This Is What a Villain Is Like

At the Bihu Lake Shore, a cold mist lingered. The numerous Spiritual Objects from within the Sumeru Bag shimmered with a treasured light, resplendent and dazzling.

They were piled up like a mountain, shimmering with radiant light.

An ethereal mist coiled among them as iridescent vapors rose.

All the young Celestial Prides in the surrounding mountains watched, their faces masks of shock and astonishment.

Hearing the exchange between Jiang Lan and the maiden in white, many felt an overwhelming sense of unreality.

It was because they sensed something strange about her attitude toward Jiang Lan. This maiden in white, whose power was despairingly terrifying, treated him with an inexplicable, unspoken nuance.

Jiang Lan, who was usually so easygoing, carefree, and unconventional, now appeared strangely serious and calm.

This only deepened the crowd’s confusion, leaving everyone to speculate on the nature of their relationship.

Xia Jie and the other young scions of power were consumed by envy and jealousy.

’What’s so special about Jiang Lan, that this maiden in white would favor him so much? She even came all the way to Qianyuan Prefecture just to gather points for him.’

’And yet, he doesn’t even seem to appreciate it. Is it all because of his pretty face?’

Xiao Teng’s fists clenched so tightly they audibly cracked. As he watched the scene unfold, a torrent of emotions—anger, indignation, and more—welled up inside him.

He had believed that his newly awakened constitution, which flooded his body with boundless, unrivaled power, would allow him to reverse the tide of battle. But who could have predicted the appearance of this maiden in white, who had shattered that fantasy completely?

By the lake, after Jiang Ruxian finished speaking, a gentle smile touched her lips as she quietly watched Jiang Lan.

She seemed unconcerned with what he would do next.

"If you don’t want these, then all my effort in gathering them was for nothing..."

she added softly, seeing Jiang Lan was still silent.

"If you truly wanted to help me and not cause me trouble, you shouldn’t have come here."

Jiang Lan’s gaze swept over the Spiritual Objects, his tone remaining casual and serene.

’Jiang Ruxian’s unexpected intervention was not part of my plan,’ he thought, ’but for now, I have no choice but to play along.’

’Few people know of the enmity between the Prime Minister’s Mansion and Jiang Ruxian. Aside from Emperor Xia, only a handful of others are aware.’

’Given Emperor Xia’s character, she is highly unlikely to provoke Jiang Ruxian. She will keep her lips sealed about this kind of affair.’

’Furthermore, based on the persona I’ve established in front of Emperor Xia, I cannot be the one to publicly reveal the hostile relationship between Jiang Ruxian and the Prime Minister’s Mansion.’

’Jiang Ruxian’s brazen appearance before me now is likely because she anticipated this very point.’

’She knows that for the sake of the Prime Minister’s Mansion—and for her own—I won’t turn on her in front of everyone, nor can I bring myself to attack her...’

Jiang Lan wanted to laugh. ’It’s true I won’t exploit Jiang Ruxian. Because even though she would be willing, doing so would only gradually lessen the guilt in her heart.’

’Conversely, if I do nothing, Jiang Ruxian will do just as she did today—speculate on what I want and take the initiative to help me obtain it.’

’Take winning first place in Qianyuan Prefecture, for instance. I hardly need her help for such a trivial matter.’

’All I have to do now is what I said I would on that night of the torrential downpour: actively distance myself and sever all ties with her. Then, on occasion, I’ll let her see... that deep down, I actually still care about her a great deal, but I am forced by circumstance to act this way.’

In truth, Jiang Lan didn’t want to treat Jiang Ruxian this way, to manipulate her. But he wondered if it was because his memories had completely fused.

Every time a matter involved Jiang Ruxian, a deeply unsettling feeling would surge from the depths of his soul.

Perhaps it was the lingering regret and obsession born from his original memories, from knowing the future of the original timeline.

The "original owner" of this body was never just the "original owner." To be precise, those should be considered his *own* original memories.

Over this period, Jiang Lan had actually come to accept the explanation that he had simply awakened memories of a past life.

’After all,’ he reasoned, ’neither the Soul-Protecting Lock nor the Seven-Star Soul Lamp has ever shown any change. If I were a transmigrator who had seized this body, then where did the original soul go? The fact is, my soul has never changed.’

’Whether it was the Heart-devouring Disease flaring up back in Yu Yi City, or the time I set a trap to kill the original protagonist, Lin Fan, only to have my heart pierced by a sword—I faced that horrifying, excruciating pain without a change in my expression. Such immense willpower cannot be explained away by saying a new person simply took over this body.’

For now, however, Jiang Lan still couldn’t figure out where those memories of the "plot" had come from.

...

By the lake, the Spiritual Energy was a hazy mist. Exquisite orchids were artfully arranged, the fragrance of celestial blossoms drifted on the air, and bundles upon bundles of ancient herbs lay in astonishing piles.

The surrounding members of the younger generation watched the Spiritual Objects from a distance. Not a single one dared to step forward, even knowing they represented a staggering number of points.

The gazes of Xia Jie, Chong Xiuyuan, and the other young nobles burned with desire, but they desperately suppressed their greed, not daring to act recklessly.

Naturally, Jiang Lan did not let Ao Xu, Luo Ying, or his other followers take the Sumeru Bag that Jiang Ruxian had left behind.

He didn’t exchange many words with Jiang Ruxian, nor did he reveal the slightest hint about their relationship. His attitude was casual and polite, yet it carried the same natural aloofness he had shown that day outside the ruined temple.

It was as if he were facing a mere acquaintance, a stranger whose life did not intersect with his own.

Then, he glanced toward the nearby Xiao Teng, who was being supported by a group of his men. Jiang Lan waved his hand, and Ao Xu and his other followers immediately moved forward, surrounding them completely.

Jiang Ruxian watched in a daze as Jiang Lan led his people right past her. He didn’t spare a single glance for the mountain of Spiritual Objects she had collected on her journey.