I Am the Fated Villain - Chapter 277

Chapter 277: Self-directed and self-activated hero to save the beauty, what are you?

As the words echoed, a surge of purple aura filled the air, resembling a vast galaxy streaming forth. A colossal purple palm emerged amidst this celestial display as if hoisting the heavens. Descending with unfathomable force, it seemed poised to obliterate everything in its path.

In an instant, all divine powers and maneuvers crumbled to dust beneath its weight, dissipating into the ether without resistance.

“Puff!”

“Oh no!”

“Ziyang Heavenly King! What’s he doing here?”

Song Fan and his cohorts’ expressions twisted in disbelief as they bore the brunt of the palm’s impact. Struck head-on, Song Fan spat out a mouthful of blood, hurtling backwards and demolishing several nearby structures in his wake. His face drained of color, and he trembled with terror as if confronted by a monstrous entity.

Before they could gather their wits, the colossal palm descended once more, sending them reeling in agony as they coughed up blood, their pride shattered amidst the chaos.

The resulting shockwave rippled through the surroundings, toppling ancient trees and rending the earth with gaping fissures. Mountainous edifices crumbled into ruin, leaving a trail of devastation in their wake.

Gu Xian’er, though taken aback by the sudden turn of events, remained composed, her gaze cold as she observed Song Fan and his cronies.

“If I hadn’t chanced upon this scene, I would never have believed you were capable of bullying new recruits,” a voice intoned from above, resonating with authority.

As the words reverberated, a figure cloaked in purple robes materialized, exuding an aura of regal power. Towering and commanding, with a distinct fissure adorning his purple-hued brow, it was Zi Yang Heavenly King!

At that moment, his countenance grew cold. His brow furrowed tightly as he fixed his gaze upon Song Fan and his cohorts, who lay coughing up blood below. With a stern voice, he declared, “Should I catch you bullying others again, expect no mercy from me. The status of True Immortal Academy disciples is not a license for you to prey on the vulnerable.”

“We won’t, we won’t dare. Please spare us, Heavenly King Ziyang!”

“Forgive us, Heavenly King Ziyang! We were wrong, we’ll never bully others again…”

Song Fan and the others pleaded frantically, their former bravado replaced by sheer terror and trembling.

Their demeanor shifted from arrogance to abject fear, as if they were facing not a mere mortal but a fearsome deity.

“Good. Be sure you remember that,” Zi Yang Heavenly King nodded, his expression mollified. Then, coldly, he ordered, “Now, apologize to this young lady.”

He turned his gaze towards Gu Xian’er, his concern genuine as he inquired, “Are you alright, young sister?”

“I’m fine,” Gu Xian’er replied, her tone softening slightly as she regarded the purple-robed figure before her with a hint of curiosity.

Zi Yang Heavenly King: The name sounded familiar. She recalled hearing it before arriving at the True Immortal Academy. He was a formidable ancient entity, a candidate figure.

“Nevertheless, I appreciate your assistance, but I can handle this situation on my own,” she added, a hint of puzzlement coloring her words. Today’s events seemed oddly inexplicable to her.

Zi Yang Heavenly King appeared momentarily surprised by her response, though a knowing look flickered in his eyes. Her proud demeanor mirrored that of another she once knew.

Then, he smiled faintly and remarked, “It seems my intervention was unnecessary. You, junior sister, appear quite confident; you must have a strategy in mind.”

“I’m Zi Yang, hailing from the Purple Mansion lineage, known as Zi Yang Heavenly King. May I have the pleasure of knowing your name? With your strength, you must be someone of significance.”

He posed the question with a natural air, such that it didn’t seem out of place even in the presence of others.

Gu Xian’er was momentarily taken aback, her expression tinged with bewilderment as she remained silent.

For some reason, she couldn’t shake off the sense of unease she felt today. While she appreciated Zi Yang Heavenly King’s assistance, something about the situation felt off.

Although he had come to her aid, she couldn’t help but feel a sense of disquiet.

Despite his friendly demeanor, Gu Xian’er couldn’t shake the feeling of awkwardness that lingered.

Seeing her silence, Zi Yang Heavenly King didn’t press further. His expression remained calm and composed, his smile unwavering.

Instead, he turned his attention to Song Fan and the others, who still knelt trembling on the ground, and spoke casually, “Had I not intervened today, your fate would have been far worse. The junior sister’s prowess is not to be trifled with.”

“You fools really have a death wish.”

“We understand, thank you, Zi Yang Heavenly King. We won’t dare again!” Song Fan and his cohorts chimed in, their voices trembling with fear.

Hearing Zi Yang Heavenly King’s words, Gu Xian’er felt another pang of surprise, her brows furrowing tighter.

She pondered over the Heavenly King’s motives. Was his optimism about her genuine, or did he have ulterior motives?

Gu Xian’er had heard of Zi Yang Heavenly King’s formidable reputation in the upper realm, known for his unrivaled strength and dominance. However, they had never crossed paths before.

Gu Xian’er felt that Zi Yang’s appearance here might have been a coincidence, but she didn’t dwell on it.

Could it be that this ancient powerhouse had deliberately waited for her here?

“Why haven’t you apologized yet?” Zi Yang Heavenly King’s voice held a hint of impatience.

Song Fan and his companions paled at the reprimand, quickly apologizing to Gu Xian’er. Their demeanor betrayed fear and embarrassment as if they dreaded Zi Yang Heavenly King’s wrath.

Observing this, Gu Xian’er frowned but chose not to pursue the matter further. She wasn’t one to hold grudges; they had already suffered for their actions, and she saw no need to escalate the situation.

Zi Yang Heavenly King waved his hand with a nod of satisfaction, signaling for Song Fan and his group to leave. The charade of the hero saving the damsel had played out as planned, and he was content with the outcome.

It was their first encounter in this life, and it felt natural and fitting. Zi Yang Heavenly King had orchestrated the scenario seamlessly, ensuring it appeared authentic and uncontrived. With few aware that Song Fan was his follower, there was little risk of arousing suspicion from Gu Xian’er.

Relieved, Song Fan and his companions prepared to depart, but their exit was halted by a faint voice that echoed through the air.

Suddenly, a ripple in the void heralded the arrival of a man in white, his demeanor composed and indifferent.

“Are you free to leave without Gu’s permission?” Gu Changge’s voice, as stoic as ever, addressed Song Fan and his companions kneeling before him.

His gaze didn’t linger on the surprised Gu Xian’er, instead focusing on the supplicating figures below with an air of detachment.

When Gu Xian’er arrived, Wang Zhongyong at the mountain gate had already informed Gu Changge. Gu Changge initially had no intention of coming, but considering the girl’s penchant for provocation, he decided to make an appearance to prevent any potential trouble.

Upon arrival, Gu Changge witnessed the scene unfolding before him. He couldn’t help but find Zi Yang Heavenly King’s foolish actions. Orchestrating a hero-saving-the-beauty scenario when the girl hadn’t even reacted? It seemed the lessons from the old monsters had fallen on deaf ears. If they witnessed this spectacle, they’d surely be disappointed.

Gu Changge entertained the thought of cracking Zi Yang Heavenly King’s head to see what lay inside. Previously indifferent to Zi Yang, he now sensed an air of fortune around him, almost as if he were a child of luck.

“Gu Changge…” Zi Yang Tianjun’s expression shifted, sensing something awry and beyond his control. Despite his surprise, he feigned ignorance of Gu Xian’er’s connection to Gu Changge.

“Why are you here, Young Master Changge?” he asked, maintaining a facade of astonishment.

Ignoring Gu Xian’er’s presence, Gu Changge surveyed the scene indifferently, prompting her to question his sudden appearance.

“Didn’t you come to pick me up?” she inquired, her tone frosty.

Gu Changge brushed off her remark, directing his attention to Song Fan and his cohorts below. Their faces drained of color at his arrival, genuine fear etched on their features. If their prior expressions were an act, their current terror was unquestionably authentic, their souls trembling in fear.

Under Gu Changge’s piercing gaze, they felt as if their souls were being frozen and shattered, reduced to nothing more than lowly ants—or worse. The fear emanating from Gu Changge surpassed anything they had ever experienced.

Instinctively, they wanted to divert their attention to Zi Yang Heavenly King, but fear held them back. Revealing Zi Yang Tianjun’s involvement would be catastrophic.

Gu Changge’s voice cut through the tense silence once more, his tone casual as he inquired, “Do you recognize Gu?”

Their bodies seized with terror, and Song Fan and his companions felt a chill run down their spines. With trembling voices, they managed to stammer out their acknowledgment.

Gu Changge nodded, unfazed by their fear. “It’s good that you recognize me,” he remarked, then shifted his gaze to Gu Xian’er. “Do you recognize her?”

Their expressions grew even more terrified, bordering on despair. “We… we do now,” they forced out, their voices strained with fear.

Gu Changge’s words struck them with a more profound sense of dread. “Now? It’s not too late,” he said calmly. “But remember, I’ve made it clear that aside from me, no one in this world has the right to harm her. So… how do you wish to face your demise?”

The word “die” sent shivers down their spines, their very souls quaking in terror. Gu Changge’s words held no hint of jest—they were a grim reality they couldn’t ignore.

For a moment, fear gripped everyone, their words faltering and desperate, on the verge of kowtowing and tears.

“Master Changge, spare our lives! We had no idea she was your sister!”

“We beg for mercy, Master Changge! We won’t dare again, please spare us! It was all a misunderstanding!”

“If we had known, we wouldn’t have dared to act, even if we had the courage…”

Song Fan’s pleas were frantic, his panic palpable.

“You’re going too far, Gu Changge! What gives you the right to decide only you can harm me…” Gu Xian’er’s voice was tinged with irritation, her jade fist almost striking out in anger. But she understood that Gu Changge was venting his anger on her behalf. Despite her dissatisfaction, she held back, recognizing the apology offered.

However, she found Gu Changge’s mention of death excessive. The offense, in her opinion, didn’t warrant such punishment. Yet she also knew it was Gu Changge’s moving and frustrating style.

Others found Gu Changge’s actions hard to accept.

“Isn’t this punishment too severe, Master Changge? They were rude, but they didn’t harm Xian’er. And those who were unaware were innocent. They had no idea Xian’er would be your sister,” Zi Yang Heavenly King interjected, his tone tinged with concern.

Gu Changge’s ruthlessness left him feeling helpless; the thought of killing at every turn troubled him.

He never anticipated things would escalate to this point. Gu Changge’s sudden appearance thwarted all his plans and expectations. Despite his discomfort, Zi Yang Heavenly King hoped Gu Changge would show him some consideration, given their shared status as candidate disciples.

“Have they been punished?” Gu Changge inquired, arching an eyebrow in response.

Then he spoke lightly, “I don’t think letting them off so easily is fitting. It’s too cheap for them. Though this girl Xian’er might be a bit foolish, not just anyone can plot against her.”

“If you dare to scheme against her, then be prepared to face the consequences.”

“In my opinion, all of them combined aren’t worth a single hair on this foolish girl’s head.”

“Family members, especially sisters of Gu Changge, should not be bullied by any random person.”

Upon hearing this, Gu Xian’er was taken aback, eyeing Gu Changge suspiciously. Had she been deceived? Did Zi Yang Heavenly King orchestrate all of this?

But her thoughts were quickly disrupted by Gu Changge’s following statement, causing her to feel a rush of anger and confusion.

Things were going smoothly, so why did he say something like this? These people weren’t even worth a single hair on her head? Was that supposed to be a compliment?

Gu Changge was becoming increasingly irritating.

“Young Master Changge, please, show some restraint. Today, these individuals will offer Miss Xian’er a proper apology. We’re all disciples of the True Immortal Academy…”

Observing Gu Xian’er’s expression, Zi Yang Heavenly King’s face darkened momentarily, but he swiftly regained his composure.

He spoke again, maintaining his calm demeanor, “Show some restraint? And who are you to demand that?”

However, before he could finish, Gu Changge cut him off abruptly, his expression unchanged, devoid of emotion.

“I’ll show restraint, but do you even have the nerve to ask for it?”

Buzz!

With Gu Changge’s words, the atmosphere suddenly became eerily silent, as though even the faintest sound had been swallowed up.

Song Fan and the others were utterly astonished, trembling uncontrollably, their souls gripped by terror.

As Gu Changge’s declaration resounded, he unleashed a devastatingly powerful attack. Multicolored divine light accompanied his descending palm, surging like a wheel of destruction, akin to Zi Yang Heavenly King’s previous strike. The terrifying aura threatened to rend skin and shatter souls.

“Gu Changge, you…”

Zi Yang Heavenly King’s expression darkened to an extreme degree. His fists clenched tightly. He hadn’t anticipated Gu Changge’s utter disregard for him, nor had he expected Gu Changge to wield such overwhelming power, poised to strike down the individuals before him.

Yet, he suppressed his fury, forcing himself to endure the situation.

“Zi Yang Heavenly King, please, save us…”

“We don’t want to die!”

Facing the impending doom of the giant palm, Song Fan and the others reached the height of desperation. Their souls verged on, bursting as they attempted to resist, but the formidable aura rendered them immobile.

“This was all orchestrated by Heavenly King Zi Yang! We’re innocent!”

Desperate to deflect blame, they shouted out, hoping for salvation.

“What nonsense are you spewing?”

“I even deigned to save you earlier…”

Zi Yang Heavenly King’s demeanor shifted slightly, his tone now icy. “Yet now, you dare to besmirch my name.”

Puff!

Before Song Fan and the others could continue their pleas, Gu Changge cut them off, recognizing that Zi Yang Heavenly King had abandoned them to their fate. Knowing they wouldn’t be saved, Gu Changge’s palm swiftly annihilated them, their bodies and spirits obliterated in an instant.

Silence descended upon the scene.