[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-this-villain-is-too-self-destructive":3,"chapter-this-villain-is-too-self-destructive-this-villain-is-too-self-destructive-chapter-12":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","This Villain Is Too Self-Destructive",{"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},2282379,4465,"Chapter 12: Mysterious Merchant? I","this-villain-is-too-self-destructive-chapter-12",12,"\u003Cp>A traveling merchant? Asking about a purple, strangely behaving figure?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Xuan’s first reaction was—Ye Chen and Liao Chen have come looking for him! But upon closer thought, he felt something was wrong. One of them was a righteous Child of Destiny, and the other was a solemn, dignified high monk of the Buddhist sect; disguising themselves as traveling merchants? The style didn't quite match.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Tell me in detail, what does that merchant look like? In what way is he strange?\" Lin Xuan asked in a deep voice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The minion from the Information Department tried hard to recall the news he had gathered: \"Reporting to the Advisor, it is said that the man wears a wide gray robe, his specific appearance is unclear, and his voice is a bit hoarse. He doesn't set up a stall in the market, but specifically seeks out private rooms in teahouses and taverns, privately asking local thugs and well-informed people, and he is quite generous with his money. The strange thing is, he asks very specifically; besides the purple figure, he also asked if anyone had seen someone using... uh, rather 'unique' methods, such as using bricks, lime, and the like.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bricks and lime?!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Xuan’s eyes narrowed. This was too specific! It could basically be confirmed that they were coming for him!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But who was the other party? Remnants of the Blood Wolf Gang? It didn't seem like it; if the Blood Wolf Gang had this kind of brain and generous spending, they wouldn't have been driven away by them in that manner. Other enemies in Qingyun City? The level of people the original owner, that playboy, offended shouldn't be that high.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Could it be... that his identity as a transmigrator had attracted the attention of some entities? Or was it the backlash from the \"Luck Plundering\" the system had mentioned before?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unknown enemies are often more terrifying than known ones.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Continue to keep a close watch on this merchant, and find out his lodging and everyone he contacts. Note, absolutely do not alert the enemy!\" Lin Xuan issued the order.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the minion retreated, Lin Xuan fell into deep thought. The enemy is in the dark and I am in the light; I must find a way to drag this guy out, or... cause him some trouble.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You like asking about me, right?\" A wicked smile curled at the corner of Lin Xuan’s mouth, \"Then I’ll let you ask to your heart's content!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He immediately summoned several key members from the Business Department and the Information Department and began making arrangements.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, in the circles of low-level information in Qingyun City and the surrounding towns, some true and false legends about the \"Purple Demon\" began to circulate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some said that at midnight at the mass grave west of the city, they saw a purple-clad figure cultivating by absorbing moonlight, surrounded by ghost fire, terrifying beyond measure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some said that the purple-clad demon was actually the successor of some hidden demonic sect, skilled in all kinds of strange evil arts, and the bricks and lime were just his disguise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even more absurdly, some swore that the purple-clad man was actually transformed after a great cultivator went into a cultivation deviation, specializing in sucking the essence of cultivators, and the few rogue cultivators who went missing a few days ago had fallen victim to his evil hands!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These rumors were spread by the people of the Information Department with added embellishments and vivid descriptions, and they were rich in detail, with times and locations all provided, sounding quite plausible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was exactly the effect Lin Xuan wanted! To muddy the waters and shape the image of the \"purple figure\" to be more mysterious, terrifying, and omnipresent. Let that traveling merchant exhaust himself trying to verify these fake news, while also serving as a certain deterrent—making the other party feel that he was not someone to be trifled with.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After finishing all this, Lin Xuan turned his attention back to his own cultivation and the development of the mountain stronghold.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A few days later, Master Sun from the Four Seas Trading Firm personally delivered the refined Bilin Elixirs. There were twenty-five pills, crystal clear, with flowing pill halos and a fragrant aroma, of excellent quality.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>According to the agreement, Lin Xuan received twelve.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He did not hesitate; he kept eight for himself, and distributed the remaining four to Black Bear and two other leaders who had performed outstandingly and reached the third level of Foundation Establishment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This... such precious elixir, really for us?\" Black Bear held the elixir, his hands trembling. He had been stuck at the fifth level of Foundation Establishment for many years; this Bilin Elixir might be the opportunity for his breakthrough!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Follow me, Lin Xuan, and those who contribute will be rewarded!\" Lin Xuan said sternly, \"As long as everyone works hard, in the future, let alone Bilin Elixirs, there will be even better ones! Our goal is the stars and the sea... uh, is to become the hegemon of this region!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We swear to follow Advisor Lin to the death!\" Black Bear and the two leaders were so excited that their blood boiled, and they pledged their loyalty on the spot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Ding! Detected the die-hard loyalty and fanaticism of Black Bear and others, emotion points +8888!]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With the support of the elixir, the enthusiasm for cultivation among the core members of Black Wind Stronghold reached an unprecedented high. Lin Xuan also took a Bilin Elixir and began seclusion to consolidate his cultivation at the seventh level of Foundation Establishment and attempt to break through to the eighth level.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The elixir melted upon entering his mouth, turning into a gentle yet majestic medicinal power that flowed through his limbs and bones. Lin Xuan could clearly feel his spiritual power being constantly purified and strengthened, and the barrier of his cultivation realm was also faintly loosening.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Sure enough, the system's 'slacking off' points are an external force, but the solid feeling brought by this elixir is a different kind of experience.\" Lin Xuan immersed himself in the pleasure of this steady improvement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, the peaceful days did not last long.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A few days later, the minion responsible for monitoring the traveling merchant brought back even more unsettling news.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Advisor, that gray-robed merchant, yesterday... made contact with people from the Zhao family of Qingyun City!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Zhao family of Qingyun City? The family of City Lord Zhao Wuji?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Xuan’s heart sank. Things seemed to have become complicated. Although Zhao Wuji had previously been suspicious of him because of Ye Chen and Liao Chen, he had generally remained neutral. If this mysterious gray-robed merchant had persuaded the Zhao family...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Can you find out the specific content of their contact?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I can't, they talked in the Zhao family's secret room. However, not long after that merchant left the Zhao family, the Zhao family dispatched several teams of guards, heading in the direction of our stronghold, as if they were searching for something. And, they seemed to be holding... a compass-like magic treasure.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A compass magic treasure? For tracking?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Xuan immediately realized that the other party might have used some special means to lock onto his general location! He could no longer stay in the stronghold!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He made a prompt decision and summoned Black Bear and the others.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The situation has changed, I may have to leave the stronghold for a while.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What? Advisor, you are leaving?\" Black Bear and the others were suddenly panicked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Only temporarily.\" Lin Xuan analyzed calmly, \"The other party's target is me. If I leave, the stronghold will be safer. You continue to develop according to the established policy, and the cooperation with the Four Seas Trading Firm cannot be broken. If the Zhao family comes to ask, you insist that you have never seen any purple figure, and that I was just a down-and-out young master passing by and staying for the night, who has long since left.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But Advisor, it’s too dangerous for you to be alone!\" Black Bear said anxiously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Rest assured, I have my own sense of proportion.\" Lin Xuan smiled, \"If I can't beat them, can't I still run?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He temporarily entrusted the stronghold's affairs to Black Bear and left behind a few Bilin Elixirs and a portion of spirit stones as development funds. Then, he changed into ordinary cyan cloth clothes, used the \"Turtle Breathing Technique\" to conceal all his aura, and like an ordinary herb picker, left Black Wind Stronghold silently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He did not go far, but found a hidden cave on the outskirts of Black Wind Stronghold to hide. He wanted to see who exactly was coming, and... what role the Zhao family played in this matter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sure enough, at noon the next day, a team of well-equipped Zhao family guards, led by an old man holding a bronze compass, appeared outside Black Wind Stronghold.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The needle on the compass pointed straight toward the stronghold, but when it reached the gate, it began to spin wildly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The aura disappeared here?\" The old man holding the compass frowned tightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Black Bear followed Lin Xuan’s instructions and stepped forward to deal with them, acting realistically, insisting that Lin Xuan had long since left. The Zhao family guards searched to no avail, and the compass no longer reacted, so they had to leave resentfully.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Xuan, who was observing from the shadows, fixed his gaze on the old man holding the compass.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"A tracking magic treasure... it seems the other party came prepared. And to be able to move the Zhao family, their influence is not small.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His vigilance reached its peak. At the same time, a question arose in his mind: What exactly is this gray-robed merchant trying to achieve by going to such lengths to find him?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was definitely not as simple as just revenge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He felt as if he had fallen into an invisible, massive web.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Want to catch me?\" Lin Xuan looked at the direction the Zhao family guards were leaving, his eyes cold, \"Then let’s see who ends up hooking whom first!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He decided to take the initiative and go meet that mysterious... gray-robed merchant!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(Chapter 12 End)\u003C\u002Fp>",1701,"2026-06-20T01:44:26.720Z",1,"Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite","aa223004e0e870bcad806dca76aa28b9c7bc9f7d9bf1cb3028635f952276494b","this-villain-is-too-self-destructive-chapter-13","this-villain-is-too-self-destructive-chapter-11",182,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthis-villain-is-too-self-destructive-cover.jpg"]