I Really Am A Villain

Outside the house stood two new tables, each with some bowls and baskets placed on top.

Wu Zhaodi’s home sat on the edge of the village, in a rather remote spot with no neighbors nearby.

“I’ve been trying to convince Zhaodi to move to Sun-Sword County for ages,” Shu Long said. “But she refuses. Says it’s too noisy there, and that she prefers the peace and quiet here.”

“It is peaceful,” Xu Zimo agreed with a nod.

“What are you two following me for?” Wu Zhaodi said irritably, glancing at them both.

“Zhaodi, let’s go to Sun-Sword County together,” Shu Long urged. “The Three Luan Holy Lands is recruiting new disciples today. People from all the nearby counties have come, it’s a grand event. I came all this way just to invite you.”

“Three Luan Holy Lands?” Wu Zhaodi’s expression darkened slightly. “That’s one of the subordinate sects of the Celestial Luan God Realm, isn’t it?”

“Exactly,” Shu Long said with admiration. “I’ve heard that every year, the Three Luan Holy Lands gets one chance to recommend a disciple to the God Realm itself. Imagine that, an opportunity to join the Celestial Luan God Realm! Even our Dragon God Imperium must give them some respect.”

“Sounds wonderful,” Wu Zhaodi said dryly. “Then why don’t you go apply?”

“I’d love to, but come on, you know me,” Shu Long said with a laugh. “I’m only at the Paragon Meridian Realm, no one there would even look at me.”

He was self-aware enough to know his limits. A spoiled young master since birth, he had no real ambitions of becoming a peerless cultivator, and he was at peace with that.

“In that case,” Wu Zhaodi said after thinking for a moment, “let’s go take a look.”

“Now that’s more like it!” Shu Long said, grinning. “By the way, brother-in-law, where did you say you were from again?”

“I came by sea,” Xu Zimo replied casually. “A small village far away, you’ve probably never heard of it.”

They didn’t bring much with them. Shu Long ordered one of his attendants to prepare the mounts, and soon the three of them were riding beasts along the road toward Sun-Sword County.

A soft spring breeze brushed across their faces, and the willows hung low like green silk curtains.

The official road was lined with blooming flowers, making for a pleasant journey.

As the foremost of the sixteen million counties in the Dragon God Imperium, Sun-Sword County was vast and majestic. From a distance, the city seemed to live up to its name, its layout resembled a great celestial ram gazing toward the heavens.

The thick city walls were built from multicolored stone, and the towering “horns” on each side were said to be made from the actual horns of a divine beast, the Kui Ram.

As they approached, the wide main road leading to the city gates was already packed with people, a testament to the county’s prosperity even before they entered.

“I’m not bragging,” Shu Long said proudly, “but aside from Dragon God City itself, no place in the empire is livelier than Sun-Sword County.”

As they neared the gates, Wu Zhaodi pulled out a veil from somewhere and tied it over her face.

Shu Long gave her a puzzled look.

“Just avoiding unnecessary trouble,” she said lightly.

“Don’t worry,” Shu Long boasted. “This is my territory. No one would dare trouble us here.”

He didn’t press further, but Xu Zimo guessed that Wu Zhaodi’s true identity wasn’t simple, and that she feared being recognized.

“Our Sun-Sword County is known for two wonders,” Shu Long said, launching into an introduction. “One is the Sword Dance, and the other is the City of Paintings. The Sword Dance refers to the women of the Drunken Red Dust Inn. Each of them dances like a celestial sword immortal descended to the mortal world. Their performances are breathtaking, famous throughout the entire Godfiend Abyss Heaven, unmatched anywhere else. As for the City of Paintings,” he continued, “it’s home to Master Zhang Heng, the Painting Sovereign himself. He accepts all who wish to learn, regardless of background. His disciples number in the tens of millions, and every day, thousands more come just to seek his tutelage.”

Shu Long grinned. “But I figure you won’t care much for painting, right? Let’s go see the Sword Dance instead. You can’t come to Sun-Sword County and not see it, it’d be a lifelong regret.”

“I want to see the Three Luan Holy Lands,” Wu Zhaodi said.

Xu Zimo glanced at her, sensing a flicker of unease in her tone. It seemed there was some history between her and that sect.

He smiled. “Let’s go see the Sword Dance first. The Three Luan Holy Lands will still be there later.”

“Exactly!” Shu Long said quickly. “The Three Luan Holy Lands’s envoys are staying with my family while they’re here. If you really want to meet them, I can arrange that tonight.”

With the matter settled, Wu Zhaodi said nothing more.

They entered Sun-Sword County, with Shu Long leading them confidently through the crowded streets.

Vendors shouted from all directions, and the air was filled with the smell of roasted meat, sweets, and spices. Xu Zimo couldn’t help but feel a spark of appetite.

He bought a few pieces of pastry, sweet but not cloying, and nibbled as they walked.

Before long, they arrived before the Drunken Red Dust Inn.

Calling it an inn wasn’t quite right, it was more like a vast peony garden.

The name “Drunken Red Dust” came from a rare variety of peony, and the garden was filled with all manner of them. Black Sea Gold, Crown Jade Ink, Flame Refinement, Broidered Lotus… dozens more besides.

It was said that the garden’s mistress adored the Drunken Red Dust variety most, and so named the place after it.

The garden walls were painted white and decorated with peony murals so lifelike that the flowers seemed to bloom and close on their own. A soft fragrance even drifted from the paintings themselves.

Such an enchanted painting was a marvel to behold.

“This mural was painted personally by the Painting Sovereign, Zhang Heng,” Shu Long explained proudly. “It’s priceless. Beautiful, isn’t it?”

“The Primal Dao of Painting…” Xu Zimo murmured.

“What’s that, brother-in-law?” Shu Long asked curiously.

Xu Zimo just smiled and shook his head. There was no easy way to explain.

The painting was infused with the power of Primal Dao, that’s why it could manifest such lifelike effects. But even that required more than mastery of Primal Dao; it demanded supreme skill in the Dao of Painting, to an almost transcendent degree.

If Zhang Heng could take one more step, reaching the realm of Infinite Dao and comprehending the very Edicts themselves, then his brush would no longer merely depict flowers, it would create real ones with a single stroke.

“Incredible,” Xu Zimo said with quiet admiration. “I’d like to meet him someday.”

“That depends on luck,” Shu Long said. “No offense, but even my father, the county governor, has to make an appointment weeks in advance to see the Painting Sovereign.”

Xu Zimo smiled faintly, offering no argument.

He and Wu Zhaodi followed Shu Long deeper into the garden.

“What’s wrong?” Xu Zimo asked softly, noticing her subdued expression. “Do you have a grudge against the Three Luan Holy Lands?”

“They’re not qualified to have a grudge with me,” she said coolly.

“Then it must be the Celestial Luan God Realm you have an issue with,” Xu Zimo said with a small smile.

Wu Zhaodi’s expression didn’t change, but she cast him a long, meaningful look.

The Drunken Red Dust wasn’t a place just anyone could enter. Shu Long pulled a token from his sleeve, and only then were the three of them allowed inside.

The moment they stepped into the peony garden, a wave of intoxicating fragrance washed over them.