"Against the Heavens: The Villain's Return"

The park that morning was filled with a soft golden light. The breeze rustled through the trees, carrying the scent of earth after last night's drizzle. Birds perched on the lamp posts, singing songs that blended with the laughter of children in the distance.

Yet amidst that peaceful scenery, chaos had begun to take shape.

Lu Xio's heart pounded rapidly in his chest as the color drained from the old man's face. The very man he had boasted of saving now lay twitching weakly on the bench, his breathing uneven, his pulse fading like the last ember in dying ash. Lu Xio's hands trembled uncontrollably, his face pale as paper.

He had been smiling moments ago, basking in the admiration of the crowd. But now, fear replaced arrogance. The whispers around him were no longer of praise but of suspicion and judgment.

"Didn't he just say he could cure the man?" one bystander muttered.

"Look at that old man's face… he looks worse than before!" another added in a hushed tone.

Lu Xio felt his chest tighten. His eyes darted to Leo, who stood a few meters away, his arms crossed, a faint smile playing on his lips—one of amusement and mild pity.

Leo's presence alone seemed to cast a shadow over Lu Xio's collapsing confidence.

Inside, Leo's thoughts were calm yet cold.

Even as a villain, I don't harm those who do not deserve it. But watching this so-called protagonist stumble through his own arrogance… that's a lesson from the heavens themselves.

He sighed, brushing off a leaf that drifted onto his shoulder.

Lu Xio's voice cracked as he stammered, "N-no… this can't be happening. I-I treated him correctly! My master taught me this method!" His words came out weak and uncertain, echoing like false conviction.

The old man gasped again, clutching his chest as blood trickled from the corner of his lips. The sight made several people scream in panic and step backward. The calm park had turned into a scene of tension and unease.

One woman covered her mouth, whispering in fear, "He's going to die…"

Lu Xio's body stiffened. His trembling fingers reached toward the old man, but his mind was blank. His once confident face was now the face of someone who had seen his world collapse.

He could feel every eye on him—those same onlookers who had praised him minutes ago now glaring with disappointment, disgust, and fear.

One man spat to the side. "Hmph, so much for being a genius doctor."

Another sneered, "These arrogant youngsters think they can play hero. Now look what happened."

The crowd slowly began to step away from Lu Xio, forming a loose circle that isolated him in the middle. Their whispers turned sharp.

Lu Xio's legs shook. He raised his trembling hand and pointed toward Leo, shouting in panic, "It's him! It's Leo! He did something! He's the one responsible for this man's condition!"

The crowd fell silent for a moment.

Leo blinked once, expression calm as still water. Then, with a faint smile tugging at his lips, he began to clap slowly. Clap. Clap. Clap.

"Well," Leo said, his voice low yet clear, each word sharp as a blade, "what a great statement from Mr. Lu Xio."

The faint breeze carried his words through the park.

Leo took a step forward, his golden eyes glinting under the morning light. "At first, I said I would take care of this man's treatment. But you insisted—you declared yourself a divine doctor, a savior. And all of you," Leo's gaze swept across the crowd, "chose to support him blindly without proof."

Many among the crowd lowered their heads in shame. His tone wasn't loud, but it carried weight, making the air heavy.

One of the elderly men from the crowd murmured, "That's… true. He did warn us."

Another added softly, "We shouldn't have judged so quickly…"

Leo's lips curved faintly as he continued, his voice calm yet cutting. "You were the only person in contact with the old man, Lu Xio. Therefore, you alone are responsible for what happens to him. Instead of calling an ambulance or seeking real help, you chose to shift the blame to me. Tell me," Leo's gaze hardened, "are you not ashamed?"

Lu Xio's body froze. He could barely stand, his knees wobbling from fear. He opened his mouth to speak but no words came out.

Leo's eyes narrowed slightly as he exhaled slowly. "Even when the heavens give light, fools walk into their own shadow."

He crouched beside the old man. His movements were precise, steady, and controlled. He checked the man's pulse, his breathing, and then pressed two fingers gently against the man's wrist. A faint glow of energy pulsed beneath Leo's skin—subtle enough that no one would notice.

Within moments, the old man's breathing steadied. His pale face regained a faint flush of color. The panic in the crowd subsided as murmurs turned into awe once more.

"He's… he's doing it!" one exclaimed.

"The man looks better!" another shouted with relief.

Leo ignored them all, focused entirely on stabilizing the old man. His expression was calm, almost bored. He wasn't showing off; he was simply doing what needed to be done.

After several minutes, Leo stood up slowly, dusting off his hands. The old man's pulse had steadied.

He turned to the crowd, his eyes sharp. "He'll live for now. But next time, remember this—'A man who boasts before the heavens will fall beneath his own arrogance.'"

It was a line from an old Chinese proverb, one that Leo himself had once read:

"Pride invites misfortune; humility brings blessing." (骄者必败,谦者常兴)

The crowd nodded silently. They could feel the truth behind those words.

Leo glanced at the trembling Lu Xio and sighed lightly. "Sometimes, lessons are learned through humiliation. Consider this yours."

He waved his hand dismissively. "Now, everyone step back."

Within moments, an ambulance arrived. The medical team rushed forward, carrying the old man carefully into the vehicle. Leo gave them brief, precise instructions.

"I've performed a primary stabilization treatment," he said calmly. "Continue monitoring his pulse and perform cardiac regulation therapy as instructed."

The doctors nodded, recognizing the authority in his tone. The vehicle drove away with its sirens fading into the distance.

When Leo turned back, the once-boisterous crowd was now silent and obedient.

He looked at them coldly and said, "You should all be ashamed of how easily you wavered."

One by one, they lowered their heads, unwilling to meet his gaze. The silence hung heavy until Leo finally turned away.

As he walked past Lu Xio, he muttered quietly, "A foolish heart fears defeat but never seeks wisdom. You, Lu Xio, are a man chasing light with your eyes closed."

Lu Xio stood frozen. His pride shattered, his lips trembling. He wanted to scream, to argue—but he couldn't.

The humiliation, the crowd's judgment, and Leo's words cut deeper than any wound.

Leo continued walking away, his hands in his pockets. His figure looked calm and unbothered, yet his thoughts drifted briefly.

Even a villain has his bottom line. I've seen too much greed masked as righteousness.

He recalled an ancient Indian saying that echoed in his mind:

"When ignorance rules the heart, wisdom becomes the enemy."

A faint smirk curved his lips as he exhaled deeply. "Ignorance… the root of all human tragedy."

Behind him, Lu Xio's world crumbled further. The whispers resumed—this time directed entirely at him.

"He almost killed the old man."

"Just another fake genius."

"Such arrogance deserves a fall."

The whispers pierced him like thorns.

Lu Xio clenched his fists so tightly his nails dug into his palms. His eyes turned red with humiliation and rage as he stared at Leo's fading back. Deep inside, a poisonous hatred began to take root.

Leo, however, didn't even look back. To him, Lu Xio was nothing more than another foolish protagonist walking the predestined path of downfall.

He stepped onto the stone pathway leading out of the park, his shadow long and steady under the sunlight.

The wind brushed against his face, carrying a faint chill. He tilted his head slightly, murmuring,

"Heaven does not punish arrogance immediately—it lets the fool dig his own grave first."

As Leo disappeared into the distance, the faint sound of birds singing returned to the park, as if nature itself had restored balance after the chaos.

---

Ancient Indian Quote:

> "The mind is everything. What you think, you become. The arrogant think they are gods, and the humble become wise."

Chinese Proverb:

> "Those who rely on luck forget effort; those who rely on effort create their own luck."

The sharp wail of the ambulance siren faded into the distance, leaving behind an unsettling silence in the park. The scent of fear, sweat, and confusion still lingered faintly in the air. The crowd slowly dispersed, murmuring among themselves in embarrassment, regret, and awe.

Only two figures remained—Leo Aetherwind and Lu Xio.

Leo stood under the morning sunlight, his shadow stretching long on the ground. He had no expression on his face—only the quiet composure of someone who had already seen through the entire situation from the beginning.

Lu Xio, on the other hand, stood frozen like a statue. His body trembled, his eyes glassy with disbelief. He was staring at his own hands, the same hands that moments ago he had raised confidently before the world—now tainted by failure and ridicule.

How… how could this happen? he thought. I did everything right. I followed my master's methods exactly…

But deep inside, he knew something had gone wrong. He didn't understand how. He couldn't accept it.

He turned to Leo, his voice shaking, "You… you must have done something! You must've interfered!"

Leo simply looked at him—no anger, no mockery, just a calm gaze that made Lu Xio feel smaller with every heartbeat.

He sighed faintly. "Still blaming others instead of reflecting, huh? Some people never change, no matter how much heaven warns them."

His words carried quiet power, sinking deep into Lu Xio's chest like heavy stones.

Leo then turned away, brushing the dust off his sleeve. "A fool's arrogance blinds him even when truth stands before his eyes," he thought silently—a line from an old Chinese maxim he remembered.

Lu Xio opened his mouth to shout something, but no words came. His lips quivered. Fear slowly replaced his anger. The reality of his situation was setting in—the old man he had 'treated' was a powerful and influential figure. If anything happened to him, the consequences could destroy his life.

He fell to his knees, clutching his head.

Leo glanced at him one last time, eyes cold and indifferent. "I gave him a lesson, not a punishment. But heaven punishes ignorance without mercy."

He turned away completely, leaving Lu Xio kneeling on the cold concrete path like a broken puppet.

The breeze that brushed through the park now carried a quiet stillness. Even nature seemed to reject Lu Xio's presence.

Leo walked slowly, his expression unreadable. His calm exterior hid the truth—he had deliberately used a trace of his energy to disrupt Lu Xio's treatment. It was a silent move, invisible to ordinary eyes and undetectable to those without cultivation.

Lu Xio's so-called "healing technique" had been flawed from the start, and Leo's interference simply accelerated the inevitable.

To Leo, it wasn't cruelty—it was poetic justice.

"You ignore my warning, boast before heaven, and insult me to my face. Then you face the consequence of your own pride."

He sighed softly. "Perhaps this will teach him to shut that mouth of his."

But then, his eyes darkened slightly as he recalled the old man.

At first, Leo had genuinely offered help. He had been polite, calm, even kind. Yet the old man ignored him entirely, looking only at Lu Xio as if Leo didn't exist.

"Arrogance breeds arrogance," Leo muttered. "A man who judges by appearance deserves the outcome fate gives him."

For a moment, his gaze turned cold as winter frost. "Next time… I won't be so gentle."

He shook his head slightly, brushing off the thought. He didn't want to dwell on it.

The sunlight fell softly through the trees, painting his silver hair in faint gold as he exited the park. His footsteps echoed faintly on the stone path, calm and confident.

Then, his phone buzzed in his pocket.

Leo glanced at the screen—it was Selena.

He exhaled through his nose, answering the call. "What is it?" His tone carried the calmness of someone who had already dealt with too much nonsense in one morning.

Selena's voice came through the receiver, soft and slightly embarrassed. "Um… Leo, I—I need some herbal plants for cultivation. They're not in the house, and I can't continue my session without them."

Leo rubbed his temples with mild irritation. "Herbs again? Didn't I tell you to keep them stocked?"

"I forgot," Selena replied, her tone hesitant, almost apologetic. "Please… just this once?"

There was a pause. Then Leo's voice softened a little. "Fine. I'll arrange it."

Before she could say anything more, he ended the call.

For a moment, Selena just stared at her phone, blinking. Then, slowly, a small smile formed on her lips. Despite his blunt tone, she could tell—he still cared.

Her heart warmed, and she whispered softly to herself, "He may sound cold, but… he's always there for me."

Beside her, the young maid Ann tilted her head curiously. The girl's large round eyes blinked in confusion as she watched Selena's cheeks flush a delicate shade of pink.

"Miss Selena, why are you smiling like that?" Ann asked innocently. "Is it because you talked to Master Leo again?"

Selena's face turned red instantly. She looked away, tucking a strand of her silver hair behind her ear. "No! It's not like that!"

The mature maid standing nearby covered her mouth, laughing softly. "Ah, young love. You won't understand this now, Ann. But one day, you'll know that just hearing someone's voice can make your heart flutter."

Ann pouted, puffing out her cheeks. "Hmph! I don't want to be like that! I'll never act like a fool for a man!"

She placed her small hand over her chest dramatically, declaring, "I swear on my heart, I'll stay strong and never fall like that!"

The older maid chuckled, patting Ann's head. "We'll see about that, little one."

The scene was peaceful, light-hearted—far removed from the chaos that had unfolded in the park.

Yet, even as Selena giggled softly, Leo's figure lingered in her mind. She couldn't explain it, but something about his calmness, his strength, and even his cold indifference made her feel strangely safe.

Meanwhile, far away, Leo walked along the quiet roadside, his phone still in hand.

His reflection glimmered faintly in a puddle by the curb. He looked at it and muttered quietly,

"Even when surrounded by fools, I must stay calm. I can't let their idiocy pull me down."

A faint smirk curved his lips. "Perhaps I'm the fool for expecting reason from the destined protagonist."

He recalled another Chinese proverb he'd once read in an old text:

"He who saves a fool invites his own misfortune."

And an ancient Indian saying followed in his mind like an echo:

"Karma walks slowly, but it never forgets its way home."

The morning sun climbed higher in the sky, painting everything in warm gold. Leo's thoughts drifted briefly toward the future.

He had no idea what the next opportunity fate would throw his way—but one thing was certain.

He would never allow another "protagonist" to rise easily under his watch.

The park, the crowd, the arrogant Lu Xio—all of it was a reminder. The game of fate had only begun, and Leo was not the villain of someone else's story—he was the architect of his own destiny.

With that thought, he slid his hands into his pockets and walked toward his car, his silver hair glinting in the sunlight like a crown of calm defiance.

Behind him, the whispers of the world faded away, leaving only the echo of his own quiet words—

> "Heaven's favor is a test, not a gift. And those who rely on destiny… will always bow before those who create it."

The gentle wind carried those words away, blending with the soft rustle of leaves.

And somewhere, unseen by all, fate trembled quietly—because Leo Aetherwind was rewriting its rules.

---

Chinese Quote (for reflection):

> "The proud fall not by sword or storm, but by their own heart's blindness."

Ancient Indian Quote (for wisdom):

> "The wise act with stillness, for silence is stronger than a thousand shouts of pride.

---

End of Chapter

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