READ NOVEL ONLINE chapter 2
2. The Villain’s Dark History
Lin Nuo sized up the petite white fox, further confirming his rebirth into the past.
The little girl, named Li Ruor, possessed white fox lineage but lacked spiritual roots, her cultivation extremely low. Initially, Lin Nuo had taken her to Xuan Yun Sect to serve as his maid and underling.
Li Ruor was one of the few in Xuan Yun Sect who could tolerate him.
Lin Nuo’s mindset used to be: I am the protagonist, I must ascend.
But as his peers advanced in cultivation, he remained stagnant, his power identical to what it was two years prior.
He was anxious, he was irritable, but within Xuan Yun Sect, he was just a low-level weakling, only able to vent his frustrations on Li Ruor.
Over time, his infamy spread throughout the entire Xuan Yun Sect.
After his rebirth, Lin Nuo didn’t consider his past self to be scum.
That was trash.
A trash who could only vent on a maid, only capable of impotent rage.
Blaming the maid without self-reflection, without seeking the cause, bullying the weak out of fear of the strong, who else would fall if not you?
A truly excellent villain self-reflects and acknowledges his faults, doesn’t rage indiscriminately, and certainly doesn’t take out his temper on the weak.
He squatted slightly, picking up two steamed buns from the ground.
Li Ruor, anxious: “Young Master, let me do it, please don’t be angry, I’ll bring you some breakfast later.”
“How old are you?”
“Ah, Young Master, what do you mean by ‘how old’?”
“Your age.”
“Ruor just turned thirteen, Young Master.”
A thirteen-year-old, that’s right, it was five years ago.
“Not legal yet.”
“Ah, Young Master?”
Li Ruor was confused; the Young Master had just mentioned her age the day before yesterday, why ask again? And what did he mean by ‘legal’?
Lin Nuo placed a bun on a plate, wiped the dust off the other with his clothes, then popped it into his mouth.
“Young Master, that’s dirty!”
“I’m off to cultivate.”
Lin Nuo didn’t blame Li Ruor; he slowly stood up, biting into the bun, sword in hand, and walked towards the corridor.
In the past, to survive, he would eat demons and wild beasts raw; now, a bun that fell to the ground was nothing.
Disciples along the corridor cast puzzled glances.
“What’s with him today?”
“I don’t know, maybe he’s faking it? He was still cursing fiercely the day before yesterday.”
They were all very surprised; Lin Nuo’s reaction today was vastly different from before.
Born into the prestigious Lin family, Lin Nuo had the temper of a young master. Previously, if Li Ruoruo made even a slight mistake, he would curse loudly, and being pampered, he would absolutely discard any soiled food.
But now, as Li Ruoruo accidentally spilled breakfast, he didn’t utter a single complaint, and even picked up the fallen bun, wiped it off slightly, and started nibbling on it.
Extremely odd.
A disciple stood in the middle of the corridor, blocking Lin Nuo’s path.
Zhou Jianhu, a man with a heart of justice, who supports the weak and loves to meddle in others’ affairs.
“Lin Nuo, I advise you to have some conscience. Although Li Ruoruo is the maid you brought in, she works diligently, bearing your temper without complaint. Please don’t just scold her harshly, and talk about sending her back to the Lin family; it would hurt her.”
“Move aside.”
Lin Nuo uttered coldly.
“If you don’t change this temper, you’ll definitely suffer in the future, no one will indulge you,” Zhou Jianhu continued to advise earnestly.
“Do I need to repeat myself?”
Lin Nuo’s piercing gaze swept over Zhou Jianhu, like a sharp blade, chilling to the bone.
His eyes held a strong murderous intent, causing Zhou Jianhu to shiver involuntarily.
Lin Nuo was a disciple with low cultivation within the sect, ignorant and boastful, without popularity or fear from others.
But in that instant, Zhou Jianhu felt an inexplicable fear due to Lin Nuo’s sharp gaze, like a blade.
Still, Zhou Jianhu stepped aside.
“Lin Nuo, you better watch yourself, it’s not too late to change.”
“Hmph.”
You, a powerless saint, teaching me what to do? Good Samaritan, you’ll die meddling in others’ affairs, you know?
“Watch yourself,” they said. The last master named Ma who said that got beaten down.
Lin Nuo didn’t bother with him anymore, continuing to munch on the bun as he walked forward.
He detested those who pretended to be noble, seemingly lofty but actually hypocritical and incompetent. During the years he turned to evil, he had seen too many so-called righteous and capable men’s weakness and recklessness.
Passing through the corridor, he reached the exit of the residence, Lin Nuo gently pushed open the door.
Outside, green waters and mountains, the bell’s sound clear and spiritual, fairy clouds rising in mist.
Tianling Mountain, a mountain rich in spiritual energy, the location of the Xuan Yun Sect.
The morning sun shone brightly, the fresh air was invigorating, and the disciples inside seized the early morning, competing every second, practicing sword flying and cultivating their qi.
Lin Nuo surveyed the white-robed disciples ahead.
No one by the surname Su was found.
Never mind, let’s see how much of the spiritual practice remains.
A youth in white, seemingly spirited, little did they know, he’s already inclined towards the demonic path.
“Senior brother, rein in your horse quickly!”
“I’m happy your mother’s forcing me, stop it quickly! Ah!!”
There was a loud commotion ahead, a man fell from a galloping white spirit horse, tumbling over a dozen times.
Lin Nuo recognized the robust man who had fallen from the horse, Li Pu, famously known as Li ‘Hit-the-Street’. Newly advanced to the fifth level of the Spirit Realm, he began to interact with spirit beasts, trying over a dozen types, all ending in failure.
At Xuan Yun Sect, reaching the fifth level of the Spirit Realm allows one to practice the Art of Contract. When a cultivator chooses a spirit beast, the spirit beast also chooses its cultivator. Once there’s a mutual understanding, a contract can be established.
After completing the Art of Contract, the spirit beast becomes a spirit pet, able to retract and hide at will, its cultivation level also advancing alongside its master.
Xuan Yun Sect has many fine spirit beasts for disciples to choose from. Generally, by the fifth level of the Spirit Realm, within three attempts, one can find a suitable spirit beast.
Li ‘Hit-the-Street’ is an old slick, but quite special, failing over a dozen attempts, he’s also a talent in his own right.
Of course, this has nothing to do with Lin Nuo.
At Xuan Yun Sect, it’s impossible for him to reach the fifth level of the Spirit Realm.
As for the Art of Contract.
Sorry, he knows it.
Ahead lies an iceberg, atop which a silver-haired girl floats.
Opposite the girl stands an elder in a fairy robe.
Both strike simultaneously, a violent white light flickers in the distance, and a chilling aura sweeps through the valley.
“Sister Shi Li can even spar with Elder Yuan, truly enviable.”
“The Frost Cold Sword lives up to its reputation, the mountain is about to turn to ice.”
“Sister Shi Li is not only powerful and beautiful but also too aloof. It would be great to have a conversation with her.”
Disciples practicing their skills all look towards the iceberg, eyes filled with envy.
Qin Shi Li?
Lin Nuo also looks in that direction, she’s his second senior sister, an ice-cold beauty with astonishing talent. Her current cultivation is probably around the seventh level of the Spirit Realm.
What level is the seventh stage? Among peers, the strong ones are just a bit over the fifth stage. The seventh stage, comparable to the older generation.
But she’s not the protagonist. The protagonist is someone with the surname Su, yet she doesn’t lose to him.
Among the crowd admiring Shi Li, some disciples notice Lin Nuo passing by.
“Hey, isn’t that Lin Nuo? Why is he also out for morning practice?”
“Practicing his gifted roots is also useless. Right, he even brought flowers to Sister Shi Li yesterday, but she didn’t pay him any attention at all.”
With his skills, how dare he pursue Senior Shi Li? Who gave him the courage?”
“Never serious, always daydreaming, Han Xianzi’s lineage is disgraced by him.”
…
Lin Nuo began to hear various voices belittling him.
Thinking back, it was indeed a dark history.
He once admired his second senior sister, Shi Li, and even thought of pursuing her.
But what happened? Can a powerless bootlicker ever win over a goddess?
He’s not the protagonist.