Villain: Manipulating the Heroines into hating the Protagonist

Chapter 857: Shadowed Ravines and Sharpened Blades

The pre-dawn air of the Azure Sky Market was cool and crisp, carrying the faint scent of woodsmoke and distant, exotic spices. Wang Jian and Princess Yue Lingshan arrived at the North Gate just as the first pale fingers of light touched the horizon. Yue Lingshan, still veiled and cloaked, moved with a quiet grace that even the loose robes couldnʼt entirely conceal. Wang Jian, his Night Fang strapped securely to his back, looked like any other young cultivator ready for an expedition – outwardly unremarkable, inwardly a coiled serpent.

The Stone Wolf Pack was already there, their silhouettes stark against the lightening sky. Senior Sister Meifang, the scarred leader, gave them a curt nod. Her eighth-stage Qi Condensation aura was palpable, a steady pressure. Senior Brother Gao, the burly one, was stretching his thick arms, a wide grin on his face. Junior Brother Fei, the nervous youth, fidgeted with the strap of his quiver.

Two other figures stood with them, new additions to Wang Jianʼs mental roster. One was a man with narrow, shifty eyes and a thin mustache, his gaze lingering a little too long on Yue Lingshanʼs veiled form. This was Liu Meng, his cultivation at the sixth stage. The other was a stocky, sour-faced man, his arms crossed, his expression openly disdainful as he looked Wang Jian up and down. This was Zhao Tie, also sixth stage.

ʼSo, these are the replacements for the viper-bitten ones,ʼ Wang Jian thought, his gaze sweeping over Liu Meng and Zhao Tie. ʼLiu Meng… the lecherous type. Predictable. Zhao Tie… resentment and envy practically rolling off him. Likely sees me as a threat or a pretty boy who doesnʼt belong.ʼ His eyes met Zhao Tieʼs for a fleeting second, and he saw the undisguised animosity there. ʼInteresting.ʼ

”Youʼre on time,” Meifang said, her voice all business. ”Good. Wasting daylight is wasting spirit stones.” She quickly introduced Liu Meng and Zhao Tie. ”Theyʼll be joining us. Both experienced trackers, if a bit rough around the edges.”

Liu Meng offered Yue Lingshan a smile that didnʼt quite reach his eyes. ”A pleasure to have such a… delicate flower joining our humble pack, Junior Sister.” His gaze was oily.

Yue Lingshan inclined her head politely, saying nothing, but Wang Jian felt her subtly stiffen beside him. ʼHeʼs already making her uncomfortable. Pathetic.ʼ

Zhao Tie just grunted, still eyeing Wang Jian with suspicion. ”Hope you two can keep up. This ainʼt a stroll in the sect gardens.”

”Weʼll manage, Senior Brother Zhao,” Wang Jian replied, his tone perfectly even, betraying no offense.

”Alright, enough pleasantries,” Meifang cut in. ”The Shadow Panther. Itʼs a Tier 3 Spiritual Beast, known for its unnatural speed, razor-sharp claws that can tear through weak Qi defenses, and its ability to blend almost perfectly with shadows. Its eyes glow crimson, and it often uses its shadowy fur to launch surprise attacks. Weʼre heading for the Ravine of Whispers in the Blackwind Mountains, about a half-dayʼs flight south. Tracks were fresh yesterday evening. If weʼre lucky, it hasnʼt moved far.”

ʼTier 3 Spiritual Beast… equivalent to mid-to-late stage Qi Condensation cultivators in raw power, but with beastly cunning and ferocity. A decent challenge for this group, especially if it uses stealth.ʼ

”Junior Brother Fei will take the lead on tracking,” Meifang continued, gesturing to the nervous youth. ”Gao and Zhao Tie, youʼre on flanks. Liu Meng, youʼll be rear guard with our two new Junior Brothers… Wang and…?” She looked at Yue Lingshan.

”Junior Sister Ling,” Yue Lingshan supplied softly, using the shortened, less conspicuous name Wang Jian had suggested for such outings.

”Right. Junior Sister Ling and Junior Brother Wang, youʼll stick with Liu Meng. Your main job is to watch our backs and provide support if the Panther tries to circle around. Donʼt engage it directly unless absolutely necessary. Conserve your Qi. Understood?”

”Understood, Senior Sister Meifang,” Wang Jian and Yue Lingshan replied in unison.

ʼRear guard with Liu Meng. Convenient. Keeps the lecher away from Lingshanʼs immediate vicinity, and puts me in a position to observe everyone.ʼ

With a final check of their meager supplies – mostly water, some dried rations, and a few commonly used healing salves – the Stone Wolf Pack set off. They activated their Flying Leaves, the seven artifacts lifting into the air with varying degrees of stability. Meifang, Gao, and Zhao Tie were clearly experienced, their Leaves steady. Fei and Liu Meng were a bit more wobbly. Wang Jian and Yue Lingshan, having practiced, maintained a smooth, if slower, ascent.

The journey south was uneventful for the first few hours. They flew over rolling hills and dense forests, the Blackwind Mountains looming larger on the horizon, their peaks often wreathed in dark, ominous clouds.

Wang Jian, flying beside Yue Lingshan, kept his senses alert. He noticed Liu Meng frequently casting furtive glances towards Lingshan, his shifty eyes trying to peer through her veil, his gaze lingering on the sway of her cloaked figure. ʼDisgusting pig. Heʼll need a lesson in manners later.ʼ

Zhao Tie, flying on the other side of Liu Meng, often shot dark looks towards Wang Jian. There was a simmering resentment there, the kind often felt by mediocre individuals towards those they perceive as effortlessly superior, either in looks or perceived potential. ʼHe probably thinks Iʼm just some pretty boy who got lucky, maybe riding on Junior Sister Lingʼs coattails. Let him think that. Underestimation is a useful weapon.ʼ

Yue Lingshan, though outwardly calm, felt a prickle of unease. ”Jian,” she whispered, using the Whispering Wind Voice Art, her voice barely audible above the rush of air. ”Liu Meng… he keeps staring. And Zhao Tie… I donʼt like the way he looks at you.”

”Iʼve noticed, Lingshan,” Wang Jian sent back, his voice equally soft. ”Donʼt worry about them. Theyʼre flies, easily swatted. For now, focus on conserving your Qi and observing the terrain. This is good practice.”

ʼTheyʼre almost certainly planning something,ʼ Wang Jian mused internally. ʼMeifang seems focused on the hunt. Gao is too boisterous and straightforward for intricate plotting. Fei is too timid. But Liu Meng and Zhao Tie… they have the look of opportunists. They probably see Lingshan as a prize to be claimed once the ʼstrongerʼ members are dealt with, or perhaps after the beast is slain and everyoneʼs guard is down. And I, her companion, am an obstacle to be removed.ʼ

He wasnʼt worried. His Fourth Stage Qi Condensation, coupled with his profound soul and combat experience, made him far more dangerous than he appeared. He had realized, during his recent cultivation, that his control over Spiritual Energy was exceptional, almost instinctive. Even without complex spell incantations or established techniques, he could channel his Qi into his Night Fang, imbuing basic slashes with surprising power and precision. Against opponents who might underestimate him, who might not erect proper Qi defenses expecting a weak attack from a ʼmereʼ Fourth Stage junior… it could be lethal.

ʼTheyʼll likely wait until after the Shadow Panther is dealt with,ʼ he reasoned. ʼNo point risking their own lives or losing potential shares of the kill by starting trouble beforehand. Greed usually trumps malice, at least temporarily.ʼ He felt confident he could handle them, especially with Yue Lingshan as a surprisingly capable backup. Her peak mortal body cultivation, combined with her own Fourth Stage Qi, made her a formidable opponent against anyone up to the Fifth, perhaps even Sixth Stage, if they were careless.

As they neared the Blackwind Mountains, the terrain became more rugged, the forests darker and more foreboding. Junior Brother Fei, his nervousness increasing, began to point out signs – broken branches, faint claw marks on trees, a lingering musky scent in the air.

”The Panther… it passed this way not long ago, Senior Sister Meifang,” Fei reported, his voice trembling slightly. ”The trail leads towards the Ravine of Whispers.”

Meifang nodded, her expression grim. ”Alright, pack. From here on, utmost caution. Flying Leaves down. We proceed on foot. Zhao Tie, take point with Fei. Gao, youʼre with me. Liu Meng, Wang, Ling – stick to the rear, maintain a twenty-pace distance, watch for ambushes.”

They landed their Flying Leaves, concealing them in a dense thicket. The forest floor was a tangle of roots and shadows, the air heavy and damp. The only sounds were the crunch of their boots on fallen leaves and the distant, unsettling cry of some unseen creature.

The Ravine of Whispers lived up to its name. It was a deep, narrow chasm carved into the mountainside, its walls slick with moss and shadows. A chilling wind whistled through it, carrying faint, echoing sounds that did indeed resemble ghostly whispers. Strange, luminescent fungi grew in patches on the damp rocks, casting an eerie, pale glow.

”Moonshade Grass,” Meifang pointed towards a cluster of silvery-green herbs growing near a dark crevice. ”Fei, Gao, collect three bundles. Quickly and quietly. The Panther might be using this ravine as its lair.”

While Fei and Gao nervously harvested the herbs, Zhao Tie scanned the surroundings, his hand never far from the hilt of his sword. Liu Meng, ostensibly watching the rear, kept trying to get closer to Yue Lingshan, offering ʼhelpfulʼ observations about the terrain.

”Be careful of the loose rocks here, Junior Sister Ling,” Liu Meng would say, his voice unctuously solicitous, his eyes trying to catch a glimpse of her face beneath the veil. ”Allow this Senior Brother to clear the path for such a delicate fairy.”

”Thank you, Senior Brother Liu, but I am quite capable,” Yue Lingshan would reply, her voice polite but cool, subtly shifting away from him. Wang Jian watched with amusement, noticing Lingshanʼs growing skill at deflecting unwanted attention without causing open offense.

Suddenly, a low growl echoed from deeper within the ravine. It was a sound that vibrated in their very bones, primal and dangerous.

Fei yelped, dropping a bundle of Moonshade Grass. Zhao Tie drew his sword, his sour face now pale. Gao and Meifang tensed, their weapons instantly in hand.

”Itʼs here,” Meifang hissed. ”Positions!”

From the deepest shadows of a narrow passage ahead, two crimson points of light ignited. Then, a sleek, black form detached itself from the darkness, moving with an unnatural, fluid grace.

The Shadow Panther.

It was larger than Wang Jian had expected, easily the size of a small pony, its fur a perfect, light-absorbing black. Its muscles rippled beneath its coat, hinting at immense power and speed. Its crimson eyes burned with feral intelligence and predatory hunger. Long, razor-sharp claws, like obsidian daggers, extended from its paws, and a pair of saber-like fangs jutted from its upper jaw. It let out another low, menacing growl, the sound echoing off the ravine walls.

ʼImpressive beast,ʼ Wang Jian thought, his own senses sharpening. ʼFast, powerful, and perfectly adapted to this shadowy environment. Those claws look like they could shred steel.ʼ

”Attack!” Meifang roared, lunging forward, her own spirit-tempered longsword blazing with the Qi of an eighth-stage cultivator. ”Gao, Zhao Tie, flank it! Fei, ranged support! Liu Meng, Wang, Ling, watch for its shadow feints and protect our rear!”

The battle erupted.

Meifang met the Shadow Panther head-on, her sword clashing against its claws with showers of sparks. The beast was incredibly fast, darting in and out, its movements a blur of black fur and crimson eyes. Gao and Zhao Tie tried to attack its flanks, their own swords infused with Qi, but the Panther was too agile, dodging their strikes with contemptuous ease.

Junior Brother Fei, from a safer distance, notched arrows to his bow, loosing Qi-enhanced shafts towards the beast. Most missed, skittering off the ravine walls, but one grazed the Pantherʼs hind leg, drawing a hiss of pain and fury.

The Panther retaliated, lunging at Fei with terrifying speed. Meifang intercepted, her sword a barrier of light, but the beast was relentless, its claws tearing at her defenses.

”Its fur… it blends with the shadows too well!” Gao grunted, narrowly avoiding a swipe that would have disemboweled him. ”I can barely track its movements!”

Indeed, the Shadow Panther seemed to melt into the darker patches of the ravine, then reappear suddenly from a different angle, its attacks swift and brutal.

Wang Jian and Yue Lingshan, positioned at the rear as ordered, watched the chaotic fight. Wang Jian kept a firm grip on his Night Fang, his eyes scanning not just the Panther, but also his supposed pack mates. Yue Lingshan stood beside him, her Verdant Willow Blade drawn, her expression tense but focused.

”Jian,” Yue Lingshan whispered, ”shouldnʼt we help them more directly?”

”Not yet, Lingshan,” Wang Jian murmured back. ”Our orders are to guard the rear and watch for feints. Conserve your Qi. Let them wear it down first. No need for us to take unnecessary risks or reveal our full capabilities prematurely.”

ʼBesides,ʼ he added silently, ʼlet Liu Meng and Zhao Tie get a little more desperate. A tired, wounded predator is easier to deal with. And so are tired, wounded… allies.ʼ

He did, however, act when opportunity arose. The Shadow Panther, after a particularly vicious exchange with Meifang, momentarily disengaged, its crimson eyes scanning for a weaker target. It feinted towards Gao, then suddenly blurred, appearing behind Zhao Tie, who was slightly out of position.

Before Zhao Tie could react, Wang Jian moved. Not with a flashy spell, but with a single, perfectly aimed throw. He hurled a heavy, sharp-edged rock heʼd subtly picked up earlier, infusing it with a small burst of his Qi. The rock struck the Panther squarely on its snout with a dull thud.

It wasnʼt enough to injure it seriously, but it startled the beast, breaking its attack trajectory, giving Zhao Tie a precious second to scramble away, his face ashen.

”Thanks, kid!” Zhao Tie grunted, not meeting Wang Jianʼs eyes, clearly annoyed at being saved by the ʼpretty boyʼ.

The Panther, enraged, turned its crimson gaze towards Wang Jian and Yue Lingshan. It let out a furious snarl and launched itself towards them.

”Now, Lingshan!” Wang Jian said calmly.

Yue Lingshan reacted instantly. She thrust her Verdant Willow Blade forward, not in a wild slash, but in a precise, Qi-infused stab aimed at the Pantherʼs exposed underbelly as it leaped. Wang Jian, simultaneously, executed a powerful sidestep, his Night Fang blurring in a low, sweeping cut aimed at the beastʼs leading foreleg.

Their coordinated attack, though lacking the raw power of Meifangʼs, was perfectly timed. Lingshanʼs blade grazed the Pantherʼs soft underbelly, drawing a shallow but painful gash. Wang Jianʼs Night Fang connected with its foreleg, not breaking bone, but slicing through muscle and tendon.

The Shadow Panther shrieked in pain and surprise, its leap faltering, landing awkwardly. It glared at them with pure hatred, but before it could retaliate, Meifang and Gao were upon it again, pressing their advantage.

The fight raged for another grueling ten minutes. The Shadow Panther, now wounded and bleeding, fought with desperate ferocity, its attacks becoming more reckless. Liu Meng, who had mostly been cowering behind a rock, finally loosed a few weak Fireball spells that missed wildly. Junior Brother Fei managed to land another arrow, this one sinking into the Pantherʼs flank.

Finally, Meifang, her face grim and beaded with sweat, saw an opening. The Panther, lunging at Gao, overextended itself. Meifangʼs sword flashed, a brilliant arc of Qi-infused steel. ”Stone Mountain Cleave!” she roared.

Her blade struck the Pantherʼs neck with devastating force, severing sinew and bone. The beast let out one last, gurgling cry, then collapsed in a heap, its crimson eyes fading to dull embers.

Silence descended, broken only by the ragged gasps of the exhausted cultivators.

”We… we did it,” Junior Brother Fei stammered, lowering his bow, his hands shaking.

Senior Brother Gao let out a whoop of triumph. ”Haha! The hide is ours! And the core!”

Meifang leaned on her sword, panting heavily. ”Good work, pack. Secure the area. Fei, check for any other threats. Gao, Zhao Tie, start skinning. Liu Meng… you can help them.” She looked tired but satisfied.

Wang Jian and Yue Lingshan sheathed their swords, their expressions calm. They had conserved most of their Qi, their contributions seemingly minor but strategically effective.

As Gao and Zhao Tie approached the fallen Shadow Panther, knives drawn, Liu Meng, instead of joining them, suddenly spun around. His shifty eyes locked onto Wang Jian, a cruel, lecherous smirk spreading across his face. In his hand, a short, wicked-looking dagger, previously concealed, glinted in the dim light of the ravine.

”Well, well, Junior Brother Wang,” Liu Meng sneered, his voice dripping with malice. ”You and your little… veiled fairy… you were quite lucky back there. But luck… runs out.”

He lunged, his dagger aimed straight at Wang Jianʼs throat, a swift, silent, and utterly treacherous sneak attack. He hadnʼt even bothered to infuse Qi into the blow, so confident was he in its surprise and Wang Jianʼs perceived weakness. ʼThis pretty boy goes down first. Then the girl… oh, the fun Iʼll have with the girl before she joins him.ʼ

Wang Jian didnʼt even flinch. His powerful soul had sensed Liu Mengʼs murderous intent the moment the Panther fell, had tracked his subtle shift in posture, the glint of the hidden dagger.

ʼPredictable. And sloppy.ʼ

As Liu Mengʼs dagger arced towards his throat, Wang Jian moved with impossible speed. He didnʼt try to block with his sword. Instead, his Night Fang, already half-drawn, became a blur. It wasnʼt a fancy technique, just a perfectly timed, brutally efficient diagonal slash, infused with almost all the Qi he had painstakingly accumulated in his Fourth Stage dantian.

SHLICK!

A spray of hot blood erupted. Liu Meng screamed, a high-pitched sound of agony and disbelief. His attacking arm, severed cleanly at the shoulder, flew through the air, his dagger clattering uselessly against the ravine wall. He stumbled back, clutching the gushing stump, his face a mask of shock and unbearable pain.

”You… how…?” he gurgled, staring at Wang Jian as if seeing a ghost. He hadnʼt even erected a basic Qi defense, so certain was he of his sneak attackʼs success.

Before anyone else in the Stone Wolf Pack could fully process the sudden betrayal and Wang Jianʼs shocking counter, Yue Lingshan moved. Her earlier nervousness was gone, replaced by a cold, focused calm that mirrored Wang Jianʼs. Her Verdant Willow Blade flashed. She targeted Junior Brother Fei, the weakest link, who was still gaping at Liu Mengʼs severed arm.

Fei, only at the Fifth Stage of Qi Condensation, yelped in terror as Yue Lingshanʼs blade, empowered by her own Fourth Stage Qi and the surprising strength of her Jade Stream Softened body, descended upon him. He tried to raise his bow to parry, but Lingshanʼs movements were too fast, her attack too precise. Her blade sliced across his sword arm, not severing it, but drawing a deep, debilitating gash. He screamed, dropping his bow.

Yue Lingshan didnʼt hesitate. Her peak mortal body cultivation, refined over months, allowed her to bridge the single-stage Qi gap with physical prowess. She followed up with a swift kick to his chest, sending him sprawling, gasping for air. She pressed her advantage, her blade at his throat.

Meifang, Gao, and Zhao Tie finally snapped out of their shock, their faces contorted with a mixture of fury, surprise, and dawning fear.

”Treachery!” Meifang roared, her sword flashing as she lunged towards Wang Jian. ”You dare attack a pack mate?!”

Gao and Zhao Tie also charged, their own weapons raised, their initial joy at the Pantherʼs defeat replaced by murderous intent towards these two ʼnovicesʼ who had just turned the tables so brutally.

Wang Jian met Meifangʼs attack, his Night Fang a blur of dark steel. Their blades clashed, sparks flying, the force of the impact jarring both their arms. Meifang was Eighth Stage, her Qi significantly denser, but Wang Jianʼs precision, his ruthless efficiency, and the surprising power behind his Qi-infused basic slashes made him a dangerous opponent.

He didnʼt engage Meifang directly for long. He was outnumbered, out-Qiʼd. He needed to be strategic.

ʼTarget their coordination. Exploit openings. Every Qi strike must count. Vital points.ʼ

He parried another of Meifangʼs furious slashes, then spun away, narrowly avoiding Gaoʼs heavy cleaver. As he moved, his Night Fang lashed out, not at Gaoʼs weapon, but at his exposed knee, another Qi-infused slash that, while not severing, drew blood and made Gao roar in pain, his charge faltering.

Zhao Tie, seeing an opening, lunged at Wang Jianʼs back. Wang Jian, as if possessing eyes in the back of his head, ducked under the wild swing, his own blade sweeping upwards in a diagonal arc, aimed at Zhao Tieʼs sword wrist.

CLANG! Zhao Tie managed to parry, but the force of Wang Jianʼs Qi-infused strike made his arm go numb, his grip on his sword loosening.

”You little bastard!” Zhao Tie snarled, fear now clearly visible in his eyes. This ʼpretty boyʼ was a demon in disguise!

Wang Jian pressed his advantage, a whirlwind of dark steel and lethal intent. He wasnʼt using flashy spells. He didnʼt need to. His every move was calculated, every slash infused with just enough Qi to be deadly, aimed at joints, tendons, exposed flesh. He fought like a seasoned killer, his experience dwarfing their sect-trained techniques. He turned their numbers against them, using one to block another, creating chaos in their coordinated attacks.

The Ravine of Whispers, already eerie, now echoed with the clang of steel, shouts of fury, and cries of pain. The hunt was far from over. It had just taken a much more personal, and far more deadly, turn.