This Is What a Villain Is Like

"Chan’Er and Qinghan, go take your pick. Since this is a gesture from Anyang City, there must be quite a few good things."

"Ying, take whatever’s left and give it to the guards. They performed a meritorious service today by stopping the assassins, and they deserve a reward."

Jiang Lan said casually, not particularly concerned with the collection of treasures they had sent.

His predecessor may have had no cultivation, but he was never short on treasures.

He figured the items from the City Lord of Anyang City were mostly mundane trinkets.

"Yes, Young Master."

Ying wasn’t surprised by this at all. The Young Master might act preposterously, but he was never stingy when it came to rewarding his subordinates.

"Chan’Er thanks you, Young Lord."

Chu Chan was secretly overjoyed. She had always been destitute, trying her best to scrimp and save, even when it came to her cultivation.

She wished she could break a single Spirit Stone in half to make it last longer. She couldn’t bear to waste any of it, absorbing every last wisp of Spiritual Energy until none remained.

She would even collect the Spirit Stone dregs that other Disciples scorned.

She would even keep the empty shells left after a Spirit Stone’s Spiritual Energy was depleted, trading them in mortal Marketplaces for useful little trinkets.

Yesterday’s medicinal meal alone was equivalent to half a year of her usual arduous cultivation, and that was without having even fully refined its effects.

If she were to fully refine the medicinal power, she estimated she could save herself one to two years of arduous cultivation... As for the small price she had paid, in her eyes, it was utterly insignificant.

This feeling of "ascending to the heavens in a single step" left Chu Chan with a complex mix of emotions. It was bittersweet, yet she couldn’t help but feel intoxicated by it.

She was glad she had come to her senses so quickly and changed her way of thinking in time, rather than remaining stuck in her old, stubborn mindset.

Su Qinghan remained seated cross-legged on her mat nearby, meditating and doing her best to convert the medicinal power into her own cultivation strength.

She had only recently broken through to the Fourth Realm, the Illuminating Nether Realm, and her foundation was not yet stable. Then she’d lost her virginity—and with it, her Primordial Yin—slowing her cultivation speed considerably compared to before.

Furthermore, the Pure Girl Star-Praying Skill bestowed by her master, Cyan Jade Zhenren, was only at its most effective on a clear, starlit night. She had yet to get the hang of it, so her progress was not fast.

She didn’t want this to delay her progress, so she spent every available moment cultivating.

But watching Chu Chan cling to Jiang Lan so incessantly since yesterday, and seeing Jiang Lan accept it all without complaint—a far cry from his usual fastidious self—was unsettling.

She felt an inexplicable irritation rising within her. She often found it hard to calm down, struggling to maintain the serene clarity of her Spirit Platform.

"Thank you for the reward, Young Lord. But I already have plenty of Magical Treasures. Please, let Chan’Er pick first."

Su Qinghan opened her lucid eyes, a faint smile on her lips. But as her gaze swept over Chu Chan, it carried a fleeting, meaningful, and playful glint.

She had already seen through her. The girl’s feigned delicacy was all a premeditated act. She was dead set on latching onto Jiang Lan.

Every word she spoke, every move she made, was calculated to win Jiang Lan’s affection.

She was like a vine that had just spotted a towering tree, exhausting every means to climb it, draw nourishment from it, and find shelter.

Su Qinghan could understand it, but she could never act like Chu Chan herself. ’I can’t even imagine becoming like that...’

"Then Chan’Er must thank you, Qinghan."

"As it happens, Chan’Er is very short on Magical Treasures and Spirit Stones. If you have any you aren’t using, Sister, you could just pass them along to Chan’Er. Chan’Er would be endlessly grateful."

Chu Chan could guess what Su Qinghan was thinking, but she simply responded with a radiant smile, looking utterly delighted.

’So what if Su Qinghan looks down on me? I abandoned my dignity and pride long ago. After enduring endless ridicule and scorn, what does it matter?’

"..." Su Qinghan faltered.

She hadn’t expected Chu Chan to be so shameless; it felt like punching a wad of cotton.

"Qinghan, don’t stoop to Chan’Er’s level. She’s suffered a lot in the past. As the elder sister here, you should be a bit more magnanimous."

Jiang Lan smiled, intrigued. He found it amusing that Su Qinghan was starting to make veiled jabs at Chu Chan.

’So her temperament makes her care about these things after all.’

So, he didn’t mind playing favorites a bit, just to add some fuel to the fire.

Su Qinghan shot him a reproachful glance, vaguely guessing at his perverse sense of humor. ’Doesn’t he just want to see me and Chu Chan fight?’

"Young Lord, please don’t blame Qinghan. It’s Chan’Er who was insensible and made her unhappy. She’s the elder sister, after all. Chan’Er shouldn’t have talked back to her..."

Chu Chan immediately apologized, not forgetting to add more of her sickeningly sweet, manipulative words. This infuriated Su Qinghan, who clenched her jaw, her full chest rising and falling with indignation. Finally, she turned her head away—out of sight, out of mind.

Seeing this, Ying tactfully prepared to withdraw, planning to take the young maidens sent by the City Lord with him.

If Jiang Lan gave no order, it meant he had no interest in these painted courtesans.

But Jiang Lan suddenly waved a hand, stopping him. "Ying," he commanded, "go have someone collect all the records of Chan’Er’s past experiences. I’ll review them personally."

"Last night, Chan’Er mentioned that she was bullied quite a lot back when she lived in Anyang City..."

"Oh, and she has a younger brother. Investigate his recent circumstances as well. See if anyone has been bullying him."

He already knew all about Chu Chan’s past and her future destiny, of course.

But at a time like this, he had to play his part to the hilt. Acting the role of a spoiled heir captivated by her beauty wasn’t difficult in the least.

If Jiang Lan remembered correctly, it wouldn’t be long before Chu Chan stumbled upon the greatest fortuitous opportunity of her life, one that would change her destiny forever.

"Yes, Young Master." Ying was momentarily stunned but didn’t question it, withdrawing as commanded.

"Thank you, Young Lord, for seeking justice for Chan’Er."

Upon hearing Jiang Lan’s words, Chu Chan couldn’t hide the touched and joyous expression on her face.

’It’s true I’m only trying to win his affection because of his power and influence. I have no other choice, no path of retreat. There isn’t a shred of genuine feeling involved.’

But she had to admit it: Jiang Lan—this spoiled heir, reviled and cursed behind his back by the world, a man with no good reputation whatsoever—was the first person in so many years to treat her so well.

’Even I’m not sure how much of this gratitude I’m feeling right now is genuine...’

Jiang Lan, for his part, naturally didn’t care how sincere her gratitude was.

He gave a soft laugh, pulled her into his embrace, and said, "If Chan’Er is happy, then this Young Lord is happy."

"Young Lord..."

A mist instantly welled up in Chu Chan’s eyes. Ignoring Su Qinghan, who was right beside them, she lifted her fair, flawless, oval face and moved in to kiss him.

"You little troublemaker," Jiang Lan chuckled. "You’re quite a handful."