This Is What a Villain Is Like

「Outside Anyang City, Zixia Temple.」

In a side hall, the air was thick with incense.

An old Daoist in a purple robe sat cross-legged on a zafu. With a ruddy complexion, a youthful face, and crane-white hair, his gaze was placid. He looked just like an enlightened master, exuding an air of otherworldly sagacity.

"Master, this truly has nothing to do with us! You know yourself that Purple Mist Mountain is full of deep ravines and gullies. Junior Brother Chu Yun wasn’t right in the head before. It’s completely plausible that he could have lost his footing and fallen from a cliff."

"Why would we possibly harm Junior Brother Chu Yun for no reason..."

"He was just a fool. Who would go out of their way to hurt him?"

Before the purple-robed old Daoist stood several disciples, dressed in Daoist robes with their hair tied in Daoist buns, all of them looking deeply uneasy.

One of them, a Daoist named Fei Luo, argued vehemently, a note of indignation in his voice.

The other disciples all stood with their heads bowed and hands clasped, not daring to speak. Their cultivation and strength were far inferior to Senior Brother Fei Luo’s, so they certainly wouldn’t dare utter a word at a time like this.

Meanwhile, a fair-faced youth stood off to the side, his Daoist robe impeccably clean. He too stood with his hands lowered, saying nothing and not joining the conversation, acting as if none of this had anything to do with him.

The old Daoist in the purple robe was none other than the Temple Master of Zixia Temple, who went by the name Zixia Daoist.

His expression was placid; he seemed to know everything about his disciples’ conduct.

"Chu Yun’s sister has been sending him Spirit Stones and Elixir Pills for years. You’ve all been coveting those Spirit Stones for a long time. Did you really think I was completely unaware?"

"I could turn a blind eye before, pretend I didn’t know. But Chu Yun has had a fortuitous encounter and is not the same person he was. If you continue to bully him as you always have, then don’t blame me for disregarding our bond as master and disciples."

Zixia Daoist said coolly, his gaze landing on the disciple named Fei Luo, carrying an implicit warning.

He had discovered Chu Yun’s disappearance as soon as he emerged from his seclusion. He hadn’t brought it up, and none of these disciples mentioned it either, as if they had simply forgotten about him.

Truthfully, Zixia Daoist hadn’t been concerned. He had only taken Chu Yun as a disciple in the first place because of his connection to the Chu Family.

Their ancestors had significant ties to the Purple Mist True Monarch, and he had hoped to find some clues through the boy.

But so many years had passed, and Chu Yun remained a simple-minded fool.

His aptitude for cultivation was mediocre as well. He never made any progress even after being taught the Qi Cultivation Skill, so Zixia Daoist had stopped paying him much mind.

Chu Yun’s sister, however, was quite talented. She had managed to join a major sect like the Jasper Pool Sect and sent a considerable amount of Spirit Stones and Elixir Pills every year to support Chu Yun’s cultivation.

Therefore, out of consideration for his sister, he had instructed a few disciples to look after Chu Yun. But who would have thought they would completely disregard his words.

Of course, even after realizing Chu Yun was missing, he had never gone looking for him. After all, a dead Chu Yun was far less important than these disciples he had personally instructed.

Once the grotto of the Purple Mist True Monarch was revealed, these disciples of his would be very useful.

But to everyone’s surprise, after several days, Chu Yun found his own way back. Though covered in blood and mud, he was leading a Cyan Bull he’d apparently found somewhere.

The most peculiar thing was that Chu Yun’s mental issues seemed to be gone. He claimed he couldn’t remember what had happened that night.

He said he had probably gone into the mountains that night to pick a rare flower but accidentally lost his footing, fell into a ravine, and fainted.

When he came to, he found that his mind had become much clearer.

He later guessed that he must have subconsciously eaten the rare flower while he was unconscious.

And that the rare flower was what had cured his mental affliction.

This explanation left all the Daoists of Zixia Temple marveling in amazement.

Fei Luo and the others breathed a long sigh of relief. Though the fool was much sharper now, he had lost his memory of that time and had no idea that they were the ones who had thrown him off the cliff.

Still, this was for the best. His amnesia saved them a great deal of trouble.

Only Zixia Daoist seemed lost in thought, though he didn’t voice his suspicions.

As for the Cyan Bull, he had personally examined it and found it to be completely ordinary, without the slightest trace of a spiritual nature. It was just a common Cyan Bull, the kind farmers raise for plowing.

"Fei Luo, as a senior brother, you were negligent in your duties. For your punishment, you will go to the back of the mountain to face the wall in reflection for seven days. You may not leave until the seven days are up," Zixia Daoist said coolly, glancing at Fei Luo.

Fei Luo froze for a second, then understood his Master’s intention. Though resentful, he could only agree.

Chu Yun, who had been in the hall the entire time, watched the scene unfold and sneered inwardly, his expression remaining perfectly blank.

’His story might have fooled his fellow disciples, but there was no way it could deceive Elder Purple Mist.’

’So, Zixia Daoist’s words, while seeming to protect me, were actually a warning to Fei Luo.’

’But he didn’t care. There wasn’t a single decent person in this entire Zixia Temple. Since he had already resolved to get his revenge, he wouldn’t let any of them off the hook.’

’Fu, the man who had cared for him since childhood, had been killed by these very same disciples. And as their master, Zixia Daoist had never once disciplined or punished them, simply letting them run wild.’

"Chu Yun, now that your mind is clear, I shall impart Zixia Temple’s Purple Mist Qi Cultivation Technique to you. Once you break through to the tenth level, I will bestow upon you the next Cultivation Technique..." Zixia Daoist said, his placid gaze turning to Chu Yun.

Chu Yun immediately expressed his gratitude. "Thank you, Master."

"Come forward," Zixia Daoist said, gesturing with his hand.

A chill went down Chu Yun’s spine. He activated the Concealing Breath Skill that Dahuang had taught him and walked forward, allowing Zixia Daoist’s palm to rest between his brows.