This Is What a Villain Is Like

"Ah..."

Su Qinghan froze for a moment. But seeing her master’s cool and detached expression, she could only nod in agreement.

After she finished speaking, Yuqing Zhenren gave Su Qinghan a few more instructions before her figure dissolved into a shower of fine, flowing light.

This was merely one of her Incarnations. Her true body rarely traveled, so many matters were often handled by these incarnations.

Su Qinghan pursed her red lips.

After standing rooted to the spot for a long while, she finally headed toward the Su Mansion.

Half a day later, a painted boat pulled by a Three-headed Beast lifted into the air from Yu Yi City. It was wreathed in clouds and mist, and through the veiling haze and wafts of fragrant wind, one could faintly hear the melodious chatter of women, sparking the imagination.

Following the painted boat was a troop of Knights clad in armor, wielding Celestial Blade Battle Halberds, and riding Fierce Beasts. Their iron steeds thundered across the sky, a sound like roaring wind and rumbling thunder, or a furious, crashing wave—an astonishing display of power.

...

「Nantai County.」

Anyang City, outside Purple Mist Town.

A majestic and perilous mountain stood here, its height immeasurable. It was covered in flourishing ancient trees, its peaks verdant and valleys lush. Clear springs trickled down, and the entire mountain was wreathed in clouds and mist.

A waterfall like a silver river hung from a cliff face, plummeting straight down and kicking up a cloud of rising mist.

Many mountain spirits and Demon Beasts often came to drink here. The hunters and farmers who entered the mountains to hunt or gather firewood were used to this sight and paid it no mind, presenting a scene of natural harmony.

The wilderness was green all year round, as if it were always spring. Even in the biting cold of winter, it was rare to see the mountain draped in white.

Following the mountain down, one could see a small village of less than a thousand people. The fields were a pristine green, crisscrossed by paths.

"Are you Daoists down from the mountain to buy supplies again?"

"How come it’s always been you lot lately? We haven’t seen that young Daoist Chu Yun in a long time."

On the village path, several Daoists carrying bamboo baskets on their backs, dressed in Daoist Robes with their hair in Daoist Buns, walked slowly down the mountain along a path paved with bluestone bricks. Their breathing was long and steady.

Some villagers on either side, who were clearly familiar with them, even stopped their farm work to greet them.

Someone even asked curiously.

"Our Junior Brother Chu Yun is busy practicing the Health Care Formulas his master taught him, so it’s been us coming down to buy supplies."

Hearing this, one of the Daoists with a kindly face immediately replied with a smile.

The villagers’ faces at once filled with admiration and envy.

"Even young Daoist Chu Yun is being taught a Cultivation Technique by the Temple Master. It’s a shame our aptitude is so poor. We don’t even qualify to be taken as his disciples."

"Young Daoist Chu Yun might not be the brightest, but he’s simple, kind, diligent, and honest. I’m sure he’ll get the hang of it soon and become a cultivator who can fly through the skies."

On Purple Mist Mountain stood a Daoist Temple called Zixia Temple, which had only appeared in recent years.

In the temple lived an old Daoist named the Zixia Daoist. His cultivation was profound, and he had been living in seclusion here for years.

These Daoists were all disciples of Zixia Temple. Each possessed a Spirit Root and was taught a Cultivation Technique by the Zixia Daoist.

The Chu Yun they spoke of was a somewhat simple-minded youth with a fair and clean-cut appearance.

Sometimes when he came down the mountain for supplies and saw them busy with farm work, he would lend a hand. Over time, many villagers grew familiar with him.

If not for the fact that he was simple-minded and a bit slow, some of the village women would have even wanted to marry their unwed daughters to him.

Lately, the disciples from Zixia Temple who came down for supplies were all unfamiliar faces, which was why the villagers grew curious and asked about it.

Within the borders of the Great Xia, although cultivators held a transcendent status, they did not dare to kill mortals wantonly.

Thus, the villagers felt little fear or awe, even toward these accomplished Daoist cultivators before them.

After they left the village, the kindly expressions on the Daoists’ faces vanished.

One of them looked at the Daoist who had just spoken and couldn’t help but say, "Senior Brother Fei Luo, even these villagers have noticed something is wrong. If Master comes out of seclusion and finds that fool is missing, what are we going to do?"

"That fool’s sister is no pushover. The fact that she could enter a prestigious sect like the Chi Yao Sect despite coming from a Lower-Class Family is proof enough that she’s not to be trifled with. If she comes looking for him, how are we supposed to explain it?"

"Yeah, Senior Brother, why don’t we just throw the stuff away and pretend we don’t know anything?"

The faces of his junior brothers were filled with panic and unease.

The Daoist named Fei Luo, however, was exceptionally calm and composed.

He shook his head and said, "All of you junior brothers had a hand in throwing him off the cliff. So many days have passed. He’s probably been devoured by Demon Beasts, with not even bones left. Even if Master comes out of seclusion, it’ll be impossible for him to detect anything."

"Besides, so what if Master finds out? Is he really going to blame us for a fool who was practically incapable of cultivation?" 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

As he spoke, a cold glint appeared in his eyes.

"That fool acted all honest and simple every day, but he was secretly hoarding so many treasures. He even had a good number of precious Exotic Spirit Stones and Spirit Absorption Pills. If we hadn’t seen him pick a Spirit Moon Flower that can increase cultivation, we probably would never have discovered he had so much good stuff."

"Heh, that idiot... he actually wanted to leave those things for his sister..."

"His sister must have had someone deliver those Spirit Stones and Elixir Pills to him. No wonder he was always so happy whenever he came down the mountain to buy supplies."

"Purple Mist Mountain is full of deep ravines and gullies, and there are plenty of Demon Beasts and spirits. That fool wasn’t very bright. It would be perfectly normal for him to be walking at night, accidentally fall, and get eaten by a Demon Beast."

"But what you said just now gave me an idea. In a bit, each of you will hand over some of your Spirit Stones. If that fool’s sister comes looking, we’ll give these to her as his ’last possessions.’ Squeeze out a few tears, and I bet she won’t suspect a thing."