My Mother is the Villain

"Young Master, are you interested in that girl?" Emma asked with a strange smile.

"If you are, we can ask the Heavenly Lightning Sect to arrange an engagement between you and her."

Victor, "..."

He hadn’t expected Emma to think along those lines. But then again, forcing a girl who hated him to become his fiancée would practically guarantee a reward from the System—so why not?

"You can arrange it," he said with a nod.

He wasn’t personally interested in the girl. All that mattered to him was the engagement and then he could leave.

Whether the relationship would turn serious or not was a matter for when they were adults—which was still a long way off.

"Of course. I don’t believe the Heavenly Lightning Sect would refuse. That girl... she’s just someone from a past era. Her father’s time is long gone, and none of his followers remain," Emma replied.

That night, Victor finally went to sleep in his room, as he was truly exhausted.

His cultivation wasn’t enough yet to free him from normal human routines.

He slept until the sun had already risen, waking up feeling completely refreshed.

Crack!

The sound of his bones popping echoed as he stretched his body.

He stepped out of his room and went down to the first floor.

When he glanced toward the kitchen, he was slightly surprised.

Alisa was cooking, her hair tied in a ponytail—but her expression looked gloomy.

When she saw Victor, she seemed even more annoyed and chose to pretend he didn’t exist.

Already hungry again, Victor headed straight to the dining table.

Emma was nowhere to be seen, but he didn’t bother looking for her.

Not long after, Alisa came over, bringing toasted bread, eggs, and a cup of warm milk.

She placed the plate and cup on the table before leaving without saying a word.

Victor immediately started eating.

"Young Master..." Emma arrived not long after he began, wearing a faint smile.

"I’ve spoken with the Sect Master, and there’s good news," she said.

"What good news?" Victor asked.

"It turns out the Sect Master, along with the elders and even some of the Ancestors, already had plans to match you with that girl. Her name is Bella Thunder..." Emma let out a soft chuckle.

Victor blinked when he heard that.

The villain’s path truly was the opposite of the hero’s.

Everything seemed to come easily to him.

"They said that if you agree, they’ll hold a ceremony tonight, and you’ll be accepted as the son-in-law of the Heavenly Lightning Sect," Emma added.

"Of course..." Victor nodded.

After hearing that, Emma seemed to communicate through telepathy—likely with the Sect Master.

"Do you want to go back to reading?" she asked afterward.

"Yes. Let’s go—to the Lightning Hall," Victor replied.

The two of them headed back to the Lightning Hall.

This time, the palace looked empty.

The disciples seemed to have realized they truly couldn’t enter until Victor was finished.

Their pride as members of one of the strongest sects meant nothing before this boy—whose mother was so powerful she possessed ten Will Powers yet refused to become a World Monarch.

If she had become one, she would have disappeared after her era ended, leaving nothing to fear.

But there was still one person standing in front of the palace.

None other than Bryce.

He smiled when he saw Victor.

"Young Master..." he greeted politely.

"I heard you can help me obtain a Heavenly Lightning," Victor said, not bothering with small talk.

"Yes..." Bryce nodded.

"Will that man hand it over just like that?" Victor asked.

"He will—as long as we threaten the woman he loves..." Bryce chuckled.

"Oh? And who is this woman?"

Victor didn’t mind being used as a blade, as long as it benefited him.

"That woman is the daughter of the mayor of Russell City," Bryce replied. "Because of that, it will be very easy for you to threaten Lukas."

Victor glanced at Emma after hearing that. 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

He had no knowledge of this woman—he didn’t even know what the mayor looked like.

As far as he knew, Russell City was managed by the Agron Clan, with the Russell Clan as its true rulers.

"Young Master, the mayor is the elder brother of Diana Agron—your uncle’s wife. His daughter is naturally Ryan’s cousin. If I’m not mistaken, her name is Ella Agron. Among the younger generation in Russell City, she’s considered the most beautiful," Emma explained.

"This really is easy for you. If you wish, that mayor would never approve of their relationship."

"I see. In that case, let’s meet Lukas now," Victor said, looking at Bryce.

The latter nodded with a smile.

"As it happens, his grandfather is away, so this will be even easier. Come, Young Master, follow me," Bryce said.

Victor and Emma followed him.

For the sake of obtaining a Heavenly Lightning, Victor had no problem postponing his reading.

They arrived at an island—one reserved for talented young disciples.

Many other disciples also came here, either to learn from the talented ones or to build connections.

Quite a few were sparring, but they all stopped when they saw Victor’s arrival—especially since he was accompanied by the most feared senior disciple.

Whispers immediately spread among them.

Bryce led the way toward a house.

It stood at the center of all the houses on the island, its door tightly shut.

"Senior Bryce, is something the matter? Brother Lukas is currently in closed-door cultivation, recovering from his injuries," one disciple approached and asked, unable to hide his fear and respect.

"Are you the one he assigned to guard this place?" Bryce asked.

The disciple nodded.

"Tell him Victor Russell wishes to see him. He’d better come out and greet our sect’s honored guest," Bryce said flatly.

The disciple hesitated.

This would disrupt Lukas’s recovery.

But the one giving the order was Bryce Allen—the ruthless Deputy Enforcer.

He knew that if he refused, his life would be filled with trouble.

Left with no choice, he nodded and entered the house.