I Am the Fated Villain - Chapter 299

Chapter 299: Chuchu is caught off guard, you can’t beat Gu Changge

“Yin Mei, what’s the relationship between you and Gu Changge?” On the other end, shortly after Gu Changge departed, Tang Wan also let out a sigh of relief. The intense feeling of oppression from earlier had finally lifted, leaving her feeling as though she’d emerged from icy water, her hands and feet still tingling with cold. This sensation made her heart race and lingered in her memory, to the point where she couldn’t bring herself to speak freely in front of Gu Changge, fearing she might inadvertently address him as master.

But now, facing Yin Mei, she couldn’t resist asking, recognizing that they were both in similar predicaments, bound by the same circumstances. Tang Wan couldn’t shake the feeling that Yin Mei must have been coerced by Gu Changge for some unknown reason, just as she had been, ultimately surrendering and allowing him to imprint her with a slave mark. Moments ago, she’d been anxious that Gu Changge might demand tasks she’d find objectionable, unable to refuse due to the slave seal. However, Gu Changge chose to depart without such demands, bringing Tang Wan a measure of relief.

“I’m the master’s slave, does it matter?” Upon hearing this, Yin Mei casually smiled, the faint curve of her flawless face exuding a captivating charm. She had witnessed Gu Changge’s coercion of Tang Wan from start to finish. Gu Changge hadn’t compelled her to step back, suggesting a level of trust in her. This realization filled Yin Mei with joy, buoying her mood, evident in the gentle swaying of the tails behind her.

“You’re the goddess of the nine-tailed heavenly fox clan. Aren’t you ashamed to speak like that?” Tang Wan was taken aback, torn between interpreting Yin Mei’s words as playful teasing or perceiving something even more ominous in the slave mark branded on Yin Mei compared to her own.

“That’s unfortunate. I’m the master’s personal slave,” Yin Mei replied with a smile, seemingly content when the master made time to visit her. She didn’t grasp Tang Wan’s thoughts but remained cheerful.

“You’re out of your mind…” Tang Wan’s expression soured, privately contemplating whether she could collaborate with Yin Mei to somehow break the slave mark’s hold. However, Yin Mei’s conduct left her utterly baffled.

“There’s something else I should tell you, Miss Wan. I haven’t been marked with a slave seal,” Yin Mei revealed with a smile.

“Impossible… Are you willingly doing this?” Tang Wan was shocked once more, finding it hard to believe. No slave mark? Then why did Yin Mei address Gu Changge that way? However, Yin Mei opted not to respond, departing the courtyard before Tang Wan could press further. Yet, this action provided Tang Wan with an answer, causing her to tremble involuntarily.

“How many secrets is Gu Changge hiding…” Tang Wan mused, but soon she regained her composure, returning to her former calm demeanor to avoid revealing any hint of distress. Deliberately waiting for her injury to heal, Tang Wan eventually left the courtyard with the unconscious Tang Tian. A group of sturdy Tang family members awaited them, their expressions tense and uneasy.

Seeing Tang Wan emerge with Tang Tian without incident, they couldn’t help but breathe a collective sigh of relief. “Miss, is Master Tang Tian alright?” inquired a cultivator from the Sacred Realm, a tall and loyal servant of the Tang family.

“He’s fine, but he might remain in a coma for a while,” Tang Wan explained, mentioning how Gu Changge had extracted Tang Tian’s soul, despite not taking any further action, it still had an impact.

“Thank goodness,” the servant exhaled deeply, then couldn’t resist asking, “Miss, did you agree to certain terms before she released him? It feels like too much, downright deceitful!”

“Yes! Now that young Master Tang Tian is safe, we should retaliate and show them we’re not to be trifled with!” other Tang family members chimed in, brimming with righteous indignation and a sense of humiliation.

Tang Wan gestured dismissively. “No need. Today’s matter has been settled, and there’s no need to dwell on it. Take Tang Tian back to the clan and inform my grandfather and the others that I’ll be in the ancient Vermillion Bird country for a while.”

Since the clan had doubted her this time, she saw no reason to conceal her whereabouts any longer and chose to be transparent about her plans.

“Yes, miss,” the group responded promptly, wasting no time as they swiftly departed with Tang Tian in tow. Tang Wan gazed toward the direction of the Ancient Vermillion Bird Country, sighing inwardly.

Due to the slave seal, she was incapable of betraying Gu Changge or undermining his interests, even if she entertained such thoughts. The conflict between Tang Tian and Yin Mei had been resolved through Tang Wan’s intervention. While some cultivators who had anticipated drama were left disappointed, those astute enough could discern that Tang Wan must have acquiesced to some of Yin Mei’s terms in the end.

This minor struggle within the Wan Dao Business Alliance would soon fade into the background, akin to a small ripple on the surface of the sea. Few would mention it thereafter.

Several days later, inside the Tang family mansion, the unconscious Tang Tian finally stirred awake. Yet, upon closer inspection, one would notice faint golden lines flickering in the depths of his eyes.

“Argh, my head hurts!”

“Damn it, that Yin Mei knocked me out…”

Tang Tian winced, clutching his head in pain. However, the discomfort ebbed as quickly as it had come.

“Huh? What’s this?”

Tang Tian’s shock was palpable as he realized that his mind held additional memories, suggesting he had encountered something during his period of unconsciousness.

The images appeared jumbled and blurry, as if imbued with profound significance. Tang Tian could vaguely discern a vast, boundless world, with palaces and pavilions nestled among the clouds, and the gates of heaven seemingly open for eternity.

“Opportunity and misfortune are intertwined. Could it be that after facing danger this time, my opportunity has arrived…” Tang Tian felt a surge of excitement, recalling countless tales of individuals awakening to supreme powers after a period of unconsciousness, stories he’d heard from the bookkeeper. Yet, he never imagined it would happen to him.

“No, this must remain a secret,” Tang Tian resolved firmly, suppressing his emotions and maintaining composure. He dared not speak of this revelation aloud. Despite his reputation as a playboy, he was not foolish.

Amidst the ancient and enigmatic scene, he sensed the presence of another cultivation technique in his mind—Immortal Binding Art. Though he couldn’t decipher the ancient characters, he understood the potency of the technique.

—

“Master, have you returned?” In the depths of the Ancient Vermillion Bird Imperial Capital, within a grand palace, a woman dressed in white awaited outside the hall. Her hair cascaded softly, her face delicate and serene, radiating grace and poise.

It was Ji Qingxuan, who had patiently waited for Gu Changge for several days. Visually, she bore a striking resemblance to Su Qingge, save for their demeanor. Ji Qingxuan exuded a hint of darkness and coldness, in contrast to Su Qingge’s serene and gentle disposition.

Gu Changge nodded casually and replied, “I’m back.”

“Has anything happened recently in the Ancient Vermillion Bird Country?” Ji Qingxuan inquired. Gu Changge shook his head. “No, the young master went to address the Heavenly Extinction calamity. The Ancient Vermillion Bird Country is peaceful. However, there seems to be trouble in the nearby Ancient Xuanwu Kingdom, where a genius encountered an accident.”

“Oh? The Ancient Xuanwu Kingdom? Isn’t that where Zi Yang Heavenly King and the Six Crown King went?” Gu Changge looked intrigued.

In truth, Ji Qingxuan’s mention of the incident had already led Gu Changge to speculate that Su Qingge, being the inheritor of demonic arts, had found a target. The ideal location for her would be where Zi Yang Heavenly King resided, given his grudge against Gu Changge. Su Qingge’s primary target would likely be Zi Yang Heavenly King, even if she couldn’t eliminate him entirely.

“Indeed, a few geniuses met with misfortune, and their origins were all devoured. It appears that the inheritors of demonic arts might be concealed within their group,” Ji Qingxuan affirmed, her gaze fixed on Gu Changge.

“It seems to be a turbulent time. I hope Zi Yang Heavenly King and the others are unharmed,” Gu Changge remarked with a smile, not overly concerned. Yet, he contemplated taking action against Ying Shuang, a member of Zi Yang Heavenly King’s team, who had been waiting for Gu Changge to make his move. Before that, however, Gu Changge required one final task from Ying Shuang.

Later, Gu Changge returned to the palace and utilized a communication talisman to inquire of Jiang Chuchu about the source of Absolute Heavenly Extinction, a matter that had been on his mind. However, Jiang Chuchu’s response was terse and somewhat rude: “I didn’t find it.” Despite her brevity, Gu Changge acknowledged her reply.

Gu Changge smiled and casually tossed the communication talisman aside, paying it no mind.

In a region far from the territory of the Ancient Vermillion Bird Kingdom, thick gray fog enveloped the area, with shadowy creatures rampaging and leaving destruction in their wake. Along the way, city tribes had been reduced to ashes. High in the sky, Jiang Chuchu’s figure stood, surrounded by immortal light and bone inscriptions, which coalesced into a formidable Dao sword, descending from all directions.

Numerous creatures of Absolute Heavenly Extinction met their end in tragic fashion, with none surviving. While Gu Changge had mentioned addressing the Heavenly Extinction calamity, he hadn’t made a move at all. From the moment Jiang Chuchu arrived in the Ancient Vermillion Bird Country, she had set her sights on eradicating these creatures and locating the source of the outbreak.

As she stared at the communication talisman with anticipation, her eyes gradually dimmed when no response came from Gu Changge after a long wait. However, she quickly regained her composure. Her movements grew more fierce as her swords multiplied, raining down upon the ghostly creatures before her as if they were Gu Changge himself.

Suddenly, the communication talisman in her jade hand lit up, causing Jiang Chuchu to pause her assault on the Heavenly Extinction creatures. She regarded the messenger with suspicion until the voice of Gu Changge broke the silence: “Be careful.”

His message was brief yet unexpected. Jiang Chuchu was momentarily stunned, wondering if she had heard correctly. Did he genuinely express concern for her?

Listening again, she recognized Gu Changge’s unmistakable voice—disgusting, despicable, and shameless. Jiang Chuchu felt her heart race at the unexpected surprise. “Um,” she replied softly, her eyes sparkling as if infused with starlight.

…..

“Thank you, Hao’er. Without you, the entire Ancient Vermillion Bird Kingdom would have been wiped out this time,” spoke the Vermillion Bird Country Lord emotively in the palace, his words tinged with a sigh.

It was unexpected that among the great ancient kingdoms facing disaster, the Ancient Vermillion Bird Country, relatively weaker in national strength, would be the first to resolve the crisis. However, this didn’t signify the end of the Absolute Heavenly Extinction scourge.

The threat remained, albeit less imminent than in the initial days, leaving an uneasy feeling as they feared the onslaught of Heavenly Extinction souls that could potentially bring about the kingdom’s downfall.

“Father, you’re too kind. This is my duty,” Chu Hao waved off the praise, his expression calm and composed.

“You’ve done a great deal, Hao’er. Take some well-deserved rest,” the Vermillion Bird Country Lord smiled, his mood lifted.

Chu Hao nodded, pleased. Despite his efforts in preventing the Heavenly Extinction disaster outside the kingdom’s borders, he remained vigilant regarding the affairs of the hidden royal family and the Supreme Dao Cave.

Though the Wang family was incensed by Wang Xiao’s death, Chu Hao’s unwavering support shielded them from blame, leaving them with no grounds for reproach. However, they dared not express gratitude toward Chu Hao.

Furthermore, someone from the Wang family even spread the word, suggesting that Wang Xiao deserved his fate and that his death was not unfortunate. This betrayal infuriated Chu Hao, but he felt powerless to retaliate. Gu Changge’s formidable background instilled fear even in the hidden royal family, preventing them from harboring thoughts of revenge. Chu Hao even discovered that a Wang family powerhouse planned to apprehend him and offer apologies to Gu Changge. If not for Supreme Dao Cave’s intervention, a Wang family powerhouse might have indeed arrived.

It wasn’t the matter of whether they could arrest him or not; it was about their submissive attitude. These occurrences left Chu Hao seething with anger and frustration, nearly prompting him to publicly denounce the Wang family.

However, Supreme Dao Cave took a resolute stance in this matter, reassuring Chu Hao through a message that he needn’t concern himself. The sect’s senior was just as formidable as anyone else. Upon receiving this news, Chu Hao felt a surge of relief and excitement.

“My lord, the calamity has been averted this time, and the True Immortal Academy’s geniuses greatly contributed. They displayed bravery, fearlessly confronting many souls in the east,” remarked an old eunuch beside the Vermillion Bird Country Lord, unable to contain his laughter.

However, Lord Vermillion Bird’s expression darkened at the mention of the True Immortal Academy. He waved his hand dismissively. “Don’t mention them to me.”

He couldn’t forget Gu Changge’s actions that day. With only trusted confidants present, there was no need to maintain decorum.

“Do you truly believe they act out of kindness? It’s merely a game to them. The more Heavenly Extinction creatures they kill, the higher their prestige and rewards,” Lord Vermillion Bird sneered, his disdain evident.

“But… they did resolve a significant amount of trouble for the Ancient Vermillion Bird Kingdom, eliminating many shadow creatures and preventing the country from falling once more,” the old eunuch remarked, a bit stunned, before offering an explanation.

“Humph!” Lord Vermillion Bird snorted coldly. “So what? Even without them, Hao’er could have handled this disaster.”

Due to Gu Changge’s influence, Lord Vermillion Bird harbored no fondness for these arrogant geniuses. “If it weren’t for the True Immortal Academy’s trial, would they have bothered to come here?”

“This is their duty. Whether it’s the Ancient Vermillion Bird Country or any other, it’s the same for them. So, Eunuch Li, you needn’t worry too much,” Chu Hao gently reassured. “Even though Gu Changge leads many geniuses this time, he doesn’t eliminate as many Heavenly Extinction creatures.”

Just then, a guard’s voice echoed from outside the palace. “Third Prince, Miss Wan requests an audience with you.”

“Wan’er?” Chu Hao’s surprise quickly gave way to joy. Paying no heed to the Vermillion Bird King beside him, he hurriedly went to greet her.

At the palace entrance, Tang Wan stood with a graceful demeanor, a flowing robe, and a smile adorning her face.

“Why do you have time to visit today?” Chu Hao inquired with a smile.

“It just so happened that I recently resolved some matters, so I had a bit of free time,” Tang Wan replied with a smile.

“I see. It’s about your brother, Tang Tian, isn’t it?” Chu Hao surmised, having heard about the situation. In his view, Tang Wan had likely been ensnared by the so-called nine-tailed heavenly fox.

Tang Wan merely smiled and didn’t dwell on the matter. “It’s been resolved.”

“That’s good. If you’ve faced any grievances, you must inform me,” Chu Hao insisted.

Tang Wan hesitated briefly, Gu Changge’s image flashing through her mind, instilling fear. She refrained from saying anything, instead waving her hand dismissively. “Brother Chu Hao, don’t worry. Everything’s fine.”

“That’s a relief. So, what brings you here today?” Chu Hao inquired.

“Well, I came to discuss something with you,” Tang Wan began cautiously.

“Oh? What is it? Is it related to dealing with Gu Changge?” Chu Hao asked, recalling the jade slip Tang Wan had given him previously, which listed numerous geniuses with grudges against Gu Changge.

Subconsciously, Chu Hao felt a surge of warmth in his heart, thinking that Tang Wan had come to offer her support.

However, upon hearing Tang Wan’s words, Chu Hao’s expression shifted. “It’s really about Gu Changge… Brother Chu Hao, I think you have to endure it and wait for this matter to blow over.”

“Gu Changge is too powerful, and I’m worried about you…”

“What?” Chu Hao interrupted her abruptly, disbelief evident. “What’s gotten into you, Wan’er? Why are you saying this all of a sudden?”

“Could it be that the Tang family is pressuring you?”

Chu Hao couldn’t reconcile Tang Wan’s current attitude with her past behavior. Had she heard some troubling rumors?

Tang Wan gazed at him earnestly, then sighed helplessly. “Brother Chu Hao, you can’t confront Gu Changge right now. Sometimes, it’s better to swallow your pride and endure the humiliation.”

She was at a loss for words herself. Gu Changge’s message implied that as long as Chu Hao refrained from provoking or obstructing him, he would simply disregard Chu Hao’s existence. Essentially, this issue only required Chu Hao’s endurance to resolve. In front of Gu Changge, Chu Hao held no advantage.