I Am the Fated Villain

Chapter 1408: Painting a tiger’s skin is difficult to paint its bones, a useful tip for her

It was the first time Mu Yan had shared these tragic experiences with anyone. She didn’t know why, but she felt remarkably relieved in Gu Changge’s presence. After expressing herself, her mood seemed to brighten considerably, as if the long-standing heaviness in her heart had been lifted.

“The past is behind me. I actually know that my mother didn’t care for me very much at the beginning,” she reflected. “But she raised me after all and didn’t abandon me in the end.”

Mu Yan smiled, her brows lifting, and she returned to her usual lively and cheerful demeanor. Gu Changge glanced at her, contemplating for a moment before reaching out to gently rub her head. “You’re really a distressed silly girl,” he said softly.

Mu Yan stared at him blankly, her eyes lowered, as if many stars were twinkling in that moment. However, she quickly realized this was the second time she had been so close to Gu Changge. A faint blush crept onto her face as she lowered her head and whispered, “Can I think… that you care about me?”

Gu Changge withdrew his hand, smiled, and chose to remain silent.

“You’re probably wondering why I’ve chosen to help you,” Gu Changge said, shifting the topic.

Seeing that he didn’t answer her directly, Mu Yan puffed up her cheeks but quickly regained her spirits at his sudden mention of the subject. “I guess it’s because I’m pitiful, and you can’t bear to see me suffer…” she said tentatively.

Gu Changge shook his head, smiling as he replied, “There are countless unfortunate people in the world; I don’t have the time to care for all of them. I just don’t want to see you being bullied.”

Mu Yan paused, momentarily taken aback. She fixed her gaze on him, hardly blinking. “You… you’re not lying to me… Why did you say that all of a sudden?” she stuttered, unsure how to respond.

“Why? Don’t you believe me?” Gu Changge maintained his smile.

Looking at Gu Changge’s handsome face, which was almost within reach, Mu Yan felt her cheeks grow hot, and her heartbeat quicken beyond its usual pace. She didn’t respond to his question but panicked and ran away. It was the first time someone had said such words to her since she grew up, leaving her feeling both warm and flustered, unsure of how to react.

After Mu Yan fled, the smile on Gu Changge’s face faded. He stepped outside the hall and gazed at the world beyond, his expression becoming thoughtful. “It stands to reason that the sudden surge of aura that day shouldn’t have happened for no reason,” he mused. “Or was it merely to capture my attention… It seems the coming events will be more intriguing.” He chuckled softly.

In the following days, Mu Yan appeared to be deliberately avoiding him. It seemed that because of his words, she felt embarrassed to face Gu Changge. In her heart, those words took on a deeper meaning.

Although Gu Changge had only spoken those words in a casual and simple tone, they left Mu Yan in a whirlwind of thoughts for several days. Just a few days later, a man in a Daoist robe arrived with his disciples and stated directly that he intended to visit Mu Yan. The complex of mansion buildings had been exquisitely renovated, yet no cultivators or beings dared to approach on ordinary days. Knowing that Gu Changge resided there, they refrained from disturbing him.

Mu Yan was quite surprised when she learned that someone had come to see her. She had her own independent courtyard and pavilion, and the servants who came to report stood by after delivering their message. “I’m in Gufeng Ancient City, and I don’t have any acquaintances. Who could be here for me?” she wondered aloud. After a moment’s contemplation, she decided to go and find out.

Soon, she arrived at the gate of the building complex, where she saw a group of people from the Scavengers Sect. The leader was Wang He, who had claimed to have been close to her father for many years.

Wang He, dressed in a Daoist robe with the Scavengers Sect’s emblem embroidered on the cuffs, greeted her with a smile. “We meet again,” he said, cupping his hands in a gesture of respect.

Mu Yan was taken aback; she hadn’t expected him to seek her out. If Wang He hadn’t shown up so unexpectedly, she might have nearly forgotten about what transpired at the apprentice acceptance ceremony. “Daoist, you’ve come to find me. May I ask why?” she inquired politely.

Though she remained somewhat skeptical about Wang He’s intentions, she remembered the kindness he had shown when he offered to rescue her from what she felt was a dire situation. With his usual calm demeanor, Wang He led several elders and disciples of the Scavengers Sect as they followed Mu Yan to her pavilion.

Despite his composed exterior, Wang He’s heart raced. After careful consideration and the encouragement of the Book of Scavengers, he had decided to take this risk. The elders and disciples of the Scavengers Sect were unaware of their leader’s current circumstances, but they were surprised and intrigued to see him interacting with Mu Yan, suggesting a prior connection between them.

The area before them was not one that ordinary people would dare to tread. Even if given a hundred times more courage, they wouldn’t take a single step closer. Today, they found themselves following their sect leader, stepping into a world that felt both thrilling and daunting.

“I’m truly glad to see you out of that pit of fire,” Wang He said, his voice tinged with emotion. “If your father knew about this, he would surely rest in peace.”

“Thank you for your kindness that day,” Mu Yan replied, grateful for his concern. “Please wait a moment; I’ll prepare some tea.”

As she led them to the courtyard, she intended to make a gesture of hospitality. However, Wang He waved his hand with a gentle smile, interrupting her. “No need for that. I only came to sit for a while and see how you’re doing. I’m relieved to find that your life is not in danger.”

His kind smile and youthful appearance belied the maturity and steadiness in his demeanor. Mu Yan felt a warmth spread through her at his words, realizing that Wang He genuinely cared about her well-being. This sentiment made her feel a bit embarrassed, as she sensed his sincere concern for her safety.

After all, ordinary people didn’t have the courage to venture into this area, let alone walk in. Mu Yan couldn’t help but wonder if Wang He had other intentions for his visit.

“Actually, you don’t need to worry too much. This poor Daoist merely wants to help an old friend, and there is no malice in my heart,” Wang He explained, his tone reassuring. “Last time I visited, I was in a hurry and didn’t prepare any greetings.

“I’ve been deducing for the past few days and discovered that something may be very suitable for you, though it has yet to be born. There’s news about it in this box. If you’re interested, you can open it and take a look; if not, feel free to discard it.”

He placed a small box on the stone table beside him, maintaining a smile as he spoke. “I won’t trouble you any longer, but I do want to remind you of something: the so-called painting a tiger’s skin is easier than painting its bones. Knowing someone’s face doesn’t mean you know their heart. Sometimes, what you see isn’t necessarily the truth.”

With that, Wang He prepared to leave, accompanied by the elders and disciples of the Scavengers Sect. Mu Yan felt a bit dazed, trying to comprehend Wang He’s cryptic words and the significance of the box he left behind. Had he come all this way just to deliver this message?

However, she didn’t try to keep him from leaving; instead, she stared at the box left on the stone table, feeling a bit dazed. Was Wang He’s warning meant for her? **”Know people, face but not heart?”** Did this imply she should be cautious of Gu Changge and not be deceived by his charming appearance?

Mu Yan furrowed her brows. Furthermore, Wang He had taken a significant risk to come here and deliver this message; wouldn’t he be worried about being overheard by Gu Changge?

At that moment, Wang He, who had just exited the complex with a group of elders and disciples, let out a sigh of relief.

“Look at your guts. I didn’t lie to you. It’s not a dragon’s pond or a tiger’s lair. There’s no reason for you to hesitate about coming here,” a slightly indifferent and mocking voice echoed in Wang He’s ears.

Hearing this, Wang He felt less anxious. “It seems that your method is still effective,” he replied. The artifact spirit had promised him assistance in masking his presence, so Wang He wasn’t overly concerned about the implications of what he had just said; the others would likely take it at face value.

Initially, he hadn’t intended to provoke any discord between Mu Yan and Gu Changge. However, the idea had been suggested by the artifact spirit of the Book of Scavengers. After some consideration, Wang He found it quite feasible.

In terms of status, Mu Yan and Gu Changge were worlds apart. So, why was Gu Changge willing to help her? Was it her beauty, cultivation, or background that drew his interest? Wang He believed that as the future Empress Pingtian, Mu Yan was certainly no fool. She would start to question and contemplate these words. As long as she harbored some suspicion about Gu Changge, she would undoubtedly consider what Wang He had said.

In this way, even if Gu Changge had no ulterior motives toward Mu Yan, a rift would gradually form between them due to Wang He’s interference. “As long as there’s a gap, things will be easy to handle, and at that point, the seeds I’ve sown will take root,” Wang He mused to himself.

Meanwhile, in the pavilion, Gu Changge observed Wang He and his entourage as they departed but chose not to intervene.

“That Daoist seems a bit mysterious,” Ling Huang remarked, slightly surprised.

“It’s just a facade. This provocative scheme is truly laughable,” Gu Changge replied, shaking his head with a chuckle that hinted at deeper intentions. He couldn’t fathom where Wang He had mustered the audacity to come here.

However, given his connection to Mu Yan, Gu Changge had no immediate plans to take action against him. He was well aware that Mu Yan harbored a hidden treasure, and this Daoist named Wang He was either scheming against her or attempting to seize that treasure for himself. Yet, for the time being, none of this truly concerned Gu Changge.

On the contrary, Wang He’s actions aligned perfectly with Gu Changge’s intentions. After Mu Yan had truly experienced everything, she would come to realize that he was the only one in this world who genuinely deserved her trust.

Meanwhile, Mu Yan pondered for a moment before deciding to take the box and find Gu Changge to inform him about Wang He’s visit. She understood that even if she chose not to mention it, Gu Changge would inevitably learn of it. Someone had already reported Wang He’s visit, but Gu Changge had opted not to interfere in her personal matters.

As Gu Changge listened to the music in the pavilion, he appeared quite relaxed. When Mu Yan approached him to explain the situation, she was somewhat surprised by his reaction.

“I didn’t know you were acquainted with someone like him,” he smiled, showing no concern over the warning Mu Yan relayed.

Feeling a bit distressed by the situation, Mu Yan elaborated on her previous encounter with Wang He before the acceptance ceremony. Even now, she found it hard to believe that her father had such a friend. It was not something she could easily dismiss as an invisible secret.

So, she didn’t hold anything back and shared what Wang He had said earlier.

“I see, but aren’t you curious about what’s in this box?” Gu Changge asked, seeming a bit dazed after hearing her.

Mu Yan felt a flicker of curiosity as well. At that moment, she contemplated for a moment before opening the box directly in front of him. It would be wise to be cautious in case it contained something unexpected.

“Blue Heavenly Realm?”

However, when she examined the contents of the box, Mu Yan was taken aback. Inside lay a small piece of paper with the words “Blue Heavenly Realm” inscribed on it; otherwise, there was nothing else.

She felt a vague sense of familiarity but couldn’t quite place it. She recalled that the Blue Heavenly Realm was a mysterious secret place said to float outside the world, existing without a defined timeline. It appeared only infrequently, seemingly at random, and was rumored to be connected to the outside world, harboring many rare techniques that might manifest within it.

What could Wang He have meant by leaving her this box containing only a reference to the Blue Heavenly Realm?

The last time the Blue Heavenly Realm had manifested seemed to be many epochs ago. Moreover, Wang He had claimed that there was something useful for her within it. His words were ambiguous, leaving Mu Yan unable to piece it all together at first.

But then, a sudden thought struck her: the Eternal Divine Furnace. She felt a jolt of realization. Could it be that Wang He knew she possessed the Eternal Divine Furnace? This was her most closely guarded secret, one her mother had specifically instructed her not to share with anyone.

…

Meanwhile, in Gufeng Ancient City, where the Eternal Protoss resided, several elders gathered with Li Yang, the Divine Son, and the Saintess, Luo Xiang Jun. They were deep in discussion about the lost Eternal Divine Furnace. Although the conversation was framed as a strategic analysis, it was clear that Li Yang and the elders were more focused on speculating about where the Eternal Divine Furnace might reappear.

Mr. Luo Xiang observed from a distance, choosing not to interfere as the elders deliberated. The scene around them was serene and picturesque, a world apart from the chaos beyond.

“There is a mutual induction between eternal artifacts,” one of the elders remarked, frowning. “If it hadn’t been for the earlier incident, we would have had the Eternal Divine Sword closely examined and brought it out. Otherwise, the connection between the Eternal Divine Sword and the Eternal Furnace could have greatly aided us in locating its whereabouts.”

“Not long ago, the Eternal Sword stirred in the depths of the ancestral hall, and the location it indicated was indeed here,” another elder added, his tone grave.

“If the Eternal Divine Furnace falls into the wrong hands, it will be even more challenging for us to find it,” the first elder continued, his worry palpable.

The members of the Eternal Protoss wore expressions of concern. Despite their considerable abilities, pinpointing the location of the Eternal Divine Furnace proved elusive. This was no ordinary artifact; it possessed the magical power to conceal the secrets of the heavens.

Li Yang, the Divine Son, had long sought the lost Eternal Divine Furnace, but with no leads to follow, he felt increasingly frustrated. Almost no one aside from the saints of past generations had ever controlled the Eternal Divine Furnace, leaving him at a loss for how to proceed.

“Mother used to control the Eternal Divine Furnace, so she should know a lot…” Li Yang mused, his brow furrowed as he absentmindedly rubbed the simple round jade pendant he always carried.

“Um?”

At that moment, Mr. Luo Xiang seemed to sense something, and her gaze suddenly fixed on the jade pendant Li Yang was holding.

“Xiang Jun, what’s the matter?” Li Yang asked, noticing her intense focus.

He quickly removed the pendant and explained, “This is my mother’s. Before she died, she told me to keep it safe. I’ve carried it with me all these years.”

A slight smile graced Luo Xiang Jun’s lips as she replied, “It seems the saintess of the previous generation treated you very well, which is quite unexpected.”

Li Yang felt puzzled by her words, not entirely understanding what she meant.

But before he could inquire further, Luo Xiang had already averted her gaze and, with a graceful movement, disappeared from sight.

The suddenness of her departure left Li Yang and the elders momentarily stunned. They exchanged glances, each one wondering what Lord Luo Xiang’s intent had been.