Even after spitting out those disgraceful lines, Lin Xiao's whole body bristled with revulsion.
But what could he do? As the token villain in this story, he had to drag out as much animosity as possible!
Thankfully, the male lead followed the script to perfection.
Ye Chen's eyes burned with rage. His face twisted with fury. His breath grew ragged like a lion about to maul its prey.
Phase One of Mockery: Complete!
Good, good… keep burning with hatred, you damned protagonist!
Feeling pleased, Lin Xiao folded his arms and scoffed with high theatrical flair:
"Hah! Who are you glaring at, boy? Hear this: once you step into Qinglan Sect, you'll either lie coiled like a dragon or crouched like a tiger!"
"Who I am—you needn't ask."
"Going against me? You think you've got the strength for that?"
His voice, infused with true energy, echoed across the plaza—unflinching and tyrannical.
At the same time, a biting sword intent burst from his body, engulfing ten meters in every direction!
"Waaah! That Senior Brother is scary! I don't want to join Shenluan Peak anymore!" a girl sobbed.
"He's so arrogant! More like a mountain bandit than a cultivator!"
"I swear he just glanced at me—almost peed myself right there!"
"Cherish your life, avoid Shenluan Peak!"
Hearing the reactions, Lin Xiao let out a breath of relief.
If people hated him, then he was doing his job right!
After all, in the original novel, Lin Xiao was exactly that kind of stereotypical villain—arrogant, domineering, and impossible to like.
"Old Shi, this bastard's too much. I…"
"I think I'm going to lose it."
Ye Chen's expression had turned ashen, fists trembling. He was muttering to himself in a low growl—undoubtedly speaking with the old man in his ring!
Soon, he disobeyed his master's advice and made his move.
Because that's what hot-blooded protagonists did—rage, explode, and brawl.
And per the original power system, Ye Chen was barely at the peak of Qi Refining as a cultivator, but he was already a Martial Grandmaster of the Eighth Level!
[TL: The power system is Cultivation and Martial Realm basically Physical/Mortal realm.]
That was his hidden trump card—the ace that let him trample "arrogant seniors" like Lin Xiao!
"Perfect! The flavor's just right again!"
Compared to those character-derailed female leads, this protagonist was actually on script!
Lin Xiao could barely suppress his laughter.
Shing!
A sharp hum cut through the air.
In front of tens of thousands of shocked eyes, Ye Chen slowly drew his giant black greatsword.
"A Grandmaster is not to be insulted!"
He raised the weapon with one hand, martial energy coiling around him like a black storm!
"He's a martial artist too?!"
"Such fierce aura! He's already at the Eighth Stage—an authentic Grandmaster!"
"No wonder he's unfazed! Martial Grandmasters can rival even Innate cultivators!"
"To think someone so young… he must be a peerless genius from the secular empires!"
"I remember now! That's Ye Chen, heir to the North River King of the Zhou Dynasty! After the Empress Wu Yue wiped out his clan for treason, he barely escaped alive. He's a wanted man!"
The crowd erupted.
That same Wu Yue was a woman who struck awe into the hearts of rulers everywhere—blessed with otherworldly martial talent and peerless beauty, she'd unified thirteen kingdoms in just nine years.
A reincarnated goddess, some said.
If Ye Chen had truly escaped from her, what sort of fate-defying protagonist was he?
Every gaze turned reverent.
But Lin Xiao only smiled, eyes narrowing in calm satisfaction.
Yes. Everything is going according to plan. Now, all that remained—was for that girl to arrive.
To stop Ye Chen. To save him. To deliver the first real face-slap of the plot.
"Stop right there! What do you think you're doing?!"
A cool, commanding voice rang out across the sky.
Heads turned.
A girl in crimson robes descended upon a flying sword—tall, graceful, and dazzlingly beautiful.
"Goddess-tier beauty!"
"And what a body!"
"The neckline… I mean, the grace! The grace!"
"This… is this what it means to see a true celestial maiden?"
"Wait, I thought the Peak Master Su and Xiao were unmatched. Where did this heaven-grade stunner come from?!"
Even Ye Chen gulped involuntarily.
Lin Xiao peeked sideways—and felt a rare glimmer of pride.
Now this… this finally feels like a real harem-fantasy scene.
The Second Junior Sister, Guo Yourong, was finally here to save the protagonist—just as she was supposed to.
They're back. They're finally all back…
Tears welled in Lin Xiao's eyes.
But what happened next…
Was something he never, ever expected.
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