Chapter 178: Vampire / 4.5 : The feast (Part 2)
Yawen looked at Atlas furiously. One of the humans stood up and asked angrily:
"How can you say that about your people?"
Atlas chuckled.
"The humans aren’t my people."
Yawen stood up and asked sadly:
"Atlas how can you say that when you’re human? You should be more open not just to the humans but the vampires too. Don’t you wish for everyone to get along? We’re all the same."
Atlas almost threw up at that load of crap. Yawen is seen as mother Theresa because he says this kind of bullshit. Atlas burst out laughing. He asked:
"Are you stupid?"
Yawen’s hand tightened into a fist but he stayed calm and said:
"We’re having a conversation use your words."
Atlas smiled and said:
"Okay, I’ll use my words, your highness. We’re not all the same, there’s a pecking order. The vampires are at the top and the stupid humans are at the bottom. Do you realize that people fight to be the offering like it’s some kind of grand prize just so they can stay at the imperial palace surrounded by predators? Because that’s what they are predators yet you all see them as rockstars. That’s insane! Humans are stupid that’s just a fact. If I was a vampire I would squeeze them for all they’re worth that’s for sure. They were too nice to let the humans be governed by your family gods knows I wouldn’t."
Everyone whether at home or in the banquet hall gaped. Atlas feels like he is in the twilight zone since he entered this universe.
Humans were disappointed when Yuning said that the tradition of the offering would be abolished. That’s batshit crazy. Stupid is all they are.
The only smart human is Yawen that’s why he won in the end. When he saw his face turn red in anger he smirked. Xinzhi was gaping at Atlas. It seems like Atlas is furious that’s why he is saying all of that.
He didn’t force Atlas, he is the one who said he would do it to save the humans and now he dares to insult them. If that wasn’t bad enough he insulted their family and questioned the emperor letting their family rule over the humans.
He stood up and said angrily:
"How dare you speak about our family this way. We’re Yus one of the oldest family while you’re nothing more than an orphan!"
Yawen felt pleased when he heard about his brother. He can’t insult Atlas or people will say that what he preaches is all lies. He could feel that Xinzhi felt guilty but now at least he’ll only have negative feelings about Atlas.
Tan’s eyes turned red, he was about to fly to Xinzhi but Atlas held him firmly in place. Atlas looked at Xinzhi and asked:
"So I’m nothing because I’m an orphan? Is that what you’re saying?"
Xinzhi said:
"You shouldn’t speak this way about your people if you don’t want someone else to speak badly about you."
"Is that all I am to you Da-Ge? Just someone?"
Xinzhi swallowed and felt unable to say anything. Of course, Atlas isn’t just someone to him he has feelings for him or he wouldn’t feel this hurt about his words.
He was cruel to him when Atlas didn’t deserve it. He knows that he doesn’t want to die so he is lashing out. When he saw the hurt in Atlas’ eyes he felt his heart clench.
This is all his fault instead of protecting him like he promised he is sending him to his death. He isn’t stupid he knows what happens in the imperial palace and it’s not like Atlas can stop a vampire let alone two.
He’s seen the way the twins look at him he does not doubt that they are after him yet he stood there and spoke to him that way. When Atlas looked away he called:
"Atlas..."
Atlas looked at him and said:
"There’s nothing more to talk about. Seems like all it took for you to be honest was for me to be on the road to death."
Yawen looked at Xinzhi pissed. As usual, all it took was Atlas to look sad for him to fold.
Yawen looked at Atlas and said:
"He merely meant that you shouldn’t judge and he is right. You’re the offering and everyone will watch your every move don’t you want to be a good example, especially to the young humans?"
Atlas said with a mocking smile:
"I’m about to die so why should I care about those who will be here when I’m gone? I’ll do whatever the hell I want and I don’t care if the humans are bothered by it or not. Even if I wanted to help the humans before my death it’s not like you can cure stupid."
Yawen’s eyes darkened. It seems like since he has nothing to lose Atlas is doing whatever he wants. He needs to have him killed before he says more than he should.
One human woman stood up and said:
"So you’re turning against the human and siding with the vampires?"
Atlas raised an eyebrow:
"Didn’t your king just say that we are all the same? Are you saying you disagree with him?"
The woman who had spoken looked at yawen worried. Of course, that’s not what she meant. Atlas is taking what she said out of context.
Yawen smiled gently.
"That’s not what she meant. She just finds your hatred for humans sad when you yourself are a human."
Atlas said ruthlessly:
"Having hatred for the humans would mean that I care about them and I don’t. I only feel hatred for a couple of humans and I’ll deal with them before I die."
Yawen’s smile faded. Is Atlas threatening him right now? Since he wants a war he’ll give it to him. Xinzhi felt like he was looking at a stranger.
Everyone looked at the emperor when he called:
"Atlas."
Whether at home or in the room everyone felt like the emperor was about to punish Atlas for his words. Yawen couldn’t stop himself from smiling, of course, Yuning won’t let anyone speak to him that way.
Tan looked at Yuning in worry. He knows that he likes Yawen since he spent time with them but he doesn’t want him to scare Atlas away. What if he doesn’t want to be friends with him after that?
He called:
"Brother..."
When Yuning looked at him he immediately stopped talking. Atlas caressed his head and Tan looked at him. When he saw that Atlas wasn’t worried he relaxed a little.
Atlas looked at Yuning. Yuning looked back and ordered:
"Eat before your plate gets cold."
Atlas nodded and resumed eating with Tan. Yawen’s face reddened in embarrassment and he sat down after looking at Yuning. How could he not defend him when he is finally giving him a chance?
He has never felt this humiliated in his life. Xinzhi sat down and looked at his brother. He glanced at Atlas, he didn’t seem to have any care in the world. It’s clear now that he is after them so they need to deal with him first.
He was going to let this go but now that he dared to threaten them he’ll be the one to finish him. He grabbed a pen and wrote down something. He pushed the paper toward Yawen.
After reading the paper Yawen’s gloomy eyes lit up and he hugged his big brother. He hugged him back with a ruthless smile.
How could he not see before how manipulative Atlas was? Yawen has been telling him that for a long time but he believed his feelings were real but now it’s crystal clear.
He even dared to threaten them after everything he’s done for him. As if Atlas can do anything to them. He has to die before he speaks about the experiment or Yawen will lose the throne and Yuning.
Even if he doesn’t agree with his reaction he knows that Yawen wants to be with Yuning and he believes that Yuning feels the same since he abolished the tradition of the offering for Yawen.
He felt uncomfortable when he saw Yawen’s disappointed face when Yuning didn’t defend him. The problem is that Atlas is getting closer to Tan, and that brat was even willing to attack him after he commented on him being an orphan.
He isn’t surprised that Atlas managed to get him under his control since he did the same to him. The emperor loves his little brother most so of course he didn’t rebuke Atlas for his words.
Yuning looked at Xinzhi and Yawen hugging then at Atlas. He had glanced at them with a smile and then went back to talking to Tan. It’s not like everything Atlas said were lies.
Furthermore, why should he take the human’s side when they’ve only made his life a nightmare? He doesn’t hold a grudge against Yawen but it bothers him that he is covering for his parents doing.
If he was responsible he would’ve killed him but he isn’t his mother and father are. Yawen shut down the experiment when he became king so he’s willing to get past that. He was put in a bad situation and did the best he could.
He looked at Atlas and after a few seconds, he seemed to feel his eyes on him. He looked at him then quickly away.
Yuning smiled. There’s a reason he kept hearing this voice telling him to stay away from Atlas. He had this feeling that Atlas was trying to keep his distance somehow but now he is sure.
There’s weird energy between them and he knows that Atlas feels it but he obviously doesn’t want to. He’ll respect his wish and stay away no matter how drawn to him he is.
