Chapter 112

Chapter 112: You and I Are Not on the Same Level

Despite his disdain for “foolish” women, Qin Xian found Gu Anran intriguing in one way—she was likely the easiest ‘child of destiny’ to deal with. The system’s reward for neutralizing her was a mere 150 villain points, signaling that her threat level was low.

What complicated the situation wasn’t Gu Anran herself but her devoted admirers, each with significant backgrounds. Most notable among them was Wen Xu, the heir of the Wen family—the empire’s most prominent rising noble house.

Qin Xian observed Gu Anran carefully. Though her clumsy demeanor irked him, he couldn’t deny there was something peculiar about her. Despite his dislike, he felt an almost magnetic pull, as if she were naturally designed to attract attention.

‘Full charisma stats, huh?’ he thought mockingly.

This was the hallmark of a ‘child of destiny’, a being favored by the heavens. For someone like Gu Anran, having full charisma was arguably more valuable than any other ability.

In the “normal” course of events, Gu Anran would likely ascend to greatness under the care of admirers like Wen Xu and Zhao Haoran.

Perhaps she would even marry Wen Xu, while the others would remain loyal protectors, content to sacrifice for her happiness, even if it meant never being reciprocated.

A classic Mary Sue story, but Gu Anran had encountered Qin Xian—a fatal twist in her trajectory.

To Qin Xian, she was already as good as dead. However, her death wasn’t her greatest value to him. Instead, she presented an opportunity: Wen Xu and, more importantly, the Wen family.

Qin Xian noticed the way Wen Xu looked at Gu Anran—with the kind of devotion that could drive a man to irrationality. He smirked, a plan forming in his mind.

The Wen family was the critical link between the Regency Council and the military. With the emperor’s disappearance, military power had been fragmented among the noble houses.

Yet, through alliances and strategic placements, the regent, Lu Ji, still maintained substantial control. The Wen family, particularly Wen Yu, was instrumental in this.

Wen Yu, Wen Xu’s sister, was a once-in-a-generation SSS-grade genius and the commander of the Eastern Army. Her position was the cornerstone of the regent’s influence over the military.

If the Wen family fell, the regent’s hold on the military would weaken considerably.

A love-struck Wen Xu and a naïve, overpowered “child of destiny” like Gu Anran were tools too good to waste.

Wen Xu’s expression hardened as he stood protectively in front of Gu Anran. His eyes met Qin Xian’s, unyielding.

Gu Anran, meanwhile, finally realized the scale of the conflict she had unintentionally sparked. She bit her lip nervously, looking as timid as a startled deer.

Her voice quivered as she pleaded, “Please stop arguing! It was my fault for bumping into her. I already apologized! Can’t we just move on?”

The crowd exchanged helpless looks, struck by her simplicity.

While this seemed like a personal disagreement on the surface, everyone understood it was merely a spark igniting the deeper tensions between the Qin and Wen families.

The Wen family’s ties to the Regency Council and the Qin family’s dominance over the Cardinal Council made this clash symbolic of the empire’s internal power struggles.

Wen Xu, though outwardly calm, was deeply wary of Qin Xian. Despite his confidence in the Wen family’s standing, he knew Qin Xian’s cunning and influence were formidable.

In Wen Xu’s mind, he and Qin Xian were equals—both heirs to the empire’s top powerhouses, both favored by the elites. He saw no reason to fear him.

As tensions mounted, a figure emerged from the crowd.

“It’s Steward Yuan!”

The crowd immediately recognized the man, bowing in respect.

Yuan Quan, the steward of the Divine Revelation Auction, was a Level 65 powerhouse and one of the seven deacons of the Church of Revelation. His position placed him among the top ranks of the Church, making him a person of immense influence.

Yuan Quan’s sharp gaze scanned the scene, his brows furrowing slightly as he assessed the conflict. He had been busy preparing for the auction but had been informed of the disturbance involving the Qin family.

Unable to ignore the situation, he had come to address it personally.

“Deacon Yuan,” Wen Xu greeted him with a polite smile. “Apologies for causing a disturbance.”

Wen Xu had met Yuan Quan before and sought to leverage their past acquaintance. However, Yuan Quan merely nodded curtly at Wen Xu before turning to Qin Xian with a warm smile.

“Young Master Qin, may I ask what has happened here?”

Wen Xu’s expression darkened at the stark difference in Yuan Quan’s attitude.

Seeing the frustration on Wen Xu’s face, Qin Xian smirked inwardly. The difference in how they were treated was a stark reminder of their disparity in status.

Did Wen Xu truly believe they were equals?

‘You and I are not on the same level,’ Qin Xian thought disdainfully.