This Is What a Villain Is Like

The assassination attempt, in particular, was so bizarre and sudden that many people didn’t even have time to react.

No one even got a clear look at the assassin’s features. All they knew was that he seemed to have an accomplice who could control puppets and was powerful enough to stand against a Sixth Realm expert.

Under these circumstances, finding them became several times more difficult.

"Heh, when you’re that arrogant and throw your weight around, someone is bound to take exception."

"This is just him getting what he deserves..."

"It’s just a shame no one managed to finish him off."

Within the Jasper Pool Sect’s residence in Anyang City, pavilions and towers stood in dense rows. Towering cliffs were wreathed in purple mist, partially concealing the palaces and cave abodes nestled among them.

Upon returning, Chen Ning and the others learned of Jiang Lan’s attempted assassination, and they made no effort to hide their gloating.

The only pity was that Jiang Lan had escaped unscathed, leaving them feeling thoroughly unsatisfied.

After leaving the Drunken Immortal Residence, they hadn’t dared to linger for a moment, rushing back here immediately. Zhao Dieyi, in particular, went straight back to her cave abode to enter seclusion.

She couldn’t even be bothered to oversee their Inner Sect assessment mission anymore.

Chen Ning and the others had no choice but to wait for Zhao Dieyi’s anger to subside before trying to get back in her good graces. Otherwise, if they couldn’t pass the Inner Sect assessment, they would have to wait another year.

A year was long enough to miss out on a great deal of resources.

As for Chu Chan, they all tacitly ignored her. Everyone acted as if she had vanished from the face of the earth, never asking after her or paying her any mind.

Even when an Elder from the Jasper Pool Sect sent a message to inquire about the progress of the Inner Sect assessment, they all remained silent, not breathing a word about Chu Chan.

The Jasper Pool Sect Elder had already heard what happened from Zhao Dieyi but pretended to know nothing about it.

She was just an ordinary female disciple with no background, her only advantage being her looks.

Her cultivation talent was mediocre, and she had even missed the optimal age for building her foundation.

The slight cultivation advantage she had gained through diligent practice had long since been surpassed by other disciples with superior talent and more abundant resources, until nothing of it remained. 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

There were thousands, if not tens of thousands, of disciples like her in the Jasper Pool Sect. Every year, a considerable number died during various missions and trials.

A single Chu Chan dying without a trace wouldn’t cause the slightest ripple.

"Zhao Dieyi will be in seclusion for a while to practice a Cultivation Technique. Your Inner Sect assessment mission will be postponed for the time being."

"I’ve received word that Quasi-Saintess Ling Zhuyun will be departing for Anyang City in the coming days."

"She will be in charge of your Inner Sect assessment then."

With those final words, the image of the Jasper Pool Sect Elder in the Communication Jade Talisman slowly faded away.

Chen Ning and the others couldn’t hide their joyful and excited expressions. The eyes of many were filled with undisguised admiration and awe.

’Quasi-Saintess Ling Zhuyun is actually coming to Anyang City in person!’

’She was the undisputed young legend of their Jasper Pool Sect, possessing peerless talent and profound strength.’

’Barely twenty years old, she had already broken numerous cultivation records. Many even hailed her as the Ancestral Master reborn, destined to lead the Jasper Pool Sect to a new era of glory.’

Even the other two Quasi-Saintesses, both stunningly and exceptionally talented in their own right, seemed to pale in comparison to her.

In the eyes of every disciple of the Jasper Pool Sect, Quasi-Saintess Ling Zhuyun was not just gentle as water, righteous, and compassionate to all. She was also transcendent and otherworldly, holy and pure, like a Banished Immortal who had descended to the mortal realm.

In her presence, everyone couldn’t help but feel a sense of their own inferiority.

...

"Rest assured, sir. This concerns Young Master Lan’s safety."

"I will not be careless. I have already dispatched men to guard every city gate and am using the Qianyuan Mirror to scan for anything unusual. If the assassin is here, he will have no escape."

"Young Master Lan arrived in Anyang City last night. I was unfortunately tied up with official matters and unable to greet him personally, which is why he suffered this little scare."

"This is just a small token from me to help Young Master Lan calm his nerves."

Inside a private room at the Drunken Immortal Residence, a middle-aged man in fine brocade robes with a tall hat and a wide sash was speaking apologetically. He wore a humble smile.

He was a tall man with a stern, upright face. A faint golden light flashed in his eyes as they opened and closed, marking him as a formidable expert.

As the City Lord of Anyang City, he too was a Sixth Realm existence, his cultivation no weaker than Ying’s.

"You are too kind, City Lord. The young master was only a little startled. It’s nothing serious."

Ying stood before the middle-aged man, merely nodding slightly at his words, his expression impassive.

Although the man before him was his equal in strength and the City Lord of a major capital like Anyang City, Ying paid him little mind.

As the Prime Minister’s trusted aide, even a Prefect wouldn’t dare put on airs before him.

On the other side of the room stood an Ancient Jade Screen, from which a mist that calmed the mind and focused the spirit emanated.

Vaguely visible behind it was a slender figure, reclining on a mat and lazily propping up his head.

A graceful, lithe figure was nestled in his embrace. She would periodically peel a Spirit Fruit grape from a nearby platter, place it gently between her own rosy, petal-like lips, then raise her flawless face to feed it to him.

"I accept your gesture, City Lord," Jiang Lan’s voice drifted over, casual and languid.

The middle-aged man breathed a sigh of relief. Not daring to look up, he simply said, "In that case, I will not disturb Young Master Lan’s rest any longer."

With that, the servants behind him left several chests on the floor. A few beautiful young women also remained behind, looking anxious and nervous.