the only regret I have.
"I had long predicted I would be betrayed before any of this. I thought they would know better about my motives. I never wished to harm anyone who wasn't involved. I wanted to correct the society we live in.
"To be trampled on by one man as an entire society—that was what I wanted to change about life. My father perished amidst the reckless war the King had instigated, and my mother passed away from the lack of money we had to treat her, while the King bathed in gold...
"I have chosen this path—a path filled with dangers—as an assassin, to bring an end to this cycle of oppression."
The Night Killer frowned as he thought of his approaching end and the misery he had watched others suffer.
The white-robed man had finished his song of praises as he smiled toward the crowd and spread his arms. "The King is sorry to those who had to suffer, and the King loves those who are loyal.
"By capturing the Night Killer, we have completed his goal. Our last task is to finish him off."
As soon as he said that, a guard officer approached him and silently whispered into his ear. The crowd watched as the white-robed man's face turned dark and ugly.
He swept his gaze onto the Night Killer with extreme hatred and the urge to rip him apart. The Night Killer was completely oblivious to his reaction.
The white-robed man hastily approached him and ordered the guards, "Have him tied up onto the pole and stuff his mouth with pieces of cotton!"
The guards forcefully dragged the Night Killer. He didn't resist one bit and obediently followed them. His mouth was stuffed with cotton and salt; he was pulled up, and ropes were tied around him and the pole.
Attached to the wooden pole, he watched the eyes of the people as they cheered in joy—some of them even drinking wine in celebration. His eyes dimmed as they filled with pity.
He began to doubt himself.
"Am I delusional, or were the miserable lives they have lived nothing but my own imagination?"
They loved the King but hated the rich.
"Light it on fire," the head of the guards pointed toward his men and commanded. "He has humiliated our King, and that is a crime punishable by death. Burn him alive!"
As soon as he said that, they lit a torch on fire and held it, seemingly waiting for someone as they scanned the surroundings.
A bulky figure appeared from the distance. The Night Killer's eyes gradually filled with resentment as he glared at the figure.
The bulky man was dressed in fine red robes and donned a crown on his head. He was escorted by many guards and loyal subjects. He couldn't help but smile with pleasure and satisfaction as he stared at the Night Killer on the pole.
He had a high-bridged nose, intriguing brown eyes, and a head of black hair. He had a noticeable scar on his eyebrow that he got from battling a boar.
He was none other than the King.
The crowd went crazy as they threw their belongings into the air and cheered as though they had met a living ancestor, causing them to lose all rationality.
He smirked viciously as he watched the Night Killer suffer—just like how he had dreamed. He approached the Night Killer as the guards awaited his command to set the place on fire.
"It's been a long time since we last met, Night Killer."
He spoke mockingly, as he couldn't wait to tear him apart into pieces.
The Night Killer didn't reply as he stared at him with a nonchalant expression—as though he was looking at a worthless thing.
"You sure have arrogance for someone who is going to die," the white-robed man yelled in anger.
The Night Killer didn't say anything and raised his eyebrows, questioning if they were stupid—because he couldn't speak. He couldn't reply to the King due to his mouth being stuffed. How was that called arrogance?
"Humph. Such arrogance." The King humphed as he glared at the Night Killer. "You have been brought to justice. The nobles will no longer be plagued with fear and won't have to hide their riches in the basement.
"I'd say today is a great day for everyone. The killer is now captured, the court is worry-free, and my beloved wife is also pregnant with my first child. I have long lived to see this day."
He smiled with pleasure and satisfaction, as though he had taken a good nap.
"You may think my happy state would grant you a pardon?" He raised his eyebrow.
"I literally never said anything about you granting a pardon..." The Night Killer glanced at him with a deadpan face.
"Nope! Not ever!" The King broke out in laughter as he pointed to the guards standing beside him. "Give me the torch.
"Allow me to personally end his life." He grabbed the torch and walked toward him with a mocking expression. "Be glad I am the one to personally end you."
The Night Killer's expression didn't change as he glanced at him, completely indifferent to his antics.
As soon as the King stepped his foot onto the platform, a feminine scream echoed across the field amid everyone celebrating his upcoming death.
The Night Killer's eyes wavered as he turned to glance at her—the Queen, who was running crazily toward him with her face streaked in tears.
"You—" he mumbled with his stuffed mouth.
"What is she doing here? Why is she coming here? Don't come!" He wanted to shout but was unable to do so; he could only stare at her in astonishment.
"Don't go near him!" She shouted at the King, who was approaching the stage with a torch, as he cast his glance at her with shock.
She had extremely beautiful features—beautifully sculpted face and a jade-like complexion. Her eyes were deep and glossy as they filled with fear and aggrievement. Her saddened eyes focused solely on the Night Killer as he stared at her with shock.
"Darling, what are you doing here?" The King was shocked to find his beloved wife following him and watching as he ended a human life.
"Release him! Release him, please?" She begged him as she dragged her dress and approached him hastily. "I beg of you."
She grabbed his red robes and kneeled.
"Please..."
"You! Tell me what you are doing here?" The King couldn't help but yell in annoyance as he tried to take back his robes. "What relationship do you have with him? Why should I release him?"
After some thought, he immediately realized something was off. The reason the Night Killer was caught was indirectly due to his wife and her somewhat strange relationship with him.
In his entire life of knowing and loving his wife, he had never seen her cry once since they were childhood companions. She cried for the first time today—and it was all for the Night Killer.
"You! Don't tell me you..." The King's eyes trembled intensely as he tried to recover his composure and couldn't continue speaking.
"I love him!" She cried out in tears as she kneeled on the ground. "I beg you to release him. I will do everything you want as long as he is safe!"
The Night Killer's eyes fluctuated with emotions as he thought back to the night before everything went wrong—the night they had lain together on his bed.
Her hesitation and her reluctance toward him before the morning he left the bedroom.
Her loving adoration and devotion toward him...
"You wanted to ask me to stay, but you couldn't.
"You wanted to say you loved me, but because of my indifference, you didn't mutter a single word.
"My sweet Xue'er, aren't you surprised to find out about my real identity? Judging from your actions, you have always known but chosen not to speak of it."
The Night Killer couldn't help but shudder as he tried to struggle out of his current state, wanting to escape and go to her.
The King was infuriated to the bones, and his face completely darkened to the point of turning insane. "You! Kill these two traitors!"
"Your Majesty!" The guards and the white-robed man shouted in unison.