I Am the Fated Villain - Chapter 272

Chapter 272: Was he molested? She didn’t even look back once

At this juncture, Gu Changge intended to rise and depart, having accomplished his objective of finding Lao Shi. Su Qingge and the others waited for him, and there were still pending arrangements to be made.

“Where is Young Master Changge headed? I resided in the True Immortal Academy in the past. Allow me to accompany you there. Since you’ve just arrived, you may not be familiar with many areas,” Xi Yao suggested with a smile, exuding a graceful and opulent demeanor, her generosity and refinement appearing effortless.

Gu Changge appeared momentarily taken aback, then politely declined with a smile. “It’s just a trifling matter; I wouldn’t want to impose on the queen.”

Xi Yao persisted, her smile unwavering. “It’s no trouble at all.”

“In that case, I would be honored to accept the queen’s guidance. Your kindness is truly appreciated,” Gu Changge acquiesced with a helpless smile, his tall and immaculate figure exuding an ethereal aura.

As Empress Xi Yao stood beside him, the elders and Lao Shi couldn’t help but feel a sense of unease mingled with harmony. There was an awkward yet harmonious dynamic between them.

With a wave of her jade hand, bursts of immortal light emanated, followed by an ethereal aura enveloping the two figures as they departed. The breeze gently lifted them, changing the scenery beneath their feet. The mountains vanished from sight, leaving behind a verdant lake resembling an emerald, surrounded by jade-like mountains and rivers. Further in the distance, chaotic fog veiled the landscape. At the same time, the sky shimmered with various hues of radiant light emanating from the mansions scattered across the horizon, imbued with a formidable aura capable of piercing through the clouds.

This spectacle was caused by the young prodigies and anomalies cultivating within the True Immortal Academy. Standing side by side, Gu Changge and Empress Xi Yao were enveloped in a faint fragrance reminiscent of orchids and musk deer, evoking a sense of elegance and purity akin to a clear spring flowing beneath the icy veneer of celestial realms. It was crisp and refreshing yet tinged with a subtle allure.

“Why were you silent, Young Master Changge?” Queen Xi Yao inquired with a smile. “If you don’t speak up, I won’t know where we’re headed.”

Upon hearing this, Gu Changge appeared somewhat helpless and let out a faint sigh. “Ever heard of the phrase ‘sitting in the arms’?”

“Are you implying I’m sitting haphazardly?” Gu Changge’s unexpected remark momentarily took away Empress Xi Yao. Why would he say such a thing?

However, she quickly grasped the underlying meaning behind Gu Changge’s words, noting the expression on his face with heightened interest. Was he insinuating that she struggled to maintain composure due to their proximity?

Gu Changge intended to convey that she was attempting to gather her thoughts, and her silence stemmed from a desire to regain her composure. But why was it challenging for her to remain calm? Was it because of their proximity?

This marked the first time in over 6,000 years that Queen Xi Yao found herself in such proximity to a man. Not even her poisoned fiancé had been this physically close.

Though uncertain of the reason behind their current situation, Xi Yao took the initiative to lead the way for a junior like Gu Changge.

“Sitting in a disheveled manner is a metaphor for a gentleman’s demeanor,” Gu Changge explained calmly. “While the younger generation may possess confidence and magnanimity, they understand that they do not fit the image of a true gentleman. Your Highness, please spare the younger generation from this torment.”

Xi Yao couldn’t help but suppress a laugh at Gu Changge’s words. Was he suggesting she keep her distance from him? Or perhaps he was subtly acknowledging her allure?

It was a cleverly crafted excuse, indeed.

As an empress, Xi Yao was also a woman, and naturally, she enjoyed hearing such sweet words.

“Young Master Changge…” she began, only to be interrupted by Gu Changge again. “The queen should call me Changge from now on; otherwise, I’ll always feel somewhat uncomfortable.”

Gu Changge’s interruption momentarily took aback Xi Yao. Nevertheless, strange emotions welled up in her eyes. Though she didn’t quite grasp Gu Changge’s intent, she regarded him earnestly, nodding in agreement.

“Changge… What are your thoughts on the structure of the demon world you mentioned earlier?” Xi Yao suddenly broached the subject, a topic weighing on her mind lately. It was why she sought out the master at the True Immortal Academy, hoping to seek his counsel. However, after hearing Gu Changge’s earlier remarks, she felt a strange kinship with him and was curious about his perspective.

“The structure of the demon world?” Gu Changge seemed somewhat surprised by the question. He wasn’t omniscient, and his previous statements were not a result of any past knowledge but somewhat random musings.

Nevertheless, at this moment, something stirred within him, sparking intrigue. Though he knew little about the demon world, a faint recollection tugged at his consciousness, igniting a sense of curiosity.

However, there was no outward sign of abnormality as Gu Changge casually remarked, “The Queen’s concerns might stem from the remnants of the Five Emperors, correct?”

“After all, the demon world has endured through the ages. Besides the Youyue Demon Emperor, the whereabouts of the other five emperors remain unknown. Have the forces behind them shown recent signs of resurgence?”

His words were mere speculation, as he possessed limited knowledge of the affairs within the demon world.

“Signs of resurgence? Indeed, there have been noticeable indications of a resurgence lately. The frequency of upheavals far exceeds that of previous times,” Queen Xi Yao acknowledged, opting not to conceal any secrets regarding the demon world from Gu Changge.

In her estimation, Gu Changge, as the young master of the Ancient Immortal Gu family, would eventually inherit the vast territory of the Ancient Immortal Gu family and wield power surpassing even her own as the demon world’s queen.

“The increased activity can likely be attributed to various factors,” Gu Changge observed calmly. “I suggest the queen investigate diligently. Among the remnants of the past, identify those who may still be alive and harbor animosity toward you. It’s possible that the five emperors left behind legacies…”

“The Five Emperors?” Empress Xi Yao furrowed her brow. “If their resurgence is indeed the cause, then it’s likely the descendants of the five emperors. I’m close to resolving it.”

Suddenly, a prompt sounded in Gu Changge’s mind, signaling a random quest event: “Ding, triggering the random quest event: ‘The Son of the Returned Demon Emperor.'”

The unexpected prompt left Gu Changge momentarily stunned. Was this sudden event somehow linked to his current conversation with Empress Xi Yao?

After all, before this moment, the system hadn’t prompted anything like this. But the son of the returned demon emperor? Intriguing.

Gu Changge’s mind immediately went to the fiancé whom Queen Xi Yao had poisoned to death 6,000 years ago. Other than this possibility, there seemed to be no other explanation. So, the reason for this random quest event could be the son of the returned demon emperor seeking revenge on Empress Xi Yao.

His earlier words unintentionally prompted Queen Xi Yao’s thoughts, creating a cause-and-effect scenario that triggered the random mission.

With a fleeting hint of mischief crossing his expression, Gu Changge quickly composed himself. He gazed at Queen Xi Yao, lost in thought, and softly suggested, “Perhaps the queen should verify whether the original adversary has been eradicated. Some calamities can easily go unnoticed until they spread like wildfire…”

He omitted any mention of rebirth; it would be too overt. Would Empress Xi Yao believe such a notion? Moreover, it might raise unnecessary suspicions. It appeared that this newly emerged lucky son was intertwined with the fate of the demon world.

Queen Xi Yao nodded thoughtfully, her mind contemplating Gu Changge’s advice.

…..

Afterward, Gu Changge, Su Qingge, and the others regrouped. Queen Xi Yao escorted him here, but she departed first. Gu Changge’s words had resonated with her, prompting her to return and attend to her duties.

“Master, that woman just now…” Su Qingge began, visibly surprised and feeling the weight of imperial authority.

“Queen Xi Yao of the demon world,” Gu Changge replied casually, unaffected by the encounter. He wasn’t concerned about Queen Xi Yao’s thoughts regarding her fiancé and saw no urgency in the matter.

Leeks were to be harvested when they grew fat, after all. If this newly emerged Son of Luck was simply part of a rebirth and revenge scenario, it held little significance to him. Gu Changge had even slain the Human Ancestor, making a small revenge plot inconsequential. With Empress Xi Yao taking the initiative to investigate first, Gu Changge could gauge the extent of this Son of Luck’s capabilities.

Soon, an elder from the True Immortal Academy arrived to guide Gu Changge to the area designated for Candidate Disciples. The academy had segregated cultivation areas for disciples at different levels: Candidate, Quasi-Candidate, Inner Door, and Outer Door.

As a Candidate Disciple, Gu Changge’s designated area was naturally top-notch, spanning a radius of almost ten thousand miles. The surroundings boasted endless ancient mountains, immortal trees, and clouds laden with spiritual energy.

Scattered throughout were magnificent palaces, each grand and majestic, like the Immortal Palace draped in splendor. Additionally, immortal birds, auspicious animals, and rare medicinal herbs abounded, adding to the area’s allure.

Even among the Candidate Disciples, few occupied the region where Gu Changge now stood. He instructed Su Qingge and his other followers to select their palaces before swiftly departing.

Gu Changge sensed the aura of his scapegoat, Prince Ying, confirming his presence at True Immortal Academy. Gu Changge had released him with the intention of using him as bait to lure out the forbidden demonic organization lurking in the shadows. Though Gu Changge knew little about the organization’s origins, he hoped to manipulate it to his advantage. If it proved uncooperative, he saw no need for its existence. Nonetheless, the presence of such an organization could potentially impact his plans.

Word of Gu Changge’s arrival at True Immortal Academy spread rapidly, eliciting various reactions from the young geniuses present. In the current younger generation, Gu Changge’s ignorance invited ridicule from peers, highlighting his significance among them. Even among the other ten major candidate disciples, none dared to underestimate Gu Changge.

In a mansion with purple light and divine radiance, a young man stood with his hands clasped behind his back, clad in a purple robe. A furrow creased his brow as he murmured to himself,

“Junior Sister, I await you at True Immortal Academy.”

“In my past life, I prostrated myself before the Buddha in every conceivable manner, yet I couldn’t compel you to glance back at me once.”

“In your pursuit of the Great Dao, you never paused, and likewise, I refused to halt in my pursuit of you. If our reunion in this life is ordained, then only one of us shall endure.”

“Your refusal to turn back for me shall be your greatest regret.”

“I wonder, will your post-Nirvana Dao bone surpass mine, the peerless Hongmeng Dao bone?”

Though his words were spoken softly, they carried a palpable undercurrent of reluctance and resentment. A dense purple aura enveloped him, akin to a vast expanse of primordial mist reminiscent of an ancient universe.

His robe bore embroidered motifs of stars, suns, and moons, seemingly in perpetual motion, emitting a rumbling resonance reverberating through the world, exuding a potent and formidable aura of dread.

Suddenly, a beam of light emanated from the crevice between his eyebrows, illuminating the void as his third eye opened, shrouding the space before him in a hazy mist. Within this eerie celestial vision, a horrifying scene materialized.

The sight was terrifying, accompanied by a lingering purple energy and subtle flashes of time. Fragmented images flickered before his eyes, depicting a dark and enigmatic dungeon. Though the details were indistinct, his heart quivered inexplicably.

Within the cold, damp confines of the underground cell, a woman adorned in azure garments, her beauty unmatched, was trapped by chains, her body riddled with wounds as she hung from the wall. Her countenance bore an expression of unwavering determination and seething resentment.

Opposite her stood a young man, his visage impassive as he wielded a dagger, drawing blood into a stone bowl. Then, lifting the vessel before the woman, he said, “The scent of blood has faded.”

At that moment, the purple-robed man heard the vague and unsettling sentence. Instantly, his vision darkened, like an explosion reverberating through his mind. Bloodstains marred his furrowed brow, his complexion paling as pain surged from his origin.

Utilizing the Heavenly Eye of Immortal Dao to glimpse future fragments was exceptionally taxing, yet faint traces lingered. “How can this be…” he muttered, disbelief clouding his features.

Why had he witnessed this shattered glimpse of the future? The woman he had once loved, whose pursuit had defined his existence, now faced a tragic fate in this world. It was a reality he found difficult to accept.

For how long had he awaited this reincarnation? Endowed with innate wisdom and born of the Hongmeng Dao lineage, he had traversed countless lives in anticipation of her return.