Chapter 67: The Golden Scapegoat
Only then did he notice two servants lying on the ground not far from you, their scarlet blood soaking the carpet. The anger on the face of the boy, who was only two or three years older than you, instantly froze, turning into astonishment, and then uncontrollable fear.
He pointed at you, then at the corpses on the ground, his lips trembling, unable to speak. You slowly stood up, dagger in hand, and walked towards him.
Seeing this, 'Brother' was scared out of his wits and turned to run upstairs. Unfortunately, he had barely taken two steps when he was hit hard on the back of the head, his vision went black, and he collapsed to the ground, unconscious.
You looked indifferently at this person who had once wantonly bullied you. You squatted down, roughly pried open his mouth, and fiercely pulled out his tongue, which had uttered countless malicious words. A cold glint flashed, the dagger fell, and his tongue was severed at the root.
The intense pain startled him awake from his coma, letting out an inarticulate whimper, but you didn't give him a chance to struggle further, striking him again to knock him out.
Next, you also cut a shallow wound on his fair arm. You meticulously stopped the bleeding for him and wiped away the bloodstains on his body. Then you took out the medicinal powder you had prepared earlier and carefully applied it to the cut on his tongue, the wound on the back of his head, and the wound on his arm.
Subsequently, you took out a small box containing fine golden powder. You evenly sprinkled the golden powder over all the wounds that had been smeared with medicinal powder, allowing the golden powder and medicinal powder to mix thoroughly. The medicine was extremely effective, and before long, the bleeding from his wounds stopped. The golden powder adhered firmly to the surface of the wounds, shimmering with golden light under the lamp.
You carefully added more golden powder, ensuring that every wound was evenly covered. Seeing that it was almost done, you extended your left hand and lightly cut your wrist with the dagger. Golden blood, like molten gold, slowly flowed out. You carefully poured that blood into 'Brother's' mouth, then closed it. You also meticulously smeared it on the wounds on his head and arm, making it look as if the golden blood had flowed from the wounds themselves.
Subsequently, you used the immense strength of the Mountain Dweller to move all the corpses on the scene, except for 'Brother', to other rooms. Mission accomplished. You looked at your masterpiece with satisfaction.
After a while, you heard a cacophony of footsteps from outside the mansion's gate, growing closer. You blurred into motion and leaped onto the roof.
"Bang!" The gate was violently forced open. A group of people, holding torches and various weapons, rushed in with murderous intent in their eyes. They entered the hall, looking around, and soon discovered 'Brother' lying on the ground.
One person, sharp-eyed, saw the golden shimmering wound and golden blood on his arm, as well as the golden bloodstains remaining at the corner of his mouth, and immediately shouted: "The accusation letter was true! There really is a Chrysos Heir hidden here!"
Another person also came forward to examine him, then frantically shouted: "Quick! Seize him! This Chrysos Heir is still young; while he poses no threat, quickly put him on trial!"
"Yes! Trial on the spot! Don't let him grow up and become another Godslayer!" "Trial! Trial!" "Burn this Chrysos Heir!"
A chorus of shouts erupted from the crowd, each person's eyes gleaming with fanaticism and bloodlust. Leading them was a grim-faced middle-aged man, who scanned the surroundings and said in a deep voice: "Alright, then we shall try him here!"
Those people immediately sprang into action, haphazardly moving hay and firewood from the courtyard to quickly set up a crude wooden pyre. They dragged the unconscious 'Brother' into the courtyard, tied him to the pyre, and then lit the hay beneath.
Just then, two figures rushed in from outside in a panic. It was Uncle and Aunt, who had just returned home from the market. As soon as they entered the courtyard, they saw their beloved son tied up and bound to a burning pyre, and their faces instantly turned pale with fright.
"Who are you?! What are you doing to my son?!" Uncle roared, both shocked and enraged.
The leading middle-aged man coldly glanced at him: "He is a Chrysos Heir! For the future of Amphoreus, we must try all Chrysos Heirs and cleanse the world of disaster!"
Uncle's body trembled upon hearing this: "You... are those radical Chrysos Heir oppositionists?!"
Aunt, meanwhile, shrieked like a madwoman: "My son is not a Chrysos Heir! You've got the wrong person! He's just an ordinary child!"
However, fate always seems to enjoy playing cruel jokes at critical moments. Choked by the thick smoke, 'Brother' suddenly coughed a few times, and a mouthful of golden blood sprayed from his mouth, particularly striking under the firelight.
"Still dare to deny it?!" The leader pointed at the golden blood on his mouth and sternly shouted, "Golden blood, undeniable proof! You harbor a Chrysos Heir, you are guilty with him!"
Uncle and Aunt's minds went blank, as if struck by lightning. Golden blood? How could their son spit out golden blood?
Uncle clearly remembered that the last time his son scraped his forehead, he bled perfectly normal red blood. Could it be... could it be that at some point, he was chosen? And became... a Chrysos Heir?