You Villainous Lackey, What Are You Trying to Do - Chapter 2:

Chapter 2: Azure Dragon Continent

The next day, Hai Dali lay slumped against the bed, looking utterly listless.

His heart was filled with worry because his situation was extremely grim.

The man from yesterday had quickly arranged someone to take care of him. The person who came was called Niu Xiao. 

According to him, he had been sold into the Chen Residence as a servant since childhood, and naturally, he knew Hai Dali.

However, Hai Dali could clearly sense that Niu Xiao did not like him. He was only here because the captain of the guards had ordered him to look after Hai Dali.

But that was not important right now. The most important thing was to gather as much information as possible from him.

From Niu Xiao’s account, Hai Dali learned that the original owner of this body had come to apply for work at the Chen Residence a few years ago. Seeing that he had decent talent, the steward Chen Fu did not refuse him and arranged for him to become Chen Fu’s guard. As for anything else, Niu Xiao did not know much.

After all, the two had not been close. In fact, Niu Xiao had never liked the original owner and only knew what most people in the residence knew.

Hai Dali also learned the identity of the burly man from yesterday. His name was Chen Er, the captain of the Chen Residence’s guard team. Because he was diligent and reliable, he was highly valued by the Master and the First Madam.

Hai Dali then asked Niu Xiao for more information.

However, Niu Xiao was merely a low-ranking servant in the Chen Residence, and what he knew was limited.

According to him, the world they were in was called the Azure Dragon Continent.

The Azure Dragon Continent was divided into four regions and one central state: the Eastern, Western, Southern, and Northern Regions, along with the Central State.

It was a world where one could cultivate. Those with profound cultivation could fly through the skies, burrow through the earth, move mountains, and fill seas.

Hearing this, Hai Dali’s blood began to boil. Is it finally my turn? My turn! This heaven-defying opportunity has finally fallen into my hands!

He had actually transmigrated into a cultivation world like the protagonist in a novel. Surely he would soon leave a glorious mark upon the Azure Dragon Continent. He would become its Dragon, its Ao, its Heaven!

Seeing Hai Dali’s excited expression, Niu Xiao could not help but mock him, “All those mighty experts possess exceptional talent. With your three spiritual roots, you should stop dreaming.”

Though he said it casually, there was envy hidden in his heart. He himself had five spiritual roots. While that made him stronger than countless mortals who could not cultivate at all, it was only slightly better than being a mortal.

He had become a guard at the Chen Residence largely because he had grown up there. A powerful family like the Chen Family had countless independent cultivators trying desperately to join.

Even if it did not lead to great wealth, one could live frugally and cultivate safely. If one managed to reach the 2nd stage Foundation Establishment Realm, the family would provide support. If one did not wish to stay, one could terminate the labor contract with the Chen Family and go solo.

“Three spiritual roots? Me?”

Hai Dali froze, and his dream of becoming a Dragon Ao Tian shattered instantly.

“If you had outstanding talent, would you be working as a mere guard?” Niu Xiao said with disdain.

Hai Dali was stunned. Did not others who transmigrated always possess monstrous talent? Or at least rise from being useless trash?

How was he just… ordinary?

There was no system, no golden finger, nothing.

With this kind of talent in this cruel cultivation world, he could become a roadside corpse at any moment, merely adding fertilizer to the flowers and grass of the cultivation world.

How was he supposed to survive here?

He would rather not have transmigrated at all. At least in his original world, he had a small home and did not have to worry about food or warmth. Nor did he have to fear being thrown into someone’s Ten-Thousand Souls Banner and befriending vengeful spirits.

Still, he clung to the faint hope that he was secretly a genius whom others had failed to recognize, though deep down he knew he was deceiving himself.

Even after reality had slapped him in the face, he forced himself to gather more information.

Niu Xiao continued, “The place we are in is called Qingfeng City. It is a small border city of the Great Qin Empire in the Eastern Region.

“In Qingfeng City, power is controlled by five major families and the City Lord’s Residence. We belong to the Chen Family.

“The current patriarch of the Chen Family is Chen Tianyang. The First Madam is Qin Shanshan. The Second Madam is Tao Wan’er. The eldest young lady is Chen Muyue, and the second young lady is Chen Muxue.

“Besides the Chen Family, there are also the Qin, Feng, Yao, and Xiao Families. These five families control nearly all the resources in the city.

“The City Lord’s Residence does not engage in business. As long as public order is maintained and taxes are paid, it generally does not interfere.

“So the five great families are practically unshakable in Qingfeng City. Each has its own field and does not interfere with the others.

“For example, the Chen Family mainly deals in pills. The Qin Family runs the auction house. The Feng Family specializes in formations. The Yao Family focuses on artifact refining. The Xiao Family deals in talismans, though it has declined in recent years for certain reasons.

“The families not only cooperate in business but also intermarry. For instance, the second young lady Chen Muyue has a marriage contract with the third young master of the Xiao Family, Xiao Fan. That contract was arranged by the former patriarchs of both families.

“But Qingfeng City has limited resources. Almost everyone who longs for higher realms eventually leaves to seek opportunities elsewhere. The former patriarch of the Chen Family and the former patriarch of the Xiao Family both did so. After the Xiao Family’s former patriarch left, the successor patriarch died unexpectedly, and there was no suitable replacement. That led to the Xiao Family’s decline.

“Moreover, the third young master Xiao Fan is widely known as useless. So the second young lady is extremely dissatisfied with this engagement and has tried several times to dissolve it.

“In truth, the patriarch is not keen on maintaining it either, but since it was arranged by the former patriarch, he has hesitated to cancel it.

“The second young lady is extremely favored and somewhat domineering. After repeatedly failing to gain the patriarch’s consent, she eventually led people to the Xiao Family to break off the engagement herself. And you went with her.”

After speaking at length, Niu Xiao poured himself a cup of water to moisten his throat. He had talked too much in one go.

When he mentioned Hai Dali accompanying the second young lady to the Xiao Family, his face was full of schadenfreude.

Hai Dali felt uneasy. Could his injuries be related to that?

Sure enough, Niu Xiao continued, “When the second young lady went to break off the engagement, she brought several guards from the residence. As her number one lackey, you naturally had to go.”

Hai Dali was speechless. Not only was he a mere guard, but also a lackey. What a bright future.

“The second young lady did not act discreetly. She made a huge scene, letting everyone know, completely humiliating the Xiao Family.

“The third young master Xiao Fan even shouted something like, ‘Thirty years on the east bank of the river, thirty years on the west bank. Do not bully a young man because he is poor!’

“And the moment you heard that, you jumped out and mocked Xiao Fan for dreaming, saying he was delusional and worlds apart from the second young lady.

“Then Xiao Fan flew into a rage and challenged you. You probably thought that as a 5th stage Qi Refining Realm cultivator, defeating a 3rd stage Qi Refining Realm so-called useless person would be easy. You could even show off in front of the second young lady. So you agreed without hesitation.

“And then… within a few moves, you were nearly beaten to death.”

Niu Xiao’s grin widened. It was as if he himself had delivered the beating.

Hai Dali’s mind exploded.

Xiao Fan? Surname Xiao? One of the untouchable surnames!

And that engagement-breaking scene, that classic declaration. This was the protagonist template through and through.

And before he even arrived, his predecessor had already offended him.

What the hell.

Was he not the transmigrator? Should he not be the one gaining opportunities, dominating the world, embracing beauties, and reaching the peak of life?

Why had a real protagonist suddenly appeared?

Then he thought of something illogical.

“Wait. You said I was nearly beaten to death within a few moves, and by a so-called useless person. Shouldn’t that mean I disgraced the Chen Family? Why would the First Madam reward me?”

“How would I know? That was a First-Grade Blood Recovery Pill. It has immense benefits for healing injuries.”

Clearly, the news had been deliberately spread. The First Madam likely wanted to send a message that anyone willing to sacrifice for the Chen Family would be rewarded.

In that case, the pill should not have any hidden problem.

Now that nearly everyone in the residence knew he had received a Blood Recovery Pill, someone might target him. It would be best to use it soon.

But did taking a Blood Recovery Pill require cultivation to refine?

Cultivation?

He suddenly realized he had no memory of the original owner. That meant he had no idea how to cultivate.

Thinking of this, he looked at Niu Xiao with an awkward smile and rubbed his hands together, “Since you know I’ve lost my memory, I’ve forgotten my cultivation technique as well. You see…”

“You forgot even your cultivation technique? I don’t know what technique you practiced before, but the one used by servants in the residence is a common one called the ‘Qi Refining Art.’ The advantage is that anyone can cultivate it. If you want it, I’ll bring you a copy tomorrow.”

“Yes, yes, I want it. Thank you in advance, Brother Niu Xiao.”

Niu Xiao looked surprised. 

How rare. 

This guy even knew how to thank someone now.

“Who would’ve thought that after getting beaten once, you’d learn some manners.” He waved impatiently. “That’s all I have to tell you. If there’s nothing else, I’m leaving. I’ll come again tomorrow.”

“Alright. Thank you for the trouble, Brother.”