I Am the Fated Villain - Chapter 292

Chapter 292: The so-called taste of power, the son of luck finally can not help it

In the field, an increasing number of cultivators and geniuses converged from all directions, drawn by the presence of Gu Changge. With his appearance, it became evident that this matter was far from simple.

Seeing Gu Changge’s involvement, many previously indifferent geniuses rushed over, recognizing the unfolding events as an unmissable spectacle. Who else in the world would dare to provoke Gu Changge? It wasn’t a question of longevity; it was sheer recklessness, a death wish.

As more onlookers gathered, they cast mocking and scornful glances at the trembling figures of Wang Xiao and Elder Xuan, treating them like mere monkeys to be mocked.

“That woman just now appeared to be Young Master Changge’s maid, so not only did these two mistake her identity, but they also inflicted serious injury upon her…”

“Today’s events make for quite the spectacle. Who would have thought there could be two individuals so strikingly similar in this world? It’s as if they were molded from the same clay. If you told me they were twins, I wouldn’t doubt it.”

With a few simple words, many geniuses encapsulated the recent events, leaving even casual bystanders with a clear understanding of the situation.

“So, Wang Xiao, you mistook another woman for Senior Sister Ji, instigated a conflict, and then called upon Elder Xuan to injure her severely?” Chu Hao mused aloud, piecing together the narrative from the discussions of nearby cultivators.

His expression darkened as he realized the gravity of the situation. Resolving this matter would be far from straightforward. After all, the woman in question was no ordinary individual; she was Gu Changge’s maid.

This fact alone was enough to command awe and disdain from the assembled geniuses.

In the expansive upper world, countless heavenly daughters vied for the chance to serve as Gu Changge’s maids. The fact that a woman had attained such a position spoke volumes about her exceptional qualities or the deep affection Gu Changge held for her.

Given Gu Changge’s stature, even the influential Wang family, backing Wang Xiao, dared not speak out against him. After all, Wang Xiao was merely a minor disciple of the Wang family, standing alone on the precipice.

“And what about Xuan Lao? Have I ruined everything…?” Wang Xiao didn’t respond to Chu Hao’s inquiry. His complexion was pallid, his voice quivered, and his limbs felt numb with cold.

Although Gu Changge had merely passed him by without a second glance, the sheer aura he exuded was more intimidating than facing their old ancestor.

“Young master, today’s events may not bode well…” Xuan Lao’s words mirrored Wang Xiao’s apprehension and remorse.

Yet it wasn’t just Wang Xiao and Xuan Lao who sensed impending disaster. Even Su Qingge felt a foreboding unease. Gu Changge’s gaze had carried a profound significance, hinting at a deeper understanding of the situation.

She couldn’t be sure if Gu Changge had discerned her exchange of identities with Ji Qingxuan. If he had, his silence suggested a disappointment that stemmed from her repeated deception.

Gu Changge might have lost faith in her, considering she had deceived him multiple times.

For a moment, Su Qingge felt a growing unease and worry. If Ji Qingxuan were to assume her identity and become Gu Changge’s maid, what would become of her future? Should she confess everything and seek Gu Changge’s forgiveness? Yet, Gu Changge had previously expressed his desire that matters not exceed a certain limit. This implied he hoped she wouldn’t resort to deception again.

“Ji Qingxuan likely has her own agenda, perhaps aiming to supplant you. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have the means to approach Gu Changge and be by his side alone… Your sister is quite cunning,” remarked the other voice within Su Qingge’s mind with interest.

However, Su Qingge paid little attention to these musings. Uncertain of the consequences of her recent identity swap, she pondered silently, hoping things wouldn’t escalate to the worst possible outcome.

“Let’s pray the young master remains unaware,” Su Qingge silently prayed, “We must prevent this situation from deteriorating any further.”

Meanwhile, Gu Changge approached the ruins of the collapsed pavilion, his expression calm and inscrutable. There was no hint of emotion on his face, no indication of joy or anger.

His followers, scattered among the crowd, remained silent as the grave, their demeanor mirroring his. A chilling silence fell over the area, causing many geniuses and cultivators to cease their discussions and quieten down, sensing the ominous atmosphere. Despite rumors of Gu Changge’s mild temperament, it was evident that this only held true when he remained unprovoked.

“I want to know what happened.” Gu Changge’s voice, though faint, sent a shiver down the spines of those nearby.

Gu Changge’s inquiry was simple, yet it carried an unsettling weight. The crowd sensed his displeasure, and a foreboding atmosphere descended upon them.

Wang Xiao’s legs felt like jelly, on the verge of collapsing. Were it not for Chu Hao’s supportive grip, he might have crumpled to the ground.

“Inform Young Master Changge, here’s what occurred…” With utmost respect, the witnesses recounted the entire incident, withholding no details. They described Wang Xiao’s arrogance, his refusal to heed the warning even after the woman in white revealed the misunderstanding.

After hearing the accounts, Gu Changge remained impassive, his demeanor unchanged. Without another word, he continued toward the ruins.

Many spectators had only witnessed the woman in white being struck by a sword aura, severely injured, and disappearing into the rubble. Speculations arose regarding her fate: was she critically wounded or worse, had she perished?

The mere thought of the latter possibility paled the faces of many. Could the small Vermilion Bird Ancient Country withstand the wrath of Gu Changge?

“Young master…” Amidst the speculation of the crowd, a woman emerged from the ruins, her body drenched in blood, struggling to maintain her balance.

Despite her weakened state and blood-stained attire, her delicate features were still discernible.

Gu Changge’s gaze softened as he approached her, lifting her gently. “Are you alright? Why were you so careless?”

His expression betrayed no hint of reproach, only genuine concern and care.

“I’m fine, master,” Ji Qingxuan replied, her voice calm yet cold. However, beneath her composed exterior, turmoil raged within her.

She had been right.

Before her stood the most formidable figure in the upper realm. Previously, she hadn’t even dreamt of being in such close proximity to Gu Changge, let alone being cradled in his arms.

This newfound intimacy unsettled Ji Qingxuan, yet strangely, she found solace in his presence.

For the first time, she allowed herself to lean into a man’s embrace without reservation, feeling surprisingly at ease.

Though apprehensive about Gu Changge sensing anything amiss, Ji Qingxuan soon realized that he harbored genuine concern for her.

In that moment, envy surged within her heart.

It was the first time anyone had shown her such care since her childhood, even though she understood that Gu Changge regarded her as a sister at this moment.

“Sister is so happy,” Ji Qingxuan thought to herself, though her expression remained unchanged.

“Master, am I seriously injured?” she gently inquired of Gu Changge.

“It’s quite severe, with internal organ damage,” Gu Changge confirmed, his tone unwaveringly calm. “But don’t worry, it’s not life-threatening.”

“Yeah,” Ji Qingxuan nodded, silently resting against his embrace.

Observing this interaction, Su Qingge couldn’t shake the twinge of jealousy in her heart, despite knowing that the person receiving such care was her sister, and it was a voluntary exchange between the two.

But the feeling persisted.

“Tell me, how do you two want to die?” Gu Changge finally turned his gaze towards Wang Xiao and Xuan Lao, their faces drained of color.

He wasted no time on pleasantries, simply asking them how they wished to meet their end.

In the face of Gu Changge’s unyielding demeanor, Ji Qingxuan felt suffocated, sensing the raw power emanating from him—a sensation she had always yearned for.

If she wielded such power, her mother wouldn’t be imprisoned, and she wouldn’t be reduced to a mere pawn in marriage negotiations.

How dare Wang Xiao and Elder Xuan treat her so callously, inflicting serious injury and casually deciding her fate?

It all boiled down to power.

“Young Master Changge, please spare my life!” Wang Xiao pleaded frantically, his face drained of color. “I made a grave mistake. I mistook this girl for my junior sister. I truly didn’t mean any harm!”

“I implore you to show mercy, Young Master Changge,” Elder Xuan echoed, his voice trembling. “Forgive my transgression. Please overlook my actions this time!”

“I swear, it was an honest mistake,” Wang Xiao continued, nearly trembling with fear. “You witnessed it yourself, Young Master Changge… This girl is the spitting image of my junior sister. How could I have known?”

Hearing this, Wang Xiao was nearly petrified with fear, his complexion drained of color as he hastily spoke, nearly falling to his knees in a desperate plea for mercy.

“I asked you how you wanted to die, not for the reason behind your actions,” Gu Changge’s voice remained calm but carried an air of indifference. “Do you not comprehend?”

“Young Master Changge…” Wang Xiao’s voice quivered with fear, his entire body drenched in cold sweat, his very soul trembling.

He understood now—Gu Changge was resolute in his decision to end his life.

Wang Xiao, who had once been the bully, now found himself facing the consequences of his actions. He never imagined he would find himself in such a situation simply for harming his maid.

Anger, fear, and profound reluctance swirled within him.

“Do I need to take matters into my own hands?” Gu Changge’s tone remained casual, his expression utterly detached.

He showed no regard for Wang Xiao’s stature, treating him like an insignificant insect to be crushed at will.

“Young Master Changge, spare my life!” Wang Xiao pleaded desperately. “I am willing to apologize and make amends for my actions!”

He knelt down in submission, fully aware that the powers behind him were powerless against Gu Changge’s will.

With terror gripping him, Wang Xiao turned to Ji Qingxuan, his voice trembling as he begged, “I was blind to mistake her for you. Please forgive me and spare my life!”

In that moment, the preservation of life trumped any sense of dignity or pride.

As everyone observed the scene unfolding before them, fear gripped their hearts as tightly as it did Wang Xiao’s. But no one dared intervene or voice objections—it was clear that Wang Xiao had brought this upon himself.

Ji Qingxuan, though outwardly cold, felt a sense of gratification as she watched Wang Xiao plead for mercy.

Seeing the person she despised most humbled and begging before her was an unprecedented experience for Ji Qingxuan.

“Qingge, what do you want to do with him?” Gu Changge’s gaze fell upon her, awaiting her decision.

Ji Qingxuan was taken aback by the question, her voice soft as she replied, “I will defer to what Young Master says.”

Gu Changge nodded, his tone casual. “Alright, then I’ll kill him and have him make amends for you.”

Ji Qingxuan’s heart trembled at the thought. Though Gu Changge appeared to be caring for her, she couldn’t shake a deeper sense of foreboding. The consequences of Gu Changge discovering her and her sister Su Qingge’s identity swap would be catastrophic. He was far too dangerous.

Hearing this, Wang Xiao’s expression shifted dramatically, his very soul trembling as he grasped at a lifeline, shouting, “It was Elder Xuan who injured her, not me! I couldn’t match her at the time…”

In his desperation to survive, he cast aside all else.

Elder Xuan’s face also contorted with disappointment and helplessness at Wang Xiao’s betrayal.

“Elder Brother, save me…” Wang Xiao pleaded, turning to Chu Hao for help.

Chu Hao’s brows furrowed tightly, his expression conflicted. He was implicated in this matter, and Wang Xiao’s fate would determine his own responsibility. Yet, he dared not offend Gu Changge.

“Young Master Changge, it was my doing. I injured this girl,” Elder Xuan stepped forward, speaking up. He couldn’t let Wang Xiao shoulder all the blame.

Before Chu Hao could decide, Elder Xuan made a bold move. With a surge of power, he severed his own arm, a sacrificial gesture to demonstrate his sincerity in making amends.

The crowd was stunned. An elder at the pinnacle of the Great Sacred Realm, just a step away from the Quasi-Supreme Realm, forced to such an extreme by Gu Changge—a testament to his terrifying power and influence.

“Master…” Ji Qingxuan was taken aback. She had intended for Wang Xiao to face consequences, but she hadn’t anticipated his protector’s actions. A cultivator at the peak of the Great Sacred Realm held significant importance in the hidden royal family, just like Wang Xiao. His protection of Wang Xiao stemmed from a powerful uncle.

But even this level of sacrifice wasn’t enough for Gu Changge.

“It’s insufficient,” Gu Changge declared, his expression unchanged but his demand clear.

Ji Qingxuan was stunned by his unyielding demeanor. She had underestimated Gu Changge’s strength, and now she felt a dizzying urge to submit to it.

“Young Master Changge…” Elder Xuan’s face shifted as he heard the decree. Gritting his teeth once more, he made another drastic choice. With a surge of energy, he damaged his origin, causing terrifying fluctuations in his consciousness.

Suddenly, Elder Xuan’s body convulsed as if struck by lightning, blood trickling from his lips. The immense pressure of the peak of the Great Sacred Realm weakened considerably.

The onlookers were horrified. Witnessing a cultivator of Elder Xuan’s stature forced to self-destruct due to Gu Changge’s power was a chilling revelation. In the younger generation, perhaps only Gu Changge could exert such control over someone of Elder Xuan’s caliber.

Observing Elder Xuan’s sacrifice, Gu Changge nodded, signaling his satisfaction. Elder Xuan, relieved, dared not harbor any resentment toward Gu Changge.

At that moment, if Gu Changge chose to kill him, no one would seek justice for Elder Xuan. He didn’t believe that a young figure like Gu Changge would lack the means to suppress him. Merely reaching the peak of the Great Sacred Realm probably wouldn’t catch Gu Changge’s attention.

Elder Xuan recalled the rumors from the heavenly extinction battlefield, where Gu Changge had used a supreme weapon to force a retreat from the inheritor of demonic arts. Considering the time that had passed since then, Gu Changge’s power was likely even more unfathomable now.

“Senior brother, save me, I really don’t want to die…” Wang Xiao pleaded desperately, realizing even his protector had forsaken him and apologized first.

His face drained of color, Wang Xiao turned to Chu Hao, clinging to him as his last hope.

Chu Hao felt a deep sense of helplessness and conflict. Would he be able to negotiate a retreat from this situation? In the end, it seemed it would only antagonize both sides.

With a sigh, Chu Hao stood up before Wang Xiao, addressing Gu Changge directly. “In this matter, I implore Young Master Changge to consider his own reputation and grant Wang Xiao forgiveness. I, below, am a senior brother of Supreme Dao Cave and the third prince of the ancient vermillion bird kingdom.”

His declaration caused a stir among the crowd. Many cultivators from the ancient vermillion bird kingdom recognized him immediately—the third prince, a figure steeped in myth and legend, drawing admiration and reverence from the younger generations.

Many bystanders who were unaware of Chu Hao’s return were taken aback by his sudden appearance.

“Brother Chu Hao, you’re finally back…” remarked a graceful woman from a nearby pavilion. Her demeanor was gentle, yet there was a glint of surprise and longing in her beautiful eyes.

“Oh, has the Child of Luck finally intervened?” Gu Changge’s interest was piqued, though his expression remained impassive.

But deep down, he had been waiting for this moment.

Still, he maintained his calm demeanor as he addressed Chu Hao. “Are you here to protect him and oppose me?”

“Young Master Changge, you misunderstand me. I don’t intend to oppose you,” Chu Hao replied humbly. “But as Wang Xiao’s senior brother, I cannot stand idly by in this situation.”

He mentioned the formidable power backing him, the too high in the sky, hinting at the influence of Supreme Dao Cave. Though not on the level of the Ancient Immortal Gu family, it was still a force to be reckoned with.

Chu Hao knew that as a potential future leader of Supreme Dao Cave, he couldn’t afford to disregard the situation. Saving Wang Xiao, even if it meant challenging Gu Changge, was a calculated risk. After all, while angering the Ancient Immortal Gu family might be manageable, antagonizing the hidden royal family was a different story altogether.

As the saying went, the King of Hell was easy to meet, but the little devil was much harder to deal with.