I Am the Fated Villain

“Let me tell you, there’s a line of people wanting to marry my sister that stretches from the beginning to the end of the village.”

“In the past, sons from prominent city families used to personally propose, but my sister never agreed.”

The little girl’s name was Chen Arya. Despite her well-behaved appearance, she was quite outspoken. Speaking with crossed arms and a touch of old-fashioned tone.

Wang Xiaoniu, however, was long accustomed to her words, and the two were very close.

Having grown up together since childhood, they could easily be called childhood sweethearts.

He playfully stroked the back of her head and said, “I know Sister Chen Ya is beautiful, kind, and makes delicious tofu. People queue up to pursue her.”

“But my Uncle Gu is clueless about this…”

“You’re silly. Why not whisper some good things about my sister into your Uncle Gu’s ears?”

Chen Arya rolled her dark eyes, brewing mischievous thoughts.

Just a few glances at Wang Xiaoniu’s Uncle Gu, a man of mysterious origin, and she was captivated. He even dragged her parents home, attempting to secure a match for himself.

Chen Arya was too young to grasp such matters, but she had witnessed Uncle Gu’s demeanor firsthand.

Indeed, he was handsome, dignified, gentle, and notably reliable and hardworking.

Otherwise, she wouldn’t have urged Wang Xiaoniu to speak highly of her sister.

When the two children discussed this, they did so without any reservations.

Their conversation caught the attention of the nearby children, sparking discussions.

“Xiao Niu, I heard the mysterious Uncle Gu in your family used to be a prince of a kingdom. The kingdom was destroyed by someone, and he ended up here. Is that true?”

“Did he really used to be a prince?”

Curious, many children inquired.

During this period, news about Gu Changge had spread in the neighboring villages, becoming a common topic among adults during tea and dinner conversations. Naturally, the children had picked up on these details from the adults.

Various rumors circulated, evolving into different versions – a fallen prince, a nobleman’s son, or the young master of an affluent family living afar. Much of the speculation originated from the mouths of young girls.

Wang Xiaoniu felt overwhelmed upon hearing these rumors. He had no knowledge of Gu Changge’s mysterious history, and the rumors that sprouted were downright extravagant.

A woman in white observed the scene quietly, her expression somewhat distant as she listened to the laughter and chatter of the children. Memories flooded her mind, images spreading like wild weeds.

The surname Gu struck a chord. It was a rare name. Despite spending many years in the Upper Realm, she only knew of one family with the surname Gu. Encountering the familiar name in this tranquil mountain village stirred a cascade of memories.

“Is it a coincidence, or has a person with the surname Gu wandered here by chance?” she wondered, shaking her head in a mix of disbelief and sorrow.

News had reached her a few days prior – the Wang family had taken in a fallen nobleman. He proved both dignified and humble, willingly working in the fields with diligence and conscientiousness. Villagers speculated about his identity, aware only of his surname, Gu.

The woman in white, initially surprised, also felt a sense of anticipation. It had been a long time since she heard that surname, and the encounter in the remote village stirred emotions she hadn’t felt in years.

To the point that, in that moment, it felt as if years had slipped away, almost a lifetime ago. The woman entertained some extraordinary speculations, but she later dismissed each one with a shake of her head.

Such ideas were unrealistic, akin to a fleeting dream. He was a god, a being transcendent and above all mortal realms. The notion of him dwelling in the mortal world as a down-and-out noble was inconceivable.

The woman in white had grown accustomed to life in Green Mountain Village over the years. Welcoming the morning sun and watching the sunset, she found solace in the simple joys of life. Around her elegant bamboo house, grass was planted, and spirit animals were raised. Not far away, a jade lake reflected the serene beauty of its surroundings.

The green mountains and waters, so peaceful and elegant, provided a stark contrast to the conflicts and intrigues of the cultivation world. This tranquil existence felt more suitable for her.

Upon arriving in the upper realm, she harbored ambitions of becoming a powerful cultivator, standing at the pinnacle of power. However, as time passed, that aspiration waned. Surviving, it seemed, was an extravagant enough wish.

She once believed that rigorous practice, even embracing demonic arts, would be worthwhile if it garnered his attention. But over time, that desire faded. What she truly longed for wasn’t much – just a small place in his heart.

Upon discovering her identity as the inheritor of demonic arts, she contemplated ending it to spare him any trouble.

After all, he was a young luminary with a radiant halo and a promising future, standing at the pinnacle of the Upper Realm. The leader of his generation, an invincible legend captivating the attention of the world.

Yet, she, the inheritor of demonic arts, found herself relegated to the role of his maid. Her very existence foretold future calamities for the heavens, destined to be in opposition to him from birth. If her identity were exposed, it would undoubtedly cast an indelible stain on his life.

In response, she concealed herself, living cautiously in the shadows. The world feared the inheritor of demonic arts, but to her, it was a shackle, a constant threat to her existence.

Recalling her time at the True Immortal Academy, she vividly remembered how close her identity came to being revealed. What if, when questioned, she had admitted to being the inheritor of demonic arts?

He had smiled and assured her that he would personally end her life, descending to accompany her in death. In that moment, she felt she could do anything for him. Regardless of the life’s outcome, it seemed worthwhile.

As memories flooded her mind, the expression of the woman in white grew increasingly distant. How she wished she could remain within this dream, never to awaken.