NOVEL NEXT Chapter 54: Playing as Villain
The blacksmith slowly walked toward Mo Jianye, his steps heavy, shoulders tense. Each footfall echoed the pain and helplessness he had once endured, the memories of the atrocities this man allowed to happen still fresh in his heart.
His body burned with anger.
Gathering all the strength he could muster, the blacksmith lifted his hammer and smashed it into Mo Jianye's chest.
Mo Jianye jolted awake from the intense pain. His eyes widened in confusion, and then fear. A figure in a black robe stood before him, raising a hammer again. He tried to move his arms to block, but they wouldn't respond. Panic overwhelmed him. All he could do was scream helplessly.
"No!"
Blood spurted from his mouth as the blow landed. Gasping, he finally remembered what had happened.
Mu Yan... that bandit bastard! He tricked me!
"Mu Yan! I will never forgive you!" he roared, coughing blood again.
Seeing this, the other villagers, once silent and timid, stepped forward, emboldened. With eyes full of rage, they too struck at Mo Jianye.
Wu Lan did not feel any sympathy toward that bastard. A person like this deserved every ounce of what was about to happen. He needed to understand the pain he had brought to innocent people.
On the sidelines, Xiao Wu, Zhu Zhuqing, and Qian Renxue watched quietly, their expressions cold and unyielding.
Xiao Wu furrowed her brows. Her usual playful demeanor was gone, replaced by confusion. "Brother… who is Mu Yan?"
Zhu Zhuqing's sharp eyes narrowed, always attentive to the details. "He keeps cursing that name."
"Oh, that?" Wu Lan chuckled lightly. "Mu Yan was the bandit leader Qian Renxue killed yesterday."
All three girls blinked in surprise.
"Then… why is he cursing a dead man?" Qian Renxue asked, tilting her head with mild suspicion.
Wu Lan's smile slowly faded, his tone turning icy.
"That bastard betrayed innocent villages for his own gain. I wanted him to experience what those villagers went through," he said, his voice devoid of warmth. "So I disguised myself as the bandit leader, lured him to this cave, and knocked him out. Now he believes Mu Yan betrayed him, not me."
Understanding dawned on Zhu Zhuqing first. Her lips curved into a rare, approving smirk. This kind of calculated payback was far more satisfying than simple violence.
Qian Renxue's eyes glinted with admiration. "You made him taste his own medicine… using fear and betrayal as punishment. That's... impressive."
Xiao Wu tilted her head again, still a bit puzzled but growing curious.
"You wanted Mo Jianye to think all the people hitting him were part of the bandits, so you made them wear black robes and asked them not to speak," Qian Renxue pieced it all together.
"Yeah." Wu Lan nodded.
"Brother, why all this trouble? We can just kill him," Xiao Wu said innocently, still holding onto her black-and-white view of justice.
Zhu Zhuqing nodded slightly. Qian Renxue also looked at Wu Lan, her expression thoughtful, she had been thinking the same.
"Rabbit," Wu Lan sighed patiently, "you underestimate the power of background. That bastard belongs to Spirit Hall, and he might have family or influential allies. With a little investigation, they'll know Mo Jianye came to visit these villages. If they suspect foul play, they'll take revenge on the villagers. We can't let that happen."
Understanding hit Qian Renxue like a stone. She clenched her fists slightly. As someone from Spirit Hall, she knew better than anyone how far influence and power could reach. She had intended to kill Mo Jianye herself for his crimes, but she hadn't considered the aftermath.
Wu Lan had.
Such foresight. It left her impressed.
"We cannot kill him, but he needs to pay the price. Now he got punished, but all the blame falls on the bandit leader," Wu Lan added.
Xiao Wu finally understood, nodding slowly. "So… we're protecting the villagers too."
While they spoke, the villagers had already beaten Mo Jianye into a coma.
Wu Lan walked to him and quietly used his healing skill.
As the warmth of healing flowed into Mo Jianye's broken body, Wu Lan smiled faintly, he'd just received [Soul Power] as payment.
This was the plan he came up with, one that satisfied everyone, including himself.
Villagers got their justice. Wu Lan got stronger. Mo Jianye got the punishment he deserved.
Soon, the "Mo Jianye Beating Sessions" began in earnest.
Even Xiao Wu, Zhu Zhuqing, and Qian Renxue joined the fun, something about bullying a Soul Saint in a black robe made it oddly enjoyable.
Xiao Wu giggled playfully every time Mo Jianye twitched. Zhu Zhuqing remained stoic but didn't hesitate to land her blows. Qian Renxue, while usually composed, showed a spark of satisfaction each time her palm landed.
Meanwhile, Wu Lan was ecstatic, collecting rewards from a Soul Saint. Even though only 1 or 2 healing sessions out of 10 gave him actual soul power, it was still worth it.
That night, Wu Lan reached Level 50.
But then, a surprise.
His system upgraded.
The change wasn't huge, but it was exactly what he wanted most. From now on, every time he healed, instead of getting random rewards, he would get the thing he desired most from that person. While the chance of receiving rewards didn't increase, the value of what he received did.
Wu Lan was excited. If this was the upgrade at Level 50, what would Level 100 bring?
He pushed down the excitement. There was still a long way to go.
But for now, Mo Jianye would be squeezed dry.
The torture continued until every villager who had suffered at his hands felt satisfied.
Wu Lan rotated the rewards between soul power and soul ring age.
By the end, he had earned:
20,000 X [Soul Ring Age]
30 X [Soul Power]
Since Qian Renxue was present, he didn't make a soul ring immediately.
The next morning, Wu Lan transformed into Mu Yan and returned to the cave.
When Mo Jianye saw "Mu Yan," all his bottled-up rage exploded. His eyes turned red with hatred.
"Bastard! I'll kill you!!"
Every time the paralysis poison began to fade, Wu Lan applied it again.
"How's the treatment? Huh? These days… how dare you want all my money," Wu Lan said mockingly, playing the role of a scumbag perfectly.
Mo Jianye spat blood. "My family has ties with Spirit Hall! They'll find me and take revenge! You'll regret this!"
Wu Lan laughed coldly. "Hahahaha. Do you think we'll stay here? Idiot, we've already moved our base to another city."
Mo Jianye was stunned.
Before he could respond, Wu Lan knocked him unconscious, then carried him and his two guards far away, dumping them in a random open area before vanishing into the trees.
[Author's Note:
✨ Support My Writing on Patreon! ✨If you're enjoying this story and want to read up to 8 chapters ahead, consider supporting me on Patreon. Every bit of support helps me dedicate more time to writing and bringing Wu Lan's journey to life.
Thank you for being part of this journey, your support means the world! 💙
]