The Black Lotus Villain is Saving Himself! - Chapter 3

Not long ago, Fu Yun walked toward Xu Yuan and requested to change teams.

Inside his mind, the System fretted: “Host, are you really leaving the team? Without the Protagonist, how are we going to sneak into the core of the Secret Realm?”

Fu Yun’s mental voice remained composed. “It is just an act.”

Facing the crowd on the spirit boat, Fu Yun said, “The Internal Affairs Office has always maintained a clear division of labor. I was not involved in the registration for the Secret Realm at all; another senior brother was responsible. If Junior Brother Xu misunderstands because of this, then let us ask the Elder to reallocate the teams.”

After speaking, he headed straight toward the Elder.

Upon hearing the word “Elder,” Xu Yuan’s heart tightened. He instinctively moved to stop Fu Yun. He could not let this reach the Elder. The Elder represented the sect. Even if a disciple had doubts, they must never question authority in public.

The disciples of the Taiyi Sect held immense reverence for their sect. They were raised, educated, and provided for by the sect from a young age. To speak against it was to make oneself an enemy of ten thousand people.

Xu Yuan did not intend to start a fight; he only wanted to block Fu Yun to negotiate privately. However, in his haste, his spiritual power fluctuated. Attacks accompanied by several talismans slipped from his grip and flew directly toward Fu Yun’s back.

Fu Yun seemed prepared. With a light flick of his sleeve, several talismans were frozen in mid-air. Then, the talismans reversed direction and sealed off all of Xu Yuan’s paths of retreat.

Another teammate rushed over to intervene. Seeing the scene, he said in surprise, “Senior Brother Fu’s control over talismans is so exquisite. Have you entered the Path of Talismans?”

Fu Yun pulled back his sleeves as the talismans fell harmlessly back into Xu Yuan’s bag. “I have only dabbled in simple, superficial talismans. I have made a fool of myself.”

Over the years, unable to obtain high-level cultivation techniques, Fu Yun had repeatedly studied the basic charms provided by the sect until they were etched into his bones. The miscellaneous studies disdained by other Taiyi disciples were the foundation of his survival.

Even these simple talismans were enough to leave Xu Yuan overwhelmed. If Fu Yun was unfit for the team, then what did that say about Xu Yuan, who had just been suppressed by him?

Xu Yuan, hindered by his teammates and enduring the mocking or questioning gazes of the onlookers, was a volatile person. With his blood boiling, he shouted, “If you have the ability, do not use talismans! Let us compete fairly again!”

“Xu Yuan, calm down!”

As Xu Yuan clamored, Fu Yun remained silent. He slowly looked over Xu Yuan, his gaze still gentle.

“Very well,” Fu Yun said. “But I have had too little actual combat experience and fear I might not know my own strength. If we are to compete, please sign a Life-and-Death Waiver. Swords have no eyes; we shall each leave our fate to the heavens. How does that sound?”

Xu Yuan went silent. His teammates were stunned. This gentle, almost bland senior brother had just casually spoken words of a fight to the death.

Before Xu Yuan could recover his senses, a streak of sword energy grazed past his eyes and severed a lock of his hair.

Xie Lingjun’s expression was as cold as ever. “Xu Yuan, you can leave now.” He then turned toward Fu Yun. This was the first time he had looked Fu Yun in the eye, though his gaze remained emotionless. “Senior Brother Fu, please stay.”

The surrounding disciples were in an uproar, thinking that Xie Lingjun was incredibly overbearing.

Before Fu Yun could respond, a clear, bright voice broke the deadlock in the corner. “Lingjun.”

Xie Yun approached with a breeze-like smile, striding from the front of the spirit boat. He had finally finished his conversation with the Elder and arrived to smooth things over.

If Xie Lingjun’s first impression was coldness, Xie Yun was the exact opposite. One would first be drawn to his naturally curly brown hair. His features were deep and sharp, suggesting a hint of foreign ancestry. He was handsome, and when he smiled, a small tiger tooth peeked out, making him look harmless and sincere.

Standing together, Xie Yun and Xie Lingjun were like a radiant sun and a cold moon, complementing each other perfectly.

Fu Yun could read lips. He clearly saw Xie Yun whisper to Lingjun, “Coordinating the team is my responsibility. Xu Yuan is narrow-minded. If he ends up resenting you, it will create unnecessary karma, and I would feel guilty.”

Fu Yun felt a bit disappointed. Xie Yun looked high-spirited and showed no signs of insomnia or Qi Deviation. The last time they met was ten years ago.

Before revealing his talent, Xie Yun was often mocked and bullied by his peers. Being jumped at the martial arts field or having cold water poured on his bedsheets were common occurrences. How could people not be jealous of a student with Five Spiritual Roots being accepted by a Saint?

Fu Yun had noticed the Master’s focus on the youngest disciple and deliberately approached to look after Xie Yun. A year later, after gaining a bit of Xie Yun’s trust, Fu Yun did not protect him on the day Xie Yun attempted to reach the Golden Core stage. Instead, he led the bullies there to interfere.

That was likely the first failure of Xie Yun’s life.

Xie Yun was no saint. Over the past ten years, the disciples who had bullied him met with accidents one after another, ending up either dead or disabled. Fu Yun suspected his turn was next.

Fu Yun focused intensely, his eyes never leaving Xie Yun. He was born with affectionate eyes, making it look as though he were deliberately beaming at Xie Yun.

Xie Lingjun, possessing sharp senses, noticed Fu Yun’s unusual focus on his cousin. His brow furrowed, and his fingers gripped his scabbard so hard they turned red.

After comforting Xie Lingjun, Xie Yun turned to the pale, trembling Xu Yuan.

Xie Yun said, “You may stay, but you must obtain Senior Brother Fu’s consent.”

Xu Yuan’s face was flushed with either anger or shame. He bowed slightly toward Fu Yun and finally spoke like a human being. “Senior Brother Fu, I have offended you. Tell me how I can compensate you.”

Fu Yun offered a kind smile, even as he said, “Since Junior Brother has admitted defeat, according to our wager, you should voluntarily leave the team.”

The expressions of those nearby began to crack. Xie Yun was personally mediating the team dynamics, yet Fu Yun acted as if he did not understand. He was giving Xie Yun no face at all.

Xie Yun’s reaction remained unchanged; he did not lose his composure. He said, “Xu Yuan was indeed impolite, and I apologize to Senior Brother on his behalf again. However, the Secret Realm is dangerous. Xu Yuan has a Fire Root, which naturally counters wood-attribute magical beasts. Could Senior Brother be magnanimous and take a step back?”

His gaze toward Fu Yun was clear and purely professional, like that of a stranger.

Fu Yun returned a polite smile and then lowered his eyelashes, appearing to give a bitter laugh. “But I was also waiting for a word of concession from Junior Brother Xu.”

He lifted his sleeve and returned all the intercepted talismans to Xu Yuan. Everyone’s eyes instinctively fell on the back of his hand. The skin, which should have been as flawless as jade, was covered in jagged, ugly red scars that looked like centipedes.

The whispers in the crowd could no longer be suppressed. It was true that Xu Yuan had attacked Fu Yun twice without a single apology.

Driven by the weight of public opinion, Xu Yuan’s apology finally gained some sincerity. He handed Fu Yun some wound medicine. This was a stash he had saved for over ten years, and he never expected to hand it all over today. Xu Yuan’s heart bled with regret.

Fu Yun unceremoniously took it all. He then looked around and said, “My injuries are not heavy; I cannot use all of this medicine.”

He distributed part of the medicine to the disciples who had tried to stop Xu Yuan earlier and had been accidentally caught in the fray. This gesture won him a great deal of goodwill. Within half a day, Fu Yun’s reputation shifted from a scheming coward to a senior brother who is skilled in talismans, grounded in basics, and full of grace.

Fu Yun returned to his room.

The System could no longer hold back. “Host, you are playing Xu Yuan like a dog.”

Fu Yun adjusted his clothing in front of a water mirror. His eyes, which were originally calm, suddenly crinkled with a smile. “How shameful of me to let you see my calculations.”

The System had watched the entire process. The disciples’ suspicions were correct: Fu Yun had indeed interfered with the team assignments. After so many years in the Internal Affairs Office, he had built some connections.

However, he had not just arranged for himself to be in Xie Yun’s team; he had also planted Xu Yuan there. Fu Yun knew perfectly well that he had no background, no reputation, and no combat record. Having offended the Elders, he was bound to be questioned. As expected, when the list was announced, the mockery was deafening.

Fu Yun was a hypocrite. He wanted to do evil deeds while maintaining a good reputation. Xu Yuan was the pawn he had chosen. Before departure, Fu Yun had someone from Internal Affairs leak information to Xu Yuan, claiming that his sworn brother could have been on the same team, but Fu Yun used back-door connections to steal the spot.

Step by step, he led Xu Yuan to provoke him, only to lose publicly. Fu Yun used one battle to silence the doubts and used Xu Yuan’s medicine to win over the people.

Before boarding the spirit boat, Fu Yun had watched the recordings of Xu Yuan’s battles in the martial arts hall. He watched three years and 201 battles, and he watched each one three times. Currently, the person who understood Xu Yuan best in this world was Fu Yun. He knew his impulsive nature, his family background, his movement weaknesses, and every flaw.

Fu Yun felt no remorse. Xu Yuan’s contribution points would not have gotten him into the team in the first place. He had unknowingly received Fu Yun’s favor, so it was only right that he repaid it today.

“There is one more thing.”

The System hesitated. Fu Yun told it to speak up. The System whispered, “There is some bad news. The main system rejected your plan for reverse harvesting. It insists that capturing the protagonist’s heart is the optimal solution.”

In the mirror, Fu Yun was still smiling, but the smile lines around his eyes vanished.

“I just received Side Mission One: Make the Protagonist have a deep impression of you.”

“…”

The System said weakly, “Look on the bright side. The Protagonist is a good person. Although he does not remember you, it also means he has forgotten the friction of the past. There is still hope for a successful capture.”

Fu Yun smiled brilliantly. “True. What is the penalty for failing the side mission?”

The System replied, “None. The purpose of my existence is to keep you alive.”

The spiritual energy Fu Yun had gathered in his sea of consciousness, prepared to attempt to wipe out the System, vanished without a trace.

The System noticed nothing and continued, “In the future, I cannot provide any assistance that the main system deems unrelated to the side missions.”

Fu Yun replied, “It does not matter. You only need to stay with me.”

The System said, “Understood!”

I will watch you survive, live more powerfully than the protagonist, and be happier. Because you are the only protagonist in my world.