Chapter 289: Subduing the Villain

“Why is it you? How… how did you find me?” Inside a luxurious hotel suite, Jiang Gaoxuan’s face wss twisted with shock and fear as he stared at the figure who had appeared silently in his room like a ghost from a nightmare.

Wang Haoran didn’t answer. Instead, he casually made his way to a nearby chair and sat down as if the room was his own, fingers tapping lightly on the armrest.

“That’s not something you need to know,” he said coldly. “Let’s settle our accounts first.”

The trail wasn’t hard to find—Poison Sect provided the information. But that was not something Wang Haoran intended to disclose.

Jiang Gaoxuan’s face was drained of all color. He dared not even think of running. At this distance, survival wasn’t an option if Wang Haoran chose to strike.

“You… what do you want?” he asked, his voice trembling.

“You tried to hijack my car, and then you tried to go after a woman I had my eye on,” Wang Haoran’s tone was calm, but laced with cold intent. “You tell me—what should I do with you?”

Jiang Gaoxuan fell to his knees without hesitation. The pressure was too much. The presence this man radiated was suffocating—like a mountain crushing his spine.

“Spare me, please! I was blind—I didn’t recognize the mountain towering before me. Just let me live, and I swear… I’ll follow your lead, serve you loyally, no matter the task!”

Wang Haoran sat motionless, his posture refined and regal, fingers still rhythmically tapping the edge of the tea table.

Killing Jiang Gaoxuan would be effortless. But sparing him? That might yield greater rewards.

After all, Jiang Gaoxuan wasn’t just any thug—he ranked first on the Hidden Dragon and Rising Phoenix List, backed by a powerful family, arrogant to the bone, a textbook minor villain destined to be slapped down by the protagonist.

Keeping Jiang Gaoxuan alive meant using him as bait—bait to draw the protagonist out.

He would serve the same function as Liu Hua, Lu Ming, and Wei Zhihang, only better. Far better. The protagonist he’ll attract… would be far more powerful.

Put simply, the more fiercely Wang Haoran dismantled these protagonists, the richer his harvest of Villain Points would be.

With a flick of his wrist, Wang Haoran tossed a pill toward him. “Swallow this.”

Jiang Gaoxuan didn’t hesitate. To live, he would eat anything. He gulped down the pill and only afterward asked, “What… what was that?”

“You’ll get the antidote once a month,” Wang Haoran replied mildly. “Do your job properly, and you’ll live.”

Jiang Gaoxuan’s heart skipped.

A poison pill.

Still—being alive was better than the alternative. He bowed his head even deeper, his voice loud and unwavering. “My Lord, I vow to serve at your command, through fire and water, without question!”

To him, Wang Haoran’s demeanor and bearing made it clear—this was a young master from a powerful force. To serve someone like that wasn’t shameful. It might even elevate his own standing.

Wang Haoran gave a faint nod, satisfied. Then, without a word, he tossed a second pill toward him.

Without blinking, Jiang Gaoxuan swallowed that too. “My Lord, this one… what is it?”

“It will help you focus during cultivation,” Wang Haoran said with a smile that didn’t reach his eyes.

Jiang Gaoxuan knelt and bowed deeply again. “Thank you for your generous gift, My Lord!”

Wang Haoran watched him, amusement curling in the corner of his lips. That second pill—once ingested—would rob Jiang Gaoxuan of all his manly vigor.

Its purpose was obvious: to extinguish whatever lingering thoughts he might have had about Luo Qingqian.

But really, Wang Haoran hadn’t lied.

For a martial cultivator, beauty was a deadly distraction. The desire for carnal pleasure was like a wild beast—best kept caged. To truly advance in martial arts, one needed complete focus. No distractions. Not even lust.

So yes, it was a pill to help one cultivate with clarity. What could possibly be wrong with that?

—

Wang Haoran returned to the villa and slept soundly through the night.

The next morning, he attended class as usual.

Before class began, Lu Ming stumbled into the room with a bruised face and puffy eye, dragging his feet like a wounded soldier.

“Boss, boss! I got beat up!”

Wang Haoran’s brows lifted with interest. “What happened?”

“Yesterday, didn’t I go off-campus to scout for beauties?” Lü Ming reported dutifully, his tone aggrieved. “I was in luck—ran into a real stunner. Went up to ask for her number, but she refused. So I followed her for a bit. Who knew some guy would suddenly jump out and give me a beating! Look at my face—almost turned into a steamed bun!”

Wang Haoran listened quietly, but inside, he was beaming.

This had all the markings of a classic setup—a side villain chasing a female lead, only for the protagonist to show up in shining armor.

Perfect.

“Do you know who hit you? Can you find him again?” he asked, now fully engaged.

“I do,” Lü Ming said, a little proud. “The guy’s name is Shen Yixing. He’s an actor—the male lead in that new movie,

A Lifetime of Love

.”

Wang Haoran’s eyes narrowed.

A Lifetime of Love

? He knew that film well. Just a few days ago, he watched it alongside Qin Yunhan, Xu Muyan, and Qiu Qianwei.

He remembered the male lead—Shen Yixing. Talented, handsome, a rising star.

So… that guy’s the next protagonist?

“And the beauty you tried to hit on?” Wang Haoran asked. “Do you know who she is?”

“No clue. But she was gorgeous. I snuck a picture though.” Lü Ming pulled out his phone and flipped through the album.

The woman in the photo had curves, flawless skin, and a striking face. At least a 9.5. Definitely a female lead.

Wang Haoran took out his phone and transferred one million yuan to Lu Ming on the spot. “I’ll handle Shen Yixing. You go get yourself checked at the hospital, grab some medicine, and get that face fixed.”

Lü Ming was stunned, gratitude overflowing. “Thank you, Boss! Once I’m healed, I’ll go back out and hunt more beauties for you!”

Wang Haoran gave an approving nod. “Good lad.”

Soon after, class began. But his mind wasn’t on the lecture. While others jotted notes, he browsed the internet, digging up every detail he could find on Shen Yixing.

As expected of a hot celebrity, information was plentiful.

After a few minutes, he found what he needed.

Shen Yixing accepted a new role, and the filming was taking place right here in Qingling. One of the key investors? Wang’s Entertainment Group.

That was his family’s company.

As soon as class ended, Wang Haoran slipped into a quiet corner and made a call.

“Baby, need more money already?” came Wang Xiang’s booming voice on the other end. “I’ll have someone wire you ten million in a bit.”

Wang Haoran rolled his eyes. “Whatever. Quick question. Did our entertainment branch invest in a recent drama?”

There was a pause on the line. “Yeah, they’re backing a few new ones. One of them’s got some hotshot actor—what’s his name again…”

“Shen Yixing?” Wang Haoran finished for him.

“Yes! That’s the one!”

“Perfect,” Wang Haoran said smoothly. “I heard the crew’s filming here in Qingling. Thought I’d drop by and visit the set. Never seen a production up close before.”

“Your university’s full of pretty girls. Why are you interested in actresses now?” Wang Xiang chuckled, clearly amused.

Wang Haoran smirked. “I’m bored of campus girls. Problem?”

“No problem at all!” his father laughed, full of indulgence. “I’ll call the crew and let them know. If any actress catches your fancy, just say the word. I’ll make it happen!”

Read on CrimsonScrolls.net