I’m a Villain! Why Are You Trying to Date Me?
Chapter 31 - A Stunning Castle and the Cool Beauty—Xuan Yuan Qingya!

Chapter 31: A Stunning Castle and the Cool Beauty—Xuan Yuan Qingya!

All night, Zhao Mengmeng had been acting… off.

To be fair, Lin Tian knew he wasn’t “Child of Destiny.” In fact, he carried the mark of a villain. By all logic, Zhao Mengmeng—who, in the original storyline, was only the fourth female lead—shouldn’t be showing this kind of unwarranted affection toward him.

That kind of treatment was reserved for the male protagonist.

But no matter how much he wracked his brain, Lin Tian just couldn’t figure out where things had gone off script…

Left with no other explanation, he could only chalk it up to some accidental deviation caused by changes in the storyline.

After dinner, Zhao Mengmeng asked if Lin Tian wanted to eat something else. Naturally, he refused.

It wasn’t just that the Sashimi feast had been quite filling—truth be told, even if he was still hungry, he didn’t have the mental strength to hang around Zhao Mengmeng any longer. Who knew what this girl might try next? What if she turned out to be just like her sister and insisted on sleeping next to him tonight too?

After paying the bill, the two got into the BMW Mini and headed back to the Zhao residence.

From start to finish, Zhao Dongyun surprisingly never noticed that his youngest daughter had even gone out.

The main reason was that too many major events had unfolded during the ancestral memorial banquet. The power shift between Ice Eye and Xinghai, the Zhao family’s declaration of war against the Fengchen Group and Jiang Yifeng—every single matter involved hundreds of billions in assets and interests.

As the head of the Zhao family, Zhao Dongyun was also its greatest pillar of support. He had to personally handle and make decisions on countless matters.

Shang Chan could afford to drop everything and cling to Lin Tian, but Zhao Dongyun couldn’t. He had to ensure the Zhao family’s massive ship stayed on course.

It was foreseeable that he’d be busy late into the night, so it was understandable he didn’t realize Zhao Mengmeng had taken Lin Tian out for a while.

After dropping her off, Lin Tian braced himself and bid farewell—doing his best to ignore the girl’s slightly resentful gaze.

Perhaps realizing her behavior tonight had been a little out of the blue—and now that she was back home—Zhao Mengmeng didn’t try to cling to Lin Tian any further.

But in her heart, Lin Tian was like a seed planted within the walls of her emotional defenses—a seed that was growing steadily, and would one day split those walls apart.

When that day came, even if Lin Tian remained cold and distant, Zhao Mengmeng would still draw near to him without hesitation, like a moth drawn to a flame—willing to burn, without regret.

That moment still needed time to ripen.

…

After parting ways with Zhao Mengmeng, Lin Tian was finally able to get a proper night’s rest in one of the Zhao family’s guest rooms.

Meanwhile, while Lin Tian was quietly resting, more than a hundred miles away from the Zhao family’s ancestral courtyard, inside a grand castle—

A team of black-clad bodyguards had just escorted Jiang Yifeng to the site. The convoy gradually came to a stop, and at the entrance of the castle stood an elderly man in a butler’s uniform, his expression composed and courteous.

Jiang Yifeng pushed open the car door and looked up at the towering castle before him, a trace of awe flashing through his eyes.

Compared to this fortress, those luxury villas and high-rise apartments he was used to suddenly felt flimsy and utilitarian.

This was a symbol of legacy and foundation. Merely stepping foot into this castle would be the lifelong dream of countless elites and tycoons…

Jiang Yifeng took a deep breath and adjusted his expression.

He put on the perfect smile, straightened his posture, and walked up to the elderly man.

The old butler, seeing the tall and handsome young man before him, smiled kindly and said, “Young Master Jiang, I presume?”

“I wouldn’t dare claim such a title—please, just call me Yifeng,” Jiang Yifeng replied with a slight bow, his manners impeccable.

He knew full well that in a place like this, aside from the master of the castle, the one with the greatest authority was likely this very butler.

Building a good rapport with him could only be beneficial. A little extra politeness cost nothing.

The old man nodded slightly, his smile never fading. “Madam and the young lady are already waiting for you inside. Please, follow me.”

As he spoke, the old man led the way into the castle. Jiang Yifeng followed closely behind, his expression serious and a little reserved, though the dominant air around him remained one of confidence.

The owner of this castle owed a great debt to his master.

Though that debt wasn’t anything earth-shattering, it was enough to grant Jiang Yifeng the privilege of being treated as an honored guest within these walls.

Jiang Yifeng knew clearly—this favor from his master was the only thing he could rely on. How far he could take it… would depend entirely on his own abilities.

And Jiang Yifeng had always had unshakable confidence in himself.

As he recalled something his master had once told him, a fiery glint sparked in Jiang Yifeng’s eyes.

Unlocking the Heavenly Sacred Body required the involvement of twenty exceptional beauties—women referred to in ancient terminology as Cauldrons.

It wasn’t meant to be derogatory or dismissive. The term simply referred to their role in helping Jiang Yifeng draw upon their pure Yin energy as part of the Sacred Body’s awakening process.

And if there was borrowing involved, then naturally—there would also be repayment.

From a certain perspective, after being with Jiang Yifeng, these so-called “Cauldrons” would generally become even more beautiful and youthful, with significantly extended lifespans.

The process of unlocking the Heavenly Sacred Body was akin to the ancient concept of dual cultivation.

In that process, the quality of the cauldron was absolutely crucial. It even involved rare physiques nearly as mystical as the Sacred Body itself—such as the Extreme Yin Physique, the Exquisite Physique, and others.

According to Jiang Yifeng’s master, the owner of this castle was said to possess one such physique—an Extreme Yin Physique.

Of course, when his master came to know the castle’s mistress, she was already of considerable age and even had a daughter. Jiang Yifeng wasn’t so desperate as to set his sights on someone from the previous generation.

However, that daughter… she was a target Jiang Yifeng had set his sights on long before leaving the mountain!

The probability of someone with an Extreme Yin Physique passing it on to their offspring was fairly high.

The reason Jiang Yifeng hadn’t come to this castle immediately upon descending the mountain was because he understood—before the castle’s mistress, that one favor from his master wasn’t nearly enough to claim her daughter outright.

Originally, he had planned to first win over Shang Chan, then Bai Bing’er. Once his power and influence were firmly established, he would return here.

By that time, Jiang Yifeng would be much more confident.

However, after suffering a setback with the Zhao family and being rejected by Bai Bing’er, Jiang Yifeng’s carefully laid plans were thrown into disarray. Left with no better option, he could only call in this favor and try to win over the daughter of the castle’s mistress.

If Xuan Yuan Qingya really does possess the Extreme Yin Physique, then she alone might be enough to unlock over a tenth of the Heavenly Sacred Body… Once that happens, the Zhao family, the Bai family—hah, they’ll all be mine to toy with.

Jiang Yifeng thought calmly to himself.

This wasn’t arrogance, but a reflection of just how terrifying the potential of the Heavenly Sacred Body truly was.

As long as he had the chance to rise, no one would be able to stop him.

…

The castle grounds were lush with vegetation, winding paths cutting through the greenery.

Even at this late hour, the castle remained brightly lit, with shadows moving throughout its halls and courtyards.

The operation of a castle like this naturally couldn’t be managed by just a handful of people. Within the Xuan Yuan estate alone, there were more than six hundred personnel—retainers, servants, guards, and other staff—dedicated solely to the upkeep of this stronghold.

Passing through three layers of security, the old butler led Jiang Yifeng to a two-story teahouse steeped in classical elegance. Above the door, the characters “Xuan Yuan” were inscribed in traditional script, bold and vigorous like a dragon in flight or a tiger on the prowl.

“Madam and the young lady are waiting for you inside,” the old butler said cheerfully.

Jiang Yifeng gave a polite bow, his gaze growing sharper with anticipation, and stepped confidently into the teahouse.

The moment he entered, his attention was immediately drawn to a young woman—her upper body wrapped in a high-collared, dark-red fitted blouse, her lower half clad in skinny jeans and straight-cut leather boots.

She looked at him with a casual gaze, one that nevertheless radiated an innate sense of nobility and pride.

“So, you’re Jiang Yifeng?” she asked.