What Do You Mean I’m Supposed to Be the Villain, But Everyone’s Chasing After Me? - Chapter 17:

Chapter 17: Where Is Morality, Where Is Conscience?

Xiao Hongyan looked at the man before her and asked coquettishly, “What did you and Fifth Junior Sister do?”

Li Changju felt uneasy under her gaze and quickly turned his head away. “What could I possibly do with a little kid like her? Senior Sister, you’re overthinking…” He coughed lightly to cover his awkwardness.

“Good!” Xiao Hongyan finally looked a bit more satisfied.

Li Changju glanced at her and couldn’t help but ask, “So you rushed over here today just to question me?”

“Of course not!” Xiao Hongyan smiled slyly. “I came to deliver something to you.”

She took two items from her storage ring and handed them to Li Changju. One was a gift box, the other a finely crafted invitation.

“What is this?” Li Changju asked curiously as he took the invitation.

“This is an invitation to the treasure appreciation banquet at the Treasure Pavilion tomorrow night, inviting outstanding disciples from each peak to attend,” Xiao Hongyan explained. “It’s said to be a grand celebration, with many high-level beast pets up for sale, and there might even be a thousand-year-old Blood Ganoderma!”

“A thousand-year-old Blood Ganoderma?” Li Changju heard it but showed no real interest. In the original plot, the Treasure Pavilion auction indeed existed, but it was nothing more than a stage for Ye Yan and Xiao Hongyan to show off and slap faces. The only useful item was the Blood Ganoderma, which was of some use in refining pills, but for him, that was all.

What mattered more was the coming sect tournament. If he remembered correctly, it was an important plotline, and the damned system would surely assign him a mission then. At the moment, the most urgent thing for him was to raise his strength and break through to the Hundred Convergence Realm as quickly as possible. Everything else could wait.

“How come you’re not interested?” Xiao Hongyan frowned slightly. She had planned to use this chance to get closer to him.

“Not interested,” Li Changju said indifferently.

“Not interested?” Xiao Hongyan stomped her foot in frustration. “I don’t care, you must go with me, you’re not allowed to refuse!” She suddenly leaned close to his ear, her breath fragrant as she whispered, “Why don’t you open this gift box first, then decide whether you’ll go with me or not…”

She pushed the box before his eyes.

Li Changju opened it—(O_o)??

It was the Holy Light Outfit!

She was using this to test him? Where was morality? Where was conscience? Where was shame?

“How is it? I had this custom-made just for you!” Xiao Hongyan lifted her chin proudly. “Do you like it?”

Li Changju froze for a moment, then his mouth twitched as he shook his head. “I don’t like it…”

Xiao Hongyan lowered her head, her tone filled with disappointment. “I thought you would like it very much.”

In his heart, Li Changju kept repeating to himself: I don’t like it, I don’t like it…

He then said seriously, “Senior Sister, if there’s nothing else, I’m going back to cultivate. Please, make yourself at home.”

“Hmph! If you dare abandon me to cultivate today, I’ll never let you into Phoenix Roost Palace again!” Xiao Hongyan said angrily.

Li Changju turned without looking back.

“Come back! Changju! Li Changju!” she shouted behind him, but the more she called, the faster he ran.

“That bastard Li Changju! I don’t ever want to see you again! Just wait! Even if you beg me to take you to the auction, I won’t!” Xiao Hongyan grabbed the outfit and invitation, stomped her foot in anger, and then turned around to leave.

Seeing her disappear into the distance, Li Changju’s lips curved into a faint smile. Women… they only slowed the speed at which he drew his sword. “Beg you to take me to the auction? Me? Beg you? Whoever wants to go can go, but I, Li Changju, will definitely not!”

[Ding! System mission released…]

[System Mission: Accompany Xiao Hongyan to the Treasure Pavilion auction and help her purchase the thousand-year-old Blood Ganoderma!]

[Mission Reward: Beast Lock Ring]

[Mission Time Remaining: One day and six hours!]

Li Changju froze. “???” 

Did he just hear that right? System, are you joking? Wasn’t this supposed to be the protagonist’s mission?

He didn’t believe it, but the system’s voice still echoed in his mind: [Host, please choose carefully, otherwise the Host’s life will not be guaranteed!]

“Damn it, my second brother is invincible in this world, you dare touch my second brother? Try me!”

Still, the reward was tempting.

The Beast Lock Ring—this was originally a treasure that Ye Yan would obtain later. With it, he captured a heaven-defying young dragon. Such a creature held mysterious, unknown powers, able to devour monster beast cores, rapidly grow stronger, and possessed astonishing intelligence. Though small in size, it could overturn seas and rivers, swallow the heavens and devour the earth, its might unmatched.

If he obtained the Beast Lock Ring, he could raise a ferocious beast comparable to a Great Emperor, ruling across the world, no longer manipulated by others. The thought made Li Changju’s eyes brighten.

He immediately sat down cross-legged and began cultivating the Undying Heavenly Demon Scripture, seizing every second. He had to break through the Hundred Convergence Realm as soon as possible. 

As for Xiao Hongyan, there was no rush. Women always wanted more once they tasted sweetness. To handle Xiao Hongyan, advancing and retreating in balance was the true way.

The cave residence soon fell silent under his cultivation.

Meanwhile, deep in the Radiant Jade Mountains, things were far from peaceful.

BOOM!

Atop a towering peak, lightning roared and thunder flashed. Several old men sat in a circle, their bodies emanating fierce auras that distorted the surrounding space. Their presence was so oppressive that the spirit herbs withered and the trees decayed.

This was none other than the forbidden land of the Radiant Jade Mountains—the Nine Heavens Thunder Pool.

Another silver bolt of lightning as thick as a pillar struck the thunder pool, stirring monstrous waves.

Within the vortex of storm clouds, a woman in black feathered robes hung bound by a golden-purple chain. Her beautiful face was cold, her skin like jade, her long black hair cascading down like a waterfall.

“Devil woman, surrender now!” one elder shouted. “If you continue to resist, don’t blame us for being ruthless!”

“Ruthless? I’m afraid you don’t have the ability!” the woman sneered, her voice chilling and filled with provocation.

“Presumptuous!” The elders were enraged.

“This devil woman is beyond saving!” one roared.

“Why waste words with her? Suppress her directly!”

“Agreed, let’s strike together!”

The old men exchanged glances and unleashed their powers simultaneously. Several terrifying forces intertwined into a cage, pressing down upon the woman in the thunder pool.

“Hmph!” she snorted coldly, her body surging with demonic energy. “Old fools, I’m done playing with you!” Her body suddenly exploded into countless streams of demonic qi, vanishing from sight.

“Pfft!” The elders coughed blood, staggering backward, their faces pale.

When they looked back at the thunder pool, it roared and churned as though some vast existence was about to emerge.

“Not good!” one exclaimed.

“Retreat quickly!” another cried.

They all turned and fled. In moments, the thunder pool calmed, as if nothing had happened.

“That was only an incarnation… her true body must be hiding within the Sword Sect!”

“Seal the sect! Search every peak thoroughly!”