I Am the Fated Villain

Chapter 1395: Stop doing things that hurt yourself easily, the tip of your nose is sore

Mu Yan was dressed in gauze as white as moonlight, paired with a soft robe embroidered with intricate and delicate patterns. Holding an ancient wooden comb in her slender jade-like hands, she slowly combed her hair in front of the bronze mirror, completely ignoring Zhuo Wu’s words, her expression dignified and graceful.

Zhuo Wu, watching her from a distance, was not surprised by Mu Yan’s reaction. Ever since Mu Yan had been forcibly accepted as an apprentice into the Hell of Ice and Fire and brought back, she had always been like this, rarely paying attention to others. Those who didn’t know her might even think she was mute.

But that was fine with Zhuo Wu—if she spoke less, it saved him a lot of trouble. Up until now, Zhuo Wu had not revealed any information about Mu Yan. As for the planned disciple acceptance ceremony, word had already spread within the Zhuo clan, and many members had been discussing it recently.

However, no one in the clan had yet seen the true appearance of the apprentice Zhuo Wu intended to accept.

In front of her clansmen, Zhuo Wu naturally couldn’t accept someone who had killed her highly regarded junior as her apprentice. So she had to alter the story, claiming she had met Mu Yan by chance during her travels. According to her, Mu Yan was exceptionally talented and had been highly valued, which led to her being brought back to the clan. She explained that Mu Yan had been cultivating in seclusion ever since, which was why no one had seen her before. As for the murderer who had killed her junior, Zhuo Wu claimed to have personally dealt with them in the Hell of Ice and Fire.

“From today onward, the old you no longer exists in this world. Your new name is Zhuo Yan, given to you by the deity herself upon your apprenticeship,” Zhuo Wu said before shaking her sleeves and disappearing from the palace.

She wasn’t concerned that Mu Yan would do anything reckless. Back in the Hell of Ice and Fire, Mu Yan had wanted to die, and living on in such a humiliating manner must have been unbearable. As one of the most outstanding figures in the world, how could Zhuo Wu fail to understand Mu Yan’s inner thoughts?

But Zhuo Wu still didn’t care. With the spell cast on Mu Yan, binding her to obey for the rest of her life, Mu Yan’s fate was already sealed. To someone like Zhuo Wu, an existence so far beyond the immortal king, Mu Yan, who couldn’t even reach that level, was truly no more significant than an ant.

After Zhuo Wu left the palace, Mu Yan, who had been quietly grooming herself in the mirror, put down the wooden comb and glanced outside with a hint of regret. Succumbing to Zhuo Wu and accepting her as her master—her greatest enemy—had been a desperate tactic, meant to buy time.

She had been thinking of countermeasures, searching for a way out. But in the end, Mu Yan realized that no matter how much she thought, there was no solution, no glimmer of hope. This time, unlike in the past when she had managed to escape seemingly hopeless situations, there was no path to survival.

She had cornered herself completely. Living on in such humiliation, she wondered if it would be better to simply end it all.

But I can’t die now. My father’s death remains unavenged, and the humiliation my mother suffered at the hands of that clan has yet to be repaid.

And then there’s my mother’s final wish before she died… asking me to take care of my brother.

Mu Yan gazed at the stunningly beautiful woman reflected in the bronze mirror, her eyes slightly unfocused. It had been a long time since she had seen herself like this. When she traveled outside, she never revealed her true face, always changing her appearance. Her beauty often attracted unnecessary trouble, so hiding it had become second nature.

Now, with her real face restored, she found herself feeling slightly uncomfortable. Over the past few days since Zhuo Wu captured her, her thoughts had been consumed with how to escape. But she had come to realize that Zhuo Wu seemed to know her every move, every thought, as if nothing could escape her notice.

She was like a caged canary, trapped with no way out.

The Zhuo clansman who captured me mentioned being worried that some powerful figure might be backing me, plotting against Zhuo Wu. If that’s true, does it mean that family has been watching me? Or could it be… my brother?

Mu Yan sighed softly, her thoughts drifting to another matter.

She paused, contemplating.

But if that were the case, so much time has passed, and I haven’t heard any rumors. Maybe they were just overthinking it. After all, how could there be anyone powerful behind me?

Mu Yan shook her head slightly. She had relied solely on herself to get this far—there had never been anyone supporting her from the shadows.

Although she carried the blood of the Eternal Protoss, it wasn’t pure. Her father had been human, not a member of the Protoss. This complicated lineage involved a long-buried secret of the Eternal Protoss, one tied to her father’s murder and her mother’s lifelong grief.

Mu Yan harbored a deep hatred for Zhuo Wu and the Zhuo clan, but that was closely tied to her current predicament. Yet, thinking about it now felt pointless.

Is there really no other way?

She wondered, feeling as though there was nothing before her—not even a glimmer of hope.

Suddenly, a figure in white flashed through her mind, someone seemingly unrelated to her situation. She quickly shook her head, trying to dispel that thought, even giving her pretty face a light pat to rouse herself. “Why am I thinking of him at a time like this…”

But that guy trusts others so easily. He seems so innocent and easy to deceive. I wonder if he took to heart what I said.

If he gets tricked, he’ll suffer greatly, and he can’t blame me for not warning him earlier.

A helpless smile tugged at the corners of Mu Yan’s mouth. In a moment like this, with her life hanging in the balance, she still found time to worry about someone else.

Still, she reflected on her parting with that guy—it had indeed felt a bit strange.

Although they had only spent less than half a month together, it had brought her immense happiness. She felt as if she had discovered a different kind of joy in her life, one that existed apart from cultivation.The news that Elder Zhuo Wu of the Zhuo Clan would hold a disciple acceptance ceremony in a few days quickly spread throughout the Zhuo Clan’s territory, causing significant ripples across the universe. Many prominent families and factions within the immortal civilization received invitations to witness the event.

Elder Zhuo Wu held a prestigious position, renowned not only throughout the entire immortal civilization but also across various realms. Her name resonated in countless worlds and universes; whenever it was mentioned, there was no one who did not recognize it or feel a sense of awe.

In many ancient cities, sculptures of such figures adorned public spaces, and temples were erected specifically to worship them. People would bow and pray day and night, leading to hundreds of millions of devoted followers.

To be accepted as an apprentice by such a prominent figure carried immense significance, opening doors to opportunities and prestige beyond imagination.

For a time, discussions about this matter filled every universe and ancient city. Not long ago, Elder Zhuo Wu of the Zhuo Clan had lost her most important junior within the clan’s territory, an event that sent shockwaves through all factions and sparked a fierce uproar.

Enraged, Elder Zhuo Wu had struck out across an infinite distance, but the murderer managed to escape. In response, the Zhuo Clan established a ten-direction universe barrier, sealing all realms and time to prevent the fugitive from fleeing.

Elder Zhuo Wu’s fury intensified, leading her to personally draft a wanted notice, offering a substantial reward for the capture of the murderer. This news spread rapidly, igniting discussions among countless cultivators and beings, all astonished by the audacity of the perpetrator.

Such actions were seen as desperate, akin to signing one’s own death warrant. True to expectations, in the following days, the Zhuo Clan dispatched numerous individuals to apprehend her.

In various universes and ancient cities, many cultivators and beings offered sky-high rewards for the capture of the murderer. Soon after, numerous strong figures from the Zhuo Clan took it upon themselves to apprehend her, ultimately imprisoning her within the clan. This matter appeared to gradually settle down, with fewer people mentioning it.

However, when Elder Zhuo Wu of the Zhuo Clan suddenly announced her intention to accept disciples and hold a ceremony, speculation arose almost immediately regarding a connection between these two events. Many wondered if her decision to accept disciples was a response to the death of her highly regarded junior, and what that implied about her current state of mind.

There were whispers among the populace, with some suspecting that the individuals responsible for the death of Elder Zhuo Wu’s descendant might have ties to hostile factions, such as the Hun Clan, the Wu Clan, or other mysterious forces. Did this apprenticeship ceremony signify a forceful message to her adversaries? Was it a statement of strength and defiance?

Suddenly, across the universe and the vast realms of immortal civilization, the factions that had received invitations began to speculate that Elder Zhuo Wu’s upcoming ceremony for accepting apprentices might not be straightforward.

In Gufeng Ancient City, within the Arena of Ten Thousand Clans, amid a series of towering palace complexes, Hong Gui received the news. Being relatively close to the Zhuo Clan and present in Gufeng Ancient City, she naturally received the invitation letter.

What surprised her, however, was that Wang He had mentioned this event beforehand.

How did Wang He find out about it? Could it be that he met Elder Zhuo Wu prior to this?

That doesn’t seem right either. Is it possible that he truly is a prophet, knowing the movements and whereabouts of a heavenly elder in advance?

Hong Gui felt a mix of surprise and confusion. Nevertheless, since she had promised Wang He that she would take him to witness the ceremony, she was determined to keep her word.

Although there was some tension between the two, it paled in comparison to their long-term interests. On the other side, Wang He was not surprised when he learned about the ceremony; a smile of anticipation played on his lips.

This time, the disciple acceptance ceremony will mark the first appearance of the future Empress Pingtian before the world… I’m so fortunate to witness this moment with my own eyes.

He mused.

But this is just the beginning of the story between us. I will bring the most anticipated light and hope to her dark life.

With a beaming smile and unwavering confidence, Wang He soon turned his attention back to the members of the Scavengers Sect gathered before him, explaining the benefits of the upcoming event. Afterward, he stood up and headed to visit Hong Gui, intending to discuss the ceremony that was just days away. He knew she must have received an invitation letter.

The mountains in the distance were stunning, and nearby, elegant pavilions were surrounded by a serene atmosphere. Gu Changge, dressed in a loose white coat, sat cross-legged on a rug, an incense burner beside him releasing a fragrant mist that carried the scent of spring rain through the empty mountains.

He held an ancient scroll in his hand, studying it intently. The tea next to him still steamed, its aroma rich and inviting, clearly indicating that both the tea and the leaves were of exceptional quality.

After a refreshing bath, a gray-haired girl—who looked almost reborn—changed into a clean gray robe and was brought to him by Ling Huang.

“Huh? Cleaned up?” Gu Changge said, glancing up as he heard footsteps.

The gray-haired girl stood beside Ling Huang with her head lowered, her height barely reaching his shoulders, indicating she was only around sixteen or seventeen years old. However, compared to her appearance at the Ten Thousand Races Arena, she had transformed remarkably. Her hair was now smooth, her skin extraordinarily delicate and fair, resembling flawless ice and snow. All her scars had vanished, revealing a lively beauty.

“Keep your head up… You don’t need to hide your face with your hair. You have such a beautiful face; why choose to conceal it so no one can see it?”

The gray-haired girl was taken aback by his words and instinctively raised her eyes to meet Gu Changge’s gaze.

He sat there with his usual warm smile, drinking tea leisurely, his eyes half-closed as if nothing in this world could alter his expression. It had to be said that he possessed an almost immortal temperament; to describe him as detached or refined felt insufficient. He was entirely different from any man she had ever encountered.

This difference was not merely in temperament, appearance, or demeanor, but in the very sense of his existence. Although he was present, visible, and seemingly within reach, he gave off the impression of being in an entirely different realm from everyone else. He seemed to exist nowhere, as if he were not tethered to anyone or anything.

“Well, your current appearance is more pleasing to the eye. All beautiful girls in this world should cherish their looks. After you follow me, don’t engage in self-destructive behavior,” Gu Changge said casually, seemingly unaware of the gray-haired girl stealing glances at him.

When the gray-haired girl heard this, she paused for a moment, feeling an indescribable warmth in her heart. It was a sensation akin to warm sunshine pouring down and a gentle breeze caressing her skin.

For some reason, she felt as though all the indifference she had cultivated was slowly disintegrating, leaving her with a slight soreness in her nose. After Ling Huang said his piece and departed, she found herself unable to resist the allure of the healing medicine in the small white porcelain bottle. Despite her strong willpower, she ultimately uncapped the bottle and swallowed its contents whole.

Immediately, her body began to undergo almost complete transformation. The water in the bath changed eight times, with the first change revealing a mixture of black and blood, accompanied by layers of dead skin and scars that had sloughed off. The stench was overwhelming.

The same unpleasantness persisted with the second change. The odor from the first three changes made her face flush; she couldn’t believe that these were the impurities being expelled from her body. It was hard to reconcile with the fact that she possessed the strength of a true immortal; she was no longer a mortal and had long freed herself from the dirt and impurities of the world. Yet, so many impurities remained.

Fortunately, after the next few changes, the bathwater showed no further alterations. She also realized that her cultivation had significantly improved.