["No, I've caught you."]
[Seeing that you weren't as scared as expected, but instead revealed a mocking smile, the "driver's"狰狞 (zhengning, meaning ferocious or hideous) expression changed slightly, as if he realized something.]
[Rip!]
[A black hand suddenly appeared from the leather seat in the back of the car, extremely anxious, trying to dig out your spine.]
[You remained calm, simply saying:]
["Do it!"]
[Boom!]
[A terrifying burst of flames suddenly erupted from the ground, incinerating the black hand. Lu Zhong, the protector who had been chasing Ye Chen, suddenly appeared.]
[A large hand burning with golden flames grabbed the "driver's" head, ignoring his terrified expression, and dragged him away violently.]
[The "mastermind," who had been brutally tortured and beaten, immediately realized this was a conspiracy against him. Lu Zhong's failure to return after chasing Ye Chen was clearly intentional.]
["No!!!"]
[You calmly watched as the previously arrogant "mastermind" was brutally beaten by the protector Lu Zhong, his limbs torn apart, a slight smile playing on your lips.]
[As expected, while this "mastermind" is powerful, they are far from being a match for Lu Zhong at this moment. Otherwise, they wouldn't have needed to resort to scheming to ambush you.]
[Previously, you openly ordered Lu Zhong to hunt down the protagonist of destiny, Ye Chen, but secretly used spiritual energy to transmit your message, instructing him to chase for a short while and then rush back to lie in wait. This was all to trap the mastermind and catch them off guard.]
[However, to your surprise, the "mastermind's" abilities are extremely strange. They can actually transform into a shadow, changing shape constantly, and even nearly escaped from Lu Zhong's grasp.]
[However, as the protector assigned to you by the Lu family, Lu Zhong's strength is also extraordinary. He directly transformed into a giant golden ape, unleashing a punch that suppressed it.]
[The battle ended quickly.]
[The protector, Lu Zhong, with a murderous aura, dragged his severed limbs, resembling a human stump, before you. The "mastermind" explained, "Young Master Lu, this thing cultivates a long-lost evil art, the Thousand Shadow Demon Art. It can manipulate shadows and change its appearance, making it extremely bizarre. I almost let it escape. Currently, I can't discern its origins."]
[You're not surprised. The so-called "mastermind" before you is probably just a pawn to be discarded at will, naturally unlikely to use any easily understood techniques or secret manuals.]
["Soul Search!"]
[You spoke coldly.]
[After reaching the seventh realm of Sainthood, one's soul has solidified into a tangible form, possessing various powers, including the ability of "Soul Search." However, once used, the victim either becomes mentally disabled or dies instantly.]
[This "mastermind" before you already killed you once during the first villain simulation. How can you let them go so easily!]
[Guardian Lu Zhong nodded and began performing a soul search on the "mastermind" in his hand, trying to find out the identity of the person behind it. Daring to attack the young master of the Lu family of Great Xia, they're simply courting death.]
[Soon, under the "soul search," the "mastermind" couldn't withstand it any longer. Blood flowed from his seven orifices, he trembled violently, and soon he breathed his last, dying on the spot. However, the protector, Lu Zhong, showed no joy, only a frown and a hint of shame.]
["Young Master Lu, some of this bastard's memories have been erased. I couldn't find the mastermind. The only thing I gained was that this person seemed to be an orphan who was later taken in and taught the [Thousand Shadow Demon Art]."]
"The memories have been erased. Truly watertight, cutting off all clues."
Lu Qian looked at the villain simulator with a calm expression, seemingly having expected this.
Clearly, this scheme against him had been set up for a long time.
Naturally, it wouldn't be easily uncovered.
However, the situation of the "mastermind" did remind him of something.
Collecting orphans, raising them with care, and teaching them mysterious martial arts techniques...
This is clearly the method used by powerful clans to raise "death warriors"!
In a sense, Lu Zhong, as the protector, is also a "death warrior" of the Lu family, living solely for the family and willing to sacrifice his life at any time.
This is why he trusts Lu Zhong so much.
"In this light, the suspicion surrounding the Gu family of Great Xia has undoubtedly been magnified infinitely."
"Besides, the Zhao family of Shanghai is also a suspect."
"However, the 'villain simulator' version of me still lacks evidence…"
"But at my level, evidence is both incredibly important and incredibly unimportant."
Lu Qian's smile deepened, and he grew increasingly eager to see what his 'villain simulator' self would do next.
It's important to know that the 'Lu Qian' in the simulator also possesses his own consciousness.
The outside world cannot directly interfere with him.
[Your report to Lu Zhong was not surprising; you displayed a calmness unimaginable to ordinary people. For most, without evidence, they could only remain silent or slowly gather evidence.]
[But who are you? You are the second young master of the Lu family of Great Xia, with the Lu family patriarch, a being of celestial level, above you. Evidence and the law are like a joke to you.]
[As the younger generation, when bullied, naturally one seeks a powerful backer.]
[You retrieved the Lu family's internal bloodline communicator from your storage ring and sent a message to your elder brother, Lu Shou, saying you'd been assassinated and that the mastermind was the Gu family, another powerful clan, asking him to help you get revenge.]
[Your brother Lu Shou and you have a very close relationship. He always stood up for you when you were young, and you trust him to help you. As a top prodigy of the Great Xia Dynasty and the young master of the Lu family, your brother's power in the Lu family far surpasses yours; he can even represent the Lu family, enough to cause a significant stir and alert the enemy.]
[As for the Zhao family in Shanghai, the suspect, you plan to investigate the truth in your own way.]
[The Li family, one of the four major families in Shanghai, is related to the Lu family of the Great Xia Dynasty by marriage. Their patriarch married one of your cousins, making them family. Your arrival in Shanghai was arranged by the Li family, and you intend to have them help with your investigation and actions.]
[In the first simulation, you were killed before you could even utilize your strengths and power. This time, you must make the most of it.]
[After arranging everything, you asked Lu Zhong to write down a summary of the [Thousand Shadow Demon Art] obtained through soul searching for you. Clearly, you're very interested in this evil demonic art that allows for endless transformations and the ability to become a shadow.]
[Lu Zhong agreed, but suddenly asked if you could cultivate it. After all, you had previously used spiritual energy to communicate with him, and this protector immediately realized you were hiding your cultivation level?!]
[You slowly nodded. Currently, Lu Zhong is one of your biggest trump cards; some things simply cannot be hidden. You expressed your hope that Lu Zhong would keep it a secret and not tell anyone.]
[The deeply hidden mastermind obviously doesn't know that you've awakened the "Supreme Emperor Bone" and can cultivate it. You want to keep it a secret.]
[Lu Zhong was silent for a moment, then nodded in agreement.]
_______________________________________________________________
Your support keeps this story alive! If you're enjoying the journey, consider leaving a small tip at ko-fi.com/webnovel_writer.