Chapter 14: “Do You Believe I’m Not a Villain?”
Lu Si Si had only just turned eighteen this year, a freshman at university, yet at this moment, she was on the verge of tears.
Originally, with no classes in the afternoon, she had wandered into the bustling district, stopping at a small eatery on the second floor. Sitting by the window, she had taken out her phone to capture the street scenery below.
Then—her fingers slipped.
A sharp cry echoed from the streets, and within moments, an angry crowd had gathered.
Realizing she had caused trouble, Lu Si Si rushed downstairs in a panic, only to be greeted by an all-too-familiar figure by the roadside—the very man who had landed a punch on her back at the airport just days ago.
At that moment, she didn’t know whether to be anxious, frightened, or simply resigned.
No—she was afraid.
Though Chen Yan had claimed their encounter at the airport was a case of mistaken identity, she had never quite believed him. Something about him felt off.
She had no evidence, just an inexplicable instinct that told her—this man had sought her out on purpose. That punch, deliberate.
Lu Si Si, flustered and stammering, apologized repeatedly to Little Zhao, explaining with frantic hand gestures how she had only been taking photos by the window when the phone had slipped from her grasp.
Her eyes grew red as she anxiously offered to pay compensation. But when her gaze fell upon the lifeless remains of her shattered phone on the pavement, her mind went blank.
Without her phone, she couldn’t even arrange the payment.
Seeing the girl on the brink of tears, her sincerity apparent, the students who had gathered to berate her began to hold their tongues.
Her attitude was one thing—but more importantly, she was adorable, with an innocent, doe-eyed charm that evoked pity.
Who among them could truly harden their hearts against such a sight?
Little Zhao, ever the opportunist, immediately declared, “I’m fine, really! No need to be scared, I’m not the kind of person who takes advantage of others!”
With his exaggerated bravado, it seemed as though he would drop down and do push-ups just to prove his resilience.
Chen Yan sighed inwardly at the spectacle but still stepped forward, his voice calm, “Why not get checked at the hospital? What if you’ve suffered a concussion?”
“Yeah, yeah! Let’s go to the hospital!” Lu Si Si quickly agreed, nodding eagerly.
Chen Yan recalled how, at the airport, she had shown remarkable magnanimity—choosing to forgive him without seeking advantage. That alone suggested she had a decent heart.
Little Zhao, flashing his usual carefree grin, waved off the concern. “No need, it’s just a small knock. A band-aid will do the trick. How about this—you give me your phone number? If anything happens, I’ll contact you.”
Chen Yan shot him a knowing glance—his motives were written all over his face.
Without a word, Chen Yan subtly nudged the back of Little Zhao’s heel. “Better to go. There’s a small clinic just a block away. It’s close, won’t take long.”
“Huh?” Little Zhao blinked in confusion, but upon meeting Chen Yan’s serious gaze, saw him give the faintest nod.
Trusting Chen Yan’s judgment, Little Zhao did not argue.
Chen Yan turned to Lu Si Si. “You should come too. That’s not an unreasonable request, is it?”
“Not at all! Of course, I’ll go!” Lu Si Si agreed instantly.
After a brief hesitation, a trace of embarrassment surfaced on her face. Lowering her voice, she muttered, “But… my phone is broken. Can I owe you the medical fees for now? I can give you my number—I swear, I won’t run away.”
As she spoke, she rummaged through her bag, pulling out a small notepad and pen. Carefully, she wrote down her number and handed the slip over.
Little Zhao reached out, but before he could take it, Chen Yan smoothly stepped forward and plucked it from her grasp first.
Then, without another word, he gestured for them to move.
Leaving behind the curious onlookers, the trio made their way to the clinic. It was indeed nearby, no more than a five or six-minute walk.
As they walked, Chen Yan made sure Lu Si Si walked ahead while he and Little Zhao followed a short distance behind.
Lu Si Si pouted but did not protest. She believed Chen Yan was making her walk in front to prevent her from escaping.
“Brother, is this really necessary?” Little Zhao whispered.
Chen Yan merely waved a hand in silence, his gaze fixed ahead. Every so often, his eyes flickered toward Lu Si Si’s silhouette.
It was not because he harbored any improper thoughts.
Rather—
With his Heaven’s Eye Qi-Observing Technique, what he saw atop this girl’s head was an ominous gathering of Black Qi and Misfortune.
The last time they met at the airport, he had wanted to chase after her and examine her fate further.
And now, having encountered her again, with the insights of The Cycles of Qi Fortune supplementing his vision, he could see it clearly—
To ordinary eyes, Lu Si Si appeared delicate and refined. But through the lens of his Qi Observation, her eyebrows were slightly upturned, the corners of her eyes pale, her forehead tinged with blue, and her lips held an unnatural lack of color.
If his readings were correct, according to the techniques outlined in his scroll, this was—
(The Mark of Drowning?)
Chen Yan’s brows furrowed.
Last time, it was a Disaster of Bleeding Light.
Now, the ominous Black Qi swirled about her once more, morphing into signs of a watery fate.
Judging by the rapid accumulation of misfortune, if no intervention occurred, within mere days—this girl was doomed to drown.
(Is she a Star of Misfortune reborn?)
Chen Yan exhaled quietly, a storm brewing in his thoughts.
The three figures strode toward the grand entrance of the Celestial Healing Pavilion. Just ahead, beyond the marble steps, lay the main hall of the pavilion, its towering facade exuding an aura of both dignity and solemnity.
Outside the entrance, beneath the vast sky, there was a modest Spirit-Washing Pool, a shallow artificial spring meant to bring tranquility to those entering the pavilion. However, neglect had dulled its once-pristine waters. A thin layer of dust and fallen leaves marred its surface, whispering tales of forgotten care.
Chen Yan walked side by side with Little Zhao, trailing a few steps behind Lu Si Si. As they reached the edge of the pool, Chen Yan suddenly inhaled deeply, his pace quickening.
Then, without warning, his foot lashed out like a striking viper—
A swift, decisive kick landed squarely on Lu Si Si’s lower back!
“Ahhh!”
The young woman’s startled cry echoed across the courtyard before she plunged headfirst into the murky waters.
SPLASH!
A cascade of water erupted, droplets catching the sunlight like shattered gems.
Little Zhao froze in sheer disbelief. His mind went blank as he gawked at the unfolding scene. Before he could even react, Lu Si Si resurfaced, gasping, flailing, her once-pristine robes now drenched and clinging to her trembling form. In her panic, she swallowed several mouthfuls of the tainted water.
Chen Yan leaped onto the pool’s edge, his grip firm as he seized Lu Si Si’s wrist and pulled her to solid ground.
She coughed violently, her breath ragged, streams of water escaping her lips. Her drenched form trembled under the open sky.
A heartbeat later…
Chen Yan turned his gaze upon Little Zhao, eyes gleaming with righteous fury. His voice rang with unwavering conviction:
“How could you? Even if she angered you—how could you kick a defenseless girl into the water?!”
“…”
Little Zhao felt his vision darken. What?
“I—I didn’t—”
“No matter the grievance, she’s still a lady!”
“No, wait, listen to me—”
“You claim to be a man, yet you refuse to admit your wrongdoing?”
“That’s not—how did I—”
“Enough! Apologize at once!”
Chen Yan’s words struck like relentless thunder, giving Little Zhao no chance to defend himself. His mind reeled, words stumbling and failing under the weight of the relentless accusations.
Then—
“Waaahhh!!”
Lu Si Si, soaked and humiliated, finally broke. Her large, tear-filled eyes burned with betrayal as she sobbed uncontrollably. Her face, flushed with rage and sorrow, twisted in anguish as she glared at them both.
“You—you did it on purpose! You’re both wicked men! You bullied me!!”
With that, she spun around and fled, sobbing as she disappeared into the distance.
…
Only after she vanished did Little Zhao tear his gaze away, his expression a storm of exasperation and bewilderment. He turned to Chen Yan, who stood unmoving, his eyes still fixed on the retreating figure.
From his perspective, a faint shadow of misfortune had lifted from Lu Si Si’s fate. The ominous Dark Aura that once coiled around her was now visibly thinner—this calamity had been evaded.
Her life had been preserved. For now.
Yet, there was something peculiar about her fate. An unusual fluctuation in her fortune, something beyond ordinary misfortune or mere coincidence. It warranted further study.
Chen Yan resolved to revisit the tomes of Fate Circulation Techniques in the coming days. When he had refined his craft further, he would seek her out again. After all, he had already obtained her contact details.
It wasn’t meddlesome curiosity that drove him—
Firstly, the girl had a good nature. He wasn’t heartless enough to watch her perish under the weight of fate’s cruel hand.
Secondly… she was an ideal test subject to hone his growing mastery.
…
Little Zhao watched his companion’s pensive expression and finally snapped, his voice tinged with grievance.
“Brother…”
Chen Yan exhaled, breaking free from his thoughts, and turned to Little Zhao. He nodded solemnly, his voice laced with sincerity.
“My apologies for dragging you into this.”
“You—”
“There was no way to explain it. So, think of it this way—consider it me avenging you.”
Little Zhao felt his teeth grind. “Avenging me?”
Did Chen Yan think he was a fool?
Wait—something felt off.
Little Zhao was no simpleton. He narrowed his eyes, suspicion creeping in.
“Brother, do you know that girl? Do you have a grudge against her?”
Chen Yan didn’t even blink. His response flowed like silk.
“Yes, of course. She’s my ex.”
“…”
Little Zhao rolled his eyes so hard they nearly got stuck.
“Brother, if you don’t want to explain, just say so.”
Chen Yan chuckled, clapping him on the shoulder.
“Alright, alright, no more nonsense. Listen, it’s not that I want to deceive you, but there are things I truly cannot reveal. You trust me, don’t you?”
Little Zhao lowered his head in thought before nodding slowly.
“Fine. I won’t press. Not because I think what you did was right—kicking a girl into a pool is not right. But I trust that you, Brother Chen Yan, are not a wicked man.”
Chen Yan grinned.
[Of course I’m not wicked. I just saved her life—twice now!]
[If she knew the truth, she’d probably start worshipping me!]
…
This was why Chen Yan had always found a kindred spirit in Little Zhao.
Unlike certain other men who were quick to throw reason aside at the mere sight of a weeping woman, charging headlong into conflict like mindless warriors, Little Zhao remained level-headed. He wasn’t swayed by appearances alone.
There had been an incident at their academy—
A female student had once approached two male classmates, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. She lamented being “bullied” by the owner of a wonton stall outside the school. Without hesitation, the two self-proclaimed gallant warriors had stormed off to demand justice, overturning tables and breaking wares in their righteous fury.
The result?
The security office had intervened, and the truth unraveled—
The girl had simply been denied a free replacement after allowing her food to go cold while engrossed in a mobile game. When the vendor refused, she had thrown a tantrum and been escorted out.
The two ‘heroes’ had ended up apologizing profusely and compensating the vendor for the damage—out of their own pockets, no less. The girl? She feigned innocence.
This was why Chen Yan had never trusted Bootlicker Hu—one of the two fools involved.
This novel is translated and hosted on Bcatranslation