I am the villain in the book

The next day, at the hour of Si (9-11 AM).

A new day began in the cool breeze of early winter, with the sounds of hawkers and vendors rising in the bustling city of Shu.

The sound of wheels rolling over the road grew closer, eventually stopping outside the grand residence.

Soon, a name card was delivered to Wei Changtian's hands.

The gilded name card was very high-class, with two columns of small characters written in regular script.

Changwu Hall.

Zhuang Zhiming.

“...”

“Brother Chu.”

Wei Changtian handed the name card to Chu Xianping, nodded to the latter, and then turned and walked into a side room.

Chu Xianping watched him enter the room, then slowly walked to the gate with the name card in hand.

He took a light breath, then slowly exhaled.

A smile appeared on his face, and the corner of his robe swayed gently with his steps.

Then, he stepped through the side gate.

“May I ask if you are Hall Master Zhuang?”

When Chu Xianping's gaze fell on Zhuang Zhiming and he asked this question with a smile, he clearly caught a hint of surprise in the latter's eyes.

However, this surprise was fleeting, disappearing the next second.

“Yes, I am Zhuang Zhiming.”

“May I ask who you are?”

“Junior's surname is Chu, given name Xianping, and I am a retainer of Young Master Wei.”

Chu Xianping smiled and cupped his fist at Zhuang Zhiming: “Hall Master Zhuang, I am truly sorry, Young Master Wei had urgent business to attend to this morning.”

“However, the Young Master remembered that Hall Master was coming to visit, so he instructed me to wait here.”

“Hall Master Zhuang, please come in quickly.”

“...”

Wei Changtian had business to attend to?

After all, Zhuang Zhiming didn't know that Wei Changtian already knew his identity, and if the latter only thought of him as the Hall Master of Changwu Hall, then there was indeed no need to delay other matters to wait for him.

“Ah, since Young Master Wei is not here, then I will come to visit another day.”

Soon, Zhuang Zhiming made up his mind and politely said to Chu Xianping, then ordered the coachman:

“Quickly! Move the gifts inside!”

“Yes, Master.”

The coachman immediately prepared to move the things, but at this moment, Chu Xianping smiled and waved his hand.

“Hall Master Zhuang, don't rush to leave.”

“Young Master Wei instructed that if Hall Master has anything to say, you can tell me.”

“Even if there is nothing, please come in and have a cup of hot tea first.”

“This... Young Master Chu, let's skip the tea.”

Zhuang Zhiming said with a smile: “I only came today to visit the Young Master and his wife, and there is nothing major.”

“It would be better to come another day when the Young Master is free.”

“...”

A gust of wind blew from the alley, stirring Chu Xianping's meticulously tied hair and Zhuang Zhiming's brocade robe embroidered with gold thread.

If it were Wei Changtian at this time, he probably wouldn't say much and would let Zhuang Zhiming leave.

After all, there would be another “Elders' Meeting” tomorrow night, and he could wait until then to make plans based on the situation.

But Chu Xianping's approach was completely different from his.

“Hall Master Zhuang, does this mean you plan to reside in Shu City for a long time?”

“Forgive me for asking too much.”

“The main headquarters of Changwu Hall is in Liangzhou, doesn't Hall Master need to return to manage the affairs of the hall?”

“Or does Hall Master have some important matter to attend to in Shu City?”

“If you do, Hall Master can feel free to say it, maybe I can be of assistance.”

“...”

Not “maybe I can be of assistance,” but “I can be of assistance.”

When Chu Xianping spoke the last sentence with certainty, Zhuang Zhiming seemed to finally understand something.

The smile on his face suddenly stiffened for a moment, and the look in his eyes towards Chu Xianping also changed greatly.

“Young Master Chu, since that's the case...”

Narrowing his eyes, he slowly took a step forward, stopping at a position only a step away from Chu Xianping.

“Then I will accept your kind offer and trouble you for a moment.”

“Hahaha, Hall Master Zhuang, please!”

“Young Master Chu, please.”

“...”

An incense stick's time later, in the main hall of the Wei residence.

After Yuān'er poured a cup of hot tea for each of them and then exited the room, gently closing the door, the room fell into a brief silence.

Until Chu Xianping took a light sip of tea and said with a smile:

“Hall Master Zhuang, have some tea.”

“Mm.”

Zhuang Zhiming also picked up his teacup and took a sip, his expression calm, but his heart was not as calm as when he arrived.

Because he couldn't figure out what Chu Xianping was up to.

Did the latter already know his true identity?

But even if Wei Changtian could find out that he was the Branch Master of Bing San, there was no way he could know that he was also a Kui Long Elder.

So... what was Chu Xianping going to do?

Was he really the Qingtai Elder?

With just a few simple words, Chu Xianping had successfully plunged Zhuang Zhiming into confusion.

However, before he could sort out his thoughts, he saw Chu Xianping put down his teacup and slowly say:

“Hall Master Zhuang, no, Elder Zhuang, do you know what it means to reveal your identity as an Elder?”

“...”

Boom! ! !

Like a thunderclap exploding in his ears, when Chu Xianping didn't waste any words or probes and directly broke the ice between them without warning, Zhuang Zhiming felt a sudden tingling in his scalp.

He widened his eyes in astonishment, and the teacup in his hand shattered into powder with a “bang.”

“You!”

“You, what are you saying?”

“Elder Zhuang, stop pretending.”

Waving his hand without changing his expression, Chu Xianping seemed not to care about the fierce killing intent so close at hand.

“You and I are both smart people, and we're meeting again tomorrow night.”

“I don't want anyone to be absent then.”

“...”

Absent.

Zhuang Zhiming subconsciously turned his head sharply to look around, then stared at Chu Xianping again.

“What do you mean!”

“It doesn't mean anything, I just want to help Elder Zhuang.”

“Help me?”

Leaning his body slightly forward, the look of shock on Zhuang Zhiming's face gradually faded.

After all, he was also a big figure in a high position. Although he was indeed frightened just now, he still had the ability to adjust.

He didn't make any meaningless denials, but asked in a cold tone, word by word:

“Elder Chu, what do you want to help me with?”

“Naturally, it's to help you conceal your identity as an Elder.”

Chu Xianping smiled: “Once your identity is exposed, how many people in Kui Long will want to replace you, I think Elder Zhuang should be clear.”

“Hmph!”

Snorting, Zhuang Zhiming did not refute, but stared at Chu Xianping and sneered:

“Elder Chu, aren't you the same?”

“And also the matter of you previously mobilizing manpower in the name of the Elders' Meeting...”

“...”

Clearly, Zhuang Zhiming was now completely certain that Chu Xianping was the Qingtai Elder.

If not, the latter would never have said such a thing as “we're meeting again tomorrow night.”

That's why he used the same method to threaten him.

If I expose my identity, I will be hunted down, aren't you the same?

And I also have evidence of your previous “abuse of power,” which can also put you to death...

When such a “negotiation” was so intense from the beginning, Zhuang Zhiming believed that his chips were no less than Chu Xianping's.

But the latter's still calm appearance made him feel more and more uneasy.

“Elder Zhuang, you're wrong, actually I'm not the Qingtai Elder...”

In Zhuang Zhiming's astonished eyes, Chu Xianping slowly said:

“Or rather, I'm not now.”

“Whether you believe it or not, my token has been stolen, and the person who stole my token...”

“Wants you dead.”