Im Not Your Usual Villain - Chapter 16

Chapter 16: Elder of the Hall of Enforcement

Translation by: Weebsread👹

As Su He’s words faded into the air, he didn’t give anyone a chance to react. Without another glance, he turned and led his people away.

Lin Feng seethed with rage, but he dared not treat Jian Gui the way he had treated Feng Taicang and the others. Swallowing his anger, he forced himself to speak as politely as possible:

“Senior Jian Gui, they’ve already left! You should hurry and pursue them—we can’t let him get away with this.”

Jian Gui frowned slightly and looked to Feng Taicang.  

“What did you use just now?”

“The Lethal Gu,” Feng Taicang replied, his tone flat and emotionless.

“The Lethal Gu?”

…

The moment he heard those three words, Jian Gui’s heart clenched.

That was a forbidden demonic technique—an artifact of the demonic path, refined through the slaughter of thousands.

“You used it?”  

His expression darkened, his voice icy as he turned to glare at Lin Feng, who stood below.

Lin Feng had known all along what it was.  

But he’d used it anyway.

Now that The Lethal Gu had been exposed—

He had already prepared an excuse.

“Isn’t it just a magic artifact, Senior? What’s the problem with that?”  

Lin Feng feigned ignorance, playing the fool.

Jian Gui’s expression grew even darker.

He could hardly believe that someone from Dao Tian Sect would actually use such a thing.

“Where did you get it?” Jian Gui pressed.

Lin Feng remembered clearly: when he’d first received this item, it was the Grand Elder of Dao Tian Sect who had given it to him.

Back then, the Grand Elder had warned him never to speak of it to anyone. He was to use it only as a last resort, if he truly could not claim the Nine-Turn Phoenix Egg.

Now, there was no way he would betray the Grand Elder.

“I… found it elsewhere, by chance. I didn’t know what it was.”  

He kept his tone steady.

“Is that really the truth?”  

Jian Gui’s gaze was as sharp as a sword, piercing straight through him—as though to lay bare every secret he held.

But Lin Feng stood firm.  

“It’s true.”

A flicker of disappointment flashed in Jian Gui’s eyes.

He hadn’t expected that someone chosen by Gu Qingxuan would lie so brazenly.

Among cultivators—especially those of higher realms, who had lived far longer than ordinary disciples—their accumulated experience often allowed them to sense when someone was lying.

And right now, Jian Gui could feel it all too clearly.

When Lin Feng claimed he’d stumbled upon the item by chance, it was obvious he was lying.

Yet even after Jian Gui gave him a chance to tell the truth,  

Lin Feng stubbornly clung to his story, refusing to admit anything.

That convinced Jian Gui—this was not an honest man.

Did Junior Sister… really misjudge this person?  

How could she have chosen someone like him?

With a faint sigh, Jian Gui addressed the three people below:

“The three of you may return. Given the rare treasures and resources you invested in this matter, Dao Tian Sect will see you are compensated.”

“As for him… he’ll go back with you for now.”

Jian Gui intended to have Lin Feng placed in Feng Taicang’s sect for the time being.

After all, Lin Feng’s cultivation would surely benefit from Feng Taicang’s guidance and resources.

But at this, Feng Taicang frowned slightly, a trace of reluctance on his face.

“Jian Gui, my Jade Void Immortal Sect has already taken in quite a few new disciples lately. I’m afraid we won’t be able to provide Lin Feng with the best resources.”

“Don’t worry. Whatever he needs, just ask Dao Tian Sect directly.”  

Jian Gui brushed aside his concerns, settling the matter then and there.

Lin Feng was, after all, a disciple of Dao Tian Sect.

At this point, Feng Taicang had no grounds to refuse. He could only nod in agreement.

“Very well. But once his cultivation reaches a certain stage, he should transfer to Dao Tian Sect.”

“When he reaches the Martial Master realm and has finished the Hundred Sect Tournament, I’ll come to fetch him myself.”

Jian Gui gave a slight nod.

Hearing this, Feng Taicang finally understood Jian Gui’s intentions.

The reason for sending Lin Feng to train in a subordinate sect was clear:  

he wanted Lin Feng to participate in their sect’s competitions after cultivating here. If Lin Feng could come out on top among all the sects’ disciples, he would earn generous rewards—and it would greatly benefit his cultivation journey.

In a way, this was Gu Qingxuan’s method of granting Lin Feng an opportunity.

“Understood,” Feng Taicang replied.

Accepting the task, Feng Taicang led Lin Feng away.

As for Sun Changqing and Liu Lian, they cupped their fists in salute to Jian Gui before transforming into streaks of light and departing as well.

Gazing at the battered landscape and the chaotic aftermath of the battle below, Jian Gui frowned. He needed to return and report everything to Gu Qingxuan—and get to the bottom of this Lethal Gu.

—

Meanwhile, Su He had already brought Fang Yixin and Ni Huangyu back to the sect.

“You’ll be my second personal disciple from now on,” Su He told Ni Huangyu, settling her in. “Your cultivation is already far above your senior sister’s. Stay close to her, train together, and help each other improve.”

As Su He finished, Ni Huangyu suddenly spoke up.  

“Master, I’d like to cultivate alongside you.”

“My Phoenix Truefire can temper true essence itself. I’m certain it would be a great boon to your own cultivation as well.”

Su He was genuinely surprised by this.  

He hadn’t expected Ni Huangyu to offer something in return—yet since she was so forthcoming, he didn’t refuse.

“Very well. Let me see the power of Phoenix Truefire for myself.”

He led Ni Huangyu into his own cultivation cave. Sitting cross-legged atop a meditation cushion, Su He prepared himself.

Suddenly, he felt the warmth of a soft body pressing against him.

Startled, Su He turned his head—only to find Ni Huangyu gazing at him with eyes like autumn water, her breath warm against his ear.

He froze for a moment, then recalled what he’d heard about how Ni Huangyu assisted with cultivation.

Since she was so willing, Su He saw no reason to resist.

With a wave of his hand, the candles in the cave winked out.

That night became one Su He would never forget…

—

When he opened his eyes the next morning, Su He could clearly feel that his strength had become more refined and substantial.

The Phoenix Truefire had burned away the impurities in his true essence, purifying and tempering it further.

Though his cultivation realm had not advanced, his combat prowess had grown noticeably.

For someone at his level to experience such a tangible improvement—the power of the Phoenix bloodline was truly remarkable.

Turning his head, Su He saw Ni Huangyu still peacefully asleep and nodded in satisfaction.

He stepped out of the cave and made his way to the rear mountains—the area where disciples of the Tai Xuan Holy Land trained.

Fang Yixin often cultivated here in the rear mountains during the day.

This morning was no exception—she had arrived early to begin her training.

When she saw Su He approaching, Fang Yixin immediately stood and bowed respectfully.  

“Greetings, Master.”

“How is your cultivation progressing?” Su He asked. “Are you close to a breakthrough?”

“Reporting to Master, I have reached the third level of the Martial Master realm and am on the verge of breaking through to the fourth.”

Su He nodded in satisfaction at her answer.

He knew what was coming next in the grand scheme of things—the Hundred Sect Tournament was just around the corner.

All the subordinate sects would soon gather their most promising talents to compete.  

To make things even more enticing, each sect would present a valuable treasure as a wager.

The top ten victors in the end would be handsomely rewarded.