Could it be that I am the cruel villain?
Chapter 199 - 139 Setting Off Tomorrow_2

Chapter 199: Chapter 139 Setting Off Tomorrow_2

Upon his arrival, he was immediately targeted with drugs in various ways. At that time, Yu Ying surely hadn’t reached her current realm, especially in such an unfamiliar place. Just thinking about it is somewhat terrifying.

No wonder her murderous intent is so intense, and why she pushed the Joyful Sect’s buildings near the South Gate. No wonder the disciples of Joyful Sect...

"That woman was instigated to deliberately cause trouble!?"

Suddenly lifting his head and seeing Yu Ying still wearing a feigned smile, he finally understood the deeper meaning behind her words.

Indeed, everything that happens on the surface has deeper implications.

"Elder Brother is indeed smart, but even though you have a sharp mind, your experiences are still somewhat shallow."

This phrase seemed to carry a hidden meaning, but it’s just Yu Ying’s character. She never clarifies anything directly but lets the other person figure it out.

"If you hadn’t intervened at that time, she would have provoked those men seeking a Dao companion to erupt in anger. Among so many people, there would always be someone who couldn’t accept her outrageous demands and lose their temper in the Purple Cloud Pavilion."

"Then it would be our Purple Cloud Pavilion’s problem."

"These tactics aren’t very clever. They have minimal impact on Purple Cloud Palace and are basically negligible. But for me, it means someone is challenging my status in Shuangfeng City."

"I have a deep relationship with the Joyful Sect. These assorted bottles and jars were also acquired from the Joyful Sect’s disciples."

"Twenty years ago, the Joyful Sect had eight disciples in the Core Formation Stage and one in the Nascent Soul Stage in Shuangfeng. These are all their prized collections."

"The great thing about this border area is that it’s tens of thousands of miles from the true Central Plains. Even with my capability, traveling to the sect would take at least a month."

"But it’s also because the distance is so vast that nobody bothers to interfere. Fortunately, the new Pavilion Master of the Joyful Pavilion is quite honest and straightforward."

Hearing this, the young man couldn’t help but shiver.

Jiang Feng knew about Yu Ying’s character, but he never imagined it to be so terrifying. Without even continuing, he knew what fate those with unseemly thoughts towards Yu Ying would face.

Those eight Core Formation Stage disciples and the one Nascent Soul Stage expert were probably all slaughtered by her.

Put it this way, as long as Yu Ying has a valid reason, she wouldn’t hesitate to eradicate a hostile force completely, leaving no survivors. Even without a valid reason, she would fabricate one.

She indeed deserves to be called the ’Emperor of Fengzhou’.

"...Wait a minute."

He caught onto another oversight.

The young man’s brain was racing, but Yu Ying didn’t blame him. Instead, she looked at him with a bit of appreciation.

Even though she verbally calls him Senior Brother, according to Master Liu, she was to properly guide this naive young man. Thus, Yu Ying, who typically never reveals her thoughts or feelings, patiently answered his various questions.

But now it seems, her efforts weren’t wasted.

"You mentioned that the new Pavilion Master of the Joyful Pavilion is very honest."

"But yet, there are Joyful Sect disciples causing trouble here, both inciting and morally blackmailing. With your character, even if you don’t annihilate their entire clan, you would still teach that troublemaking Pavilion Master a lesson."

"The fact is, there haven’t been any retaliatory actions from you in the past two months. This completely contradicts your... broad-minded nature."

He was full of thoughts, but he managed to stop himself just in time from saying too much.

But Yu Ying just smiled and motioned for him to continue.

"So, is someone using that woman as a pawn to draw your fire, to get you to trouble the Joyful Pavilion, so they can take advantage of the turmoil to achieve some goal?"

Neither confirming nor denying, but slightly tilting her head, she retorted, "If it’s really as you suspect, who would be the mastermind?"

"North City Lord."

"Reason."

"In Shuangfeng City, only he has the capability and the audacity to offend you. If I’m not mistaken, the great battle between you two ended in a draw, but as of today, he has already fallen behind you in terms of realm!"

The answer was delivered without hesitation, with a tone of definiteness full of confidence; even Yu Ying couldn’t help but linger a few seconds longer when she saw this spirited young man.

It wasn’t until now that she truly regarded him as her peer.

"Why would you think so?"

"Because of you."

"Hm?"

Yu Ying didn’t quite understand, but Jiang Feng was already fully immersed in the struggle between their forces, barely pausing to think.

"As far as I know, you’ve always ruled over Shuangfeng City and the entire Fengzhou with martial force. Many have their criticisms, but I think such actions are not improper."

"Under the crushing power of absolute strength, using so-called schemes or unsightly methods will only ruin one’s reputation. In the words of others, you are always ruthless, but no one would say you are untrustworthy."

"As the Fengzhou City Lord appointed by the state, only someone more concerned about their status than an outsider like you would refrain from using such means if they truly had the strength to stand on equal footing with you."

"The fact that he resorted to such an extent could only mean that the gap between you two is widening, and he must have known that you were about to return to your sect, hence picking this timing deliberately."

"I had previously asked you about your realm, but you dodged the question."

"Still, I’m sticking with my guess; anywhere on the borders, having a Nascent Soul Stage expert is entirely sufficient. The truth is probably that the sect did send a Nascent Soul Stage disciple to oversee this border."

"You probably managed to break through in the recent years after your decisive battle with the North City Lord."

Her expression serious, she smiled lightly upon hearing his last sentence.

The smile was enigmatic, leaving one unable to discern whether it was a resigned smile for guessing right or a mocking smile for guessing wrong. But Yu Ying simply pointed at the pile of items on the table.

"They are all yours now. The effects are quite good, especially for a Core Formation Stage expert; these things have nearly no resistance."

Shaking her head, it was clear this woman didn’t want to reveal her realm, Jiang Feng hadn’t expected a definite answer either; he merely shared his guess, nothing more.

But this pile of items...

"I’m not malevolent enough to drug a young girl, and besides, she and I are merely ordinary friends. Don’t tease me about this anymore in the future."

"It’s a pity, a chance like this with the Little Saintess from the Southern Border personally delivering herself to your doorstep probably comes once in a lifetime. Your temperament, Senior Brother, is quite like Master Liu’s. But speaking of which, if it weren’t for that, you wouldn’t have been taught the Swordsmanship."

Her smile unabating, her social experience enabled her to detect the desolation in the young man’s eyes.

Gathering those wooden boxes back up, the myriad of bottles and jars still on the table, she tilted her head towards the young man with a more stern tone than before.

"Take them, these things might save your life later on since the sect’s assessment requires you to travel from Qianli Town to the Mountain Gate. We only look at results, not the process, and certainly not life or death."

Hesitating a moment, but still nodding and collecting the items on the table, he wasn’t a stubborn mule and could decipher the implication in Yu Ying’s words.

The so-called sect assessment was probably far more perilous than he had imagined; compared to survival, morality indeed seemed insignificant.

Seeing the young man heed her advice, Yu Ying then continued to pick up her teacup and blew on it.

"Another matter is that after I return tomorrow, we’ll depart."

"Ah?"

Caught off guard, but he quickly understood that Yu Ying probably wanted to return to the sect before the New Year, after all, that was where she was raised, even if she didn’t get along well with everyone there, it was still family.

What does this ’after I return’ imply?

"Just yesterday, didn’t senior brother mention about the matter concerning those two Fulong Pavilion disciples near Red Flower Temple?"

"...You’re not planning to kill a few more before you leave, right?"