I Am The Villain In The Novel - Chapter 38: Tonight’s Goal Is Clear

Chapter 38: Tonight’s Goal Is Clear

Wei Changtian had been thinking about how to establish his own power for several days.

Initially, he didn’t plan to rush into it, intending to first set up a bookstore and then use it as a cover to establish an underground violent organization with a guild-like nature.

However, after Wei Xianzhi’s words that day, he felt that he couldn’t delay this matter any longer, so he decided to do both simultaneously.

The bookstore would be out in the open, while the guild would operate in secret.

Li Yang would be the face of the bookstore, and Wang Er would be the face of the guild.

As for himself, he would definitely keep a low profile and stay behind the scenes.

It wasn’t that he was afraid of trouble, but as a villain, his scope had to be grand.

“Brother Wei, although I don’t know what you’re planning, since you asked me, I’ll definitely help you!”

Li Yang’s answer was within his expectations.

After taking a deep look at the two men sitting upright in front of him, Wei Changtian finally spoke up:

“I plan to establish a secret guild that is completely loyal to me, with the bookstore as a front.”

“I may have the backing of the Wei family, but there are many things that aren’t convenient to do through the Mirror Division, so I must grasp this power that belongs to me.”

“Brother Li, Wang Er, you two are the ones I trust the most. This time, I need your help…”

The study room was quiet, and before they knew it, half an hour had passed.

Because Wei Changtian had greeted Qiu Yun and Yuan’er, they didn’t come to serve them, not even to add oil to the lamps.

“Pfft~”

The last flame of the lamp finally flickered out, and the entire room was plunged into darkness, with only a faint moonlight shining through the window onto the extremely solemn faces of the three men.

“Brother Wei, this matter…”

Li Yang’s voice was trembling.

Although Li Yang was a typical spoiled rich kid, he was different from Wei Changtian in some ways.

Li Kan was a legal worker, whereas Wei Xianzhi was a secret service head.

Perhaps it was due to their different family upbringings that Li Yang hadn’t done many cruel or unjust things.

So, when he heard Wei Changtian’s words, especially after understanding his ultimate goal, a cold sweat broke out on his back.

Brother Wei wasn’t joking, and this might really get them killed…

The darkness enveloped them, and Li Yang’s rapid breathing was clearly audible.

Wei Changtian didn’t respond, only waiting silently.

Until Li Yang gritted his teeth and spat out a sentence.

“Brother Wei, I’m in!”

“……”

With a sigh of relief, he stood up and lit a new candle.

The light reappeared, and only then did Wei Changtian look at Li Yang, sincerely saying a sentence.

“Thanks, Brother Li.”

The two men locked eyes for a few seconds, and their friendship, built on their shared experiences of visiting brothels, was elevated to a bond of “fellow outcasts” who would stick together through thick and thin.

Although this scene had a hint of villainous collaboration, Wei Changtian didn’t think it was a bad thing.

At least compared to hypocrites who pretended to be righteous, true scoundrels who stuck together were more trustworthy.

The atmosphere in the study gradually returned to normal, and after chatting for a while, Wang Er suddenly remembered something.

“Master, since we’re establishing a guild, we should give it a name, right?”

“Ah, yeah, I almost forgot about that.”

Li Yang, who had transformed from anxiety to excitement, enthusiastically suggested, “How about we call it the Changtian Association?”

Wei Changtian: “……”

Are you afraid that others won’t realize this has something to do with me?

“Cough, I’ve already thought of a name.”

“Oh? What is it?”

“…”

Under Li Yang and Wang Er’s expectant gazes, Wei Changtian slowly uttered a name filled with malicious intent.

“Freemasons.”

…

The next day.

August 15th, Mid-Autumn Festival.

Li Yang and Wang Er had already started busying themselves with setting up the “Spring Depths Bookhouse” and the “Freemasons”, while Wei Changtian went to the Mirror Division as usual.

The name “Spring Depths Bookhouse” was chosen by Lan Jingyao, derived from the famous phrase “Reading books, unaware of the deep spring, one inch of light is one inch of gold”.

Wei Changtian didn’t care about this, anyway, it was better than Li Yang’s suggestion of Gathering Treasures.

It was just to increase Lan Jingyao’s sense of participation in the bookstore.

In the morning, there was a martial arts competition at the training hall, and in the afternoon, the Mirror Division had a Mid-Autumn Festival holiday.

Except for some personnel who had to stay on duty, everyone else could take half a day off to reunite with their families.

Wei Changtian, of course, didn’t qualify to be on the list of personnel on duty, so he had to return to the Wei Manor early.

He played with Wei Qiaoling for a while, finishing the story of “Journey to the West” that he hadn’t finished telling her the previous night. Time flew by quickly, and soon it was dusk.

The hazy full moon had risen from the east, and the orange sunset had not yet fallen, marking the time when the sun and moon shone together. The two family servants came to call Wei Changtian to eat the reunion dinner.

Last year, there were four people eating together, and this year, Lan Jingyao joined them.

At the table, Wei Qiaoling was still only focused on eating, while Wei Xianzhi and his son were enjoying their drinks, but the atmosphere between Qin Caizhen and Lan Jingyao was slightly different.

“Jingyao, you’ve been in the Wei family for a while, can you tell me about your menstruation recently?”

“I, I…”

“Ah, don’t be scared, it’s not a big deal if you haven’t gotten pregnant yet, these things can’t be rushed.”

“I know, Mother…”

“But you should still plan ahead, you don’t practice martial arts, so it’s better to have children early… Jingyao, why do you look like that?”

“Ah? I, I’m fine…”

“Tell me honestly, how often do you and Changtian…?”

“……”

At the hour of the dog (around 7-9 pm), dinner was over.

Wei Changtian originally wanted to stay for a while, but was chased away by Qin Caizhen, who also gave Lan Jingyao a meaningful glance as he left.

“What did my mother say to you during dinner?”

As they walked back, Wei Changtian curiously asked.

“N-nothing…”

Lan Jingyao lowered her head, remaining silent for a while before suddenly saying something like a short-circuited brain.

“M-mother told us to rest early…”

“Oh.”

Wei Changtian nodded indifferently: “She’s quite broad-minded.”

“……”

Lan Jingyao stole a glance at Wei Changtian’s extremely handsome profile in the moonlight, feeling a bit annoyed.

She was angry with herself for not being strong enough, and also angry with Wei Changtian’s cold attitude.

Wasn’t he eager to get close to her before? Why is he acting like this now…

If you were a bit more forceful, I might have given in…

Lan Jingyao thought to herself, feeling frustrated, and didn’t say anything else.

The two of them went their separate ways, until they saw Wang Er standing at the gate.

“Madam.”

Wang Er first greeted Lan Jingyao, then whispered to Wei Changtian, “Young Master, the carriage is ready.”

“Good, I’ll go change my clothes and then we can leave.”

Wei Changtian responded, and Lan Jingyao was surprised to hear this.

“Are you going out?”

“Yes, I have some business to attend to.”

“Oh.”

Lan Jingyao’s initial reaction was that Wei Changtian was going to a brothel, but she quickly dismissed the thought.

It’s Mid-Autumn Festival today, he shouldn’t be going to that kind of place, right?

Besides, he doesn’t seem like he’s going to do something improper…

She let out a sigh of relief, feeling a bit more at ease.

However, she was wrong this time.

Wei Changtian’s target for tonight was clear—

Visiting brothels! Ride the flower boat! Playing with courtesans!