Could it be that I am the cruel villain?
Chapter 38: If You Won’t Do It, There Are Plenty of Others Who Will

Chapter 38: Chapter 38: If You Won’t Do It, There Are Plenty of Others Who Will

The setting sun dipped below the horizon.

With a head full of white hair, Mr. Xue simply stood silently in front of his son’s grave. The house servants tasked with carrying the coffin and the people who had come to offer their condolences had already scattered one after another. Only he, as a father, remained rooted to the spot, motionless.

No one would disturb his final solitary moments with his son at such a time.

Months ago, he was full of vigour. Back then, he had just secured Body Tempering Pills from State City and had gathered a considerable number of precious herbs from surrounding counties. Upon learning that Immortals had descended from their sect to take disciples, he also found a way to work through connections in State City.

He arranged for the Immortal to meet with the disciples from various major families during their visit to State City, taking the opportunity to recommend his own son.

You could say he was a father who spoiled his child, but you could never say he was a bad father. At least in the heart of Xue Wuwei, this was the epitome of a perfect father, and within just twenty years, Xue Ming had thoroughly paved the future path for his son.

Even as he returned to Qingshui County, he was thinking of ways to prepare the dowry, pondering what gifts would be most suitable to present upon visiting a prospective bride’s family.

It was for the Yan Family, so that once his son gained favor from the Immortal, he could immediately go to the Yan Family to propose marriage and win the heart of his beloved.

"Huff—"

He exhaled a breath of foul air.

In front of the grave was not only Xue Ming, but also several young girls who looked no older than twelve or thirteen, strung up from the trees, their skin exhibiting an abnormal pallor, utterly devoid of life.

Blood dripped slowly from their feet; judging by the dishevelled state of their embroidered shoes, they must have experienced tremendous pain and struggled wildly before their deaths.

"Wu Wei."

"Today you’ll have to endure some hardship, take good care of yourself."

"Once their blood dries up tomorrow, Daddy will bring down these maids you loved the most to accompany you, letting them serve you for all eternity."

"Even if it’s in the underworld, there will always be someone to take care of you..."

He muttered something under his breath.

In such a feudal era and context, maids and house servants were considered the personal property of others, and to Xue Ming, he didn’t even believe he had killed people, but rather he had slaughtered a few chickens or ducks at home to pay homage to his child’s spirit in heaven.

Once the blood dried up tomorrow, he would bury them together, so his son would never be lonely again.

The night grew darker, and many of the Xue Family remained patiently waiting at the foot of the mountain, adhering to the master’s instruction: if he did not leave tonight, they must stay there and wait.

However, the waiting crowd did not notice a figure moving quickly up the mountain through a small path between the hills, swift and light without alarming anyone. In just about a quarter of an hour, the figure reached the mountaintop.

"Indeed, he is here."

Upon sighting Xue Ming, the person was inwardly pleased, but upon seeing the few maids dangling from the tree, couldn’t help but frown.

"I’ve waited for you for a long time."

The first to speak was Xue Ming.

He turned around and looked at the person behind him wearing a conical hat, his expression as calm as ever, as if he had expected the other to come looking for him.

Looking somewhat surprised, Xue Ming’s intelligence exceeded expectations, but the old gentleman continued, "Wu Wei intended to take advantage of Yan Zhongxu’s trip to State City to make a move on Jiang Feng; I actually knew about this."

"And I tacitly consented."

"Otherwise, Wang Qi wouldn’t have been able to contact you at all. Yet no one could have anticipated the situation turning out like this."

The other party did not speak, maintaining a certain distance from Mr. Xue.

His cheeks and body still searing with pain, he was the one who after having his wounds treated at the clinic, came to follow Xue Ming up the mountain as soon as possible. Ever since being bested by Jiang Feng, he no longer dared to underestimate anyone.

But Mr. Xue did not expect a response, his lips curving into a mocking smile as he went on to say, "I smoothed out every road for Wu Wei, anticipated most events, but there were two things I did not foresee, and ironically, it was these two oversights that led to Wu Wei’s death."

"The first thing, that little beast Jiang Feng endured in silence for many years, only to suddenly strike back today, killing Wang Qi when no one saw it coming."

"The second thing, keeping a tiger invites calamity."

"I never understood why Wang Qi chose my Xue Family. In order to win him over, I gave him a third of the businesses in E City, promised to help him cultivate, restore his parents’ tombs, and to inform him immediately should there be any news from the Immortal Sect."

"Who would have thought that he still pinned all his hopes on Wu Wei."

Sighing, the fact that Jiang Feng was capable of killing Wang Qi was unexpected by anyone, but the second matter he was actually not quite sure about. Although the autopsy results indicated that there was a fight to the death between the master and servant, there could have been other reasons as well.

Therefore, he only had slight suspicions in his heart, until the moment Li Ying appeared before him, when the answer finally emerged in his heart.

"You’re here for that Body Tempering Pill, aren’t you?"

Although it was a question, his tone was decisive, and he was one hundred percent certain of the man’s purpose.

This prompted a reaction from Li Ying at last.

"Quite interesting. Such a tiny place like Qingshui County is hiding dragons and crouching tigers, teeming with talent..."

His true thoughts exposed, Li Ying no longer hid his intentions and straightforwardly began to talk business.

"Since you know why I’m here, then I’ll get straight to the point."

"Both of these items are useful to me. Hand them over to me, and I naturally can advance further. As part of the deal, Jiang Feng’s head is yours—you want to avenge your son, don’t you? You shouldn’t refuse such a business proposal."

Greedy, he licked his lips, imagining the father, who’d lost his son, would certainly agree without hesitation. But to his surprise,

He actually shook his head, his face carrying a hint of mockery.

"What do you think you are?"

The first sentence was already charged with a strong whiff of gunpowder!

"One Body Tempering Pill plus those precious herbs, with such a reward not only you—I could find five people like you in State City to do the job."

"Even a cultivator."

"You’re not worth this price."

That last sentence even brought a flash of fierce light to Li Ying’s eyes!

But Xue Ming only stood calmly in place with no hint of fear. After the initial rage, reason took over his brain once again. These words and demeanor, befitting a man of business, diminished Li Ying in front of him to nothing.

In truth, he had no other cards to play, nor were there any experts lying in ambush nearby. For Mr. Xue, life had begun to lose its luster after the loss of his son.

The sole thing driving him was hatred.

Staring intently at the middle-aged man before him, he found the man somewhat inscrutable, and ultimately, Li Ying did not dare to make a move. After a good while, he narrowed his eyes and asked, "Then what do you want, crazy enough to wait here for me so long?"

Xue Ming did not get angry but simply turned around, hands clasped behind his back.

"Yesterday, I sent someone to State City to offer the Body Tempering Pill and those precious herbs as a bounty."

"I don’t know what kind of people I will find, but getting a few cultivators over shouldn’t be a problem—the value of the Body Tempering Pill speaks for itself. In at most half a month, these people will come."

"Now, either you bring me Jiang Feng’s head before they arrive."

"Or, after they come, they’ll bring Jiang Feng’s head to me for the reward."

However, faced with such conditions, Li Ying just coldly sneered.

"You want me to work for nothing? Where’s the payment? The deposit? Without anything, you expect me to risk killing Jiang Feng? That kid killed Wang Qi; at the very least, that stack of precious herbs should be the depo..."

"You don’t want to do it, there are others who will."

A few short words left Li Ying unable to speak further.

Cursing under his breath, he turned to leave, his character not one to be coerced by others—but at that moment, his feet felt as if they were rooted to the spot, unable to move a step.

Because this was his only chance to obtain the Body Tempering Pill.

So he could only clench his teeth and push out two words through gritted teeth.

"Deal! Done!"