I'm A Minor Villain In A Martial Arts Novel (38 Chapters Left to Complete) - Chapter 8

Nangong Huashu will continue to torment Ji Tianwu.

‘Of course, he’ll torment me too.’

In the original story, Nangong Lin, bullied by Nangong Huashu, would take out her frustration on Ji Tianwu. Such actions left the Nangong Clan with no right to complain when Ji Tianwu eventually destroyed them in the future.

But was that all?

I narrowed my eyes and stared at Nangong Huashu.

As described in Heavenly Demon Sovereign, Nangong Huashu was an utterly despicable man.

Not only did he drag the protagonist Ji Tianwu into ruin and torment him…

He was also the first among his clan to betray his family during the distant future conflict with the Blood Sect.

Memories of his numerous cowardly, treacherous acts to escape surfaced. I couldn’t possibly let such a man go unpunished.

I stared at Nangong Huashu’s fist, which I had seized.

None of it had happened yet—not Nangong Huashu crippling Ji Tianwu’s leg,

nor his betrayal of his clan.

But still.

I lowered my head.

Then I saw Ji Tianwu’s battered face.

“Have you ever once considered—even for a moment—that you might end up in the same position as the one you strike?”

Nangong Huashu’s stunned expression twisted in shock.

He retorted with an incredulous look.

“Why would I?”

The Nangong Clan was the most prestigious in the land. Born as a direct heir of that house, Nangong Huashu had never once considered consequences for tormenting others.

Uncle Dagger sighed as he looked at Nangong Huashu.

[What a foolish child.]

Nangong Huashu’s current behavior toward me was no different.

He believed nothing he did to me could ever harm him.

To him, anyone weaker and insignificant held no value whatsoever.

[What appears on the surface isn’t always the whole truth.]

In the jianghu, today and tomorrow were never the same.

It wasn’t uncommon for absolute masters to appear in the guise of children. A strange power seemed to settle into my body. I lifted my fist and looked up at Nangong Huashu with lowered eyes.

“From now on, you’d better start thinking about it.”

[This is the timeline separator]

‘What is this?’

Nangong Huashu thought dazedly.

‘Am I dreaming?’

A massive bruise marred his face—he hadn’t dodged Nangong Lin’s punch.

Nangong Lin.

She was his cousin, someone who had existed within the Nangong Clan like a faint shadow, barely noticeable.

He’d never thought of her as anything more than a lowly insect.

She was even much smaller in stature than he was.

Yet he’d failed to dodge a punch from such a child.

Nangong Huashu screamed and swung his fist. But it never reached Nangong Lin.

“Aaagh!”

Nangong Lin’s punch had clearly been slow.

So slow it should’ve been impossible to land. Yet somehow, he couldn’t avoid it.

Thud!

A loud sound rang out, and sharp pain shot through his face.

“What kind of sorcery is this!”

Despite Nangong Huashu’s cry, Nangong Lin didn’t stop her punches.

He saw the collateral branch children behind him rushing toward Nangong Lin. But they fared no better.

Not a single finger of theirs touched her.

His anger lasted only a moment.

Faced with an opponent he clearly couldn’t defeat, Nangong Huashu felt fear.

It was the first time he’d ever felt this way—except in front of his grandfather.

His father, Nangong Xian, had always doted on him, and no elder in the Nangong Clan ever dared reprimand him for his misdeeds.

Nangong Huashu clutched his face. He didn’t need to see it to know.

His face must be in utter ruin.

The faces of the collateral branch children were in even worse shape than the beggar he’d trampled earlier.

Nangong Huashu felt a tear slowly squeeze out from his eyes.

His will broken, he staggered backward. Nangong Lin smirked at him with a chilling expression unbecoming of a child.

“You’d better stay out of my sight from now on.”

[This is the timeline separator]

It didn’t take long to deal with Nangong Huashu and his lackeys. The thoroughly beaten boys fled the scene, sobbing loudly.

‘They ended up in even worse shape than Ji Tianwu.’

I looked at my own hands.

‘Wow, I really need to train harder.’

Though I was the one who threw the punches, my hands felt battered, and my whole body felt limp and drained.

I was utterly exhausted.

[Hey Mantou, are you alright?]

‘I told you, I’m not Mantou.’

[You really are frail. You look like you’ll shatter any moment.]

I had to agree with Uncle Dagger on that.

[You must grow stronger. Your weak body can’t handle it.]

I nodded.

Uncle Dagger’s words about being unable to “handle it” held multiple meanings.

My frail body couldn’t fully contain his martial arts, and frequent use would only harm me further.

‘But I couldn’t just ignore the danger facing Ji Tianwu.’

I’d been lucky enough to find Uncle Dagger. In a way, I’d claimed one of Ji Tianwu’s destined fortunes.

‘Of course, for Ji Tianwu, that fortune only emitted warmth.’

Yet even that small warmth would have meant a great deal to him as a child. I remembered how comforting it felt to hold Uncle Dagger close on cold winter days.

‘Even while calling him an antique, Ji Tianwu never abandoned him.’

That antique sword had shielded him from the cold when he had nothing. I couldn’t fully grasp what that sword truly meant to him.

But the fact he kept it despite his complaints meant it held special significance.

That’s why I couldn’t turn my back on Ji Tianwu. I wanted to give him back, at the very least, the same warmth Uncle Dagger had given him.

I examined Ji Tianwu while cradling my hands. My gaze wouldn’t leave his legs.

According to the original story, Ji Tianwu was supposed to injure his leg today.

‘Thank goodness—he’s fine.’

I let out a sigh of relief.

Though Ji Tianwu looked a mess, his legs seemed unharmed.

“Are you okay?”

I saw Ji Tianwu staring blankly at me. Only then did I truly notice his appearance.

‘He’s absurdly handsome.’

This was unfair. Sure, his face was covered in dirt and he looked ragged.

Yet his face still seemed to glow with light.

‘So this is the legendary protagonist buff I’ve only heard about…’

I shook my head, trying to clear my thoughts—determined not to be swayed by Ji Tianwu’s looks.

Then I slowly knelt down.

Ji Tianwu’s eyes followed my movement. Our gazes met up close, and I swallowed hard.

‘What’s with those eyes on a kid…’

Not that I had room to talk—but Ji Tianwu’s eyes were deep and shadowed, holding an unfathomable darkness I couldn’t understand.

I reached out to check his wounds. But my hand never reached him.

As I drew closer, he quickly stepped back, his face tense with clear wariness.

His wild, wounded-animal demeanor left me speechless. The Ji Tianwu I remembered was the powerful protagonist from Heavenly Demon Sovereign.

He’d always been fearless and brimming with confidence.

‘Arrogant, merciless, a vengeful ghost—everything a wuxia protagonist should be.’

I’d assumed the young Ji Tianwu would be similar.

‘That was naive.’

As I’d said many times, the jianghu was ruthless. And being unable to use martial arts in such a place was terrifying.

‘Especially when your lifespan is already fixed.’

His tragic childhood served only to highlight the protagonist’s eventual greatness. When I’d only read about it in text, it had seemed trivial.

But now that past was unfolding right before my eyes. I heard Uncle Dagger click his tongue.

[How pitiful.]

My throat went dry.

“I won’t touch you carelessly.”

I stepped back slowly and cautiously.

I saw Ji Tianwu’s gaze still fixed on me. I had no idea what he was thinking.

“Let’s go get some medicine—you’re hurt.”

I pointed to the cut on his cheek as I spoke.

At that, Ji Tianwu flinched, his body stiffening.

‘So he knows how serious his condition is.’

I exhaled in relief. I turned to leave,

intending to fetch the medicine myself since he seemed so wary.

I would have—if not for the sound of Ji Tianwu’s voice.

“I was told I’ll die soon anyway.”

“…”

“There’s no medicine meant for a kid with so little time left to live.”

“Who exactly told you that?”

I frowned.

“Everyone did.”

I was left speechless.

Thinking about it, wasn’t that what everyone said when they saw Ji Tianwu?

‘A genius, but destined to die young anyway.’

I didn’t need to imagine how those words felt to hear them firsthand.

I tightly bit my lip.

I had so much I wanted to tell Ji Tianwu. After all, I knew his future.

‘You won’t die. Every martial artist in the jianghu will kneel before your sword.’

And that wasn’t all.

Once he grew stronger, he’d overcome every hardship of his past.

He’d laugh at everyone who’d ever looked down on him.

And then.

‘You’ll save this world.’

That was the brilliant future awaiting Ji Tianwu, the protagonist of this novel.

But I couldn’t bring myself to tell him about it.

After all, the future hadn’t happened yet—and would only sound like empty fantasy.

I stepped closer to Ji Tianwu. Then I held out my hand to him.

I paused briefly, choosing my words carefully.

For a moment, I hesitated—wondering if I should say this to Ji Tianwu.