This Is What a Villain Is Like

Chapter 121: Chapter 84: Everyone Curses Jiang Lan, Everyone Hates Not Being Jiang Lan

He was about to struggle and yell to attract the patrol, but then he saw the character "Jiang" hanging from the side of the White Jade Imperial Chariot. His face instantly turned deathly pale, and he swallowed all his words.

The crowd of onlookers wore gloating expressions.

Soon, with a calm and detached expression, Chu Chan casually tossed down a bag of Spirit Stones, picked up the pitch-black weapon fragment, and returned to the carriage, looking pensive as it slowly departed.

* * *

Meanwhile, in a side hall of the Jasper Pool Sect’s residence, Ye Ming, disguised as a handsome man, was speaking with Ling Zhuyun.

The two sat facing each other across a jade table. A female disciple had served a fragrant tea, whose scent alone was enough to clear one’s Spirit Platform.

"You truly are cautious, Lin. You have a different appearance every time we meet. Your art of Concealing Qi is so profound that even I can’t see through your identity."

"Do you perhaps have a powerful enemy here in Anyang City?"

Ling Zhuyun asked, her veiled face showing a hint of confusion and surprise.

She and Ye Ming had met in a Secret Realm. When that realm first emerged, it had drawn countless cultivators to fight over its treasures.

However, they were all trapped by the Restrictions within. In the end, it was Ye Ming who skillfully broke them and led everyone to safety.

Back then, she had recognized Ye Ming as an Array Master. Despite his youth, his skill was profound. She figured he must be a Celestial Pride in the field of Arrays, the likes of which might not be seen for millennia, so she had given him a Communication Jade Talisman.

Later, while exploring some ancient ruins, she needed to break the peripheral Arrays. She gathered a few companions, one of whom was Ye Ming.

Ye Ming was a great help to her then, and the two gradually grew closer. She greatly admired him, thinking him brave, resourceful, resolute, and decisive, as well as exceptionally powerful.

Though he was a Loose Cultivator, he was hardly inferior to the True Inheritors of the great sects.

Ye Ming looked at her, concealing the admiration in his heart. He shook his head and said, "Not exactly, but showing my true face would certainly cause a lot of trouble."

"The female disciple I saw outside the Jasper Pool Sect’s station just now... it seems her life isn’t in danger."

"Hm?" Ling Zhuyun sounded slightly surprised.

Ye Ming didn’t mince words. After all, he had originally rescued Chu Chan as a favor to Ling Zhuyun, intending for her to owe him one. It was something he was bound to tell her eventually.

He hadn’t expected to see Chu Chan just now, so this was the perfect opportunity to tell Ling Zhuyun what had happened.

He immediately explained everything that had happened that day at the Drunken Immortal Residence.

After listening, Ling Zhuyun’s expression cleared with understanding, then filled with gratitude. "I never imagined the assassin who tried to kill the young master of the Prime Minister’s Mansion was you, Ye. Thank you so much for your help."

Ye Ming trusted her and wasn’t worried she would reveal his identity.

He smiled. "Since she is your fellow disciple, Zhu Yun, I couldn’t possibly stand by and do nothing after seeing what was happening."

"It’s just a pity I couldn’t get her away that day. That villain... he’s surrounded by powerful experts. I wanted to help, but I was simply outmatched."

At this, a shadow fell over his heart. He suspected that the terrifying young being he had encountered on the Blood Red Plateau was none other than Jiang Lan.

’But where was the proof?’

’This was not something he could speak about carelessly, and he certainly couldn’t tell Ling Zhuyun.’

’Ling Zhuyun had always hated the people of the Blood Immortal Sect with a vengeance. If she found out he had been to the Blood Red Plateau, what would she think of him?’

"You don’t need to blame yourself, Ye. The fact that you were willing to try is enough. I’m already very grateful."

Ling Zhuyun said, not thinking much more of it. In her mind, Ye Ming had always been the chivalrous and righteous type—someone who helped the weak and fought for justice.

"Actually, I came today to discuss the matter of the Purple Mist True Monarch’s inheritance with you, Zhu Yun. I never expected that in just a few days, word would spread so widely. I don’t know who is fanning the flames from behind the scenes. I had originally expected that very few people would learn of it."

"When the time comes, if we join forces, the Purple Mist True Monarch’s inheritance will be ours for the taking," Ye Ming said, remembering his main reason for coming.

Ling Zhuyun’s fine brows furrowed slightly. "It certainly does seem like someone is stirring things up from behind the scenes. The more people who know, the lower our chances of seizing the opportunity."

"Even the Prime Minister’s Mansion intends to get involved..."

Ye Ming was stunned and confused.

Ling Zhuyun looked at him and told him about Jiang Lan’s plan to host a tea gathering in three days.

This made Ye Ming frown. If he didn’t know how deeply Jiang Lan concealed his true self, he might have also thought this tea gathering was just a game.

But now that he knew how terrifying Jiang Lan truly was, he had a nagging feeling... ’Could there be a conspiracy behind it?’ freēwēbnovel.com

"In three days, I’ll go with you, Zhu Yun," Ye Ming said after careful consideration.

’In any case, I’ve already changed my appearance and concealed my aura. It would be nearly impossible for Jiang Lan to discover my identity.’

"Are you worried something unexpected might happen, Ye?"

Ling Zhuyun was surprised. From what she knew of Ye Ming, he was an extremely cautious person who wouldn’t easily appear in public. Yet, this tea gathering would likely be attended by every young Celestial Pride in Anyang City.

After all, no one would dare to disrespect the son of the Prime Minister.

’If he appears with me, it’s bound to attract attention and speculation...’

Ye Ming shook his head with a smile. "I just want to see a bit more of the world, to see for myself what kind of Celestial Prides and brilliant talents the Great Xia has these days."

Ling Zhuyun nodded. "Alright. In that case, come here to meet me in three days, Ye."

Ye Ming nodded. Without another word, he chatted and caught up with Ling Zhuyun for a while longer before rising to take his leave.