I'm A Minor Villain In A Martial Arts Novel (38 Chapters Left to Complete) - Chapter 12

“The great Nangong Clan is being approached by a demon—right toward where Grandfather is?”

“Inside the estate should be safe, but you know well—Grandfather can’t be everywhere at once.”

“But that fiend… he once faced Grandfather directly…”

“Yes, the one who fled after taking a strike from Father’s sword. The Wulin Alliance is hunting him, yet who knows when they’ll catch him?”

Nangong Huashu instantly understood what Murong Xi meant.

There was only one Grandfather, yet Anhui Province was vast—meaning places existed beyond Grandfather’s watchful eyes.

Worse still, Xiong Mian Xuluo bore deep hatred toward the Nangongs.

“He’s strong enough to rank among the realm’s top hundred elders.”

That wasn’t all.

He had a vile hobby: delighting in ruining children gifted with exceptional martial talent.

In that instant, Nangong Huashu’s gaze turned toward Nangong Yuqing—and beside him, Nangong Lin, accepting food.

Watching them, Nangong Huashu gave a faint, cold smile.

Nangong Lin’s slap still burned hot on his cheek.

[This is the timeline separator]

Hah… hah…

Gasping harshly, Ji Tianwu jolted awake from sleep.

It was still early dawn—the entire estate lay deep in slumber. He stared at the ceiling, lost in thought.

‘Why did I wake up?’

He recalled the horrifying nightmare—a truly ill-omened dream.

Ji Tianwu rubbed his cheek.

In the dream, blood had splattered across his face.

Remembering the blood’s owner, Ji Tianwu shook his head.

‘Clearly just a bad dream.’

Strange dreams were best forgotten quickly—especially one so ominous.

Lately, Ji Tianwu felt as though he lived in a waking dream.

Since meeting Nangong Lin, his life had turned completely upside down.

No one struck him anymore, and he no longer worried about his next meal.

‘I haven’t even seen Nangong Huashu recently.’

All of it was thanks to Nangong Lin’s kindness.

She’d reportedly gone to the fearsome Nangong Jintian himself to request Ji Tianwu as her personal servant.

Ji Tianwu couldn’t understand her at all.

Nor could he comprehend Nangong Yuqing, whom he’d only recently met for the first time.

They showed him kindness without reason.

Kindness he could never repay…

They’d gently ruffled his hair, spoken warmly to him—and each time, Ji Tianwu felt a strange ache in his chest.

But now he understood.

The pain wasn’t from the lingering effects of Nine Yin Vein Blockage.

His heart, long frozen solid, was finally beginning to thaw under their warmth. Ji Tianwu sat up.

Sleep wouldn’t return.

He grasped the wooden practice sword he’d carefully placed beside him.

He intended to go train at the martial yard—he’d only recently begun learning martial arts.

All thanks to Nangong Suosuo’s kindness.

Nangong Suosuo had marveled upon seeing him.

Even if flattery, those words warmed his heart. Ji Tianwu had never imagined learning martial arts.

After all, he’d die before turning twenty—and any skills he learned would vanish like foam on water.

Yet Nangong Suosuo never once mentioned that grim future while teaching him.

Ji Tianwu now understood what it meant to value time.

Each day had become precious.

Precious enough to fear the death that would inevitably come. Arriving at the martial yard, Ji Tianwu halted.

Someone was already there.

“Ji Tianwu?”

Nangong Lin, sword in hand, looked up in surprise.

“What are you doing here at this hour?”

Nangong Lin approached him with a bright, cheerful smile. Just seeing her smile made Ji Tianwu feel inexplicably happy.

Looking at Nangong Lin, Ji Tianwu thought:

‘It really was just a dream.’

Today’s nightmare was only a dream. Nangong Lin was right beside him, and peaceful days would surely continue.

Ji Tianwu was content with his current life.

‘I hope nothing changes.’

A modest routine of training, spending time with Nangong Lin—that was all he wanted. To live this way forever, meeting a quiet end.

Until Nine Yin Vein Blockage finally consumed him.

[This is the timeline separator]

Ever since Aunt arrived, my daily life changed greatly. First, I began learning swordsmanship from her.

[Your master is me!]

One dagger vehemently opposed the idea of me learning sword from Aunt—but there was nothing to be done.

‘Please bear with it. Besides, we still train together in the evenings.’

[Hmph! If only I had a physical body, such things would never happen.]

I opened my mouth to soothe Uncle Dagger.

‘Grant me one wish, and I’ll go train even at dawn.’

[Why must I grant your wish when you’re the one training?]

‘So… you won’t grant it?’

[You truly are a mischievous little dumpling.]

In the evenings I trained with Uncle Dagger; in the mornings, with Aunt. Due to my promise with Uncle Dagger, I often trained at dawn.

Aunt marveled at how quickly I improved.

“I thought Yuqing was a genius…”

Nangong Yuqing was indeed a genius.

Comparable, in fact, to Ji Tianwu himself.

‘It’s just that I’m benefiting from utterly absurd luck.’

The sword techniques Uncle Dagger taught me were special.

‘Uncle Dagger must have been from the Nangong Clan.’

He knew Changgong Sword Art—and from the Nangong Clan’s techniques he taught me, the truth was obvious.

How he ended up trapped in a dagger, I still didn’t know.

Uncle Dagger strongly avoided speaking of his past.

‘Aunt is strong, but…’

Not nearly as formidable as Uncle Dagger. Sometimes, Uncle Dagger would borrow my body to demonstrate techniques himself.

Whenever that happened, I felt a strange chill—even as I wielded the sword myself.

I had no inner energy, so I couldn’t perform any special techniques.

Yet I could still sense it.

Uncle Dagger’s swordsmanship was extraordinary—indescribable, really.

Uncle Dagger often said things I couldn’t fully grasp.

[When I still had a body, I wanted to become the heavens. I wished to hold the sky within my sword.]

I didn’t understand his words.

Perhaps someday, far in the future, I’d grasp their meaning. Regardless, I’d been enjoying peaceful days lately. Ever since Aunt arrived, the estate servants no longer dared openly look down on me, and my relationship with Ji Tianwu had become amicable.

“Lin, what are you lost in thought about?”

I snapped back to reality.

Nangong Yuqing now stood before me. I looked at him, puzzled.

I couldn’t see Aunt beside him.

“Why did only you come, Elder Brother?”

“Mother was urgently summoned by the Wulin Alliance this evening to provide aid.”

“What?”

“Xiong Mian Xuluo has been spotted in Anhui Province. The Wulin Alliance has deployed the Heavenly Net to hunt him down.”

My face paled upon hearing Nangong Yuqing’s words.

Xiong Mian Xuluo.

If my memory served, it was Xiong Mian Xuluo who had taken Nangong Yuqing’s eyes.

Nangong Yuqing patted my shoulder reassuringly.

“Don’t worry. Grandfather and Mother are strong.”

Yet the tip of Nangong Yuqing’s hand trembled faintly as he spoke. He was frightened—but still tried to comfort me, hiding his fear with calm resolve.

“I plan to stay within the estate today as much as possible.”

I agreed with him.

‘It’s fine. Inside the estate, we’re safe.’

Even without Grandfather and Aunt, nowhere in Anhui Province was safer than the Nangong Clan.

Yet an ominous feeling refused to leave me. In the original story, Nangong Yuqing must have felt the same.

‘But Nangong Yuqing was still kidnapped by Xiong Mian Xuluo.’

Then what was the reason?

Why couldn’t he be protected within the Nangong estate?

Just then—

“Miss!”

Yao Lan came running toward me.

Her face was deathly pale as she spoke.

“Tianwu is gone. Others say Young Master Huashu forcibly took him.”

I’d forgotten—ever since Grandfather and Aunt arrived—just how cruel the Nangong Clan could be without them.

For over eight years, my granduncle Nangong Xianzong had shaped the Nangong Clan into his own domain.

‘Grandfather and Aunt aren’t here.’

It meant I had no allies within the estate now. I knew well how vicious a demon Xiong Mian Xuluo was.

A monster who delighted in ruining gifted young talents.

He never killed them outright.

Instead, he left them in a state worse than death.

In the original story, his target had been Nangong Yuqing. Now, it was Ji Tianwu.

The story had changed.

Ji Tianwu, who should have injured his leg, hadn’t. Uncle Dagger, who should have been merely an antique blade, was no longer just that.

The Heavenly Demon Sovereign I knew might now unfold completely differently.

With a blank expression, I tucked Uncle Dagger into my robes.

“Lin, this isn’t something you can handle alone.”

Sensing my grim intensity, Nangong Yuqing stepped in front of me.

He was right.

If I searched for Tianwu here myself, nothing would change.

Right now, Nangong Huashu had simply taken him by force.

“I’ll go find Huashu. He’s surely up to another cruel prank.”