Villainous Junior Chapter 41
Translated by Sylver (ko-fi)
Chapter 41: Tong Zhong
Xue Lang was speechless for a long time.
Although Meng Chen's choice was opposite to what he had hoped, after hearing those words, he wasn't surprised at all.
In his previous life, when he was just an ordinary student, Xue Lang himself didn't understand why he had fallen for a paper character as if he were bewitched.
When his roommates saw him hugging his phone for no reason, reading the same novel over and over again more than a dozen times, they couldn't help but laugh at him. "What novel is so attractive? Is your wife living in there?"
He jokingly told his roommates to get lost, but was inadvertently touched by a hidden emotion, rubbing his hot ear tips as if to cover it up.
He couldn't describe what kind of feeling it was. Even though it was just a completely fictional character, even with a historical background completely different from his own, Xue Lang always found himself unable to control his imagination of Meng Chen's appearance as he looked at those lines of black text.
Later, when he really saw Meng Chen, his first thought was, yes, it's him.
Without any introduction, the moment he laid eyes on the young man, he could be 100% certain of his thoughts.
Because Meng Chen matched the image in his mind perfectly, without the slightest difference. In fact, because he had silently portrayed him countless times in another space and time, he felt an inexplicable familiarity with Meng Chen, as if they weren't meeting for the first time, but had known each other for many, many years.
Of course, Meng Chen didn't seem to recognize him, so Xue Lang thought that this sense of familiarity was probably just an illusion produced by a lovesick fool's wishful thinking.
So, when Meng Chen said these words now, Xue Lang wasn't surprised.
To act without shame before others, to stop without shame in one's heart - this was Meng Chen's principle for dealing with the world.
"I understand," Xue Lang's tense shoulders slowly relaxed, he slightly raised his head to exhale, then turned to look into Meng Chen's eyes, "I'll accompany you."
They both knew very well how dangerous the road ahead was. One misstep and they would repeat the fate of their previous life.
But Xue Lang didn't try to stop Meng Chen again, and Meng Chen didn't tell Xue Lang to leave alone.
This time, they chose to face it together.
Meng Chen quietly looked at him for a while, his gaze slightly moving, and said softly, "I have one more question."
"What is it?"
"In my previous life, the way I treated you," Meng Chen asked in a low voice, "Do you hate me?"
He had always been tolerant and peaceful towards others, yet he once saw Xue Lang as the only person he despised in his life. Living on Tianji Peak together, he was close with everyone else, but only regarded Xue Lang as an enemy, deliberately ignoring him, treating him coldly, and even said hurtful things to him several times.
At that time, facing such a harsh and unfeeling Meng Chen, what kind of feelings did Xue Lang have?
Just thinking about any scenario made Meng Chen's heart ache so much he could hardly breathe.
"What nonsense are you talking about!" Seeing his unusual expression, Xue Lang hurriedly said, "I should be the one asking you that question. I did so many terrible things, anyone else would have probably drawn their sword and killed me long ago. Only you have such a good temper, able to tolerate me bouncing around you being so annoying for so long."
He deliberately used lively and humorous words to dispel the guilt in Meng Chen's heart, not wanting him to overthink. Sure enough, Meng Chen chuckled lightly, looking at him with gentle eyes, then opened his arms.
"Come here," he said, "Let me hug you."
Xue Lang was stunned, his handsome face turning red again.
But this time he didn't hesitate for long, striding over and forcefully pulling Meng Chen into his embrace.
The young man had grown taller recently, now slightly taller than Meng Chen. Meng Chen rested his chin on his shoulder, suddenly feeling a sting in his eyes.
"I'm sorry," his voice was uncontrollably choked with emotion, "Back then...it was my fault."
"It's okay," Xue Lang hugged his waist tighter, "I don't mind."
Never say sorry to me.
Being able to truly appear in your life is already the greatest fortune of my entire life.
——
Two days later, Meng Chen set out for the border town.
The Sect Leader had assigned several others to accompany him, all outstanding disciples from various peaks, partly to assist him and partly for their own experience.
Meng Chen looked over the seven young, energetic faces before him. They were the same seven from his previous life, four of whom would soon die by "Meng Chen's" sword.
His gaze lingered for a moment on the last disciple's face. The disciple, already nervous and stiff, became even more excited under Meng Chen's gaze and couldn't help but exclaim loudly. "Don't worry, Senior Brother Meng, I absolutely won't hold you back!"
Hearing this, the other disciples laughed. "Of course not, you'd probably be willing to go through fire and water to act alongside the person you admire most, right?"
"Tong Zhong, cherish this opportunity to perform well. If we really catch the demonic cultivators, the Sect Leader might assign you to go on missions with Senior Brother Meng again next time!"
Tong Zhong's eyes lit up with joy, looking at Meng Chen with anticipation.
Meng Chen distributed communication talismans to the disciples and gave the same instructions as in his previous life. "The terrain of the border town is complex. After arriving, we'll split into four groups to investigate separately. Once you discover traces of demonic cultivators, report the situation immediately through the communication talisman. Duan Yi and Xu Jinxing are one group, Zou Zhuo and Liu Hao are one group, Zhang Yao and Zhao Le are one group, Tong Zhong and I are one group."
After hearing the arrangement, Tong Zhong's face showed an expression of wild joy, and he shouted with a flushed face. "Yes!"
The eight people flew on their swords to the border town. To avoid attracting attention, they all changed into black outfits. Meng Chen agreed on a meeting point with everyone, telling them that regardless of whether they found traces of demonic cultivators or not, they must return to this place to regroup after two hours.
The disciples accepted the order and went off in pairs according to their assigned routes. Meng Chen looked at Tong Zhong. "Let's go too."
Tong Zhong nodded vigorously. "Alright!"
Due to the rampant demonic cultivators, the residents of the border town all kept their doors tightly shut. The streets were empty without a single civilian in sight. Even the inns and restaurants on both sides of the street were all closed. Only a few fallen leaves, unswept due to the absence of people, rolled aimlessly on the road in the wind.
It had rained yesterday, and today's weather wasn't good either. The sky was heavy and dark, seeming as if raindrops might fall at any moment.
Meng Chen and Tong Zhong walked one in front of the other through the characteristic deep alleys of the border town.
The alleys here were long and winding, and the road was narrow, barely wide enough for a horse cart to pass through. Walking in such alleys, it felt as if the distance between people was shortened.
Especially when there were only two people.
"Senior Brother Meng," Tong Zhong had been building up his courage for half the journey and finally spoke up, "I'm very sorry about what happened in the Taixu Secret Realm last time!"
Meng Chen turned back to look at him, his expression slightly confused, as if he had forgotten what had happened.
"That time, I... framed Xue Lang with the energy storage talisman," Tong Zhong said hesitantly, then explained anxiously, "What I did was wrong, but Xue Lang and I had a conflict before, that's why I couldn't resist getting revenge on him."
Meng Chen: "One of you is on Tianji Peak and the other on Yuhua Peak. You rarely see each other, how could you have a conflict?"
"There was one time when we were both punished to clean Xiushui Mountain," Tong Zhong clenched his fists. "Xue Lang found out that I...greatly admire you, Senior Brother Meng. For some reason, he suddenly went crazy and beat me up without any reason."
"I know my cultivation is low, I have no talent, I can't compare to him entering Tianji Peak right after joining the sect," Tong Zhong said through gritted teeth. "But does that mean I don't have the right to see you as my goal for diligent study? I know I'm far behind, but I really admire Senior Brother Meng and have always been trying hard to catch up to you... Do I not even have that right?"
Meng Chen stopped in his tracks.
"If that's how it happened, Xue Lang indeed did something wrong," Meng Chen turned to him and said, "Talent isn't the most important thing. Everyone has the right to strive for improvement."
Tong Zhong stared at him, slowly widening his eyes.
"I know about you, your talisman research is excellent. Elder Yu has praised you as well," Meng Chen even gave him an encouraging smile. "Keep working hard, I believe you can do even better."
Tong Zhong gazed at the young man's momentary smile, almost forgetting to breathe.
Senior Brother Meng actually smiled at him...
Senior Brother Meng said encouraging words to him!
His entire body began to tremble uncontrollably, a wild joy accompanied by a rush of excitement surging to his head, making him almost forget where he was. Meng Chen had already turned back and continued walking forward, but Tong Zhong stood rooted to the spot, staring unblinkingly at the young man's straight back, almost entranced.
Senior Brother Meng had already smiled at him, why couldn't he get closer?
He had finally obtained the opportunity to go on a mission with Senior Brother Meng. When would he see Senior Brother Meng again?
Tong Zhong's breathing became heavy as he shakily reached behind his waist and pulled out a talisman.
This talisman was strangely shaped, not the usual rectangular form, but in the shape of a small person. On its back were complex, indecipherable symbols written in red, its function unknown.
Tong Zhong silently moved his lips, beginning to recite an incantation. The yellow little person twitched, as if suddenly coming to life, swaying as it floated through the air, moving forward and then attaching itself to the unsuspecting Meng Chen's back.
Meng Chen's footsteps suddenly halted, his entire body seeming to freeze in place, completely rigid.
Tong Zhong's expression brightened. He immediately rushed over, coming to stand before Meng Chen with intense nervousness. Sure enough, the young man's eyes were half-closed, his pupils devoid of spirit, his expression blank, as if his soul had suddenly been snatched away.
Tong Zhong, however, couldn't help but laugh softly.
"It worked..." he looked at the young man with joy blooming in his heart. "Senior Brother Meng, didn't you just praise my talisman research? I really did it! This puppet talisman, I've been secretly studying it for two years, failing countless times, and now it's finally successful!"
"Senior Brother Meng, you don't know how much I admire you, how much I like you..." Only at this moment did Tong Zhong finally dare to pour out the words hidden in his heart. "I've been secretly paying attention to you for so many years. The books you like to read, the sword techniques you practice, the style of clothes you wear most often, where you prefer to go for meditation and cultivation... I know it all."
"I've collected many of the calligraphy pieces you've written, borrowed every book you've read, bought hairpins of the same style as yours, drawn countless portraits of you. Unfortunately, the most precious book of your portraits I had was burned by that Xue Lang."
"Senior Brother Meng, I really like you, like everything about you. I've thought countless times, how wonderful it would be if I could be the one to go to Tianji Peak? That way, I could spend more time watching you..."
"But," his infatuated expression suddenly changed, and a trace of resentment appeared in his eyes, "I did so much for you, yet you were always stingy with giving me your attention. Your eyes only saw those few people on Tianji Peak! Why, why couldn't you see me!?"
He angrily stared at the unresponsive Meng Chen, then suddenly thought of something, and his expression turned joyful again. "But it doesn't matter. At least now, you're finally willing to listen to me..."
The effect of the puppet talisman was to make the person who was affected become like a puppet, completely losing their self-awareness and only obeying the commands of the caster.
This was actually an evil technique, extremely harmful, and righteous cultivators despised puppet techniques. Taixuan Sect especially strictly listed it as a forbidden technique. Once someone was found to have evil intentions and use it in violation of the rules, they would immediately be subjected to severe punishment.
Tong Zhong, however, was bewitched and somehow learned this technique, and had actually succeeded in creating a puppet talisman.
"Senior Brother Meng," he said excitedly, his nostrils flaring slightly, his whole face flushed red, his eyes greedily fixed on the young man in front of him, his voice trembling, "Will you hug me?"
After he finished speaking, he waited anxiously for a moment, and saw that Meng Chen actually moved slightly, and then walked towards him!
Tong Zhong's eyes instantly burst with wild joy!
He held his breath, watching unblinkingly as the young man slowly approached him, then raised his hand.
The expression on Tong Zhong's face was already distorted with excitement, the muscles of his cheeks twitching constantly. In the next instant, his expression suddenly froze, and the trembling of his body abruptly stopped.
He moved his eyeballs slowly, looking down to see the long sword deeply piercing his chest, and the snow-white hand gripping the hilt.
He opened his mouth, a string of blood spilling from the corner of his lips, still unable to believe what had happened. "You..."
Meng Chen's expression had already returned to complete coldness. He reached behind his back with his left hand, tore off the yellow paper figure, and brought it before his eyes.
It was this thing.
It was this thing that had inexplicably made him lose consciousness in his previous life, and then lose control over everything that happened afterwards.
It was the person in front of him, whom he had been completely unguarded against in his previous life, who had, for this ridiculous and nauseating reason, set in motion the beginning of all his tragedies.
He raised his eyes, his icy gaze filled with disgust and hatred, falling on Tong Zhong's incredulous face.
Tong Zhong's flushed face had already turned completely pale. He met Meng Chen's gaze, his trembling hand grasping the blade of the sword in his chest. "Why... why?"
"Why?" Meng Chen tilted his head slightly, his face expressionless as he said, "Didn't you just say that you liked me very much, liked everything about me?"
Blood gushed out from Tong Zhong's chest and mouth like floodgates opening. His whole body convulsed neurotically, his bloodshot eyes staring at Meng Chen, unable to utter a single word.
Meng Chen: "So being killed by my own hands should make you very happy too."
After saying this, his right hand pushed forward without hesitation, easily running the person in front of him through with the long sword.
