"You little rascal."
Sun Qian shook his head with a chuckle, choosing not to say anything more.
He had quite a high tolerance for Liu Yue.
After all, they'd forged a deep bond through several runs in the Villain Simulator.
Knock! Knock! Knock!
Suddenly, there was a sharp rap on the door.
Sun Zhong's voice drifted in from outside.
"Young Master Sun, Su Meng is here. Everything else has been arranged as ordered."
That was fast.
Click!
The door swung open.
Two figures came into view outside.
Standing beside Sun Zhong was a young man with a resolute face and a slightly gaunt build.
Sun Qian's gaze lingered on the young man for a split second, his eyes flickering with a faint, complex glint before he spoke slowly, "Sun Zhong, take him under your wing and train him up. I've had a bad feeling these past few days. I need a decoy to stand in for me in public—just to be safe."
"Right away, Young Master Sun."
Sun Zhong nodded without hesitation.
Decoy tactics like this were common practice among noble clans.
Though he was confident that with his cultivation at the Seventh Layer of Saint Ascension, no one in Modu could lay a finger on the young master as long as he was around.
But if it was the young master's order, he would obey without question.
"Be my decoy, and here's the deal: if anything happens to you, I'll take care of your family. A lifetime of wealth and peace is guaranteed."
"If you make it through unscathed, I'll grant you a future beyond your wildest dreams."
Sun Qian looked at Su Meng—a man fated to die—and spoke in a calm, steady tone.
"Thank you, Young Master Sun."
Su Meng let out a long breath, his voice firm and brimming with gratitude.
As a loyal retainer, laying down his life for his liege was nothing more than his duty.
Even if he died, his sister would be well cared for by the Sun Clan.
If he survived, he'd have a chance to give his sister a far better life...
Perhaps then, he could beg the young master to heal Mei'er's eyes...
In that moment, Su Meng's heart was filled with hope and excitement for the future, completely oblivious that he was already treading down a path of no return.
...
"That's the power of authority. One single sentence is enough to make someone willing to die—and even thank you for the privilege."
Having made all the arrangements, Sun Qian returned to the room, his heart calm, even tinged with a hint of self-mockery.
He walked over to the bed, squeezed Liu Yue over to one side, and snatched half the blanket for himself, acting as natural as an old married couple.
After all, they'd played the part of husband and wife several times in the simulator—they were practically old pals by now.
"Next up: the fifth simulation. This time, I can try coming clean to Liu Yue, win her over, and test where her loyalties lie."
"Head to the mysterious secret realm early to get the complete version of the Heaven-Stepping Nine Steps. Lay an ambush to catch Ye Fan, the Child of Destiny, and force that old geezer hiding in his body to reveal himself..."
"Besides that, I'll do everything I can to break through my cultivation realm. Then head south to the Ten Thousand Great Mountains, meet the person the Sun Clan says can protect me, and find out just what kind of backers I have..."
Having mapped out his plans for the upcoming simulation, Sun Qian settled his mind and glanced at his current stash of Villain Points.
Villain Points: 63,500
This ample reserve gave him an enormous confidence boost.
"Villain Simulator—initiate the fifth simulation."
「 Ding! 5,000 Villain Points have been deducted from the host's balance in exchange for one Villain Life Simulation run. 」
「 Ding! Initiating the fifth Villain Life Simulation... 」
「 Detected that the host spent 5,000 Villain Points in the previous simulation to retain the talent Smooth Talker (Green) for this run. Would you like to select this talent directly? 」
「 The host may also choose to reroll for a new random talent pool. Note: If rerolling, the retained talent will be discarded. 」
"Designate the talent Smooth Talker (Green)."
Sun Qian's brows furrowed slightly as he made his choice without hesitation.
Never mind what new talents a reroll might bring.
He'd already wasted 5,000 Villain Points to keep Smooth Talker—throwing that away would be a total waste.
Besides, the talent Smooth Talker had immense potential. It would definitely come in handy for the simulation ahead.
「 Ding! Congratulations to the host for obtaining the temporary talent Smooth Talker (Green) for this Villain Simulation! 」
「 Smooth Talker (Green): The lies you spin won't fool a ghost—but humans will buy into them, to a certain extent. 」
「 ... 」
「 Simulation Start! 」
「 You may have the outward appearance of a spoiled playboy, but you know full well just how extraordinary your true identity is—and the imminent danger looming in your future. Just then, you awaken a brand-new talent: Smooth Talker. 」
「 You discover that your words now carry a subtle charm, making people subconsciously inclined to believe you, at least partially. 」
「 At this moment, four days remain until the Ghost Doctor the Venerable descends upon Modu. Two days remain until the mysterious secret realm in the Modu sea area opens its gates... 」
「 Despite the ticking clock, you're in no hurry. You decide to test out the effects of your new Green Talent, Smooth Talker, first. 」
「 As for your test subject? 」
「 Snap! 」
「 You shake Liu Yue awake beside you. 」
「 "Sun Qian! What the hell do you want?!" Liu Yue snaps, her voice thick with sleep and irritation. 」
「 She'd just drifted off to sleep when you woke her up—of course she was in a foul mood. 」
「 "Liu Yue, I have something important to tell you," you say earnestly. 」
「 "What could possibly be so important?!" Under the influence of Smooth Talker, Liu Yue's anger fades away subconsciously. She turns to look at you, her expression turning serious. 」
「 She'd already had a vague inkling of what you might say—but what comes next still catches her completely off guard. 」
「 "Liu Yue! I'm your dad," you declare with a dead serious face. 」
「 "Dad... WHAT THE FUCK?!" 」
「 Liu Yue freezes for a second, her brain short-circuiting as she subconsciously buys into your words. Respect flickers in her eyes, and she opens her mouth, ready to throw herself at you for a hug. 」
「 But as a Fifth-Order Heavenly Being, her true cultivation far surpasses yours. Though momentarily influenced, she snaps back to her senses in an instant—and loses her absolute shit. 」
「 This unexpected effect makes you realize just how incredible Smooth Talker is. It can even briefly influence a powerhouse like Liu Yue, a Fifth-Order Heavenly Being. 」
「 After all, even a split second of interference can be invaluable. In a life-or-death battle, that split second might just be enough to seal the enemy's fate. 」
「 This is practically a god-tier skill! 」
「 "You bastard! How dare you! I'm gonna kill you!" Liu Yue explodes, her eyes turning ferocious like an enraged tigress. She rolls up her sleeves, pins you to the floor, and starts pounding your chest with her tiny fists. 」
「 You're trapped under her, taking a beating. 」