The Reincarnated Villain Can Break the Fourth Wall!

"What...?"

Su Xiaobai had just managed to perfectly keep his safe distance. He was three meters away. Emotionally disengaged. Spiritually detached. Ready to pretend this tiger cub was someone else's curse.

And then—

"Peeww!"

Thump.

The little black-furred abomination crashed against his leg, rubbing its head affectionately like a cat who decided its next toy was a cultivator with no consent forms.

Su Xiaobai stared.

His face didn't move.

His eyes twitched like they wanted to sue someone.

No. No no no.

'You're supposed to cuddle the elf. Go chew on Dong Lei's foot. I'm not qualified to raise space panthers, damn it.'

Around him, the others blinked in confusion.

Yu Feng's eyes visibly darkened.

She took a step forward—hand half-raised, dark energy flickering.

"...Eh? Why did it go to him?" she asked with a smile that barely concealed a small breakdown.

Nalan Yufei was stunned too—but at least she took it with an "aww, that's cute" expression.

They tried.

They called it.

Fed it.

Tempted it.

Yu Feng even pulled out a shadow fruit, a delicacy only dark beasts liked.

But nope.

The cub wasn't budging.

It had chosen.

It had claimed its idiot.

"He… doesn't want to leave you."

"Yeah." Su Xiaobai's voice sounded like someone who had just signed a soul contract with a cursed doll on accident.

He stared down at the little cosmic monster now trying to crawl into his robes.

With a sigh full of karmic regret, he muttered:

"Your name is... Black Hole Destroyer."

Everyone around: "…"

Dong Lei: "That sounds like a weapon, not a name."

Shi Yan: "That's... aggressive."

Yu Feng: "You're naming it like a death sentence..."

Su Xiaobai rolled his eyes. "Fine. Little Blackie. There. That better?"

It wasn't. They all hated it.

But Su Xiaobai?

Didn't care.

The name was set in Dao-stone.

Yu Feng, pouting slightly, secretly named it "Xiao Fang" when no one was listening. She was already emotionally invested.

She was a dark-element cultivator, and the little creature's aura screamed Void-Dark duality—which meant the affinity was perfect.

Once trained, she thought, this beast could become a legendary devourer...

A Voidwalker-class contract beast... Possibly even a guardian-type spiritual companion.

But no matter how much she tried—pampering, bribing, seduction—it only had eyes for Su Xiaobai.

And that… was terrifying.

Because Su Xiaobai had sensed it. The one thing no one else had.

That faint breath of Void around the cub's soul.

The same breath that came from his own Void Steps technique.

It wasn't just affinity.

It was resonance.

This thing had probably smelled the Void on him like a baby beast smelling its mother's scent.

Which meant... the Void had marked this thing.

And it had marked him.

Which meant... this was no normal cub.

If the cub has this kind of aura... then what about its mother?

What kind of cosmic bitch gave birth to a beast that cuddles me like a pillow and still radiates "I eat light for snacks"?

If she shows up looking for her lost kitten, not even the Sword Fairy's rage can save him.

Su Xiaobai stared at the sky.

He didn't cry.

He just exhaled like a man accepting another layer of unwanted plot development.

'I didn't choose this fluffball.'

'It chose me.'

'Because the author hates me.'

Somewhere above, a bored celestial author dipped a brush in destiny ink and scrawled across Su Xiaobai's karma:

[Pet Acquired: Obsidian Tiger (??? Rank)]

[Title: Ancient World Devouring Beast Shi Tian, also known as "Omen" beast]

[Affection: MAX.]

[Escape Chance: 0%. Deal with it.]

_____

On the way deeper into the wasteland, Deng Lei, tried to strike conversation.

"Lan Tian, your Dark Qi manipulation's impressive. The remnants of the Yunnan Clan must be proud. That kind of affinity—very rare. Could be the key to turning corruption into power."

He meant it as a compliment.

Lan Tian's response?

A sharp scoff, followed by a sneer that could fart holy milk.

"Hmph! What do any of you know about the Yunnan people? We are not creatures of darkness—We are children of Light!"

The mist turned cold.

Everyone blinked.

Even the beasts seemed confused.

That... didn't make sense.

The Yunnan Clan—according to every record, every sect scroll, and every cursed bard's ballad—was the origin point of Corrupt Qi. The catalyst for the Rot Plague. The exiled bloodline.

If Lan Tian was descended from them… then wasn't his mastery of Dark Qi proof?

Even now, his Light Qi pathways were blocked—he couldn't summon a flicker of pure radiance like Shi Yan could.

And yet—he spoke as if Light was his birthright, not his enemy.

Su Xiaobai, seated at the rear, quietly chewed on dried demon jerky.

He didn't comment.

'Hmm... big hidden bloodline drama. Ancestral betrayal...Definitely sounds like a side quest. But I'm not here for backstories. I'm here for the Dark Tab.'

He tuned out the conversation entirely.

Soon enough, the mood settled again. No one brought up the Yunnan Clan anymore.

Lan Tian walked ahead, slicing through cursed vines and phantom mist.

Shi Yan followed behind him, his radiant Light Qi forming a barrier that burned away the corruption fog like incense smoke.

It was a strange sight.

Light and Dark. Together.

Enemies by nature.

Allies by necessity.

By the end of the week, the sandy lands faded behind them, and the true nightmare began:

The Black Swamp.

Sticky, wet, foul-smelling terrain. Every step sucked at their boots like the ground didn't want them to leave.

Toxic mists clung to the skin like invisible insects.

The corruption here wasn't passive—it was alive.

And somewhere in this swamp?

The Earth Dragon.

The apex predator.

The thing that might end their journey early.

Their pace slowed dramatically. What should've been a day's march became two. Then three.

By the fourth night, exhausted and soaked, the group had no choice but to set up camp—right in the heart of the poisoned lands.

They had no choice.

Their bodies were weakening.

The swamp drained vital Qi just by contact, and their talismans were burning out fast.

But it turned out to be the right choice.

Because shortly after they erected their corrosion-resistant tents—

Ka-BOOM!

The sky twisted violently.

Purple clouds churned like bruises across the heavens.

Lightning cracked.

Rain fell.

Not water—but acid.

Drops that hissed against the shield barriers, eating into rock like oil on skin.

The corruption in the mist had bonded with the moisture—turning the storm into poison.

Inside his tent, Su Xiaobai sat in silence.

He watched the sky through a slit in the tent flap, letting the flickers of lightning reflect in his eyes.

Rain…

His thoughts drifted back.

He remembered her on the rooftop—not a woman, but a blade disguised in mourning. When she wept, the sky wept. When she raged, lightning obeyed.

Rain Intent.

He had seen it only once.

But it haunted him.

He raised his hand now.

Closed his eyes.

Tried to feel the rhythm of the sky.

But—nothing.

Just the hum of his internal Qi. The pull of the rain. The whisper of thunder.

It always felt like she was holding back. Why didn't she use it more?

If I had it…

He imagined it.

Standing atop White Cloud Star, his blade pointed to the heavens, calling rain like falling knives.

Each droplet a killing intent.

Each storm a massacre.

He could annihilate armies, flood sects, wipe out cities while sipping tea.

But right now?

He was in a swamp.

Stuck with a black tiger cub curled up on his robe. A demon ox snoring in the next tent. And a team of suspicious allies carrying hidden knives and mutual trauma.

"Hm?"

Su Xiaobai narrowed his eyes.

Through the acid-pocked mist outside, he saw a shadow moving fast toward his tent. His fingers instinctively curled toward his sword ring.

Enemy? Beast? Another death flag?

But as the figure drew closer—

He recognized it.

Pointed ears. Slim figure. Graceful panic.

"...Little Elf?"

"What's wrong?" he called, pushing open the flap just as the figure stumbled inside.

SPLASH.

The acidic rain hissed against her armor as she dove in, collapsing to her knees with a sigh of relief.

"My tent… it broke." She pouted, cheeks puffed like a disappointed noble who got sold a fake spirit pet.

"The merchant sold me low-quality goods…" she muttered, shaking off droplets.

Then she looked up at him.

Eyes soft. Apologetic.

"I tried knocking on Sister Feng's tent. But… she's meditating. Didn't respond."

The meaning was clear.

Yu Feng didn't answer. Ku Rong was terrifying. Lan Tian looked cursed. Shi Yan was worse.

Which meant…

Su Xiaobai was the only safe option.

His smile twitched.

'Am I being taken for a eunuch?'

Lately he'd been… slightly kinder. Slightly more reasonable.

And this was the thanks?

Woman now treated him like a safe furniture option.

But he smiled anyway.

A slow, villain's smile—the kind that could be misread as kindness.

"You can stay. I'll go outside."

"No need!" she cut him off.

Without thinking, she grabbed his wrist.

Warm fingers. Slightly trembling. Wet from the rain.

But her gaze?

Dead serious.

"I'll sleep on the opposite side," she said. "But you're not leaving. It's too dangerous out there."

She pointed to the mat laid across the far end of the tent, meant for emergency night watch rotations.

Su Xiaobai chuckled darkly. 'Of course I'm not going outside.'