This Is What a Villain Is Like

"It seems you’ve already noticed."

Li Ran nodded slightly. His fingers moved, weaving signs as a hazy, clear light flickered around them. He seemed to be divining something. "The chosen one of your generation was not originally you. With your aptitude, Lin Tian, reaching your current realm was not an easy feat."

Hearing this, Jiang Lintian nodded in agreement. "Father speaks the truth. However, if Huangfu Hao had not appeared out of nowhere to seize many of the opportunities that were rightfully mine, causing my Life Chart to lack its most crucial element, I would not have had to resort to the Destiny Dynasty Technique to forge my Feather Transformation foundation."

"And though Huangfu Hao was the chosen one, he was not invincible. He plotted against me, and I plotted against him. The winner is king, the loser is vanquished. My acquisition of his aptitude and fortune was also my own opportunity and creation."

"I sensed his presence several months ago. He likely did not die completely after falling into the depths of the Demon Abyss. A chosen one, blessed by fortune, can find a miraculous opportunity even at the end of their rope, when all seems lost."

"However, even if he returns, he is no longer my match. If I could kill him once, I can kill him a second time."

Li Ran smiled, his expression profound. He sighed with some emotion. "Lin Tian, your cultivation and strength are indeed a world apart from what they once were. Perhaps one day, you might truly reach my level."

"Who would have thought that among all my disciples back then, the most ordinary one would defeat the most brilliant and dazzling one, then marry my daughter and win the beauty’s heart..."

Jiang Lintian smiled. "Qingshu helped me a great deal back then. Without her assistance, it would not have been easy to defeat Huangfu Hao with my background and strength at the time."

Hearing this, Li Qingshu immediately shot him a look.

Jiang Lintian simply smiled, reached out, and took her arm. He felt a wave of emotion. His great enemy from the past was making a comeback. Perhaps it was truly fate.

But so what? In his current state, he could suppress him with a mere wave of his hand.

"I will be entering seclusion for a while. Once things are settled on Lan’Er’s side, have him make a trip back to the Taiyi Sect."

Seeing Jiang Lintian’s complete confidence, Li Ran said no more. After leaving these words, he tore open the Void and departed gracefully.

’Huangfu Hao is making a comeback, but he definitely won’t show himself easily to confront me head-on. The Demon Abyss is guarded by the various Dukes and seems stable, but a Demon Calamity could break the seal and rampage forth at any moment. Given Huangfu Hao’s personality, he’ll most likely lay low and plot something in the shadows.’

’When he fled that day, he had several Heaven and Earth Treasures with him. One of them would be of great benefit to Lan’Er’s current cultivation.’

Jiang Lintian casually dismissed his subordinates present and began to ponder.

"Husband, are you referring to the Book of Mediation and Creation?"

Li Qingshu seemed to have guessed something, a sharp light flashing in her eyes. "That is indeed a fine item. We must find a way to capture Huangfu Hao and take it from him. Legend says it’s a treasure born from the collision of Chaos during a great worldly calamity. Though it is a book, it contains a complete space within it. As long as one escapes into it, they can evade all detection and attacks. It’s an unparalleled life-saving artifact..."

Jiang Lintian nodded. "Huangfu Hao survived his fall into the Demon Abyss. It’s highly likely that Heaven and Earth Treasure protected him."

"The secrets surrounding Lan’Er are multiplying, to the point that even Father cannot see through them clearly. The more Cause and Effect and fortune he is entangled with, the more certain it is that he will face an unimaginable calamity in the future. The Celestial Dao seeks balance and restraint. Every peck and every sip is bound by Cause and Effect."

"Father likely foresaw this when he bestowed the Dragon and Phoenix Immortal Yuan Armor upon Lan’Er. You and I owe him too much. No matter what, we must pave this path for him..."

...

The day after the Feng Jun ceremony concluded, the ministers in the imperial court had all assumed Emperor Xia would rest for a few days and skip the morning session. To their surprise, she appeared in the great hall, full of vigor.

She personally reviewed the memorials that had already been passed off to the Ministry of Personnel and other departments, and inquired about the recent situation throughout Great Xia.

This astonished the ministers, who secretly speculated about the reason.

However, as Emperor Xia’s cultivation deepened by the day, Dragon Energy enveloped her like a furnace. No one dared to casually probe her, for fear of incurring the dragon’s wrath.

Prince Zhenbei, Xiao He, Duke Zhongguo, and the others reported on matters related to the Blood Immortal Sect as instructed, while also providing updates on the Barbarian Race in the Southern Wilderness Province.

Furthermore, after a thorough investigation, the major Immortal Sect Lineages had confirmed they had no ties to the remnants of the Blood Immortal Sect. They now required Emperor Xia’s personal approval before they could be allowed to depart.

The morning court session only ended after these many important matters were dealt with.

Many ministers worried that the court’s political situation would become turbulent. Yet from beginning to end, Prime Minister Jiang Lintian made no statement, appearing as if he truly intended to assist Emperor Xia.

This sight, far from reassuring them, instead made them feel that an even greater turmoil and chaos was brewing.

The Royal Family and the other Dukes would not allow the Prime Minister’s Mansion to dominate unchallenged.

Emperor Xia’s attitude did not represent that of the Royal Family.

「Inside the Imperial Kitchen」

Jiang Lan and Emperor Xia, who had just finished her morning court session, were having breakfast and chatting casually.

Emperor Xia tactfully refrained from asking what had happened between Jiang Lan and Jiang Ruxian the previous night.

She had already figured it out. Jiang Ruxian’s possessiveness had reached a frightening level that could no longer be described as simple paranoia.

Under these circumstances, she could only count on Jiang Lan to help restrain Jiang Ruxian.

"We intend to let Xiao Teng, the son of Prince Zhenbei, atone for his crimes through meritorious service. After all, he was the one who first mistakenly trusted that successor of the Blood Immortal Sect, leading to the failure of Our plan and the loss of the Dragon-Suppressing Seal."

"He can also be considered to have a vendetta against them. For both public and private reasons, he will spare no effort in his investigation..."

Emperor Xia put down her spoon. A nearby palace maid handed her a clean silk cloth, and she wiped her mouth.

She stated her intentions. No matter how chaotic the court’s situation became, Prime Minister Jiang Lintian was present to stabilize it. She no longer needed to expend as much energy on it as before, and could therefore devote her time to improving her cultivation and strength.

Right now, besides the grand plan for the Southern Hunting of the Barbarian Race, the most important tasks were to eliminate the Blood Immortal Sect and secretly recover the Dragon-Suppressing Seal. These two matters were of the utmost priority.

"Xiao Teng?"

Jiang Lan had long guessed that Emperor Xia would make such an arrangement. "If Your Majesty still trusts him, then feel free to assign him to the task."

Emperor Xia raised an eyebrow. "We had forgotten. There is considerable personal enmity between you and Xiao Teng. You became enemies over the matter of Xie Jianjia, and have had quite a few private conflicts and clashes."

Jiang Lan said dismissively, "Since Your Majesty is aware of this, why are you asking for my opinion? Xiao Teng cannot be trusted, and neither can Prince Zhenbei’s Mansion."

"Prince Zhenbei was promoted by Our own hand. He is unfailingly loyal. The loss of the Dragon-Suppressing Seal cannot be blamed on him."

"This isn’t some irreconcilable hatred between you and Xiao Teng. Could it be that even now, you still have your eyes on that Xie Jianjia because of the Immortal Phoenix True Blood in her body?" Emperor Xia said, looking at him.

"The Immortal Phoenix True Blood isn’t important."

"The Xie Mansion colluded with Demons. This is a crime punishable by death. Xiao Teng has hidden that Xie Jianjia away. Can it be that Your Majesty is unaware of this matter?" Jiang Lan said casually.

"Hmph. That was a baseless accusation deliberately fabricated by the Prime Minister’s Mansion. Do you truly think We are unaware?" Emperor Xia looked very displeased.

Jiang Lan shook his head slightly, an expression on his face as if to say ’some people can’t be taught’. Seemingly too lazy to explain, he said, "If that’s the case, and Your Majesty insists on trusting Xiao Teng, don’t come asking for my help when problems arise again."

"You..."

Emperor Xia was so angry she stood up. How many years had it been since there was any news or trace of Demons within the borders of Great Xia?

It was clearly the Prime Minister’s Mansion that had deliberately framed the Xie Mansion, causing them to be thrown in prison.

And Jiang Lan was still being so stubborn.

"I’m going back to the Prime Minister’s Mansion."

Jiang Lan ignored her, slowly and deliberately finished his soup, took a silk cloth from a nearby palace maid, and wiped his mouth.

He was still thinking about the Star Meteorite containing Immortal Phoenix True Blood that Fairy Miaoyin had. The Imperial Palace wasn’t a great place to linger anyway. Besides, he needed to give some serious thought to his next plans.

Matters here in the Imperial Capital were more or less settled.

"Your feet are your own. No one’s stopping you."

Emperor Xia snorted coldly and rose to leave, surrounded by a retinue of eunuchs and palace maids. He had made her angry first thing in the morning, and now she didn’t want to see Jiang Lan’s face.