I'm A Minor Villain In A Martial Arts Novel (38 Chapters Left to Complete) - Chapter 14

“Then, would your head still be attached right now?”

At my words, Xiong Mian Xuluo let out a hollow laugh as if it were absurd.

“There are many monsters in this world, but this is the first time I’ve seen one like you.”

“…….”

“You’re a child who should never have been left alive.”

His aura changed.

I could keenly feel that I had just lost my greatest weapon due to the failure of my last strike.

[You won’t be able to move properly for quite a while.]

Uncle Dagger had just indirectly told me he intended to use my body even more recklessly.

I thrust my sword, aiming for Xiong Mian Xuluo’s side.

Xiong Mian Xuluo still seemed stunned, his astonishment not yet faded.

He parried my sword, though somewhat late.

Clang! Clang!

After a few exchanges, I could feel it even more clearly.

‘This is a battle against time.’

But naturally, Uncle Dagger was far stronger than Xiong Mian Xuluo.

Uncle Dagger tried to end Xiong Mian Xuluo as quickly as possible.

He focused his attacks precisely on the spot where Xiong Mian Xuluo’s hand was injured.

And with each blow, Xiong Mian Xuluo’s face grew paler.

Dense disbelief clouded his features.

He groaned in lamentation.

“Unbelievable… such a monster…”

Whoosh!

Xiong Mian Xuluo’s sword grazed past my ear—but the price he paid was horrific.

My blade inflicted another critical wound on his hand.

Their duel had reached a level beyond what my eyes could follow.

But I could vaguely sense it.

That Uncle Dagger would ultimately prevail. Xiong Mian Xuluo likely sensed it too.

Anxiety flickered across his face.

At that moment—

Xiong Mian Xuluo’s movements shifted. I noticed his change as well.

He charged toward Ji Tianwu and seized him, hurling him toward me.

Uncle Dagger urgently shouted at me.

[Don’t move!]

He tried to control my body, attempting to stop me from rushing toward Ji Tianwu.

But unlike before, I refused to allow it.

Ignoring Uncle Dagger’s will, I dashed toward where Ji Tianwu lay.

[This is the timeline separator]

“Ji Tianwu, run!”

Time began to slow.

Ji Tianwu gently touched his cheek.

Blood—blood splattered.

It was unfolding exactly as he’d seen in his dream. He couldn’t comprehend what was happening before his eyes.

‘Why…?’

Ji Tianwu slowly tilted his head and saw Nangong Lin tightly embracing him.

“Ahh…”

His hands trembled violently.

He carefully held the collapsing Nangong Lin in his arms. Her body was so small.

It was utterly incomprehensible how someone so delicate could have fought that cruel demon.

His mind went numb.

His thoughts froze—nothing came to him.

He stared blankly at what unfolded before him. Nangong Lin remained utterly still. She lay there, motionless.

“Ahh… ahhh…”

An unintelligible groan escaped Ji Tianwu’s lips.

He heard Xiong Mian Xuluo clicking his tongue, staring fearfully at Nangong Lin.

“You monstrous girl—if I don’t kill you now, you’ll wreak havoc! Fortunately, you righteous sect fools are soft-hearted.”

“…….”

“I’ll specially behead you and send your head to the Old Monster of Nangong.”

Xiong Mian Xuluo advanced toward both Nangong Lin and him.

Ji Tianwu couldn’t tell what Xiong Mian Xuluo intended to do.

He was about to kill Nangong Lin—slashing through her slender neck.

The one who had been injured protecting him.

Helplessness swallowed him whole.

He’d never felt more resentful of his own weakness. He’d always taken blows without fighting back, accepted death when it came.

He’d thought it fine to live that way—since he had nothing precious, there was no need to grow stronger.

Thus, he had merely submitted to fate.

But regret came too late.

Nangong Lin had already collapsed, and the demon was closing in to claim their lives. Ji Tianwu grasped the sword she had dropped.

He resolved to die protecting Nangong Lin, if he must die. Xiong Mian Xuluo, eyes filled with malice, asked him,

“Are you also defying me?”

Without answering, Ji Tianwu gently laid Nangong Lin down. He rose and pointed his sword at Xiong Mian Xuluo.

He mimicked the exact stance Nangong Lin had taken earlier.

Xiong Mian Xuluo’s face twisted grotesquely.

“What can a wretch who can’t even use inner energy possibly do? This is exactly why you righteous sect fools…”

As he spoke, Xiong Mian Xuluo swung his sword. Ji Tianwu’s eyes followed the blade, but his body couldn’t.

A long gash opened across his shoulder.

Xiong Mian Xuluo grabbed Ji Tianwu by the throat.

Then he spoke.

“Aren’t you amused? Had I arrived just a little later, you two would’ve turned into monsters.”

“…….”

“It’s truly fortunate I found you before you grew stronger. That’s precisely why I enjoy this work.”

Xiong Mian Xuluo smiled faintly. His face looked grotesque.

“I’ll toy with you slowly before killing you. I wonder what expression you’ll make when I kill that girl first?”

He stepped closer to Nangong Lin.

“Shut up! Don’t you dare touch her!”

Ji Tianwu struggled more violently.

Annoyed, Xiong Mian Xuluo drove his knife into Ji Tianwu’s shoulder.

“Stop making trouble! I intended to blind you after dealing with her—but I’ll take your eyes first!”

His words were no idle threat. His blade aimed directly at Ji Tianwu’s eyes.

Yet Ji Tianwu stared right back, eyes wide open, refusing to look away.

“You truly are terrifying beings. That I discovered you today is surely heaven-sent fortune.”

With those words, Xiong Mian Xuluo raised his sword toward Ji Tianwu’s eyes.

But his blade never reached them.

Clang!

Nangong Lin, who had lain collapsed, had somehow blocked his strike.

“How… how is this possible…?”

Her expression was utterly blank.

Xiong Mian Xuluo hesitated and stepped backward.

[I warned you.]

Though it was clearly Nangong Lin speaking, Ji Tianwu instinctively knew—the being before him was not Nangong Lin.

It was unmistakably the same person, yet her aura had shifted in an instant.

Nangong Lin’s gaze fixed on Xiong Mian Xuluo.

[Encountering me was no fortune from heaven.]

She spoke slowly.

[It is heavenly punishment.] [This is the timeline separator]

Every person possesses their own aura—

An aura that cannot be expressed through martial prowess or brute strength alone.

By observing one’s aura, you can guess how many times they have crossed the boundary between life and death. Such aura cannot be built through innate talent alone, no matter how ancient or profound.

Xiong Mian Xuluo felt a similar intuition as Ji Tianwu had.

The person before him was no longer the kind-hearted girl he’d seen moments ago.

In an instant, her aura had transformed.

Xiong Mian Xuluo threw Ji Tianwu to the ground. The boy was no longer a viable hostage.

Even if he snapped Ji Tianwu’s neck now, the girl before him wouldn’t flinch.

“Who are you?”

Xiong Mian Xuluo slowly stepped backward.

[Are you curious?]

The child—no, the youth—no, that being of indeterminate identity—

slowly tilted their head.

It would have been strange to feel fear at the sight.

After all, Nangong Lin’s appearance was merely that of a slightly cute little girl. Yet Xiong Mian Xuluo clearly felt terror.

[Did you ever ask those whose dreams you crushed?]

Xiong Mian Xuluo fell silent at Nangong Lin’s words.

She was right.

He had stolen the futures of countless late-blooming talents, yet never once wondered about them.

Their dreams.

What they had longed to achieve.

Hadn’t he enjoyed trampling those dreams underfoot? Their aspirations meant nothing to him.

Nangong Lin’s sword pointed toward him.

On her blade shimmered a familiar sword aura—

the clear, bright blue symbolizing the Nangong family.

He had seen it before.

Nangong Jintian had wielded a similar sword aura.

Xiong Mian Xuluo’s expression changed.

Trembling, his face contorted with fear.

“Th-that… sword aura…”

He had to kill her.

Or at the very least, warn his comrades that a monster now lived and breathed within the Nangong Clan.

It wasn’t just the Old Monster of Nangong. There was also this being—only eight years old—who could already manifest sword aura.

He didn’t know what trick she used, but in the distant future, she would surely become their greatest enemy.

The mere fact that she could manifest sword aura made her a clear target for assassination.

[Countless children must have wept because of what you’ve done.]

Gritting his teeth, Xiong Mian Xuluo gripped his sword tighter.

[I see the vengeful spirits clinging to your ankles.]

It was strange.

Xiong Mian Xuluo frowned.

The moment Nangong Lin finished speaking, his feet felt heavier.

In his ears, he seemed to hear cries he’d never heard before.

Those who had begged him in the past.

All were merely memories long forgotten. He never remembered those he’d killed.

Because he deemed them unworthy of remembrance.

Nangong Lin spoke toward Xiong Mian Xuluo.

[You will find no salvation, even in death.]

Her sword traced a beautiful arc—moving at a speed Xiong Mian Xuluo couldn’t possibly follow.

It was a movement that surpassed the limits of her small body.

Her blade carried an enlightenment unknown to Xiong Mian Xuluo.

Swift, yet heavy.

In that moment, Xiong Mian Xuluo tried to cry out for mercy.

But no words came from his throat. He watched as his own body slowly tilted.

His head was falling.

‘Ah… I’m already dead.’

Only after his body fully collapsed did he realize—

that he had died.