Chapter 5: A Friendly Meeting with the Great Villain
Si Er remembered that the most hardheaded villain in this book was Yu Beixuan, the youngest son of the City Lord of North Night City. Because of his dark-element constitution, he was unpopular at home and had liked wandering outside alone since childhood.
But he was good-looking and extraordinarily talented—a big black fish that Si Ran wanted to reel into his personal “fish pond.”
Unfortunately, Yu Beixuan had no interest in Si Ran. Not only did he reject him, he even dared to mock him—and on several occasions openly competed with Si Ran for opportunities.
And he won!
Si Er thought this guy was seriously awesome—able to withstand the protagonist halos of two male leads.
When the two protagonists ended up happily together, this guy was still out there thriving on his own.
Si Er had once wondered whether dark-element power, once cultivated to a certain level, could resist all halos.
Even the protagonist’s halo couldn’t escape.
[Sigh, I’m jealous.]
Yu Beixuan had no idea what the boy in front of him was jealous about. He was still staring intently at the melon in the boy’s hands.
Si Er couldn’t help but hide his Hami melon behind his back.
[These melons have special effects. I can’t let outsiders eat them—what if I get exposed?]
Hearing this inner thought, Yu Beixuan couldn’t help but smile. The kid had already been exposed long ago.
But exposed was exposed—no one could do anything to him anyway.
He had noticed Si Er back when he contracted the Wind-Flame Ostrich in the Sand City desert. Yu Beixuan had personally witnessed the scene of “all beasts rejoicing” when Si Er extended his soul power. Even now, thinking about it still shocked him.
Si Er himself had been shocked too. There were plenty of poisonous snakes and scorpions in the desert, and not small ones either. He had been so frightened that he immediately withdrew dozens of soul resonances.
That’s right—this kid could even retract soul resonances. It truly broadened Yu Beixuan’s horizons.
After that, Si Er had even picked several ostriches and wolves to race with him. Absurdly, none of those magical beasts could outrun him. That stunned Yu Beixuan again.
The Wind-Flame Ostrich Si Er had contracted was the fastest among the racing group—second only to Si Er himself, trailing him by just fifty meters.
Yu Beixuan had always thought himself well-traveled and knowledgeable. But after meeting Si Er, he suddenly realized how ignorant he actually was.
So, in the spirit of broadening his horizons, he had quietly followed Si Er all this way.
Along the journey, he’d seen Si Er’s inner thoughts leak out more frequently than gusts of wind. He’d seen him casually pull out all kinds of melons anytime, anywhere. He’d also seen the Wind-Flame Ostrich grow faster and faster under the effect of those Cucumbers.
It wasn’t as though no one had noticed—through Si Er’s thoughts—that the five kinds of melons he ate were treasures and tried to kill him to seize them.
But those people would barely reveal a greedy glint in their eyes before their faces turned blue and purple, as if someone were choking them. They’d look moments away from collapsing and meeting their ancestors.
So Si Er’s journey had been smooth all the way.
Yu Beixuan had never harbored ill intentions. But he truly craved the melons in Si Er’s hands. He wanted to run faster than magical beasts too.
Still, he didn’t hold out much hope. He’d never been well-liked since childhood; not getting tasty things was normal for him.
What he hadn’t expected was that the other party would call him “Great Villain” in his heart at first sight. Yu Beixuan felt his appearance was rather harmless.
“Sorry, brother. My melons aren’t for sale.”
“That’s alright.” Yu Beixuan smiled and shook his head. “Which academy are you planning to attend?”
Si Er recoiled dramatically.
“Why are you asking that?”
[Why is the Great Villain asking me this? Just because I won’t sell him melons, does he want me to ‘wait for him after school’?]
Yu Beixuan was puzzled. What did “wait after school” even mean?
The Four Great Academies only had one long vacation a year. Everyone else lived in dorms. What school dismissal?
He didn’t understand, but it didn’t sound flattering. So he smiled even more brightly, trying to look more harmless.
“It’s like this—I’m not good at making decisions. I thought I’d reference someone else’s choice.”
“You look very kind, so I wanted to hear your answer.”
Si Er: “……”
[Isn’t that answer a bit ridiculous?]
[Wasn’t the villain supposed to hate studying? In the plot he’s always wandering outside, never joining any of the Four Great Academies. Has the plot changed again?]
Plot? There’s a plot?
Yu Beixuan—and everyone else listening in—pricked up their ears in curiosity.
[But if it changed, that’s good! The Great Villain is so strong. If he joins an academy too, the two protagonists won’t always take first place, right?]
[After all, many of the Four Great Academies’ competitions are held jointly.]
Si Er’s eyes lit up. When he looked at Yu Beixuan again, his smile was much brighter.
“I want to go to Black Tortoise Academy.”
[Hehe, Si Ran has the fewest bootlickers at Black Tortoise Academy. Should be able to avoid a lot of trouble.]
“Brother, want to join me? I heard the people at Black Tortoise Academy tend to live long lives.”
[Everyone contracts a long-lived turtle—how could they not live long?]
[Young people nowadays think Black Tortoise Academy lacks vitality and don’t want to study there. Sigh, they’re too young—fooled by the flashy promotions of the other three academies.]
[Why no vitality? Because other academies’ instructors might be two or three hundred years old, but the youngest instructor at Black Tortoise Academy is 589! There are even several elders over a thousand years old.]
[I heard they also have a Longevity Turtle Pool. Outstanding students get a chance to contract a longevity turtle and live long alongside the faculty!]
[Why doesn’t Black Tortoise Academy promote this? Because there aren’t enough turtles to go around!]
[No matter what, I’m claiming one of the last batch of premium longevity turtles!]
Longevity turtles?
Quite a few people present were instantly tempted.
Youthful passion drove many to strive forward, believing effort could earn them everything.
But some were naturally more laid-back. If lying flat could grant longevity, they’d gladly lie flat.
Like Si Er. Like those whose hearts were racing right now.
Yu Beixuan wasn’t particularly tempted—but he did want to enter the same academy as Si Er and keep broadening his horizons.
“Is that so? I also enjoy a peaceful, long life. Thank you for the reminder, little brother.”
As he spoke, Yu Beixuan handed Si Er a small fragrant melon.
“A token of thanks.”
Si Er took it blankly. “Thanks.”
[Didn’t expect the Great Villain to be this nice. Just a few sentences and he gives me a melon.]
[Come to think of it, in the plot he never really did anything bad. He just didn’t go along with the protagonists, so he became the villain.]
Si Er sneakily glanced at him again.
[Wonder if befriending the Great Villain lets me mooch some of his villain halo.]
Yu Beixuan’s smile grew even gentler.
He didn’t know what a “villain halo” was—but Si Er was welcome to mooch anytime.
Once they got close enough, maybe he could mooch some of those special melons too.
[Er Er, this is a Honey Spirit Melon! The spiritual energy inside is incredibly pure—no baleful aura at all!]
[The Continent of Ten Thousand Beasts has such heavy baleful energy. Growing spiritual fruit without any of it should be impossible. I suspect this person has a special method to cleanse baleful energy.]
[Go! Hug his thigh! Whether we get more spirit melons depends on you!]
Si Er: ……
He could purify things too. His light element was true purification; Yu Beixuan’s was absorption.
A dark-element constitution could absorb all negative elements.
But if he could eat ready-made fruit, wouldn’t that be even better?
Thinking this, Si Er’s smile grew brighter. He handed Yu Beixuan an unpurified spiritual fruit.
“It was just a few words—no need for thanks. Since you’re generous, I shouldn’t be stingy.”
“How about this—we exchange fruits and exchange names too. Let’s be friends?”
He extended his hand.
“My name is Si Er. Si as in ‘commonplace,’ Er as in ‘renowned far and wide.’”
“Brother Si Er’s name sounds extraordinary—as if destined to be known by all.” Yu Beixuan smiled and shook his hand. “Mine is more ordinary. Yu Beixuan.”
“Yu as in ‘to resist,’ Bei as in ‘north,’ Xuan as in ‘Black Tortoise.’”
[As expected, the Great Villain Yu Beixuan. But how is that name ordinary?]
[If you’re bold enough, it could mean ‘commanding the northern Black Tortoise!’]
Yu Beixuan: ……
Thank you—but he dared not be that bold.
