Lin Xiao died at his desk. The heart attack came without warning at 2:47 AM, his body finally collecting on twenty years of hundred-hour weeks, black coffee, and systematic destruction of business rivals. His last thought was about the Hendra acquisition.
Then he opened his eyes.
The ceiling above him was carved jade. Intricate patterns of dragons and phoenixes twisted across green stone. This was not a hospital.
'Where am I?'
He sat up. The room was massive, filled with furniture that belonged in a museum. Rosewood tables inlaid with gold. Silk curtains that probably cost more than most people's houses. A bronze mirror stood against the far wall.
The face in the mirror wasn't his.
The man looking back was maybe twenty-five, with features that would make models weep. Sharp cheekbones, perfect skin, long black hair tied with a silver crown. The kind of face that existed only in Chinese historical dramas.
'This isn't my body.'
Memories crashed into his mind. Not his memories. Gu Changye, Sacred Son of the Evernight Immortal Sect. Twenty-three years old. Cultivation at the Peak Golden Core Realm. Son of the Grand Elder. Engaged to three different women from three different sects for political alliances.
And yesterday, he had crippled a servant disciple named Xiao Fan for looking at his woman.
'Cultivation. Immortal sects. This is one of those novels.'
Lin Xiao had read hundreds of them during his rare downtime. Trashy power fantasy stories where the hero starts weak, gets a cheat ability, and crushes arrogant young masters. He recognized the setup immediately.
'I'm the villain. The arrogant young master who gets killed by chapter fifty.'
A golden screen appeared in front of his face.
[SYSTEM OF THE HEAVENLY DEMON ACTIVATED]
[Welcome, Host. You have been selected to become the enemy of destiny itself.]
[Tutorial Initiating...]
The screen filled with information.
[Every living being possesses Fortune Value. Common mortals: 0-10. Cultivators: 10-100. Sect Geniuses: 100-1000. Children of Destiny: 10,000+]
[Your current Fortune Value: 5,000 (Blessed Son of Heaven)]
[Your role: Villain of Destiny]
[Mission: Identify, suppress, and eliminate Children of Destiny. Plunder their fortune. Steal their opportunities. Become the Heavenly Demon.]
[Villain Points earned through: Destroying protagonists, stealing opportunities, corrupting heroines, performing evil acts that affect the story's trajectory.]
[System Shop unlocked. Current Villain Points: 0]
Another screen appeared.
[WARNING: Child of Destiny detected in proximity!]
[Name: Xiao Fan]
[Fortune Value: 15,000]
[Golden Finger: Ancient Emperor's Ring (Dormant)]
[Destiny: Rise from trash to Immortal Emperor]
[Current Status: Crippled, seeking revenge]
[Threat Level: Minimal (currently)]
'So the servant I crippled yesterday is the protagonist. Of course he is.'
Lin Xiao stood and walked to the window. The Evernight Immortal Sect spread out below him like a painting. Black stone buildings on mountain peaks, connected by bridges that floated in the air. Disciples in black robes flew on swords between the peaks. The morning sun painted everything gold.
'This world has real power. Real immortality. And I have a system designed to help me take it all.'
"Young Master, you're awake!"
A girl rushed into the room. Maybe sixteen, pretty in a forgettable way, wearing servant robes. She immediately dropped to her knees.
"This servant greets the Sacred Son! Should I prepare your morning bath? The Sect Master has requested your presence at the morning assembly. The matter with that trash Xiao Fan—"
"Tell me about Xiao Fan."
"Young Master?"
"What do you know about him? Family, friends, cultivation, everything."
The servant girl looked confused but answered immediately. "Xiao Fan is an orphan who joined the sect three years ago. No family, no background. He was at the third level of Qi Condensation before you... before yesterday. His only friend is that crippled librarian, Old Feng. He lived in the outer servant quarters."
"And the woman? The one he was looking at?"
"Junior Sister Su Mei from the Jade Valley Sect. She arrived yesterday for the ceremony. Your third fiancée."
'Three fiancées. The original Gu Changye was collecting women like trading cards.'
"Where is Xiao Fan now?"
"In the punishment hall's prison, awaiting execution tomorrow. The Sect Master declared that any servant who disrespects the Sacred Son must die."
'Execution. That's the worst possible choice. Kill the protagonist early and he'll just resurrect stronger, or his master in the ring will save him, or some other bullshit will happen. The story always finds a way.'
"Send a message to the punishment hall. Xiao Fan is to be released immediately."
The servant's eyes went wide. "Young Master, the Sect Master said—"
"I changed my mind. Crippling him was enough. Tell them the Sacred Son has decided to show mercy. A dog without teeth can't bite."
"Yes, Young Master!"
She ran from the room. Lin Xiao opened the system shop interface.
[SYSTEM SHOP]
[Techniques]
- Heavenly Demon Scripture (1,000,000 VP)
- Soul Searching Method (10,000 VP)
- Destiny Sight (5,000 VP)
[Items]
- Fortune Reversal Talisman (50,000 VP)
- Protagonist Poison (25,000 VP)
- Plot Armor Breaker (100,000 VP)
[Information]
- Next Plot Event (1,000 VP)
- Character Status Report (500 VP)
- Opportunity Location (2,000 VP)
'Everything costs Villain Points I don't have yet. I need to earn some fast.'
A knock at the door. "Sacred Son, this disciple brings urgent news!"
"Enter."
A young man in inner disciple robes rushed in and bowed. "Sacred Son, Junior Sister Su Mei from the Jade Valley Sect wishes to break your engagement! She's at the main hall declaring you're a cruel monster who attacks innocent servants!"
'The heroine trying to break the engagement. Another classic plot point.'
"How many people are watching?"
"The entire sect is gathering, Sacred Son. The Sect Master is furious. He says if you don't appear, he'll discipline her himself."
'Perfect. A public stage with the heroine, the sect watching, and probably Xiao Fan will show up to defend her. This is where the villain usually makes things worse by being arrogant.'
"Tell the Sect Master I'm coming. Have someone bring my formal robes."
The disciple ran off. Lin Xiao started planning.
'The original story would go like this: I act arrogant, she breaks the engagement, I try to force her, Xiao Fan appears and defeats me despite being crippled, probably his ring activates. Everyone sees me humiliated. My reputation dies.'
'But I'm not playing that role.'
He put on the formal robes brought by servants. Black silk with silver embroidery, a jade belt, the sacred son crown. He looked like the perfect image of a young master.
The main hall was packed. Hundreds of disciples filled the space, all watching the scene at the center. Su Mei stood there in green robes, her beautiful face set with determination. The Sect Master sat on his throne, looking irritated. Various elders sat on both sides.
"Gu Changye is cruel and without honor! He crippled a servant for no reason! The Jade Valley Sect cannot accept such a marriage alliance!"
Lin Xiao walked through the crowd. Disciples parted before him. He didn't look at Su Mei. Instead, he walked straight to the Sect Master and bowed.
"This disciple greets Master and all the elders. I've come to address this matter."
He turned to Su Mei. She was genuinely beautiful. The kind of beauty that started wars in ancient times. The original Gu Changye had been obsessed with her.
"Junior Sister Su Mei is correct. Yesterday, I acted shamefully."
The entire hall went silent. Su Mei's eyes widened.
"I let anger control me. A servant looked at Junior Sister, and I lost all reason. In my jealousy, I crippled an innocent man who probably didn't even know she was my fiancée."
He bowed to her. The Sacred Son of the Evernight Immortal Sect, bowing to an outsider.
"I've already ordered Xiao Fan's release and sent medicine to heal his cultivation. But Junior Sister is right. I'm not worthy of her. If she wishes to break our engagement, I won't stop her."
Su Mei stared at him. This wasn't going according to script. "You... you're admitting you were wrong?"
"I'm admitting I'm human. I saw the woman I'm supposed to marry, the woman I've waited three years to meet, and when another man looked at her, I went mad with jealousy. It was pathetic. It was wrong. But it was honest."
He looked directly at her. "Su Mei, you're the most beautiful woman I've ever seen. When I learned you were coming, I couldn't sleep for three days. Then I ruined everything by acting like a tyrant. You deserve better."
The crowd started murmuring. Several female disciples were whispering about how romantic this was.
Su Mei's face went red. "I... you..."
"However!" Lin Xiao raised his voice. "While I accept responsibility for my actions, I won't accept outsiders insulting my sect. You called me a monster in front of my brothers and sisters. You tried to humiliate the Evernight Immortal Sect. That, I cannot forgive."
The Sect Master nodded approvingly.
"So I propose this. Give me three months. Let me prove I can change, that I can be the man worthy of you. If after three months you still want to break the engagement, I'll do it publicly and give the Jade Valley Sect a Heavenly Grade treasure as apology."
"And if I refuse?"
"Then you can leave now. But the engagement stands, and both our sects will know you ran away because the Jade Valley Sect fears taking responsibility for their words."
'Got her. Accept and give me three months to manipulate her, or refuse and look like a coward.'
Su Mei bit her lip. "Three months. But if you act cruel again—"
"Then you can castrate me yourself."
Laughter rippled through the crowd. Even some elders chuckled.
"Sacred Son!" A voice called from the entrance. "That won't be necessary!"
Xiao Fan limped into the hall. His cultivation was gone, but his eyes burned with determination. The Ancient Emperor's Ring on his finger was glowing faintly.
'There it is. The golden finger activates when the protagonist faces injustice.'
**[System Alert: Ancient Emperor's Ring Awakening!]** **[Danger Level Rising]** **[Recommended Action: Immediate Suppression]**
"Xiao Fan." Lin Xiao walked toward him. "I'm glad you came."
He dropped to one knee in front of the crippled servant.
The entire hall gasped.
"I wronged you. In front of everyone here, I apologize."
Xiao Fan froze. The ring's glow flickered.
"Sacred Son, you can't kneel to a servant!" one elder shouted.
"I can kneel to anyone I've wronged. Xiao Fan, I destroyed your future because of my petty jealousy. I'm prepared to compensate you."
He stood and addressed the Sect Master. "Master, I request permission to take Xiao Fan as my personal attendant. I'll provide him resources to rebuild his cultivation and train him myself."
'Keep your enemies closer. If he's near me, I can monitor the ring's awakening and control his growth.'
The Sect Master frowned. "You want to elevate a servant?"
"I want to take responsibility for my actions."
Xiao Fan's mind was racing. 'This has to be a trick. He must want to torture me privately. But... the ring says to accept. Master Feng says this could be an opportunity.'
"I... I accept, Sacred Son."
[System Notification: Destiny Altered!]
[Villain Points Earned: 100]
[Xiao Fan's Fortune Value: 15,000 → 13,000]
[Your Fortune Value: 5,000 → 5,200]
'It's working. By showing mercy and taking responsibility, I've derailed the original plot. He can't get his power-up from righteous anger if I'm being reasonable.'
"Then it's settled." He turned back to Su Mei. "Junior Sister, will you join me for tea? I'd like to properly apologize without an audience."
She looked between him and Xiao Fan, completely confused by this development. "I... yes."
As they left the hall together, Lin Xiao allowed himself a small smile.
'The original Gu Changye would have fought them both and lost. But I'm not here to play the villain they expect. I'm here to be the villain they'll never see coming.'