I'm A Minor Villain In A Martial Arts Novel (38 Chapters Left to Complete) - Chapter 6

“There are people who, no matter how hard they try, can never be loved.”

My vision twisted.

Yet, this did not mean I had awakened from that dreadful nightmare.

Since opening my eyes as Nangong Lin, I had always seen the same nightmare. This time, however, the figure was that of an unfamiliar man.

The protagonist of this novel, Ji Tianwu.

I saw him beheading me.

The cold blade touched my neck.

At that moment—

I gasped sharply and opened my eyes.

[Are you alright?]

I tightly clutched the dagger to my chest. I could sense Uncle Dagger fidgeting anxiously.

[Sorry… Sorry. It’s been so long since I moved a physical body—I wasn’t thinking about yours. I got too excited and…]

Uncle Dagger’s apology resonated within me more clearly than anyone else’s ever had. It felt strangely unusual.

Ever since becoming Nangong Lin, this was the first time someone had apologized to me.

Flustered, I answered aloud:

“I’m fine, really—I’m perfectly fine. Pain is something I’m used to…”

“What exactly is fine?”

A sudden voice made me look up in surprise.

[That guy again. He’s been coming every time you collapse. Such a nuisance.]

Why on earth was Grandfather here?

Grandfather hadn’t come alone. Behind him stood his retainers—and…

“Oh… Miss…”

Yun Ling stood there. Her face was badly bruised.

‘Yun Ling used to get meat dishes prepared for her every day by Nangong Xianzong…’

There was no reason for her face to look like that. I looked up at Grandfather with confusion.

His expression was terrifyingly rigid—similar to how he looked the last time I collapsed.

It was a face full of anger.

I exhaled a rough breath and tilted my head in bewilderment.

“The physician said you collapsed because you haven’t been eating properly.”

I hunched my shoulders.

I didn’t know what to say.

Did this mean Grandfather disliked having such a frail child in the Nangong Clan?

I noticed Grandfather’s brow twitch. His gaze shifted from my arm to my face.

Just then—

‘Oh no, not now.’

I couldn’t hold back the sudden bodily reflex.

“Achoo!”

My spit splattered onto Grandfather’s face.

“Oh—no!”

“Gasp!”

Immediately, the people standing behind Grandfather stirred in panic. My own face turned deathly pale.

Even Uncle Dagger seemed startled.

[He clearly could’ve dodged that—what was he thinking?]

Uncle Dagger quickly resolved himself and continued:

[Don’t worry. If that ruthless man tries to do anything to you, I’ll stop him!]

I had no idea how he planned to stop Grandfather.

I made a pained face.

Grandfather’s brow twitched again.

‘Before I even get killed by Ji Tianwu, Grandfather might kill me first!’

The image of Grandfather as depicted in “Heavenly Demon Sovereign” flashed through my mind.

Nangong Jintian—the man without blood or tears.

Even Ji Tianwu had been awestruck by his merciless slaughter of demonic cultivators.

Yet, what Grandfather said next was completely unexpected.

“He said he wishes to apologize to you.”

“What?”

Grandfather’s gaze turned toward Yun Ling. Already pale and stiff, Yun Ling’s face turned bluish-white.

She looked as if she might faint at any moment. Trembling, she lowered her head.

“I—I’m so sorry. I’ve committed an unforgivable crime.”

I blinked blankly.

Was Yun Ling really apologizing to me?

I had told her to take responsibility, but honestly, I hadn’t expected it at all. Even after reporting everything she’d done to Nangong Xianzong, she’d never once been punished.

That’s why, for so long, Yun Ling had strutted around arrogantly.

In the original story, she’d even appeared after I’d grown up.

I suddenly recalled something she once told me:

“……”

But for me, this place had never once felt comfortable…

From beside me, I heard Uncle Dagger’s furious voice:

[If she’s committed a crime punishable by death, then she should die.]

Typical of someone from the martial world—his thoughts were brutally straightforward.

Grandfather waved his hand.

I realized he’d erected a soundproof barrier. I could see him speaking to Yun Ling—

—but the barrier muffled all sound, so I couldn’t hear their conversation.

[Hmph. He does speak reason, after all.]

I grew curious about what Grandfather was saying. Yun Ling looked as if she no longer had the strength to sit upright.

She collapsed onto the floor, trembling uncontrollably.

I strained to read Grandfather’s lips. Then, he approached me.

His hand gently covered my eyes.

‘Rough.’

Grandfather’s hand wasn’t soft—but strangely warm. For some inexplicable reason, I pressed my lips tightly shut.

[This is the timeline separator]

Yun Ling couldn’t possibly understand what was happening.

When first summoned by Nangong Xianzong, she’d actually been in a good mood.

‘Finally—he’s decided to get rid of that vermin…!’

She’d heard Nangong Lin had collapsed in front of Nangong Jintian, but she hadn’t thought much of it.

Nangong Lin was a useless fool who couldn’t even cultivate martial arts in a martial sect.

What’s more, her talent was utterly ordinary.

If Nangong Jintian noticed her, he’d surely find her pathetic.

That’s exactly what she’d believed.

“You won’t be killed here.”

Yun Ling trembled violently.

Before the ruler of the entire martial world, she was no different from an insect.

His gaze toward her was no different either—cold, lifeless, as if staring at a bug.

Did he even have emotions?

Did he consider people as people?

Then came Nangong Jintian’s next words—and Yun Ling felt her breath choke in her throat.

“From now on, staying alive will be far more painful.”

[This is the timeline separator]

I’d been bedridden for several days straight.

When I opened my eyes, I expected to find no one beside me.

Yun Ling had always kept me cold, so I often caught colds.

Whenever I recovered from a fever, I’d wake to find myself completely alone.

In those moments, I’d realize I was truly alone in this world.

That had always been the case…

[You’ve come to your senses?]

I opened my eyes at the voice ringing in my ears.

This time, I wasn’t alone.

[Do you have any idea how worried I was, seeing you sleep so long!]

People had stayed by my side while I was ill. There was even someone who seemed to be a new maid…

‘Grandfather was here too, I think.’

Because of that, I’d assumed everything that happened was just a dream.

Grandfather would never watch over me—yet it had all been real.

I hurriedly scanned my surroundings.

This place was completely different from my old, cramped, and freezing room.

The room was filled with objects I’d never seen before.

‘There’s even warm fur clothing…’

And that wasn’t all.

Aside from the warm fur coat and scarf, every item in the room looked luxurious. Warm air circulated throughout.

I wiggled my fingers.

Perhaps due to such attentive care,

my body now felt perfectly healthy.

I blinked blankly.

“It wasn’t a dream.”

[A dream?]

I looked down at Uncle Dagger. The fact that I’d used Changgong Sword Art, and that Yun Ling had apologized to me—

none of it had been a dream.

For days, I’d been confused whether what happened was real or imagined.

I never imagined Grandfather’s return would change my situation.

I never even considered he might give me another chance.

‘But I can’t stay dazed forever.’

I knew what was about to happen.

‘It’s today.’

I hugged the dagger close to my chest. Normally, Uncle Dagger would’ve scolded me to put it down—but now, he quietly stayed nestled in my arms.

Just then—

someone entered my room.

“Miss, are you awake?”

I stared blankly at the person walking in. She’d been by my side since I fell ill.

‘Her name is Yao Lan, right? She said she was my new maid.’

I decided to ask the question I’d wondered about for days.

“What happened to Yun Ling?”

“I heard she returned to her hometown.”

That couldn’t be true.

Yun Ling had always loudly claimed the Nangong Clan was her true home.

Would someone like her really go back to her hometown? I studied Yao Lan’s face.

Her expression was filled with poorly concealed unease.

Yun Ling hadn’t gone home. I could tell Grandfather had done something to her.

‘Either she’s dead—or suffering something worse than death.’

That was Grandfather’s way.

An indescribable feeling washed over me.

‘The original story has changed.’

Well, it was already twisted beyond recognition. Even Uncle Dagger in my hands was proof enough.

The very dagger Ji Tianwu had once treated as an antique was now speaking to me.

‘Then…’

What would become of Ji Tianwu?

I clenched my fists tightly from nervousness.

Today, I planned to meet Ji Tianwu.

‘In the original story, he gets beaten badly by my cousins early on and becomes lame.’

It happened shortly after Ji Tianwu returned to the Nangong Clan.

‘I must prevent the worst from happening to him.’

Hearing my silence, Yao Lan called out carefully, puzzled:

“Miss?”

“I’ll just go for a short walk.”

“But you only just woke up—let me accompany you…”

“No, I’d like to be alone. So much has happened lately.”

With those words, I lowered my head, wearing a bitter expression.