I Am the Fated Villain - Chapter 220

Chapter 220: The peach’s heart is burning, finally found it

In the blink of an eye, one month had passed. Gu Changge had scoured through the Xuan domain and several major domains outside the Hong domain where Yue Mingkong resided. Employing the exclusion method, he disregarded cultivators over thirty years old, saving himself considerable time.

Throughout this process, Gu Changge did encounter a few cultivators with remarkably high luck. Although they weren’t linked to the son of luck, they could be deemed individuals with significant fortune. Under his directive, the Tai Xu Sect’s reputation burgeoned, and the invitation for disciples extended beyond the domain, attracting even some seasoned practitioners. Gu Changge saw no need to correct the rumors circulating about an immortal from the upper realm seeking disciples to bring back, a tale that drew numerous talents to their doorstep.

By keeping a low profile, Gu Changge maintained an air of mystery, making it challenging for others to discern his true intentions. He recognized the necessity of baiting his targets carefully. Thus, rumors spread that the immortal was detached and discerning, only taking notice of those who boasted exceptional talent and prestige.

Subsequently, Gu Changge set his sights on the heavenly domain, the farthest from the Xuan domain and the most central area of the lower realm’s map, where dragon veins converged. While he wouldn’t be surprised to find the human ancestor’s reincarnation in other domains, he believed the heavenly domain held the highest probability.

Though his search method was methodical, it progressed slowly, ensuring precision and minimizing errors. Meanwhile, he kept a keen eye on Yue Mingkong’s movements, aware that she, like him, lacked concrete information about the human ancestor’s reincarnation. Despite this, she had managed to stir up some trouble and narrowly escaped detection by certain powers in the upper world.

In the end, it was Gu Changge who intervened and helped her to dismantle these traps. All these events left Gu Changge secretly sighing. Did Yue Mingkong truly believe that foresight was invincible? Without his guidance, her limited resources wouldn’t even lead her to the reincarnation of the human ancestor, let alone deal with others. On the contrary, she would put herself in grave danger.

Gu Changge resolved that upon returning to the upper world, he would impress upon Yue Mingkong the importance of consulting with him as her husband before taking any action. Only with his agreement should she proceed. Amidst several twists and turns and traversing numerous transmission formations, Gu Changge’s figure materialized somewhere in the Heavenly Domain of the Heavenly Star Realm.

He remained alone, eschewing the company of a large entourage. Even the Great Sacred Realm puppet he summoned proved more useful than any companions in this realm. With a mere thought, the void rippled, and a puppet with a stoic countenance appeared beside him, addressing him respectfully as “Master.”

“Just act as a servant or something; it’s more than sufficient,” Gu Changge replied with a nod. Indeed, the presence of a servant from the Great Sacred Realm would likely intimidate every cultivator and creature in the Heavenly Star Realm.

With master and servant in tow, Gu Changge proceeded towards the more populous areas. Unlike other domains, the overall cultivation level here was significantly higher, with most cultivators reaching the sacred realm. The Heavenly Domain stood as a first-class force, while others were relegated to second-class status.

Upon arrival in the Heavenly Domain and just as he was about to settle down, Gu Changge heard the system prompt once again.

“Ding! You have triggered the quest to find hints about the Reincarnation’s Son of Luck. Do you want to accept it?”

Gu Changge’s expression took on a peculiar twist as he nodded, “Accept.” It appeared that as his own luck points increased, the system’s ability to sense sons of luck expanded as well. Perhaps the more likely reason was the proximity of his current location to the characters involved in this quest.

As Gu Changge chose to accept the prompt, the journey continued.

Buzz!!! The scene before him blurred, giving way to a colorful and splendid peach tree amidst the chaotic ocean. A thick, mountain-like divine thunder struck down, shaking the heavens and earth with a terrifying sound. Eventually, this divine thunder transformed into a vast, continuous scene resembling a galaxy. Each lightning bolt seemed capable of rending the world itself, instilling terror to the extreme.

The peach tree, engulfed by this divine thunder, appeared to undergo a profound transformation. But as the scene shifted, the peach tree lay scorched and lifeless, plummeting from the universe. At its center, a cloud of hooded light descended towards an unknown expanse.

“Baby girl?” Gu Changge discerned clearly that the cloud of hooded light encased a small infant girl. This sight furrowed his brow.

Upon seeing the peach tree, Gu Changge initially thought of the one from the peach village where Gu Xian’er was found. According to the pattern of caring for Xian’er, that peach tree likely had an extraordinary origin, perhaps serving as the ancestral sacrificial spirit from the oldest era. Gu Changge had never doubted this fact.

Now, witnessing this image, particularly the mysterious baby girl, Gu Changge couldn’t help but connect the dots. The reincarnation’s son of luck was evidently linked to the reincarnation of the human ancestor. Could this mysterious baby girl be related to both?

Soon, a vague suspicion formed in Gu Changge’s mind. “Of course, it still needs confirmation.” He smiled, his expression taking on a deeper contemplation.

Boom! Taking the puppet with him, Gu Changge traversed the area and made his way towards the nearby ancient city. Simultaneously, he observed the various movements in the terrain, enabling him to narrow down his search.

Since the system prompted this image, the mysterious baby girl should be in this vicinity. Considering her connection to the reincarnation of the human ancestor, judging by her age, she likely wasn’t very old.

…

“Granny, brother didn’t come back today. It’s been a year.”

“Do you think he forgot about Yaoyao?”

In the heart of a remote village known as North Mountain Village, a little girl with a goat-horn braid and a face smeared with mud looked at the village elder, an old woman with a stooped figure and silver hair.

The little girl’s attire was worn and patched, yet remarkably clean. Her eyes, black and white, resembled the most flawless and pure gems. Despite her deliberate smearing of mud, she appeared to be only four or five years old. However, those in the village familiar with her knew her true age surpassed that.

The little girl was precocious yet impoverished, afflicted by a strange ailment that stunted her growth. Over the years, she had remained the same size, perpetually resembling a child of four or five years old.

“How could that be? Even if your brother forgets everyone else, he could never forget Yaoyao!”

“Don’t worry, Yaoyao! Brother was simply taken away by a cultivator. He’ll return soon after learning and become a cultivator who can soar through the sky. Then he can take you everywhere and indulge in plenty of treats like candied fruit. Won’t that be wonderful?”

Hearing these words, the old woman offered a gentle smile and reassured the little girl.

“Hmm, I’ll listen to grandma. I’ll wait in the village for my brother to come back,” declared the little girl named Yaoyao. “I’ll wait for him to take me flying like a cultivator and eat delicious food.”

Yaoyao nodded wisely, though she couldn’t help but cast another longing glance at the village entrance. For years, her brother had cared for both her and their sick grandmother. Now, despite being favored by powerful cultivators and taken away for over a year, there was still no news.

Despite her youthful appearance, Yaoyao understood everything. Every time she visited the village, apart from missing her brother, she couldn’t help but worry about him. The outside world was perilous, and while her brother may have been taken by a strong cultivator, safety was not guaranteed. She had heard many tales of the dangers of the cultivation world since childhood.

“Don’t fret, Yaoyao. Your brother is from the Immortal Lun Sect,” the silver-haired old woman reassured. “His physique is highly esteemed in the cultivation world. He’ll receive vigorous cultivation from the sect. Right now, he’s likely busy with his training and has no time to return.”

Observing that Yaoyao still wore the same expression, the old woman smiled and continued to offer comfort. She had discovered the baby girl beneath a blossoming peach tree years ago, shrouded in an extraordinary light, as if she had been placed there deliberately. The scene had seemed fitting for the name Yaoyao, and so she had taken her in.

Years passed, but Yaoyao remained perpetually four or five years old, never aging a day. The silver-haired old woman tried countless methods to help her grow, but to no avail. It was as if fate had played a cruel joke on the little girl.

Despite her plight, Yaoyao remained remarkably sensible, never causing her adoptive grandmother any undue worry. Another child the old woman had taken in was also thriving.

One year ago, he had been esteemed by passing cultivators from the Immortal Lun Sect, who recognized his potential and took him to cultivate with them, promising a bright future. As the old woman reminisced, her smile deepened. Trembling slightly, she led the little girl into the house.

North Mountain Village lay in a remote location, backed by mountains to the north. Occasionally, monsters emerged from the mountains, causing havoc in the village. To the south, a desert stretched out where bandits were frequently spotted, plundering the villages for meat and spiritual stones. The villagers endured deep suffering and misery.

To protect Yaoyao from the notice of deranged bandits, the old woman smeared dirt on her face. Yaoyao followed her grandmother, greeting acquaintances along the way as they walked towards the house. The villagers admired Yaoyao for her well-behaved and obedient nature.

Boom! However, at that moment, the thunderous sound of horses’ hooves echoed outside the village, resembling a charging army of thousands. The momentum was shocking and extremely frightening. From a distance, one could see a menacing aura rising in the sky.

“No, it’s bandits! The bandits are rushing towards the village. Women, children, and the elderly, hurry back to your homes and stay hidden,” shouted the villagers in alarm. “Damn it! Didn’t we just pay them off with spirit stones? These bandits are back again?”

“These renegade robbers! Everyone, arm yourselves!” exclaimed the villagers, their faces pale with fear as they hastily ushered the vulnerable members of their community indoors.

Responding swiftly, young and middle-aged villagers, along with those possessing some degree of cultivation, grabbed weapons and congregated at the village entrance. Bandits raiding villages was a grim reality, devoid of any expectation of friendship or honor.

“Grandma, the bandits are here again…” Yaoyao’s expression betrayed her fear. Bandits were notorious for their ruthless violence.

“Don’t be afraid, Yaoyao. Grandma is here,” reassured the silver-haired old woman, holding Yaoyao’s hand tightly. However, a hint of worry lingered in her eyes. Judging from the momentum, this group of bandits seemed different from those encountered before.

Boom! Accompanied by swirling yellow sand in the sky, a large group of bandits riding fierce beasts charged towards the entrance of North Mountain Village, covering a vast area as they approached. The bandits astride the beasts exuded agility, a formidable murderous aura, and a grim countenance.

Their aura was powerful and awe-inspiring, surpassing that of ordinary people and even cultivators. It was evident that these were no ordinary bandits.

“This… how is this possible…”

“This is… the Black Wind Bandit!”

“The Black Wind Bandit… they’re the most formidable bandit group in the vicinity. Many forces that attempted to confront them were annihilated!”

“It’s said their leader is a godlike figure!”

The villagers of North Mountain Village recognized the identity of these bandits and were struck with terror, their faces drained of color. Some were so overwhelmed that they collapsed to the ground.

Even those who had armed themselves and prepared to confront the bandits found themselves paralyzed with fear, unable to muster the courage to face such overwhelming power. The sheer force of their monstrous aura threatened to drown and suffocate them.

Some villagers, unable to withstand the intensity, lost consciousness and fell to the ground in a faint.

“Why have the Black Wind Bandits come here…? Though they may be just a group, ordinary villages like ours stand no chance against them…”

The silver-haired old woman’s expression shifted slightly, betraying her disbelief at the dire situation unfolding before them.

“Grandma, they all say that the leader of the Black Wind Bandit likes to eat people, especially children…” Yaoyao’s wide eyes betrayed her fear. After all, she was just a young girl. Despite her maturity beyond her years, facing the Black Wind Bandits, who slaughtered without mercy and allegedly took pleasure in cannibalism, left her trembling with fear.

“Don’t be scared, Yaoyao. Those are just stories made up by adults to frighten you. With Grandma here, no harm will come to you,” reassured the silver-haired old woman, her resolve evident as she shielded Yaoyao from view, ensuring the distant Black Wind Bandits couldn’t see her.

She couldn’t fathom why a powerful bandit group like the Black Wind Bandits would target a remote village like theirs. In the vicinity, there were other villages like Black Stone Village and Wolf Village. Had they also fallen victim to the bandits’ plunder?

As the silver-haired old woman pondered, a bandit with a menacing presence stepped forward at the village entrance. His face bore a horrific scar, and his cultivation had reached the realm of the Sacred Land, granting him unparalleled dominance.

“Bring out your village chief!” he demanded with chilling indifference, his gaze sweeping over the villagers as if they were mere insects.

The many bandits behind him maintained an indifferent demeanor, perched atop their beasts as though poised to unleash destruction upon the village if met with defiance. The villagers of North Mountain Village had never witnessed such a menacing display, leaving their faces drained of color and their voices paralyzed with fear.

“I am the village head of North Mountain Village,” stammered a trembling old man, his expression fraught with terror as he stepped forward to address the bandits. It was the mayor of North Mountain Village, who, having suffered from injuries during his youth, had returned to serve his community.

Despite his efforts to strengthen the villagers, they now stood as fragile as paper before the ferocity of the Black Wind Bandits.

“So, you’re a cultivator, yet you haven’t even reached the Soul Palace. What good are you?” sneered the lead bandit, casting a disdainful glance at the old village chief.

Pale-faced and unable to retaliate, the old village chief wilted under the bandit’s gaze. The bandit observed the villagers’ expressions, noting their awe, worry, fear, and panic.

“Our boss has decreed that in nearby villages, all girls under the age of fifteen must be offered as tribute!” declared the bandit with a wicked grin. “Three days from now, we will come to collect them. Any attempt to flee or resist will result in the slaughter of the entire village! Not a soul will be spared!”

His words, coupled with his menacing appearance, instilled a chilling dread among the villagers. Many children wailed in terror, and even the adults looked on with despair. Some clung tightly to their children in a futile attempt to shield them from the impending threat.

Faced with the ruthless demand of the Black Wind Bandits, resistance seemed futile. Must they surrender their children? And why such a specific request for girls under the age of fifteen? The villagers couldn’t comprehend it, but the rumors of the bandit boss’s cannibalistic desires filled them with dread.

After delivering their decree, the Black Wind Bandits departed in a formidable manner, leaving behind a group of desperate and terrified North Mountain Villagers.

“Why? The Black Wind Bandits deserve to die! Why must they steal our children?”

“Even if it costs me my life, I won’t hand over my child!”

The air was filled with the sounds of sobbing and angry murmurs as many villagers expressed their anguish. The old village headman’s face contorted in despair as he collapsed to the ground. The villagers knew they stood no chance against the Black Wind Bandits, let alone ordinary bandits who were weaker. Disobeying the bandits’ orders meant certain annihilation for the village.

Escape? Relocate? How could a group of ordinary villagers outrun the Black Wind Bandits and their ferocious beasts in just three days?

“Grandma, I’m scared…” Yaoyao’s voice trembled with fear as she clung to her grandmother in the midst of the chaos, her small face smeared with mud. The revelation that girls under fifteen were to be taken shook her to the core, especially considering the rumors of the bandit leader’s cannibalistic tendencies.

“I don’t want to be eaten.”

“Don’t be afraid, Yaoyao. As long as I’m here, no one can take you away,” assured the silver-haired crone, her voice wavering slightly as she held Yaoyao tightly. Her tone was resolute, as if she were drawing a line in the sand.

As the Black Wind Bandits made their demands in nearby villages, a dark and imposing mountain peak served as their stronghold, where a lofty palace stood tall.

Inside the lofty palace, the current leader of the Black Wind Bandits stood before a group of unconscious maidens, reporting to the young man who stood above him with his hands clasped behind his back.

“Your honor, these maidens were all captured from nearby villages and cities according to your orders. Are you satisfied?”

The young man, whose back was turned to the Black Wind Bandits’ leader, did not respond audibly but shook his head slightly, conveying an inexplicable meaning in his tone.

Perplexed by this response, the Black Wind Bandits’ leader hesitated. After all the effort to capture these maidens, now he was instructed to release them? Was the young man searching for someone?

However, fearing to incur the young man’s displeasure, the leader quickly assured, “My lord, please rest assured, we will not harm them.”

With that, he swiftly ushered the group of young girls away, not daring to linger any longer. Some time ago, this enigmatic and formidable young man had appeared out of nowhere, tasking the bandits with a mysterious mission. The leader had been taken aback by the sudden request, especially when he felt the overwhelming pressure of the Great Sacred Realm emanating from the young man and his stoic servant.

At that moment, he was overcome with fear, his heart nearly shattered by terror. For outsiders, the current rumor of his cannibalistic desires only added to the Black Wind Bandit leader’s helplessness and bitterness. He couldn’t deny the existence of this rumor. After all, who had commanded him to carry out such a heinous act?

Moreover, within the Black Wind Bandits, only he knew of the existence of this mysterious young lord. “Could my location speculation be wrong?” he wondered, feeling a sense of unease settle over him.

In the main hall, after the departure of the Black Wind Bandits’ leader, Gu Changge furrowed his brow, pondering whether something had gone awry. Despite narrowing down his search to such a small range, he still hadn’t found the baby girl. “This doesn’t seem right. I should wait a bit,” he mused, closing his eyes to delve into deep contemplation.

In the days that followed, the captured young girls showed no signs of exceptional luck, reinforcing his belief in his deductions. Then, after three days had passed, news reached Gu Changge’s ears: a small team dispatched by the Black Wind Bandits had been mysteriously wiped out.

“It appears I have finally found it,” Gu Changge thought almost instantaneously, a smile creeping onto his face.