This Is What a Villain Is Like

As if afraid the others wouldn’t believe her, Xiao Yingyue produced a silk pouch in her fair, slender hand.

As she opened the pouch, a palm-sized Butterfly Glow Moth flew out, emitting a faint fluorescent glow as it fluttered its wings in the air.

Fine, stardust-like particles drifted down from it, clearly visible even in the daytime.

"With this Butterfly Glow Moth, we can find the assassin Lin Fan’s whereabouts," she explained, her expression beneath the veiled hat exceptionally calm and composed.

She had kept this contingency for two reasons: one, to extricate herself after Lin Fan was exposed, and two, in case Lin Fan went back on his word, she would have a way to track him down.

The Prime Minister’s Mansion had immense power and influence, with spies spread far and wide.

Although Lin Fan was extraordinary and had many secrets, escaping the grasp of the Prime Minister’s Mansion would be as difficult as ascending to the heavens. She couldn’t afford not to be cautious.

She had personally cultivated both the Butterfly Glow Moth and the Butterfly Glow Grass, so she wasn’t worried that Lin Fan would be able to detect them.

Jiang Lan’s gaze swept over the Butterfly Glow Moth with great interest.

"You are clever and quick-witted, Miss. Quite the method. I hope you’re not lying to me."

"The consequences for lying to me are quite severe."

He smiled faintly. Of course he didn’t believe Xiao Yingyue’s one-sided story.

’As the Supreme Elder of Medicine King Valley, even with her cultivation gone, how could someone with such consummate Medical and Poison Skills be coerced by a grievously injured, nearly immobile Lin Fan?’

’Her story might fool others, but it was impossible to deceive him.’

Jiang Lan reckoned that Lin Fan had likely used some sort of leverage to strike a deal with Xiao Yingyue for treatment, but hadn’t anticipated being exposed so quickly.

’This Xiao Yingyue is certainly worthy of her title as a Supreme Elder,’ he thought. ’Her mind is meticulous, and she always leaves herself an escape route.’

Xiao Yingyue’s expression remained unchanged. "Every word I have spoken is the truth. I would not dare to deceive Young Master Jiang."

’She wasn’t worried about Lin Fan exposing her later. All she had to do was insist that she had been coerced; after all, Lin Fan couldn’t produce any evidence.’

’Her only worry at the moment was this young master from the Prime Minister’s Mansion. He didn’t seem easy to deal with and was quite different from the rumors.’

’Although she was devoted to the arts of medicine, that didn’t mean she didn’t know who Jiang Lan was.’

’Many Elders from Medicine King Valley still held positions in Great Xia’s Imperial Medical Bureau.’

’Even the Valley Master of Medicine King Valley had once been summoned by the Prime Minister’s Mansion to treat Jiang Lan.’

’Now that she’d run into him here, it was fortunate he didn’t know her identity. Never mind Jiang Lan—very few of the Elder Disciples in Medicine King Valley had ever seen her.’

"Ying, send an order to Mr. Chu. Tell him to come straight here after he reaches Yu Yi City."

"With this young lady’s help, capturing Lin Fan shouldn’t be a problem."

Jiang Lan ordered casually, simultaneously dispatching his Knights to seal off the mountain range.

Qingshui Village was adjacent to the Qingshui River, flanked by rolling peaks and towering cliffs. Behind the village lay an endless mountain range, where lush, ancient trees blotted out the sun.

The longer this dragged on, the greater the chance that Lin Fan would find some nook or cranny to hide in, which would make the subsequent search more difficult.

Immediately, Exotic Beasts carrying Knights soared into the air, kicking up clouds of dust as they streaked toward the mountains.

Powerful Exotic Treasures hovered in mid-air, shimmering with divine light and weaving together resplendent rays. A primal, tyrannical aura emanated from them, causing the countless beasts in the mountains to tremble in terror.

"Miss Xiao, lead the way."

Jiang Lan looked at Xiao Yingyue and smiled faintly, ordering someone to bring over a mount that resembled a cyan deer for her.

Xiao Yingyue wasted no words, mounting the beast in one smooth motion. She sat firmly, her movements fluid and graceful, showing no hint of fear toward the Exotic Beast.

The villagers of Qingshui Village, on the other hand, were seeing so many ferocious yet majestic Exotic Beasts for the first time in their lives. Overwhelmed by their savage aura, they trembled uncontrollably, their hearts pounding with fear.

’It seems Miss Xiao’s status in Medicine King Valley is not so simple. An ordinary Disciple would likely be timid and astonished upon seeing this Cyan Jade Deer, let alone dare to ride it so casually...’

Jiang Lan suddenly smiled and vaulted onto a lion-like Exotic Beast with a soft, smooth coat.

Xiao Yingyue froze, surprised that Jiang Lan’s observation could be so meticulous.

A sense of alarm rose in her heart. ’I’ve been too careless,’ she thought. Nevertheless, she put on a surprised expression and asked, "Is this a Cyan Jade Deer? It’s my first time seeing one. I thought it was just an ordinary Spirit Deer. The Prime Minister’s Mansion must have tamed it to be exceptionally docile; it doesn’t seem like a Fierce Beast at all."

"Please lead the way, Miss Xiao. We’ll follow you." Jiang Lan simply gave a noncommittal smile.

Xiao Yingyue nodded and sent the Butterfly Glow Moth off to follow the scent of the Butterfly Glow Grass.

Soon, the other Exotic Beasts also took flight, riding the clouds and mist. They streaked through the Void like Divine Rainbows, their passage a thunderous rumble as they sped into the distance.

Not long after, the Prefect of Jiangling County personally arrived with a large contingent of Patrol Guards, surrounding Qingshui Village completely.

At the same time, he dispatched numerous men to surround and secure every mountain peak, laying an inescapable dragnet. Forget a person—at this point, not even a bird could hope to fly out.

...

’My only chance of survival is to keep fleeing deeper...’

’Once they find my trail, the Prime Minister’s Mansion’s dogs will pursue me at once and seal off all escape routes.’

「Meanwhile, in the endless, dense mountain forest.」

A figure in blood-stained clothes was running for his life.

His handsome, resolute face was etched with exhaustion, but he still didn’t dare to stop, plunging into a dense thicket of thorns and vines.

It was none other than Lin Fan, who had fled from Qingshui Village the previous night.

Behind Qingshui Village lay the Primordial Mountain Range—vast, boundless, and filled with towering ancient trees. It was home to many Exotic Beasts and Demons, a place ordinary people dared not enter.

His only chance of survival now lay there.

Lin Fan didn’t know when the men from the Prime Minister’s Mansion would catch up. He hadn’t stopped to rest once since fleeing the night before.

Fortunately, he had some good luck along the way, finding a few Spirit Fruits. After eating them, he recovered a good deal of his strength and Magical Power.

’That mysterious woman’s medicinal soup was truly extraordinary.’

’Just one bowl had improved his injuries enough that he could begin to absorb the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi and restore his cultivation.’

’However, being constantly on the run made it impossible for him to calm his mind and focus, so he hadn’t recovered much of his power.’

Right now, Lin Fan was counting on this deep, ancient forest to delay the search parties from the Prime Minister’s Mansion.

’Once I recover a bit more of my cultivation, I can flee even deeper. Then I’ll use the Cicada Breath Concealment Skill to hide. I’ll be like a withered, dead tree—who could possibly find a trace of me then?’

’Once the people from the Prime Minister’s Mansion give up and leave, I’ll use the Rebirth and Muscle Strengthening Technique to change my appearance, conceal my aura, and walk the world under a different identity.’

’And if worst comes to worst, I’ll just flee to another domain and return for my revenge when I’m strong enough.’

’For a gentleman, ten years is not too long to wait for revenge.’

Lin Fan already had a meticulous plan for revenge forming in his mind.

In his two lifetimes, aside from the time he was betrayed by his own disciple, this was the first time he had ever been so wretched and humiliated.

Before, no matter what he did, everything had always gone smoothly for him. Even when he faced setbacks and hit low points, he could always quickly overcome them and return to his peak.

Even unbeatable foes were eventually cut down by his sword and trampled underfoot.

’Jiang Lan was clearly a despicable villain with no cultivation of his own, someone who only knew how to use his power to bully others, yet he had managed to force him into this state.’

’In his past life, he was the Eternal Damnation Sword Master, who looked down upon all of creation and ruled supreme.’ 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

’But now, he could only flee like a rat scurrying across the street. The injustice of it all burned within him.’

The moment he thought of his stolen wife and this burning humiliation...

Lin Fan’s eyes grew bloodshot.