This Is What a Villain Is Like

Long lines of people formed outside every city gate each day, waiting to be inspected.

But when they arrived, the guards at the gate saw the banner of the Prime Minister’s Mansion and immediately waved them through, not daring to ask a single question.

Chu Yun, being a young man, couldn’t help but feel a swell of pride and satisfaction as he saw the envious gazes the other cultivators cast his way.

Despite seeing Chu Yun leading a Cyan Bull, the guards at the entrance to the City Lord’s Mansion didn’t dare show the slightest disrespect. One came forward to take the bull from his hands and lead it to the stables.

Chu Yun hesitated for a moment but didn’t refuse. Even Dahuang had told him not to worry, so he naturally had no reason for concern.

"Come, Yun. Follow me to see the Young Master."

Chu Chan said from ahead of him.

Gathering her skirts, she descended from the carriage with the help of a few maids. Her posture was poised and elegant, a far cry from her casual, natural demeanor outside Zixia Temple.

Chu Yun answered in acknowledgment, keeping his eyes lowered and not daring to properly examine the City Lord’s Mansion. 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

Although his mind hadn’t been right in the past, he had, after all, spent his childhood in Anyang City.

He had always harbored a faint sense of fear and longing for the City Lord’s Mansion, as it was the very center of power in Anyang City.

The Lord City Lord within could decide the fate of countless families with a single decree.

"Miss Chu Chan, Young Master Jiang has already had a banquet prepared," the steward of the City Lord’s Mansion said, personally coming over to lead the way.

Chu Chan smiled gracefully. "Then we’ll trouble you to lead the way, Steward."

Deep within the City Lord’s Mansion, inside a quiet garden pavilion, a jade table was already laden with exquisite delicacies.

"Young Master..."

When Chu Chan arrived, Jiang Lan was just raising a wine cup, taking a slow sip all by himself.

Su Qinghan had not wanted to meet with Chu Chan, so she hadn’t come.

Jiang Lan, of course, didn’t mind.

He hadn’t told Su Qinghan about the Purple Mist True Monarch’s Token. Besides, she wasn’t particularly interested in the True Monarch’s inheritance anyway. Lately, aside from dual cultivating with him, she spent all her time training, practicing without pause.

"Chan’Er, you’re back?"

Jiang Lan set down his wine cup with a small smile and gestured for her to come over.

Showing no reservation, and ignoring that Chu Yun was right behind her, Chu Chan gathered her skirts and snuggled onto his lap. Her jade-white arms wrapped around his neck as she rested her head against his chest.

From a distance, Chu Yun saw the noble young master dressed in wide-sleeved white robes.

It was just as he had guessed. The man’s every gesture exuded an air of pampered nobility. With his handsome, refined features, it was obvious why women adored him.

Watching his own sister settle into the man’s lap just like that, Chu Yun couldn’t help but flinch. He quickly lowered his gaze, pretending he hadn’t seen a thing, but a sour feeling still churned in his heart.

The fists hidden beneath his robes clenched and unclenched several times before he finally managed to calm himself.

"You’ve only just returned and you’re already being such a handful," Jiang Lan chuckled, gently patting Chu Chan’s back and motioning for her to sit up properly.

"I haven’t seen you in so long, Young Master. Chan’Er missed you terribly. I wished I could grow wings and fly right back to your side."

"So please, Young Master, just let Chan’Er hold you for a little longer..."

Chu Chan’s lovely eyes shimmered as she pressed her red lips against his neck, her voice a sweet, clinging murmur.

Jiang Lan let her be and turned his attention to Chu Yun. ’He’s different,’ he thought, slightly surprised, but his expression remained calm and smiling. "This must be your brother, Chu Yun, Chan’Er?" he asked. "A true young talent, and quite handsome."

In the original story, Chu Yun had been persecuted by his fellow disciples at Zixia Temple, and his body was thrown from a cliff.

By the time Chu Chan found him, he had been reduced to a pile of bones.

But now, Chu Yun was alive and well. Not only was he not dead, but he also seemed much sharper.

It seemed that in the grand scheme of things, many events had indeed changed.

Jiang Lan had suspected that Chu Chan accidentally sending the Jade Pendant Token to Chu Yun might trigger some unexpected changes.

"Yun, what are you doing just standing there? Hurry and pay your respects to the Young Master."

"This is the Young Master Jiang I told you about," Chu Chan said, looking at Chu Yun.

Chu Yun snapped out of it and immediately stepped forward. "Chu Yun greets Young Master Jiang."

"Young Master, Yun’s mind has only recently cleared up, and he hasn’t seen much of the world. Please forgive any impoliteness on his part," Chu Chan said.

"Don’t worry. Since he’s your brother, Chan’Er, I’ll naturally treat him as my own," Jiang Lan said with a smile, though inwardly he found the situation very strange.

As he sized up Chu Yun, he was also probing his Life Chart.

It was just as he’d expected: this was a person of great fortune—a so-called Child of Fortune, shrouded in an aura of purple providence.

By examining his Life Chart, Jiang Lan could deduce that Chu Yun must have earned the recognition of the Purple Mist True Monarch’s mount, making him the True Monarch’s successor in the truest sense.

In the original story, even Lin Fan hadn’t received the mount’s approval; it had believed Lin Fan obtained the Jade Pendant through trickery and was not a descendant of the Chu Family.

"But I seem to recall you saying there was something wrong with Chu Yun’s mind, Chan’Er," Jiang Lan asked. "I even sent word to my father to find a physician from the Imperial Medical Bureau. But looking at him now, Chu Yun seems perfectly fine..."

’Since Chu Yun is a person of great fortune and also Chan’Er’s own brother, it would be perfect if he could be of use to me and provide me with his fortune.’

’But as a Child of Fortune, Chu Yun probably won’t be so easy to win over.’

Looking touched, Chu Chan briefly recounted what had happened to Chu Yun, making sure not to omit the part about his persecution at the hands of his fellow disciples at Zixia Temple.

"So it was a blessing in disguise. Still, for the Temple Master of Zixia Temple to allow his disciples to harm one of their own is truly going too far."

"Rest assured, Chan’Er. I will certainly get justice for your brother."

Jiang Lan’s eyes narrowed slightly after hearing her story, a hint of anger appearing on his face.

Chu Chan quickly said, "Young Master, there’s no need to be angry over such a small matter. I’ve already told Yun that when he has the strength and cultivation, he should take revenge and get justice for himself. He can’t rely too much on others."

"Chan’Er is right. Relying too much on outside help is indeed detrimental to one’s own cultivation."

Hearing this, Jiang Lan’s expression softened, and he gave a slight nod.

Chu Yun, standing to the side, was stunned. He hadn’t expected Jiang Lan to care so much for his sister, or to be so considerate of him.

’It seems what my sister told me before wasn’t just empty words.’

The bitter feeling in his heart intensified, yet it was mixed with an indescribable sense of relief.

’Jiang Lan, this rich scion, had a terrible reputation. On the way here, I was worried he was just toying with my sister and would cast her aside once he grew bored.’

’But from the looks of it now, there seemed to be... some genuine affection there. No wonder my sister acts so intimately with him.’