This Is What a Villain Is Like

"Junior Sister Chu Chan, it’s an honor you must have cultivated for several lifetimes to be noticed by Young Master Jiang."

"Why do you look so reluctant...?"

"You can’t afford to displease Young Master Jiang. Don’t you have that brother of yours who isn’t right in the head? The one you need to take care of? Even if you don’t consider yourself, you have to consider him."

"Once you’ve made it big, don’t you dare forget about us junior sisters..."

Chu Chan stood rooted to the spot, dazed.

Her ears filled with the "well-intentioned" advice from Chen Ning and the other junior and senior sisters.

The bone-deep malice and ridicule were like sharp thorns stabbing deep into her heart, sending a chill through her entire body and turning her hands and feet to ice.

’Are these really the sect sisters I’ve known all this time?’

Still clinging to a sliver of hope, she turned a pleading gaze toward Zhao Dieyi.

But Zhao Dieyi kept her eyes lowered, as if turning a deaf ear to it all.

The light in Chu Chan’s eyes dimmed, bit by bit, like a lone candle flickering in the autumn wind, until it was extinguished completely... leaving only deathly stillness.

She bit her lip, forcing herself not to tremble.

What would become of her once Jiang Lan took her away? Surely every one of her sect sisters present knew the answer.

But no one cared...

In the private room, Ye Ming’s expression darkened. "The Jasper Pool Sect calls itself a prestigious and righteous sect," he said coldly, "yet now they act with such cold cruelty, personally pushing their own junior sister into a pit of fire just to buy themselves a moment of peace."

"It’s truly shameful. Zhu Yun is so compassionate and righteous. I can’t imagine how heartbroken she would be if she knew about this."

"Heh, what so-called prestigious sects? In this world, they’re all just a bunch of contemptible opportunists who only look out for themselves," Old Ghost said with a faint laugh, clearly agreeing with him.

"Still, that girl isn’t bad-looking. If you rescue her from this mess, you might just win her heart and start a beautiful romance."

Ye Ming huffed. "There’s only room in my heart for Zhu Yun."

"The girl out there is every bit as beautiful as your Zhu Yun," Old Ghost said with a faint smile.

"Let’s just figure out how to save her from this inferno." Though tempted, Ye Ming shook his head, his expression firm.

...

Only after Jiang Lan had casually slung an arm around Chu Chan and begun strolling across the jade corridor toward the top floor did the cloud of terror and unease hanging over the female disciples of the Jasper Pool Sect finally begin to slowly dissipate.

"Senior Sister Zhao, you can relax. That Chu Chan has no background to speak of, so we don’t have to worry about any consequences."

"I heard she has a brother who isn’t right in the head, but he was left in the care of an old servant years ago. Even if he found out something happened to his sister, it’s not like he could do anything to retaliate."

"Besides... with Young Master Jiang involved, who among us would dare to say no...?"

"When we get back, the sect will definitely understand. It’s not that we didn’t want to save Junior Sister Chu Chan..."

Chen Ning, still shaken from earlier, saw Zhao Dieyi standing silently with her fists clenched and rushed to explain.

She was terrified that her senior sister might get a reckless idea and try to save Chu Chan.

She had no desire to be targeted by that rich brat over this.

Besides, a moment ago, Chu Chan had turned back and looked at her. For some reason, that gaze had frightened Chen Ning.

"Shut up."

At these words, Zhao Dieyi shot her a cold glance, clearly irritated.

After everything that had happened, she was in no mood to linger. She immediately turned and strode out of the Celestial Building.

’Who knew if Jiang Lan would suddenly change his mind and target them next?’

’Just as Chen Ning said, maybe doing nothing for Chu Chan is the best option. If her grandfather were here, Jiang Lan might show some restraint. But in Anyang City, who would dare to stand up to him?’

"Junior Sister Zhao..."

Wang He, who had been silent until now, seemed to snap back to his senses. He quickly rushed after her, intending to explain himself.

The other female disciples from the Jasper Pool Sect, their faces pale with lingering fear, hurried after them. None of them were in any mood to stay either.

As for what would happen to Chu Chan, that was no longer their concern.

’Even Zhao Dieyi had silently consented. What could they possibly do?’

Only the few who were actually close with Chu Chan felt a pang of sorrow, but even that was overwhelmed by their fear and powerlessness.

This was their first time leaving the Jasper Pool Sect for worldly training, and encountering something like this had left a deep shadow in their hearts.

The Jasper Pool Sect was, after all, a renowned and prestigious sect in the Celestial Central Province, with experts as numerous as the clouds. Yet when faced with a vile aristocrat like Jiang Lan, they were utterly helpless.

...

"What’s with the long face? I’m just asking you to keep me company for a bit, not asking for your life..."

"It’s not attractive when a beauty looks so miserable."

"Come on, give me a smile."

Mist drifted along the jade corridor.

Jiang Lan looked down at Chu Chan in his arms, gently tilting her chin up with his folding fan.

"Young... Young Master Jiang..."

The light had gone out of Chu Chan’s once-clear eyes, and her heart was a wasteland of ashen despair.

Hearing his words, she managed to force an unnatural smile onto her numb face.

’She never would have imagined that Senior Sister Zhao Dieyi, who had always been so gentle, graceful, and peaceful, could be so cold and indifferent in the end.’

’When it was Chen Ning, she had at least hesitated and tried to argue. But when it was my turn, she acted as if she saw nothing, utterly apathetic.’

’Was it just because I come from a poor family, without a powerful background like Chen Ning’s?’