Villain: Fairy, please offer your loyalty

Villa No. 1, Master Bedroom.

Gu Fan pushed open the door and casually tossed Chu Xuan'er, who was in his arms, onto the large bed carved from millennia-old snowflakes.

"Bang."

Her delicate body sank into the soft bed, but Chu Xuan'er felt no comfort at all.

Her body was burning hot, as if countless tiny knives were cutting through her meridians.

"It's so hot...kill me...kill me now..."

Chu Xuan'er curled up in pain, her hands gripping the bedsheets tightly.

The once neat blue Taoist robe was now ripped to shreds by the sword energy, revealing large patches of snow-white skin covered in bloodstains.

"Tsk, what a stubborn girl."

"He's like ice in normal times, but when he goes berserk, he's more ferocious than a volcano."

Gu Fan sat down on the edge of the bed, his cool fingers gently tracing her burning cheeks.

Do you want to be free?

Chu Xuan'er opened her hazy eyes, and through her blurred vision, she could only see a handsome, almost demonic, profile.

It's that spoiled brat...

Reason told her to push him away, but her body's instincts made her want to take him.

At this moment, the chill emanating from this man was her only lifeline.

"Help...help me..."

She instinctively grabbed Gu Fan's hand, like a drowning person grabbing a piece of driftwood.

"When asking for a favor, you should have the right attitude."

Gu Fan chuckled softly and leaned down to whisper seductively in her earlobe.

"Beg me."

"No...don't..."

Chu Xuan'er wanted to refuse, but the next second, an even more violent sword energy backlashed, causing her to bend over in pain and tears to well up in her eyes.

At that moment, all pride was crushed by reality.

"Please...save me...I'll do anything you ask..."

"That's right."

Gu Fan stopped dawdling, activated the Primordial Demon Scripture, and lowered his head to kiss those chapped lips.

The domineering demonic energy surged into Chu Xuan'er's meridians along the point of contact, acting arbitrarily and unreasonably.

If the uncontrolled sword energy was a band of bandits, then Gu Fan's demonic energy was a well-equipped royal cavalry.

Wherever it goes, it suppresses, devours, and assimilates—all in one swift motion!

"Mmm..."

Chu Xuan'er's delicate body trembled slightly; the tingling sensation that came from the depths of her soul made her lose her ability to think.

Before she completely lost consciousness, Gu Fan became her only support.

That night, the once cold and broken sword heart was completely melted and reforged into another shape.

……

The next morning.

Sunlight streamed through the window, casting pale golden shadows on the pure white sheets.

Chu Xuan'er slowly opened her eyes, and the first thing she felt was an unprecedented lightness in her body.

Early stage of Golden Core...

He actually jumped directly to the peak of the mid-stage Golden Core realm?!

This sudden surge in her cultivation level left her somewhat bewildered.

But then she found herself lying in a warm embrace.

"ah!?"

Chu Xuan'er froze, looking down to find that her faded Taoist robe was gone, replaced by a large men's black silk nightgown, still faintly scented with ambergris.

Looking again at the owner in her arms—Gu Fan—she had her eyes closed, her breathing steady, and her devilishly handsome face was sharply defined in the morning light.

"You're awake?"

Just as Chu Xuan'er was about to break free, Gu Fan opened his eyes.

There was nothing in those eyes. There is only a kind of detached indifference that sees through everything.

"Let me go!"

Chu Xuan'er instinctively tried to condense sword energy, but as soon as her spiritual power began to circulate—

"Buzz..."

The sword intent, which should have been sharp as a knife, vanished completely like a frightened little beast.

Chu Xuan'er's face turned pale: "My sword energy... what happened?!"

"Stop struggling."

Gu Fan yawned, listlessly letting go of his hands, and stepped barefoot onto the wool carpet.

He walked to the French windows, turned his back to Chu Xuan'er, and stretched.

"Your swordsmanship is inherently flawed; suppressing it will only lead to demonic possession. If I hadn't intervened in time last night, you would be a cripple by now."

"You're talking nonsense!"

Chu Xuan'er wrapped her bathrobe tighter around herself and bit her lip as she retorted:

"My Ghost Valley Sword Style has been passed down for a thousand years, how could it possibly have flaws? It must be you... you've done something to me!"

"A legacy spanning a thousand years?"

Gu Fan turned around, a mocking smile playing on his lips.

"Then let me ask you, what is the core of swordsmanship that your master taught you?"

"Severing all emotions and desires, the sword's heart is like a mirror, untouched by dust."

Chu Xuan'er spoke with absolute certainty.

"Tsk tsk tsk, another one who got fooled."

Gu Fan shook his head and sighed, looking at her as if she were mentally challenged.

"True swordsmanship is about cutting through external things, not cutting yourself. You can't even admit you're a woman, so what kind of swordsmanship are you practicing?"

"you……"

Chu Xuan'er was furious and wanted to retort, but found herself speechless.

Don't believe me?

Gu Fan walked to the tea table and casually picked up a white porcelain teacup.

"Open your eyes wide and look carefully. This is the real sword."

He waved his hand gently.

"Splash!"

The water in the teacup rose into the air, transforming into countless fine, hair-like streaks. Each streak contained a terrifying sword intent powerful enough to cut through gold and jade!

"Hiss hiss hiss."

The water lines intertwined, swirled, and split in the air, finally coalescing into a blooming ice lotus, suspended in mid-air.

"This...this is..."

Chu Xuan'er opened her eyes wide and her breathing became rapid.

"All things are swords?! The sword's heart is clear and bright?!"

She had only seen this level of attainment once, in her most revered master!

And this spoiled brat in front of me, who only knows how to throw money around and spouts nonsense, can actually do it so easily?!

"You're already dumbfounded?"

Gu Fan snapped his fingers, and the Ice Lotus once again transformed into a sky full of mist, disappearing without a trace.

He walked up to Chu Xuan'er and looked down at her.

"You've only learned the form of swordsmanship, not its essence. What those old fogies from Guigu taught you is outdated."

"How could you...?"

Chu Xuan'er's beautiful nails were almost digging into her palms; her worldview was collapsing.

"You're clearly just... just a bully who takes advantage of his power..."

"Young master?"

Gu Fan's smile was incredibly irritating.

"Then tell me, who saved you last night? Was it your senior brother Lin Feng? He couldn't even get within three meters of you before his chest was slashed open by sword energy, leaving him looking like a dog in a sorry state."

Chu Xuan'er fell silent.

"No...no..."

Don't rush to deny it.

Gu Fan reached out and pinched her chin, forcing Chu Xuan'er to raise her head and meet his gaze:

"Why is your sword energy going berserk? Because you have doubts, fears, and confusion in your heart. You dare not face your true emotions and can only maintain the so-called 'sword heart as clear as a mirror' by suppressing them."

"But I personally enjoy helping others the most."

Gu Fan released his grip, turned around, and poured himself a glass of water.

"Last night I used demonic energy to reshape your meridians. Now, your sword's core is entirely in my shape."

"in other words--"

"Your sword has already recognized me as its master."

"What? You're talking nonsense!"

Chu Xuan'er was filled with shame and indignation. She suddenly stood up, but because of the sudden movement, her black silk nightgown slipped down, revealing her snow-white skin.

She hurriedly pulled her clothes tighter, her cheeks flushed: "Impossible! My sword only obeys me! It's in tune with my will!"

"Yeah?"

Gu Fan put down his teacup, raised his hand, and beckoned to the ancient sword hanging on the wall.

"Buzz".

Chu Xuan'er's natal flying sword, which she had nurtured for over a decade, actually unsheathed itself!

The ancient longsword circled once in the air before landing steadily in Gu Fan's hand, its blade trembling slightly as if it were being affectionate.

"Did you see that?"

Gu Fan reached out and fiddled with the sword hilt, his smile utterly irritating.

"It likes me more now."

Chu Xuan'er stared pitifully at her sword.

"Give it...give it back to me..."

"want to?"

Gu Fan raised an eyebrow: "That depends on your performance."

He held the sword horizontally in his hand and flicked the blade lightly.

"Zheng~"

The crisp sound of swords echoed in the room.

"Kneel down and call me 'My dear husband,' and I'll give it back to you."

"You...you're dreaming!"

Chu Xuan'er's beautiful eyes were filled with tears of humiliation.

"Then don't take it."

Gu Fan shrugged, making a gesture as if to throw the sword out the window.

"etc!"

Chu Xuan'er shouted it out almost reflexively.

That sword was a gift from her master, and it held great significance for her.

She took a deep breath and finally knelt down slowly.

"My...husband..."

"Huh? You haven't eaten?"

Gu Fan picked at his ear. "I can't hear you."

Chu Xuan'er closed her eyes and shouted:

"My dear husband! Please give me back my sword!"

"Tsk, that's a good boy."

Gu Fan nodded in satisfaction and casually returned the sword to her.

"Why didn't you do this earlier? Why did you have to make me resort to violence?"

Chu Xuan'er took the sword, hugged it to her chest, and finally couldn't hold back her tears.

"Why are you crying?"

Gu Fan knelt down and gently wiped away the tears on her face.

"You should be thanking me."

"I not only saved your life, but also helped you break through to the peak of the mid-stage Golden Core realm. For anyone else, even if they sold everything they owned, they couldn't get such an opportunity."

Chu Xuan'er looked at him with teary eyes.

"What...do you want...?"

Gu Fan's lips curled into a wicked smile.

"I want you to follow me willingly and learn the true way of the sword, not that self-deceiving and broken technique from Guigu."

"So? Want to take a gamble on your destiny?"

Chu Xuan'er remained silent for a long time.

She recalled the uncontrollable fear she felt last night, Lin Feng's helplessness, and the ice lotus that Gu Fan had revealed.

If I can become stronger, what does this humiliation matter?

Finally, Chu Xuan'er lowered her proud head: "I...I'm willing to learn."

【Ding! 】

[System Notification: Initial success in winning over Chu Xuan'er! Affection level: 60% (Both resentful and impressed)]

[Gained Villain Points: +2000!]

[Reward: Primordial Chaos Body (Puzzle 3/1000)!]

Hearing the pleasant system notification sound, Gu Fan was overjoyed.

"Very good. From today onwards, you will be my sword attendant."

"Sword Servant?"

Chu Xuan'er raised her head, her eyes filled with complex emotions.

"Yes, they are specifically responsible for helping me test my sword, sharpen my sword, and... warm my sword."

When Gu Fan said the last two words, he deliberately lowered his voice, making it extremely ambiguous.

Chu Xuan'er's pretty face flushed red, and she was about to retort—

"Knock knock knock".

Suddenly there was a knock on the door.

"Young Master, Elder Jiang and Miss Su have arrived. They say they have important matters to discuss."

It's Qin Lan's voice.

"Okay, I'll be right there."

Gu Fan got up, straightened his bathrobe, and glanced back at Chu Xuan'er, who was still kneeling on the ground.

"What are you standing there for? Hurry up and change into some decent clothes. That Taoist robe of yours should have been thrown away a long time ago."

"There are clothes Ling'er prepared for you in the wardrobe. Pick one yourself."

Done.

He pushed open the door and left, leaving behind a dashing silhouette.

Chu Xuan'er held the sword and stared blankly for a while before supporting her sore legs to stand up and walk to the huge mahogany wardrobe.

Open the cabinet door.

Inside, the walls were filled with all sorts of exquisite and beautiful dresses: ethereal lace gowns, elegant and dignified palace-style cheongsams, and more...

Chu Xuan'er's face turned red to the roots of her ears.

It was a white, tight-fitting Han-style swordsman's outfit, with a red sash tied around the waist, and cutout designs at the chest and thighs.

There was also a small note stuck to the side, with Chu Ling'er's neat handwriting on it.

"Baby, this outfit suits you perfectly! Your big brother said that female sword cultivators should be both cool and alluring to unleash their full combat power! — Love, Ling'er"

Chu Xuan'er stared at the outfit, her expression extremely complex.

Finally, she took a deep breath and reached out to take off the white swordsman's uniform.

"Anyway... that's how it is..."

She muttered to herself, her voice filled with a helpless attempt to convince herself.

"It's just to learn real swordsmanship... Yes, it's just to become stronger..."

……

three days later.

The Holy Path Academy Grand Competition has come to an end, but an even greater storm is about to begin.

The old dean stood trembling on the high platform and announced:

"In order to hone the geniuses of each academy, the five academies have decided, after discussion, to jointly open the once-in-five-hundred-years 'Burial Immortal Secret Realm' tomorrow!"

Below the stage, Lin Feng, who had recovered, clutched his chest, his eyes flashing with hatred and greed.

"The Burial Immortal Realm...that's my destiny! If I can break through my cultivation there, Gu Fan, I will tear you to pieces!"

On the high platform.

Gu Fan, with Chu Xuan'er in a white, tight-fitting swordsman's outfit and a hot figure in his arms, looked down at Lin Feng, who was furious and powerless, and smiled brightly.

"The chives need fertilizing again, they're so diligent."