This Is What a Villain Is Like

"In that case, Chan’er, you’ve really brought me some good news."

"Tell me, Chan’er, what kind of reward would you like?" Jiang Lan smiled, reaching out to pull her into his embrace.

"My current status is all thanks to you, Young Master. Being able to help you is the greatest joy. How could I dare ask for any other reward?"

Chu Chan leaned against his chest, her beautiful eyes narrowing slightly, a contented smile playing on her lips.

Jiang Lan shook his head gently. "I have always been clear about rewards and punishments. Chan’er, you’ve brought me such a pleasant surprise, so how could I be stingy with a reward? Go on, tell me what you want. A Cultivation Technique? A Magical Artifact? Divine Techniques? Or something else?"

Hearing this, Chu Chan’s shapely brows furrowed slightly, as if she were a bit conflicted.

’In truth, she had long expected that Jiang Lan would reward her. She already had her words prepared and knew what she wanted.’

’Her earlier display of humility was just a tactic.’

At that, she pretended to hesitate and think for a moment before speaking. "Young Master, Chan’er would like to go to the Ten Thousand Spirits Pavilion to select some handmaidens."

She called them handmaidens, but she actually wanted to start cultivating her own trusted subordinates.

The Ten Thousand Spirits Pavilion was the largest slave market in Anyang City—or to be more precise, in the entire Great Xia territory.

It was said to be backed by the Changlong Business Alliance. The slaves traded there came from every race in the Nine Provinces. One could even find disciples from powerful Immortal Sects, all with extraordinary potential and possessing various Treasure Bodies.

Its backing was so immense that even those with the blood of Alien Race royalty could occasionally be found for sale.

Jiang Lan wasn’t particularly surprised by Chu Chan’s request.

"No problem. Chan’er, take my Token and go. The person in charge at the Ten Thousand Spirits Pavilion will naturally receive you. You may use it to select ten handmaidens as you please."

With that, he handed the Identity Token from his waist to Chu Chan.

"Thank you, Young Master."

Chu Chan was overjoyed and hurriedly accepted the Token.

’Her original plan was to pick just three, which she thought would be enough. She never expected Jiang Lan to be so generous as to grant her ten handmaidens directly.’

’With ten handmaidens, many of her future plans would become much more convenient.’

At this moment, she recalled certain rumors. It was true, then, that the Ten Thousand Spirits Pavilion had intricate ties to the Changlong Business Alliance.

The power of the Prime Minister’s Mansion was far more terrifying than she had ever imagined.

"Young Master, regarding the matter of the Token left by the Purple Mist True Monarch, it might take a few days before I can deliver it to you."

Chu Chan suddenly remembered an important matter and spoke up.

As if afraid Jiang Lan might misunderstand, she continued to explain, "After thinking back, I realized that the Token mentioned in the Jade Scroll is likely the Jade Pendant I used to carry with me."

"However, I accidentally sent that Jade Pendant to my younger brother, Chu Yun, along with the Spirit Stones and Elixir Pills I sent him last time."

"So to get the Jade Pendant back, I’ll probably have to make a personal trip to find him at Zixia Temple on Purple Mist Mountain."

Hearing this, Jiang Lan’s brow furrowed slightly, but it quickly smoothed out.

’So the plot has taken an unexpected turn after all?’

’In the original plot, that Jade Pendant, the Token from the Purple Mist True Monarch, was always carried by Chu Chan.’

’Because she was initially grateful to the protagonist, Lin Fan, for his help, and because he noticed something unusual about the Jade Pendant, Chu Chan, unaware of its special properties, gifted it to him.’

’Lin Fan, of course, didn’t refuse and silently accepted it.’

’As for whether Chu Chan’s later desire to kill Lin Fan was partly because she realized he had deceived her and stolen the inheritance that was rightfully hers, Jiang Lan had no way of knowing.’

’But now Lin Fan is dead, and the Jade Pendant that belongs to Chu Chan has ended up in her brother’s hands by accident?’

’Could it be that some accident has befallen her brother as well?’ 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

Despite these thoughts, Jiang Lan’s expression remained unchanged. He simply smiled and said, "It’s alright. It’s just a Token. Of course I trust you, Chan’er."

"I’ve heard you have a younger brother. This is a good opportunity for you to bring him back to Anyang City, and I can meet him as well. If possible, I’ll arrange for him to be settled in your Chu Family’s ancestral home with someone to look after him. That should put your mind at ease."

"I’ll also arrange for some famous physicians to see if they can treat his brain condition. Whatever medicinal herbs or Spiritual Objects are needed, it will be easier to find them here."

"Thank you, Young Master."

"My brother will be ecstatic if he finds out."

At his words, a look of deep gratitude washed over Chu Chan’s face, and her eyes seemed to well up with a misty vapor.

’Words of gratitude felt powerless at this moment. Her younger brother, Chu Yun, had always been her greatest concern and her weakness.’

’Her parents died young, and she had raised and cared for her mentally afflicted brother by herself. Only she knew the hardships she had endured.’

’Though she was his sister, to Chu Yun, she was no different than a mother.’

’She had always known how well Jiang Lan treated her, and she was deeply moved.’

’To be honest, she never imagined that on that day at the Drunken Immortal Residence, after being ostracized by her fellow female disciples and pushed into a pit of fire, she would unexpectedly meet her "Mr. Right."’

’No matter how bad Jiang Lan’s reputation was, no matter how arrogant, domineering, condescending, or womanizing he was, to her, he was the benefactor who had changed the course of her entire life.’

’At this moment, Chu Chan actually felt a pang of guilt. After all, her feelings were not as genuine as Jiang Lan’s kindness toward her.’

’The admiration and affection she displayed were, in reality, just sycophantic flattery, born from a desire for vanity and power, with little genuine emotion behind them.’

After being intimate with Jiang Lan for a while longer, Chu Chan finally took her leave "reluctantly."

’Letting one’s imagination run wild is not a good habit.’

Jiang Lan straightened his lapels. He could feel that the Ancient Vine within his Mud Ball Palace had undergone more changes. A great deal of fortune had surged into it, making its emerald leaves even more vibrant and lush.

Su Qinghan, having finished her cultivation nearby, emerged and skillfully brought him a pot of nourishing health soup.

It wasn’t that she had brewed it herself.

Rather, the City Lord of the City Lord’s Mansion had ordered someone to prepare it. It was originally a task for the maids, but Su Qinghan had taken it upon herself.

After finishing her cultivation each day, she would bring the health soup to Jiang Lan. Ostensibly, it was for him to recuperate, but secretly, it carried a hint of her own deliberate teasing.

After all, while Young Master Jiang appeared frail and thin, his vital energy was actually surging, and his strength was terrifying. One could tell as much just by looking at the increasingly rosy and radiant face of that woman, Chu Chan.

’It’s a pity these people are all blind and can’t see Young Master Jiang’s true capabilities.’

A slight curve formed on Su Qinghan’s lips as she walked over.