Can a Scholar Be Called a Villain

Book 2: Chapter 27: Coercing Xiao Dong

However, Xiao Dong, being the protagonist, wasn’t about to let such a tremendous opportunity slip away. Realizing that Han Tian Cuo was no match for his power of ‘Devourment’ during their exchange, a smile crept across his face.

With a swift motion, he unleashed his Abhijñā, the ‘Devouring the Sky and Earth’, targeting Han Tian Cuo’s back. In that instant, the space before him seemed to contort.

Han Tian Cuo’s primordial spirit couldn’t take more than a few steps before being drawn in. The air rippled as his primordial spirit collided with Xiao Dong’s attack, and in that very moment, it began to wither. The once blurry figure became even more indistinguishable as more than half of his essence was absorbed by Xiao Dong in an instant.

“Ahhh! Spare me! Spare me!” Han Tian Cuo, who had split his primordial spirit in a desperate bid for survival, not only retained meagre strength but had also lost a significant portion of his memories. Only the vital memories remained, as everything else from the previous millennium had faded away.

Now, his threatening demeanour had dissipated, replaced by desperate pleas.

Yet, Xiao Dong had no intention of sparing such a dangerous entity. He approached Han Tian Cuo once again, absorbing both his memories and primordial spirit simultaneously. Though Han Tian Cuo resisted, his feeble attempts only drained Xiao Dong’s mental energy, incapable of causing any harm.

In this remote and dark location, a revered Tribulation realm almighty found himself on the verge of losing his life at the hands of a Cognizance realm cultivator.

“I can’t accept this! I, I still can rise up!”

Han Tian Cuo blurted out powerlessly before dispersing, his primordial spirit vanishing into nothingness.

Xiao Dong promptly seated himself, assuming a cross-legged position to refine Han Tian Cuo’s memories and the energy of his primordial spirit.

Meanwhile, Luo Miao Miao, regaining consciousness, looked at her own body in horror, realizing that her strength had vanished. Her complexion turned pale as she crawled towards Xiao Dong, recognizing him as her potential saviour.

As she inched closer, she suddenly noticed a figure emerging from behind Xiao Dong—a human silhouette concealed in the darkness, wielding a thin paring knife.

Luo Miao Miao hadn’t participated in the conflict within the great hall, instead focusing on searching for spiritual items outside. Consequently, she failed to recognise Murong Lin.

However, this didn’t prevent her from crying out in horror, “Brother Dong! Behind you!”

Murong Lin’s expression shifted slightly as he swiftly thrust the knife toward Xiao Dong’s body. In that critical moment, a cold light flashed.

However, under the influence of his protagonist halo, Xiao Dong had already completed the digestion of Han Tian Cuo’s memories. With Luo Miao Miao’s timely reminder, he instantly rolled forward, deftly avoiding Murong Lin’s strike.

Murong Lin wore an expression of helplessness, realizing that the protagonist halo held significant power, even in unexpected situations.

His silhouette flickered, appearing instantly behind Luo Miao Miao and pressing a blade against her neck. The sudden tension in the air quieted the surroundings.

Luo Miao Miao, feeling Murong Lin’s foot against her body and the cold steel at her neck, was overwhelmed with horror. In that moment, regret flooded her thoughts—why hadn’t she played dead earlier?

Xiao Dong, visibly shocked, stared at the figure before him and exclaimed, “It’s you?”

Sensing the familiar aura around Murong Lin and recalling their encounter in the vast hall, Xiao Dong understood.

“You deliberately tossed the Blessed Enigma Cauldron to me?”

Murong Lin nodded candidly, a mocking smile playing on his lips as he gazed at Xiao Dong, “If I had known Han Tian Cuo would be this weak, I would have come myself. I didn’t expect him to be so inferior.”

The blade he held against Luo Miao Miao’s neck swayed slightly as he continued, “I’ll give you a choice now. Either hand over your ring of holding, along with the cultivation methods and techniques you are cultivating, or I’ll kill this adorable lover of yours.”

Luo Miao Miao immediately began to struggle, her terrified and pleading gaze fixed on Xiao Dong. The dust and dirt on her once-beautiful appearance added to her pitiful state.

Xiao Dong watched Luo Miao Miao, his heart aching, before turning his gaze to the mocking smile on Murong Lin’s face. Fury filled his eyes, almost spilling out like flames.

Covertly assessing Murong Lin’s strength, Xiao Dong calculated whether he could stop him before Luo Miao Miao met her demise. Yet, Murong Lin’s current cultivation was clearly at the eighth layer of the Cognizance realm.

With a hint of despair in his eyes, Xiao Dong slowly rose to his feet, his gaze fixed on Murong Lin as he questioned, “Why? Why are you doing this to me?”

He sought to understand Murong Lin’s motives—his actions in the earlier auction, in the vast hall, and now, orchestrating his confrontation with Han Tian Cuo. Recognizing the disadvantageous situation if the confrontation prolonged, Xiao Dong’s desperation became evident.

“It’s because your power of Devourment is too strong! However, you don’t seem to have a good head on your shoulders. Now, you only have ten seconds left,” Murong Lin declared.

Xiao Dong’s power of Devourment resembled a relentless force at times, akin to the all-consuming lifeforms known as Blood Bat Locusts. While these creatures were bound by limitations, such as the locusts’ inability to break through to the Abhijñā realm, the power of Devourment allowed its user to endlessly consume and enhance their strength.

Unfortunately, Xiao Dong wasn’t the sharpest tool in the shed.

Murong Lin tightened his grip, slicing open a small cut on Luo Miao Miao’s neck. Blood spilled, and her desperate cry for help pierced the air, “Brother Dong! Save me!”

In a state of panic due to the revelation of the ‘power of Devourment’, Xiao Dong stared at Murong Lin in disbelief, struggling to comprehend how his greatest secret had been exposed. Suspicion crept in, and he wondered if Murong Lin had been shadowing and spying on him all along.

Beads of sweat formed on Xiao Dong’s forehead, and his body trembled with uncertainty.

“You… exactly…” he mumbled.

Murong Lin’s next words shattered another layer of defense in Xiao Dong’s mentality, “I still know a lot more things about you!”

A strange gaze emanated from Murong Lin, causing Xiao Dong’s body to go numb. As he looked between the pleading Luo Miao Miao and the menacing figure of Murong Lin, he gritted his teeth and took a few steps backwards.

In a state of panic, he chose to escape.

He immediately shattered a spiritual talisman in his hand, causing his figure to vanish into thin air. His voice lingered, “I will never forget this grudge! Miao Miao! I will come and save you!”

Murong Lin found it impossible to chase after him. Xiao Dong’s swift departure left no time for Murong Lin to mark or pursue him with a spiritual spatial talisman.

By now, Xiao Dong would have travelled a considerable distance, likely at least a hundred lis away.

This unexpected turn of events left Luo Miao Miao stunned. The man she had coaxed into submission had run away just like that? Had he prioritised his own escape over her life?

Feeling a profound sense of despair, she struggled to find words.

Murong Lin, observing Xiao Dong’s disappearance with a helpless expression, stepped away and addressed the despondent Luo Miao Miao, “Get up. I won’t kill you.”

“Ding! The protagonist Xiao Dong’s ‘Little Protagonist Halo’ has started to shatter, his protagonist value has dropped by 50.”

“Ding! Congratulations to the master for obtaining a villain value of 50; you may use it to purchase items in the system shop.”

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Translator’s note

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