Jiang Wuhen: ???
All I did was hold her hand, and that counts as taking advantage?
Plus a whole hundred villain points!
On second thought, it made sense.
After all, in the standard power-fantasy formula, a villain who so much as glanced at the female lead would meet a horrible end, let alone touched her hand.
“I have to admit, earning 100 villain points was that easy.”
“If I just threw this Daughter of Fortune onto the bed, wouldn’t that…”
The moment the thought surfaced, Jiang Wuhen shook his head and strangled the dangerous idea in its cradle.
God only knew what kind of monster the Son of Fortune currently sprinting over here with a blade might be. He was fresh out of the gate, had just gained a fortune, and his future was shining bright. There was no reason to court disaster over a woman.
Even Sons of Fortune knew how to develop quietly and play the long game. How much more so a villain, one of the most high-risk professions there were!
Survive this first. With my status and strength, what kind of woman couldn’t I have?
Jiang Wuhen thought to himself.
A villain wasn’t just some brute. There was more to the job than fighting and killing; there were social niceties to manage too.
Just then, the two of them stepped out of the great hall. Every guest they passed cupped their fists in congratulations.
“Congratulations, Imperial Son! Congratulations, Miss Mu!”
“The Imperial Son and Miss Mu, such talent and beauty, truly a match made in heaven!”
“Your union is nothing short of a perfect pairing…”
“…”
Jiang Wuhen had no interest in responding to any of it.
Right now, all he wanted was to reach the Heavenly One Divine Hall and have Shizun help him break the engagement.
Get away from this jinxed Daughter of Fortune as fast as possible. Then I can lay low and quietly grind for a while…
Jiang Wuhen thought to himself.
Behind him, however, Mu Yunxi’s mind was working along entirely different lines.
“Eh? We’re about to break the engagement, so why isn’t he denying anything when all these people are congratulating us?”
“Not denying it means he’s accepting it!”
“And he’s grabbing and pulling at me right in front of everyone…”
“He’s doing this on purpose. Hmph, what a bad man!”
Mu Yunxi’s cheeks puffed out with indignation, her gaze toward Jiang Wuhen brimming with resentment.
Yet for reasons she couldn’t fathom, she didn’t seem to mind Jiang Wuhen’s “wickedness” all that much.
In fact, it even stirred a flicker of interest.
Of course, that flicker was instantly buried under a fresh wave of resentment.
As for Jiang Wuhen—
【Ding dong. The host is aloof and proud, turning a deaf ear to everyone’s words. Fits the villain’s style. Villain Points +50】
【The host’s attitude has displeased the head of the Li Clan. Villain Points +10】
【The Zhao Clan Ancestor is displeased with the host. Villain Points +10】
【The Wang Clan…】
【Ding dong. Resentment detected from the Daughter of Destiny. Villain Points +100】
In an instant, Jiang Wuhen was taken aback. Bonus harvest?
He glanced back at Mu Yunxi. Her pretty face flushed, and she shot him a look that was equal parts embarrassment and anger.
“What are you staring at? Hurry up and go!”
Mu Yunxi snapped.
【Ding dong. Resentment detected from the Daughter of Destiny. Villain Points +100】
Jiang Wuhen nodded, a look of keen interest spreading across his face.
He seemed to have figured it all out.
The next instant, Jiang Wuhen, who had been walking briskly, suddenly slowed his pace. Strolling along as though out for a leisurely walk, he led Mu Yunxi by the hand through the crowd of guests.
Since the engagement was going to be broken anyway… might as well squeeze out a little more use while the iron was hot.
Seeing this, Mu Yunxi’s delicate brows drew together, and she cursed Jiang Wuhen up and down in her head.
He actually… slowed down?
Does this bad man have to let the entire Eastern Divine Immortal Domain know about what’s happening between us today?
Even if the engagement is broken later…
No wait, why am I having such childish thoughts? Do I not know who Jiang Wuhen is? There’s no way he’s breaking the engagement.
He lured me to the Heavenly One Divine Hall. He must have some other scheme!
This bad man…
Meanwhile, on the other side—
【Ding dong. Sustained resentment detected from the Daughter of Fortune. Villain Points +10, +10, +10, +10, +10…】
The corner of Jiang Wuhen’s mouth curled upward.
Shocking. Who knew a Daughter of Fortune could be farmed like this!
Before long, the two of them arrived at the Heavenly One Divine Hall.
His villain point total had reached a full 720.
“At 1,000 points, I can exchange them for the first revolution of the Nine Revolutions Emperor Devil Art and awaken the Emperor Devil Tyrant Body…”
The thought filled Jiang Wuhen’s eyes with fervor.
But the immediate priority was still self-preservation!
Break the engagement first!
The two of them walked into the Heavenly One Divine Hall. Inside that magnificent hall, the senior figures of the Heavenly One Immortal Sect and the Mu Clan sat on either side.
At the head of the hall were two figures. One of them had the bearing of an immortal, his aura deep and ethereal. Though he appeared aged, he was still hale and vigorous.
His name was Mu Cangtian, first ancestor of the Mu Clan.
And beside Mu Cangtian sat a woman wearing a phoenix coronet, a long gown embroidered with a hundred birds paying homage to the phoenix, and a magnificent gold-and-red ceremonial stole. Her figure was graceful, her beauty peerless. Yet her cold, stern face, and the piercing chill that could be felt from three feet away, all but dared anyone to come closer.
This was the current Empress of the Heavenly One Immortal Sect, and Jiang Wuhen’s Shizun: Luo Qingning.
In terms of looks, she and Mu Yunxi each had their own charms. But in terms of bearing, Luo Qingning was the Empress of an immortal sect, a great emperor of unmatched elegance. She was naturally superior.
Jiang Wuhen and Mu Yunxi entered the hall and bowed to the assembled elders.
Experts were gathered in force; even the aura they let out unintentionally was hard to bear.
Good heavens, how did I end up following him to the Heavenly One Divine Hall?
He must have some scheme!
Mu Yunxi’s mind had gone completely blank, her small hands nervously crumpling the hem of her skirt.
“Hen’er, you’ve come at just the right time. A moment ago, I settled matters with the Mu Clan ancestor. Once you and Yunxi are married, she’ll stay at the Heavenly One Immortal Sect, and the supreme elder will take her as a personal disciple to teach her the way of pill refining.”
“That way, she’ll be well placed to assist you in ascending to the rank of great emperor one day!”
“What do you think?”
Only when facing Jiang Wuhen did Luo Qingning show such rare tenderness.
But the next moment—
“I don’t think so!”
Jiang Wuhen refused without hesitation.
The words landed, and every face in the hall turned odd.
They remembered it all too clearly. Back then, this very boy had cried and begged, swearing he would marry Mu Yunxi and no one else in this life.
To win her hand, the dignified Imperial Son hadn’t just acted like a simp. He’d resorted to coercion and bribery.
And now he was saying no?
Seeing their looks, Jiang Wuhen hurriedly cleared his throat and explained. “As the saying goes, a forced melon is never sweet. Marriage is one of life’s great events. It happens only once in a lifetime. How could I treat it as a joke?”
“Besides, I’m still young. My mind should be on cultivation. Marrying too early will only dull my will, sink me into pleasure-seeking, and cost me my proper purpose!”
Having said all this, Jiang Wuhen let out a quiet breath of relief.
He’d escaped that one.
Such a proper, upright excuse, so proper that even I don’t fucking believe it. Surely you’ll let me off now.
To one side, Mu Yunxi heard these words and, forgetting her nervousness entirely, stared at Jiang Wuhen in confusion.
Was he really breaking the engagement?
So… this is the kind of person he is…
Could it be that I’ve misunderstood him all along?
And he just said marriage is one of life’s great events, that it happens only once.
He takes marriage so seriously…
Mu Yunxi murmured to herself, a new tangle of complicated feelings stirring in her heart.
And just then—
Mu Cangtian shot to his feet and spoke solemnly. “Nephew Wuhen, this old man knows none of those words came from your heart. It must have been some trick of this girl Yunxi’s that forced you to say them. Am I right?”
“Rest assured. Today’s matter… this old man will sort it out for you!”
Mu Cangtian thumped his chest, his vow ringing with conviction.
Jiang Wuhen was dumbfounded.
“Ancestor, you’ve misunderstood. It’s not like that—”
This old fellow seems determined to make sure I don’t survive this.
But before he could finish, Mu Cangtian stepped forward, clapped him on the shoulder, and smiled mildly.
“Relax. This old man understands you…”
With that, he turned to Mu Yunxi, his expression hardening into severity.
“You girl, you really don’t know what’s good for you. Tell me yourself: over these past few years, how has Wuhen treated you?”
“When he learned your cultivation had stalled, he sent people to deliver miraculous pills and top-grade spirit stones. When he heard you couldn’t find a suitable sword art, he pleaded with the Empress until she gifted you the ‘Jade Dragon Sword Domain’, a technique the Heavenly One Immortal Sect has never once taught outsiders. When you couldn’t eat or sleep, it was Wuhen who personally brought every immortal chef from the sect’s ‘Immortal Grade Pavilion’ to our Mu Clan, spending countless precious ingredients just to get a little food into you.”
“Status, looks, talent, strength, in what way is he not good enough for you? He even swore to take no wife but you for the rest of his life! When have you ever seen devotion like that?”
“And you still forced him to say those things. Do you have to drive this old man to his grave before you’re happy, you girl?!”
Mu Cangtian bellowed in fury.
Though Mu Yunxi was a Daughter of Fortune, she had never seen the ancestor in such a rage. She was at a loss.
“Ancestor, I…”
Just as she didn’t know what to say, Jiang Wuhen’s voice suddenly reached her ears.
“What are you standing there for? Speak up and make it clear! We part ways and have nothing to do with each other!”
“Cat got your tongue? Say something!”
Jiang Wuhen transmitted his voice in secret.
Hearing this, Mu Yunxi was stunned.
He wants to cut ties with me that badly?
Back when he was chasing me, he talked about unwavering devotion. Now that the wedding’s here, he spouts high-minded principles and tries to push me away.
Hmph. Men are all pigs!
Seeing Jiang Wuhen still making faces at her, Mu Yunxi’s temper flared in an instant.
Breaking off the wedding was supposed to be mutual. Why should he get to bask in everyone’s admiration while she took the scolding?
If you want to break the engagement that badly, then I’ll make sure you don’t get your way!
【Ding dong. Intense resentment detected from the Daughter of Destiny. Villain Points +250】
I did exactly what she asked. Where’s all this resentment coming from?
Tch. Women. I’ll never understand them…
Jiang Wuhen muttered to himself.
Still, the villain points had landed, bringing him one step closer to the Nine Revolutions Emperor Devil Art.
But just then—
“Ancestor, I didn’t force him to say any of that. And… I’m willing to go through with the wedding…”
Mu Yunxi’s pretty face reddened as she lowered her head and spoke softly.
The furious Mu Cangtian frowned at once.
“Is that the truth?”
Mu Yunxi lightly pressed her red lips together.
“I wouldn’t dare deceive you, Ancestor. Over these three years, he’s done so much for me. I’ve seen it all and kept it in my heart. I know he’s good to me…”
“But I’d like to take it one step at a time. Let’s start as dao companions and build our feelings from there. As he said, we’re still young. Marrying too early would only get in the way of our cultivation…”
“That is what you meant, isn’t it, Wuhen?”
Mu Yunxi raised her head slightly to look at Jiang Wuhen, her face like peach blossoms in bloom.
The scene should have been breathtaking. But Jiang Wuhen’s face was unspeakably grim.
What happened to breaking the engagement?
You little schemer, you set me up!
Mu Cangtian’s expression eased considerably at this.
“It seems this old man was too hasty. So our nephew Wuhen was only thinking of Yunxi’s feelings when he proposed postponing the wedding.”
“Nephew Wuhen, rest assured. Even if you don’t marry Yunxi today, in this old man’s heart, you are already a son-in-law of my Mu Clan.”
“From now on, whoever dares object will have to answer to me, Mu Cangtian!”
Mu Cangtian laughed heartily.
But before his voice had faded, a thunderous boom erupted from the sky outside the hall!
“I, Xiao Chen, do not consent to this marriage!”
