The night blanketed the Blackflame Domain in silence, but within the Lian Clan compound, that silence was deceptive. Torches flickered along the towering walls, and shadowed figures patrolled ceaselessly, blades at their hips, their eyes sharp. From the outside, it was the picture of order and strength, but beneath the surface, whispers churned. The trial had shaken the clan to its core.
The youngest heir, once dismissed as a frail and useless son of the Patriarch, had endured the Bloodstone's wrath and emerged confirmed as heir. More than that, he had shown a strength unnatural for his age, an ability to withstand bloodflames without faltering. That alone was enough to make the Elders restless, but the duel that followed—with Fang Shuren, one of the more promising disciples—had turned unease into fear. For though the boy had won, his victory had carried with it something disturbing: shadows clinging unnaturally to his movements, the hint of a power that felt… alien.
And now, in the dark hours of night, the Lian Clan began to fracture with doubt.
Within his chambers, Lian Zhen sat cross-legged on the cold stone floor. Sweat slicked his skin, his breath shallow but controlled. Before him, the familiar blue shimmer of the System floated like an unearthly star in the darkness.
[Quest Completed: Trial of the Bloodstone]
Rewards Distributed.
[New Quest Generated: First Seeds of Villainy]
Objective: Sow distrust among your peers. Manipulate events to fracture unity.
Reward: Unlock 20 additional Villain Archives. Skill: Whispering Shade (Illusionary Fear).
Zhen's brows drew together as he read the words. "So, the System wants me to turn my own family against itself…" His voice was quiet, but the faint tremor in his tone betrayed his unease.
He had read enough stories on Earth to understand what this meant. Systems rarely issued random tasks. This was shaping him. Every quest, every whisper, was pushing him closer toward becoming the kind of figure people feared—a villain in truth.
And yet… a strange smile tugged at his lips.
"They already look at me with suspicion. All I need to do is give their doubts a little… encouragement."
From within the System Space, one of the black doors creaked open. A figure emerged: the Shadow Maiden Yue, her form wreathed in darkness, her beauty as chilling as it was enthralling. Her eyes lingered on him like blades poised against his throat.
"You hesitate," she whispered, voice as soft as velvet yet sharper than poison. "Do not. Power is not claimed by waiting—it is seized by twisting the world to your will."
Zhen exhaled slowly. Her presence always carried with it a weight, but he found himself leaning into her words. Perhaps because, deep inside, he knew she was right.
"What would you have me do?" he asked.
Her lips curled into a faint smile. "You have already planted a seed in the duel. You made Shuren fall. The clan saw. Doubt stirs. All you must do is water it."
The System chimed in agreement.
[Optional Path: Ensure rumors spread regarding Fang Shuren's defeat. Twist them toward suspicion of conspiracy or hidden danger.]
Zhen's eyes narrowed. "So… I don't need to strike directly. Just… nudge things."
The following morning, the clan square was alive with chatter. Disciples gathered in groups, their whispers rising and falling like buzzing insects. Rumors spread quickly in a clan, especially one as proud as the Lian.
"I swear, when Fang Shuren struck, his blow should have shattered Zhen's defense. How did he withstand it?"
"Didn't you see the shadows? Something unnatural was shielding him. That wasn't the bloodline."
"Perhaps he has some hidden treasure. Or worse… what if he has been consorting with forbidden arts?"
The words were poison, and Zhen—watching from a distance, concealed by a shaded balcony—knew that the seed was already sprouting. He didn't need to speak. He had subtly guided it the night before.
With a faint whisper of shadow, the power of the Shadow Maiden had carried his voice into the dreams of several disciples. Half-formed visions of his duel, distorted images of dark tendrils shielding him, had been implanted into their minds. Now, as they recalled the duel, those illusions blended seamlessly with memory. To them, it was the truth.
And truth, he knew, was the easiest weapon of all.
The System glimmered faintly in the corner of his sight.
[Progress: 43% — Rumors spreading successfully.]
But it wasn't enough.
He needed to strike deeper.
That evening, Zhen found himself summoned before his father. The Patriarch's chambers were vast, lined with weapons and scrolls, their presence a reminder of the countless battles fought and won by the Lian Clan. Patriarch Lian Xu sat at the head of the chamber, his gaze heavy with authority.
"You have made waves, boy," the Patriarch said, his voice calm but laced with steel. "The clan speaks of you. Too much, too quickly."
Zhen lowered his head respectfully. "I did only what was required, Father."
Lian Xu's eyes narrowed. "And yet, already the Elders murmur. They ask if you have touched the arts forbidden to our blood. You must tread carefully. One misstep, and suspicion will devour you."
Zhen met his father's gaze, his heart thundering in his chest. "Then perhaps it is best if their suspicion turns… elsewhere."
For the first time, Patriarch Xu's lips curved in the faintest trace of a smile. "Clever. You are learning. Let them devour themselves. A true ruler does not silence dissent—he redirects it."
The System's chime was immediate.
[Villain Affinity Increased: Patriarch Lian Xu — +15]
Zhen stiffened. "Even Father…" The realization struck him. His father, ruthless and cold, was not opposed to his path. Perhaps he even expected it.
The opportunity came sooner than expected.
That very night, Zhen walked the moonlit courtyards where disciples often gathered. He overheard voices—two younger disciples arguing in hushed tones.
"I'm telling you, Fang Shuren wasn't defeated fairly! There was something wrong!"
"You mean… Zhen cheated? But how?"
"I don't know. But if he rises, and we follow him blindly, what will become of us? The clan could be destroyed from within."
Zhen's lips curled. They were ripe. Perfect.
From the shadows, he whispered—not to them directly, but into the space between their minds. An echo of a voice, indistinct yet compelling.
"Beware… it was Fang Shuren who cheated. He sought forbidden strength and was punished."
The disciples stiffened, their eyes darting.
"Did you hear that?"
"I… I thought I did. Like a whisper."
"Maybe the spirits are warning us. Shuren… cheating? That would explain…"
The rumor twisted, reshaping itself before his eyes. Like weeds choking the soil, it began to spread in a new direction.
The System chimed again.
[Progress: 91% — Distrust rooted successfully.]
[Quest Completed: First Seeds of Villainy.]
Reward Unlocked: Whispering Shade (Illusionary Fear).
Zhen inhaled sharply as power surged through him. It was cold and intoxicating, a skill designed for subtle warfare. The ability to implant fear, illusions, and whispers into the minds of others.
Perfect for the path he now walked.
Later that night, as he sat once more in his chamber, Zhen reflected on what had unfolded. His clan was still intact, but fault lines had appeared. Distrust festered. And he, with only a nudge, had guided it.
Once, he might have hesitated. Once, he might have thought of this as betrayal.
But now? Now he saw the truth.
"This is survival," he whispered. "If I must become the villain to survive in this world, then so be it. And one day… they will all kneel before me."
From within the System Space, countless doors shivered. Laughter, mad and triumphant, echoed faintly, as if a hundred thousand villains rejoiced at his choice.
And in the shadows, the first true step toward becoming the clan's most dangerous heir had been taken.