I Am the Fated Villain - Chapter 221

Chapter 221: Are you the immortal brother? Is this little girl willing to worship the deity as a teacher?

“My lord, in this small northern mountain, there’s a powerful cultivator hidden, and it killed all the people I sent,” the leader of the black wind bandits reported cautiously.

“According to the reports, there was a silver-haired old woman among them, deeply hidden. Her cultivation base had already reached the conferred king realm,” he continued, his voice tinged with anxiety.

Inside the hall, Gu Changge, the bandit leader, showed no immediate reaction. He kept his hands on his back and didn’t even turn his head, much to the leader’s discomfort. The leader feared Gu Changge’s reproach for the loss of his people in the village.

However, Gu Changge seemed unconcerned. He smiled faintly at the mention of the silver-haired old woman and the conferred king realm.

“Don’t worry, my lord, this time I’ll personally take action. Everyone in that village will be arrested,” the leader of the bandits assured, wiping the cold sweat from his forehead.

Gu Changge’s expression remained unchanged as he waved his hand lightly, dismissing the leader. “No, it’s none of your business. Let’s go,” he said, signaling for the leader to leave.

The news brought Gu Changge a sense of satisfaction. Finally, there was a clue about the reincarnation of the human ancestor he had been seeking in the lower realm.

In a small village, hidden great masters couldn’t generally take action for some unknown reason. However, they revealed their true strength at the critical moment, successfully blocking the intruding bandits. Gu Changge was familiar with this routine.

As a figure like the Human Ancestor’s reincarnation, luck dictated that those around him should have some background or past worth noting. Presumably, the silver-haired old woman who sheltered the Human Ancestor’s reincarnation could spark a significant plot.

“Wait, there’s something else for you to do…” Gu Changge suddenly called out to the leader of the black wind bandits with an intriguing expression.

Recently, he had been searching for a mysterious baby girl who should be in a small village called Northern Mountain Village. Under his orders, they had encountered a group of bandits and were in danger. The cultivators in the Conferred King Realm could naturally protect the peace for a while in such a small place. However, encountering a behemoth like the Black Wind Bandit was a different story. The two were not of the same magnitude at all, creating an unexpected situation.

“My lord, please give me instructions,” the leader hurried back, bending over and flattering, “The villain should do it with all his strength.”

“I don’t want you to arrest people. I want you to send people to slaughter the village. After this is done, you will be free,” Gu Changge’s smile was somewhat intriguing, “If it can’t be done, then there is no need for the Black Wind Bandit to exist.”

“Slaughter the Village?” The leader’s expression changed, but he didn’t dare to ask Gu Changge the reason. In his opinion, a small village was completely unworthy of this big man’s attention. Could it be that the village held some unknown secrets? How difficult was it to slaughter the village?

Soon, due to Gu Changge’s order, the leader of the bandits began to gather all the black wind bandits. Under the guise of being provoked and seeking revenge, he announced their intention to slaughter the Northern Mountain Village.

Boom! A terrifying black torrent surged from the mountain range, staining the sky with blood as it surged toward Northern Mountain Village. Along the way, many cities and villages trembled in fear, well aware of the terror that the black wind bandits brought to the vicinity. Offending them meant facing the inevitable fate of slaughter, even if there was a monk in the conferred king realm.

Many cultivators felt pity for the villagers. “What can we do against the black wind bandits?”

After giving the order, Gu Changge left the Black Wind Bandit Hall with his puppet servants. This was the perfect moment for him to make his appearance. After all, what better time for a hero to save the day? Although it was a cliché plot, with careful execution, it could still be effective.

Gu Changge contemplated what identity he should assume this time to make everything appear seamless. The mysterious baby girl seemed somehow connected to the peach tree behind Gu Xian’er. His journey from the upper realm to the Heavenly Star Realm was a secret, and it might become known by then.

“However, by that time, with my cultivation base, I might not need to consider these things anymore,” Gu Changge thought. He believed that with his current cultivation speed, he might reach the Great Sacred Realm by the time he returned to the upper realm, if not very close to it.

Meanwhile, in Northern Mountain Village…

“Grandma Yin Hua, the black wind bandits are threatening to slaughter us…”

“What should we do?”

“The leader of the black wind bandits is like a god. We won’t be able to escape, and all of us will perish.”

Meanwhile, in Northern Mountain Village, the current village chief stood at the door of Yaoyao’s house, conversing with the silver-haired old woman with a look of sorrow and despair. Behind him, the rest of the villagers shared the same sense of hopelessness.

Just the day before yesterday, a group of bandits from the Black Wind Bandit had returned, aggressively attempting to abduct all girls under the age of fifteen. The villagers were filled with desperation and reluctance, but who dared to resist? They didn’t even dare to refuse.

Even though Yaoyao had smeared mud on her face, she was recognized by the bandits, who threatened to take her away. Terrified, she hadn’t seen her brother return, fearing she would become prey for the black wind bandit boss.

However, to everyone’s surprise, the trembling silver-haired granny suddenly sprang into action, despite usually needing assistance to walk. With her move, she displayed the formidable strength of the Conferred King Realm. She turned out to be a cultivator and a master!

With no accidents, all the bandits met their demise, buried at the hands of Granny Yin Hua. None escaped, as their strongest member was no match for her, being two realms below her in strength.

This scene left everyone in shock, including Yaoyao. Granny Yin Hua naturally became the pillar of Northern Mountain Village, with everyone placing their hope in her. Before this revelation, no one would have suspected she was a deeply hidden master.

However, joy quickly turned to despair. Despite their victory over the initial bandit group, the black wind bandits were more than just that one faction. There were even more terrifying powerhouses backing them. While they managed to escape once, the villagers knew they couldn’t evade them forever. Despair settled over Northern Mountain Village once again.

Looking at the desperate yet faintly hopeful people of Northern Mountain Village before her, Granny Yinhua smiled bitterly and spoke, “At this juncture, I have no choice. Black Wind is the bandit master, but he’s a high-ranking deity, and the other nine masters are true gods…”

“Not to mention my current cultivation in the conferred king realm, even at the peak of my abilities, it would be impossible to stop them,” she admitted truthfully. If the Black Wind bandits truly intended to slaughter the village, even if she cared deeply for the villagers, she wouldn’t be able to do much. At that point, Yaoyao would have to flee first. The fate of the others would be beyond her control.

Granny Yinhua didn’t want to witness such a day. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have chosen seclusion in this village or revealed her cultivation, instead of living as an ordinary old woman. With a much stronger enemy lurking behind her, once her whereabouts were exposed, she would face endless pursuit and assassination.

Hearing Granny Yinhua’s words, the people of Northern Mountain Village fell into true despair. Their last glimmer of hope was brutally extinguished. There would be no miracles this time.

“Grandma…” Yaoyao grasped Granny Yinhua’s sleeve, her large eyes reflecting worry and fear. Though young, she was remarkably perceptive and understood the gravity of Granny’s words. When the Black Wind bandits arrived, everyone would perish. All they could do now was await their fate. Running or resisting would only worsen their end. Even though Grandma was a cultivator and might find a way to escape with her, the chance of success against such formidable foes was slim.

“Don’t worry, Yaoyao, Grandma will protect you,” Granny Yinhua reassured, feeling Yaoyao’s fear, but also sharing in her despair. Escape was impossible, and resistance was even more so.

At that moment, Granny Yinhua could only cling to the hope that Yaoyao’s elder brother, Jiang Yang, would unexpectedly return and rally the powerhouses of the Immortal Lun Sect to vanquish the Black Wind bandits. However, she knew deep down that this hope was slim.

“Yeah, Yaoyao believes in Grandma,” Yaoyao nodded resolutely, displaying a maturity beyond her years by not breaking into tears like other children might. Her demeanor was remarkably sensible and composed.

Granny Yinhua smiled with relief. She swore to protect Yaoyao with every fiber of her being, even if it meant risking her own life. “Grandma, do you think brother will come back to save us?” Yaoyao asked hopefully. “He went to cultivate in the Immortal Lun Sect. He should be very powerful now, right? I believe that brother will show up and defeat all the bad guys of the Black Wind Bandit!”

A wry smile tugged at Granny Yinhua’s lips. What could she say in response? Could she tell Yaoyao that, despite her brother’s talent, he would likely only be in the Soul Palace realm at most, and that it was improbable for one person to save them unless a miracle occurred?

As desperation loomed, Granny Yinhua entertained the idea of sacrificing her own life force, using a secret treasure to move Yaoyao to safety. “The black wind bandits will not be able to find her,” she resolved silently, gazing at Yaoyao’s innocent face.

“In Northern Mountain Village, who dares to provoke me, the Black Wind Bandits will learn the fate of those who cross us,” a deep voice suddenly thundered from the horizon. A horde of fierce bandits mounted on fierce beasts rushed towards them, signaling imminent danger.

At the forefront rode a bandit dressed in ominous black attire, exuding a terrifying aura as he perched atop a black dragon. He was none other than the leader of the Black Wind bandits, a true god in his own right. He gazed coldly upon Northern Mountain Village below, questioning why the higher-ups had tasked him with leading this operation. Despite the presence of hidden masters at the conferred king level within the village, it didn’t warrant his personal intervention. Nonetheless, it was an order from above, and he had no choice but to comply. Slaughtering the village would be a swift endeavor for him.

“The Black Wind bandits are here! They’ve truly come to slaughter the village, and it’s hopeless. None of us will escape…” Despair washed over everyone in Northern Mountain Village as they witnessed the imminent threat unfold before their eyes.

“Grandma,” Yaoyao murmured, her lip trembling in fear as she clung to Granny Yinhua. Despite her terror, she held back her tears, displaying remarkable bravery.

“Don’t be afraid, Yaoyao. Grandma is here,” Granny Yinhua reassured her, her gaze fixed on the approaching bandits with unwavering determination. The sky was dominated by the formidable presence of the Black Wind bandits, their numbers vast and their strength formidable. Alongside the leader in the True God Realm, the others were elite members of the bandit group.

Granny Yinhua felt a surge of desperation, but she harbored no regrets. If the Black Wind bandits had succeeded in capturing Yaoyao previously, she would have been consumed by endless guilt and remorse.

“You’re the old hag who killed our men. You deserve to die,” the ninth leader of the Black Wind bandits proclaimed from his lofty perch in the sky. “You’ll learn today that the Black Wind bandits are not to be trifled with. You lowlifes have offended our boss, and you’ll pay the price!”

With his declaration, he moved to personally take action, driven by the orders of their leader to ensure the completion of the village slaughter.

Buzz!!

The pressure of the True God Realm instantly bore down on them.

Boom!

The mountains shook as if the sky itself was collapsing, a colossal weight descending upon them like a falling mountain. All the villagers in Northern Mountain Village were overwhelmed with despair, terror, and horror. Under this overwhelming aura, they felt as insignificant as ants.

“Stop!” the silver-haired granny exclaimed, her expression contorting with urgency. Her body radiated bright runes as she mustered all her strength to meet the impending blow head-on. But in the next moment, with a sickening thud, her body was engulfed in blood, sent flying backward with nearly half of her body on the verge of explosion. The disparity in power between them was too vast; she stood no chance against this opponent.

Witnessing this scene filled the villagers with even greater despair and horror, causing them to slump to the ground in defeat.

“You actually dared to resist my blow with mere physical strength. It seems you were quite formidable in your prime,” the bandit leader remarked with a sneer, momentarily surprised by the silver-haired granny’s resilience. However, he remained undeterred, confident that with one more strike, he could obliterate her completely.

“I have no interest in revisiting the past. Right now, I’m just an old woman trying to protect her granddaughter,” Granny Yinhua managed to utter through clenched teeth, her body drenched in blood, her complexion ghastly pale and pitiable.

“Grandma!” Yaoyao cried out in distress, her face drained of color as she clutched the corner of her clothes tightly. The strength of the black wind bandit was overwhelming, and even with Granny Yinhua’s resistance, there seemed to be no hope of survival. She desperately hoped for her brother to appear and save them, but no one came. Despair consumed her heart.

“You’re clueless if you think resistance will save you. Wouldn’t it be easier to just accept your fate and die quietly?” The bandit leader sneered at the silver-haired old woman, ready to eliminate her for daring to defy him. With such an immense gap in strength, what use was resistance? He couldn’t fathom why the boss had ordered the village’s slaughter. Perhaps the boss was simply in a foul mood when he issued the directive.

“Puff!” Without surprise, under the overwhelming aura, the silver-haired old woman spat out another mouthful of blood and plummeted from the sky. Seeing this, Yaoyao rushed over, tears streaming down her face, intent on helping her grandmother up.

“Yaoyao, leave me be…” Granny Yinhua coughed up blood, her injuries severe. Even at her peak, she was only close to the true god realm. Yet, despite enduring two direct hits, she miraculously remained alive.

“Don’t hurt my grandma!” Yaoyao stood defiantly before the bandit leader, her small frame trembling with determination.

“Yaoyao, come back!” Granny Yinhua’s expression twisted in alarm, reaching out to pull her granddaughter away.

“A mere child, utterly clueless,” the bandit leader muttered, his tone turning cold as he launched another attack. The formidable palm bore down from the sky, aiming to crush the ignorant little girl to death. Surprisingly, even a four- or five-year-old dared to defy him, provoking his ire further.

“Yaoyao…” The villagers of Northern Mountain Village cried out, some anguished and unwilling to witness the impending tragedy, turning their heads away. They feared Yaoyao would meet her demise under the bandit leader’s ruthless palm.

Buzz!!

But in the next moment, the expected scene failed to materialize. Instead, a slightly resigned sigh echoed through the heavens and earth, as if the universe itself held its breath, enveloped in an inexplicable and mysterious aura.

“The deity still wishes to enjoy the spectacle, but how can one lay hands on such a beautiful child,” a voice akin to a man’s resonated throughout the cosmos, its age impossible to discern. It possessed a youthful timbre, yet within its words lay the weight of eternal wisdom, as if observing the ebb and flow of time itself.

As the world unfurled like a scroll, space and time appeared to freeze, suspended in a moment of divine intervention. Amidst this cosmic stillness, a figure materialized—a man with an indistinct visage, exuding an otherworldly aura.

His profound gaze seemed to reflect the countless horrors of existence, capable of shattering minds and extinguishing lives with a single glance. It was Gu Changge, who had been silently observing the events in Northern Mountain Village, biding his time until the opportune moment to reveal himself.

At the sight of him, the bandit leader trembled uncontrollably, as if ice water had been poured into his skull, chilling him to the bone. Though he had never encountered this enigmatic figure before, his presence instilled a deep-seated fear unlike anything the bandit leader had ever experienced.

But his power was undeniably immense, otherwise, he wouldn’t possess the ability to manipulate the laws of heaven and earth. Vaguely, he recalled the recent rumors from the Xuan Domain. Could it be… the enigmatic and unpredictable Immortal from the upper realm?

“Are you an immortal… brother?” Yaoyao’s voice trembled slightly as she gazed at the man in white who had appeared before her. Her large, innocent eyes reflected a mix of confusion and curiosity as she timidly questioned him. “Brother Immortal?”

The figure emerging from the fabric of reality seemed momentarily taken aback by her words before emitting a soft chuckle. “A peculiar title,” he remarked, his deep gaze fixing upon her with a commanding presence that sent shivers down the spine. “Little girl, would you like to become this deity’s disciple?”

His words carried a weight that made even the laws and rules of existence tremble. Shock and awe engulfed the onlookers, particularly the Black Wind Bandits, whose very souls felt frozen, rendering them powerless and insignificant. The imposing aura commanded a deadly silence, leaving the villagers of Northern Mountain Village horrified and disbelieving of what they witnessed.

Unaware of the gravity of the situation, Yaoyao remained oblivious to the significance of the moment. Meanwhile, the silver-haired granny behind her experienced a whirlwind of emotions—from shock to disbelief, and now to elation. Despite her grievous injuries, she urged Yaoyao with a trembling voice, “Yaoyao, accept this immortal’s offer. This is your greatest opportunity. Don’t let it slip away!”

Though Northern Mountain Village was situated in a remote corner, word had reached even Granny Yinhua of the immensely mysterious Immortal from the upper realm who had recently emerged in the Xuan Domain. With his guidance, the formidable Taixu Sect had swiftly unified the Xuan Domain without a single day of warfare. The man before them, clad in white, exuded the same aura of power and authority, leaving no doubt as to his identity.

In that moment, Granny Yinhua’s heart raced with anxiety for Yaoyao, realizing the immense significance of the decision before her.

“It’s truly a rare piece of immortal material. No one has found it for so many years. I didn’t expect to pass through this area today, but it’s a stroke of luck for the deity,” the man in white remarked with a slight smile, addressing Yaoyao. “If you hesitate, you’ll face ruin. That would be a sin.”

Yaoyao opened her eyes, feeling a sense of warmth and tranquility emanating from the man before her. It was a comforting sensation, as if she need not fear even if the sky were to fall. Just as she was about to meet her end at the hands of the nefarious Black Wind Bandits, this immortal intervened, rescuing her and offering to take her as his disciple. Was he truly an immortal?

Contrastingly, the brother she had eagerly anticipated failed to arrive. Without this immortal’s intervention, she, her grandmother, and all the villagers would have perished here today.

“Thank you, Mr. Immortal, for your help. The old woman is deeply grateful!” Granny Yinhua expressed with ecstasy and profound gratitude as she knelt before Gu Changge.

Listening to her words, Yaoyao felt a sense of awe and horror. Just passing through this domain? How many domains existed within the entire Heavenly Star Realm? Did this mean that the immortal before her could traverse vast distances effortlessly, shrinking space at will? Such abilities were unheard of.

Gu Changge nodded slightly, acknowledging Granny Yinhua’s gratitude, but showed no intention of engaging in further conversation with her. The silver-haired granny, unsurprised by his reserved demeanor, considered it an honor just to witness the presence of an immortal. She reasoned that an immortal of his stature would unlikely converse with someone of her status. Moreover, Yaoyao’s identity appeared far from ordinary. When she was adopted, beasts avoided her within a thousand-mile radius. Despite this, the mystery surrounding Yaoyao’s extraordinary nature remained unsolved. However, the immortal before her likely possessed the knowledge to unravel Yaoyao’s enigmatic background.

“Will Mr. Immortal really accept Yaoyao as a disciple?” Granny Yinhua inquired with uncertainty, her voice tinged with hope and concern.

“They all said that I can’t cultivate, that I’m just an ordinary person. The cultivator who took my brother away last time also said that if I went along, I’d just drag him down…” Yaoyao murmured softly, her youthful voice belying the depth of her thoughts. Despite her tender age of four or five, she seemed to possess a wisdom beyond her years.

It wasn’t that she didn’t desire Mr. Immortal as her teacher. Rather, she felt unworthy of such an honor due to her humble background, coupled with her affliction that stunted her growth. Moreover, she had previously accepted her fate of not cultivating, content to stay by her grandmother’s side until her brother’s return. However, witnessing the harsh realities of the world today had altered her perspective. She now realized the importance of cultivation in protecting her loved ones.

“They are blind and short-sighted. How could they recognize true immortal material?” Gu Changge remarked with disdain, shaking his head. His gaze upon Yaoyao held a newfound appreciation, having observed her closely during his concealed observation. Recognizing her as a rare embodiment of luck, with an abundance of luck points emanating from her being, confirmed his suspicions regarding her connection to the mysterious peach tree—a deviation from the Ruthless Empress template he had known in his previous life.

Despite Yaoyao’s determination, her eyes brimming with tears, Gu Changge couldn’t help but smile. “You’re obedient and well-behaved,” he commended, before expressing his intent to intervene on her behalf. “As your teacher, I’ll rectify these misunderstandings. They nearly destroyed such precious immortal jade. Such a sin is unforgivable.”

With a meaningful smile, Gu Changge waved his sleeve, signaling his resolve to address the situation.

Boom!

It felt as though the entire world was spinning on its axis!

The overwhelming and immense power, akin to an ocean, transformed into a crucible of celestial proportions, enveloping everything below.

Puff puff…

The once-aggressive and dominating group of Black Wind Bandits, which had previously blotted out the sky, vanished from sight in an instant, as if they had been erased by an unseen and formidable force!

It was as though their presence had been nothing more than a mirage!

This astonishing sight left all the villagers of Northern Mountain Village wide-eyed and dumbfounded.

To them, this display of power was reminiscent of the legendary immortals spoken of in tales.

“Such strength surpasses the limits of the heavens and the earth…” Granny Yinhua shivered, deeply affected by the spectacle for a prolonged moment before regaining her composure.

Then came elation, for the immortal from the upper realm had indeed taken Yaoyao under his wing as his disciple!