Villains Aren't Stepping Stones!

"Young master...."

Shen Xinye walked towards Haoran, looking timid.

Her steps were small and hesitant, the pristine fabric of her boots clicking softly against the polished floorboards of the classroom.

She clutched the silver-runed slip of paper tightly against her chest, her knuckles turning slightly white from the force of her grip.

Her heart was hammering violently against her ribs, a beautiful, delicate blush spreading across her cheeks like the first bloom of spring.

She stopped just a few paces away from his desk, lowering her eyes to avoid looking directly into his piercing gaze.

"W-We seem to be paired."

Shen Haoran raised his head and nodded at her, his expression calm, unbothered, and entirely relaxed.

He didn’t show any surprise, nor did he display the frantic anxiety that was currently plaguing the rest of the classroom.

To him, the numbers drawn were merely a minor arrangement of fate.

"It seems so," he said, his smooth, resonant voice washing over her like a warm breeze, instantly soothing the chaotic fluttering in her chest. "Would you like to train together? The others should be training as well."

With that, he pointed at Huo Yue and the others.

The classroom was currently a hive of chaotic activity as the realization of their assignments truly set in.

Students were moving across the rows of mahogany desks, matching their numbers and sizeing up their new partners with a mixture of hope, calculation, and occasional dread.

Following the direction of his gaze, Shen Xinye looked around the spacious room.

Huo Yue was paired with a senior student, an 8th Stage Nascent Soul Realm expert.

The senior was a tall, battle-hardened young man with sharp features and a visible scar running down his jawline.

He was looking down at Huo Yue with a somewhat arrogant, condescending smirk, clearly unimpressed by being paired with a freshman.

Huo Yue, however, simply cracked her knuckles, a dangerous, fiery glint igniting in her crimson eyes that suggested the senior was in for a very rude awakening during their training session.

Gu Xunyi was paired with a man from one of the Twelve Immortal Sects who joined the academy at the same time as them.

He was a refined, scholarly looking cultivator dressed in flowing azure robes, holding a white jade flute in his hand.

He bowed deeply and respectfully to Gu Xunyi, recognizing her immense talent and the profound aura she carried.

Gu Xunyi returned the gesture with her signature serene, ethereal grace, her expression perfectly tranquil as they began discussing their compatibility.

Shen Tao and the others also went to their respective partners.

The elite core of the Shen Clan’s younger generation moved with absolute discipline, seeking out their assigned teammates to immediately establish a chain of command and evaluate their combat synergy.

Some students already left the classroom, planning to find more information about this trial so they can make plans about it.

They rushed toward the academy’s grand library, the records hall, or the residences of older senior students, desperate to uncover any historical data, maps, or records regarding the specific primordial wilderness zones the academy used for the once every three month survival tests.

"This... Okay," Shen Xinye nodded, her voice barely above a whisper.

The prospect of training alone with the young master made her head spin with a mixture of intense nervousness and boundless joy.

"Let’s go then," Haoran stood up, wrapping his arms around her waist.

His movement was swift, smooth, and entirely natural.

His strong arm slid effortlessly around her slender waist, pulling her gentle frame flush against his side with an undeniable possessive authority.

She flinched, but didn’t resist.

A small, soft gasp escaped her lips as the warmth of his body radiated through her robes.

Her entire frame stiffened for a fraction of a second, her face burning an even deeper shade of crimson. Yet, instead of pulling away, she allowed herself to lean into his touch, her heart soaring as they stepped out of the room together.

They walked out of the room and walked down a long corridor.

The wide, newly renovated hallway was filled with the ambient humming of fresh protective arrays.

The high ceilings and polished obsidian walls reflected their figures as they walked side by side, drawing envious and respectful glances from the passing disciples who quickly moved out of their way.

"Young master, should we go and find senior students to ask about the trials?" asked Shen Xinye.

She looked up at him, her large, expressive eyes filled with curiosity.

She knew that gathering intelligence on the target wilderness, the types of demonic beasts they would encounter, and the specific objectives was standard protocol for any major academy excursion.

"No need, I already know about this trial," said Haoran.

His tone was casual, filled with an absolute certainty that left no room for doubt.

Indeed. Ye Hongyan was more than happy to tell him everything.

During their private, passionate encounters away from the prying eyes of the academy, the beautiful Sage had completely discarded her cold, authoritative exterior.

In his arms, she had willingly and thoroughly detailed every hidden aspect of the upcoming survival test—the exact coordinates of almost all important places, the behavioral patterns of the demonic beasts lurking within, the hidden locations of the rarest ancient herbs, and the psychological traps designed by the faculty to test the students’ loyalty.

To Haoran, this supposedly unpredictable trial was already an open book.

"Then, where are we going?" asked Shen Xinye, blinking in confusion.

If they weren’t going to gather information, and they weren’t heading directly to the private training grounds, she couldn’t guess their destination.

Could it be ...

She blushed. But she’s a widow! Although she hadn’t done anything with her ex-husband, the young master shouldn’t be interested in someone like her, right?

She was more than satisfied just staying by his side.

"To meet with someone," said Haoran. He guided her down a grand, winding staircase that led toward the quieter, less traveled sectors of the academy grounds. "They asked me for an audience, so I guess I should humor them."

Oh. So it’s not because of that.

She couldn’t help but feel a bit disappointed.

At the same time, Shen Xinye was confused on who are they going to meet, but noticing that Haoran didn’t seem to want to say anything more, she decided not to pry.

She trusted him implicitly; if he deemed this meeting necessary, she would simply follow him without question, content to remain by his side.

Soon, they arrived at the back of the school building.

This area was a secluded, ancient courtyard surrounded by weeping spiritual willows and weathered stone pillars covered in green ivy.

The chaotic noise of the academy city faded into a peaceful, rustic silence here, broken only by the rustling of leaves in the gentle breeze.

There, they saw a beautiful young woman with long purple hair and red eyes, wearing a purple robe.

She stood beneath the shade of a massive willow tree, her long violet tresses swaying gently in the wind.

Her sharp, ruby-like eyes were fixed on the stone path, her posture straight and elegant, carrying the distinct, dignified aura of a high-ranking member of an Immortal Sect.

It was Bai Wenxin!

Shen Xinye blinked, her eyes widening in recognition. "Sister Wenxin?"

During the Barbarian Invasion of the Eastern Region, she and Bai Wenxin had gotten close after fighting side by side.

They had shared life-and-death struggles against the savage horde, forging a deep bond of mutual respect and friendship despite their differing backgrounds.

She wondered why Bai Wenxin came to ask Shen Haoran to meet up? It couldn’t be to confess, could it?

A sudden, wild thought crossed Shen Xinye’s mind.

Bai Wenxin was known throughout the region as a cold, unapproachable ice beauty who disdained all men.

For her to actively seek a private audience with the young master was unprecedented.

Shen Xinye blushed at the thought, her imagination running wild for a moment before she quickly shook her head to clear her mind.

Shen Haoran smiled at Bai Wenxin, a faint, amused glint dancing in his eyes as he released his grip on Xinye’s waist, stepping forward slightly. "So? Why did you call me out here?"

Bai Wenxin stared at him, her cold, beautiful face remaining composed, but a visible layer of hesitation flickered within her ruby eyes.

She looked at him, then at Shen Xinye, before letting out a soft, defeated sigh.

She knew the weight of the request she was about to deliver, and she knew exactly how audacious it sounded.

But still, she gave her word, so she will try, even if it will probably fail.

"Thank you for agreeing to meet me, young master. You see, Xu Jingshan asked me to relay a message," she began, her voice clear and direct. "He wanted to ask if it was possible for the Shen Clan to step up and quell the turmoil in the empire."

Shen Haoran raised an eyebrow, finding it rather laughable.

A sharp, mocking smile tugged at the corners of his lips, finding the sheer political desperation of the Third Prince was almost entertaining.

The entire empire is on the verge of chaos, with many powers already forming alliances and showing signs of rebellion.

The authority of the Xu Imperial Family was crumbling by the day, their control slipping over the vast territories they had ruled for millennia.

This is the perfect moment for the Spirit Hall to form their own independent Eastern Empire.

For many years, the Spirit Hall had operated in the shadows, building its strength, gathering resources, and waiting for the right opportunity to claim its rightful place under the heavens.

Now, with the capital distracted and the noble houses at each other’s throats, the path was completely clear.

The Tian Yuan Empire wouldn’t be able to spare them any attention with all the troubles popping up.

They would be far too busy trying to extinguish the fires of rebellion in their own backyard to mount a military campaign against a rising superpower in the Eastern Region.

You want him and his clan to quell this turmoil? Never gonna happen.

The political landscape of the mortal world meant absolutely nothing to the Shen Clan.

They existed far above the squabbles of emperors and kings. More importantly, the current chaos aligned perfectly with Haoran’s personal ambitions.

The Spirit Hall pledged loyalty to him, and as the boss, he should give them what they need.

They had sworn their absolute allegiance to his name, acting as his blades and information network in the dark.

In return, it was his responsibility to ensure their growth, expansion, and eventual ascension to absolute rulers of the Eastern Region.

This is a fair transaction.

He had no intention of saving a failing dynasty just because a pathetic prince begged for mercy through a mutual acquaintance.

The fall of the Xu family was merely the natural progression of the world, a necessary sacrifice to pave the way for his own pieces to take the board.

Bai Wenxin stared at the amused look on Haoran’s face and already knew the answer.

She didn’t need a verbal response; the cold, mocking indifference in his eyes spoke volumes.

The supreme young master of the Shen Clan was not a savior to be summoned by the weak.

She sighed, a sense of resignation settling over her features. "Well, I tried. I will tell him that you refused. Thank you for your time, young master."

With that, she turned around and walked away, her purple robes rustling softly against the grass as she disappeared into the shadows of the weeping willows, leaving the young master and his partner alone in the quiet courtyard.

"Let’s go as well." Said Shen Haoran.

"Where to, young master?" Asked Shen Xinye.

Haoran smiled at her.

"To train, of course."