I Am the Fated Villain - Chapter 174

Chapter 174: Husband abuses her for a while and chases her husband’s crematorium. I completely misunderstood him.

Gu Changge should have paid more heed to the system’s prompt sound. In his view, this was a reasonable occurrence. At this juncture, it would be erroneous for Yue Mingkong to persist in suspecting that he intended to harm her. She typically seemed emotional but ostensibly rational. However, that was when she wasn’t confronting Gu Changge.

Why are you being so kind?

Gu Changge smiled faintly and countered.

What have I done previously to make you believe that I’m only treating you this way now?

“After all… such gestures can only be evaluated if prior conditions exist.”

He wore a somewhat enigmatic expression as he spoke.

Yue Mingkong paused momentarily, realising she needed to respond. With Gu Changge’s level of perceptiveness, he could likely discern something from her words on his own.

“You were so indifferent toward me before. It’s implausible that you would lavish me with so many kindnesses without reason like this. It’s a relief not to be ignored.”

Yue Mingkong said after a moment, crafting a plausible reply.

This was a logical assertion. Previously, Gu Changge had been aloof and unwilling to engage with her. All these changes occurred after her rebirth, following her confrontation with Gu Changge and the unravelling of her pretence. He was only like this now.

Yue Mingkong had always held onto one belief: if she remained as pure and kind as she had in her previous life, she would never be able to broach these matters face-to-face with Gu Changge now. Not even holding his hand and witnessing his gentle smile.

So, Yue Mingkong was keenly aware that Gu Changge’s transformation was not because of her. Due to the cumulative effect of everything she had done, she was no longer as timid and submissive in Gu Changge’s presence as she had been in her previous life.

She also pondered whether this was advantageous or detrimental. Gu Changge possessed an unpredictable temperament.

But at least now, in Gu Changge’s eyes, she no longer appeared insignificant as she did in her previous life. Gu Changge smiled noncommittally at Yue Mingkong’s response, evidently having guessed it long ago.

“So that’s the case. It seems my Mingkong also has emotions… Then, I’ll be straightforward. I didn’t realise you were so charming before, but now I understand, and it’s never too late, right?”

Gu Changge smiled upon hearing her words, having long prepared for such a statement.

“Gu Changge…”

Yue Mingkong was taken aback, clearly not expecting such frankness from him. And the fact that he referred to her as “his Mingkong”? The implication was that Gu Changge had been indifferent in the past, but now he cared.

He was direct and concise, eschewing any beating around the bush. This was Gu Changge’s style—stating things like plain facts. His words were cheesy, yet they stirred her heart once more. She knew they were likely insincere, but she couldn’t help but revel in them. She scolded herself inwardly, questioning why she was so foolish, so easily swayed.

Even though she knew Gu Changge wasn’t a good person, that his very essence was tainted, and his heart likely blackened with malice, she couldn’t resist the allure of his words. Throughout her two lives, she had seen his true nature, yet his few words still had the power to delight her for an extended period.

“If you suspect I have ulterior motives, you needn’t worry. The Dao-building expert’s futon holds little value to me, so giving it to you is inconsequential.”

Gu Changge spoke frankly, sensing that this statement would carry weight. Unfortunately, he always held the upper hand in their interactions.

Upon hearing this, Yue Mingkong’s beautiful eyes turned cold as she stared at him, emitting a soft huff from her nose. Genuine sincerity from Gu Changge was indeed a rare occurrence.

But could this indeed be his genuine intention? Would he willingly part with something that held real value to him? Gu Changge’s revelation of the truth implied that he still harboured feelings for Yue Mingkong. And that was what mattered to her.

After receiving the enlightenment futon, Yue Mingkong was on the verge of inquiring about Yin Mei when suddenly, Gu Changge wrapped his arms around her slender waist. In an instant, the two figures plummeted towards the ruins below.

Yue Mingkong was bewildered, but Gu Changge turned his head to the side, gazing at her flawless face, and offered a light smile. “It seems Mingkong is quite adept. It appears this place has been rigged for quite some time.”

He couldn’t feign knowledge of this situation. He needed to maintain the illusion of stumbling upon her by chance.

“Not too long, just about a month,” Yue Mingkong replied.

“More than a month. It seems the time I estimated is nearly upon us,” Gu Changge smiled.

“The estimated time?” Yue Mingkong inquired, thinking Gu Changge was referring to when the immortal spirit would be born. Unbeknownst to her, this was merely a casual remark from Gu Changge.

No matter his prowess, he could not accurately predict the birth of the immortal spirit. He didn’t even know its location; he only learned about it by placing a follower next to Yue Mingkong. The purpose of his statement was to instil in Yue Mingkong a sense that everything was under his control so she wouldn’t disturb him at this critical juncture.

Of course, Gu Changge surveyed the nearby void and sensed vast, turbulent fluctuations along with ancient, potent runes strategically placed for concealment and defence. These runes could delay the emergence of the immortal spirit, preventing detection by other cultivators.

Yue Mingkong’s tactics continued to impress Gu Changge, significantly saving him time and effort.

“These arrangements… it seems you’ve already made preparations,” Gu Changge remarked casually, smiling slightly.

Unaware that Gu Changge was already aware, Yue Mingkong’s eyes flickered slightly as she responded, “The emergence of the Immortal Spirit is a matter of great importance, so I couldn’t help but be cautious.”

In truth, she was concerned that Gu Changge might forcibly intervene, hence her precautionary measures. The significance of the immortal spirit far surpassed that of Long Teng’s five-coloured true dragon blood or the Dao-building expert futon. While Gu Changge was unlikely to be cruel to her at this point, the possibility of him leaving her behind to pursue his interests remained high. After all, Gu Changge was more than capable of such actions. Additionally, her status as a regressor offered no advantage in Gu Changge’s presence.

“It seems you’re also familiar with the immortal spirit, Mingkong. No wonder…” Gu Changge trailed off, appearing indifferent to the matter.

Yue Mingkong breathed a sigh of relief at his response. She feared Gu Changge would delve deeper into the issue, leaving her unable to provide answers. Some accidental leakage of information could expose her secret rebirth. Given Gu Changge’s unpredictable nature, she dreaded what he might do under such circumstances.

Gu Changge could discern Yue Mingkong’s thoughts. She was lowering her guard slightly, far from trusting him completely. He wasn’t in a rush; his long-term plans had been meticulously laid out. He was merely waiting for the moment when Yue Mingkong and Gu Xian’er would fall into his trap.

Long-term cultivation could be tedious, lacking any engaging diversions. Gu Changge refused to let it become mundane.

The smile on Gu Changge’s face took on an even more enigmatic quality.

Soon, under Yue Mingkong’s guidance, the two arrived at the ruins that had long been abandoned. Many ancient temples and shrines lay in ruins, covered with moss and vines, exuding an air of tranquillity.

Outside the ruins, their followers stood guard, ensuring no monks or creatures disturbed them at this crucial juncture. It was evident that Yue Mingkong and Gu Changge approached this matter cautiously, setting up numerous defensive tactics. Hidden runes in the nearby void threatened a devastating blow to anyone who took a misstep, capable of reducing them to ashes.

“Gu Changge, are you planning to leave me behind and dine alone?”

Yue Mingkong halted in front of a stone wall shimmering with runic light, her gaze turning cold as it bore into Gu Changge’s face. It was a direct question, tinged with a hint of resentment akin to an upset daughter-in-law’s. She had initiated the conversation, seeking assurance from Gu Changge, even if his reassurance wasn’t entirely convincing.

Gu Changge regarded the flawless face before him, falling silent momentarily before breaking into laughter.

“In your mind, have I always been that kind of person?” His smile carried a hint of self-mockery, causing Yue Mingkong to pause.

“Aren’t you…?” she began rhetorically.

The smile vanished from Gu Changge’s face, replaced by an air of disinterest.

“Have I ever harmed you? Why are you so distrustful of me?” he inquired calmly.

Despite harbouring such intentions, Yue Mingkong’s directness surprised him. Wasn’t she concerned about saving face?

Gu Changge was inclined to put her in her place.

But upon further reflection, perhaps she needed to make one thing clear. What was it like to abuse the husband for a while and then chase the husband to the crematorium? Yue Mingkong rarely witnessed such an expression on Gu Changge’s face. His calm demeanour was unsettling.

“It doesn’t seem like…”

Her words trailed off abruptly, suddenly making no sense. Logically speaking, given Gu Changge’s interest-oriented nature, it was reasonable for him to behave as she described. However, considering the recent events, Yue Mingkong couldn’t shake the feeling that something was amiss. She couldn’t help but suspect he harboured ulterior motives.

She had always presumed he treated everyone, including herself, to exploit them. Yet, since her rebirth, Gu Changge had not harmed her in any way. Even after discovering his secret identity as the inheritor of demonic arts, he showed no inclination to hurt her. On the contrary, she had been speculating on his thoughts and intentions.

In her previous life, Gu Changge had killed her, becoming the enemy she despised the most. However, Gu Changge in this life was markedly different from his last incarnation. She realised she was viewing him through the lens of her past life.

Contemplating this, Yue Mingkong’s emotions became exceedingly complex. It was unfair to Gu Changge, who had not harmed her in this lifetime. While Gu Changge was undoubtedly a major villain, he was also human. He likely felt discomforted by her earlier words, right?

A significant part of her quest for vengeance from her past life stemmed from her fear of being killed by Gu Changge in the future and her desire to protect herself.

Was the future genuine? Yue Mingkong pondered this question but found herself unsure. She didn’t understand the reason behind Gu Changge’s transformation, but she was sure of one thing: her regression had undeniably influenced Gu Changge’s change.

As Yue Mingkong was about to speak, she noticed Gu Changge had already released her waist. He proceeded forward, leading the way toward the stone wall ahead. His handsome face remained calm, giving off an aura of aloofness, like a celestial being devoid of emotion.

For a moment, Yue Mingkong stood there, feeling disappointed. Gu Changge’s sudden coldness toward her left her feeling uneasy. She had always believed that his previous demeanour toward her was merely an act, and she had dismissed it as such. However, upon reflection, she wondered if she had been overthinking things. Perhaps Gu Changge hadn’t been pretending at all. Otherwise, he wouldn’t exhibit such an attitude and expression now.