This Is What a Villain Is Like

"Sister, I might need to look for that Jade Pendant. I put it together with the Spirit Stones and Elixir Pills. After I fell from the cliff, I don’t know if Fei Luo and the others touched my things."

After some thought, Chu Yun replied.

’I’ll hide the truth about the Jade Pendant for now,’ he decided. ’Then I’ll discuss this properly with Cyan Ox Dahuang before deciding whether to hand it over.’

After all, he had never met this Young Master from the Prime Minister’s Mansion and didn’t feel comfortable just handing over something as important as the Jade Pendant.

If his sister had asked for it, he wouldn’t have hesitated for a moment.

Chu Chan glanced at Chu Yun, a flicker of confusion on her face, but she didn’t press the matter.

She knew Chu Yun very well. Whenever he lied, his eyes would subconsciously dart to the side.

It was a habit he’d had since childhood.

But she didn’t call him out on it.

’Yun has certainly gotten much smarter,’ she thought. ’Before, he would never have tried such a petty little scheme.’

Still, Chu Chan decided to trust him. She felt he must have other concerns and didn’t believe he wanted to keep the Jade Pendant for himself.

"Young Master Jiang has been gracious to me. If I want to earn more of his favor and esteem, I must prove I have value that he can appreciate."

"The Prime Minister’s Mansion he represents won’t simply allow an ordinary woman like me to enter. That’s why the Jade Pendant is so important to me."

"If, through this, I can help the Prime Minister’s Mansion obtain the inheritance of the Purple Mist True Monarch, then I will have performed a great service. It will give me a much stronger footing when I enter the Prime Minister’s Mansion in the future."

Chu Chan gave Chu Yun a deep, meaningful look and spoke with frank sincerity.

"Don’t worry, Sister. I will definitely find that Jade Pendant."

"Why don’t you wait here for me for a bit?"

Chu Yun’s heart sank a little. He understood that his sister’s mind was made up and replied immediately.

He had promised not to tell a single soul about Cyan Ox Dahuang, and that included his own sister, the person closest to him.

After all, there were many Spiritual Objects in this world. If others learned of Dahuang’s existence, there was no guarantee they wouldn’t become covetous.

And as the former mount of the Purple Mist True Monarch, it knew many of his secrets, making it a living, walking treasure.

Innocence is no defense when you’re carrying a treasure.

Chu Chan could tell that her little brother was hiding quite a few secrets.

But she didn’t press him, simply nodding. "Then I’ll wait for you here. While you’re at it, pack your things. You’re coming back to Anyang City with me."

"Young Master Jiang wanted to see you as well. He had already promised me he would find a famous physician from the Great Xia Dynasty to treat your head, but it seems that won’t be necessary now."

Hearing this, Chu Yun was stunned once more.

He truly hadn’t expected that the Young Master from the Prime Minister’s Mansion would be so good to his sister, even taking her "foolish" little brother into consideration.

No wonder his sister was so open when she spoke of him, with no trace of resistance in her eyes.

’That Young Master Jiang must be an extraordinary man, as handsome as jade and divinely elegant.’

His heart sank even further. He agreed verbally, then turned and headed into Zixia Temple.

’Yun is still too young and has some secrets now, but he’s not good at hiding them. He’ll draw unwanted attention.’

’That old Zixia Daoist is not to be trifled with. He can probably see it too.’

After Chu Yun left, Chu Chan fell into deep thought, pacing back and forth with her hands behind her back.

She gazed at Zixia Temple from a distance. Billowing purple mist rose from within, creating a stunning sight that seemed to manifest some strange phenomenon between heaven and earth. She was inwardly alarmed.

The cultivation and strength of that Zixia Daoist must not be underestimated. He’s been living in seclusion for years, surely plotting to seize the Purple Mist True Monarch’s inheritance for himself.

’Before, I might not have been able to take my brother away safely. But I’m not who I once was. If that Zixia Daoist knows what’s good for him, he won’t dare to stop me.’

With this in mind, Chu Chan looked toward the White Jade Cloud Carriage. A banner bearing the ancient character for "Jiang" fluttered there. On their way here, every cultivator who saw it had paled and moved aside.

’So this is the taste of power... It’s so easy to become intoxicated by it.’

She then returned to the White Jade Imperial Chariot, sat down cross-legged, and began to cultivate earnestly. No matter what, improving her own strength was of the utmost importance.

That Su Qinghan may seem cold and aloof, always in bitter cultivation, but she was no pushover.

During this time that she was away from Anyang City and Jiang Lan’s side, Su Qinghan would probably take advantage of the opportunity.

In truth, Chu Chan felt a sense of urgency. Her innate talent was not outstanding—at best, it could be called above average. Even now with resources to support her, it wouldn’t be easy to catch up from behind.

She knew that the world was never short of women who, like her, possessed only beauty. Today there was a Chu Chan; tomorrow, a Wang Chan or a Zhao Chan could appear by Jiang Lan’s side...

’No matter what, the most important thing is to improve my own strength and influence.’

’For now, these maids and subordinates are my initial capital...’

Meanwhile, after returning to Zixia Temple, Chu Yun went straight to the backyard. In an open area outside planted with Spirit Grass, he found Cyan Ox Dahuang.

To avoid attracting attention, Cyan Ox Dahuang had specially taught him a unique method of communication, precisely for situations like this, where there were too many prying eyes and ears in Zixia Temple.

Without delay, Chu Yun told the Cyan Bull everything that had just happened, holding nothing back, and asked for its thoughts.

"That Jade Pendant is indeed a Token left by my master. I’ve told you this before. It seems the master also left behind a Jade Scroll or something similar to inform the descendants of the Chu Family about this matter, but who would have thought you all would lose it and forget."