I Am The Villain's Lackey With Sign-in System - Chapter 74:

Chapter 74: Unreasonable and Explosive:

Looking back, Zhou Kaifeng remembered the day he fell in love with Zhang Ning at first sight. With the current situation unfolding, he felt this was simply fate—destiny had brought them together. Without hesitation, he hugged Zhang Ning from behind.

“???”

Zhang Ning, who had been too focused on his hero routine, hadn’t noticed anything odd. But now, hearing that high-pitched voice, he realized something was wrong.

Turning around, he was shocked to see not Fu Zhi, but Zhou Kaifeng clinging to him.

“No! What the heck… who are you?!” he exclaimed. “I was supposed to be saving Fu Zhi! How did someone like you get here?”

He tried to break free, but then—

“Go!”

The ‘gangsters’ exchanged a glance and sprang into action without a moment’s hesitation.

Zhang Ning never expected these men would actually attack him. He received several blows before he could react. Fortunately, as the protagonist, he possessed some strength. Despite his shortcomings, he managed to summon his internal energy and launch a counterattack.

“Are you insane?!” Zhang Ning yelled. “I’m the young master of the Dragon King Palace, and you dare attack me?”

The men said nothing, maintaining a wary stance, ready to attack again.

“You…”

Even Zhang Ning, as thick-headed as he could be, sensed something was off. Zhou Kaifeng, sensing the tension, wisely released his grip and stepped back.

“Unbelievable…” Zhang Ning muttered. Under these circumstances, he ignored Zhou Kaifeng and focused on the men before him. “Who are you really?”

The men exchanged glances again, one of them replying, “Young Master, we truly are from the Dragon King Palace.”

“???”

Zhang Ning was baffled. What had happened at the Dragon King Palace? But there was no time to ponder, as they attacked him again.

“Bang!”

These men were Hidden Strength Realm fighters, and their moves carried considerable force.

“You’re asking for it!”

Enraged, Zhang Ning decided to stop holding back. He’d deal with these people first and ask questions later. Channeling his energy, he activated the Dragon King’s Heart Sutra, a powerful technique accompanied by the sound of a dragon’s roar. He launched an attack, exuding a terrifying aura.

[It may not be as powerful as my Nine-Yang Divine technique, but the Dragon King’s Heart Sutra is still the strongest technique in the son-in-law plot!]

In the grass, Ye Liuyun stayed hidden, content to watch the spectacle.

[It doesn’t involve me. I’ll just sit here, enjoy the show, and collect my reward!]

Fu Zhi, curious, watched the unfolding battle intently. It was her first time witnessing a real warrior’s fight.

“Bang! Bang! Bang!”

Zhang Ning held his own, gaining the upper hand despite the odds and knocking down each opponent. However, he refrained from dealing any fatal blows.

“Hmph! You dared to attack me. When I return, I’ll make sure you face the Dragon King Palace’s full punishment!”

His choice to spare them wasn’t out of kindness; he simply felt they didn’t deserve such an easy end. In the Dragon King Palace, punishment awaited, and he wasn’t about to let them escape that.

The defeated men remained silent, watching Zhang Ning warily.

“You—” Zhang Ning began, but before he could continue, a voice interrupted him.

“I’m afraid the young master’s words will never reach the Dragon King’s ears again.”

“You?” Zhang Ning’s eyes widened as he recognized Yang Shen. They hadn’t interacted much, but Zhang Ning remembered him as a quiet, unassuming man. Now, however, Yang Shen exuded a dark, sinister energy that made Zhang Ning uneasy.

“You’ve been practicing dark arts?” Zhang Ning asked, his voice filled with suspicion.

Yang Shen said nothing, only smiled, confirming Zhang Ning’s suspicions.

“My lord!”

The men who had been defeated by Zhang Ning brightened, looking at Yang Shen with respect. They were loyal to him, not to Zhang Ning.

[Wait, what’s going on with this plot?]

[Wasn’t this supposed to be a hero-saves-the-beauty moment?]

Ye Liuyun, thinking the plot was finished, had been ready to receive his rewards. But with Yang Shen’s appearance, things were clearly taking a darker turn.

[How did this plot get so twisted?]

Meanwhile, Fu Zhi felt a strange fear as she looked at Yang Shen. Instinctively, she moved closer to Ye Liuyun. “Who is that man? He’s terrifying!”

[Well, of course, he’s been practicing dark arts, so his aura is bound to frighten ordinary people like Fu Zhi.]

When those who practice dark arts release their energy, it often instills fear in others. Ye Liuyun could sense that Yang Shen had been involved in some particularly sinister magic.

He leaned over and whispered to Fu Zhi, “Don’t worry, just stay close to me. No one can hurt you here.”

[He may have mystical powers, but I could take him down with one hand if needed.]

“Uh-huh,” Fu Zhi replied, nodding and hiding behind Ye Liuyun, feeling a warm sense of security.

“Wait! You said the Dragon King will never hear my words. What do you mean?” Zhang Ning asked, suddenly realizing the weight of Yang Shen’s earlier words.

Yang Shen’s sinister smile widened. “You’re catching on. The Dragon King is dead.”

“What?! That’s impossible!” Zhang Ning’s first reaction was disbelief, but deep down, he felt an unsettling certainty. Something about Yang Shen’s words rang true. The uneasiness he’d felt all along was because of this!

“No, it can’t be…” he muttered, shaking his head in denial.

“Don’t believe me?” Yang Shen sneered. “I killed the Dragon King myself.” He raised his hand, dark energy swirling around it, further proving his strength.

Zhang Ning felt the energy—Yang Shen had indeed reached the Grandmaster level!

Though his mind reeled, Zhang Ning’s body responded with fierce anger.

“I’ll make you pay for this!” He shouted, unleashing a roar.

Luckily, the area had been cleared by the Dragon King Palace, so no one else was around to witness the scene.

Yang Shen intercepted Zhang Ning’s attack, slightly impressed. Despite his short time practicing, Zhang Ning had reached an impressive level of power, chosen by the Dragon King himself.

“If you keep growing at this rate, you’d become unstoppable in the Dragon King Palace. But luckily, I took action first.”

As Yang Shen spoke, he smiled darkly.

Despite Zhang Ning’s strength, he had yet to reach the level of a true master, and Yang Shen knew he could easily overpower him.

“Ahhhhh!” Zhang Ning’s fury only increased, and he continued to attack with everything he had. But Yang Shen, calm and composed, prepared himself for the next clash, fully intent on taking Zhang Ning down.

[What’s going on? Is it true that the old Dragon King is dead?]

[Wasn’t Yang Shen supposed to be his most loyal right-hand man? Why would he betray him?]

At the same time, Yan Man was also stunned upon hearing about the old Dragon King’s death.

“What a pity!” She muttered.

Yan Mo had initially intended to deal with the old Dragon King himself, only to find that someone else had gotten to him first.

Yang Shen’s strength was undeniable. Considering the old Dragon King’s original injuries, along with the extra harm caused by Yan Mo’s own actions, it wasn’t surprising that Yang Shen could succeed in taking him down. Yan Man shook her head slightly, but she wasn’t particularly affected by the news.

“Give it up!” Yang Shen said, maintaining control with ease despite Zhang Ning’s fierce energy.

“With your power, you don’t stand a chance against me!” he added, looking down at Zhang Ning.

Despite the situation, Zhang Ning showed no sign of backing down. Under the influence of the Dragon King’s Heart Sutra, a strange golden light flashed in his eyes.

“You’re going to die here today!” he declared, his tone and expression unwavering.

No one noticed, but Zhang Ning’s protagonist aura was growing stronger, his presence more intense.

For a brief moment, Yang Shen’s gaze cleared, almost as if he were returning to his former self. But then, just as quickly, the darkness clouded his eyes once more.

[Something’s wrong here! Yang Shen is acting really strange.]

[Wait, of course! It’s Long Tian’s protagonist’s aura affecting him!]

Ye Liuyun realized this, recalling how he’d led Long Tian into the Dragon King Palace. Under Long Tian’s influence, Yang Shen’s behavior had changed entirely.

[No wonder!]

With this realization, Ye Liuyun felt a sense of relief. The disruption within the Dragon King Palace was all thanks to Long Tian’s presence—or rather, thanks to him for bringing Long Tian there in the first place.

[Tsk!]

[This kind of plot twist is fascinating.]

To Ye Liuyun, this was just an entertaining show.

Whether it was Long Tian, Zhang Ning, or any other “children of destiny,” there would always be more to replace them. He felt no guilt in meddling with their paths.

Watching the current battle unfold, Ye Liuyun noted that although Zhang Ning had been on the defensive at first, things were changing. He had shifted from simply withstanding Yang Shen’s attacks to landing the occasional hit himself.

[Oh! He’s about to reach his breaking point!]

[Yang Shen has no special aura, after all. Zhang Ning, being the son of destiny, will undoubtedly gain the upper hand in this kind of situation!]

[It’s likely Yang Shen is about to meet his end.]

The protagonist’s explosive power could be unreasonable. If you’re stronger than him, he’ll simply grow stronger too. And with the fury ignited by his master’s death, Zhang Ning’s power was only intensifying. Zhang Ning was determined to overcome Yang Shen, and his strength rose with his anger.