If Ye Qingchan were just an ordinary prodigy from the Northern Wasteland, Ling Xiao would never have been drawn to her. But from Ye Qingchan, he'd sensed an unusual aura. If she really was the reincarnation of a great powerhouse, then according to the plot's trajectory, she would definitely awaken her memories someday and regain her cultivation.
This was like buying a lottery ticket. Ling Xiao admitted he was taking a gamble. But if Ye Qingchan really awakened into a Supreme Powerhouse, he would hit the jackpot! Hadn't all the heroines the protagonist met by chance—whom he cherished without knowing their backgrounds, winning their hearts—eventually grown into his strongest support?
Ling Xiao had no intention of relying on anyone, but having an additional powerful follower would undoubtedly be beneficial for his future path to immortality.
"Hmph, I'm sticking with you no matter what, Young Master. You have to protect me."
After letting her guard down, Ye Qingchan suddenly showed a coquettish, girlish side.
"Then from now on, all my enemies will be yours too—including Chu Yang…"
Ling Xiao tested the waters with this line. Sooner or later, Ye Qingchan would find out that Chu Yang was dead. He didn't want the proud woman he'd worked so hard to win over to turn against him over a grudge. After all, he was set up as a villain—he reminded himself of this constantly.
"Young Master, rest assured. I've thought it through. From now on… I am yours."
Ye Qingchan bowed her head shyly. If Chu Yang were still alive and saw the proud goddess in his eyes showing such a tender expression and saying such words, he would probably die of anger without Ling Xiao lifting a finger.
So here's the truth for men: you must know how to put on a grand show! Since ancient times, tricks have won people's hearts. What's the Chosen One's aura or peerless talent worth in the face of a well-executed act? Being mocked and looked down on every day—even "slapping faces" only brings a moment of satisfaction. But if you keep putting on a grand show, you can keep feeling that satisfaction forever!
"Chu Yang is dead. I killed him."
Ling Xiao felt the time was right. If Ye Qingchan still had feelings for Chu Yang, he needed to start thinking about how to arrange for her once they returned to the Holy State. Keeping someone who harbored resentment toward him by his side was extremely dangerous. And if Ye Qingchan showed even a hint of disloyalty, Ling Xiao would not hesitate to use the Ancient Soul-Snatching Art on her.
Pitying beauties was something the Chosen One or sycophants did. As a villain, he had no such scruples.
"Dead?"
Ye Qingchan's beautiful eyes widened, her expression freezing. This was a normal reaction in Ling Xiao's view—if she'd acted too calm, it would have proved she had something to hide.
"Chu Yang once saved my life. I originally planned to let him go to repay that kindness…"
"But he disrespected you, Young Master. I saw this end coming."
Ye Qingchan then let out a soft sigh, her tone tinged with melancholy. As an intelligent woman, she immediately realized Ling Xiao was testing her. Fortunately, she had already made her feelings clear earlier—otherwise, given this young man's methods, he might not have spared her either.
This Young Master Ling Xiao was truly unpredictable; you could never tell which of his words were true and which were false. Yet the more mysterious he was, the more Ye Qingchan found him intriguing.
"Young Master~"
A low call from Xiao Ge came from the distant grove. Ling Xiao and Ye Qingchan turned to look. When Ye Qingchan saw the cunning glint in Xiao Ge's eyes, her pretty face flushed with shyness.
In fact, Ling Xiao had known Xiao Ge was there long ago. Xiao Ge wasn't hiding behind the grove to spy on them—even if he had a hundred times the courage, he wouldn't dare. Most likely, he just didn't want to disturb them.
At the same time, Ling Xiao also knew Xuanjian Sect was in trouble. On the first day he'd arrived, he'd discovered the old man hiding in seclusion at the back of Xuanjian Sect's mountain. Originally, Ling Xiao had wanted to find the strongest cultivator in the Northern Wasteland to ask for information. But that old man had actually said he hadn't left his seclusion in decades.
In a fit of anger, Ling Xiao had wanted to slap him to death on the spot. But Ye Liuyun had arrived just in time, fawning over him endlessly and promising to introduce his daughter to him—showing not the slightest arrogance of a sect master.
Villains, after all, loved nothing more than sycophants' flattery. Ling Xiao had been pleased, so he'd casually given the secluded old man and Ye Liuyun each a medicinal pill. After that, Ye Liuyun had even started calling him "benefactor"—he'd been this close to calling him "father."
So who says sycophants get nothing? You just haven't flattered the right person!
As for the danger Xuanjian Sect faced, Ling Xiao had guessed it long ago. An ancestor who'd been in seclusion for decades—how could no one covet the sect? This was like a beautiful woman whose husband had been working away from home for ten years. What would happen? Of course, people would "forgive" her!
"Xiao Ge?"
Ling Xiao's expression returned to its usual coldness. In front of these minor characters, he had to maintain his aura—otherwise, he would lose his deterrence.
"Young Master… have you… finished your business?"
Since breaking through to a higher realm, Xiao Ge had held Ling Xiao in the utmost reverence—treating him more respectfully than his own father.
"What is it?"
"Young Master… there's a fight going on at the foot of the mountain. The Sect Master said he wants you to come over."
Xiao Ge stole a glance at Ye Qingchan. Her cheeks were flushed, her expression bright and radiant—truly worthy of being called the most beautiful woman in the Northern Wasteland!
He had, of course, seen the intimacy between the two while hiding in the grove. But Xiao Ge didn't envy Ling Xiao at all—instead, he envied Ye Qingchan. He hated himself for not being a woman! If he were a woman, he could stay by the Young Master's side every day. And if the Young Master was pleased, a casual reward of a medicinal pill would be worth decades of hard cultivation.
"Oh, I see. You may leave."
Ling Xiao nodded calmly. Xiao Ge didn't dare linger for a moment—he trotted off at once.
"It seems Xuanjian Sect is in trouble."
The reason Ling Xiao didn't go over immediately was that he knew Xuanjian Sect's ancestor wasn't dead. That old ghost at the Peak Soul Sea Realm—after taking the medicinal pill Ling Xiao had given him—would definitely become even stronger, even if he didn't break through to a higher realm. So this so-called "calamity" was no real danger.
Besides, villains always made their entrance last. How else could they make a dazzling impression? If Ye Qingchan wasn't in a hurry, why should he be?
"Young Master… aren't you going to take a look?"
"Do you think I should?"
Ling Xiao didn't answer directly; instead, he turned the question back to Ye Qingchan.
"It's all up to you, Young Master…"
Ye Qingchan bit her red lips, clearly anxious. But she really couldn't fathom this young man's thoughts—how dare she make a decision for him?
"Look how scared you are. With me here, no one will hurt Xuanjian Sect."
A bright smile suddenly spread across Ling Xiao's face. He reached out and pinched Ye Qingchan's straight, delicate nose, then strode toward the foot of the mountain.
Ye Qingchan froze. The blush on her face had spread all the way to her earlobes. This Young Master Ling Xiao was really naughty. But somehow… his naughtiness was a little charming.