I Am the Fated Villain

Is this the Gu guy you’ve been talking about?

Why are you still wearing that bamboo hat, trying to be mysterious and not revealing your true face?

Chen Yas clenched her hands tightly, feeling a mix of anticipation and shyness in her heart.

Upon hearing the question from his parents, he couldn’t help but speculate, “Maybe it’s to avoid drawing attention and unnecessary trouble, right? Mr. Gu has gained quite a bit of fame recently.”

How can it be?

The woman in white surnamed Su couldn’t help but clench the hands that were originally behind her back.

The bones and fingers turned white due to the excessive force applied.

Her heart was in turmoil, finding it hard to believe what she was witnessing.

The body shape was familiar, the face was familiar, even with the bamboo hat making him appear a bit changed and downcast, but the well-known facial features were hard to conceal.

She could be considered one of the people who knew him best in this world, having followed him for a long time.

Her veiled face displayed shock and confusion, and her emotions couldn’t settle down.

She trembled slightly, her eyes moist and foggy.

It’s really him…

Why meet again in this place?

Is it some kind of coincidence? Or an accident?

Or was it a surprise he orchestrated himself?

At this moment, she even questioned if she was dreaming. Everything before her eyes felt like a reflection that could shatter and dissipate at any moment.

“Father…”

On the village road, Wang Xiaoniu greeted him with excitement, eager to share the good news with his father.

Wang Erniu’s face also beamed with smiles, brimming with excitement. On the way home, he had learned about this from some villagers.

One day, his old Wang family unexpectedly had a stroke of good fortune, getting a chance to connect with that elusive immortal.

How could this not make him feel thrilled and elated? If there were no outsiders present, he feared it would be difficult to contain himself, tempted to light a few incense sticks for the ancestors.

“Uncle Gu, I’ll soon be able to cultivate immortality and become immortal,” Wang Xiaoniu shared the good news with Gu Changge, who was wearing a bamboo hat.

“You finally don’t have to talk about it every day,” Gu Changge smiled, reaching out to pat his head.

“Hehe, I wasn’t worried before…” Wang Xiaoniu touched the back of his head. For some reason, he didn’t dare to be mischievous in front of Gu Changge. He tried to appear stable and mature. Despite Gu Changge’s kindness and gentleness, there were times when he felt a palpitation and an overwhelming sense of awe. Wang Xiaoniu thought it might be the majesty accumulated over a long time. He hadn’t sensed it even in the elders in the city, so most of the time, he refrained from making jokes in front of Gu Changge.

Today, however, he was genuinely excited and happy, allowing himself to act a little smug. “By the way, Uncle Gu, Sister Chen Ya is here again, and she brought a matchmaker.” Wang Xiaoniu bounced in front of him, rolled his eyes, and couldn’t resist leaning into Gu Changge’s ear, whispering, “I see Sister Chen Ya really likes you.”

“What do children know? Shut up.” When Wang Erniu, next to him, heard this, his face darkened. He reached out, patting Wang Xiaoniu on the head to signal him not to talk nonsense. After all, Gu Changge had a mysterious origin. Although temporarily residing in Green Mountain Village, no one knew when he would leave. A person of unknown background, yet he captivated many young girls in and out of the village, making it seem as if they would all marry him. This left Wang Erniu feeling helpless, only able to sigh inwardly.

Moreover, even though the three of them were familiar with Gu Changge, it didn’t grant them the authority to decide on his marriage. At most, they could offer advice, but the final decision rested with Gu Changge.

“Chen Ya? Is that the girl who sells sweet-scented osmanthus cakes in the village? She’s a nice person, with a kind heart.” Gu Changge expressed surprise upon hearing the words, then nodded in agreement.

“No… not that…” Wang Xiaoniu and Wang Erniu, father and son, felt a bit embarrassed and stiff at this revelation.

“The sister who sells sweet-scented osmanthus cake is called Huang Xiaoyu, not Sister Chen Ya.” Wang Xiaoniu quickly clarified, realizing Gu Changge had made a mistake. To make matters worse, the nearby villagers were all eavesdropping, adding to the embarrassment.

“Oh? Remember wrong?” Gu Changge seemed even more surprised and continued to guess, “Is that the one that sells candied dates and candied haws? Or the one that sells tofu?”

“Uncle Gu, please be careful. Sister Chen Ya is the most beautiful sister in the village, the one who often brings you water,” Wang Xiaoniu explained hastily, feeling the need to set the record straight.

Even though he was young, everyone in the village knew him, making it impossible to admit his mistake. It appeared that Uncle Gu couldn’t recognize the young girls and couldn’t remember their names.

“So it’s her. Didn’t I tell her that I don’t plan to get married?” Gu Changge nodded in amazement.

Outside the Wang family’s gate, Chen Ya’s family of four looked a little uneasy. Although there was a distance, they could hear the conversation. The nearby villagers seemed amused, suppressing their laughter.

“Xiao Ya, this is what you call graceful and polite, gentle as jade. It’s just annoying; he doesn’t even remember who you are and what your name is. You still want to marry someone else?” Chen Ya’s parents, coming from a scholarly family, were well-bred, but now they were visibly angry.

Their daughter had spoken highly of this man, persuading them to accept his proposal. Now, with their efforts to arrange the marriage, they were met with the irony of Gu Changge not even recalling Chen Ya’s identity.

But even before they met, their impression of Gu Changge plummeted to a freezing point. Chen Arya’s small face displayed anger; she clenched her fists tightly, stating, “Sister, don’t be fooled by his appearance. This person doesn’t know how to respect you, and he can’t even remember who you are.” She was visibly upset, revealing a pair of small canine teeth as she ground them together.

Chen Ya’s face, initially shocked and embarrassed with a hint of blush, grew hotter. Coming to the Wang family today to bid farewell in person, she had prepared herself for whatever outsiders might say. However, she didn’t expect to hear such comments.

Upon reflection, she recalled that in her previous conversations with Gu Changge, he had never spoken in such a manner. In her mind, Gu Changge was a handsome young man who spoke softly, politely, and modestly, leaving a positive impression.

“Young Master Gu is not like that. He must have said it on purpose just to make you angry, so he could gracefully step back in difficult situations,” Chen Ya explained to her parents in a low voice, leaving them stunned.

“Young Master Gu…” Chen Ya was startled by a soft murmur from the side. Only then did she notice that Miss Su had appeared beside her, seemingly standing in the void before and not landing.

Chen Ya hurriedly saluted, “Miss Su.”

“This…” In front of the Wang house, the old Daoist was stroking his beard and smiling. His smile froze at this moment and gradually disappeared. He frowned, showing a hint of surprise.

“The ancestors…” The middle-aged man on the side was puzzled, shouting a few times with no response. Following the ancestor’s gaze, he discovered that the ancestor was fixated on the man in the bamboo hat who followed Wang Xiaoniu.

“Is there something special that has the ancestor looking like this? But why can’t I see anything?” The middle-aged man couldn’t help but speculate, perplexed by the mysterious reaction of the ancestor.

But no matter how he looked, it was challenging to discern any abnormalities. The man in question appeared to be an ordinary mortal, lacking roots, cultivation talent, and a cultivation base.

Surprisingly, even the white-clothed woman surnamed Su seemed unusually interested in the man in the bamboo hat. The middle-aged man began to feel an illusion that there might be something peculiar about the expression of this woman named Su.

“What happened? Why do these immortals have such expressions?” The nearby villagers, who hadn’t left, were all shocked by the scene unfolding before them. Observing the three immortals—each with expressions ranging from dignified to surprised and puzzled—they couldn’t help but speculate.

“Xiao Ya, are they all looking at that man surnamed Gu?” Chen Ya’s parents also noticed, seeking an explanation.

“It should be. Could it be that Mr. Gu has some other status?” Chen Ya, too, felt perplexed at the moment, wondering why the situation had taken this turn.

Wang Xiaoniu took pride in the attention directed at him and boasted to his father, “Father, I am now very powerful.” However, Wang Erniu, not oblivious, recognized that everyone’s gaze was focused on Gu Changge. Puzzled, he couldn’t help but start guessing.

Gu Changge, seemingly unaware of the stares, casually walked over, intending to politely decline Chen Ya. He had a premonition that his stay in Green Mountain Village wouldn’t be prolonged. Therefore, marrying and settling down here wasn’t an option.

If this experience was a grand dream, then for him, it was time to awaken from it. However, just as Gu Changge approached Chen Ya to explain his intentions, his gaze inadvertently shifted aside. Frowning slightly, he looked at the woman in white and asked, “Have we… met somewhere?”

Witnessing this scene, everyone was left stunned and astonished.

Chen Ya stood stunned on the spot, not expecting Gu Changge to address Miss Su in such a familiar manner. Everyone, including her, recognized Miss Su’s ethereal beauty, even though she never unveiled her true face. On ordinary days, no one dared to converse with her in such a casual way. Gu Changge’s boldness in striking up a conversation like this surprised everyone. Initially, it seemed like Gu Changge was making a playful pass at Miss Su, but the unconventional move left them baffled.

To their astonishment, Miss Su, after displaying initial shock and disbelief, nodded directly. “See… you have seen,” she said, lowering her eyes and suppressing the urge to cry. She tried to answer in a calm voice, but there was a slight tremor, and her eyes showed a hint of red. She hadn’t expected Gu Changge to transform in this manner. Did he forget the past? What had happened during this time? Had he encountered an invincible enemy? But amidst the forgotten past, he still remembered her.

All the villagers, along with Wang Xiaoniu’s family, were completely stunned by what the woman named Su revealed. The three members of Wang Xiaoniu’s family couldn’t believe their ears, wondering if they had misheard.

“How is it possible?” Wang Xiaoniu widened his eyes. Did this mean that Miss Su and Uncle Gu knew each other? Was Uncle Gu not just a resident aristocrat but a cultivator like Miss Su?

“Master Gu is a cultivator?” Chen Ya was frozen, finding it challenging to accept this reality. Contrary to the villagers’ shock, the old Daoist, who wore an expression of surprise and uncertainty, remained unshaken. Gu Changge was not just a cultivator; he was a formidable force in the world.

Cold sweat broke out on his back, and his hands and feet grew cold—unbelievable. At his level, such feelings should be impossible. What else in this world could truly threaten him? Yet, the Gu Changge before him inspired a profound sense of terror, causing his entire body to tremble, and his scalp to go numb. The old Daoist couldn’t help but recall countless years ago when he first embarked on the path of cultivation. He had faced the unknown with trepidation, cautiously navigating the abyss ahead.

“What kind of small mountain village is this…” The old Daoist hesitated to take any action, unsure of what Gu Changge was experiencing. However, he understood that if the other party intended harm, a simple press of the finger would suffice to end his existence.

“Ancestor…” The middle-aged man at his side swallowed hard. He wasn’t foolish to have come this far. What did he witness on his ancestor’s face? Was that fear?

“Have you seen it before? I told you it might feel a little familiar,” Gu Changge ignored everyone’s astonishment and shock, turning his attention to the woman in white before him. He smiled, saying, “We haven’t just met.”

The woman named Su Qingge smiled softly, a desire to reach out and touch his face evident, but she restrained herself. “My name is Su Qingge, young master. Long time no see.”