Villain: Manipulating the Heroines into hating the Protagonist

Chapter 550 Choosing The Third Target - Feng Xiaoyu

Sensing their bewilderment, Wang Jian decided to provide a rather brutal demonstration. With a predatory grace, he stalked towards Dong Aigou.

His face hardened, a scowl replacing the earlier amusement. Inwardly, he focused his will, conjuring a torrent of raw killing intent. It was a silent scream of pure destruction, aimed solely at Dong Aigou.

The earth itself seemed to tremble under the sheer intensity of his murderous intent. The Devil Beast tribes whimpered, instinctively sensing the deadly aura radiating from Wang Jian.

A moment of tense silence followed, and then... a deafening roar erupted from the depths of the earth. The ground shuddered violently, sending tremors through the cavern. Cracks snaked across the walls, dust rained down from the ceiling.

Wang Jian instantly broke off his attack, a flicker of surprise crossing his features. He whirled around to face Yin Lian and Mu Xuanyin, who were staring at him with wide eyes and mouths agape.

”That,” he whispered, his voice laced with a hint of awe, ”was because of me. My killing intent… triggered some kind of response within the mines.”

Shock painted the faces of the two women. It was a revelation that defied logic. How could a mere thought have such a drastic effect? They yearned to understand, to delve deeper into the secrets he held.

But time was of the essence. ”Later,” Wang Jian cut them off, his voice hardening. ”Right now, we need to get those Moon Shadow Clan men out of here. This place is about to collapse.”

Without further delay, shadows erupted from Wang Jianʼs fingertips, tendrils reaching out and enveloping the remaining prisoners. Each Moon Shadow Clan member, weak and weary, melted into the comforting embrace of the shadows.

”Hold on tight, ladies,” Wang Jian murmured, pulling Yin Lian and Mu Xuanyin close. Their bodies shimmered momentarily, then vanished as they too were absorbed by the shadows.

In a blink, the cavern emptied. Only the terrified Devil Beast tribes and the remaining Earth Lunar Devil Temple guards remained. A heartbeat later, the earth gave way. With a deafening crash, the entire mine complex caved in, burying everything beneath a mountain of rubble.

Dust swirled in the air, a choking shroud of destruction. From the outside, the once-proud mines resembled a gaping wound, a stark testament to the chaos that had unfolded within.

And amidst the wreckage, a lone figure stirred. Dong Aigou, still unconscious from his weakened soul, lay untouched by the devastation. The earth had shifted, forming a protective cocoon around him, shielding him from the full brunt of the collapse.

Several miles away, Wang Jian emerged from the shadows, depositing his passengers onto a verdant plain bathed in golden sunlight. The Moon Shadow Clan men, released from their shadowy confines, blinked in the light, their faces a mixture of relief and confusion.

Yin Lian and Mu Xuanyin, their robes ruffled, brushed themselves off. Their earlier shock had melted away, replaced by a wary curiosity.

”So,” Yin Lian began, her voice cool, ”you could have killed Dong Aigou back there, but your mere desire triggered a cave-in?”

Wang Jian shrugged, his usual flippant attitude returning. ”Something along those lines. More like a hidden force protecting him triggered the collapse.”

Mu Xuanyin frowned, her brow furrowed in thought. ”That doesnʼt explain everything.”

”Yeah, well,” Wang Jian admitted, ”I donʼt exactly understand it myself. Letʼs just say killing Dong Aigou is a more complicated affair than it seems.”

He paused, his gaze flickering across the open plain. ”Another consequence of this whole mess,” he continued, ”Dong Aigouʼs strength will likely increase even further. Heʼll be back, and heʼll be much stronger.”

A heavy silence descended upon them. The weight of Wang Jianʼs words settled in, a stark contrast to the cheerful chirping of birds in the distance. The rescued men of the Moon Shadow Clan looked on, their expressions a mix of relief and uncertainty.

Yin Lian and Mu Xuanyin exchanged a bewildered glance. The revelation about Dong Aigouʼs protected status weighed heavily on them. ”So, what now?” Yin Lian finally asked, her voice laced with a hint of frustration. ”You canʼt kill him, but heʼs undoubtedly going to come back stronger.”

Wang Jian seized the moment. With a predatory gleam in his eyes, he pulled both women into a tight embrace. A sly grin played on his lips as he planted a kiss on Yin Lianʼs cheek and nuzzled Mu Xuanyinʼs neck.

Both women let out surprised yet strangely pleasing moans, their bodies instinctively swaying closer to his. Despite the shocked gazes of the rescued Moon Shadow Clan men, an undeniable spark flickered in their eyes.

Breaking the embrace, Wang Jian raised a playful eyebrow at Mu Xuanyin. ”What about you, gorgeous? What do you plan to do with these charming Moon Shadow devils?” he purred, his voice dripping with a casual charm that sent shivers down their spines.

Mu Xuanyin, momentarily flustered by the unexpected intimacy, met his gaze. After a thoughtful pause, she leaned in and whispered in his ear, ”Release them. Let them rejoin their clans. Theyʼve suffered enough.”

A slow smile spread across Wang Jianʼs face. He liked the practicality of her suggestion. It kept the Moon Shadow Clan indebted to them and potentially sowed discord within their ranks. Holding the women close, he turned towards the men, his voice regaining its cold edge.

”Youʼve heard your leader, havenʼt you? Consider this a lesson learned. Take your leave,” he commanded, his power rolling off him like a dark wave.

The Moon Shadow devils, battered and bruised, understood the unspoken threat hanging in the air.If they dared to defy him, they wouldnʼt last long. Whatʼs more, their leader seemed… entangled with him.They bowed deeply in gratitude, muttering thanks for their freedom, before scurrying away as fast as their aching limbs could carry them.

Now alone with Yin Lian and Mu Xuanyin, Wang Jian finally addressed their earlier question. ”As for Dong Aigou,” he began, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper, a hint of depravity tinging his words, ”Well, if he survives the cave-in, I wouldnʼt mind another bout to test his mettle.”

He trailed his hand across Mu Xuanyinʼs back, his touch sending a delicious shiver down her spine. ”But thereʼs more,” he continued, his voice a seductive rasp. ”I want to show him just how… intimate our relationship is.”

Wang Jian leaned closer, his lips brushing Yin Lianʼs ear. ”Heʼs quite smitten with both of you, you know. Wouldnʼt it be a shame not to let him know what heʼs missing?” His eyes gleamed with a cruel delight.

The audacity of his plan both shocked and excited the women. A part of them recoiled at the cruelty of it, painting a target on their backs and using their emotions as weapons. Yet, a deep, dark corner of their minds twisted with a perverse sense of intrigue. They wanted to see Dong Aigou just how much Dong Aigou would suffer because it would show them just how much Dong Aigou seemed to love them.

It would fulfil a twisted sense of ego in them.

The seed of a twisted desire had been sown, taking root in the fertile ground of their emotions.

Wang Jian noted the flicker of conflicting emotions in their eyes. A smirk played on his lips. He knew he had touched a nerve, awakened a darkness that mirrored his own. With a chuckle, he tightened his grip around them.

”Letʼs see how this little game plays out, shall we?” he murmured, his voice dripping with a chilling anticipation.

A tense silence hung in the air, broken only by the chirping of unseen birds. The weight of Wang Jianʼs proposition settled heavily on Yin Lian and Mu Xuanyin. The very notion of using their emotions as weapons against Dong Aigou felt both cruel and strangely exhilarating.

”Speaking of games,” Wang Jian said, his voice a low rumble, ”I have another target in mind.”

A flicker of curiosity crossed Yin Lianʼs face, momentarily pushing aside the turmoil churning within her. ”Another target?” she echoed.

”Indeed,” Wang Jian replied, a sly grin spreading across his face. ”Feng Xiaoyu, the current overseer of the Trade Association. A stunning woman, wouldnʼt you agree? It would be a shame not to add her to my collection.”

Yin Lian and Mu Xuanyin both recoiled at the mention of Feng Xiaoyuʼs name. They knew her well, a powerful and respected figure within the settlement. Targeting her… it sparked a question in Yin Lianʼs mind.

”How, exactly, are you targeting these women?” she asked, her voice laced with a hint of morbid curiosity.

Mu Xuanyin cut in before Wang Jian could answer. ”Are you targeting women based on their connection to Dong Aigou?” she inquired, her eyes narrowed in thought.

Wang Jian chuckled, a sound devoid of humor. ”Sharp as ever, Mu Xuanyin. Youʼve hit the nail on the head. Only the most beautiful and delectable women who hold Dong Aigouʼs favor are worthy of my… attention.”

A cruel glint flickered in his eyes. ”Of course, if they lacked the necessary… allure, well, letʼs just say she wouldnʼt be here enjoying the sunshine. ”

Both Yin Lian and Mu Xuanyin felt a shiver crawl down their spines.

”But why Dong Aigou?” Yin Lian blurted out, her curiosity overriding her fear. ”Did he do something to you?”

Wang Jian raised an eyebrow, a playful smirk gracing his lips. ”Nothing concrete. Letʼs just say fate seemed a tad too generous towards him. I decided to… rectify that imbalance.” He paused, his gaze sweeping across the verdant landscape. ”Taking away everything he holds dear – including the women he desires – seemed like a fitting correction.”

His words were undeniably selfish, driven by a twisted sense of justice. Yet, there was a brutal honesty in his admission that resonated with Yin Lian and Mu Xuanyin. It was a stark contrast to the carefully crafted personas they were used to dealing with.

They had fallen under Wang Jianʼs thrall to a disturbing degree. His power, his audacity, and his unapologetic pursuit of his desires had chipped away at their defenses, leaving them strangely enthralled. The line between fear and fascination had blurred.

”So,” Mu Xuanyin finally spoke, her voice a low murmur, ”we become your weapons in this… game of yours?”

Wang Jian threw his head back and let out a hearty laugh. ”Weapons? Perhaps. But also… partners in pleasure. Consider it a win-win situation.”

He reached out, his fingers tracing a languid path down Mu Xuanyinʼs arm, sending a spark of heat through her. Yin Lian watched the scene unfold, a strange mix of jealousy and arousal warring within her.

”So,” Wang Jian continued, his voice husky, ”what do you say, ladies? Ready to play a little game of emotional warfare?”

A slow smile spread across Mu Xuanyinʼs lips. The thrill of the unknown, the dark satisfaction of vengeance, and the intoxicating pull of forbidden desire – it was a cocktail she found herself strangely drawn to.