The Hero of a Cool Novel? I, the Villain, Will Kill You!

219: Yi Bochang’s conjectureHe was completely unaware that Chu Daoren and the other three had long ago been implanted with Puppet Arts by Master Wu Yan and his companions. At this moment, the ones controlling their bodies were schemers hidden far away in the shadows.

Chu Daoren’s expression shifted erratically. His eyes went from initial confusion to a final trace of concealed mockery.

The mockery was hidden extremely deep, like an undercurrent beneath a layer of ice, flickering for only a moment before his expression returned to one of reverence.

The other three were the same.

Yi Tianguang lowered his head to hide the cold light in his eyes, King Qin the Slaughterer’s fist clenched slightly then relaxed, and Xie Shengtian used a light cough to conceal the curve of his lips.

They quickly cast aside their various complicated thoughts. Chu Daoren took the lead, transforming into streaks of light with King Qin the Slaughterer, Yi Tianguang, and Xie Shengtian, flying toward the Ancient Boat.

Gu Cangyang and Yi Bochang did not notice anything unusual, assuming that Chu Daoren and the three others were showing confusion only because it was their first time visiting the Land of the Other Shore.

Gu Cangyang even laughed heartily, stepping forward a few paces, his robesleeve dancing in the wind, looking high-spirited and vigorous.

He was secretly delighted: the arrival of these people was the most crucial link in the plan.

Chu Daoren led the others onto the Ancient Boat, cupped his hands in greeting, his voice loud but carrying a subtle, almost imperceptible sarcasm:

”Senior Gu, we have fulfilled our mission. Following your guidance, we have finally arrived at the Land of the Other Shore.”

The other three also cupped their hands in unison, their movements uniform, as if meticulously rehearsed.

Yi Bochang observed silently from the side, vaguely sensing that Chu Daoren’s tone lacked its usual vibrancy.

However, he did not immediately expose it. Instead, he decided to wait and ask Chu Daoren privately later if something had happened.

Gu Cangyang wore a beaming smile and waved his hand, signaling everyone to relax:

”Haha, there’s no need to be so polite. It’s quite commendable that you were able to find the Master of the Son of the Great Dao.”

His gaze swept over the four people, lingering especially on Xie Shengtian for a moment.

This was all because Chu Daoren had sent him a message several years ago, saying he had found the Revered Master of the Son of the Great Dao.

He immediately ordered Chu Daoren to quickly bring King Qin the Slaughterer, Yi Tianguang, and the Revered Master of the Son of the Great Dao to the Land of the Other Shore.

Furthermore, in the message, he mentioned that establishing a new Realm required the assistance of all four of them.

As long as the creation of the new Realm succeeded, the four of them would also be able to surpass the Dao Exhaustion Realm.

He believed that no one could refuse the condition of promising to surpass the Dao Exhaustion Realm.

Sure enough, Chu Daoren and the three others arrived so hastily after receiving his message. Just as he conjectured, nobody could resist the temptation of a new Realm.

Gu Cangyang struck while the iron was hot, his tone growing more impassioned: ”Gentlemen, the Land of the Other Shore is our land of opportunity!”

”Once the destiny chessboard is activated, by working together with this old man, you will surely break through your constraints and ascend to that new Realm that no one has yet glimpsed!”

As he spoke, he glanced around at everyone, trying to see desire and fanaticism on their faces.

However, what Gu Cangyang did not know was that Chu Daoren and the three others before him had long ago been implanted with Puppet Arts.

The one speaking with him now was not Chu Daoren at all, but Master Wu Yan.

This seemingly smooth meeting was actually the prelude to a conspiracy; Gu Cangyang’s confidence and empty promises silently became a footnote of irony.

Yi Bochang stood to the side, watching the scene. The unease in his heart grew heavier, like the dead calm before a storm, quietly enveloping the entire Land of the Other Shore.

”Senior Gu, is what you said true?”

”As long as the four of us help, can you truly lead us to establish a new Realm?”

Chu Daoren acted extremely excited, as if he intensely yearned for the new Realm beyond the Dao Exhaustion Realm.

King Qin the Slaughterer, Yi Tianguang, and Xie Shengtian were the same, all revealing expressions of respect and flattery.

Only Yi Bochang felt that Chu Daoren and Yi Tianguang were acting abnormally, and he remained silent throughout.

After all, Yi Tianguang was his direct descendant, and Chu Daoren was also considered his Junior.

He was simply too familiar with these two people; normally, they would never show such intense excitement.

After careful deliberation, Yi Bochang’s brow furrowed slightly, and his gaze meticulously scanned Chu Daoren and Yi Tianguang.

He was not making baseless conjectures, but basing his judgment on tens of millions of years of understanding these two descendants.

Chu Daoren had always been as steady as a mountain, maintaining a calm, unperturbed demeanor even when facing immense opportunities;

As his direct descendant, Yi Tianguang’s personality was more reserved, and he never easily revealed his emotions.

Yet now, they were acting like inexperienced youths, their eyes flashing with a nearly greedy fanaticism—this was absolutely not their true nature.

Yi Bochang’s fingertips unconsciously rubbed his cuff, and various rumors about the Hongmeng Sea rapidly flashed through his mind.

The Hongmeng Empress was ruthless in her methods; those powerful figures who refused to submit to the Hongmeng Divine Kingdom were essentially only fit to be slaughtered.

He remembered a few years ago.

When Chu Daoren had sent word that he found the Revered Master of the Son of the Great Dao, he also mentioned that undercurrents were surging in the Hongmeng Sea. Although he didn’t state it explicitly, a sense of oppression permeated the lines of the message.

At this moment.

Yi Bochang’s heart was clear as a mirror. Aside from the aggressive suppression by the Hongmeng Empress, there was no other reason that could cause these two Juniors, who had weathered many storms, to lose their composure like this.

Their eagerness and their flattery were all desperate manifestations, like drowning people grasping for driftwood.

Yi Bochang could even imagine the scenes of Chu Daoren and Yi Tianguang being suppressed and hunted in the Hongmeng Sea... Perhaps they were robbed of resources, or perhaps assassinated. All these humiliations must have transformed into their current desperate craving for power.

This certainty was rooted in his heart like a bedrock.

Because he was too familiar with the pride of Chu Daoren and Yi Tianguang; unless they were pushed to a desperate situation, they would never easily bow their heads.

”Haha, what this old man says is naturally true!”

Gu Cangyang’s laughter echoed like a great bell. He stood tall and puffed out his chest, his robesleeve trembling slightly from excitement, the look of smug elation almost spilling over his face.

When he twirled his beard with his fingers, the force unconsciously increased, and his eyes shone with a dreamy brilliance, as if he had already seen the glorious moment when he would lead everyone to break their constraints.

Gu Cangyang was completely immersed in his own blueprint, mentally outlining the grand spectacle of the world changing color after the destiny chessboard was activated... He would be the great man who created history, revered by billions of living beings.

This self-absorption caused him to overlook all anomalies:

For example, the overly synchronized gestures of Chu Daoren and the three others, stiff like marionettes;

Another example was the imperceptible tension in Yi Tianguang’s neck when he lowered his head;

Even Yi Bochang’s silent scrutiny was treated by him as irrelevant background noise.

Gu Cangyang’s vanity spread like wildfire. He reveled in the ”worshipful” gazes cast by Chu Daoren and the others, as if he were already the supreme mentor.

He didn’t even notice that his pitch had risen when he spoke, carrying a touch of exaggerated demagoguery, like a clown on a stage, vigorously performing his self-proclaimed brilliance.

Firstly, he had very little interaction with Chu Daoren and the others to begin with, possessing only a vague impression of their personalities;

Secondly, he was blinded by the ”obedience” before him, mistaking the performance of Puppets for genuine allegiance;

Thirdly, he craved recognition deep down, and the cheers of the moment intoxicated him like honey, making him completely forget the meaning of caution.

”Then we Juniors shall wait and see.” Chu Daoren cupped his hands in response, his voice loud and respectful.

But upon closer inspection, the moment he lowered his eyes, the mockery within them writhed like a venomous snake, practically ready to break free.