This Is What a Villain Is Like

’This feeling is rather wondrous. To think that something like a Life Chart is tied to fate itself.’

’Fate has always been mysterious and unpredictable. If I can interfere with it, does that mean one day I’ll be able to control the destiny of all the worlds?’ 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

Bringing his thoughts back to the present, Jiang Lan rose and left the palace.

Outside, Ying and a group of Attendants were waiting. When he saw Jiang Lan emerge, he immediately stepped forward. "Young Master, the information you had me look into appears to be true..."

"That Purple Mist True Monarch was indeed a real Great Divine Ability User. In his prime, his cultivation was unfathomable—absolutely beyond the Ninth Realm of Feather Transformation. The legacy he left behind in his cave mansion is not to be underestimated."

"This news has spread throughout Anyang City these past few days. The major Immortal Sects are stirring, and even the Noble Families and Clans from other commanderies have sent their people to investigate and contend for it."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Lan nodded slightly. "Since I’ve stumbled upon the legacy of this Purple Mist True Monarch, it is destined to belong to my Jiang Family."

"Ying, send more men to investigate. If you’re short on manpower, send word to my father. Tell him I claim this legacy."

A smile touched Ying’s face. "Rest assured, Young Master. You need only say the word. No matter the inheritance or opportunity, we will bring it back for you. The Master will be gratified to know you’ve taken an interest in such things."

He hesitated for a moment, however, worried that even after they brought back this legacy, Jiang Lan would still be unable to cultivate.

He felt a pang of helplessness. He couldn’t voice such thoughts, though, for fear of crushing Jiang Lan’s confidence.

It had taken so long for the Young Master to show such an interest in cultivation; in the past, he couldn’t have cared less about such news; he was far more captivated by which family had a beautiful, naturally graceful daughter.

"Don’t worry, Ying. Even if I can’t cultivate, I’m sure Father and Mother will be interested in the legacy we bring back."

"After all, it was left behind by a Great Divine Ability User. If it can help them advance their own cultivation, it would be of immense value."

Jiang Lan offered a casual smile, as if he knew exactly what Ying was thinking.

’With my current strength, it wasn’t difficult to evade the guards and secretly have someone spread this news.’

"Yes, Young Master."

Ying’s heart was put at ease. He then led the Attendants away.

Anyang City had been swarming with all sorts of people lately, and Ying worried Jiang Lan might once again be targeted by assassins. He had urged him to stay within the City Lord’s Mansion—no matter how audacious those assassins were, they would never dare cause trouble there.

Jiang Lan wasn’t bothered by this in the slightest. To him, Ye Ming’s escape was merely a convenience—it let him cast a long line to catch a bigger fish.

And so, all he had to do now was wait for the right moment.

’It’s about time I had Chu Chan make a trip to Purple Mist Mountain. That will give me an opportunity to make contact with that old Daoist.’

’I recall that aside from knowing about the Purple Mist True Monarch’s legacy, the Zixia Daoist also holds a clue to a great treasure...’

As Jiang Lan was lost in thought, a graceful figure approached, her light steps carrying a faint fragrance. Her dark hair was swept into a simple bun, secured by a slanted jade hairpin that revealed her long, slender, snow-white neck. Over her loose robes, she wore a snow-white mantle that added a touch of opulence.

"Young Master..." Chu Chan came to his side, instinctively taking his arm.

"Chan’Er, you seem rather pleased. What’s the occasion?" Jiang Lan glanced at her, a smile on his face as he asked.

"I did as you said and bought back my ancestral home. But while I was having the abandoned estate cleaned, I found something unexpected. I thought you might have a use for it, so I rushed over."

"I’ve also heard the rumors circulating around Anyang City these past few days. I truly never imagined that my Chu Family’s ancestors had such deep ties to the Purple Mist True Monarch."

"This Jade Scroll contains a message from a faint, blurry figure—I think it’s the Purple Mist True Monarch himself. He said that in gratitude for the kindness my Chu Family ancestors showed him when he was destitute, he specifically left his entire legacy in his cave mansion after his passing, waiting for a Chu Family descendant to find it with a token."

Chu Chan tilted her pale face up, a smile that was clearly fishing for praise on her lips. Her voice was tinged with an unconcealable joy.

As she spoke, she produced a Jade Scroll from her wide sleeve and handed it to Jiang Lan.

Jiang Lan had anticipated this and wasn’t particularly concerned, but he still feigned a look of surprise. "Oh? Such a coincidence exists in this world? Chan’Er, you aren’t pulling my leg, are you?"

"How could I ever lie to you, Young Master? It’s true! When I first saw the Jade Scroll, I couldn’t believe it either. The coincidence is just too great."

"To think that the Purple Mist True Monarch’s legacy, which has caused such an uproar in Anyang City, has such deep ties to my Chu Family... And yet, my parents, even my grandfather, none of them knew a thing about it..."

As Chu Chan spoke, she herself found it all surreal and incredible.

But without Jiang Lan, she never would have been able to buy back her ancestral home, much less discover the Jade Scroll left there during the cleanup.

She now found herself regretting that she hadn’t learned of this sooner. If she had just cleaned the ancestral home earlier and found the Jade Scroll, perhaps she would have already obtained the Purple Mist True Monarch’s legacy and soared to meteoric heights.

But the world isn’t full of ’what ifs.’ In the end, it was all just a strange twist of fate.

Of course, she could have hidden this news, taken the token, and secretly gone to the Purple Mist True Monarch’s cave mansion to claim the legacy for herself.

But Chu Chan hadn’t done that. In her eyes, the legacy of a single Purple Mist True Monarch was nothing compared to the benefits that Jiang Lan could provide.