Why Be a Villain? Isn't a Shut-in Girl More Appealing? - Chapter 12:

Chapter 12: Huan Xisha VS Qin Feng

Song Wanci rested her chin on her hands, staring silently at Xu Linxiu.

“Ah!” Xu Linxiu ruffled his hair helplessly and said, “You’ve really got me beat.”

“The time’s about right. Let’s head out and enjoy the show.” Xu Linxiu glanced at the sun outside as he spoke, then casually walked toward the door.

But he hadn’t gone far before realizing Song Wanci was still sitting in place.

“Aren’t you coming?”

Song Wanci remained motionless.

Xu Linxiu sighed, walked over, and gently took her hand, leading her out the door.

Song Wanci didn’t say anything. She lowered her head and let Xu Linxiu pull her along.

They soon arrived at the sect plaza. Many disciples were already gathered, waiting for today’s match between Qin Feng and Huan Xisha.

Xu Linxiu didn’t go near the noisy crowd. Instead, he led Song Wanci over to a tree nearby.

Song Wanci turned to glance at him, then looked at the tree. Her expression clearly said, “You want me to climb the tree to watch?”

Xu Linxiu understood her look and awkwardly coughed with his hand over his mouth. “Well… the view from up there is nice. I’ve never watched a fight from a tree before.”

Song Wanci said nothing, but she stayed put.

Xu Linxiu decided to lead by example. With a light step, he leapt up and perched on a branch—not too high, not too low—that resembled the shape of a bench.

Sitting on the branch, he patted the empty space beside him, then looked down at Song Wanci and reached out a hand.

“I’ll pull you up!” Xu Linxiu smiled, his eyes squinting in delight. Song Wanci didn’t know what he was smiling about, but somehow, her mood lifted too.

She placed her hand in his.

In the next moment, she felt her body rise and landed beside Xu Linxiu on the bench-like branch.

They sat side by side, slightly squeezed together, their shoulders touching. From this height, they had a perfect panoramic view.

Xu Linxiu stared at the plaza below, waiting for Qin Feng to appear.

But before Qin Feng arrived, the Sect Master showed up first.

Ouyang Qing appeared abruptly at the edge of the plaza, hands behind his back. Xu Guoan was with him.

The two found a spot to sit. Under the pressure of the Sect Master’s presence, the disciples around them quickly quieted down.

Soon after, Huan Xisha and Qin Feng arrived at the center of the plaza almost at the same time.

Qin Feng looked relaxed at first, but when he spotted Sect Master Ouyang Qing seated on the high platform, his expression changed instantly.

Back during the last sect grand competition, when Elder Qing had possessed him, he warned that a powerful figure like Ouyang Qing would notice the possession.

Qin Feng opened his mouth, clearly about to find an excuse to cancel the match.

Xu Linxiu suddenly flashed into view beside him.

“Everyone’s here, huh? Let’s just start already. It’d be boring if someone chickened out last-minute,” Xu Linxiu said with a grin, noticing the gloom on Qin Feng’s face.

He’d come over specifically to interrupt Qin Feng before he could cast any spell to escape…

“Since the Sect Master is here today, let’s have him oversee the match!” Xu Linxiu turned toward Ouyang Qing not far away.

Everyone followed his gaze. 

Seizing the opportunity, Xu Linxiu flashed back to his spot on the tree.

Ouyang Qing stood, gently stroked his slightly graying beard, and slowly spoke, “Remember, this is a sparring match. No lethal strikes, no taking lives, and no cheating. That’s all. Begin.”

As Ouyang Qing finished, both Qin Feng and Huan Xisha began gathering spiritual energy.

Qin Feng glanced helplessly at the bracelet and asked Elder Qing, “Elder Qing, is there a way you can possess me without being noticed by the Sect Master?”

Elder Qing sighed and said with disappointment, “You lose your nerve before even starting. With this kind of mindset, how will you ever progress in cultivation?”

“True, you lost to Huan Xisha last time, but haven’t you improved quite a bit since then?”

As Elder Qing lectured him, Qin Feng’s gaze gradually grew firm.

Then he gripped his sword and charged at Huan Xisha.

Xu Linxiu frowned. Why did Qin Feng suddenly seem like a different person?

Because of her previous loss, Huan Xisha didn’t dare let her guard down. She immediately unleashed her full spiritual energy to defend.

She absorbed all of Qin Feng’s spiritual energy, and with a crisp snap—

Qin Feng’s attack was reflected back at him without any change.

“That’s… the Cloud Transformation Reversal from the defensive section of the Azure Cloud Sword Technique.”

“Senior Sister didn’t even use that during the last grand competition… and now she’s already mastered it?” A few disciples began murmuring.

While watching the match, Xu Linxiu turned to Song Wanci and asked, “Which sword are you on in the Azure Cloud Sword Technique?”

“The sixth,” Song Wanci replied in a soft voice, like a kitten whispering.

Xu Linxiu: ??

Why the double question marks?

First, he was stunned that Song Wanci had spoken more than two words. A historical breakthrough.

Second… there are nine swords in the Azure Cloud Sword Technique. Eight are offensive, and only the fifth is defensive.

And now she says she’s already reached the sixth?

Plus, her cultivation level wasn’t even higher than his!

Though to be fair, Xu Linxiu had already cultivated the eighth sword—after all, he had the Innate Sword Body.

No wonder Elder Yun Yan took Song Wanci as her core disciple.

“You… you’re insanely strong.”

Hearing the teasing in Xu Linxiu’s tone, Song Wanci rolled her eyes in mock annoyance.

Their attention returned to the center of the plaza.

Though Qin Feng was getting overwhelmed by Huan Xisha and accumulating more and more injuries, Xu Linxiu noticed something odd—he was getting stronger with each exchange.

Was he about to…

Break through on the spot?!

Xu Linxiu’s eyes widened, fists clenched.

Damn it…

So this is the child of destiny?

The real protagonist?

Xu Linxiu froze, stunned.

[Host, if you don’t do something, Qin Feng really will break through.]

[Even if he does, he still won’t be a match for Huan Xisha.]

Xu Linxiu shook his head, staring at the increasingly fierce Qin Feng. “It’s not easy to stop him now—I don’t have a good reason to interrupt the match.”

“So what if he breaks through one or two cultivation realms?” Xu Linxiu folded his arms, his eyes full of confident brilliance.

[Oh, then don’t stop him.]

Xu Linxiu: (╬￣皿￣)

“You dare keep mocking me like this?”

[I wouldn’t dare, Host. I wouldn’t dare mock you.]

Hearing the system’s sarcastic tone, veins bulged on Xu Linxiu’s forehead.