This Is What a Villain Is Like

Chapter 138: Chapter 87: Once a Fissure in Trust Widens, This Is the Taste

With a low shout, Ye Ming let his Magical Power surge, flooding into the Compass.

He had discussed his plans with the Old Ghost before coming here and was fully prepared. The Compass in his hand was a wondrous object that had once breached a deadly trap, and it held the very mysteries of creation.

The next moment, a hazy radiance appeared on the Compass, interwoven with the traces of the stars of All Heavens.

And as he began to chant, a hazy scene began to evolve around them, giving rise to countless changes.

The few old men who still doubted and looked down on Ye Ming suddenly stared wide-eyed at the sight, as if they couldn’t believe it.

One of them even cried out, "How is this possible? This is the Acupoint Searching and Positioning Skill recorded in the Complete Celestial Geomancy Scripture..."

Ye Ming’s expression remained impassive as he continued his deductions.

"Zhenfang, stop after thirteen steps..."

"Li Fang, only eight steps..."

"Gen Fang, nine steps..."

Then, a streak of cyan light shot out from the Compass, heading toward Zhenfang—the east—and vanished into the thick fog.

Seeing this, everyone was astonished. They had never imagined that Ye Ming could actually find a way to break and escape the array.

Ye Ming didn’t offer any explanation, simply suppressing the secret satisfaction he felt as he walked forward.

A smile touched Ling Zhuyun’s lips. Without questioning whether Ye Ming’s deductions were right or wrong, she followed right behind him, her trust in him absolute.

Jiang Lan also wiped the smile from his lips and leisurely followed along.

"Saintess Zhu Yun’s friend is really something. Even the masters from the Celestial Craftsmanship Creation Institute are far inferior to him."

"It seems I truly misjudged him," he remarked, as if unconcerned.

"How is that possible?"

"How could someone his age do this? Could it be that he knew about this array beforehand?"

The old men were still somewhat dazed, unable to believe what they were seeing.

Based on their own understanding, there was no way for them to comprehend this scene.

The art of arrays was, by its very nature, infinitely complex and unpredictable.

Unless one was the person who set up the array, how could anyone else break it so easily, finding the correct path without even needing much in the way of deductions?

"Ye’s accomplishments in arrays are extremely high. This shouldn’t be difficult for him," Ling Zhuyun replied.

"Does Saintess Zhu Yun trust him that much?" Jiang Lan suddenly asked.

Ling Zhuyun didn’t understand what he meant. She had a feeling that back at the tea brewing assembly, Jiang Lan had said some strange things to her, words that seemed to carry a deeper meaning. Although she had thought back on it later, she still didn’t know what he was getting at.

A hint of confusion appeared in her eyes. She paused briefly and looked at Jiang Lan.

But he said nothing more, only shaking his head slightly before leisurely following along.

Ling Zhuyun didn’t dwell on it. Compared to Jiang Lan, she naturally trusted Ye Ming more.

Whether it was his character or his temperament, Jiang Lan—an arrogant, domineering scion who relied on his family’s power to bully others—was no match for Ye Ming.

’Of course, Jiang Lan understood Ling Zhuyun’s thoughts. As a qualified homewrecker—pah, no—as the most devoted man in the Great Xia, it was his duty to make Ling Zhuyun see Ye Ming’s true face.’

’Both his words at the tea brewing assembly and his words today were all part of his calculations.’

’It was true that Ling Zhuyun admired Ye Ming, but this admiration was predicated on his honest and sincere nature.’

’Once that trust was cracked, it could never be repaired.’

’Ye Ming knew full well how much Ling Zhuyun hated the Blood Immortal Sect, yet he still went to the Blood Red Plateau, coveting the sect’s legacy.’

’He had definitely been hiding this from Ling Zhuyun, and that was the biggest reason Jiang Lan was certain Ye Ming would make a perfect scapegoat.’

With Ye Ming leading the way, there were naturally no further mishaps.

Soon, the group had followed Ye Ming’s guided deductions for several long hours.

The thick purple fog before them finally began to dissipate, revealing a wide mountain range and a lush, ancient forest ahead.

A thin mist drifted about as a cold moon hung high in the sky, clear and bright.

They had finally walked out of the Ancient Array and arrived at the outskirts of Purple Mist Mountain.

Aside from the cultivators who had arrived at the very beginning, it could be said that no one else had yet set foot in this place.

"I didn’t let you down."

Ye Ming put away his Compass and gave Ling Zhuyun a small smile.

"Thank you for your hard work, Ye," Ling Zhuyun said gratefully.

"Young man, you’re truly amazing. Could it be you already knew about this array and specifically studied it?"

"Otherwise, how could you have not made a single wrong step?"

The old men looked at Ye Ming, still filled with shock and astonishment.

During the entire journey, aside from swallowing some Elixir Pills to restore his Divine Soul, Ye Ming had made almost no extraneous movements. He had just found the correct path and led them out.

It felt unbelievable to them, like something out of a dream.

"It was just a stroke of luck. I happened to have read some records about this array in a few ancient scripture scrolls..." Ye Ming said with feigned modesty. ’With his own ability, there was no way he could have found the correct path so quickly.’

’He had relied on the Old Ghost this entire time. Of course, that was his secret.’

"Ye truly lives up to your reputation as the Array Master Saintess Zhu Yun spoke of. I was blind before. I wonder if Ye has any interest in serving my Prime Minister’s Mansion? The Prime Minister’s Mansion is in need of a Celestial Pride like yourself," Jiang Lan stepped forward at that moment, chuckling as he reached out to pat Ye Ming’s shoulder.

Ye Ming’s expression stiffened. He hadn’t sensed Jiang Lan approaching him at all.

His entire body tensed up in high alert. He knew that Jiang Lan concealed his true abilities, and his strength was terrifying. He didn’t dare underestimate him in the slightest.

"Thank you for your high regard, Young Master Jiang. I’m used to being a free spirit and am afraid I’m not suited for such an important position in the Prime Minister’s Mansion. If I were to cause trouble, I would truly be failing your trust," he replied hastily, putting on a show of being overwhelmed by the offer.