I Am the Fated Villain

Chapter 1377: Just an ordinary child of luck, feeling endless humiliation

The valley’s environment was serene, and the scenery was stunning. In the distance, purple clouds enveloped the mountains, pines clung to the rocks, and a light white mist floated, creating a scene reminiscent of paradise.

Chu Lian stood frozen, gazing at the slender figure before him, momentarily unable to recover.

He had often imagined the enchanting face hidden beneath that plain veil. Still, upon seeing it in reality, he was struck by the blend of joy and anger reflected in those flawless features, which was truly mesmerizing—almost dreamlike.

Such beauty made it impossible for one not to want to indulge, reluctant to awaken from this reverie.

Miss Ling Huo!!

A bitter feeling welled up in Chu Lian’s heart, prompting him to shake his head and regain his composure.

Beside that slender figure stood a tall man in white, his presence striking and seemingly cloaked in an invisible mist accentuating his extraordinary demeanor, making his noble aura difficult to conceal.

This was “Mr. Gu,” the individual who had signed the guest agreement with him.

Chu Lian was puzzled about why these two were in this place; logically, they should have been at the spiritual royal family.

How could he appear in person, come to this shuttle of the immortal civilization, and place himself in a dangerous situation? Furthermore, this mission had been personally ordered by “Mr. Gu.” Why would he come himself?

At that moment, Chu Lian was completely bewildered.

Why do I care so much? Experts for protection undoubtedly surround Mr. Gu, so he isn’t worried about his own safety.

Chu Lian shook his head, realizing he had been overthinking. Whatever plans or arrangements Mr. Gu had were of no concern to someone as insignificant as him.

Yet, watching how Ling Huang spoke with him caused a pang in Chu Lian’s heart. It felt as if something that belonged to him had been taken away.

When he first encountered Miss Ling Huang on the official road, he had been captivated by her refined and elegant demeanor at first sight.

In their subsequent conversations, there was a palpable sense of camaraderie when confidants met. After parting, he couldn’t shake the thoughts of her from his mind. What surprised Chu Lian was that the two would encounter each other again in another place.

After meeting several times, he found it impossible to forget this beautiful, elegant, and demure woman, who shared similar knowledge and thoughts with him.

Unfortunately, Chu Lian never learned her true origins; he only knew she hailed from a prominent family with an extraordinary background. As a member of the Ghost clan, he had survived for a long time, but despite his master’s unfathomable strength, he had long since distanced himself from worldly matters, especially his children’s private affairs. Naturally, his background could not compare to that of Ling Huang.

This disparity made Chu Lian bury his emotions deep within his heart.

Later, on the way to Juxian Village, after witnessing Miss Ling Huang’s admiration for Mr. Gu, he felt a surge of unwillingness and a desire to compete for her affection once more.

However, the spirit of the Ball of Ambitions hinted to him that Mr. Gu had an unusual origin, likely coming from other super civilizations, making it clear that he was not someone Chu Lian could provoke at this moment.

Only then did Chu Lian gradually let go of those thoughts, burying his admiration deep within his heart. But today, he accidentally caught a glimpse of Miss Ling Huang’s true face, causing his heart to tremble once more, making it difficult for him to restrain his emotions.

“You should leave; otherwise, others will see you, and you’ll be the one who loses face.”

“That Miss Ling Huang comes from an extraordinary background, making her somewhat elusive. She is not someone you can covet.”

“You are now the guest of Mr. Gu, and there are certain boundaries you cannot cross.”

At that moment, the flat, indifferent voice of the spirit of the Ball of Ambitions echoed in Chu Lian’s ear again. It had little patience for this unsatisfactory host, reminding him that Miss Ling Huang should not tempt him.

Although Chu Lian had made a firm promise at the time, his mind had become active again. He was destined for greatness in the future, so how could he allow himself to become so deeply entangled in personal relationships?

He also recognized that staying there was not wise. Despite it being merely a coincidence, he felt an urgent desire to leave.

However, at that moment, in the valley in the distance, Ling Huang, who was conversing with “Young Master Gu” by the lake, suddenly seemed to notice something.

She glanced in Chu Lian’s direction, her expression shifting to one of surprise, clearly having spotted him.

No, Miss Ling Huang saw me.

Chu Lian was momentarily taken aback; he hadn’t expected her to look over just as he was about to leave. If he turned around and left now, it would certainly raise questions about the situation.

As he pondered how to handle this predicament, he felt a mix of anxiety and uncertainty.

However, Ling Huang had already donned her veil again, and a golden light rose from beneath her feet, propelling her directly toward him.

“Master Chu Lian, why are you here…”

Before she arrived, her slightly surprised voice reached him. At this point, Chu Lian couldn’t turn around and leave, so he had no choice but to stay put and face her.

“I was planning to find a nearby mountain range as a cave to rest for a while, and I didn’t expect to encounter Miss Ling Huang and Young Master Gu here.”

Chu Lian suppressed the discomfort in his heart, forcing a calm smile as he explained.

Ling Huang smiled slightly, seemingly untroubled by his words, and replied, “In that case, Mr. Chu Lian might as well join us for a conversation; my cousin is here as well.”

In front of outsiders, she always referred to Gu Changge in that manner. Given this, Chu Lian couldn’t refuse her invitation, so he followed behind her as they made their way into the valley together.

Gu Changge seemed to anticipate Chu Lian’s arrival in the valley and waved his sleeves. A few cups of fine wine suddenly appeared on the stone table nearby, filled with a strong aroma that could intoxicate even an immortal.

“Young Master Gu…”

As Chu Lian followed Ling Huang to the scene, he felt increasingly uncomfortable and awkward.

“Brother Chu Lian, please have a seat.”

Gu Changge, dressed in immaculate white, lounged casually on the stone bench, sipping wine alone. Upon seeing Chu Lian approach, he gestured for him to sit down.

Chu Lian couldn’t shake the feeling of an indescribable sense of oppression and fear that enveloped him in the presence of this mysterious Mr. Gu. Furthermore, after arriving, he noticed that the Artifact Spirit of the Ball of Ambitions seemed to be afraid of the black-robed old man behind Gu Changge, showing no signs of its usual aura. No matter how much he called out in his mind, it remained unresponsive.

Reluctantly, Chu Lian had no choice but to sit down opposite Gu Changge.

“I’m going to prepare some appetizers.”

Ling Huang looked virtuous and elegant, offering a slight smile before her graceful figure quickly disappeared into the nearby pavilion.

“I wonder what Brother Chu Lian thinks of this mission?”

Gu Changge played with the cup between his slender fingers, casually smiling as he engaged Chu Lian in conversation.

Chu Lian suppressed the discomfort in his heart, carefully considering his words before replying, “I don’t know much about this mission, so I will do my best to follow the seniors, inquire about the necessary information from them, and strive to complete Mr. Gu’s instructions.”

Gu Changge smiled and lightly set down his wine glass, saying, “This task is actually quite simple, and Brother Chu Lian doesn’t need to worry too much. The reason I asked you to come along is quite significant; I want to train you in the process. It’s all for your benefit, and it’s not life-threatening.”

“And this so-called mission is merely a cover. I don’t expect you to uncover any information about the immortal civilization. My real aim is to find a few individuals who can take care of things.”

Chu Lian was taken aback by Gu Changge’s words and still didn’t grasp their full meaning. Was this merely a way to grind them down? And was it really just a cover?

On the contrary, the spirit of the Ball of Ambitions within his sea of consciousness was momentarily stunned, vaguely piecing together some insights. From the artifact spirit’s perspective, Gu Changge—a young man with an unfathomable background—must have a significant reason for coming to the Spiritual Civilization.

It was likely related to an assessment or task assigned by the forces behind him. This mission could enable him to control or occupy a powerful civilization without relying on the support of any external forces. The Spiritual Civilization was merely a pawn in his game.

At that moment, the spirit inferred that Gu Changge’s true target was likely this immortal civilization.

“Brother Chu Lian, there’s no need to be overly vigilant or suspicious of your subordinates. I genuinely want to recruit you because a talent like yours is indeed rare, and I cherish it. Building a good relationship now may prove beneficial for me in the future.” Gu Changge poured himself another glass of wine, smiling faintly.

Chu Lian’s heart trembled at these words.

Apart from the Artifact Spirit of the Ball of Ambitions, this was the second time someone had mentioned his fate to him. He understood that the reason he was regarded as the host of the Ball of Ambitions was due to his extraordinary fate, which was considered a variable in legend. Even those ancient civilizations, throughout their long existence from birth to extinction, might not have produced an anomaly like him.

Now, someone had actually perceived his fate and spoke of it casually. How could this not shock Chu Lian?

“I didn’t expect that Mr. Gu could see Chu Lian’s fate. It seems I have underestimated his origins again. Could it be that he will be the future successor of a Supreme Civilization?”

The Artifact Spirit of the Ball of Ambitions was equally astonished at this moment, unable to suppress its curiosity. It truly hadn’t expected Chu Lian’s fate to be so easily discerned. Could it be that the mysterious old man in the black robe had revealed this to Gu Changge?

As Chu Lian’s thoughts churned, making it difficult to calm down, Ling Huang returned with some delicacies in hand.

Upon seeing her, Gu Changge smiled slightly and added, “But there’s one thing I need to tell Brother Chu Lian in advance. I know you have feelings for Ling Huang, but she is also very fond of me. So, with that in mind, it’s better for Brother Chu Lian to hold back his thoughts; otherwise, things might become complicated for me later.”

While speaking, he reached out to gently wrap his arm around Ling Huang’s slender waist. She seemed a bit surprised and shy at first, but then settled comfortably in his embrace. With her other hand, she placed all the delicacies on the table and then lifted a wine glass, bringing it to Gu Changge’s lips.

As Chu Lian heard this and witnessed the scene unfolding before him, his head suddenly buzzed as if struck by a heavenly hammer. In an instant, he froze in place.

He didn’t even recall how he left the valley afterward; the memory of that moment felt completely blank in his mind. When he finally regained his sense.

Chu Lian felt an overwhelming sense of humiliation wash over him. His teeth clenched and his fists creaked with tension. Although the so-called “Mr. Gu” seemed to hold him in high regard, every word spoken was laced with aloofness and condescension, as if he didn’t take him seriously at all.

Especially those last words—did he mean to convey that Chu Lian was unqualified to compete with him? Was he telling him to completely give up any hopes he had?

“It’s just too much to bear…”

The resentment of humiliation and the pain of having his affection snatched away felt insurmountable. Chu Lian’s teeth were almost ground to dust, and his eyes were bloodshot with fury. The scene that had unfolded before Ling Huang had stripped him of his dignity; he would likely feel too ashamed to face her again in the future.

But now, they had already left the valley, and Chu Lian couldn’t find an outlet for his anger.

He could only unleash his frustration on the surrounding ancient forests, sending chips of wood and dust flying through the air. Gradually, his mood began to calm down.

The Artifact Spirit of the Ball of Ambitions had initially thought that after Gu Changge’s words, Chu Lian would come to terms with the situation. However, it hadn’t anticipated such a dramatic shift in Chu Lian’s mentality. In that moment, even the spirit was taken aback and found itself at a loss for words.

From its perspective, the identities and strengths of Chu Lian and Gu Changge were not on the same level at all. Gu Changge had spoken to him in a manner that could be considered respectful, perhaps even gentle and easygoing. What kind of humiliation was this?

Moreover, Miss Ling Huang had admired “Mr. Gu” at first glance, while her connection with Chu Lian had barely reached the level of friendship. What kind of disparity was this?

“What’s going on? How could the host chosen by the Ball of Ambitions be so weak?”

The Artifact Spirit of the Ball of Ambitions was utterly bewildered at that moment. It had completely given up any hope for Chu Lian as its host.

Meanwhile, in the valley, which felt like a paradise, Gu Changge sipped his wine with a leisurely expression.

“According to the timing, it should be almost right. The so-called outlier is no different from a child of luck; the only difference lies in the degree of their luck.”

“After losing the aura of that variable, he is merely an ordinary child of luck, or even worse. And since that treasure is alive, it will surely find a way to save itself at this moment.”

When Gu Changge interfered with Chu Lian’s fate before, he had already disrupted his identity as a variable. The Child of Destiny and the Child of Luck each had their own personalities, and these personalities were not static.

For instance, Chu Lian’s unique personality had been disturbed by Gu Changge, causing him to lose the protection that came with his identity as a variable and the training he should have received. This was why the Artifact Spirit of the Ball of Ambitions sensed something was amiss and noticed a significant gap between Chu Lian and what it had previously perceived.

While Chu Lian had great luck, he had missed the most crucial training and experiences that shaped him. Without suffering and trials, he would ultimately struggle to grow.

Although these challenges and tribulations seemed unfavorable to Chu Lian, he had the protection of a variable, making it easier for him to navigate these hardships and grow more quickly. In a sense, these tribulations were merely his sharpening stones.