Chapter 11 - Actually, I Have a Cheat Too

Translator's Note:

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Jimmy's Secret

 

 

Ge Yan's eyes widened at the question, momentarily stunned. Had he somehow slipped up, given himself away? He had no idea Rex was merely asking out of caution. But the tremor in Ge Yan's expression didn't go unnoticed. With a sudden, powerful movement, Rex seized him by the neck, slamming him back against the door.

 

"You lied to me." Rex's voice was flat, but the chilling undertone made it clear he wasn't to be trifled with.

 

"I... I request five minutes to explain," Ge Yan blurted, wincing as a fiery pain spread across his back. Rex's fingers began to close around his neck, and Ge Yan's keen eye caught the slightest movement in Rex's other hand, as though any second it might plunge into him and rip out his entrails. Startled, Ge Yan decided to confess in a rush, fearing that a moment's delay might mean the end for him.

 

Rex's icy blue eyes remained fixed on him, as cold and barren as a frozen wasteland.

 

A shiver ran through Ge Yan, goosebumps spreading over his skin as he quickly decided to get straight to the point. "I didn't mean to keep anything from you, but I really am not Jimmy. Here's what happened: after I died, for reasons I don't understand, my soul somehow trailed behind the man named Jimmy for days. During that time, I picked up on some of his secrets."

 

He had been puzzled then, not understanding why his soul had latched onto Jimmy's. Only when he'd entered Jimmy's body did he realize that this vessel had been somehow preordained for him, Jimmy's fate sealed at his arrival.

 

"What secrets?" Rex still hadn't released him, his expression as cold as ever, giving no hint of his thoughts.

 

Ge Yan continued, "It was Jimmy who set up the trap against you, stirring things up from behind the scenes. He seemed to fear you immensely. For days, he'd hide away in his room, muttering to himself," he hesitated, casting a wary glance at Rex, his expression turning oddly complicated.

 

"What did he say?"

 

"He kept mumbling things like, 'Once you're dead, everything will be mine,' and 'Let's see how you'll escape this time, before you've grown stronger.' He'd scoff at you, calling you the 'child of destiny*,' as though he couldn't believe that in your current state, with no foundation, you could escape again. That's why I suspect he was reborn, from some future timeline. He seems to know that in the future, you'd become something powerful, and he wants to kill you before that happens, to take what should rightfully belong to you."

 

[T/N: The concept of the "Child of Destiny" (命运之子, mìngyùn zhī zǐ) in Asian novels, particularly in genres like xianxia (fantasy focused on Taoism and Chinese mythology) and wuxia (martial arts fiction), refers to a protagonist who is fated for greatness and often possesses unique talents or abilities that set them apart from others.]

 

The difference between them couldn't be more vast. If Rex truly was a "child of destiny," then it was no surprise that Jimmy was overcome with jealousy. The child of destiny was someone favored by fate itself; no matter the challenges they faced, they would ultimately prevail and grow stronger through every trial. Such an existence was a temptation that could erode any sense of reason or humanity.

 

Ge Yan could see why Jimmy thought that way, but he also found it foolishly short-sighted. If Rex really was the child of destiny, then even in his current, unproven state, the world itself would not easily allow him to fall prey to anyone's schemes. Jimmy's fate had already proved that much; the fact that his last words had been "impossible" suggested that Rex's path had already shifted, altered by Jimmy's meddling due to his reincarnation—the so-called butterfly effect.

 

"At first, I didn't believe it either, but considering that I died yet I'm still here taking to you now, it should have been possible for him too," Ge Yan finally caught a glimpse of a subtle fluctuation in Rex's eyes, one so faint it was almost imperceptible. He dared not relax, though; he was all too aware that if Rex didn't believe him, he'd have little chance of surviving this encounter.

 

Rex, however, was thinking about something else: that perhaps his fate truly had shifted because of Jimmy's rebirth. Perhaps this was real.

 

"Do you believe me?" Ge Yan asked, his gaze full of tentative hope.

 

Rex's brow furrowed, the lines deepening sharply as he finally loosened his grip.

 

Ge Yan slid to the floor, rubbing his sore neck, sure it bore the imprint of five fingers. He suddenly felt that having his feet on solid ground was the best feeling after all.

 

"They're members of the Black Wolf Mercenary Corps."

 

"Hmm?" Ge Yan blinked, surprised at Rex's abrupt statement. "But… they didn't look the part. I thought they were nobles' sons, while the Black Wolf Corps are supposed to be a bunch of outlaws?"

 

"The Black Wolf isn't your average mercenary corps. It was first formed by nobles who wanted a way to better train their offspring, and over time they've earned their A-rank status." Rex's mouth twisted into a cold smile.

 

Ge Yan understood now. It was like the difference between a common merchant and one in the emperor's inner circle. Carlos and his entourage had the same status as princes within the Black Wolf Corps. When the son of a noble family went missing, it was no trivial matter. They would be searched for, and if news of their deaths spread, it would surely spark a major scandal. Meanwhile, he and Rex were both alive and well—a suspicious fact. Luckily, they'd kept a low profile. With his cloak, Ge Yan wasn't as recognizable, but Rex… that face was already conspicuous enough as it was.

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