You stared silently at Su Mei's sleeping face, the corners of your eyes twitching slightly.
Dust coated her delicate features, and there were faint scratches on her small hands—proof of how she'd stumbled through the forest, blind, dragging your deadweight body for who knew how long. Her lips were chapped and peeling, and her clothes were torn in several places, revealing patches of skin scraped raw by brambles.
This was an eighteen-year-old girl who'd just lost her only family member. She should've been weeping, should've been hiding in a corner, terrified of the dangers of the wilderness. But instead, she'd carried you—a complete burden—through the mountains, found this cave to shelter you, lit a fire to keep you warm, and even managed to catch small animals to sustain the both of you.
All because you'd avenged her brother.
「I've ruined her life.」
A hoarse, silent thought echoed in your mind. You'd gotten Su Meng killed, and now you'd dragged his blind little sister into this whirlpool of chaos and bloodshed. From now on, she'd be hunted by the mastermind's forces along with you—her fate tied to a dying man.
You'd always prided yourself on being ruthless, on casting aside all emotions to survive. You were a villain, after all—villains didn't feel guilt, didn't feel remorse. They only cared about power, about revenge, about coming out on top.
But looking at Su Mei's exhausted, peaceful sleeping face, a strange, unfamiliar ache tugged at your heartstrings.
You wanted to end this simulation—to die and return to your real body. What was the point of clinging to life here? You were a burnt-out husk, your lifespan drained, your meridians frozen solid, your cultivation base locked by the "heavenly loan." You couldn't move, couldn't fight, couldn't even protect the girl who'd sacrificed everything for you.
You tried to lift your head, to bite your tongue and end it all—but your jaw felt like lead. The only things you could move were your eyes and your mouth.
Just then, your gaze fell on a crumpled bunch of herbs clutched tightly in Su Mei's hand—wilted, but still recognizable. They were cold-dispelling herbs, rare in this part of the mountains. How had a blind girl managed to find them?
She must've groped through the underbrush, feeling every plant with her fingers, relying on the faint scent to identify them.
A wave of bitterness washed over you.
「Damn this Villain Simulator! What kind of villain gets hunted like a dog every single time? What kind of messed-up world is this, turning people into monsters just to survive...」
Your voice was a hoarse whisper, so quiet it was almost swallowed by the crackling of the campfire.
Just as despair threatened to engulf you completely, a warm, burning sensation suddenly erupted from your spine—right where the Supreme Emperor Bone was hidden.
It started as a tiny spark, then quickly spread like wildfire, searing through your frozen meridians, chasing away the bone-chilling cold that had been eating away at your life force.
The icy energy that had been lingering in your body for days was rapidly dissipating, melting away like snow under the scorching sun. Your fingers twitched slightly, and a faint trickle of spiritual energy began to circulate in your dantian.
「The Supreme Emperor Bone… it's awakening on its own?」
You were stunned, your eyes widening in disbelief. This divine treasure, which had lain dormant in your body for years, had actually reacted to your mortal peril, protecting you at the last minute.
Hope—faint, but unmistakable—bloomed in your chest.
You weren't done yet. You weren't going to die here.
You still had scores to settle. With the mastermind in the Imperial Capital, with Ye Fan, with Liu Yue… with all the people who'd tried to kill you, who'd treated you like a pawn.
And you couldn't leave Su Mei alone. Not after everything she'd done for you.
Just then, Su Mei stirred, her long eyelashes fluttering. She slowly opened her milky-white eyes, and when she sensed your gaze, a look of pure, unadulterated joy lit up her face.
「Brother Qian! You're awake! You're finally awake!」
She scrambled to sit up, her movements clumsy with exhaustion, and reached out to touch your cheek, her fingers trembling with relief. 「You were so cold… I thought… I thought you'd never wake up again.」
Her voice was choked with tears, but there was no trace of complaint in it—only genuine concern.
You stared at her, your throat suddenly tight. For the first time in your life—whether in the real world or in the simulations—you felt a desire to protect someone.
Not for profit, not for leverage, but simply because you didn't want to see her hurt.
You opened your mouth, your voice hoarse but steady. 「I'm fine… don't cry.」
Su Mei nodded vigorously, wiping her tears with the back of her hand, a wobbly smile on her face. She then fumbled for a water skin beside her, carefully bringing it to your lips. 「Drink some water. I fetched it from a stream nearby this morning.」
As the cool water slid down your throat, you felt your mind clearing further. The Supreme Emperor Bone was still radiating warmth, slowly repairing your damaged meridians.
You glanced up at the cave entrance, where a streak of sunlight was streaming in, illuminating the dust motes dancing in the air.
The fourth simulation wasn't over yet.
And neither was your story.
You still had to find out the truth about your identity as Chen Qian. You still had to meet the mysterious protector in the Ten Thousand Great Mountains. You still had to claim the complete Nine Steps to the Heavens from Ye Fan. You still had to make the mastermind pay for everything he'd done.
And this time, you wouldn't be fighting alone.
You looked back at Su Mei, who was busy rearranging the firewood, her profile soft in the firelight. A faint, genuine smile tugged at the corner of your lips.
「Su Mei.」
「Hmm?」 She turned her head toward your voice, her blind eyes shining with curiosity.
「When I get better… I'll take you to a safe place. No one will ever hurt you again.」
It was a promise—a promise from a villain who'd never believed in keeping promises before.
But for the first time, you meant every word of it.
Outside the cave, the wind howled through the trees, but inside, the fire crackled warmly, wrapping the two of you in a blanket of quiet peace.
The fourth Villain Life Simulation was far from over.
And the legend of Chen Qian—of the man who would shake the entire Qianyuan Empire—was only just beginning.