Lin Xiao's private garden was designed to impress. A small lake with lotus flowers, white stone paths between carefully maintained trees, a pavilion with a jade table. Su Mei sat across from him, still confused by everything that had happened.
"Your sect's gardens are beautiful."
"My mother designed them before she died. This was her favorite place."
Su Mei looked at him differently. "I didn't know your mother passed."
"When I was seven. Assassins from the Blood Demon Cult. Father never remarried."
He poured tea. The original Gu Changye's memories included this truth, though he'd never shared it with anyone. Emotional manipulation required selective honesty.
"Is that why you're so protective of what's yours?"
"Maybe. Or maybe I'm just an asshole who's trying to be better."
She laughed despite herself. "You curse like a commoner."
"Would you prefer I speak in poetry? 'The moonlight dances upon your ethereal beauty as the heavens weep at their inadequacy?'"
"Please don't."
"Thank the gods. That shit is exhausting."
She laughed again. Her guard was dropping.
"Why did you really cripple him? And don't say jealousy. You're not that simple."
'Smarter than she looks. Good.'
"You're right. It wasn't just jealousy. Xiao Fan has been causing problems for months. Small things. Disciples getting sick after he serves their food. Items going missing near his quarters. But he's careful, and I had no proof."
"So you crippled him over suspicions?"
"I crippled him because when you arrived, I saw how he looked at you. Not attraction. Calculation. Like you were a tool he could use. I overreacted, but my instincts weren't wrong."
Su Mei frowned. "How can you know what someone's thinking from a look?"
"Twenty years of sect politics teaches you to read people. Why do you think I made him my attendant? Better to watch him closely."
"Or you're paranoid."
"Possible. Time will tell."
A servant approached and bowed. "Sacred Son, Elder Wei requests your presence. He says it's about the Ancient Demon Ruins opening next month."
"Tell him I'll come after I escort Junior Sister Su Mei to her quarters."
The servant left. Su Mei stood to leave.
"You don't have to escort me."
"I want to. Unless you're still planning to break our engagement?"
She hesitated. "Three months. You have three months."
They walked through the sect grounds. Disciples stared and whispered. The Sacred Son walking casually with his fiancée, chatting like normal people.
"What's your cultivation level?" he asked.
"Core Formation Third Stage. You?"
"Golden Core Peak. Should break through to Nascent Soul within the year."
"Show off."
"Says the girl who reached Core Formation at nineteen. That's genius level talent."
"How do you know my age?"
"I memorized everything about you when our engagement was arranged. Height, five feet six inches. Birthday, third month, fifteenth day. Favorite food, spiritual peaches. Weapon preference, twin swords. Cultivation technique, Jade Valley Frozen Heart Sutra."
She stopped walking. "That's... creepy."
"It's preparation. If I'm going to marry someone, I should know them."
"You can't know someone from a report."
"No. But it's a start. For instance, the report didn't mention you're left-handed but train with your right to throw off opponents. Or that you bite your lip when thinking. Or that you test people by asking questions you already know the answers to."
Her eyes narrowed. "You're more observant than you act."
"Everyone has layers. Even spoiled young masters."
They reached the guest quarters. Su Mei turned at her door.
"You're not what I expected, Gu Changye."
"Is that good or bad?"
"I haven't decided."
She went inside. Lin Xiao headed to his new attendant's quarters.
Xiao Fan's room was tiny compared to the Sacred Son's palace, but it was still better than servant quarters. The former genius sat on his bed, staring at the ring on his finger.
"Settling in?"
Xiao Fan jumped up and bowed. "Sacred Son! I didn't hear you enter."
"Relax. We're alone. No need for theater."
Lin Xiao sat uninvited in the room's single chair. Xiao Fan remained standing, uncertain.
"That ring. Family heirloom?"
"My... my mother's. The only thing I have from her."
"May I see it?"
Xiao Fan's hand clenched. "It doesn't come off. I've tried."
"I didn't ask you to remove it. Just let me look."
Reluctantly, Xiao Fan extended his hand. The ring was plain bronze with strange markings. To normal eyes, it was worthless. But the system showed different information.
[Ancient Emperor's Ring - Sealed Artifact] [Contains: Soul of Immortal Emperor Feng Wuji] [Unsealing Progress: 2%] [Unsealing Requirement: Host must face life-threatening danger with righteous fury]
'So the old master inside needs Xiao Fan angry and in danger to wake up. That's why these rings always activate during the first big fight scene.'
"Interesting markings. Ancient demon script, if I'm not mistaken."
Xiao Fan pulled his hand back. "You can read demon script?"
"Part of my education. This character here means 'seal' and this one means 'emperor.' The rest is too worn to read."
'Plant the seeds of truth. Make him curious about his own golden finger.'
"Emperor? But it's just my mother's ring."
"Your mother must have been special. Not many commoners carry items with demon script. Was she a cultivator?"
"I... I don't know. She died when I was born."
"And your father?"
"Never knew him."
'Mysterious orphan background. Classic protagonist origin.'
"Well, bloodline doesn't matter in cultivation. Only talent and will. Speaking of which, drink this."
Lin Xiao pulled out a bottle containing luminous blue liquid.
"Sacred Son?"
"Meridian Restoration Elixir. Worth about three thousand spirit stones. It'll repair the damage I did."
Xiao Fan stared at the bottle. "Why?"
"Because I was wrong. And because you're my attendant now. Your weakness reflects on me."
Xiao Fan took the bottle with shaking hands. He drank it in one gulp. Immediately, spiritual energy flooded his body. His crippled meridians began to heal.
"This... this is a heaven-grade elixir! My cultivation is returning!"
"It'll take about a week to fully restore. During that time, you'll stay here and rest. I'll have servants bring your meals."
Xiao Fan dropped to his knees. "Sacred Son, I don't understand. Why are you helping me?"
"Stand up. I don't need your kowtowing."
'What I need is your trust. Make the protagonist emotionally conflicted about opposing me.'
Xiao Fan stood slowly. "I thought you hated me."
"I hated what I imagined you were. A threat to what was mine. But you're just a kid trying to survive in a world that eats the weak. I remember being that kid."
"You? But you're the Sacred Son."
"You think power makes life easier? I've had twelve assassination attempts since I turned sixteen. Half the elders think I'm too cruel to lead the sect. The other half think I'm too soft. Every rival sect sends their best disciples to challenge me, hoping to make their reputation by killing me. And now I have three fiancées I've never met who expect me to be Prince Charming."
He moved to the door. "Power doesn't solve problems. It just gives you bigger ones."
As he left, he heard Xiao Fan whisper, "Thank you."
'Step one complete. Now for the real manipulation.'
Lin Xiao went to the Scripture Pavilion. The three-story building held the sect's cultivation techniques and historical records. The librarian was an old man with a crippled leg, reading at his desk.
"Elder Feng."
The old man looked up. His eyes were sharp despite his aged appearance.
"Sacred Son. How may this old man help you?"
'Old Feng. Xiao Fan's only friend. And according to the system...'
[Character Status: Feng Wuji] [Identity: Immortal Emperor (Reincarnated)] [Cultivation: Mortal (Sealed)] [Relationship to Xiao Fan: Grandfather (Hidden)] [Threat Level: Extreme if Unsealed]
'The ring contains his soul fragment, and his reincarnated body is right here. Classic hidden master trope.'
"I'm looking for information on ancient seal scripts. Specifically demon empire era."
Old Feng's expression didn't change. "Third floor, east section, shelf four. Though I wonder why the Sacred Son is interested in such ancient history."
"Xiao Fan's ring has some interesting markings. I thought I'd research them."
Now Old Feng's eyes sharpened. "You've taken young Fan as your attendant."
"I wronged him. This is my way of making amends."
"Some would say crippling someone can't be fixed with gifts."
"And they'd be right. But dwelling on the past helps no one. I can't undo my mistake, only try to make the future better."
Old Feng studied him for a long moment. "You're different from your reputation, Sacred Son."
"People change. Or maybe the reputation was never accurate."
"Perhaps. The texts you want are restricted. You'll need the Grand Elder's permission token."
"I have it." Lin Xiao produced a jade token. Being the Grand Elder's son had privileges.
"Third floor then. Be careful. Some knowledge is dangerous."
'You would know, wouldn't you, Immortal Emperor?'
The third floor was dusty and forgotten. Most disciples never came here. The texts were ancient, written on beast skin and jade slips. Lin Xiao found what he was looking for: "Records of the Demon Emperor's Seal."
The book detailed a technique used by the last Demon Emperor to seal threats he couldn't kill. The seal would fragment the target's soul, trapping pieces in objects while forcing reincarnation of the main soul without memories.
'So Feng Wuji was too powerful to kill. The Demon Emperor sealed him, put part of his soul in the ring, and his grandson ended up with it. The ring will slowly awaken as Xiao Fan faces danger, eventually releasing the soul fragment to possess or merge with him.'
"Fascinating reading?"
Lin Xiao didn't turn. Old Feng had climbed the stairs silently despite his crippled leg.
"Very. The Demon Emperor was brilliant. Sealing enemies to suffer eternal reincarnation? Cruel but effective."
"You admire cruelty?"
"I admire intelligence. Cruelty is just a tool. Like kindness. Both can be weapons in the right hands."
Old Feng moved closer. "You gave young Fan a Meridian Restoration Elixir."
"You have good sources."
"I care about the boy. He's... special to me."
"I noticed. No other outer servant gets free access to the Scripture Pavilion. You've been teaching him, haven't you? That's why his cultivation advanced so quickly before I crippled him."
Old Feng's killing intent leaked out for just an instant. Lin Xiao pretended not to notice.
"You're very observant, Sacred Son."
"It's a survival skill. Don't worry, Elder Feng. I meant what I said. I plan to help him."
"Why?"
"Because having the loyalty of someone special is more valuable than making an enemy of them. And Xiao Fan is clearly special if you're interested in him."
'Let him think I recognize Xiao Fan's protagonist potential without knowing the full truth.'
"You speak of loyalty, but you barely know him."
"Then I'll get to know him. Tomorrow, I'll start training him personally. Would you like to observe? Make sure I don't abuse him?"
Old Feng considered this. "Perhaps I will."
"Good. I'd value your input. A crippled elder who reads all day must have significant theoretical knowledge."
"Theory without practice is merely dreams."
"And practice without theory is just violence. Together though? That's how legends are made."
Lin Xiao put the book back. "I should go. Elder Wei is expecting me."
"Sacred Son. A warning, if I may?"
"Speak."
"The path of manipulation is seductive. But those who live by lies often die by truth."
"Then it's good I'm not lying. Everything I've said today has been true. I just choose which truths to share."
Old Feng laughed. It was not a pleasant sound. "You remind me of someone I knew long ago. He thought he could control everyone through selective honesty too."
"What happened to him?"
"He became the Demon Emperor. Then the world united to destroy him."
"Sounds like he wasn't selective enough with his truths."
Lin Xiao left the old man standing among the dusty books. The conversation had been layered with threats and tests from both sides.
Elder Wei's palace was gaudy even by sect standards. Gold everywhere, rare spirit beasts in cages, female servants in revealing clothes. The man himself was fat and greasy, his cultivation stuck at Nascent Soul despite decades of resources.
"Sacred Son! Welcome! I've prepared a feast!"
"I've already eaten. You mentioned the Ancient Demon Ruins?"
Elder Wei looked disappointed but rallied. "Yes! They open in one month. The sect gets five slots for disciples under thirty. Obviously, you'll lead the group."
"Who else?"
"Your cousin Wei Lin has requested a spot. And the Li twins. The fifth slot is still open."
"Give it to Xiao Fan."
Elder Wei's wine cup shattered in his grip. "The servant you crippled? Sacred Son, surely—"
"His cultivation will be restored by then. And he needs experience."
"But he's just a servant!"
"He's my attendant now. And I take care of what's mine."
Elder Wei wanted to argue but couldn't directly oppose the Sacred Son. "The ruins are dangerous. Many disciples have died inside."
"Then it'll be good training. Approve the slot, Elder Wei."
"I... yes, Sacred Son."
Lin Xiao left the palace and returned to his quarters. The day had been productive. Su Mei was intrigued instead of hostile. Xiao Fan was confused and grateful instead of vengeful. Old Feng was suspicious but not actively hostile.
The system screen appeared.
[Daily Report] [Villain Points Earned: 100] [Fortune Plundered: 2000] [Protagonist Suppression Rate: 15%] [New Achievement: Honey Trap Initiated] [Warning: Immortal Emperor Feng Wuji suspicion level rising]
'Good. Let him be suspicious. By the time he figures out my real game, it'll be too late.'
Lin Xiao sat in lotus position and began cultivating. The original Gu Changye's technique was powerful but wasteful. He refined it using knowledge from Earth about energy efficiency.
'This world has infinite possibilities. Immortality, power beyond imagination, the ability to shatter mountains and split seas. And everyone's too busy following story tropes to think strategically.'
'They expect the villain to be cruel and stupid. The hero to be righteous and lucky. But what happens when the villain is smarter than the hero? When he doesn't play his assigned role?'
'Time to find out.'
Tomorrow he would start training Xiao Fan. Not to make him stronger, but to understand his limits. Keep your friends close and your enemies closer. And potential protagonists? Keep them close enough to stab when the moment comes.
The moon rose over the Evernight Immortal Sect. In his small room, Xiao Fan clutched his ring and felt his cultivation slowly returning. He was grateful to the Sacred Son, but also confused. The ring on his finger grew warm, as if warning him.
In the Scripture Pavilion, Old Feng stared at the moon with ancient eyes. His crippled leg tapped against the floor in an old rhythm. A war song from ten thousand years ago.
And in the guest quarters, Su Mei lay awake thinking about a young master who apologized on his knees and cursed like a commoner.
The game had begun.