I Am the Fated Villain

Chapter 1404: The group of guests shook, you look much prettier than before

As for the latter, many events unfolded. Mu Yan’s mother passed away from illness, and she was subsequently expelled from the Eternal Protoss. However, Mu Yan always remembered her mother’s dying wish for her to take care of her younger brother, a promise she dared not forget. After her expulsion from the Eternal Protoss, she diligently sought information about her brother’s well-being and often wondered how he was faring.

Fortunately, she discovered that since their mother’s death, the patriarch of the Eternal Protoss—Li Yang’s biological father—had changed his attitude toward him and began to train him. Later, when Mu Yan heard news of Li Yang again, it was to learn that he was being established as the Son of the Eternal Protoss. This brought her a sense of relief.

Though she knew Li Yang would likely harbor resentment toward her, she felt indifferent about it, aware that during their childhood, her presence had subjected him to ridicule from many members of the Eternal Protoss. Even the handymen and servants regarded him with disdainful looks. This treatment caused Li Yang to endure a long period of embarrassment and humiliation.

“It seems that Xiao Yang has been doing well for a while…” Mu Yan thought, looking at the group of Eternal Protoss not far away. She felt a sense of relief. The eldest sister had always been like a mother to her. Although Li Yang harbored a deep hatred for her, she held no complaints or concerns about it.

When she was first captured by the Zhuo clan, she had overheard them mentioning that there might be powerful allies helping her. In her heart, Mu Yan nurtured a small hope that her younger brother, Li Yang, might be secretly aiding her. However, that hope was soon dashed as she came to realize she was simply being naive.

At that moment, noticing Mu Yan’s gaze, Li Yang’s expression grew increasingly dark, and the fists hidden beneath his robe tightened, making a creaking sound. “How could she be here and become Elder Zhuowu’s disciple?” he growled inwardly, consumed by a sense of gloom.

For this half-sister, he harbored an intense hatred, wishing she would die outside. He hadn’t heard any news about her in recent years, which brought him a sense of relief, as if a stain on his otherwise bright life had been wiped away. He never imagined he would see her again in such a situation, especially as the direct disciple of an elder from the Zhuo Clan. This revelation made Li Yang feel as if he had swallowed a dead mouse.

At that moment, his eyes turned cold as he sent a voice transmission to the elder beside him, determined not to let Mu Yan appear before him. “I nearly forgot to introduce her. The apprentice I received was met by me during my travels some time ago. Now she goes by Zhuo Yan…”

Zhuowu, noticing the unusual expressions on the faces of the Eternal Protoss, began to suspect she might have made a mistake.

However, she quickly regained her composure and introduced Mu Yan to everyone. She forgot the faint trace of the eternal divine bloodline that had manifested when she first met Mu Yan. Although that trace was weak and could only be described as thin, it confirmed her status as a genuine member of the Eternal Protoss. Did the elders of the Eternal Protoss still recognize Mu Yan?

From Zhuowu’s perspective, Mu Yan was merely an ordinary member of the Eternal Protoss and should not have been remembered by these elder-level figures. “Hehe, it is a great honor for her to be accepted as an apprentice by Elder Zhuowu, but who would have thought that an abandoned member of our clan would end up with such fortune in the future? Truly, it is her luck…”

However, Zhuowu’s introduction was cut short by a cold snort from one of the elders of the Eternal Protoss. The other elders who had attended the banquet wore equally grim expressions. An abandoned and seemingly useless member of the Eternal Protoss had suddenly become a disciple of Zhuowu. They couldn’t believe that Zhuowu was unaware of Mu Yan’s identity prior to this moment. It felt intentional, like a deliberate slap in the face of the Eternal Protoss.

The other guests had initially been praising and admiring Elder Zhuowu’s newly accepted apprentice. However, no one expected the reaction from the group of Eternal Protoss to be so intense. For a moment, many cultivators and beings stood frozen in place, unable to react.

Those who had been showering compliments also found themselves embarrassed, their words abruptly halted. A palpable tension filled the air, creating a strong sense of animosity that was hard to ignore.

Everyone in the Eternal Protoss wore expressions of hostility, demanding an explanation from Elder Zhuowu. They had come with good intentions, believing they were extending a courtesy, yet Elder Zhuowu had humiliated them in front of all. Wasn’t this a slap in the face of the Eternal Protoss?

“Fellow Daoists, what do you mean by these words?” Zhuowu asked, astonished by the sudden shift in the atmosphere.

“Hehe, fellow Daoist Zhuowu, are you pretending to be unaware?” replied the elder of the Eternal Protoss, his expression dark. “You accepted a useless person expelled from my Eternal Protoss as your apprentice and even invited me to witness the ceremony. Do you think my Eternal Protoss is easy to bully?”

At this remark, many guests finally grasped the situation and looked at Mu Yan in shock. This stunningly beautiful woman was, in fact, a member expelled by the Eternal Protoss. Mu Yan, too, was taken aback, never expecting the Eternal Protoss to recognize her. Yet, she could hardly believe they would go so far as to voice such accusations in front of everyone.

A wry smile and a sense of self-deprecation crossed Mu Yan’s face. She had once imagined that the Eternal Protoss might come to her aid, but now it seemed that not adding insult to injury was the best outcome she could hope for.

Meanwhile, Li Yang remained indifferent, as if he didn’t even notice her presence, sipping his drink in solitude. In the distance, Wang He watched the scene unfold, not surprised at all; instead, a confident smile played on his lips, knowing everything was under control.

It was these experiences that would later shape the Pingtian Empress, who was so talented yet so ruthless. Many cultivators who had studied the life of Empress Pingtian often remarked that if she hadn’t endured such a dark period and undergone a transformation in the depths of despair, there would be no future Pingtian Empress.

It could be said that the future Empress Pingtian was a person of remarkable perseverance. She truly severed ties with her past life, cutting off everyone who had once been part of her experience.

“My Fellow Daoists, you have misunderstood. This deity has no such intentions. I was unaware of the history between Zhuo Yan and the Eternal Protoss until now,” Zhuowu said, frowning as she spoke. “Had I known, no matter what, I would not have held the disciple acceptance ceremony so rashly.”

Zhuowu felt that the situation had become tricky, exceeding her expectations. From the perspective of the Eternal Protoss, it seemed as if she had acted deliberately to humiliate them. However, before this moment, she had no idea that Mu Yan was a member expelled from the Eternal Protoss. She hadn’t considered this at all when accepting Mu Yan as her apprentice.

Yet, if this misunderstanding was not clarified, it could easily incite the ire of the Eternal Protoss. Zhuowu had no desire to offend them without cause.

“Knowing Elder Zhuowu as I do, it is impossible for her to have intentionally accepted her as a disciple, aware that she is an expelled member of the Eternal Protoss,” an elder who had a good personal relationship with Zhuowu interjected, trying to ease the tension. “Let’s not be hasty; I believe this may truly be a misunderstanding.”

Throughout this ordeal, Mu Yan watched everything unfold with a blank expression. She witnessed the changing attitudes of those around her—flattery and amazement turning into embarrassment, indifference, and even resentment. Yet, none of it truly bothered her.

However, after experiencing it firsthand, she couldn’t help but laugh quietly to herself. This was the truest display of human nature. People’s reactions shifted so easily, driven by circumstance.

Several elders had spoken up on Zhuowu’s behalf, leaving the elders of the Eternal Protoss with little to say, though their expressions remained sour. Meanwhile, Li Yang appeared indifferent, as if he had nothing to do with the situation, content to drink and eat in silence. But in his heart, he sneered, knowing that all of this had happened because of his orders.

No matter how Mu Yan attempted to repay the many humiliations she had caused Li Yang in the past, it would never be enough.

“In that case, Elder Zhuowu, please provide an explanation,” the elder of the Eternal Protoss who had spoken earlier said, casting a neutral glance at Mu Yan. Zhuowu felt conflicted; she didn’t want to offend the Eternal Protoss, but she also didn’t want to give up on a suitable apprentice.

“If I had known this, I would never have held this so-called disciple acceptance ceremony. In the end, I’ve only shot myself in the foot…” she thought, feeling an overwhelming dissatisfaction with Mu Yan.

At that moment, she slightly cupped her hands and addressed the group. “I will certainly provide a reasonable explanation to my fellow Daoists. Before this, Mu Yan told me that she had no parents and had been wandering since childhood. Out of compassion, I accepted her as an apprentice, never realizing she would hide her past from me.”

“If you think about it, you can’t blame Elder Zhuowu for this. This woman has always been scheming; knowing that Elder Zhuowu has a noble status, she deceived her and presented herself as an orphan seeking mentorship,” another elder added. “In a sense, Elder Zhuowu was also kept in the dark by her…”

Hearing these words, the elders of the Eternal Protoss understood the difficult position in which Elder Zhuowu found herself.

Their attitudes softened as they nodded in agreement. “Yes, it’s true that Elder Zhuowu cannot be blamed for this matter. She had good intentions from the beginning.”

Seeing this, others joined in, their voices filled with condemnation and blame directed at Mu Yan. Observing the crowd’s shifting expressions, Mu Yan remained expressionless, though she felt a desire to laugh inside. However, that smile gradually faded, giving way to indifference.

Elder Zhuowu’s complexion darkened as she contemplated ordering someone to imprison Mu Yan. But just then, outside the oasis, a multitude of divine lights suddenly descended, shining brilliantly and illuminating the sky. A magnificent golden Dao extended down from a distance, reaching toward the heavens.

This breathtaking spectacle left everyone in shock.

Many guests couldn’t help but express their surprise, turning to look in that direction. Elder Zhuowu was momentarily taken aback, but realization quickly replaced her shock, and a look of delight appeared on her face. “It must be the mysterious lord who has arrived…”

“I only sent the invitation out of respect, never expecting him to actually come here.” At that moment, even Elder Zhuowu felt somewhat flattered. The old servant accompanying this mysterious lord was an individual whose strength rivaled that of the ancestor of the Hun clan.

She quickly set aside her concerns about the other guests, smiling as she stood to greet them. The remaining guests, still a bit dazed, wondered why Elder Zhuowu was acting in such a manner.

“That’s Zhuo Fengxie of the Zhuo Clan and Hun Yuan Jun, the ancestor of the Hun Clan…”

“They’ve come here in person and are giving Elder Zhuowu such a significant honor. It’s no wonder she wants to greet them personally.”

“Huh? No, they are merely companions; the real guests are still to come…”

A group of guests gazed over, first spotting Zhuo Fengxie and Hun Yuan Jun standing at the forefront. They were amazed at Elder Zhuowu’s ability to invite these two esteemed figures to attend in person.

However, the guests soon realized they were mistaken; Zhuo Fengxie and Hun Yuan Jun were merely accompanying figures at the front. Given their statuses, they shouldn’t have been positioned at the side.

All the guests were left stunned, their minds buzzing in disbelief. “How… how is this possible?”

At that moment, Mu Yan, who was equally taken aback, widened her eyes in astonishment. She had only glanced curiously in that direction, but that single look captivated her, filling her with astonishment, confusion, doubt, and a deep sense of bewilderment.

“What’s… what’s going on?” she murmured almost to herself. “Is this the mysterious young man who has been making waves in Gufeng Ancient City recently?”

Nearby, at the banquet, Lord Luo Xiang, the saint of the Eternal Protoss, also shifted his gaze, revealing a hint of interest. “Greetings, Mr. Gu. It’s truly an honor for this old man that Young Master Gu could attend my acceptance ceremony.”

Before the golden pathway, Elder Zhuowu approached to greet him in person, her face radiating respect and warmth.

In fact, she never imagined that Zhuo Fengxie and Hun Yuan Jun would be by Gu Changge’s side. This realization brightened her mood and completely erased her earlier depression.

As the other guests gazed at Gu Changge, shock and curiosity filled their expressions. They looked at him one after another, but some hesitated to be too presumptuous, recalling Hun Yuan Jun’s formidable reputation. Instead, they dared to steal glances, and the many descriptions of Gu Changge circulating in rumors were continuously validated before their eyes.

“Elder Zhuowu sincerely invited me; how could I not come?” Gu Changge said with a faint smile, brushing aside Elder Zhuowu, who seemed eager to speak. He made his way toward the banquet on his own, with Zhuo Fengxie and Hun Yuan Jun trailing behind, paying little attention to Elder Zhuowu.

Given their statuses, it was unlikely they would attend her disciple acceptance ceremony in person. As this scene unfolded, all the guests couldn’t help but feel a bit stunned. It appeared that this mysterious Mr. Gu hadn’t come here specifically because of Elder Zhuowu.

What followed was even more astonishing and unbelievable. Some guests widened their eyes in disbelief and stood up abruptly from the banquet table. They watched as Mr. Gu, who had seemed so enigmatic to them, walked straight toward the beautiful woman in the white skirt. She had been expressionless moments ago but now looked a mix of shock and disbelief.

“I haven’t seen Miss Mu in a long time,” Gu Changge said with a slight smile. “You’ve lost quite a bit of weight, but you look much prettier than before.” He greeted Mu Yan casually, his tone light and friendly.