This Is What a Villain Is Like

Chapter 161: Chapter 91: Even the Saintess Is Handled, the Crowd Is Furious

After a moment, he said nonchalantly, "There’s no need for apologies. If you truly feel sorry, then go kill that Ye fellow."

"If you can’t do it, don’t say such things. You haven’t done anything to wrong me, so why put on this act of wanting to make it up to me?"

Ling Zhuyun was stunned.

Another long silence followed.

Jiang Lan sensed the providence surging into his Mud Ball Palace, but he wasn’t surprised by this development.

’Letting their imagination run wild has always been a woman’s nature,’ Jiang Lan thought. ’Even Ling Zhuyun, the Saintess of the Jasper Pool Sect, is no exception.’

’Although Lin Fan’s death changed the original plot and even led to Ling Zhuyun and Ye Ming having an encounter, Ling Zhuyun’s personality hasn’t changed one bit.’

’To get a handle on her, I have to start with her personality and the environment she grew up in.’

’She grew up in the Jasper Pool Sect, where her master placed great hopes in her, instilling her with all sorts of ideals. She has remained utterly spotless her entire life, pure and ethereal.’

’She represents not just herself, but the great Jasper Pool Sect behind her.’

’That’s why when she travels the world, she aids the common people and upholds justice, bringing fame and glory to the Jasper Pool Sect.’

’She even considers the Jasper Pool Sect more important than her own life.’

’Out of admiration for Ye Ming, she broke her principles for the first time and lied for him—and in front of the younger generation of all the Immortal Sects, no less. This has become her greatest psychological vulnerability.’

’Deep down, she’s afraid I’ll use this to threaten her, but I haven’t done that.’

’From the very beginning, what I’ve wanted is her heart. Otherwise, with my current power, taking her body would be laughably easy.’

"Young Master Jiang, if we delay any longer, someone else might beat us to the inheritance in the Purple Mist True Monarch’s Cave Mansion," Ling Zhuyun suddenly said, her eyes, as clear as autumn pools, fixed on Jiang Lan.

"It’s fine. Mengning will be here to find me soon," Jiang Lan said.

Ling Zhuyun fell silent for a moment before asking, "Young Master Jiang, do you find me a burden?"

"Not really. I’m just worried that if that Ye fellow sees you with me, he’ll get the urge to kill me again," Jiang Lan said.

"..."

Ling Zhuyun took a soft breath to calm herself. "Young Master Jiang, you’re being very childish. My relationship with Ye isn’t what you think it is."

Seeing that Jiang Lan remained completely unmoved, Ling Zhuyun reached up with a slender hand, seeming to rub the space between her brows. "If he dares to make a move on you, I will protect you."

At her words, Jiang Lan remained perfectly composed where he sat, not even bothering to lift an eyelid.

"Young Master Jiang, you had best listen to me. I’m sure you wouldn’t want other people to find out about the secret you’re hiding, would you?"

Ling Zhuyun seemed to sigh internally before deliberately putting on a fierce expression to threaten him.

But on her face, such an expression just looked indescribably odd.

Jiang Lan almost laughed. "Are you sure you’re not worried about the impropriety of physical contact between a man and a woman?"

"Weren’t you the one who carried me into this grotto after I fainted, Young Master Jiang?"

"A fair point..."

A moment later, Jiang Lan was experiencing the full meaning of the phrase "a soft, fragrant armful." The sensation was as soft and delicate as a light feather.

Through her snow-white dress, he could faintly glimpse her fair, crystalline skin. Her neck was long and pale, as perfect as a swan’s.

A pleasant, subtle fragrance wafted around him, making him want to bury his face in its source.

At that moment, however, Ling Zhuyun’s body was a bit stiff, the base of her ears flushing a fiery red.

It had sounded simple enough, but only now that she was doing it did she realize how bold and transgressive her actions were.

Aside from when she was unconscious earlier, she had never in her entire life had such physical contact with a member of the opposite sex.

She could feel Jiang Lan’s warm breath on her fair neck, sending her thoughts into a tangled mess. She had to fight the subconscious urge to simply drop him.

"Young... Young Master Jiang, stop messing around..." she stammered, forcing herself to remain calm.

"Alright."

Jiang Lan’s voice echoed beside her delicate ear, causing her flawless face to flush crimson in an instant.

Her slender hands clenched involuntarily, then relaxed again.

After leaving the grotto, Ling Zhuyun carried Jiang Lan toward the location where the Purple Mist True Monarch’s Cave Mansion had manifested.

Along the way, however, she deliberately avoided other cultivators, as if terrified of anyone seeing them.

Jiang Lan, for his part, made idle chitchat with her.

"Am I the first man to see your true face?"

"Among men, yes..."

"So it seems I’ve taken Saintess Zhu Yun’s first."

"..." ’I really should have just left him in that grotto for Li Mengning to rescue,’ Ling Zhuyun thought.

"Is it true that the Saintess of the Jasper Pool Sect can’t marry? I’ve heard some rumors to the contrary. How about I have my father come and propose a marriage arrangement someday...?"

"..."

Ling Zhuyun was discovering one of his favorite pastimes: teasing her just to watch her get flustered and annoyed.

So after that, whenever Jiang Lan said such things, she simply pretended not to hear him.

Seeing he was getting nowhere, Jiang Lan could only let out a sigh of feigned regret.

Beneath her veil, a small smile touched Ling Zhuyun’s lips. For some reason, she felt a strange sense of ease around Jiang Lan.

She didn’t have to constantly watch her every word and action like before, terrified of tarnishing the Jasper Pool Sect’s reputation.

It was a casual, relaxed feeling, the likes of which she had never experienced before.

And Jiang Lan didn’t care about her status as the Saintess of the Jasper Pool Sect. He lacked the reverence and fear others showed her. Instead, he was always finding ways to tease her, trying to see the contrast to her usual holy demeanor.