Daily Life of a Villain at Work [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 80

Chapter 80: The Eighth Day of Being an Evil Spirit

Wen Qingyun squinted slightly at the System’s choice of words. “Cultivated values and perceptions”—it sounded like the rabbit hole went quite deep.

“Regarding the ‘Heavenly Mandate’ of the protagonist you mentioned earlier,” Wen Qingyun asked, “is Chu Yu the only one who doesn’t know about it?”

[The circle of those in the know isn’t that wide, but the protagonist is born as an extraordinary existence.]

[Host, a protagonist carrying a Heavenly Mandate is the vital key to the world’s existence. If the protagonist fails to fulfill their destiny, it is possible for the small world to head toward destruction.]

[If the world is destroyed, even if the Host’s task completion is 100%, the final converted points won’t be very high.]

“Can the Evil Demon only be sealed by Chu Yu alone?” Wen Qingyun questioned.

[Yes, that is the rule governing the operation of this small world. This point cannot be easily changed.]

[Or rather, no one can change it except for the Host, who is an outsider.]

“Even if Chu Yu wants to change it, she can’t?” Wen Qingyun remarked noncommittally. “Theoretically, Chu Yu should also possess the power to change the world’s operating rules.”

[In principle, yes, but as the protagonist, her experiences are largely arranged and designed. According to the rules, only the protagonist can seal the demon; this is something the Host cannot change, no matter how strong you become.]

[In this world, no second person can be found to serve as the eye of the formation.]

Wen Qingyun remained indifferent. Her task appeared to be playing the villain, but from a deeper logic, whether as a villain or a protagonist, the role of outsiders like her was to patch up the imperfections of small worlds and help them go further.

An imperfect world meant everything was possible. As long as the demon was prevented from escaping to harm the mortal realm, whether Chu Yu became the formation eye or not was unimportant.

Knock, knock—

A knock sounded at the door. Wen Qingyun opened it to find her mother holding a fruit platter.

“You and your friend…” Wen’s mother was a bit worried, so she used delivering snacks as an excuse to check on the situation.

However, the scene inside the room was somewhat unexpected. She had thought her daughter might be bullied, but looking at the person lying on the bed, the reality seemed to be the opposite.

“Have some fruit, it’s all your favorites.” The worry in Wen’s mother’s eyes vanished, replaced by a genuine smile.

As long as her daughter was fine, it didn’t matter what happened to anyone else.

“Thanks, Mom.” Wen Qingyun flashed a smile.

“Is your friend staying for dinner?” her mother asked.

Wen Qingyun pondered for a moment, thinking of Chu Yu’s condition, and nodded slowly. “Mom, just make one extra dish. My friend has a small appetite and can’t eat much.”

“Alright, whatever you say.” Her mother’s eyes were tender. “I’ll go prep in the kitchen. If you need anything, just come call me.”

“Okay, Mom.” Wen Qingyun took the platter and gave her mother a hug.

After closing the door again, Wen Qingyun began surfing the internet while eating the fruit.

Judging by the trending searches, everything seemed peaceful—mostly celebrity news.

But if one searched for specific keywords, it was easy to find a mountain of violent incidents and various judgments that seemed extremely unfair.

Particularly regarding gender issues, marriage seemed to serve as a protective shield for some, and being drunk supposedly reduced one’s crime by three degrees. If your gender was male, congratulations, you would receive many “favors.”

This situation was wrong. At least in Wen Qingyun’s eyes, simply suppressing this news would only lead to more incidents until the day everything exploded beyond control.

“Are those in power sitting in high positions for so long that they can no longer see the suffering of ordinary people?” Wen Qingyun frowned slightly.

If things continued to develop this way, she would only need to go out for a stroll every day to become stronger.

Strictly speaking, it wasn’t just her; any non-human creature associated with ghosts and monsters could grow stronger at a rapid pace.

[It’s not that they don’t see it, but they can’t find a suitable solution. The risk of change is far higher than maintaining the status quo,] the System paused. [The Host should have felt it too; the negative emotions in the air have accumulated to an unignorable amount.]

“Are you trying to say this is the inevitable development of this world?” Wen Qingyun raised an eyebrow.

[Yes. The Evil Demon will awaken through these negative emotions. Once the protagonist fulfills their mission, everything will improve. This is a vital part of the world’s operation, and also its inherent flaw.]

[When the protagonist completes the Mandate, the underlying rules of the world will be updated.]

Wen Qingyun remained noncommittal. No one could stop what she wanted to do, regardless of the world’s operating rules.

There is no construction without destruction. Flawed rules are meant to be broken, not patched up with superficial fixes.

…

The Verification

By the time Wen Qingyun had finished most of the fruit, the resting Chu Yu slowly woke up, her body regaining some strength.

“You’re awake. Want some?” Wen Qingyun speared a piece of apple with a fork and turned to look at Chu Yu.

Chu Yu stared blankly for three seconds before getting off the bed. With slightly unsteady steps, she walked to Wen Qingyun’s side and leaned down to bite the apple.

Chu Yu’s cheeks puffed out slightly as she chewed, the sweet juice filling her mouth.

Wen Qingyun speared a second piece and held it out. Chu Yu didn’t refuse, her cheeks puffing even more.

When Wen Qingyun speared the third piece, Chu Yu straightened up and stepped back. Her intuition told her that eating two pieces was best.

“Things shouldn’t be done in threes.” If she ate the third, she might have to pay a price elsewhere.

Dissatisfied that her little scheme had failed, Wen Qingyun stuffed the remaining three pieces into her own mouth.

“I’ll contact you next month. Goodbye,” Chu Yu said, preparing to leave.

“I told my mom my friend is staying for dinner,” Wen Qingyun said. “If you consider us friends, then leave after eating.”

Chu Yu paused and turned. “You think we’re friends?”

“You think we aren’t?” Wen Qingyun narrowed her eyes with a familiar threat. “Are you sure?”

Chu Yu: “…”

“Friends. We are friends.” Chu Yu sighed silently. “Just tell me what you need me to do.”

“Nothing. Just have you taste my mom’s cooking. She’s an amazing cook~” Wen Qingyun laughed, her eyes showing a sincerity Chu Yu had never seen before.

This made Chu Yu dazed for a moment. This ghost, who usually threatened her and acted recklessly based on strength—was she actually a “mommy’s girl”?

Wen Qingyun: “What is it? Have you ever eaten your mother’s cooking?”

Chu Yu pursed her lips. “I don’t know who my parents are. I’ve never seen them.”

“You were abandoned?” A flash of curiosity appeared in Wen Qingyun’s eyes.

Chu Yu shook her head. “I received gifts from them when I was little, but… later we had very little contact.”

“My fate is special. Those related to me by blood are better off far away from me. Otherwise, they become very unlucky or face life-threatening danger.”

Wen Qingyun was dismissive. “Do you know your birth details (Ba Zi)?”

“Of course,” Chu Yu said without hesitation.

Wen Qingyun: “Then can’t you read your own chart? Is your fate really that of the ‘Lone Star of Heavenly Slaughter’?”

“I checked. My Ba Zi is indeed unsuitable for close contact with relatives,” Chu Yu explained. “It’s not as severe as the Lone Star; it only affects those with blood ties.”

Wen Qingyun sneered. Combining the information she knew, she was certain the birth details Chu Yu memorized were absolutely wrong.

The so-called “clash with relatives” was likely fabricated to achieve a certain purpose.

“I’m not lying to you.” Chu Yu frowned, not understanding Wen Qingyun’s attitude.

Seeing Chu Yu’s honest and gullible appearance, Wen Qingyun found her more and more irritating and decided to be blunt.

“It might not be a lie to you, but it is to me. What ‘fate’? It’s just a means to control you.”

“Without the company of family, you subconsciously rely on those who show you kindness. Let me guess, is it a high-ranking member of the Mystery Sect, or your Master?”

“It’s not my Master,” Chu Yu reflexively retorted.

“Then it’s a high-ranking Sect member,” Wen Qingyun concluded.

Chu Yu bit her lip. She wanted to argue, but she was speechless. The person who arranged her childhood was indeed the current Sect Master—who was a high-ranking official then and also her… Grandmaster.

“Verifying your fate is simple. Just give me your birth details,” Wen Qingyun tilted her head. “I can curse the person who owns those details. If you don’t react, then the Ba Zi is fake.”

Previously, Chu Yu would have dismissed this as nonsense. But now, her perceptions shattered, she wavered. She was tempted.

“Don’t worry, it’s just a curse equivalent to sneezing ten times. Even if you provide someone else’s details, it won’t really hurt anyone.”

Chu Yu wrote the details she had memorized on a piece of paper. Wen Qingyun glanced at it, consumed the paper with ghostly qi, and cast a curse for twelve consecutive sneezes.

“Hmm?” Wen Qingyun raised an eyebrow as the curse took effect instantly. “Looks like some unlucky person is about to sneeze twelve times.”

“But,” she added, “it seems that person isn’t you.”

Chu Yu said nothing, sitting silently on the sofa and staring out the window, lost in thought.

[Congratulations Host, task completion has increased. Current progress: 55%.]

“System, do you think I’m a bad person?”

[The Host is a very successful villain.]

“True. Attacking the protagonist and making her doubt her life—isn’t that exactly what a villain does?” Wen Qingyun looked at Chu Yu and sat down right next to her.

Chu Yu: “…”

…

The Dinner and the Reckoning

The dinner atmosphere was warm, though Chu Yu’s smile was a bit forced. Wen’s mother, noticing this, comforted her. “Did something happen? Not everyone is worth your sincerity. Let time wash it away.”

Chu Yu looked at the mother and daughter. “Is it the same between relatives?”

“That depends on how you define ‘relatives,'” Wen’s mother said gently. “To me, only those who can be treated with sincerity can be called family.”

Chu Yu said nothing, stuffing food into her mouth to dull the ache in her heart.

“Others might lie to you, but I won’t,” Wen Qingyun added. “I will always keep you in my heart.”

Chu Yu’s chopsticks paused. Was Wen Qingyun keeping her in her heart, or just eyeing the blood in her veins?

By the end of July, the human traffickers had mostly been caught, but the legal process was slow. Chu Yu knew Wen Qingyun would act.

In the eyes of those in power, public opinion was controllable. But the belief that “ghosts exist” and “evil deeds bring retribution” was spreading. People who didn’t fear the law began to fear ghostly vengeance.

At the end of July, Wen Qingyun acted. She didn’t hide. During police interrogations, criminals began to go mad in front of the cameras, biting off their tongues or smashing their heads against tables.

On the last day of July, dozens of criminals escaped their restraints, lined up on a rooftop, and jumped one by one. Their bodies landed to form the words: “I AM GUILTY.”