I Am the Fated Villain
chapter-347

After Gu Changge left with Hei Yanyu, Xiao Ruoyin brought Jiang Chen, Niu Tian, Wang Ning, and the rest to a rather spacious area. Although guards were all over the place, having received Gu Changge’s order, they simply disregarded Xiao Ruoyin’s group as though they did not exist at all.

“Ruoyin, What’s happening? Why did the man in white suddenly release us?” Arriving here, Jiang Chen finally asked the question out of impatience with sternness in his voice,as if he was interrogating Xiao Ruoyin.

At the same time, Niu Tian and the rest were also curiously waiting for an answer and explanation from Xiao Ruoyin.

“Nothing much. After Young Master Gu took me away, instead of doing anything to me, he merely asked about my background, to which I honestly answered, and he decided not to trouble us any further. It’s all a misunderstanding. Young Master Gu is a good man and he bears no ill intentions towards us.” After taking a deep breath, Xiao Ruoyin explained and recounted everything that happened.

And so, Niu Tian and the rest heaved a sigh of relief. All of them didn’t doubt her words, especially the young women, Wang Ning included.

Essentially, on their first encounter, Gu Changge didn’t seem like a bad person to them, not because handsome men couldn’t be bad people, but because his qualities weren’t exactly hatred-evoking, unlike the that of the Immortals who preferred to stay away from the mortal world and sit above the Nine Heavens observing everything.

However, Jiang Chen, unsatisfied with the answer, furrowed his brows. He could still remember the excruciating pain of his entire body and organs being crushed, and now that Xiao Ruoyin simply claimed that to be a misunderstanding as well as how Gu Changge was no evil man, Jiang Chen couldn’t bring himself to accept what he just heard.

“Jiang Chen, listen to me. Just let this slide. You’re fine now, aren’t you? Plus, if you were to upset Young Master Gu, I won’t be able to protect you.” Seeing Jiang Chen’s expression, Xiao Ruoyin could already tell what he was thinking, after which she helplessly warned him, as there was no way Gu Changge would apologise to an unimportant individual like Jiang Chen.

“Right. What happened afterwards, Ruoyin? Why did you change your clothes?” Jiang Chen then asked, only to find himself nervous after expressing his bafflement as he was worried about receiving bad news from Xiao Ruoyin. [If it was as Ruoyin said, why did she change her clothes? And she seemed happier than before, having so much fun talking to him.]

Hearing that, Xiao Ruoyin recalled the agonising situation and felt somewhat flustered but she quickly recovered from it, after which she clarified, “Young Master Gu saw that my clothes were torn after a long time of confinement, so he instructed his servants to clean me up. It’s not as complicated as you think…”

Seeing Xiao Ruoyin’s expression, Jiang Chen couldn’t shake off the discomfort in his heart, but if he were to continue doubting her after she made things this clear, he would only be ruining their relationship, so he decided not to pursue the matter any further.

Niu Tian and the rest weren’t sceptical either.

“Told you you should’ve trusted Goddess Xiao…” Niu Tian whispered to Jiang Chen and heaved a sigh of relief for his sake.

“Then, what are your next plans, Ruoyin? None of us understand the languages of this world.” Jiang Chen stared at Xiao Ruoyin and edgily inquired as cold sweat surged in his palms. He was hinting at her to return with the rest of the group.

Thereupon, the group turned to Xiao Ruoyin with eager faces, hoping that she could take care of them. Since they were all fellow students, having come to this unfamiliar world whose languages they couldn’t comprehend, they couldn’t imagine living on after leaving here.

In response, Xiao Ruoyin revealed a scowl, obviously perturbed and at a loss for words. Nonetheless, she would have to come clean to Jiang Chen, Niu Tian, and the rest eventually. Slowly, she muttered, “I’ll be staying by Young Master Gu’s side from now on, so I don’t think I’ll be leaving with you…”

“What?”

Before she could finish, Jiang Chen’s face drastically changed as he couldn’t believe what he just heard; the rest also widened their eyes in daze as they didn’t expect her to choose to stay.

“Ruoyin, did that man force you into staying? He must be planning something against you.” Visibly annoyed, Jiang Chen took a deep breath and forced himself to calm down as he couldn’t find a single reason as to why Xiao Ruoyin would choose to stay behind. As it was the first time she and Gu Changge met, coercion was the only possibility Jiang Chen could come up with.

“No, I chose it on my own accord. Young Master Gu is a good man and our saviour. What plans can he have against me? Right, you haven’t met his servants. Each of them is a goddess of beauty, so why would he ever bear ill will against me? You shouldn’t slander him.” Xiao Ruoyin was apparently offended, but considering that Jiang Chen was questioning her out of concern, she replied in a serene tone.

Hearing that, Jiang Chen subconsciously widened his eyes and dropped his jaw before letting out a bitter snicker and shut his mouth, while the rest sighed and tactfully kept quiet.

“That Young Master Gu must have drugged you to have you defend him after your first encounter.” There was bitterness on Jiang Chen’s lips, and his voice was rather hoarse. It was as if his heart was being ripped apart.

“You’ll never understand. I have only gratitude. Gratitude only for Young Master Gu.” Regaining her composure, Xiao Ruoyin coolly replied, carrying the resemblance of a distant, icy queen.

“For what reason?” Jiang Chen questioned.

“I… I am going to take on the Path of Cultivation…” After a moment of hesitation, Xiao Ruoyin fessed up.

“The Path of Cultivation…”

At once, the group was dumbstruck, only to find themselves drowning in envy when they recovered their senses. Before they came to this world, they never believed that Immortals existed, and now, everything before them opened their eyes. Immortals indeed lived in this world. Riding clouds, picking stars—nothing was out of their capabilities. With that in mind, they grew even more envious of Xiao Ruoyin.

[Ah! Soon, we will be worlds apart…] Saddened, Jiang Chen figured things out. It wouldn’t take long before Xiao Ruoyin would become an otherworldly noble Immortal just like the man in white, who perceived them as mere ants.

Nevertheless, when he remembered the mysterious bronze flying boat, he wondered if he, too, could cultivate, and a glimmer of hope arose in his heart.

“Goddess Xiao, if you are able to cultivate, can we do that too? We, too, want to take on the Path of Cultivation.” Niu Tian and the rest turned to Xiao Ruoyinand hopefully asked.

“The requirements of cultivation are stringent. If it weren’t Young Master Gu’s assistance, I wouldn’t have been able to tread the Path of Cultivation…” Xiao Ruoyin answered, feeling obliged to disclose the requisites of cultivation to her peers.

After hearing her out, Jiang Chen, Niu Tian, Wang Ning, and the rest were thoroughly stunned, falling into hopelessness, as she did back when she first heard about it.

“Talents aptitude, technique cultivation, cultivation resources…” Jiang Chen muttered to himself, as if there was raging fire in his heart.

“Lady Xiao, the Young Master has prepared a banquet, and he cordially invites you and your peers to attend it.”

Out of nowhere, a mysterious, scary-looking person with green scales all over his body spoke to Xiao Ruoyin. The group was startled and suffocated by the enormous man’s presence as his aura was too daunting for them.

“Understood. We’ll be there right away.” Retaining her composure, Xiao Ruoyin responded with a smile.

In response, the man chortled aloud. “Then, I shall await your arrival, Lady Xiao.” Having said that, he immediately vanished and none knew whether he intimidated Jiang Chen, Niu Tian and the rest on purpose.

“Ruoyin, what did he say?” Jiang Chen curiously asked.

“He told me that Young Master Gu prepared a banquet for us and asked me to bring you over,” Xiao Ruoyin answered.

“Young Master Gu even prepared a banquet for us? Splendid! We didn’t steal Goddess Xiao’s spotlight, did we?”

“Young Master Gu is such a fine man! He must be trying to compensate for the misunderstanding earlier.”

Hearing that, the group immediately grew thrilled. Since they never experienced a banquet of this world, they could take this opportunity to.

Though, Jiang Chen, for some reason, grew quiet.

Very soon, Xiao Ruoyin led the rest to the venue of the banquet, and they were astounded by the stunning sceneries, especially the palaces that shone blindingly like a heavenly palace, trembling their hearts. After all, such magnificent wonders must require an immeasurable amount of power to be constructed.

“Young Master Gu said that we’re only on an ancient battleship, and not on the ground…” Xiao Ruoyin exclaimed with astonishment.

As they were en route to the banquet venue, many of them attempted to gratify Xiao Ruoyin, licking her boots.

“Goddess Xiao, can you perhaps commend us to Young Master Gu?”

“Yes, for the sake of us fellow students, why don’t you help us out, please?”

“Uhh…” Xiao Ruoyin hesitated with a frown, concerned that those requests would irritate Gu Changge.

“I’ll try to.” Nevertheless, she couldn’t bring herself to reject her peers.

Not long after, the group arrived at the palace, wherein spirit fruits were neatly organised while the alluring aroma of wine wafted in the room, only to find themselves drooling. The delicate fruits emitted a misty gleam, appearing highly mysterious.

“You’re here?” Gu Changge smilingly said as he sat on the primary seat.

“Thank you, Young Master Gu, for setting this up.” Xiao Ruoyin seemed rather awkward.

“Don’t mention it. It’s a gesture of apology,” Gu Changge claimed with a smile.

“Since your peers are mere mortals without any experience of cultivating, they’ll probably burst into death if they were to consume foods with spiritual energy, so I prepared another table just for them,” Gu Changge added as he pointed to the side. On the tables not far away from his, the cuisine were notably simpler in comparison as they were foods of the mortal world.

“Mm, thank you, Young Master Gu.”

Seeing nothing wrong with that, Xiao Ruoyin then explained that to Jiang Chen, Niu Tian, and the rest. Certainly, she was moved by Gu Changge’s meticulousness given how he even took such trivial details into consideration. Although it was a pity that Niu Tian and the rest wouldn’t be able to consume the fruits with spiritual energy, she was aware that the decision was made out of concern for their health. As such, she grew even more fond of Gu Changge.

As the group found nothing wrong with Xiao Ruoyin’s words, they agreed that Gu Changge bore no malice towards them.

Soon, the banquet commenced as guests returned to their seats. Besides Hei Yanyu, Ji Qingxuan also appeared by Gu Changge’s side, and they would serve him food and pour him wine.

Seeing that, Niu Tian and the rest of the male students were extremely envious as such impeccable, outworldly beauties were not to be found in their homeworld. [Even Goddess Xiao’s charm is nothing compared to the two beside Young Master Gu. They possess such incomparable elegance yet they are only befitting of becoming his servants. Damn it! I’m jealous! No wonder! So that’s why Goddess Xiao said that Young Master Gu wouldn’t scheme against her.]

“Ah’chen, some things are to be kept in the heart as it’s not quite appropriate to express them…” Looking at the wordless Jiang Chen who was frustratedly chugging down wine, Niu Tian knew what he was thinking, after which he sympathetically stated.

Then, Jiang Chen raised his head and gritted his teeth.

On the banquet seats in front of him, Xiao Ruoyin was sitting beside Gu Changge with a blushed smile, as though they were discussing something. On the other hand, Gu Changge was carrying a breezy smile, unaffected by his surroundings, and never once did he take a glance at Jiang Chen and the rest.

Jiang Chen was clueless about what Xiao Ruoyin and Gu Changge might be discussing, but all he knew was that Xiao Ruoyin rarely revealed such a smile, and seeing that felt like a dagger pierced his heart.

All of a sudden, Jiang Chen felt a mysterious sensation within his body, as if something, constantly pulsating, was about to burst.

[The bronze flying ship!] In that instant, Jiang Chen saw a bronze flying ship before him. Rusty and ancient, the bronze flying ship seemed to be traversing across a river while the world around it collapsed as fragments of space drifted in the air. He even witnessed the creation of the world, including the formation of sky and land, as well as the primaeval evolution of the ever so heavenly, Great Dao. All at once, information about an inheritance gushed into his brain.

Absolutely dumbfounded by the sight, Jiang Chen almost sprung up from his seat, but thanks to his potent willpower, he managed to control his physical instincts, and he simply appeared as though he was trembling due to his inability to adapt to the atmosphere.

Thereupon, Niu Tian and the rest, not knowing what was happening, merely peered at him, assuming that he was trying to repress the frustration in his heart after seeing the woman he admired sharing a laugh with another man.

[What are you? Why are you in my mind?] Quickly, Jiang Chen composed himself, though he failed to notice Gu Changge’s gaze that fell upon him earlier. At that moment, he was communicating with the voice in his mind as a weakly glowing, miniature form of the bronze flying ship popped up in his mind.

<I am an Artifact Spirit, and you are the artifact’s vessel. We both comprise the Celestial Boat of Creation.> A child-like voice was heard.

[Celestial Boat of Creation? What is that?] Jiang Chen was dazed before questioning further. Since he was communicating with the voice in his mind, he wasn’t afraid of being caught.

<Celestial Boat of Creation is the first celestial artifact that created existence. It allows one to withdraw from reincarnation, reverse time, peek into the Heavenly Path, perceive all lives, and predict the future. It is omnipotent.> the child-like voice boastfully stated.

[Then, can you make me stronger?] Jiang Chen grew excited after listening to the voice’s great description of its almightiness and omnipotence. [Does that mean I’ll be able to grow stronger and continue to live in this world and attain whatever I want?]

<Naturally, as we are one.> the voice answered, retaining its smugness.

However, since it just reawakened, it swiftly sensed that something was off. <Your current state is strange. Why are you this weak, even your physique? Nevermind, I’ll make your body transfigure into the Sacred Physique of Creation, and you’ll become overpowered and peerless!> The voice exclaimed with confidence.

Hearing that, Jiang Chen grew even more ecstatic as his heart palpitated. [Sacred Physique of Creation? That sounds formidable!]

Moreover, Jiang Chen suddenly noticed that he could understand the conversation of those from this world, who were around him, and was thrilled upon the discovery. Yet, he had to control his urges so as not to draw any suspicion upon himself.

[Now I can listen to what Ruoyin and that Young Master Gu are talking about…] Jiang Chen took a deep breath and calmed himself down, concentrating all his focus to his ears.

Meanwhile, on the primary seat, Gu Changge, retaining his leisurely smile, seemed to notice something and fascination flashed across his eyes. He then turned to Xiao Ruoyin and inquired, “Who is that young man to you? Why does he keep staring at you?”

Upon the questions, Xiao Ruoyin was dazed. She then turned to where Gu Changge was looking and saw Jiang Chen, who was bitterly drinking his wine with his head lowered.

“That is Jiang Chen. He was an admirer of mine,” she answered. For some reason, she didn’t want Gu Changge to take things the wrong way, so her answer was rather direct.

But of course, Xiao Ruoyin wasn’t lying either. To others, she was a perfect match to Jiang Chen, but that was all there was to it. She was also aware of Jiang Chen’s feelings for her, but all she wanted was searching for ruined sites and pursuing the truth. In her eyes, Jiang Chen was merely an admirer. Or simply, a friend, who she happened to be close with.

“Oh, I see.” Gu Changge smilingly added, “No wonder he keeps on looking at you.”

On the other hand, Jiang Chen, who directed all his concentration to the conversation, overheard the exchange. Instantly, his face turned a few shades whiter as bitterness surged. Yet, he was unable to refute it, given that he was indeed nothing but an admirer.

<That woman… She looks like Mistress! Impossible…> Right when Jiang Chen was drowning in agony, the child-like voice in his mind sounded once again. This time, nevertheless, it was filled with restlessness and fear.

<That man beside Mistress is extremely dangerous…>