Chapter 14: A Villain’s Charm and a Prodigy’s Defeat

The plaza in front of the Zeus Hotel.

“Boom!” A colossal explosion rent the air, accompanied by the shattering of glass, as a golden meteor plummeted from the sky.

Upon closer inspection, it was merely a wooden table enshrouded in golden curtains.

The commotion drew a multitude of onlookers, who craned their necks towards the zenith of the Zeus Hotel, their murmurs growing into a cacophony of speculation.

“Haha, I’m dying of laughter! They’re actually fighting!”

“He’s probably the first one brazen enough to cuckold one of the Ten Prodigies.”

“The presidential suite has been blown to smithereens. With such a massive disturbance, that person is surely doomed.”

Most of the gathered crowd had just arrived, unaware of the unfolding drama.

Thanks to a well-meaning individual, Zhang Liang’s ‘great deeds’ quickly spread through the crowd.

Word spread like wildfire, from one to ten, then to a hundred, and soon the plaza was teeming with people.

Some scoffed, proclaiming his downfall, while others cursed him, branding him a scoundrel.

One thing was certain: they all eagerly anticipated the sight of Zhang Liang being dragged out for public display.

****

The Presidential Suite.

After Lin Na burst through the door, Zhang Liang had initially planned to flee with Heng Naixin slung over his shoulder, only to be halted by Ying’s call of “Benefactor.”

Though he hadn’t seen her true face, Zhang Liang could never mistake that celestial voice; it belonged to the wealthy young lady from the carriage!

He recalled the old butler mentioning her father was a major shareholder of this very hotel.

Carried by the rush of air, Ying’s veil lifted, revealing her exquisitely beautiful face, which Zhang Liang took in completely.

The ancients often said, “When Heaven closes a door, it simultaneously opens a window.”

Yet, it felt as if Heaven hadn’t merely closed his door, but had ripped off the entire roof.

Was he truly unafraid of wind and sun, content to directly receive Heaven’s ‘blessings’?

Zhang Liang had once harbored suspicions that she might only possess a pleasant voice, her appearance being, well, something best left to imagination.

After all, he had witnessed more than his share of ‘beauty streamer’ reveals gone wrong, hadn’t he?

He never anticipated, however, that she would be a celestial beauty, her voice like a heavenly melody, akin to a succubus enchanting all living beings.

Zhang Liang was utterly captivated by Ying’s beauty, even forgetting that it was Lin Na who had kicked open the door.

‘Good heavens, lust is a knife above the head’—that saying was truly, terrifyingly accurate.

“Release that girl!” Lin Na commanded, her sword pointed at Zhang Liang.

In her eyes, he was nothing more than a kidnapper abducting a young lady.

It wasn’t entirely her fault for the misunderstanding.

Zhang Liang, after all, possessed a villainous countenance, and he was currently carrying a young woman bundled up like a package, her mouth gagged, struggling desperately like a fish out of water.

Noticing Lin Na’s fierce glare, Zhang Liang quickly clapped a hand over his face, though it seemed too late; he had already been thoroughly exposed.

He couldn’t fathom how Lin Na had tracked him to this location.

Zhang Liang’s mind raced, processing information at an astonishing speed.

After the incident that day, he had deliberately checked her entire body, yet found no trace of tracking magic.

The “Shining Dragon Core” and “Magic Repelling Steel Scales” lay dormant in his spatial ring, rendering electrical perception impossible for her.

Ji Suyuan, stunned by the explosion, couldn’t possibly have tipped her off, as she was unaware of his true identity.

Zhang Liang pondered for a long while, still unable to pinpoint where the plan had gone awry.

‘Tsk, this is a disaster. I had originally intended to approach Lin Na and cultivate a good relationship, but now that’s completely out of the question.’

‘My plans are utterly ruined.’

‘I must retreat and reconsider my strategy.’

Gripping Heng Naixin’s sword, Zhang Liang edged cautiously towards the window, his gaze never leaving Lin Na.

Perceiving Zhang Liang’s intent, Lin Na, in an instant, conjured a torrent of violet lightning that danced between her fingers, sketching a magic array.

“Wait! Miss Lin Na! Who is that—”

Zhang Liang’s appearance was vastly different from yesterday’s, preventing Sebas from recognizing him immediately.

Just as he was about to explain, Lin Na vanished, transforming into a fleeting shadow.

A thunderous roar shook the earth, as immense energy surged forth, causing the entire Zeus Hotel to tremble violently.

The onlookers outside involuntarily flinched at the sound of the thunder.

However, their excitement far outweighed their fear.

Indeed, the fiercer the battle, the more exhilarated they became.

Many began to cheer and shout, “Down with the scoundrel! Down with the heartbreaker! Down with the pervert!”

The shouts grew louder, yet the thunder abruptly ceased.

At that moment, Lin Na lay prone on the ground.

A flicker of astonishment crossed her usually cold, beautiful face.

She couldn’t comprehend why she was unable to move, every muscle in her body refusing to obey.

Witnessing Lin Na’s instant defeat, everyone struggled to conceal their shock.

With the exception of Heng Naixin, they all knew Lin Na’s identity: she was one of the Ten Prodigies! How could she have been defeated so easily?

Could Zhang Liang be even stronger than the Ten Prodigies?

In that fleeting moment, Zhang Liang had merely sidestepped Lin Na’s sword, and then Lin Na was on the ground.

No one, not even Lin Na herself, understood what had transpired.

“Hero Zhang!” Sebas rushed to Zhang Liang, preventing him from leaping out the window.

“This is all a misunderstanding! A complete misunderstanding!”

This was the second time Sebas had witnessed Zhang Liang’s prowess.

To think that even the renowned Ten Prodigies of the continent were no match for him—Sebas’s admiration deepened considerably.

Recalling his subjective judgment of Zhang Liang the previous night, he was overwhelmed with shame.

‘Hero Zhang must have thought Miss Lin Na was an enforcer hired by the wealthy man last night.’

After Sebas’s thorough explanation, Zhang Liang finally grasped the reason for Lin Na’s presence.

‘So, my identity hasn’t been exposed after all.’

‘I knew it! I’m a formidable villain, possessing both charm and intellect; how could there possibly be any oversight?’

‘I was scared to death!’

With the immediate crisis averted, Sebas departed the room, while Heng Naixin and Ji Suyuan dressed themselves.

After introductions were made, Heng Naixin regarded Zhang Liang with newfound admiration.

She never imagined this man, with his roguish charm, immense wealth, and formidable strength, could exist.

‘He’s practically the ultimate domineering CEO!’

At this thought, her heart fluttered like a startled deer, bounding wildly within her chest.

Ying, too, gazed at Zhang Liang with sparkling eyes.

He appeared to be a villain, yet his true nature was that of an honorable gentleman.

The ancient saying was indeed true: ‘One cannot judge a book by its cover, nor measure the sea with a dipper.’

Zhang Liang also provided an explanation regarding Lin Na’s situation.

Lin Na had overtrained, pushing her body beyond its limits, and a targeted strike to her meridians would render her completely powerless.

This explanation made sense, and Lin Na nodded in understanding.

It mirrored her master’s teachings: ‘extremes beget their opposites.’

With that recent strike, Lin Na distinctly felt her speed had diminished considerably, utterly incomparable to her peak condition.

Her defeat was, therefore, entirely logical.

Lin Na rested her head on Ying’s lap, her gaze fixed on the ceiling.

Even with her typically cold expression, her disappointment was palpable.

Judging this to be an opportune moment to curry favor, Zhang Liang imparted some health and wellness knowledge to Lin Na.

He advised her on beneficial foods, important precautions, and appropriate daily exercise durations.

These insights, painstakingly recalled by Zhang Liang, were validated to be centuries ahead of this world’s current understanding.

After all, having died suddenly once before, he truly feared it.

At this point, Zhang Liang’s image was elevated significantly.

They had never imagined him to be such a learned and versatile individual.

Observing Lin Na listening intently, Zhang Liang’s lips curved into a slight smirk, confirming that initial goodwill had been secured.

Had they not been aware of Zhang Liang’s true nature, they might have believed he was currently concocting some terrifying scheme.

They could even picture him about to unleash a sinister cackle.

After resting for a while, Lin Na regained her ability to move.

Noting the late hour and his impending registration at Saint Spirit Academy, Zhang Liang decided to have a quick breakfast and depart immediately.

Just as Zhang Liang was preparing to leave, he suddenly detected a subtle anomaly on Lin Na’s person.

‘Surveillance magic?’

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