What Do You Mean I’m Supposed to Be the Villain, But Everyone’s Chasing After Me? - Chapter 5:

Chapter 5: What… Are You Doing?

“Finally, you fell into the trap!” Ye Yan’s lips curved into a mocking smile as he opened his tightly shut eyes.

A streak of violet light vanished from his courtyard, blending into the vast snow.

“I waited for you all night, thought you wouldn’t come!” He clapped his hands, got up from the bed, and stepped outside, the corner of his mouth curling into a sinister grin. In his hand was the Memory Stone he had long prepared.

Forming a hand seal, the stone lit up, projecting an image—dressed in purple, with black hair and striking looks, was Li Changju. The image showed him secretly stuffing a package beneath Ye Yan’s pillow before sneaking away.

“I didn’t expect him to be so stupid as to come in person. But this is better—it saves me the trouble!” Ye Yan’s eyes gleamed slyly as he returned to bed, appearing relaxed and leisurely.

He took a deep breath and instantly caught a faint fragrance wafting from under the pillow, refreshing and intoxicating.

“So fragrant…” The more he inhaled, the more dazed he became. “Now, I just need to wait for them to come questioning me…”

…

“Three stages in a single day! Could it be that Li Changju is some kind of heaven-defying treasure reborn? To have such effects!” Xiao Hongyan thought, her lips curving into a dangerous smile as an idea surfaced. “By now, Senior Sister should be back… No, I must go take a look, just in case.” Without delay, she left her cave and soared toward the peak.

…

[Ding! Mission time remaining: one hour!]

[Warning: If the host fails to complete the mission within the time limit, the system will automatically pass judgment…]

“I know, I know, so annoying…” Li Changju, dressed in violet, strolled down the corridor with his hands behind his back. His tall, well-built figure, broad shoulders, proud chest, narrow waist, and long legs radiated strength and masculine charm. His thick black hair added an air of dashing elegance, drawing glances from many female disciples.

Approaching him was a petite girl. 

She wore a crimson outfit, short at the waist and falling to her knees, embroidered with delicate peach blossoms at the hem. 

Her snow-white skin seemed flawless, her pretty face framed by big bright eyes filled with innocence, her cherry lips slightly curved upward. Her ponytail was tied with a hair cord shaped like a demon-subduing cudgel, and when her round eyes widened, her small tiger teeth showed.

“Isn’t that my Fourth Junior Sister, Lin Xiaowan, always wandering around carrying that gluttonous Swallowing Hammer bigger than herself?”

In the original plotline, Lin Xiaowan and Li Changju were close in the beginning. They entered the sect around the same time and trained together, their bond deep. 

But later, after the plot started, she grew resentful over Li Changju’s cold attitude. Their relationship worsened further because of Ye Yan. Yet, even when Li Changju fell into demonic cultivation, at the brink of life and death, Lin Xiaowan spared his life out of old friendship.

“What a good girl!” Li Changju’s expression softened into a gentle smile. He stretched out his hand, intending to ruffle her hair.

“You’re not right!” Lin Xiaowan stepped back, her almond eyes narrowing with caution.

Li Changju froze, suddenly recalling that Lin Xiaowan was born with the Seven Orifices Exquisite Heart and later even gained mind-reading abilities. His current behavior definitely couldn’t escape her notice.

What was wrong? His way of greeting?

He racked his memory of the original plotline until he finally slapped his forehead. “Oh, Xiaowan, you’ve grown taller in just a few days. Come, let Senior Brother check your body!”

At those words, Lin Xiaowan’s lips curved faintly. Now that felt right. “Go on, check then!” 

She puffed out her chest proudly.

Li Changju’s body stiffened. “Really?” 

Her behavior didn’t match her character at all.

“Depends on whether my hammer agrees!” Lin Xiaowan bared her tiger teeth with a mischievous laugh.

Then she asked seriously, “Why didn’t you answer my sound transmission? I came because Senior Sister sent me. She wants you to head to Ye Yan’s cave mansion.”

“Got it!” Li Changju sighed inwardly. What was meant to come, had come. As for sound transmissions—he really didn’t know how to use them. Who knew you had to draw talismans to receive them? And even decrypt them, with difficulty like deciphering Morse code!

“Let’s go together then?” Lin Xiaowan waved her hand, and a massive hammer appeared out of thin air. “Hurry up!”

Great. Others fly swords, you fly hammers. Why not fly bowls while you’re at it?

“I think I’ll just use a sword!”

“Looking down on my hammer?” Lin Xiaowan wrinkled her nose.

“Of course not!” Li Changju laughed awkwardly and hurriedly hopped onto the hammer.

“Hyah!” With her shout, the hammer soared into the air.

A wild gust slammed into him, tossing his hair into a mess. “At least set up a wind-blocking array!”

“What’s the fun in that? You need to enjoy the thrill of the wind rushing past!” Lin Xiaowan pursed her lips and flicked her wrist, sending the hammer higher.

Another violent gust nearly killed him on the spot. “Urgh…”

When they landed, Li Changju clung to the wall, retching. Lin Xiaowan hopped down cheerfully, patted his back, and laughed, “That was great! Next time, I’ll take you flying again!” She handed him a handkerchief.

“Cough, cough…” He wiped his mouth and growled, “You think there’s going to be a next time?”

“What, want to fight? You can’t beat me!” Lin Xiaowan tilted her head, smugly shaking her fist. “Ever seen fists the size of sandbags?”

Li Changju’s face darkened as veins bulged. He took two deep breaths to suppress his anger. Enduring only made it worse, his fury boiling over. “Sandbag fists, huh?” He suddenly grabbed her, spirit energy flowing into his palm as he locked both her hands behind her back.

“Pa!” His palm smacked her backside. “Flying hammers, huh?”

“Pa!” Another slap. “Sandbag fists, huh?”

Lin Xiaowan’s eyes widened in shock. “You… you broke through? When did this happen? Was it this morning…?”

Indeed, Li Changju had broken through, reaching the 6th stage of the Essence Refining Realm, just one stage higher than her.

“Pa! Pa!” Two more slaps landed.

“Aiyo, mercy, mercy! I won’t dare again, I won’t dare…” Tears welled up in Lin Xiaowan’s eyes as she begged, but Li Changju only tightened his grip further.

“I was wrong… ah, it hurts…”

At that moment, a voice rang out. “What… are you doing?”