I Was Reborn as the Villain, but the System Bound Itself to the Female Leads - Chapter 38:

Chapter 38: Did I Tell You to Do This?

If there was anything different…

It would be that in the original novel, Long Haochen never directly asked for the treasures of Azure Dragon Temple. Instead, he simply relayed to Master Niankong the information he had learned in the Capital regarding Master Rende. Then, he promised Master Niankong that he would avenge Master Rende.

Afterward, Master Niankong, concerned about Long Haochen’s safety, voluntarily gave him the Golden Bell Shield, Iron Shirt, Vajra Finger, and Demon-Slaying Blade.

But now, Lin Yuan had directly asked for these treasures. He had basically proposed a deal: he would avenge Master Rende in exchange for them.

Still, none of that mattered. Because the original novel described the bond between Master Niankong and Master Rende as deeper than the sky, wider than the sea.

Even if Master Niankong cultivated detachment from worldly attachments, he couldn’t have remained entirely unaffected after hearing what Lin Yuan shared. As long as he had even a shred of desire to avenge his junior brother, he would compromise.

If Lin Yuan couldn’t act directly, then why not borrow someone else’s blade?

He wasn’t in a hurry. He simply stood silently behind Master Niankong and waited.

Time ticked by. Finally, Master Niankong turned around.

“Benefactor, please wait here a moment.”

With that, Master Niankong walked behind the Buddha statue. When he returned, he was holding a long wooden box.

“Everything you asked for is inside this box. I only ask that you honor your promise and avenge my foolish junior brother.”

“Rest assured, Master Niankong. I swear it before the Buddha.”

“Amitabha… You may go now, benefactor. This humble monk is tired.”

“Please take care, Master Niankong. Health is most important. I’ll take my leave.”

Lin Yuan received the long wooden box with both hands and respectfully bowed to Master Niankong before turning to leave.

After Lin Yuan left, Master Niankong sat back down cross-legged, facing the Buddha, softly chanting sutras. He would remain in this position, without food or water, for three days to repent.

Having obtained what he came for, Lin Yuan was naturally overjoyed. Now, he finally had some real strength and could go toe-to-toe with Long Haochen. He would no longer be crushed so easily.

As he walked out of the courtyard, Yang Gang immediately stepped forward.

“Young Master, are you alright?”

“What could possibly happen to me? Don’t worry needlessly.”

“Yes, Young Master.”

Yang Gang nodded, his eyes pausing briefly on the long wooden box in Lin Yuan’s hands. He was curious about what was inside and why his young master entered empty-handed and came out with a box—but he didn’t ask. He knew his place.

“Let’s go back,” Lin Yuan said.

“Yes, Young Master.”

The two of them left Azure Dragon Temple. Gu Qingyi quickly followed as well. Though the system task had ended, she realized she had started to enjoy this feeling of following him.

The car pulled out of the parking lot. By then, night had fully fallen, and the road near Azure Dragon Temple had little traffic.

As they were nearing the city limits, a few minivans suddenly blocked the road ahead.

“Get out! Get out! Get out!”

More than ten thugs jumped out of the vans, holding wooden clubs. They wore flashy clothes, had hair dyed in all kinds of colors, tattoos covering their exposed skin, and cheap cigarettes hanging from their lips.

“Young Master, stay in the car. I’ll take care of them,” Yang Gang said immediately.

These men were clearly up to no good—he couldn’t allow any harm to come to Lin Yuan.

“Don’t worry. It’s nothing,” Lin Yuan said calmly, opening the car door and stepping out.

Only then did he notice a car had been following them from behind. It had also been forced to stop. A young woman stepped out, wearing a sunhat and a mask, her face obscured.

The thugs ignored Lin Yuan and Yang Gang completely and went straight for Gu Qingyi.

“Take off the hat and mask,” one of them barked.

Gu Qingyi didn’t move. Not because she was afraid, but because Lin Yuan was right there. If she removed her hat and mask, he’d recognize her immediately.

Seeing she didn’t comply, one of the thugs grew angry and started smacking his club on the ground.

“I told you to take them off! Are you deaf? Or do you want me to do it myself?”

He let out a lewd laugh and slowly approached her.

“Wait! I’ll do it myself!” Gu Qingyi said hastily. She didn’t want to be touched by such disgusting people.

She removed her hat and mask. So what if she was exposed? It was better than being touched by them.

The moment she did, everyone around was stunned by her beauty.

The thugs’ eyes widened—they had never seen a woman this breathtaking.

Even Lin Yuan and Yang Gang were caught off guard.

“Young Master, that’s CEO Gu—it’s CEO Gu!”

“Your young master isn’t blind,” Lin Yuan replied, curious why Gu Qingyi would show up here. This road led directly to Azure Dragon Temple, so she must have gone there too. But what for?

One question after another filled his mind.

Before he could sort through his thoughts, one of the thugs said, “Boss, it’s her! She’s the one in the photo!”

“Good. Grab the woman. Ignore the guys.”

“Got it!”

Four or five of the thugs surrounded Gu Qingyi and moved in to grab her.

She panicked. There were men on all sides—no way to escape. Just as she was about to call out to Lin Yuan for help, he stepped beside her and casually flung the surrounding thugs away.

“You’re a group of grown men bullying a woman—don’t you feel ashamed?”

Lin Yuan’s disdain was obvious.

“Damn… when did Young Master get this strong?” Yang Gang was stunned. With just a few flicks of his arm, Lin Yuan had thrown all those thugs away. Even Yang Gang couldn’t have done that.

Meanwhile, Lin Yuan was furious inside.

“F***ing Long Haochen! You call yourself the Child of Destiny? Her personal bodyguard? Where the hell are you now? Gu Qingyi’s in danger and you’re nowhere to be seen! All you do is show off!”

He cursed internally.

The thug leader, seeing his men get wrecked, stepped forward.

“Kid, we were gonna let you go, but now you’ve asked for it. You’re dead! Guys, beat him up!”

“Stop! Do you know who you’re trying to attack? That’s Young Master Lin from North City! Do you dare lay a hand on him?”

Yang Gang stepped forward and shouted.

The thugs exchanged glances, then burst into loud laughter.

“You trying to bluff? Do you know whose orders we’re following to kidnap that woman? We were sent by Young Master Lin of North City! And you dare pretend to be him? Who the hell are you trying to fool?”

At those words…

Lin Yuan’s head was filled with question marks.

The hell? Did I tell you to do this?