The heavy bronze doors of the Great Hall groaned shut, cutting off the lingering scent of incense and the terrified aura of the disciples.
Finally alone in my private sanctuary—a floating pavilion carved from Spirit Jade—I let the regal mask slip. My breath came out in a ragged exhale as I slumped into a chair made of Thousand-Year Sandalwood.
'How the hell did this happen?'
One moment, I was in my apartment on Earth, leaning back in my chair after finishing the latest update of a web novel. I'd just closed my eyes for a "five-minute" nap. There was no truck, no lightning, no dramatic explosion. Just a heavy, dreamless sleep that ended with the shattering of a soul-seal.
I hadn't just 'woken up' in this body; I had merged with it. Every memory of the previous Gu Xian—his arrogance, his coldness, his bone-deep cruelty—was now mine. It was like watching a horror movie where I was the monster.
[DING! System Synchronization: 100%]
[Host: Gu Xian]
[Current Status: The Origin Villain]
I looked at my pale, slender hands. They were beautiful, yet they felt stained. I could feel a pulsing heat deep within my chest—a power that didn't belong to me.
'The Divine Bone,' I thought, my eyes darkening. 'My father stole it from my cousin, but it was my sister's future that was supposed to be protected by it.'
A soft chime of bells echoed from the entrance of the pavilion. The defensive formations parted automatically, recognizing the visitor's bloodline.
"Brother? Are you still upset about that Lin family boy?"
A young girl stepped into the room. She couldn't have been more than sixteen, dressed in white robes that seemed to glow with a natural, celestial light. Her hair was like spun silver, and her eyes were clear, reflecting a purity that felt out of place in a clan as dark as ours.
This was Gu Ling'er. My younger sister. The "Saintess" of our clan.
In the original 'script' of this world, she was the one who was supposed to be the world's most beloved fairy. But there was a catch—one she didn't know.
"Ling'er," I said, my voice automatically shifting back to that cold, aristocratic tone.
She hurried over, a worried pout on her face. "You shouldn't let people like Lin Tian bother you. Father says you are the future of the Nine Heavens. Why waste your breath on a commoner?"
She reached out, grabbing my hand with an innocent smile. As she did, my vision flickered.
[Target Identified: Gu Ling'er]
[Role: The Tragic Saintess]
[Providence Value: 4,000]
[Luck Color: Cyan (Exceptional Luck)]
[Note: Her innate 'Divine Dao Bone' was harvested at age six and grafted into the Host. She believes she was born 'physically frail' and that her brother is protecting her by sharing his cultivation resources.]
I looked at her bright, trusting eyes. She had no idea. She thought I was her hero—the genius older brother who stayed by her side because she was "weak." In reality, I was the thief who had stolen her destiny before she could even speak.
'She's literally feeding me her luck every day just by being near me,' I realized, a chill running down my spine. 'If she ever finds out the truth, her Cyan luck will turn into Black vengeful luck in a heartbeat.'
"Brother? You're staring again," Ling'er giggled, tilting her head. "Is there something on my face?"
I forced my lips into a thin, practiced smile—the kind of smile a villain uses to hide a dagger.
"No," I replied, patting her head. "I was just thinking about how... precious you are to me."
[DING! Villainous Act Detected: Deceiving the Tragic Saintess.]
[Reward: 200 Villain Points!]