I'm A Minor Villain In A Martial Arts Novel (38 Chapters Left to Complete) - Chapter 13

Uncle Dagger also agreed with Nangong Yuqing’s words.

[That brat is right. Whether it’s Xiong Mian Xuluo or whatever, I don’t know who that bastard is. But do you really think you can handle a demon lord capable of deploying the Heavenly Net?]

There was one thing they didn’t know—but I did. Xiong Mian Xuluo had already escaped the Heavenly Net.

I recalled Aunt’s desperate cries from the original story.

I nodded toward Nangong Yuqing.

“Brother, could you go find Nangong Huashu? Please find out Tianwu’s whereabouts. I’ll go tell the elders the truth.”

“Miss…”

“Yao Lan, could you go inform Grandfather and Aunt of this?”

At my words, Nangong Yuqing nodded with a relieved expression.

He probably thought I’d understood. But he was wrong.

I had no intention at all of behaving meekly as Nangong Yuqing expected.

Nor did I plan to ask the elders for help—they’d surely feign ignorance.

As soon as I’d walked far enough that Nangong Yuqing and Yao Lan were out of sight, I started running.

[What are you thinking?]

‘Xiong Mian Xuluo is near the Nangong Clan. Ji Tianwu has probably already been kidnapped.’

Uncle Dagger remained silent.

I whispered toward him.

‘You promised you’d grant my wish if I trained at dawn.’

He finally spoke.

[You troublesome dumpling.]

‘Please help me. I can’t just leave that child like this.’

[You mean more to me.]

‘Uncle Dagger…’

[If you’re in danger of getting hurt just by looking at that bastard, I’ll make you run away immediately.]

‘But you said you can’t move my body without my consent.’

[You little dumpling…]

There was no more conversation.

With Uncle Dagger’s help, I scaled the Nangong Clan’s wall.

[This is the timeline separator]

“Aren’t you afraid of me?”

Ji Tianwu looked at the figure before him. Or rather—was the being standing before him even human?

True to his infamous title, Xiong Mian Xuluo’s face was grotesque.

Half of his face had been torn away. He cackled and thrust his disfigured visage inches from Ji Tianwu.

“Curious why my face looks like this?”

Ji Tianwu said nothing.

Instantly, fury flared in Xiong Mian Xuluo’s eyes.

“It was that Old Monster of Nangong who tore it off.”

At the mention of “Nangong,” Ji Tianwu reacted for the first time.

Slowly, he lifted his head.

“One day, I’ll tear apart and kill every last one of those who bear the Nangong name.”

Despite Xiong Mian Xuluo’s violent words, Ji Tianwu felt no fear.

What he felt instead was relief—he was glad it was him who’d been captured, not Nangong Lin.

Since time immemorial, Ji Tianwu had never feared death.

But ever since coming to the Nangong Clan—and ever since meeting Nangong Lin—he’d begun to feel regret.

He hated how time passed.

He’d wanted to stay a little longer by Nangong Lin’s side. Yet if his capture meant her safety, even that was fortunate.

Thus, Ji Tianwu could accept death calmly.

‘If I die… will she be sad?’

A foolish thought crossed his mind.

Unimpressed by Ji Tianwu’s indifferent response, Xiong Mian Xuluo clicked his tongue.

“Ugh, I caught a boring one.”

He slowly approached Ji Tianwu.

“What’s your connection to the Nangongs? Their servants abandoned you and ran.”

Ji Tianwu realized Xiong Mian Xuluo had been watching the Nangong Clan for a very long time.

“Do you need to know?”

“Such fearless eyes. Aren’t you afraid of death?”

“I have no reason to fear a wretch like you.”

“What did you say?”

“Fearing someone who feeds on fear would only please you—that’s pointless.”

Xiong Mian Xuluo seized Ji Tianwu’s wrist.

“They said you possessed extraordinary martial talent, but your eyes are ruined… You suffer from Nine Yin Vein Blockage.”

Interest drained from Xiong Mian Xuluo’s face. He’d taken this boy thinking he held promise—only to find an empty shell.

He usually spared talented children not out of mercy, but because crushing their potential and watching them live in despair amused him.

But a boy with no future offered him no entertainment. Xiong Mian Xuluo gripped Ji Tianwu’s throat.

“I’ll grant your wish and kill you.”

Ji Tianwu closed his eyes.

There was no trace of fear of death within him.

He only felt slight regret as memories of life at the Nangong Clan surfaced.

“Let go of him.”

Ji Tianwu slowly opened his eyes. A voice he shouldn’t have heard here had reached his ears.

[This is the timeline separator]

Finding Ji Tianwu wasn’t difficult.

The moment we left the Nangong Clan, Uncle Dagger had pinpointed his location.

‘How did you find him?’

[Use spiritual sense.]

I didn’t fully understand, but he seemed to have his own method. Xiong Mian Xuluo was certainly bold.

Escaping the Heavenly Net and heading straight for the Nangong Clan was something no ordinary person would dare.

‘Though it’s often darkest beneath the lamp.’

Xiong Mian Xuluo was in a dilapidated house near the Nangong Clan. Just as I was about to enter without hesitation—

[Don’t go.]

Uncle Dagger’s voice stopped me.

‘Can’t we win?’

[You’ll get hurt.]

I understood his meaning—if I borrowed his power, we could win, but the opponent was formidable.

Uncle Dagger had said he couldn’t use his full strength.

[Your body isn’t ready to withstand it.]

It was the first time I’d heard anger in Uncle Dagger’s voice.

[He wouldn’t want this either. Just let him go.]

Perhaps it seemed that way. Ji Tianwu was a boy with no desire for life. The occasional weariness in his eyes revealed his indifference to everything.

A predetermined end.

Hence, a life utterly devoid of drive.

That was precisely why I couldn’t let him go. Uncle Dagger worried that if I fully channeled his power, my body would suffer.

[Your innate energy might be damaged. Do you even understand what that means?]

‘I’ll endure a lot of hardship.’

[If you understand, then turn…]

‘But if I don’t go, Ji Tianwu will die. He has Nine Yin Vein Blockage—Xiong Mian Xuluo will find him boring.’

Uncle Dagger offered no rebuttal.

Because my words were true.

‘I’ll only get hurt, but he’ll die.’

Without hesitation, I opened the door and stepped inside.

I saw Xiong Mian Xuluo gripping Ji Tianwu’s throat. The demon lord, half his face torn away, looked terrifying enough to make one wet themselves.

Though I’d feigned confidence in front of Uncle Dagger, I was honestly frightened.

I’d been mistreated and scorned at the Nangong Clan, but never faced a direct threat to my life.

Yet Xiong Mian Xuluo was a vicious demon lord.

It could just as easily have been me—instead of Nangong Yuqing—losing my eyes to him.

Gripping my sword, I glared at Xiong Mian Xuluo.

He chuckled as if amused by my defiance.

“How entertaining. Are you really saying that to me?”

“You’d have more fun playing with me than with him.”

At my words, Xiong Mian Xuluo’s eyes glinted menacingly.

“Yes—I know your name.”

“…”

“Nangong Lin, daughter of Nangong Xian.”

I stiffened involuntarily.

I hadn’t expected to hear my father’s name here.

“But I’ve heard your talent pales compared to his.”

“…”

“High-spirited you may be, but your actions reek of arrogance.”

It was fortunate.

Xiong Mian Xuluo completely dismissed me. Even the mightiest general could fall to a blind sword.

His contempt was my greatest weapon. I had no time to waste.

Though I’d improved since first meeting Uncle Dagger, I was still weak.

I lacked the inner energy to defeat Xiong Mian Xuluo, and my body wasn’t trained enough.

‘Besides, I’m still small.’

Physically, Xiong Mian Xuluo was an opponent I could never beat.

But it wasn’t my own will moving my body now.

Great martial artists often transcended physical limits—their swords had already reached the realm of mind over matter.

Uncle Dagger spoke softly.

[I can use your body to finish him. But your flesh, bearing the full weight of my sword, will suffer greatly.]

My eyes met Ji Tianwu’s.

At that same instant, I saw him grab Xiong Mian Xuluo’s waist.

Everything seemed to slow unnaturally. It was a fleeting opening.

Simultaneously, my body shot forward at an uncanny speed.

Yet my outstretched blade appeared agonizingly slow.

In that moment, Uncle Dagger’s usual words echoed in my mind.

[The Nangong sword is the heavens.]

Blood spurted from my mouth.

[To contain the whole sky, it must be heavy.]

My sword pierced Xiong Mian Xuluo’s hand. His eyes widened in disbelief.

Cold sweat dripped down my forehead.

I’d failed my one chance.

My body hadn’t kept up with Uncle Dagger’s will.

[Damn it. I should’ve at least pierced his abdomen.]

I saw Xiong Mian Xuluo raise his sword.

He muttered in disbelief.

“What on earth did I just see?”

“…”

“Are you some master of the Reversion to Youth technique?”