This Is What a Villain Is Like

Chapter 140: Chapter 88: The Seed of Disappointment Has Been Planted, So Where Is That Big Jiang Lan?

"The Young Master has traveled all day and needs to rest. Whatever business you have can wait until tomorrow."

Xia Jie, the third son of Prince Wuxuan, had come, hoping to speak with Jiang Lan in private. He saw the host of experts under Jiang Lan’s command and intended to propose a partnership to pursue the Purple Mist True Monarch’s inheritance. However, he was turned away at the door.

He scoffed inwardly but could only lead his men away in embarrassment.

Han Yiming and the others from the Ancient Inquiring Sect also took their leave. Their brief meeting had been merely a formality.

Seeing that Jiang Lan and Ling Zhuyun’s group included many powerful experts, all of them renowned young Celestial Prides, the others breathed a collective sigh of relief.

They were secretly pleased, thinking that there was strength in numbers, which would make it easier to face any danger.

The purple mist near Purple Mist Mountain was truly bizarre.

By now, no one dared to venture into it recklessly. The scouts who had gone in earlier had never returned, and their fates remained unknown.

Some of the older cultivators and the Loose Cultivators who had come to try their luck alone merely observed from a distance. After a few glances, they too relaxed, relieved that the newcomers were not of some unknown, shady origin.

"It’s getting late. Everyone should get some rest for the night."

"The mist might thin a little after dawn tomorrow. We may be able to enter the mountain then."

Jiang Lan said casually, then had his men find a brick house to clean up so they could make do for the night.

Ling Zhuyun, Li Daoyi, Luo Ying, Ao Xu, and the others nodded in agreement. After passing through the Dragon Trapping Array, they had all consumed a great deal of mental and spiritual energy and were in dire need of rest to recover.

Soon, everyone found unoccupied houses and retired for the night in small groups.

Ling Zhuyun, also feeling tired, found a random courtyard. She placed down a zafu, closed her eyes, and began to meditate.

But for some reason, Jiang Lan’s words—so strange, yet seemingly full of deeper meaning—kept echoing in her mind. ’What on earth did he mean by that?’

After a long while, she still couldn’t quiet her mind and had to force herself into a meditative state.

The world fell silent, leaving only the sound of chirping insects and the whispering wind.

「Meanwhile」

Ye Ming, who had found a house to rest in alone, was talking with Old Ghost.

But his expression, so different from the calm composure he wore in public, was now grave and filled with astonished doubt.

"Old Ghost, are you saying there’s something wrong with the array here?" he asked in disbelief.

"Naturally. I was wondering why something felt off. It wasn’t until we got here that I realized just how big the problem is."

"You never left the array at all. You merely walked from its outer layer into its core."

"And this array isn’t a Dragon Trapping Array at all. It’s a variant killing array, similar in form, but its killing intent and Evil Qi are incredibly dense. It’s not designed to trap people—it’s meant to slaughter every last person inside..." Old Ghost replied, his own voice tinged with surprise.

Even he hadn’t anticipated such a problem.

Logically, a being like the Purple Mist True Monarch—known for his benevolence, kindness, and sincerity—wouldn’t have left behind a fake inheritance, much less created such a deadly killing array.

’This is meant to annihilate everyone who enters.’

’Does he want people to be buried with him? Unfortunately, my memory is too hazy; I can’t recall many details.’

He vaguely recalled meeting the Purple Mist True Monarch... and that a disciple he once guided had some connection to him...

"Old Ghost, do you think someone might have deliberately spread rumors about the Purple Mist True Monarch’s inheritance to lure people here, just to trap and kill them all?"

"I was wondering back then why news of the Purple Mist True Monarch’s inheritance would suddenly spread out of nowhere and become so widely known."

"Looking at it now, someone definitely did this on purpose, spreading the news to lure people in..." Ye Ming said, his expression heavy.

His analysis wasn’t without merit.

’But the mastermind behind this is truly vicious, luring so many people here.’

Over a dozen Immortal Sects were involved, and many Noble Families within the Great Xia had also sent their younger members.

If they were all to perish here, the resulting uproar would be earth-shattering.

"The more people, the more chaos. Isn’t that better for you? Your goal is still the Purple Mist True Monarch’s inheritance, after all. You’re no stranger to fishing in troubled waters," Old Ghost said.

Ye Ming nodded. "You’re right. I doubt many people have realized there’s a problem with this array yet."

"Since no one else has noticed, this is the perfect opportunity to get rid of Jiang Lan. He might not have suspected me on the way here, but I can’t stand his attitude. Besides, I feel like his eyes keep lingering on Zhu Yun."

"That’s something I won’t tolerate."

"If that guy really sets his sights on Zhu Yun, who knows what kind of underhanded tricks he’ll use to coerce her? Just look at that female disciple from the Jasper Pool Sect at the Drunken Immortal Residence. Hasn’t he trained her to be completely docile and obedient now?"

At the mention of this, a cold and resentful look appeared in his eyes.

Old Ghost heard the resentment in his voice and chuckled. ’Heh, youthful bravado, jealousy... all very common.’

’It’s not as if Ling Zhuyun is guaranteed to fall for Ye Ming, though.’

’He has a long and difficult road ahead if he wants to win her over.’

"I’ll use this opportunity tonight to find the real path into the mountain and do some scouting. Then, when chaos erupts, I’ll grab the chance to lead Zhu Yun ahead."

"As for Jiang Lan, if he wants to get his hands on the inheritance, he can stay here and wait to die. After he’s dead, the Prime Minister’s Mansion will only look for the mastermind to blame. It’ll have nothing to do with me."