This Is What a Villain Is Like

Chapter 184: Chapter 95: Indefensible, What More Is There to Say? He Is Beyond Your Comparison

He wanted to ask her what had happened while he was away and why she had grown so close to Jiang Lan.

But right now, Ling Zhuyun clearly didn’t recognize him. Her aura was glacial, her face a mask of frost, and her attack was utterly ruthless.

A brilliant radiance suddenly bore down from ahead, coalescing like a shower of light into the shape of the Moon God’s hand, so clear that even its palm lines were visible.

BOOM! Heaven and earth trembled violently as the waves of Bihu Lake below erupted.

The faces of many cultivators changed. They had no choice but to fall back, unable to withstand Ling Zhuyun’s strike.

’Zhu Yun is truly powerful. She’s much stronger than the last time I saw her fight.’

Ye Ming was stunned. He didn’t want to fight Ling Zhuyun, so even though her attack enveloped him as well, he retreated out of instinct.

But he quickly understood her motive. She was trying to help Jiang Lan seize the Four Saints Ancient Celestial Skill.

’No, I can’t back down. I especially can’t let her help that Jiang Lan.’

Realizing this, Ye Ming summoned his Bronze Ancient Lamp. Flames slithered out like a serpent and, with a BANG, collided with Ling Zhuyun’s strike.

At the same time, he used Magic, his form flickering unpredictably before he vanished on the spot.

"Ye?"

Her face a mask of frost, Ling Zhuyun sensed the fluctuation. She froze for a moment, then looked toward the person who had just clashed with her.

She remembered him. Just a moment ago, the Four Saints Illusion had questioned and rebuked him, deeming him weighed down by grave sins and unworthy of its acknowledgment.

’And this aura... could it be Ye Ming? I’ve worked with him before, and I think I’ve seen him use a technique like this.’

"Ye, is that you?"

She struck again, pursuing him while sending a telepathic message, trying to confirm if he was truly Ye Ming.

Ye Ming was surprised as well. ’I didn’t use any of my signature techniques. How did she recognize me?’

However, he didn’t respond. He was a public enemy now, branded as an affiliate of the Blood Immortal Sect. If his identity were exposed here, many people would likely turn on him and attack him together.

He was determined to obtain the Four Saints Ancient Celestial Skill, and not even Ling Zhuyun could stop him.

"Ye, I’ve seen you use similar techniques before. You don’t have to hide. I know it’s you."

When Ye Ming didn’t answer, Ling Zhuyun’s brow furrowed. The suspicion in her heart grew, and she sent another telepathic message, stating outright that she knew who he was.

Hearing her words, Ye Ming felt a sense of helplessness. He paused for a moment and quickly sent a telepathic reply, "Zhu Yun, things are complicated right now. I’ve been framed as an accomplice of the Blood Immortal Sect, so it’s not good for me to be seen with you."

"Once this is over, I’ll find you and explain everything. I know you believe in me."

"The Four Saints Ancient Celestial Skill is right here. I need your help to seize it. This Ancient Celestial Skill is very important to me."

"You don’t have to be too obvious about it, just block the others for me. Once I succeed, I’ll reward you handsomely."

Ling Zhuyun’s brow remained tightly furrowed. She asked, "The Four Saints Illusion clearly didn’t approve of you, so why are you still trying to seize the skill?"

Ye Ming knew her character, but he had no choice. He couldn’t bring himself to give up on such a great opportunity.

"Great opportunities are for the worthy. Everyone is fighting for this, so why can’t I? You know my background. I don’t come from privilege. I have to fight for every opportunity I get. Even if I don’t, someone else will end up taking this Four Saints Ancient Celestial Skill..." he explained.

"You’re just making excuses. There are so many Celestial Prides here, yet the Four Saints Illusion singled you out for rebuke and rejection. How do you explain that? I trusted you so much. Are you really going to lie to me, even now?" Ling Zhuyun’s eyes were cold, her voice tinged with anguish.

In fact, the moment Ye Ming admitted his identity, she had already understood. Why had the Four Saints Illusion rebuked and rejected Ye Ming, and no one else?

Though everyone else found it unbelievable and absurd that the Four Saints Illusion would approve of Jiang Lan, she felt it made perfect sense. In fact, she found it only natural.

Jiang Lan’s reputation was atrocious. He was the most infamous wastrel heir in all of Great Xia—an arrogant, domineering bully who threw his weight around. People avoided him like the plague. At times, he was indeed detestable and childish.

But there was absolutely nothing wrong with his character or disposition.

Who else, after contracting the Heart-devouring Disease, could endure so many years of pain and torment?

’If his intentions were truly malicious, he would have cured his Heart-devouring Disease long ago by consuming someone’s Heart’s Blood. Would he have chosen to suffer alone instead?’

’Ye Ming, on the other hand, seems open and righteous, but he harbors sinister intentions. He maliciously gained my trust only to use it for his grand schemes.’

"Zhu Yun, let me explain. What happened earlier was an accident, it really wasn’t because of me..."

Ye Ming’s expression changed. ’The existence of the Old Ghost is my greatest secret. How can I possibly explain that to Ling Zhuyun?’

But the incident with the Four Saints Illusion left him unable to defend himself; he had no idea how to explain it.

"Enough."

"You’ve disappointed me more than I can say."

Ling Zhuyun’s beautiful face was frosty as she raised a pristine, jade-like hand, her killing intent bone-chillingly cold.

’If it wasn’t his fault, then whose was it? Someone else’s? The Four Saints Illusion’s?’

"You’re actually trying to kill me?"

Feeling the frigid killing intent radiating from Ling Zhuyun, Ye Ming’s expression changed again. "You’re going to kill me over this?" he asked, his voice filled with disbelief.

"Isn’t colluding with the Blood Immortal Sect reason enough?" Ling Zhuyun said coldly.

"Heh, so even you believe I’m in league with the Blood Immortal Sect?"

"Did that Jiang Lan tell you something? He’s not a good person. Don’t let him fool you..."

"Enough! Young Master Jiang may not be a ’good person,’ but he’s nothing like a despicable, scheming villain such as yourself."

Ling Zhuyun’s face was a mask of ice as she cut him off.

She raised her pale, jade-like hand. The Void behind her rippled, and what seemed like millions of shockwaves spread out, forming a terrifying vision.

Within it, a bright moon hung high above rippling azure waves, bathed in an endless, self-sustaining flow of iridescent light that contained a tyrannical power of annihilation.

BOOM!!!

Moonlight flooded the air. With a flick of Ling Zhuyun’s hand, the Moon Wheel descended upon Ye Ming, threatening to crush him.

"Zhu Yun, you..."

Seeing Ling Zhuyun’s cold and resolute attack, Ye Ming’s expression turned utterly grim. He still didn’t know how to explain himself, so all he could do was try to dodge backward.

But just then, a piercing, blood-red light shot toward them.

A blood-red mist billowed from within it, forming a massive, crimson handprint that shot across the sky. It slammed directly into Ling Zhuyun’s attack, shattering the Moon Wheel and causing it to dissipate into a sky full of iridescent light.

A figure shrouded in blood mist appeared in front of Ye Ming. It was impossibly blurry; all that could be seen were a pair of terrifying, emotionless, blood-red eyes.

It was the same blood-red figure who had launched a surprise attack earlier, trying to snatch the orb of light formed by the Four Saints Illusion.

"Who are you?"

Ye Ming was shaken. He never imagined someone would appear to help him at a time like this. But upon recognizing the figure, his expression became utterly grim.

’What is the meaning of this? Does even the Blood Immortal Sect think I’m one of them? Or are they deliberately trying to frame me?’

He quickly realized that now, he would never be able to clear his name.

Whether the Blood Immortal Sect’s intervention was intentional or not, the cold and furious Ling Zhuyun would never listen to his explanations now.