Why Be a Villain? Isn't a Shut-in Girl More Appealing? - Chapter 1:

Chapter 1: The “Protagonist” Qin Feng and the “Villain” Xu Linxiu

“Senior Brother Xu! Are you heading back to your cave residence to rest?”

“Yeah. You all should return soon too after watching the competition.”

After exchanging a few words with the disciples who greeted him, Xu Linxiu turned and headed toward his courtyard. Once he was far enough from the bustling and noisy competition grounds, he gently patted his chest and finally let out a sigh of relief.

“By the timing… today’s Azure Cloud Sword Sect Grand Competition should be the day when the protagonist first makes his mark within the sect.”

Xu Linxiu murmured to himself. 

He wasn’t originally from this world. He came from a place called Earth, and this world existed within a web novel written on Earth. And he—Xu Linxiu—after staying up all night reading a novel titled Fantasy: Ascending to the Nine Heavens, found himself in the Mystic Profound Continent mentioned in the novel.

Who wouldn’t be excited to transmigrate like this? 

Anyone transmigrating into another world would dream of forging their own path. When Xu Linxiu first arrived, he had indeed fantasized about that… but transmigration was one thing—why did he have to become a villain in the novel?

Worse yet, a cannon fodder villain who wouldn’t even survive past chapter thirty!

Xu Linxiu sighed, clasped his hands behind his back, and continued walking. Ever since discovering his villain identity, he had become extremely cautious, terrified of accidentally provoking the protagonist and getting his throat slit in the middle of the night…

Xu Linxiu looked up at the bright full moon hanging high in the sky. 

These past years had been bitter—he had kept his head down and chosen tolerance in everything. Fortunately, the original body’s father was an elder of the Azure Cloud Sword Sect, so few dared to provoke him.

According to the original novel, he was supposed to be arrogant and domineering. But now, he had become known within the sect as the senior disciple who was humble, respectful, diligent in cultivation, and simple in conduct. Ironically, this had boosted his popularity among disciples and elders alike. Some male cultivators even came to him for advice on sword techniques and cultivation methods.

Thanks to his exceptionally handsome appearance, many female cultivators would send him gifts or love letters. But how could he dare seek a Dao companion? 

Who knew how many female leads that teddy-bear protagonist had?

Xu Linxiu couldn’t even remember how many love interests the protagonist had by the time he finished reading the novel. 

Back on Earth, he wasn’t so timid… When the boss was giving a speech in a meeting, he had chatted with a new female employee. Though she had taken leave due to health reasons, the boss still insisted everyone attend. Seeing her pale face, Xu Linxiu had voiced his displeasure at the boss’s stubbornness and continued asking if the girl was okay, even under the boss’s furious glare.

Then, without hesitation, he walked out and calmly bought her medicine. As expected, his direct supervisor scolded him afterward. But… that was Xu Linxiu.

After arriving in this world and realizing he was a villain, Xu Linxiu had once tried to kill the protagonist Qin Feng before he could grow strong. But it was as if the entire world was protecting Qin Feng. Xu Linxiu used every method available to his family to scour the area around the Azure Cloud Sword Sect for any boy named Qin Feng—but not even a trace was found…

Then, on the day of Xu Linxiu’s coming-of-age ceremony, Qin Feng seemed to appear out of thin air and joined the Azure Cloud Sword Sect.

From that day on, a deep sense of helplessness took root in his heart… In the end, he decided it was better to avoid trouble than to cause it.

“Stop right there!” a loud, angry shout rang out not far ahead of him.

Xu Linxiu was startled and looked toward the source of the voice. A man with thick eyebrows and strong features was blocking the path of a female cultivator whose eyes were lowered, making her expression unreadable.

Xu Linxiu frowned and was about to intervene but suddenly stopped in his tracks. That man… was Qin Feng?

In the original novel, during today’s Azure Cloud Sect Grand Competition, Qin Feng gained the elders’ attention with the help of a powerful soul residing in his bracelet. Today marked the beginning of his rise, starting in the western region before heading to the prosperous Central Plains.

But Xu Linxiu didn’t recall any part of the plot where Qin Feng got into a conflict with a girl on this day…

He figured maybe he had skimmed through too much of the novel and missed some scenes.

“I’m talking to you. Why are you ignoring me?” Qin Feng’s tone was aggressive as he stared at the girl in front of him, his eyes full of hostility.

So even the protagonist could be troubled by love, huh? Xu Linxiu smirked silently at the thought.

“Is it just because we don’t know each other?”

Xu Linxiu’s smirk froze on his face as he stared in disbelief at Qin Feng. Bro, do you even hear yourself right now?

The girl lifted her head and glanced at Qin Feng without speaking. She still tried to go around him and return to her courtyard.

“You look down on me? Am I Qin Feng that disgusting to you?!”

Her silence completely enraged Qin Feng. He looked like a dog whose tail had been stepped on, hair standing on end, glaring furiously at her.

At this point, Xu Linxiu’s smile disappeared completely as he stared coldly at Qin Feng.

“This kind of person… and he’s supposed to be the protagonist of a novel?”

Xu Linxiu shook his head with a hint of mockery. He used to be afraid of someone like this?

No—it wasn’t Qin Feng he feared. It was the will of Heaven that protected him.

“Enough. Qin Feng.”

Xu Linxiu stepped out from the shadows. Moonlight spilled over his elegant and ethereal face. Dressed in a black combat robe adorned with silver-white patterns, his figure looked even more upright and imposing.

Both Qin Feng and the girl were momentarily stunned.

“Who are you?” Qin Feng’s expression was arrogant as he glared at Xu Linxiu, clearly not putting him in his eyes.

“Who I am doesn’t matter. What matters is that I caught you, Qin Feng, blocking a female cultivator from returning to her cave residence at night. I will report this truthfully to the elders and the Disciplinary Hall.”

Xu Linxiu clasped his hands behind his back, silently gathering spiritual energy in preparation, wary of Qin Feng lashing out in desperation.

And as expected, Qin Feng gritted his teeth, spiritual energy forming in his hand, ready for a deadly clash.

“Don’t!” a voice echoed in Qin Feng’s mind, stopping his steps.

However, the spiritual energy in his hand did not dissipate.

“Why? Elder Qing?” Qin Feng’s tone was stiff.

“No reason. Even if you don’t know, I do. That man in front of you is the son of the Azure Cloud Sword Sect’s Grand Elder,” Elder Qing said coldly, perhaps still irritated by Qin Feng’s earlier questioning.