I Really Am A Villain

“You don’t understand,” Ji Changnian said, shaking his head. “In Nanyi’s current situation, if I approach her directly, it will only embarrass her. You have no idea what it feels like, to watch the woman you love being forced to marry someone else, while you can’t do a thing to stop it.”

“True. I don’t,” Xu Zimo replied bluntly, shaking his head.

“Forget it,” Ji sighed helplessly.

As they spoke, Commander Zhan descended from the second floor once more.

“Which of you is Ji Changnian?” he asked, glancing between the two of them.

“I am,” Ji stepped forward immediately.

“Miss Nanyi asked me to tell you this,” said Commander Zhan. “To knowingly do what cannot be done, that is the height of foolishness. Go back. Don’t get yourself entangled in this matter.”

Ji stared at his retreating figure, his mouth opening as if to speak, but in the end, he fell silent.

“What if he can help your family resolve the Lu Heavenly Clan’s crisis?” Xu Zimo said from the side.

At those words, Commander Zhan stopped in his tracks. Slowly, he turned around. “Are you saying that on your own behalf, or on behalf of the Universe God Realm?”

Clearly, seeing Xu Zimo together with Ji Changnian, he had assumed that Xu was also from Universe God Realm.

“Do you still remember your clan’s patriarch?” Xu Zimo asked instead of answering.

Commander Zhan’s eyes narrowed sharply. “What do you know?” he demanded.

If not for the sudden disappearance of the Lu Heavenly Clan’s Immortal Monarch, their family would never have fallen into such a passive state. Their only hope now lay in finding him again.

“Now we can talk,” Xu Zimo said evenly.

“Please, this way,” Commander Zhan replied after a moment’s thought, motioning with his arm.

Following his lead, they arrived at the Lu Heavenly Clan’s private room.

The suite within Sun-Moon Tower was refined, behind the vermilion doors, paintings of cranes flying west at dusk hung elegantly on the walls.

This chamber was themed after the zhu blossoms, delicate pink flowers arranged everywhere like spring fields in bloom.

Inside, aside from Commander Zhan, there was an elderly woman and a veiled young lady.

Judging from Ji Changnian’s trembling body, Xu Zimo could guess this veiled woman was none other than Lu Nanyi.

“Zhan, didn’t I tell you to send them away?” the elderly woman asked, her voice heavy and displeased.

“He says he knows something about the patriarch,” Commander Zhan replied.

“Then speak,” said the old woman. “What do you know?”

“I’m not talking about the Immortal Monarch who went missing recently,” Xu Zimo said calmly. “I’m referring to an ancestor from even earlier.”

“An earlier ancestor?” The people in the room froze, exchanging uncertain glances. After a long pause, the old woman asked in disbelief, “You mean… Lu Sheng?”

“When has your Lu Heavenly Clan ever had a second Saint Sovereign?” Xu Zimo countered.

“Lu Sheng was slain by the White Emperor long ago,” the old woman said coldly. “That’s known to the entire world. Are you here to deceive us?”

“Lu Sheng indeed died,” Xu Zimo said. “But in a certain sense, he hasn’t completely perished. I met him when I was at White Emperor Mountain. I owe him a favor, and he asked me to fulfill a final wish. Lu Sheng wanted me to help the Lu Heavenly Clan.”

“Nonsense,” the old woman snapped. “You’re just a boy wet behind the ears. How could you possibly help the Lu Heavenly Clan? Our relationship with the Wang Heavenly Clan is already stabilized. Who sent you here to sow discord?”

“With the Lu Heavenly Clan’s current attitude, decline is inevitable,” Xu Zimo said quietly, shaking his head. He looked at Commander Zhan and Lu Nanyi before continuing, “I’ve said what I came to say. I’ll stay the night here at Sun-Moon Tower. If you believe me, come find me. If not, I’ll leave in the morning.”

As he turned to go, the old woman’s face darkened, and her aura burst forth.

Before he could leave the room, she lashed out with a palm strike. “You’re not leaving until you explain yourself!” she barked.

Her immense force made the entire room tremble.

But Xu Zimo didn’t even turn around. The strike landed on his back, only for a resonant shock to echo through the air.

The old woman was hurled backward, crashing through the window and falling from the second floor into the street below.

“Madam Hua!” Commander Zhan shouted in alarm.

Xu Zimo stepped out of the room calmly, and Ji Changnian, after a brief look at Lu Nanyi, followed close behind.

The two of them each took a room within Sun-Moon Tower for the night.

Meanwhile, Commander Zhan helped the fallen Madam Hua back upstairs.

“This must be reported to the Wang Heavenly Clan,” she said furiously. “They’ll demand justice for us.”

“Madam,” Lu Nanyi spoke at last, her tone calm. “I hope you remember… our surname is Lu.”

Madam Hua froze briefly, then forced a smile. “Nanyi, once a woman is married, she belongs to her husband’s family. You should get used to that.”

“It’s getting late, Madam Hua,” Lu Nanyi said coldly. “You should rest.”

“Nanyi, you must think carefully,” Madam Hua warned. “Don’t be deceived by some smooth-tongued stranger, or you’ll doom the Lu Heavenly Clan completely.”

With that, she turned and left.

In the quiet that followed, Lu Nanyi and Commander Zhan sat in silence.

“What do you think?” Commander Zhan asked first.

“I believe him,” Lu Nanyi said.

“To trust a stranger so easily, isn’t that reckless?” Commander Zhan replied.

“My marriage into the Wang Heavenly Clan is only a temporary measure,” Lu Nanyi said softly. “The Lu Heavenly Clan will fall either way. Why not take a chance? What could he possibly gain from helping us?”

“Then I’ll keep an eye on Madam Hua,” Commander Zhan said. “She’s desperate to side with the Wang Heavenly Clan. She may try to report this.”

“If she does, let her,” Lu Nanyi said calmly. “It’ll be a good way to test that man’s ability.”

Commander Zhan sighed. “That’s all we can do for now.”

Inside his room, Xu Zimo slowly opened his eyes. The Flames of Zhurong within his body gradually settled.

The door creaked open.

“I hope you don’t mind a late-night visit,” came Lu Nanyi’s soft voice as she entered.

The oil lamp flickered to life on its own. In the gentle glow, Lu Nanyi appeared, still veiled, dressed in a flowing red robe.

Her long black hair shimmered like silk, cascading freely behind her. There was a quiet, intellectual beauty in her poise.

She walked forward gracefully and lifted her hands to untie her veil.

In that instant, her beauty struck like a song, a face so exquisite it seemed to outshine the world.

Her smile could steal the color from palaces and make even the fairest courtiers pale in comparison.

An oval face, phoenix eyes, slender brows, she carried both elegance and strength, the bearing of a heroine as much as a goddess.

“For the Lu Heavenly Clan to have someone like you,” Xu Zimo said lightly, “there may yet be hope for revival.”

“Thank you for the compliment,” Lu Nanyi said with a sigh. “But it’s a pity that even I can’t save the Lu Heavenly Clan.”

“I have a question,” Xu Zimo said.

“Please, ask,” she replied with a nod.

“Why has the Universe God Realm done nothing to help its own Saint Sovereign in this predicament?” Xu Zimo asked.

“Because of the Wang Heavenly Clan’s Grand Emperor,” Lu Nanyi answered calmly.