[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-i-really-am-a-villain":3,"chapter-i-really-am-a-villain-i-really-am-a-villain-chapter-439":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","I Really Am A Villain",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1433064,1885,"Chapter 439 - Always Leave A Way Out","i-really-am-a-villain-chapter-439",439,"\u003Cp>Mutton-fat jade was an extremely precious kind of jade, just a small pendant made from it would be worth a fortune.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Let alone two large lion statues made entirely of it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The grand gates of the mansion were made from teakwood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This type of teak takes a thousand years to mature and is incredibly rare.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Compared to the worn-down city around it, the City Lord's mansion looked completely out of place just based on its exterior.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was far too extravagant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Above the mansion gate, a black plaque displayed three large characters: “City Lord’s Mansion.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Xu Zimo and the others arrived at the gate, they were stopped by the guards on either side.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This time, before Yellow Star or the others could say anything,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Luo Jin, who was being dragged along, immediately shouted, “Are you all blind? Go get my father! Look what these thugs are doing in my Phoenix Cry City!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only then did the guards recognize him and hurriedly ran inside in a panic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The group didn’t wait outside but followed closely behind into the City Lord’s mansion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just beyond the entrance was a pond.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On either side were stone paths for people to walk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was early summer now. In the pond, lotus flowers stood tall and elegant, untainted by the mud below.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seaweed grew along the edges, and the water was crystal clear with colorful fish joyfully swimming about.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Red bricks and green tiles, pavilions and rock gardens,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The City Lord’s mansion was lavishly decorated and imposing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not long after the group entered, a figure rushed over from a distance like a gust of wind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wore a green robe, and a strong aura surrounded him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had a thick beard and a narrow scar across his forehead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His eyebrows were thick and heavy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When he reached Yellow Star and saw Luo Jin's state, his brow furrowed deeply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Who are you people?” he asked in a deep voice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Father, save me!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These people dared to capture me, and even hit me! I want them skinned alive and locked up for torture!” With his father present, Luo Jin grew bold and started struggling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Shut up,” the man in green snapped, glaring at him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter what, Luo Jin was still in their hands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If they really wanted to kill him, he couldn’t stop it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>More importantly, the man in green sensed things weren’t simple.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For them to come straight to his doorstep meant they were confident.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re the City Lord of Phoenix Cry City?” Yellow Star asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man in green gave a slight nod, his expression wary.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yellow Star took out a token and tossed it to him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The token was pure yellow, made of an unknown material.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was engraved with a single dragon and two characters: “Seven Divisions.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon seeing it, the man in green took a deep breath.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is trouble.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His body trembled slightly. The Seven Divisions were well-known across the Phoenix Perch Empire.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were not people a mere city lord could afford to provoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thinking of all the things he’d done over the years in Phoenix Cry City, he knew that if exposed, even death a hundred times wouldn’t be enough to atone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His vision darkened, and he almost collapsed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He took a deep breath to steady himself, respectfully returned the token with both hands,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>then knelt on the ground and said, “Phoenix Cry City Lord Luo Xiong greets the Honorable Officers of the Seven Divisions.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yellow Star snorted and threw Luo Jin forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even Luo Jin, foolish as he was, realized something was wrong now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing his father kneeling, he flopped to the ground and pretended to faint.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Phoenix Cry City is truly being ruled with an iron fist,” Yellow Star said coldly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your subordinate deserves death,” Luo Xiong didn’t try to defend himself and admitted guilt directly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He knew that what he had done couldn’t withstand investigation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then go die,” Yellow Star said calmly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Luo Xiong was stunned. He hadn’t expected Yellow Star to say that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That wasn’t playing by the rules!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Enough, although we’re part of the Seven Divisions, we don’t have the authority to punish a city lord,”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yellow Sun added from the side. “You’ll come with us to the capital tomorrow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His Majesty will pass judgment.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Luo Xiong nodded heavily and didn’t argue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Bring your son with you,” Yellow Star said before leaving.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After Yellow Star spoke, the group left.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the way, Xu Zimo curiously asked, “You’re not watching them? Aren’t you afraid they’ll run?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If they run, even better. We’ll issue a nationwide kill-on-sight order,” Yellow Star said with a laugh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Zimo shook his head slightly and didn’t say more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He felt they were too confident. When you corner someone completely, there's nothing they won’t dare to do.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Knowing they’d be walking to their deaths in the capital, how could Luo Xiong and his son simply wait for it?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Moon’s injuries are almost healed. Let’s leave early tomorrow,” Yellow Sun reminded them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yellow Moon nodded and didn’t object.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the group left, Luo Xiong slumped to the ground in silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Father, what’s wrong?” Luo Jin hurried forward and asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Smack!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Luo Xiong slapped him hard across the face and shouted, “How did you get mixed up with them?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I didn’t,” Luo Jin said timidly. “They’re the ones who came after me. I don’t even know them!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Luo Xiong sighed deeply, suddenly looking much older.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Father, what do we do now?” Luo Jin asked in panic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If we go to the capital, will the emperor let us live?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Think about all the things you’ve done these past years. Do you really think you’ll survive?” Luo Xiong asked bitterly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then what do we do? Father, save me! I don’t want to die,” Luo Jin shouted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Enough. Shut up. Shouting won’t solve anything. Tonight, you’re coming somewhere with me,”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Luo Xiong said calmly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His eyes were deep, staring into the distance for a long while. Finally, he muttered, “If you won’t let me live, then let’s all die together.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The night in Phoenix Cry City was especially quiet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Citizens returned home early to rest. Crickets chirped in hidden corners.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was late. There was no moon or stars in the sky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside the City Lord’s residence, Luo Xiong and his son had made their preparations early.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Luo Xiong lifted the rug in his room and knocked on the floorboards three times.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A clicking sound followed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, a secret tunnel appeared before them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Father, you…” Luo Jin looked at him in surprise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“When you’ve done enough bad things, you always leave yourself a way out,” Luo Xiong said calmly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two entered the secret passage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside, Luo Jin realized the tunnel was far more complex than he had imagined.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It stretched in all directions with twisting, interwoven paths. He had no idea which led where.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under Luo Xiong’s lead, they turned many corners before finally emerging from the tunnel.\u003C\u002Fp>",1159,"2026-06-06T01:06:40.721Z",1,"novelbin.me","2654fb2a03377f1d0119612f509db9b3fbb739b04fbd5e4ec47a9e74d121680c","i-really-am-a-villain-chapter-440","i-really-am-a-villain-chapter-438",1822,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fi-really-am-a-villain-cover.jpg"]