The Villain: Claiming The Protagonist's Master

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The oppressive silence in the room was broken only by the sound of heavy breathing. Among the gathering, only Xiao Tiancheng felt an overwhelming sense of dread that pierced through to his very bones.

Father knows.

The thought sent a cold shiver down his spine. Xiao Hanshan's fury could not be unfounded.

"Father, I... I didn't know those rumors were false!" Xiao Tiancheng stammered, his voice trembling with panic.

"Silence! Do you take me for a senile fool?!" Xiao Hanshan's voice cracked like thunder, his expression dark as an impending storm.

His sharp gaze brimmed with murderous intent, making everyone in the hall shudder.

Xiao Tiancheng froze, his defiance evaporating in the face of his father's wrath. For the first time, he realized the depth of the old man's shrewdness—a man who had seen countless schemes in his lifetime.

The Xiao family elders exchanged uneasy glances, the weight of the situation dawning upon them. They finally understood that Xiao Tiancheng had been orchestrating everything from the shadows, attempting to remove Xiao Ruoyu from contention for the heirship.

Such underhanded methods, though, left many of them disillusioned and disappointed.

Xiao Ruoyu's face turned icy. She had always considered her brother ambitious, but to stoop so low as to use such despicable tricks against her? It was beyond her expectations.

Perhaps it was time to fully align with Su Chen and abandon any sentimental hesitations for the sake of family ties.

"Tiancheng," Xiao Hanshan's voice rang cold, carrying the weight of judgment. "Your ambition has long been laid bare. Did you really think I was blind? I warned you time and again to restrain yourself, yet you refused to listen. Instead, you wallowed in your schemes and filth. Today, I will show you the consequences of defying the family rules!"

Xiao Hanshan scanned the room, his piercing gaze landing on everyone present. "I know some of you support Tiancheng's claim to the heirship. But I ask you to trust the family law and not interfere!"

The elders remained silent. None dared to speak against him.

"Father! It's Su Chen's fault!" Xiao Tiancheng, his face twisted with rage and desperation, spat venomously, "He's turned you against me! I'm your favorite son! The family's legacy should rightfully belong to me!"

Xiao Hanshan's expression remained cold as frost. "Tiancheng, jealousy clouds your judgment. This has nothing to do with Su Chen or the Su family. Guards! Take him out and enforce the family law!"

Two robust guards stepped forward without hesitation, dragging a struggling Xiao Tiancheng out of the hall.

"Father! You can't do this!"

Xiao Tiancheng thrashed wildly, but his resistance was futile. The guards hauled him away, his panicked cries fading into the distance.

Xiao Hanshan turned to Xiao Ruoyu, his voice softening with remorse. "Ruoyu, I did not expect Tiancheng to fall so far. This is my failing as a father. I owe you an apology."

Xiao Ruoyu shook her head, bitterness clouding her smile. "Father, this is not your fault."

With a heavy sigh, Xiao Hanshan placed a hand on her shoulder. "Ruoyu, the Xiao family's future rests on your shoulders now. Do not let me down."

Without waiting for her reply, he walked away, leaving the hall quiet and somber.

---

Meanwhile, on Su Chen's side, the battle had reached a fever pitch.

Mu Yuqing's twin cultivation technique was in full force, attempting to siphon Su Chen's qi fortune.

Yet, despite her efforts, something bizarre happened. No matter how much she tried, she couldn't draw even the slightest bit of fortune from Su Chen.

"What's going on?" Mu Yuqing muttered to herself, her brows furrowed. "I'm at the peak of the Quasi-Emperor Realm! How can a mere Dao Palace cultivator resist me?"

Her disbelief grew as time passed. 'Could it be that I haven't sufficiently bewitched him yet? No matter. If seduction is what it takes...'

She gritted her teeth, making a bold decision. Slowly, she began to remove her outer garment, revealing a figure so flawless it seemed sculpted by the heavens themselves.

Her skin glowed like polished jade, smooth and unblemished. Long, slender legs and a perfectly proportioned figure exuded an allure that could topple empires.

Even Su Chen, usually indifferent to such charms, couldn't suppress his reaction. His breath quickened, his gaze fixated on her with an intensity that bordered on obsession.

"Little thief," Mu Yuqing said coyly, her voice dripping with seduction. "Do you find me beautiful?"

"Beautiful," Su Chen replied hoarsely, swallowing hard.

"Do you like what you see?"

He nodded fervently, his heated gaze never leaving her.

"Then... will you willingly offer me your qi fortune?" Her lips curved into a tempting smile, her tone honeyed and intoxicating.

"Yes," Su Chen answered without hesitation, as if entranced.

Standing nearby, Lan Xiaoyou flushed bright red. She had never seen her master use the Heavenly Charm Art to this extent, nor had she imagined its effects could be so potent.

Still, the scene left her conflicted. 'All men are the same, bewitched the moment they see beauty,' she thought with a mix of disdain and resignation.

Mu Yuqing, sensing her success, leaned closer to Su Chen. "Little thief, I'm starting to like you more and more. When I ascend to the Emperor Realm, I'll keep you as my pet."

However, just as she was about to claim her prize, a sharp pain ripped through her body.

"Ah!" Mu Yuqing cried out, clutching her abdomen. Her face turned ghostly pale.

"Master! What's wrong?" Lan Xiaoyou rushed to her side, supporting her trembling form.

"My primordial energy... it's flowing into him!" Mu Yuqing's voice quivered with disbelief. "This brat's body harbors something... something unnatural!"

Lan Xiaoyou's face paled as well. "Master, what should we do?!"

Primordial energy was the foundation of their cultivation. Losing it could mean irreversible damage—or even death.

"I need to sever this connection now!" Mu Yuqing gritted her teeth, panic creeping into her usually calm demeanor.

But it was too late. Her cultivation level began plummeting at an alarming rate—Quasi-Emperor Ninth Level, then Eighth...

For the first time in her life, Mu Yuqing had tasted defeat.

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