I Am the Fated Villain - Chapter 187

Chapter 187: It’s the fault of the old memory. It doesn’t matter if you are an enemy of the heavens.

Yue Mingkong sat on the throne, absorbing the words of the report in silence before gently closing it. Since her return from the Ancient Immortal Continent, her cultivation has undergone a significant enhancement. This transformation was owed mainly to the invaluable benefits she had received from Gu Changge, benefits she had never dared to imagine before.

A mere drop of five-colored true dragon blood and a jar of immortal spirits, barely refined until now, held immeasurable value, coveted even by the most esteemed figures of the Ancient Immortal Continent.

“Dismissed,” Yue Mingkong commanded with a calm authority that now exuded the aura of a female emperor wielding dominion over countless lives, a presence simultaneously terrifying and enthralling. The frigid indifference in her eyes sent shivers down the spines of the ministers of the Immortal Dynasty below, rendering them motionless in fearful silence.

“Yes, Your Majesty,” came the obedient response as the hall emptied, leaving behind only a select few female officials whom Yue Mingkong trusted implicitly.

“Are the rumors true?” Yue Mingkong inquired with a detached air, though beneath her composed exterior, emotions churned tumultuously, known only to herself.

“Indeed, Your Majesty,” the female official confirmed. “Young Master Changge personally unearthed the Dao bone before the Sea King Palace, along with all the Dao heritages.”

“He also declared that he would annihilate any who dared to threaten Gu Xian’er’s safety in the future,” she added, her voice trembling involuntarily at the mere mention of such a declaration, which resonated with an ominous promise of bloodshed.

Yue Mingkong, contemplating these words, shook her head in disbelief. “What could motivate such actions, Changge… Your intentions remain an enigma to me…”

With a wave of her hand, Yue Mingkong signaled for all the female officials to withdraw, leaving her alone in the solemn chamber. She closed her eyes, lost in thought, murmuring to herself.

In her original recollection, Gu Xian’er’s previous life concluded in tragedy. Gu Changge had never broached the subject of returning the Dao bone, and he persisted in his pursuit and aggression toward Gu Xian’er from the outset.

Even those who had escorted her were relentlessly hunted down and eliminated by Gu Changge through various means. Consequently, Yue Mingkong endeavored to alter Gu Xian’er’s fate, believing that her encounter with Gu Changge could afford her an additional chance at survival.

However, upon their initial meeting, Yue Mingkong was astonished to discover that Gu Xian’er seemed to harbor little animosity toward Gu Changge—a revelation that caught her off guard. Delving into the matter, Yue Mingkong unearthed the truth: it was Gu Changge himself who had brought back Gu Xian’er’s relatives and released those initially detained.

In Yue Mingkong’s estimation, this approach was the most fitting. In truth, this marked the genesis of her regression, as she ardently wished to persuade Gu Changge to take this course of action, thereby averting the path of betrayal and separation.

However, Gu Changge had acted upon this before her, fostering a more amicable rapport with Gu Xian’er. Initially, Yue Mingkong even suspected Gu Changge might be a fellow regressor like herself. Yet, subsequent revelations dispelled such notions—Gu Changge appeared oblivious to future events and displayed no semblance of a regressor. Unless he was feigning ignorance and concealing his true intentions, an unnecessary ploy given his formidable capabilities.

Yue Mingkong recognized that her conjectures were unfounded, born solely of her overactive imagination. Following this revelation, she found herself deeply perplexed. The Gu Changge she encountered possessed a certain humanity that seemed absent in her previous acquaintance. While subtle, this newfound humanity represented a significant departure for Gu Changge.

At a certain point, Yue Mingkong began to suspect that Gu Changge was intentionally feigning ignorance to confound her. However, a subsequent series of events shattered Yue Mingkong’s preconceptions one by one. Now, she found herself unable to wholly trust the memories of her regression.

Those memories had colored her perceptions, leading her to misunderstand Gu Changge in this life, perceiving ulterior motives and malevolent intentions where none existed. Consequently, the burgeoning relationship between them, once on the cusp of deepening, abruptly plummeted to an icy standstill.

Without her preconceived notions, Yue Mingkong wouldn’t have uttered those words to Gu Changge in the Baiheng Mountains. She realized that her faulty memories were to blame. With them, she would remain the simple and kind fourth princess, lacking even the qualifications to catch Gu Changge’s attention and govern the entire Peerless Immortal Dynasty.

“Changge must be greatly disappointed in me now, for I’ve doubted his kindness towards me,” Yue Mingkong sighed deeply. Gu Changge’s act of returning the Dao bone to her sister and making it known to the world was a resounding slap in the face, overturning all her previous suspicions.

Now inundated with mixed emotions—regret, loss, guilt—Yue Mingkong pondered deeply. Gu Changge had even divulged his most significant secret, that he was the inheritor of demonic arts, without any defenses against her. Didn’t this revelation elucidate everything?

“After all, Changge is a man devoid of frivolity. His intentions can often be discerned from his actions,” Yue Mingkong mused. Reflecting on it all, her emotions were a blend of sorrow and contentment, tinged with bitterness.

Yet amidst this turmoil, there was a flicker of joy—that Gu Changge harbored a place for her in his heart. Otherwise, he would be plotting against her instead of gifting her a jar of immortal spirit as they parted ways.

He was obstinate, reluctant to divulge his true feelings, and as aloof as ever, he seldom wore his emotions on his sleeve. Yue Mingkong’s primary concern lay in the precariousness of her position, a position she feared could vanish at any moment.

“I’ve been so foolish. It’s only now that I realize Gu Changge always holds me close to his heart…” Yue Mingkong found some solace in this realization, reminiscent of her sentiments before Yin Mei. “Resistance is futile. If I can’t impede Gu Changge, why not align myself with him and aid him in his quest to reign over the heavens as a regressor? What does it matter if it ends in tragedy?”

“Even if, in the end, we become adversaries of the heavens, I’ll remain steadfast by your side,” she resolved inwardly. “My foolishness led me to relinquish everything for you…”

With a calm and resolute expression, Yue Mingkong made her decision. She no longer fretted over her ultimate fate. From the moment of her rebirth, she had secretly vowed to alter the destinies of her loved ones from her previous life. Yet now, it appeared that this vow was rendered moot. Gu Changge’s actions indicated that he would not repeat the mistakes of his past, ensuring that the tragedies Yue Mingkong had known would not be repeated.

As for the hate she harbored toward Gu Changge in her previous life, Yue Mingkong chose to silently accept it, burying it deep within her heart. Despite enduring considerable hardships, she found solace in believing that her circumstances were not insurmountable.

“Based on the trajectory of events from the past life, the overall course remains largely unchanged,” Yue Mingkong reflected, organizing her thoughts.

“Initially, the birth of the immortal spirit in the Ancient Immortal Continent attracted numerous venerable figures, yet Gu Changge was the first to claim it.”

“Following this, the Sea King Palace dispatched many powerful sea clan warriors to seek retribution from Xian’er. However, Xian’er’s ancestors, incensed and irritable, annihilated them, prompting retaliation from the Gu family ancestor who launched an assault on the Sea King Palace.”

“The outcome of that battle remains shrouded in mystery, but ultimately, the Sea King’s Palace was sealed for a hundred thousand years, and many sea clans were prohibited from venturing beyond the boundless sea area.”

“The events unfolding in the Ancient Immortal Continent appear to be entwined with Gu Changge, although the available information is scarce. What’s discernible is that the Ancient Immortal Dragon Clan initially attempted resistance but was ultimately subdued by the Great Elder…”

Yue Mingkong sifted through these memories, her mind processing the details. Amidst the conflict at the Sea King’s Palace, one of Gu Xian’er’s mentors seemed angry, and a dark sword light emanated from a distant realm. The ominous aura of this entity swept across the sea, quelling the tumult at the Sea King Palace. It became evident to all that even in Gu Changge’s absence, Gu Xian’er’s stature was unparalleled, ensuring her safety without peril.

However, these were minor occurrences that held little bearing on the overall trajectory of events. Despite the ancient lineage and formidable history of the Sea King’s Palace, it dared not engage in open warfare with the Gu family of the Ancient Immortal Continent. Consequently, Yue Mingkong harbored no concerns regarding Gu Xian’er’s safety.

Her safety remained assured as long as Gu Changge refrained from targeting Gu Xian’er. The most imminent threat to Gu Xian’er always loomed from Gu Changge himself.

“After resolving the current affairs, I must seek out Xian’er; there are matters we still need to discuss,” Yue Mingkong resolved inwardly. She no longer wished to dwell on Gu Changge incessantly, nor did she entertain suspicions about his intentions. Speculating about Gu Changge’s motives had become an exhausting endeavor.

The weight of harboring immense hatred and enduring relentless pressure had taken its toll on Yue Mingkong. She had grown weary of it all. Even if Gu Changge harbored ulterior motives, she no longer wished to concern herself with them. Regardless of her preparations and schemes, she realized she needed help to thwart Gu Changge’s action. The world evolved, and circumstances shifted subtly, yet the overarching trajectory remained unaltered.

Even if, in the end, Gu Changge repeated his actions from their previous lives, ultimately leading to her demise, Yue Mingkong remained indifferent. She resigned herself to letting Gu Changge take her life. She found solace in the knowledge that Gu Changge harbored a place for her in his heart—that alone sufficed for her.

“The imminent descent of the Absolute Heaven Extermination upon the human realm heralds the establishment of the True Immortal Academy by the great sects, where the most formidable practitioners from various dao lineages will converge to cultivate true immortals of this era,” Yue Mingkong recalled, delving into the depths of her memories.

“In that epoch, a multitude of emperor’s progeny, ancient monarchs, prodigious talents, and once-crowned young monarchs will emerge…”

Yue Mingkong reflected on this memory, envisioning the forthcoming era as a fertile ground for Gu Changge’s cultivation. The abundance of original energy would provide ample sustenance for him to devour, cultivate, and refine within the Dao treasure bottle.

For the younger generation, this era promised unparalleled opportunities, yet it also marked the onset of their nightmares. In her previous life, Yue Mingkong witnessed numerous geniuses fall victim to Gu Changge’s clandestine machinations. To him, distinctions between emperors, ancient rulers, and commoners were inconsequential; they merely varied degrees of sustenance.

The world teetered on the brink of chaos, besieged by the looming threat of the Absolute Heaven Extermination—an entity so vast and consuming that it could engulf entire realms and heavens. Its relentless expansion and devouring nature posed an existential threat to countless dao heritages and races.

The Absolute Heaven Extermination, devoid of life yet possessing an insatiable appetite, was akin to a sentient world capable of consuming and assimilating everything in its path. Its emergence initially went unnoticed, but it swiftly acquired the capability to engulf worlds.

For many, the Absolute Heaven Extermination represented the ultimate terror—a force beyond comprehension, devoid of allegiance, relentlessly consuming and burying all in its wake.

“With the advent of the Absolute Heaven Extermination, the progenitor of humanity will emerge…” Yue Mingkong recalled, acknowledging a matter she had previously underestimated, only vaguely grasping its significance in her previous life.

Gu Changge had made preparations to confront this impending crisis, although the specifics of his plan remained shrouded in mystery to Yue Mingkong. Whether his efforts ultimately proved victorious remained uncertain.

The Absolute Heaven Extermination represented a cataclysmic event threatening the celestial realm. The Human Ancestor would emerge whenever it descended to safeguard the world and its inhabitants from peril. Each occurrence of the Absolute Heaven Extermination resulted in the irreversible loss of numerous dao heritages, swallowed whole by its insatiable maw.

In a world where even the most venerable Dao heritages struggled against the Absolute Heaven Extermination, only the true immortals dared to challenge its dominion and seek its resolution. Yet, even those Dao lineages that once nurtured immortals were at a loss when confronted with this existential threat.

Enter the human ancestor—a timeless immortal perpetually concealed within the cycle of reincarnation. Whenever the Absolute Heaven Extermination threatened the human realm, all factions and dao heritages would unite in the search for the reincarnation of the Human Ancestor. Even the most ancient and formidable entities showed deference to the identity of the human ancestor, recognizing the unique capabilities and authority they wielded.