The academy was in chaos.
Not the loud, explosive kind. But the kind where whispers sliced through the air sharper than blades, and glances carried more weight than swords.
"Did you hear what happened to Vice Principal Lu?""I heard his soul is trapped in some artifact!""No way… was it the dark-robed student again?"
At the center of it all sat Priyanshu Yadav, calmly sipping tea in the courtyard of the Outer Disciple Hall, his smile as soft as silk—yet it terrified anyone who dared to look too long.
Just yesterday, he had accidentally humiliated a third elder in front of thousands. And now, the Vice Principal was rumored to be missing. People were starting to connect the dots.
Priyanshu didn't care.
In fact, he was enjoying it.
He leaned back, eyes half-closed, listening to the wind. Behind that calm exterior, a storm of plans swirled. Every rumor was a thread, and he was weaving a deadly net.
Inside his hidden chamber, a message appeared on his [Hidden Villain System] panel:
🔔 New Quest Unlocked: "Break the Spirit, Save the Face!"Target: First Inner Disciple, Liu Fei.Bonus: Rare [Mind-Bending Pill], 3000 Villain Points, 2 Hidden Reputation Points.Objective: Make him beg in public, yet thank you after.Time Limit: 2 days.
Priyanshu's eyes lit up.
"Interesting," he whispered. "A proud genius with a white knight complex. Let's see how fast he bends."
He opened a drawer and took out a tiny black vial. It had no name, no scent, no aura. But once consumed, it could alter a man's emotions for hours.
He didn't need poison.He just needed doubt and shame. And Liu Fei was full of both.
The next day, the arena was packed.
It was supposed to be a friendly spar between Liu Fei and an Outer Disciple. But nobody knew who the disciple was.
"Who is the challenger?""No one knows. Must be someone suicidal."
The announcer shouted, "Entering the arena… from the Outer Court… Priyanshu Yadav!"
Silence.
Then gasps.
"Isn't he the guy who—?""Wasn't he expelled?""How is he still alive?"
Priyanshu walked in casually, hands behind his back, as if strolling through a flower field.
Liu Fei sneered, "You again? Still trying to act brave, trash?"
Priyanshu smiled. "I don't act brave. I just act. That's enough to destroy people like you."
The battle began.
Or rather, Liu Fei attacked like a storm, his sword shining with flame Qi. But Priyanshu didn't move.
At the last second, he dodged—barely.
Then again. And again.
It looked like he was losing. The crowd mocked him. Liu Fei roared with arrogance.
But then—
Priyanshu whispered something. Liu Fei paused.
A second passed. Then his face turned pale. Then red. Then… strange.
He dropped his sword.
"Why are you saying that?!" Liu Fei shouted.
But no one else had heard anything.
Then Liu Fei kneeled.
Yes. Right there.
He knelt on one knee and said, "I… I'm sorry."
Gasps. Screams.
Priyanshu smiled sweetly. "It's okay. Be better next time."
Liu Fei's face was red with confusion, rage, and fear.
He didn't know what was real anymore. Priyanshu had whispered a lie so sharp, so perfect, that Liu Fei's confidence shattered.
Even the elders watching from above didn't know what happened. But one thing was clear—
Priyanshu Yadav was no ordinary Outer Disciple.
That night, in a faraway secret room, the Dark Heaven Society convened.
Masked figures sat in a circle.
One spoke, "Operation Corrupt Blade was a success. Liu Fei is mentally unstable."
Another nodded, "Priyanshu's manipulation exceeded expectations."
The Grand Shadow stood up. "From now on, raise him to Shadow Commander Rank. Let him build his own division."
A third voice whispered, "What should his codename be?"
The Grand Shadow smiled beneath his mask.
"Let him choose. But if I were to name him…"
He paused.
"I'd call him: 'The Smiling Guillotine'."
Meanwhile, back at his room, Priyanshu was feeding peanuts to a tiny monkey spirit beast sitting on his shoulder.
"Monkey, do you know why people fear smiles more than swords?"
The monkey tilted its head.
Priyanshu grinned. "Because you never see the cut coming."
And just like that, he started planning his next move.
After all, villains didn't rest.
They prepared.
And Priyanshu Yadav… was preparing for the world.