Villain: Manipulating the Heroines into hating the Protagonist

Chapter 543 'Saving' Mu Xuanyin

Yin Lian, still reeling from the shock of Dong Aigou's appearance, could only nod silently. A newfound respect, tinged with a touch of fear, bubbled within her. This man, this mischievous rebel, seemed to possess an uncanny ability to manipulate the very fabric of reality.

Wang Jian chuckled, the sound sending shivers down her spine. He leaned in further, burying his face in the valley between her generous breasts. A sharp gasp escaped her lips as he nipped playfully at her sensitive skin.

"Mmm," she moaned, her voice muffled by the strange properties of the shadow realm. "What now, Wang Jian? Dong Aigou's here. He'll save Mu Xuanyin, and your whole plan to win her favor…"

Wang Jian pulled away, a devilish grin spreading across his face. "Oh, my dear Yin Lian," he whispered, his voice laced with amusement. "Dong Aigou won't be saving anyone… not yet, at least."

He explained his plan, his voice a conspiratorial murmur. "Think of it this way. Dong Aigou charges in all righteous fury, fueled by his 'friendship' with Mu Xuanyin. But wouldn't it be a shame if, suddenly, he couldn't land a single blow?"

Yin Lian's eyes widened. "You mean… you'll sabotage him?"

"Sabotage?" Wang Jian snorted. "Not quite so crude, my love. Let's just say I'll… nudge things along a bit."

He winked at her, his playful demeanor masking a cunning mind at work.

In the real world, Dong Aigou, fueled by a mixture of shock and anger, charged into the fray. He unleashed a flurry of punches and kicks, aiming to subdue the attackers and free Mu Xuanyin.

But something was terribly wrong. His attacks, usually imbued with a potent fiery energy, felt sluggish and weak. They barely landed a graze on the surprised followers, who momentarily stumbled back under the sheer audacity of the attack.

The priests, however, seemed to have gained an unnatural edge. Their punches landed with bone-crushing force, and their movements were imbued with an agility Dong Aigou couldn't comprehend.

Confusion clouded Dong Aigou's face. This wasn't right. He was a master of his craft, yet he felt like a novice fumbling through his moves. Mu Xuanyin, watching from the sidelines, her face etched with a mixture of concern and disbelief, could only scream his name in warning.

Yin Lian, nestled within the shadows with Wang Jian, watched with a growing sense of horror. The way Dong Aigou was being systematically beaten down was brutal. Memories of the battle between Dong Aigou and Priest Tang a month ago flickered in her mind. Now, seeing the same one-sided fight unfold, a horrifying possibility began to dawn on her.

"Wang Jian," she whispered, her voice trembling slightly. "Was… was this what happened then too? When Dong Aigou fought Priest Tang?"

Wang Jian's grip on her tightened, his fingers pressing into the soft flesh of her buttocks in a playful yet possessive manner. He leaned in, his warm breath tickling her ear.

"Sharp as ever, High Priestess," he murmured, his voice husky with amusement. "Yes, that was a little nudge from yours truly."

A strangled gasp escaped Yin Lian's lips.

As if on cue, Dong Aigou received a brutal blow to the chest, sending him crashing into a nearby pillar. A groan escaped his lips as he crumpled to the ground, clutching his ribs in pain.

The sight of her friend being so thoroughly defeated filled Yin Lian with a wave of helplessness. Her moans, muffled by the shadow realm, turned into a series of choked sobs.

Wang Jian, sensing her distress, showered her face with soft kisses, his touch a stark contrast to the brutal scene unfolding before them.

"Don't worry, my love," he whispered, his voice laced with a seductive calm. "This is all part of the play. Dong Aigou's little humiliation will only make the situation better for me."

Yin Lian couldn't help but shudder. Wang Jian's plan, while undeniably effective, felt cruel and manipulative. Yet, a strange sense of morbid curiosity bubbled within her. What exactly did he have planned next?

Mu Xuanyin, her crimson eyes blazing with fury, dug deep within herself. With a flick of her wrist, a vial materialized. Popping a vibrant blue pellet into her mouth, a surge of power coursed through her veins. The medicinal concoction, a blend of rare herbs and spirit beast essence, served a dual purpose – replenishing her dwindling spiritual energy and divine energy, while offering temporary pain relief.

Unleashing the true might of her Blue Moon Eclipse Devil Bloodline, though considerably diluted compared to pure-

blood descendants, Mu Xuanyin roared. Her robes billowed around her as a crackling aura of electric blue energy erupted from her body. Bolts of devil lightning arced between her fingertips, illuminating the grotesque scene before her.

Her initial goal was no longer to subdue the attackers, but to escape the confines of the desecrated temple. Their perverted intentions fueled her rage, igniting a primal fire within her. She weaved through the throng of attacking priests and followers, each blow laced with the destructive power of the Blue Moon Eclipse Devil Bloodline.

However, the priests weren't about to give up easily. They too, fueled by a forbidden technique that tapped into the blessings of the Earth Lunar Devil God, unleashed their own, albeit weaker, version of the same bloodline power. Their movements, amplified by the technique, became surprisingly fast and precise.

The battle raged on, a chaotic dance of blue lightning and brutal hand-to-hand combat. Despite her heightened power, Mu Xuanyin's injuries began to take their toll. Her movements became sluggish, and her once-precise strikes landed with less force.

Just as it seemed the tide was turning against her, a sudden commotion erupted at the temple entrance. Hundreds of talismans, shimmering with an otherworldly glow, rained down through the shattered doors. Some burst into blinding flashes of light, momentarily disorienting both sides. Others detonated with deafening roars, sending shockwaves through the chamber.

In the ensuing chaos, a dark figure materialized from the inky shadows. It was Wang Jian, his arm outstretched towards Mu Xuanyin. Before anyone could react, he scooped her injured form into his arms, a faint smirk playing on his lips.

Yin Lian emerged beside him, her eyes gleaming with a mixture of concern and exhilaration. With a flick of his wrist, Wang Jian effortlessly deactivated the remnants of the array formations that had bound them within. Together, they shot out of the temple in a blur of dark energy, leaving behind a bewildered and disoriented pack of priests and followers.

Mu Xuanyin, her vision hazy from pain and the sudden flash of light, clung to Wang Jian numbly. She faintly registered Yin Lian's presence beside her, but the shock of their sudden escape overshadowed every other thought.

Inside the temple, the priests stumbled around, cursing and blinking away spots in their vision. The deafening echoes of the explosions still lingered in the air, leaving everyone temporarily deafened. When their sight and hearing finally returned, the terrifying reality of the situation hit them. Mu Xuanyin, their intended prey, was gone.

Dong Aigou, still lying defeated on the ground, watched the scene unfold in disbelief. He had witnessed the flashes and the explosions, but the details remained a blur. A wave of nausea washed over him, a combination of injuries and the shock of Mu Xuanyin's disappearance.

A chilling silence descended upon the temple. The priests, their faces pale with dread, exchanged panicked glances. Mu Xuanyin, the leader of the Moon Shadow Clan, the elite guard of the settlement, had escaped under their watch.

The consequences would be dire. They could only imagine the fury of the Moon Shadow Clan leader.

Her wrath wouldn't be limited to the Earth Lunar Devil Temple; it would likely stain the entire settlement red with blood.

Bishop Cang, their head priest, had to be informed immediately. He was their only hope, with his vast network of connections within other devil religions and even amongst the settlement authorities. Perhaps, just perhaps, he could mitigate the inevitable storm that was about to descend upon them.

Wang Jian, with surprising speed and gentleness, navigated the labyrinthine streets of the settlement, his shadow-walking ability allowing them to avoid prying eyes. He finally deposited Mu Xuanyin in a deserted, abandoned building on the outskirts of the town.

The once grand structure was now a crumbling shell, its windows gaping holes that stared blankly at the setting sun. Here, amidst the dust and debris, Wang Jian carefully laid Mu Xuanyin down on a relatively clean patch of the floor.

With a soft murmur, Wang Jian placed his hand on her forehead, his touch surprisingly gentle. A cool, green light emanated from his palm, weaving through her injuries and knitting them back together.

Wincing slightly, Mu Xuanyin surveyed her surroundings with a weak frown. Her crimson eyes fluttered open, landing first on Wang Jian and then shifting to Yin Lian, who stood beside him with a tense expression.

"Where… where are we?" Mu Xuanyin rasped, her voice weak from exertion. The events of the past hour played back in her mind, leaving her head throbbing with a dull ache.