You noticed that whenever you stayed close to Su Mei, your success rate in drawing talismans skyrocketed. In just a few short days, you crafted a large number of low-tier talismans—they weren't particularly lethal, but they could work wonders in special situations.
Over the course of five consecutive days, your strength, cultivation realm, and hidden trump cards all received an all-around boost.
At the same time, you kept a close eye on the outside world.
To your great surprise, however, the capital city of Qianyuan remained eerily quiet. The Sun family hadn't made a single move.
After all, in your previous simulations, once it was confirmed you'd been assassinated, the entire Sun family would mobilize without hesitation, sparing no effort to avenge you.
Could it be that Sun Zhong hadn't delivered the message? Or had something gone wrong along the way?
You realized that something must have happened in the imperial capital of Qianyuan, or perhaps the Sun family was plotting something, biding their time before striking.
「Another unexpected twist!」
Sun Qian stared at the new changes unfolding in the Villain Simulator, his heart sinking.
He'd expected the Sun family to stir up quite a commotion the moment they received the news.
It wouldn't have been impossible for them to replicate the all-out war against the Gu family of Qianyuan that had happened in the second simulation.
Even Magic City would have been engulfed by the Sun family's overwhelming wrath.
But now, they were being so low-key!
Could it be that the Sun family had uncovered something else?
Beyond the Gu family, were there other forces pulling the strings behind the scenes…
Forces that involved more than one Celestial-level aristocratic clan?!
It made sense. After all, even a small fry like him had managed to dig up quite a few clues after learning some of the truth.
How much more would the Sun family—a colossal powerhouse—have found out?
This sudden turn of events made you even more cautious. Up until now, your conflicts had only been petty squabbles among the younger generation; you'd never been involved in high-level power struggles before.
You also learned through your inquiries that the mysterious secret realm that had appeared in the Magic City waters a while back had vanished after showing up just once. This temporarily put a stop to your plans to investigate it.
You lay low even more carefully, maintaining Su Meng's identity flawlessly. You worked your menial job in the logistics department of Magic City University, picking up bits and pieces of news from the idle chatter of teachers and students about the dramatic changes sweeping through the city.
「Heard the word? That playboy from the capital seems to have gone missing. Everyone's scrambling to find him now, and rumor has it it's got something to do with Campus Belle Liu Yue.」
「Word is Zhao Kun, the eldest young master of the Zhao family, was killed by that country bumpkin bodyguard of Liu Yue's. The Zhao family's gone absolutely mad—they're turning every stone to hunt him down.」
「Did you hear? That hillbilly Ye Fan not only killed someone from the Zhao family, but he also stormed the Li family manor, claiming he was the one who killed Sun Qian and that the Liu family had nothing to do with it…」
Unlike the calm in the imperial capital of Qianyuan, Magic City was in utter turmoil. The most shocking news of all was the suspected disappearance of Sun Qian, the second young master of the prestigious Sun family of Qianyuan.
Yes, your "death" had apparently alarmed the big shots of Magic City. It seemed they were trying their best to hush up the incident first, then hunt down the culprit like mad.
Since the Thousand Shadows Assassin had been disguised as Liu Yue when she'd "killed" Sun Qian, the Li family had framed the Liu family—a second-rate clan—as the prime suspects.
On top of that, there was the matter of Zhao Kun's murder. The Zhao family was now in a frenzy, with Patriarch Zhao issuing a bounty for the fated protagonist Ye Fan's head.
Rumor had it that a few days ago, Ye Fan had been ambushed by several Zhao family powerhouses at the Mountain & River Realm. Yet somehow, he'd not only escaped with his life but also killed some of the Zhao family's strongest warriors in the process…
After hearing about the trouble the Liu family was in, Ye Fan had even stormed the Li family manor, declaring that he was the one responsible for Sun Qian's death and that Liu Yue was innocent, taking all the blame onto himself…
Thanks to your schemes and manipulations, both Liu Yue—the fated female protagonist—and Ye Fan—the fated male protagonist—were now neck-deep in trouble.
Suddenly, you spotted a supervisor from the university's logistics department huddled with someone else, whispering gossip. You edged closer to listen.
「The Li family specially invited the Ghost Physician. Word is the Li family's patriarch was seriously injured and has fallen into a coma.」
The Li family's patriarch was seriously injured!
You were slightly taken aback.
It clicked— the black-cloaked powerhouse who'd fought Sun Zhong earlier must have been the Li family's patriarch. He'd already been wounded by the enraged Sun Zhong back then.
Then Ye Fan had stormed the Li family manor, most likely unleashing the Nine Steps of Treading the Heavens once again. It was no surprise the Li family's patriarch had been beaten into a coma after taking another beating.
The Ghost Physician was an extremely eccentric healer from the Qianyuan Empire. He had a strange rule when it came to treating people: he had to kill one person before he would save another.
And he wouldn't lift a finger to heal someone until he'd claimed his victim's life first.
You had no reason to doubt the logistics supervisor's words. Magic City University was one of the empire's top academic institutions, with access to a great deal of inside information. This was precisely why you'd chosen to assume Su Meng's identity in the first place.
Upon hearing the news that the Li family's patriarch was in a coma, you immediately hatched a plan.
You decided to sneak into the Li family manor to gather intelligence, hoping to dig up some clues about the mastermind pulling the strings behind the scenes.
Having made up your mind, you asked the logistics supervisor for a leave of absence, claiming your sister was ill and needed to be taken care of. He readily agreed.
With your plan set, you activated the Thousand Shadows Demon Art, altering your appearance once more before heading straight for the Li family manor. You were no stranger to the Li residence—you'd stayed there for several days when you first arrived in Magic City, so you knew the way like the back of your hand.
Before long, you reached the exterior of the Li family manor.
Just then, the main gate swung open, and Li Yang stepped out, flanking an elderly man with a sinister, shadowy face. Li Yang wore an ingratiating smile.
Listening in on their conversation, you realized the sinister old man was none other than the legendary Ghost Physician.
「Rest assured, Senior Ghost Physician,」 Li Yang said obsequiously, 「the Li family understands your rules. We guarantee we'll deliver your target's head within three days.」
The Ghost Physician nodded arrogantly, then suddenly turned his gaze toward the spot where you were hiding.
Your heart skipped a beat. You quickly suppressed your aura, silently chanting your mantra of invisibility, boosted by this red innate talent.
You realized the old man was far from ordinary—he'd actually managed to pierce through the concealment of the Thousand Shadows Demon Art, faintly detecting your presence. His strength was likely on par with, if not greater than, Sun Zhong's.
He was definitely a Saint Realm powerhouse, at the very least.
Fortunately, your mantra of invisibility seemed to take effect. The Ghost Physician frowned slightly, then looked away, departing under Li Yang's escort.
As Li Yang turned to head back into the manor, you activated the newly learned Shadow Concealment ability, merging into his shadow in the blink of an eye, ready to follow him inside.
Li Yang remained completely oblivious, striding into the Li family manor without a second thought.
You slipped inside smoothly.
「Young Master! Young Master! Young Master!」
Li Yang headed toward the backyard, and the servants along the way bowed respectfully, keeping their heads down.
Gone was the obsequious demeanor he'd displayed in front of you. Instead, he walked with an air of arrogant superiority.
Before long, under your watchful eyes, he reached the backyard and entered a study room. Inside, a refined middle-aged man was waiting—none other than Li Ge, the current head of the Li family.
The father and son exchanged a few brief words about the Ghost Physician, confirming your suspicion that the Li family's patriarch was indeed in a coma.
Unable to contain his anxiety any longer, Li Yang finally voiced his concerns.「Father, what do we do about the Sun Qian incident? This is the Sun family we're talking about! It's been five whole days now, and I can't help but feel jittery.」
「Relax,」 Li Ge replied calmly, 「our allies have already made their move in the imperial capital. They'll keep the Sun family occupied—they won't be able to interfere in Magic City affairs for the time being.」
Li Ge's words sent a jolt through you.
So it was true—something had happened to the Sun family in the imperial capital.