I Am the Fated Villain - Chapter 202

Chapter 202: There is something wrong with Gu Changge, a wishful licking dog

Upon hearing the question, Gu Changge began to address the group, capturing their undivided attention as they hung onto his every word, afraid to miss even a fraction of his response.

“I won’t conceal anything from you all. This matter has been weighing on my mind lately. When I clashed with Ye Ling, I noticed something peculiar. Despite sustaining grave injuries, he displayed unwavering courage, almost as if his wounds emboldened him rather than instilling fear,” Gu Changge admitted, his expression tinged with a hint of helplessness and guilt. “Moreover, considering my own injuries at the time, I opted not to pursue him as he fled.”

These words sent shockwaves through the group of young supremes, leaving many of them speechless and stunned. Gu Changge’s unexpected candor left them reeling, as they grappled with the implications of his revelation.

Gu Changge’s implications were clear: Ye Ling wasn’t acting alone, and he had support or backing of some kind. The realization sent a shiver down the spine of the listeners, as they contemplated the terrifying prospect of an organized force behind the inheritor of demonic arts.

Even Ye Langtian couldn’t help but feel a chill run down his spine. If one inheritor of demonic arts was already so formidable, the thought of an entire organization supporting them was unimaginable.

No one in the gathering doubted Gu Changge’s words; the implications were too grave to dismiss lightly.

“The inheritor of demonic arts is undoubtedly a formidable adversary. After all, ‘a hundred-foot worm is dead but not stiff,'” Wang Ziji remarked, acknowledging the seriousness of the situation. In her view, such a figure was not to be underestimated and likely possessed the means to evade capture, given the audacity with which they operated.

“If only I had caught up to him at that time, perhaps Ye Ling wouldn’t be wreaking havoc today,” Gu Changge expressed, his face reflecting a mixture of self-recrimination and guilt.

“It’s not your fault, Brother Gu. At that time, Ye Ling was also severely injured. Even if you had caught up to him, if the individuals backing him had intervened, the outcome might have been unfavorable for you,” reassured one of the attendees, attempting to alleviate Gu Changge’s sense of responsibility.

Many others echoed similar sentiments, emphasizing that Gu Changge shouldn’t blame himself for Ye Ling’s actions, as it was beyond his control.

“If there weren’t forces supporting Ye Ling from behind, he wouldn’t have been able to act so brazenly, evading capture effortlessly,” Ye Langtian remarked with a sigh, acknowledging the oversight in underestimating the situation.

The realization that chaos might soon ensue weighed heavily on the minds of the young supremes.

Meanwhile, a playful glint flashed across Gu Changge’s lips, unnoticed by the others. While the culprit had yet to be identified, Gu Changge was already laying the groundwork for what was to come.

In the boundless heavens, within the lofty confines of the Heavenly Dao Ancient City, a figure shrouded in mysterious fog traversed the sky at great speed. Descending into the city below, she moved through the streets, invisible to the nearby cultivators and creatures.

This figure, brows furrowed in concentration, meticulously scanned the Heavenly Dao Immortal Palace for any lingering auras or fluctuations. Yet, despite her efforts, she found no traces of the elusive target.

“According to the rumors, at that time, the inheritor of demonic art and Gu Changge fought within the Immortal Ancient Continent and finally fled undefeated.”

“But the successive generations of the inheritor of demonic art have never lost a single fight, and its means and the bottom card is said to be endless.”

“Although this Gu Changge has the title of a true immortal’s talent, but from the rumors of his strength, is he really that capable? Can he re-inflict damage to the inheritor of demonic art?”

“And the very beginning is the young master of this matter is the Bai Lie’s accident from the White Tiger clan, he is the fiancé of Yin Mei, the heavenly maiden of the Nine Tailed Heavenly Fox clan, and Ye Ling is Bai Lie’s sworn brother.”

“From the mouth of Bai Lie’s followers, I learned that night Yin Mei helped Bai Lie to see Ye Ling as a person, which went to settle accounts with Ye Ling, and therefore suffered a poisonous hand.”

“In the Immortal Ancient Continent, why did Yin Mei live to the end and Ye Ling did not choose to kill her? Could it really be that he was scheming for her beauty?”

The figure, none other than Jiang Chuchu, an heir of the Human Ancestor Hall and believed to be the reincarnation of an Ancient Immortal, sought information on the inheritor of demonic arts. Her eyes flickered with multicolored runes, ancient patterns tracing the threads of truth.

Yet, despite her efforts, Jiang Chuchu remained unable to unearth any significant revelations. Her brow furrowed in concentration, though her demeanor remained composed, devoid of emotion.

“The pieces fit together too seamlessly, as if everything has been orchestrated and the characters placed meticulously,” she mused, contemplating the intricacies of the situation. “But true reality is never so neat, as the human heart and chance can never be predicted.”

“Ye Ling appears to be the active party, but in reality, he has been led,” she observed, her thoughts drifting to Yin Mei’s role in the unfolding drama. “However, Yin Mei seems to hold a crucial position in this intricate web of events.”

“Perhaps the real problem lies with Gu Changge,” Jiang Chuchu concluded with a tinge of uncertainty. “I can only hope my suspicions are unfounded.”

With these thoughts in mind, Jiang Chuchu’s figure swiftly ascended into the sky, heading toward the location of the Ancient Immortal Gu Family.

As an heir of the Human Ancestor Hall, Jiang Chuchu knew better than to make rash decisions. If Gu Changge truly had a problem, the implications would be too terrifying to comprehend. Thus, she refrained from divulging everything she knew. She understood Gu Changge’s formidable power all too well.

While the Human Ancestor Hall held a prestigious position, it paled in comparison to the Ancient Immortal Gu Family’s immortal standing. Its influence was not sufficient to confront such a behemoth. Unless she possessed irrefutable evidence linking Gu Changge to the inheritor of demonic arts, she couldn’t risk making unfounded accusations. Her opinions and speculations alone wouldn’t suffice.

Jiang Chuchu hoped fervently that her conjectures were mistaken. She longed for evidence to exonerate Gu Changge and prove his innocence. Otherwise, she’d be compelled to take action, facing immense pressure and striving for peace across the realm.

Meanwhile, high above the Ancient Immortal Gu Family’s frontier, a carriage drawn by nine celestial horses thundered through the sky. Behind it trailed a group of riders atop fierce beasts.

A small maid scolded a young boy with a white face, chiding him for his repeated mistakes with feeding spiritual herbs to Xiao Bai.

“Chu Fan, how can you keep making these mistakes? You can’t even remember which spiritual herbs to feed Xiao Bai!”

The embarrassed teenager nodded apologetically. Internally, however, he seethed with anger and resentment. As the son of the Heavenly Emperor, he commanded respect beyond measure. Even the presence of the Sword Royal Family’s ancestor would evoke deference from him. Yet, today, he found himself bullied by a mere maid.

Such circumstances filled Chu Fan with anger, frustration, and a sense of despair. He felt suffocated by his inability to resist or even speak up. His soul had been transmigrated into a new body, leaving him struggling to adapt. Apart from his memories, everything felt alien to him.

Tasked with feeding horses? What did he know about such menial tasks? In the era when his father ruled over all clans, he wouldn’t have bothered with such trivialities. Even his hunting mounts were pure-blooded beasts of the highest lineage. How could he be expected to attend to common horses?

The thought of performing such lowly duties filled Chu Fan with the urge to scream and rebel. As the descendant of the Nine-tailed Heavenly Fox clan, even the ancestors dared not neglect him. Yet, here he was, reduced to serving the heavenly maiden’s horses. The disparity was unbearable, fueling his resentment.

“Even the divine Soul’s Soldier forged by my father is gone. What difference remains between my current self and a worthless wastrel?” Chu Fan despaired. Though he retained knowledge of cultivation methods and secret arts, they relied on his bloodline physique, rendering him powerless in his current predicament.

However, Chu Fan refused to succumb to hopelessness. He saw a glimmer of opportunity in contacting the spirits of Heavenly Emperor Mountain to vindicate his true identity and expose the impostor. His eyes blazed with determination, his resolve unyielding.

He refused to be trifled with, and he laid the blame squarely on the impostor’s shoulders. Who else would unjustly harm him? Meanwhile, Yin Mei, clad in a long red dress, sat in the carriage ahead, her brow furrowed in distress.

She listened to the maid scolding the horse feeder who trailed behind the carriage, feeling somewhat helpless. She couldn’t fathom why someone who typically appeared quite sharp was now struggling even to feed a horse, uttering nonsensical things. If it weren’t for the long journey and the fear of the horses starving along the way, she wouldn’t have brought him along. Initially moved by pity, Yin Mei took him in. She worried he would face ridicule and disdain, so she assigned him the task of feeding the horses and even shared her simple cultivation method with him.

Over the years, although she grew accustomed to his presence, Yin Mei hadn’t bothered to remember his name, knowing him only as some Fan. It wasn’t that she couldn’t recall it; she simply didn’t see the necessity. Her compassion was fleeting, extended momentarily out of kindness. If it were another person, she would have done the same.

“As we approach the mountain range frontier ahead, we’ll enter the territory of the Ancient Immortal Gu family. Then I’ll finally get to see the master,” Yin Mei remarked, her eyes glinting with anticipation and joy, her nine snow-white fox tails gently swaying behind her.

“Chu Fan, you’ve mixed up the spiritual herbs that Xiao Bai wants to eat again. Have you been daydreaming too much lately? Your mind seems foggy. And what’s this talk about the Heavenly Emperor Mountain? Are you out of your mind?” The voice of the little maid scolding Chu Fan once again drifted from behind, prompting Yin Mei to chuckle at the amusing situation. Her servant had been dreaming of being the offspring of some revered figure from the Heavenly Emperor Mountain.

“When the time comes, I should inform the master about this…” Yin Mei mused, finding nothing peculiar about Chu Fan’s fantasies. Indeed, the Heavenly Emperor Mountain held significant importance for the various tribes of the Sword. All beings within the Sword’s myriad tribes knew of the Heavenly Emperor, whose very title exuded invincible authority. Rumors even circulated that the Heavenly Emperor had bested several Heavenly Dignitaries in ancient times and ascended the Immortal Path millions of years ago, boasting a cultivation that surpassed the universe.

….

“Brother, I heard you’re planning to venture out into the world?” The question arose amidst the flurry of Dao great sects making their way to the Ancient Immortal Gu Family banquet.

In the Heavenly Emperor Mountain, high above in the sky, within a grand hall concealed within the void and shrouded in boundless chaotic energy, divine light ebbed and flowed like a tide. Various Dao rhythms and immortal auras intertwined, creating an ancient energy field resonating with diverse dao sounds. A strikingly handsome young man, draped in white, exuded an aura of immortality and divine light, appearing transcendently noble. Around him, an innate dao resonance pulsed, evoking images of the vastness of galaxies with suns, moons, stars, mountains, rivers, and seas.

The one who spoke was a stunning girl with silver hair, tall and slender, her eyes shimmering with bright silver light. She wore colorful fairy garments interwoven with laws, and even her accessories doubled as potent divine weapons, adorned with chains of laws. Her bloodline talent and status were on par with the handsome young man before her, for they were siblings, children of Emperor Ying, who had been sealed since ancient times, yet never manifested.

Upon hearing the news of her brother’s intention to venture beyond, the silver-haired girl was taken aback. She couldn’t help but inquire whether the rumors were true or not. According to their father’s instructions, it wasn’t yet time for them to leave. Despite their formidable cultivation, surpassing many young supremes of the current era, their emergence into the outside world wasn’t imminent. Their father’s predictions suggested their appearance should coincide with the emergence of the immortal path. Was it too soon?

Their noble identities as the offspring of the Heavenly Emperor meant even the Royal Sword clan of today would stir at their departure. In response, Ying Shuang calmly opened his eyes and replied, “Sister, do you have any objections to this matter?”

There was no hint of abnormality in his expression, a fact that even his sister Ying Yu failed to detect. Through their time together, Ying Shuang had learned numerous nuances about his character, ensuring his actions and words wouldn’t raise suspicions. Adapting to this new identity wasn’t overly challenging for Ying Shuang, despite his limited memory, requiring him to exercise caution in his interactions.

Though he’d never experienced something firsthand, he had observed it enough to mimic it convincingly. At present, as long as he maintained the façade, who would dare question his identity or see through his deception? It was merely a matter of confidence. Even the divine soul weapon crafted for him by Emperor Ying showed no signs of suspicion.

So, what else was there for him to fret over? It was all about playing a part. Prince Ying—once a character he admired and envied to the point of obsession—had become his reality. The mere thought stirred excitement within Ying Shuang. Now, he was the son of the Heavenly Emperor, commanding respect throughout the Emperor Mountain and destined to inherit its dominion. Even the entire Primordial Ten Thousand Races would bow in deference, recognizing his authority. And with the formidable talents and physique of a prince, his flesh invincible and his aura pulsing with power forged from precious bloodlines and immortal materials, Ying Shuang felt unbeatable, even against Gu Changge, the foremost figure of his generation.

“I have no objections. Since it’s my brother’s decision, I’ll naturally follow suit,” Ying Yu acquiesced, though still perplexed. With Ying Shuang providing no explanations, she refrained from pressing further. After spending an extended period within the Emperor’s Palace, she too yearned for a change of scenery, longing to explore the outside world instead of being confined to daily practice.

She had once expressed her desire to venture out to Ying Shuang, only to be met with a harsh reprimand. Now, with Ying Shuang taking the initiative to leave, it was undoubtedly his own choice.

“When I was a horse feeder, you were like a distant cloud, and I was but a drop of muddy water in the swamp, worlds apart,” Ying Shuang mused to himself. “And now, I have transformed into the most esteemed figure among the Primordial Clans…”

As Ying Yu departed, Ying Shuang’s eyes filled with a wistful yearning. He couldn’t forget the one who had come to his aid when he was on the brink of starvation, the sole beacon in his darkest hour. It was she who had imparted to him the path of cultivation and lifted him from his despair.

“Miss, I know your kindness towards me extends beyond mere pity,” Ying Shuang reflected, memories flooding his mind. “You saw something special in me, unlike other servants…”

He recalled the moments of joy after feeding Xiao Bai, eagerly awaiting the lady’s arrival and her smile.

“Due to my status, you couldn’t show too much favor towards me, miss. I understand and appreciate your efforts,” he murmured. “But now, I’ll be standing right beside you…”

“Yin Mei, if you seek to restore the Nine-Tailed Tianhu Clan, I will assist you,” Ying Shuang vowed, a newfound determination shining in his eyes, willing to go to any lengths for her.

If Gu Changge were present, he would recognize the folly of a sycophant’s aspirations.

Ying Shuang knew Yin Mei’s next destination. Though he was merely her servant, he understood that after the recent turmoil involving the inheritor of demonic arts, it was Gu Changge who had come to Yin Mei’s aid. With Gu Changge’s mother’s birthday banquet extended to all parties, Yin Mei would undoubtedly attend to repay the kindness shown to her.

Soon, word spread throughout the Emperor Mountain, shocking many of the ancient followers left behind by the Ying Emperor. Prince Ying’s decision to depart early, despite everyone’s dissuasion and objections, caused a stir among them.