Chapter 11: Whispers in the Dark
The night had fallen heavy over the Blackflame Domain, the skies painted in a bruise of crimson clouds and ink-dark shadows. Torches burned along the walls of the Lian family's inner compound, their flames flickering wildly as though even fire feared the place it illuminated.
Lian Zhen sat alone in his stone chamber, legs crossed upon the hard floor, his breathing slow but unsteady. A faint sheen of sweat covered his forehead, though the air inside was cold enough to bite. The silence pressed in on him, but within his mind, there was no such peace.
The voices had returned.
Whispers, countless whispers—some rasped like serpents, others roared like beasts, and still others sang with cruel amusement. Each belonged to one of the countless villains sealed within the 100,000 Villains System, and tonight, they stirred with unusual fervor.
"The boy grows bold…""He draws blood without hesitation now…""But he hesitates still, clinging to mortal notions of morality. He is not yet ours."
The chorus overlapped until Zhen clenched his fists hard enough for his nails to pierce flesh. He let out a shaky breath and opened his eyes.
The System's interface bloomed before him in a soft, ominous glow.
[Villain Archive Updated]Accessible Legacies: 15 / 100,000[New Function Unlocked: Villain's Shadow]
His brows furrowed. "Villain's Shadow…?"
A description slid into place.
[Villain's Shadow: Project the influence of archived villains onto the world. With each use, your presence will erode the balance of righteousness, planting seeds of corruption, fear, and doubt in those around you.]
Zhen's chest tightened. This was no longer just about gaining strength—this was about shaping the world itself. A dangerous temptation stirred within him.
Before he could contemplate further, the stone door creaked open. A familiar figure entered: his younger cousin, Lian Rou, a slender boy with sharp features and eyes too clever for his age. Rou bowed deeply.
"Cousin Zhen," Rou said in a low voice. "The Elders meet in secret tonight. I overheard their attendants—they discuss you."
Zhen's expression darkened. "Me?"
Rou nodded quickly. "They doubt the legitimacy of your trial victory. Some claim the Bloodstone was tampered with. Others say the Patriarch shields you too much. They… want another test."
Zhen's thoughts sharpened like a blade. He had anticipated suspicion, but so soon?
"And why," he asked softly, "are you telling me this, Rou? Do you seek my gratitude? Or my downfall?"
The boy froze, his lips trembling. "I… I am loyal, Cousin. But you are different now. Everyone sees it. If you fall, I fear what becomes of the branch families tied to you. If you rise, perhaps… perhaps you could protect us."
Zhen studied him for a long moment. His instincts screamed caution—yet another part of him, a darker part, saw opportunity. Trust was a weapon, and fear, sharper still.
He stood, his presence looming over the boy. "Then listen well. If you wish to tie yourself to me, there is no turning back. You will deliver their whispers to me. Every plot, every scheme, every doubt spoken in those halls—you will bring them here."
Rou's knees nearly buckled, but he nodded. "Y-yes, Cousin!"
The System chimed softly in Zhen's mind.
[Sub-Quest Generated: Planting the Shadow]Objective: Establish your first network of informants.Reward: +5 Villain Archive Access, Unlock Minor Shadow Legion.
Zhen's lips curved in the faintest smile. The System always seemed one step ahead, weaving its choices into its sinister design.
"Go," he ordered. "And Rou—speak of this to no one. The shadows have ears, and I would hate for them to hear your voice out of place."
The boy bowed again, trembling, before scurrying into the night.
When the door shut, the chamber fell silent again. But the silence did not last.
From the void of his System Space, a figure emerged—a familiar one cloaked in flowing black silk, eyes glimmering with cruel intelligence. Shadow Maiden Yue.
She tilted her head, lips curving in a sly smile. "So the boy learns. Fear is a leash, and whispers are chains. You begin to walk the path, inheritor."
Zhen exhaled sharply. "You think I'm blind? I know what you want. All of you—pressing me, pushing me, dragging me down this road."
The Maiden's laughter was soft, almost musical. "And yet you follow, step by step. Why? Because deep down, you know it. To protect yourself, to protect your so-called family… only power matters. And power is born in the shadows, not in the light."
Her words struck like poison, burrowing into the cracks of his heart. He wanted to deny them. He wanted to cling to some thread of humanity.
But then he remembered the duel, the humiliation he had nearly suffered, the cold eyes of the Elders, and the constant, suffocating doubt around him.
Power was the only answer.
Before he could respond, another figure stirred within the void—Kongtu, Slayer of Heroes. His booming voice shook the chamber.
"Enough whispering. Words do not change fate—deeds do. If the boy wishes to rule, let him draw blood again. Fear is nothing unless sharpened with steel."
The two villains' presences pressed against Zhen, like opposing storms demanding his allegiance. He shut his eyes, forcing calm into his lungs.
"I will not be your puppet," he muttered. "But I will use you. Every shadow, every weapon, every secret—you are mine to command."
The System pulsed.
[Villain's Oath Detected]Your resolve strengthens. Influence of archived villains: -10% (Host retains greater autonomy).
Zhen's eyes opened. For the first time, the voices quieted—not silenced, but softened, as if acknowledging his claim. A thin smile tugged at his lips.
Good.
Just then, a knock sounded at his door. Sharp, deliberate.
"Enter," Zhen called.
The door opened to reveal his father—Patriarch Lian Xu—towering, his expression stern. His aura filled the chamber like a stormcloud.
"You are being watched, boy," Xu said without preamble. "The Elders test you, the branches doubt you, and beyond our walls, rival clans sharpen their knives. If you wish to survive as my son, you must make them fear you."
Zhen met his father's gaze, unflinching. For once, the weight of that aura did not crush him.
"I already have," he replied softly. "And soon, they will fear me more than they fear you."
For the briefest moment, the Patriarch's eyes glimmered with something unreadable—surprise? Amusement? Pride? It was gone in an instant.
"Then prove it," Xu said, turning away. "Your first official mission comes at dawn. Fail, and you are no son of mine."
As the door shut behind him, Zhen's fists clenched, his heart pounding with anticipation.
The System's chime was the final sound that filled the chamber.
[Main Quest Unlocked: The Villain's First Mission]Objective: Sabotage the rival Zhao Clan's tribute caravan before it reaches the Imperial Capital.Failure Penalty: Loss of System Access (Temporary).Reward: +10 Villain Archive Access, Unlock Advanced Shadow Techniques.
Zhen's smile grew sharp, his eyes glinting in the dim torchlight.
At last—the first step outside.
The first step into becoming the villain the world would one day bow before.