After Ten Years as a Villain, I Returned 7

Chapter 7

Wen Linyu’s voice echoed through the desolate graveyard, unanswered.

He had anticipated this. Drawing his sword, he spoke again: “It seems there are no ghosts here. I suppose I can shave off the top of this mountain then?”

The ghosts slumbering in their graves: …Excuse me?

Talk about disaster striking out of nowhere! What had they done to deserve this?!

“One, two…” Wen Linyu’s face was impassive as he counted, the black sword in his hand gathering spiritual energy. He didn’t appear to be joking.

This fluctuation of spiritual power indicated at least Foundation Establishment level! In this world of scarce spiritual energy, Foundation Establishment cultivators were rare. The sleeping ghosts were jolted awake, the graveyard thrown into chaos. After a flurry of ghostly whispers and wails, a white-bearded ghost was pushed forward.

“Three!” Wen Linyu reached the count of three, raising his sword.

“Wait!” The white-bearded ghost’s whiskers trembled. What kind of living Yama had descended upon them?

He was the oldest ghost in this graveyard, and quite powerful, otherwise he wouldn’t be able to appear in broad daylight. He eyed Wen Linyu’s sword warily, keeping a safe distance, and offered a friendly smile: “Young friend, perhaps we can talk this through? No need for violence.”

Wen Linyu: “This is a sword.”

The bearded ghost twitched. It was a figure of speech, no need to be so literal!

Wen Linyu sheathed his sword, producing strands of his parents’ hair: “I want to exchange their lifespans for money. You can take a cut.”

He added: “By the way, these are my blood relatives. I presume their fortune wouldn’t be insignificant.”

The bearded ghost was taken aback. Who’s the ghost here? This kid was ruthless, and clearly knew the rules.

But he wasn’t human either. With business delivered to his doorstep, he wouldn’t refuse. He stroked his beard, narrowed his eyes, and mused: “What percentage can I take?”

Wen Linyu smiled: “Ten percent.”

The bearded ghost almost frowned. That was far too little. But the living Yama’s hand was reaching for his sword again.

Bearded ghost: …I give up!

The forced sale was finalized. The bearded ghost had never felt so aggrieved in all his years of business!

After Wen Linyu left to purchase the necessary ritual items, the bearded ghost erupted in curses. The other hiding ghosts emerged, marveling at this unprecedented event – a living person seeking them out for a ghostly transaction.

“Old Bai, you’re so angry. Why not tamper with the ritual a bit?” a ghost suggested with a mischievous grin.

The bearded ghost smacked him: “Don’t think I can’t see through your scheme! Does that grim reaper look like someone you can trick?”

He wouldn’t even agree to a higher cut of the lifespan exchange. If he dared to tamper with the ritual, he wouldn’t live to spend his ten percent!

“Don’t be angry, don’t be angry. He only said ten percent of the lifespan, but he didn’t say we couldn’t take other things!”

“Exactly! Makes sense! Old Bai, you deserve some compensation for your services. Look at you, always using a cane. It’s time for a new pair of legs!”

The bearded ghost stroked his beard, contemplating the possibilities. A sinister smile spread across his face.

Wen Linyu, purchasing the ritual items, also smiled faintly. Greed wasn’t exclusive to humans; ghosts were susceptible too.

The trip to and from the graveyard didn’t take long. Wen Linyu pocketed the two paper bills the bearded ghost gave him. He just needed to deliver them to his parents, and the deal would be complete.

But he wasn’t in a hurry to return. They were likely not home at this hour. He had just earned 500,000 and decided to spend some of it.

While Wen Linyu went shopping, Wen Hongbo and Lin Wanshow, his parents, were indeed not at home.

They were visiting a very important person in a luxury apartment complex. Usually arrogant, they now sat nervously and respectfully on cushions.

“Master, is it alright that he took our hair?” Wen Hongbo had a bad feeling.

Lin Wanshow was also anxious: “Yes, he was incredibly strong today. We couldn’t move when he grabbed us.”

“Do you think he’s possessed?”

“I think it’s possible! Sleeping in that kind of place…”

The middle-aged man, who had been praying before a deity statue, cleared his throat. They stopped talking, waiting for him to speak.

He sat down gracefully, took a sip of tea, and slowly said: “You said he gained wealth today. In such cases, it’s possible a vengeful spirit has awakened.”

Fear flashed across their faces.

The middle-aged man continued: “Don’t panic. This is his ‘final radiance.’ The formation is working—you’re aware of this, I presume.”

Wen Hongbo and Lin Wanshow exchanged awkward smiles, then anxiously asked for countermeasures.

They arrived with furrowed brows, and left with relieved expressions. Back home, they placed the talismans the man had given them under Wen Linyu’s bed. Now they wouldn’t have to worry about him going crazy again.

And soon, very soon, they wouldn’t have to see that annoying face anymore.

Wen Linyu spent all 500,000 at the mall, buying whatever caught his eye. It wasn’t enough, but it didn’t matter. He wouldn’t be short of money in the future.

Taking the mall’s complimentary car service home, he bypassed the basement entirely, instructing the delivery personnel to bring his purchases inside.

He scanned the entire villa with his divine sense, choosing a room that received the most sunlight, and had them move his new belongings into his new room.

“You can’t go in there! That’s Madam’s room!” The butler frantically blocked the doorway, only to be easily brushed aside by Wen Linyu.

“Do me a favor and throw everything in there out, then bring my things in.” Wen Linyu ignored the protesting butler, addressing the hesitant delivery personnel: “This is my house. I make the rules.”

“Young Master, if you continue like this, I’ll call security.” The butler’s face was dark, echoing his parents’ disapproval.

Wen Linyu finally glanced at him. He had almost forgotten. This butler wasn’t like Gu Chi’s kind butler-uncle. He often acted superior, as if he were the one in charge. Wen Linyu had to be careful not to offend him if he wanted to eat.

Wen Linyu smiled: “Who are you to speak to me like that?”

“I…” The butler’s face darkened further, unable to answer the question. He could only resort to mentioning the people Wen Linyu feared most: “Your mother will be very angry when she finds out.”

What a coincidence. Wen Cheng had said the same thing that morning.

“So? Are they going to kill me?” Wen Linyu sneered, staring directly at the butler.

The butler felt a chill down his spine, losing to Wen Linyu for the first time: “Of course not, Young Master. Don’t joke like that.”

A joke? Wasn’t it the truth?

Wen Linyu stopped wasting his breath. The delivery personnel, not wanting to be involved in this family drama, quickly placed the items and excused themselves.

Wen Linyu locked the door, not with the physical lock, but with a cultivator’s method. Without his permission, even if the door was smashed, no one could enter.

This room was originally Lin Wanshow’s walk-in closet, filled with haute couture and limited-edition pieces. The sunlight streaming in caught the gold and silver threads, the jewels and diamonds, creating a dazzling display. The room even had climate control.

Hundreds of times better than his basement room.

The delivery personnel hadn’t dared to touch the clothes, but Wen Linyu had no such qualms. He threw everything out, including the mannequins, without a second thought. The butler nearly fainted, fearing he would discard the jewelry as well, and had to call for someone to carefully collect the discarded items.

Now, the room was free of Lin Wanshow’s belongings, filled with the scent of Wen Linyu’s new furniture.

Still, Wen Linyu used a cleansing spell to purify the space.

Finished, he stood in his new room, gazing at the maple forest in the back yard. The setting sun bathed the leaves in a golden glow. Beautiful.

He lowered his gaze, the loneliness in his eyes no longer masked.

Teacher, did I do a good job as a villain today? I even went to the graveyard alone and threatened a ghost.

He used to be scared by people pretending to be ghosts. Now he was scaring real ones.

The food today was good, the drink was just the right sweetness, the scenery was beautiful, and he bought things he liked.

But he still longed to hear his teacher’s praise.

Craving those words, he replayed every “well done” from his memories, immersing himself in the sound, closing his eyes with a smile, the sunset painting his face with a rosy hue.

I’m really twisted, he thought.

“Gu Chi, are you fucking insane? How would I know where the other you went?” Lu Feng, hanging upside down, his face flushed with blood, roared in pain and rage. “I didn’t desecrate your ancestral grave! Do you have to torture me like this?”

“Just kill me already! Give me a quick death, damn it!”

Lu Feng was on the verge of breaking. He had thought Gu Chi would kill him in the misty forest, but he hadn’t. He had then assumed Gu Chi would cripple his cultivation and release him, as before. Instead, the torture began!

This was hell! Subjected to a dozen different forms of torture, Lu Feng couldn’t take it anymore!

The little yellow chick, frantically gulping, had been trembling all day, its feathers nearly falling out. The protagonist didn’t know what he had done to offend the villain, but 998 knew. The Demon Lord was making an example of him!

If it didn’t find a way to reunite the Demon Lord with his little apprentice, it would be next!

Ahhh, I’m just a system! Why am I going through this?!