Academic gathering with a lich-Chapter 584 - 537 Cause of Death

"That was the beginning of our cursed fate," Zhiyan said with a laugh as he clinked his glass with the Giant Dragon, "Similar desires quickly made us friends. I shared with him the memories enshrined in stone, while he told me of another world, the world of Liches."

"Mainly the Spirit Summoning Skill," the Giant Dragon extended a hand and pretend-grasped in the air, and the skeletal avatars standing around instantly disintegrated. The collapsing skeletons formed a giant gate of bones, swallowing up the avatars. The day had already broken, and the Giant Dragon retracted these tools. "I had thought Zhiyan would become a talented Spirit Summoner, his love for the graves misled my judgment. Together we explored the large graveyards near Bent Town and through this process, the abundance of theoretical knowledge he accumulated made me think he was ready. Because of this misunderstanding, a dreadful incident followed."

Zhiyan made a carefree gesture, resting his hands behind his head, watching the birds eagerly leave their nests.

"Looking at the outcome, it wasn’t that bad..."

"Dying in the prime of my youth was only slightly less terrible in my heart than the feeling of learning about the extinction of an endangered species."

"Okay, I admit my death was stupid. Can we skip this topic? Giant Dragon, shouldn’t you start talking about your commission?"

"I find it rather necessary for Mr. Plague Doctor to have a proper understanding of how unreliable you are. This is also for the sake of my commission. Zhiyan, in order to prevent mishaps, please continue showing the Plague Doctor your brief life."

"I have plenty of reason to suspect you just want to see me embarrassed."

"Have your embarrassing moments been so few?"

With a mix of annoyance, irritation, embarrassment, and reluctance, that handsome face showed Lyle a complex expression.

"Alright, alright, Mr. Plague Doctor, take this as a lesson. In our forthcoming communications, don’t assign any job to me to complete alone, even if I appear convincing."

Lyle nodded, not quite understanding but looking forward to what would come next.

With a clear sigh, Mr. Zhiyan continued his story.

"After meeting the Giant Dragon, my knowledge in the graveyards began to accumulate rapidly, which led to more frequent visits to the graves. Eventually, my face was exposed to some scheming individuals. Rumors of the fairy-like young man spread through the alleys of Bent Town, and stealthy figures began to linger near my house. I didn’t pay much attention to it, as my focus was entirely on studying those ancient texts. You must understand the feeling when you’re so deeply engrossed that time flies, and when you snap back to reality, it’s as if you’ve traveled to the future."

Lyle nodded.

"Exactly, when I came to my senses, I found myself engaged to the Lord of Bent’s daughter, and I was informed that the wedding would take place in three days."

"?"

"It seems the situation was escalating to prevent the rumors from taking a turn for the worse. My brother, Altus, Lord of the Law, had set up the relationship between me and the heiress. You’ll understand, my looks had the noble lady smitten instantly, even if all I did was hold a few rocks and go ’Uh, erm, ah’. Suddenly, I had become a member of Bent’s most powerful class, and in three days, I’d stand at the end of my life’s journey, with wealth and status as my entourage."

Lyle couldn’t resist butting in. "What kind of person was this heiress?"

"Don’t know, don’t care," Mr. Zhiyan’s tone was as if he were talking about some weeds by the roadside.

It was Mr. Giant Dragon, the outsider, who answered. "From a human perspective, the heiress was probably the perfect companion. Graceful and gentle, with pleasant features. Of course, compared to the ladies of Naslan, she’s only a nice human."

Isn’t that rather good? Being favored by a wealthy heiress and marrying into a powerful family—why does this plot sound so familiar?

Lyle looked sincerely at Zhiyan.

"Mr. Zhiyan, I can totally understand your feelings."

Zhiyan raised an eyebrow, his face gradually showing a smile of finding someone who understood him.

"Mr. Plague Doctor, you really do get me!"

"Mhm."

"To have a woman by my side for the rest of my life..."

"Mhm."

"You spent a huge amount of time and energy on her..."

"Mm-hmm."

"That interfered with my research work, I’d rather die than let that happen."

"Mm-hmm... Hmm?" Lyle stopped nodding and his eyes widened in realization. He looked at Zhiyan as if staring at a monster. "So... So Mr. Zhiyan... you just..."

Mr. Zhiyan nodded calmly.

"Indeed, I asked the Giant Dragon for a bottle of Undead Potion and committed suicide. Then I became a Lich who devotes himself solely to ancient texts."

"..." Lyle was tremendously shocked.

The sonorous voice of the Giant Dragon rang in their ears like an alarm bell.

"Mr. Zhiyan, please stop beautifying your actions."

Zhiyan’s body stiffened as if turning to stone, and when he looked up again, his eyes were lifeless.

"Alright... actually, it was an accidental suicide."

The Giant Dragon explained to Lyle on the side.

"Indeed, we had planned to escape the wedding at that time, but it was supposed to be a fake death. The Undead Potion I concocted would put the user in a twenty-four hour state of fake death. To reassure Zhiyan, I thoroughly explained every ingredient and the entire process of making the potion. Then, we bribed the priest and the gravedigger to stage a false funeral. This would allow Zhiyan to regain his freedom."

"But I trusted him too much. He swore he could prepare the Undead Potion on his own, and the ’need to control his own destiny’ served as a reason to add a sense of ceremony to it. I agreed to his request, took back my concocted potion, and handed him the ingredients he needed."

"The result was that this waste, while following my detailed notes, mistakenly concocted a poison that killed him. A feigned death turned into a real one, and by the time I opened his coffin at the agreed time, he had become a corpse. Afterwards, I had to prepare a Spirit Summoning ritual to turn him into a Lich." 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

Silence spread amidst the Giant Dragon’s scorn and indifference.

"Hahaha, the result isn’t so bad, right? Mr. Zhiyan seems quite content with his existence now, so that should count as a happy ending."

"The Plague Doctor is right, I am indeed quite satisfied, hahaha."

Lyle and Zhiyan played along, smoothing things over.

"Have you forgotten about another person in the story? Zhiyan’s brother, Mr. Altus, the man of the Law."

Lyle saw Zhiyan’s head shake slightly as he looked down.

"Could it be that Mr. Altus’s death also has something to do with Zhiyan?"

"Of course. The romance between Zhiyan and the lady was orchestrated by the Law himself, who believed he had arranged a good future for his brother. He couldn’t understand Zhiyan’s thoughts, nor could he accept his suicide. At the time, the Lord of Bent proclaimed that Zhiyan’s cause of death was suicide by studying Black Magic, which was not far from the truth. However, to the Law, it seemed like an excuse to cover up the crime. Law and Zhiyan were twin brothers, both stubborn in their own ways, Zhiyan obsessed with ancient texts while Altus held a firm belief in the Law. But the laws of the time were set by the lord, who was beyond their reach."

The Law realized the limitations of the law and became determined in his conviction. The law should be above all, equal before everyone.

The Law decided to compile his own legal code.

And the first law was, a life for a life.

"A few days later, the Law was sentenced to death for murdering the Lord’s daughter."

"A few days later, Mr. Altus crawled out from the Mass Burial Mound."