I Truly Am The Villian

The guards escorted Xu Zimei and his entourage towards the inner courtyard, shouting as they walked, "Master, someone is looking for you."

"Shouting and yelling, what kind of behavior is this," a soft rebuke came from within.

Within the tranquil courtyard, Huyan He’s expression was awkward as he walked out, his face filled with anger.

Upon seeing Xu Zimei and his two companions, Huyan He was visibly startled.

"So it’s Young Master Xu," Huyan He forced a smile and said, "May I know what brings you here?"

"City Lord Huyan, that’s not very kind of you," Xu Zimei also smiled and said.

"I killed the Bull Demon to protect Chu City, and I even accompanied you to West King Valley.

City Lord Huyan, you left me there without a word, isn’t that a bit unreasonable?"

Upon hearing Xu Zimei’s words, Huyan He let out a long sigh of relief.

Immediately shaking his head, he said, "I apologize, I was just unable to control my emotions just now. How about this, you rest at my residence for now, and I will have my servants prepare some gifts for you."

"There’s no need for gifts, I’m only here to take one thing, I won’t take more," said Xu Zimei.

"What would Young Master Xu like to have?" Huyan He frowned slightly and asked.

"The Sword of the West King," Xu Zimei stated blandly.

Hearing this, Huyan He’s expression changed, and he then laughed, "Young Master Xu must be joking."

"Do you think I’m joking?" Xu Zimei asked.

"Young Master Xu should know, I won’t give the Sword of the West King to anyone, not even if you kill me," Huyan He said coldly, with a hint of chill.

"Then I’ll just have to kill you and find it myself."

No sooner had Xu Zimei’s words fallen, than the White Bone Demon immediately lunged forward and broke all of Huyan He’s bones before he could react.

Huyan He collapsed to the ground like a pile of mud, dragged along the ground by the White Bone Demon.

"What are you trying to do?" Huyan He screamed in pain.

"It seems you haven’t grasped the situation," Xu Zimei said with a smile.

"We’re not from Great Chu; we don’t need to worry about public image, even slaughtering a city wouldn’t matter."

He was the first to walk into the courtyard, entering the room where Huyan He lived.

The room’s floor was covered with broken vases and overturned wooden tables, a clear sign of Huyan He’s recent outburst of temper.

"So tell me, where did you put it?" Xu Zimei asked.

Huyan He sneered and turned his head away.

Xu Zimei smiled, looking at the White Bone Demon and said, "Gather all the children and women of the Huyan Family in the estate for me."

"What do you intend to do?" Huyan He’s expression changed, he asked nervously.

"I wonder, which is more important to you, the Sword of the West King or your wife and children," Xu Zimei answered.

"You are shameless," Huyan He looked at Xu Zimei angrily, fury blazing in his eyes.

"Think of it however you like," Xu Zimei said.

"Hand over the Sword of the West King, and you and your family will be safe, and Great Chu won’t trouble you anymore. You can easily blame it all on me.

If you refuse, when you’re dead, no matter how good the sword, it will be of no relation to you."

Hearing Xu Zimei’s words, Huyan He fell silent for a moment.

As the White Bone Demon was about to walk out, Huyan He shouted, "Wait."

"What is it?" Xu Zimei asked.

"Can you assure me that if I hand over the Sword of the West King, you will let us go," Huyan He asked.

"We have no enmity, what benefit would killing you bring me," Xu Zimei chuckled.

"So be it, it’s not like I can make use of the Sword of the West King while it remains by my side," Huyan He took a deep breath.

The man seemed to age considerably in an instant.

He said, "It wouldn’t hurt to give it to you, but I must remind you, even if you hold the Sword of the West King in your hands, it’s useless without its recognition."

"You needn’t trouble yourself over that," Xu Zimei said.

Huyan He exhaled and stood up to retrieve a black box from beneath the floorboards under the bed.

Xu Zimei took the box, opened it, and saw a red longsword quietly lying inside.

"Talk to it; the Sword Spirit inside can understand you," Huyan He said from the side.

Xu Zimei smiled, held the red longsword in his palm, and said with a smile, "Shall we talk?"

The next moment, a thick red mist enveloped Xu Zimei,

carrying his consciousness into that dark space.

"Human, hello," a voice in the darkness said.

"I won’t waste words! If you can pass my test, we’ll chat then."

After the voice in the darkness stopped, countless sword lights appeared between heaven and earth.

"You are not allowed to use Spiritual Energy, just one sword strike, break my move," the Sword Spirit’s voice came.

In front of Xu Zimei, a longsword appeared, the one offered for his use.

"I give you time to think."

"No need, come at me directly," Xu Zimei said as he picked up the longsword in front of him and waved his hand.

The voice in the darkness spoke no more, only the densely packed, countless streams of Sword Qi surrounded the void.

The Sword Qi’s edge was fully exposed, attacking Xu Zimei from every direction.

"One sword breaks all methods," Xu Zimei uttered lightly.

He slowly swung the longsword in his hand, and at the tip of the sword, ripples spread across the space.

It was as though a suction force emanated from the longsword, with Xu Zimei rotating and wielding it.

With the increasing suction at the sword’s tip, all the attacking Sword Qi were attracted and

attached themselves to the longsword.

As Xu Zimei’s rotation speed grew faster, his entire being seemed like a tornado, absorbing all the attacking Sword Intent.

The next moment, he waved his longsword, converging all that Sword Intent and sending it slashing toward one side of the dark space.

The Sword Intent entered the void and was gradually swallowed by the darkness.

"Not bad, now the second trial," the voice in the darkness said again.

"No need to go through so much trouble, why not you try taking one of my moves?" Xu Zimei said with a smile.

Upon hearing these words, the Sword Spirit gave a light eh, and the aged voice laughed heartily, "In all these years, you’re the first one I’ve come across with such an audacious claim."

"When one has strength, naturally they speak boldly," Xu Zimei stated.

Though he was a Blade Cultivator, when it came to weapons, knowing one means understanding them all.

At Xu Zimei’s level, he could decipher the essence of any weapon and deeply grasp their Profound Meaning.

Xu Zimei kept his left hand behind his back, sword in the right, and slowly thrust it into the void.

It was an utterly ordinary thrust, devoid of any visible might.

And yet, the space fell silent at this motion.

When that thrust came, it sent chills down one’s spine and made one’s hair stand on end, as if fixated by an indescribable, peerless Sword Intent, with no chance of escape.

In the darkness of the void, a longsword also appeared.

The two swords, like needle’s tip to wheat awn, collided at their points.

A powerful, intangible Sword Intent fluctuated around, followed by an explosive "boom."

The sword in Xu Zimei’s hands charged forth, directly destroying the sharp longsword in the void.