I Truly Am The Villian Chapter 4 - 4 Lin Ruhu

A sudden, aged gasp echoed from a hidden corner shortly after Xu Zimei had departed.

"Did that young fellow just sense me? Unlikely!"

Upon reaching the first floor of the Scripture Pavilion, Xu Zimei casually selected a Yellow Tier Vein Skill.

The cultivation techniques and Vein Skills on the Yuan Central Continent are indeed categorized into eight distinct tiers.

These tiers are: Universe, Cosmos, Star, Celestial, Heavenly, Terrestrial, Mystical, and Yellow.

The Universe Tier represents the pinnacle, while the Yellow Tier stands as the lowest rung.

The Vein Skill Xu Zimei acquired was named the "Sword Drawing Technique."

It was an astonishingly straightforward Vein Skill, comprising a single, solitary move: the act of drawing one's sword!

The technique itself was brutally simple: draw your sword, and a head shall tumble.

The underlying principle was clear: if your draw is swift enough, not even a Great Emperor could outmaneuver you!

Emmm... truly fearsome!

Indeed, with a sufficiently rapid sword draw, even the head of a Great Emperor could be severed.

Exiting the Scripture Pavilion, Xu Zimei initiated a communion with the orb residing within his body. He channeled the power of the Divine Vein Realm, which he had stored internally, to commence the tempering of his physical form.

The internal organs and the extraordinary Meridians coursing through his body underwent a visible and rapid strengthening.

Occasionally, a distinct "creak creak" sound emanated from within Xu Zimei.

Simultaneously, his cultivation realm began to ascend at an incredible pace.

"Mortal Realm, first layer,

Mortal Realm, second layer,

...

Mortal Realm, ninth layer."

His realm continued its upward surge, reaching the ninth layer of the Mortal Realm, only to halt precisely as he was on the verge of opening his first Vein Gate.

Xu Zimei did not feel compelled to rush into the Spirit Vein Realm just yet, recognizing that this rapid ascent had left his foundation somewhat precarious.

As the saying goes, a towering skyscraper is built upon solid ground; he resolved to first temper his body thoroughly before advancing to the Spirit Vein Realm.

Within the True Martial Holy Sect, a specialized Gravity Tower existed, designated for disciples to rigorously hone their physical capabilities.

This tower consisted of ten floors, with the gravitational force escalating dramatically on each subsequent level, approximately tenfold.

While en route to the Gravity Tower, Xu Zimei was unexpectedly intercepted.

"Brother Zimo, wait up for me!" a slightly plump youth called out, hurrying towards him from a short distance away.

The young boy had short hair, a lollipop sticking out of his mouth, and a tell-tale trace of snot at the corner of his lips.

"Brother Zimo, what brings you here? No wonder I couldn't find you all day," the plump youth remarked, expertly flicking away a stray bit of snot before returning his satisfied attention to his candy.

"Ruhu, it's been a while," Xu Zimei greeted the young man before him, his tone tinged with nostalgia.

The plump youth's full name was Lin Ruhu, the grandson of the third elder within the True Martial Holy Sect. He was also a close companion, a partner in mischief with whom Xu Zimei had caused trouble since their childhood days.

Throughout their youth, Lin Ruhu had invariably played the role of a loyal follower, adhering strictly to Xu Zimei's every directive.

In his previous existence, Lin Ruhu had consistently served as a supporting character, enhancing Xu Zimei's prominence. Yet, in reality, his aptitude for cultivation was by no means inferior to Zimei's, perhaps even surpassing it.

At that time, Xu Zimei had attributed this unwavering devotion to his own uniquely imposing aura and an unparalleled charisma that naturally drew Lin Ruhu into a state of endless admiration.

It wasn't until that fateful confrontation in his later years, when Lin Ruhu stepped decisively forward, that in a moment of critical danger, he used his own body to shield the protagonist, Chu Yang, from a fatal sword strike meant for Xu Zimei.

Clutching the youth, now drenched in crimson blood, Xu Zimei had cried out, "Why? Why did you do it?"

It was then, on the precipice of death, that the young man finally divulged the truth that had always accompanied him.

When they were merely ten years old, the two had secretly ventured beyond the Sect's boundaries for recreation. Midway through their excursion, they were suddenly confronted by a Droopy-eyed White Tiger.

In that past encounter, Xu Zimei had shielded Lin Ruhu behind him, facing the White Tiger alone and instructing him to flee.

Lin Ruhu had then inquired, "Why do you feel compelled to protect me?"

This question stemmed from the fact that Xu Zimei could have easily abandoned him and escaped on his own.

At that moment, Xu Zimei's response had been remarkably simple: "Because we are brothers; I am the elder, and you are the younger.

As brothers, with me being the elder, it is only natural that I protect you!"

From that pivotal moment onward, even Xu Zimei himself remained unaware that this slightly plump young boy had silently forged a profound vow within his heart.

"In this lifetime, I shall remain steadfastly by his side as his devoted follower, safeguarding him regardless of the passage of time or the dramatic transformations of the world."

Upon hearing Xu Zimei's statement, Lin Ruhu appeared somewhat taken aback. "What do you mean by 'it's been a while'? Didn't we just see each other yesterday?"

"It's nothing, really, nothing at all," Xu Zimei replied with a chuckle, shaking his head. "I was planning to head to the Gravity Tower for training. Would you care to join me?"

Lin Ruhu, who was around the same age as Xu Zimei, was also at the prime age to commence his cultivation journey.

"Sure, sure," Lin Ruhu nodded innocently, projecting an aura where he would scarcely refuse anything Xu Zimei requested.

......

As they strode towards the Gravity Tower in unison, Xu Zimei took in Lin Ruhu's appearance.

A perpetually runny nose, with snot often hanging precariously, and the persistent presence of candy in his mouth, he would carelessly flick away the former. His overall presentation could only be described as disheveled, an understatement in Xu Zimei's opinion. After a moment's thought, Xu Zimei decided to offer a gentle reminder, "Ruhu, could you perhaps eat a little less candy and keep your nose clean? You should pay some mind to your image."

"What's wrong with my image?" Lin Ruhu inquired, a look of genuine puzzlement on his face.

Xu Zimei mused that, as a young man on the cusp of experiencing romance, Lin Ruhu might perhaps be concerned with the perceptions of girls his age.

He attempted to persuade him from this perspective, stating, "You must have a girl you fancy, correct? Who would possibly like you looking like this? Listen to Brother Zimo, tidy yourself up a bit, and perhaps you could capture a girl's heart."

"Why would I need to win her heart?" Lin Ruhu posed the question again, still perplexed.

"Love is a connection between two individuals; it requires mutuality. You can't possibly desire unrequited affection, can you?" Xu Zimei explained.

"No, I could simply take her by force," Lin Ruhu responded nonchalantly.

"A twisted melon will never taste sweet," Xu Zimei countered.

"I am aware, but it still quenches thirst," Lin Ruhu retorted.

...

"Holy crap, you truly are a perplexing genius," Xu Zimei exclaimed, halting in his tracks, his demeanor slightly ruffled by the wind.

"How is it that your utterly nonsensical logic manages to sound profoundly reasonable to me, leaving me utterly speechless?"

...

They reached their destination, the Gravity Tower, an imposing structure with an exterior resembling an oval-shaped pagoda.

Within its walls, a multitude of disciples were already engrossed in their training.

Naturally, the privilege of training within the Gravity Tower was not without cost; disciples were required to complete assigned tasks to accrue contribution points, which they would then utilize to secure training time inside.

However, given the distinguished identities of Xu Zimei and Lin Ruhu, such resources were undoubtedly not a concern for them.

The initial floor of the Gravity Tower imposed double the normal gravity. Ascending from that point, the gravitational force escalated dramatically, increasing by almost tenfold with each subsequent level.