Villain Seduces to Rise in Status

"I have to thank the young master for allowing me to enter such a place," Niva said with a bright, seductive smile that made her entire face seem to glow with warmth and gratitude.

Li Zhan blushed immediately, his composure cracking as he looked away shyly.

"I-I just did what my heart wanted... hehe, men should be reliable," he replied, his voice awkward. He is probably someone unused to flattery from beautiful women.

Niva had returned to the inheritance tomb’s interior with perfect timing. After placing a marking talisman on Li Zhan earlier; finding him had been trivial. And now, with him alone and vulnerable, already emotionally invested in her, the opportunity was too good to waste.

Li Zhan threw his pendant toward the small portal ahead of him. The artifact expanded immediately, light rays erupting outward as the dimensional gateway activated.

"Sure enough, it seems it’s unlocked," he sighed with visible relief. He hadn’t been entirely certain the pendant would work, that the ancient sealing mechanisms would recognize his bloodline’s right to access this place. But the portal’s expansion confirmed it.

"At least the main traps should be navigable now."

He turned to Niva, his expression shifting into something protective and possessive.

"Please stay close to me so I can protect you better," he said, extending his hand.

"Yes, young master~" she replied with a dazzling smile that made his heart flutter uncontrollably.

"Let’s go," he said, leading her forward into the dimensional gateway.

’Oh, I will stick to you like glue, just you wait,’ Niva smirked internally, her smile never wavering.

As they ventured deeper into the inheritance dimension, traps began activating — arrays of razor-sharp blades materializing from walls, floors suddenly becoming unstable and collapsing, pressure formations attempting to crush them from all sides.

But Li Zhan handled each one, his knowledge of his clan’s ancestral inheritance proving invaluable. His body was already bearing the scars of his efforts with blood dripping from various wounds, his clothes torn and stained with red.

"Is this another world?! Or maybe another dimension?" Niva asked with feigned wonder. "We are already in another world right now, but this is a world in another."

Li Zhan, too focused on survival to notice her observations were suspiciously knowledgeable, simply responded while fighting off another wave of magical golems.

"It’s not exactly a world within another world. It’s a gateway to a small dimension placed in a space void which is big enough to contain only the inheritance ground. Once the inheritance is claimed, the entire dimension will shatter."

An hour passed.

Trap after trap and Array after array. Tens of defensive mechanisms activated in succession, each one more sophisticated than the last. Niva remained near unscathed, never getting close enough to any danger. Li Zhan, meanwhile, grew progressively more battered and exhausted, his body accumulating injuries at an alarming rate.

He was beginning to understand the cruel design of his ancestor’s creation.

After another three hours of relentless combat against summoned monster that seemed endless, they finally reached a massive gate. The chamber beyond glowed with undeniable spiritual radiance.

Li Zhan’s eyes shone with desperate hope.

"This... this must be it! I’m sure! This is it, I’m definitely sure!" he exclaimed, his voice cracking with emotion.

He wasn’t truly certain. He was simply hoping — praying that this endless ordeal had a worthwhile conclusion. Even a minor inheritance with a few items would justify the suffering at this point.

’Just let me go!’

Niva feigned happiness at finally reaching their destination. Internally, she was sending a signal through her talisman to Cale.

What she didn’t realize was that Cale was already there.

He’d been following them for the past several hours, hovering just a few hundred meters behind, watching with cold amusement as Li Zhan single-handedly cleared the inheritance’s defenses.

Why would Cale waste his own power and essence fighting monsters that Li Zhan was happily slaughtering for him? The boy was essentially serving as a disposable resource, weakening the traps, depleting his own reserves, opening the path for him following behind.

It was efficient indeed.

"Haha, we didn’t suffer for nothing! There really will be rewards to our efforts!" Li Zhan laughed loudly, the sound echoing through the chamber as he turned to face Niva.

His expression shifted.

"Lady Niva, you should rest here," he said. "The fight ahead might be life-threatening. I wouldn’t want to risk you."

Both of them knew there wouldn’t be much of a fight ahead. The actual trial was behind them. What waited beyond the gate was simply claiming what his effort had earned.

’Hmph, she’s just a woman,’ he thought coldly. ’Once I take the inheritance, many will fawn after me. Even she would drool for my body then. Why should I share this with her? She’s served her purpose.’

But Niva’s expression changed entirely.

Her smile faded, her eyes hardened. The seductive warmth vanished, replaced by cold.

"Why?" she asked sharply. "Why should I go? Aren’t we together? Shouldn’t we go together then and share our findings?"

She stepped closer,

"Don’t tell me you plan to abandon me to take all of it. Was all your affection you told me a lie? So that’s how it was — you faked your feelings. Such a playboy."

Li Zhan felt his chest tighten. This wasn’t going according to plan.

"W-Why... I told you, I will get something from there for you too," he stammered, attempting to placate her.

"Don’t you love me, young master?" she asked softly as if about to cry.

It was quite the performance — tears threatening to spill, vulnerability radiating from every move.

"You... why are you acting like this?" he sighed, unable to believe she would defy him at this moment. His hand itched to simply push past her and go inside.

But then something struck in his mind.

He shouted.

"You... you! Damned bitch! You were tricking me! You didn’t just find me, you greedy slut! You followed me here to take this inheritance from me!"

Niva laughed, raising both her hands in mock surrender.

"Ahaha, you found me~"

Although she could have acted, she was getting tired of this now.

His eyes widened in shock. He was tricked?! That too by a girl he’d met mere days ago.

But then his thoughts turned darker.

"R-Ruo Wan... what happened to Ruo Wan! What did you do to her!... don’t tell me—"

He didn’t want to hear the answer. Some part of him already knew.

"Oh, her?" Niva smiled, pushing her bangs back casually. "I killed her. She was such a handful."

"Why? Why? Why! You played such a plot to get some fortune! Don’t you have any shame, bitch!" he screamed, his voice filled with rage.

"Heh, look at you," Niva scoffed. "A man trying to get in bed with two women at the same time, and yet blaming the other side. If you weren’t that greedy and lustful, how could we make use of you?"

The ’we’ hit him and his eyes widened.

His hand shot out, drawing his sword with killing intent. If he could kill her before her companions arrived, he might still salvage this situation.

"You bitch, you will die by my blade!" he roared, launching himself toward her with desperate ferocity.

Niva simply sighed, her smile never wavering.

"You’re late."

The world exploded.

Something, no, someone struck Li Zhan’s abdomen with a kick sufficient to rupture organs. The impact was so devastating that breathing itself became nearly impossible. His entire body flew backward, rolling across the stone ground for several meters before crashing against the far wall.

A voice emerged from the shadows , likely annoyed.

"I was just enjoying the sitcom. Who knew he would start fighting?"

Cale stepped into view, dusting off his sleeve as if he’d merely brushed against some dirty beggar.

’Ahh... these fucking commoners!’