Ruthless Villain Chapter 12

"Shizun, why waste your time on that vermin?" Xue Tuzi growled, staggering forward. His steps were shaky, barely holding himself upright as he lurched further into the courtyard. Xue Laohu rushed to his side, steadying him just before he could crumple to the ground. Nearby, Jiao Jiao, whose bug-like eyes had been fixed on Xue Tuzi with an almost worshipful fascination, scrambled eagerly toward him. But as he drew near, he was met with a brutal kick.

"Stay away, vermin!" Xue Tuzi spat, his face contorted with disgust. His words were punctuated by a harsh series of coughs, each one more strained than the last. Before Jiao Jiao could collide with the hard ground, Shudu caught him midair, holding him steady as the Gu worm whimpered, rubbing the swelling lump forming on the side of his round head.

"Tch!" Shudu scoffed, turning his face away in disdain. "Is this the disciple you chose, Grandmaster Xue?" His voice crackled with anger, his piercing gaze locked onto Xue Tuzi, who remained propped up against Xue Laohu's support. 

Xue Laohu could barely make sense of the chaos unraveling around him as he attempted to mediate between them, his gaze darting back and forth in mounting desperation. "Weakling! The only thing he's good for is for warming a man's bed!" Shudu spat out bitterly, a sneer twisting his face. But before he could continue, a powerful knee struck his gut, forcing him to double over with a strangled gasp. Li Zhameng stood over him, expression fierce, before casting a sideways glance at Xue Tuzi.

Xue Tuzi's lips curved into a strained grin, amusement glinting in his tired eyes. "Good one, Meng Meng. I owe you," he murmured between coughs, blood flecking his hand as he covered his mouth.

Li Zhameng turned back toward Xue Laohu, bowing slightly but standing tall, defiance evident in his stance. "This disciple humbly apologizes to Shizun for his boldness," he said, his tone sharp with conviction, "but he cannot remain silent while Shudu Gongzi disrespects Shizun, insinuating that A-Tuzi warms Shizun's bed."

Before Li Zhameng could say another word, Shudu's fist came crashing into him, sending him sprawling to the ground in a heap. "As I said, weaklings," Shudu muttered with disdain, his eyes blazing with irritation.

Xue Laohu, watching them embroiled in this violent exchange, felt his patience fraying. Seeing his revered Shou and Gong clashing so violently and Li Zhameng—his cherished NPC— splayed across the ground was too much. Desperation etched in every line of his face, he let out a hoarse yell, "Enough! No more fighting!" His voice wavered, straddling the edge of a nervous breakdown. 

"Shizun, why?" Xue Tuzi's voice wavered, laced with a vulnerability he rarely allowed himself to show. His gaze was dark, filled with anger and confusion, yet beneath it lingered a hint of hurt. Xue Laohu tightened his grip around him, his thumb brushing softly along Xue Tuzi's cheek lowering down to that tiny mole under his lips, in a gentle attempt to soothe.

"Hey, it was just a misunderstanding," Xue Laohu murmured reassuringly. "Sure, Shudu can be brash and arrogant, but he doesn't mean any harm." His tone was soft, each word measured as though he were trying to pacify a storm.

Xue Tuzi's hands trembled as he clutched the hem of his robes, his knuckles whitening with the force of his grip. "I. Hate. Bugs," he hissed, his voice shaking with barely suppressed fury. "Scum. All demons are scum. Filthy, bloodthirsty parasites."

A scoff rang out from across the courtyard, cutting through the tense atmosphere. Shudu's voice was laced with venom as he glared back, his arms wrapped protectively around a sniffling Jiao Jiao, whose face was still streaked with tears. "Huh? You're making some pretty bold accusations, bastard!" Shudu shot back, his voice carrying an edge of contempt as he held Jiao Jiao closer, his eyes flashing with challenge.

"Shizun," Xue Tuzi's voice trembled, a haunted look clouding his eyes. "Seven years ago, they destroyed the orphanage where I lived..." He gasped as he continued to tell his story. "They…hunted us like animals. I- I watched as they devoured innocent children…feasting on their flesh." Xue Tuzi whimpered clutching his chest, "I saw them…scream in agony. They slaughtered the monks. Drained their blood until not a drop was left."

His voice grew softer, as if caught in the grip of a memory too horrifying to bear. "I- I survived only by a miracle. But I can't, I can't forget-their enormous, soulless eyes" Xue Tuzi ran his fingers across his face shaking, "the way their jaws tore into the living flesh…their stingers piercing the children without a flicker of remorse. I- I can still hear their screams."

Xue Tuzi's voice broke, his face paling as he relived the nightmare etched into his memory. A quiet sob escaped him, his body shaking as he clung to the horror of that day. And then, as if the memory itself drained the last of his strength, he slumped forward, fainting into Xue Laohu's arms, his head resting heavily against his chest. Xue Laohu's grip tightened, his own expression stricken as he held the broken figure of his disciple close.

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Yi Ming's brow furrowed in irritation at the system's ill-timed notification. With a swift wave of his hand, he dismissed the mental screen and gently lifted Xue Tuzi into his arms. His expression darkened as he turned to Shudu, a somber edge in his gaze. "You had something to do with this?" he asked, his voice low, barely containing his fury.

Shudu's lips curled into a smirk, his eyes narrowing as he studied Xue Laohu's reaction with cold amusement. "And what if I did?" he replied, shrugging with a mockingly casual air. "What he described—those were wasp demons. Vile creatures that feed on human flesh. Their queen mother has an especially refined taste for human children. They say it keeps her looking youthful, even after 6,789 years."

Xue Laohu's jaw clenched as he glanced down at Xue Tuzi's frail, unconscious form, a surge of protectiveness sweeping over him. Without another word, he turned and carried Xue Tuzi back inside, sparing only a final, steely glance at Shudu before disappearing. 

For the next several days, Jiao Jiao was relentless in his quest to earn his mama's affection. He didn't understand why Xue Tuzi had rejected him so harshly, but he was determined to make amends. Every night, he spun a delicate web, weaving a long, soft ribbon in a shimmering, iridescent pink, each strand carefully crafted for beauty and softness. When he finally mustered the courage to present it to Xue Tuzi, he was met with icy disdain.

"How disgusting. Insolent maggot!" Xue Tuzi spat, recoiling as he tossed the ribbon aside, his face twisted in disgust. Without a second glance, he turned to rinse his hands, scrubbing away the silky residue left behind from Jiao Jiao's carefully spun gift. The little Gu worms heart sank as he watched, a lump forming in his throat. With a soft, disheartened whimper, Jiao Jiao crawled toward the discarded ribbon, his tiny nubs trembling as he reached out to reclaim it.

Before he could pick it up, he felt himself being scooped up by Shudu's firm hands. "See? That's what you get for trying to win over that cold, ruthless bitch's attention," Shudu chided, cradling the tiny Gu worm while Jiao Jiao's eyes brimmed with unshed tears. Shudu's grip was surprisingly gentle as he held him, a mixture of irritation and sympathy flashing in his eyes.

Nearby, Xue Laohu rubbed the side of his head in frustration. The relationship between the Shou and Gong was completely soured; there was no trace of romance, no hint of affection. Instead, they clashed like storm and stone, each encounter like knives pressed to each other's throats.

That night, under the dim crescent moon, Jiao Jiao ventured out once more. Near a peach blossom tree in full bloom, he crawled determinedly up the rough trunk, struggling to hold his grip with his tiny, stubby legs. Finally, he reached a large, fragrant blossom, the petals delicate and pink. Pleased with his choice, he carefully wrapped the flower around his tail, its gentle fragrance trailing in his wake as he wriggled his way to Xue Tuzi's bedroom, his small heart brimming with hope that this time, perhaps, his mama might accept his offering.

"Shizun, I still don't understand why you allow that insect to infest our Sect," Xue Tuzi hissed, his fingers clenching the bed sheets in fury. His voice shook with barely restrained anger. "You promised to heal him, and he's long since recovered. Why haven't you disposed of him?" Xue Tuzi lifted his gaze, his eyes searching Xue Laohu's face with simmering resentment. He took in his Shizun's uneasy expression, his brows furrowing as he waited for an answer.

Yi Ming hesitated, struggling to explain the strange situation. How could he possibly tell Xue Tuzi that he and Shudu were fated for each other, the ultimate power couple in the novel's story? Every attempt to get them to tolerate each other had ended in disaster; if they shared a room, it always erupted into a fight.

"Ah, well… Shudu is important to me, so I can't—" Xue Laohu began, fumbling for words, but Xue Tuzi cut him off sharply.

"That vermin is important to Shizun?" Xue Tuzi's gaze wavered, trembling as he locked eyes with Xue Laohu, his voice cracking. Xue Laohu could only laugh nervously, waving his hands in a frantic attempt to defuse the tension.

"No, no, you misunderstand! You should give him a chance—I know he's brash and arrogant, but his intentions are good. If he were really that terrible, don't you think he would've destroyed the Sect already?" Xue Laohu pointed out, relieved with his own logic.

Xue Tuzi scoffed, crossing his arms. "Didn't he already try to burn down the Sect because Shizun rejected him? Is Shizun considering taking him as a disciple?" His wide, doe-like eyes narrowed as he pressed his lips tightly together, the small mole at the corner of his mouth gathering a shadow beneath it.

"Disciple? No, no! He's… just here because…" Xue Laohu's voice trailed off as he wracked his brain for an excuse. Nothing came to mind, and his exhale, deflated. "I can't tell you why, but you have to trust me. A Grandmaster Cultivator like myself, who practices abstinence, could never take a demonic cultivator as a disciple." He hoped his words would make enough sense to appease Xue Tuzi, knowing full well his own understanding of Xianxian or Wuxian novels was shallow at best; he'd never read anything other than a comic.

Changing the subject, Xue Laohu reached into his lapel and pulled out a delicate, silky pink ribbon, its iridescent hue shimmering faintly in the dim light. "Also, I think you dropped this."

Xue Tuzi's expression darkened immediately, as he wrinkled his nose in distaste. "Shizun, that's not mine," he retorted, pushing the ribbon away.

"Huh? But it was outside your door," Xue Laohu mumbled, scratching his cheek thoughtfully.

"That filthy parasite made it. I don't want it. Shizun can dispose of it," Xue Tuzi muttered, turning his face away with a look of disgust.

"Jiao Jiao made this?" Xue Laohu looked down at the ribbon, his fingers brushing over its soft texture. "It's actually very well-made—the silk is soft, and the color shifts into a rainbow when the light hits it just right." Just as he finished admiring the ribbon, Jiao Jiao scurried into the room, his wide, bug eyes shimmering with excitement as he dragged a large peach blossom behind him by his tail.

Jiao Jiao hopped onto the bed with a gleeful gurgle, proudly presenting the flower to Xue Tuzi. His eyes were crescents of joy, clearly hoping to finally win over his mama. But before he could relish his success, Xue Tuzi slapped the flower away in disgust. "Go away!" he snapped, shooing Jiao Jiao off the bed. Jiao Jiao tumbled down, but even as he fell, he clung tightly to the peach blossom, his big, shiny eyes now dulled with heartbreak.

"Aww, don't be like that," Xue Laohu chided gently, reaching down to retrieve the peach blossom from where it had fallen by Jiao Jiao's tail. He examined the flower with a smile, then carefully placed it behind Xue Tuzi's ear. "A beautiful, fragrant flower for a beauty," he teased, watching as Xue Tuzi's cheeks flushed, his gaze quickly turning away. "I can tell Jiao Jiao picked this flower carefully. The petals are soft and silky, and its fragrance—sweet, fresh, and exotic. Just like you." He playfully poked Xue Tuzi's nose, smiling as Xue Tuzi's blush deepened.

With a stretch, Xue Laohu added, "Be kinder to Jiao Jiao—he's just a cute little gummy worm, and he means no harm." Then, with a casual wave, he left the room, leaving Xue Tuzi alone with his thoughts, his face still warm. Slowly, Xue Tuzi lifted a hand to cover his flushed cheeks, dragging his fingers down to his lips, where the small mole quivered with the faintest of tremors. Proud of his success, Jiao Jiao crawled up to Xue Tuzi's hand, rubbing his big, round head against his wrist in a show of affection.

But Xue Tuzi's smile vanished, and with a glare, he smacked Jiao Jiao away. "Vile pest," he muttered through clenched teeth, a dangerous gleam in his eyes. "I should have done this a long time ago." With swift precision, he pulled a thin, shimmering needle from his hair, using it to ensnare Jiao Jiao and tighten the thread around his tiny body, intending to crush him.

"Mama!" Jiao Jiao squealed in agony, his voice thin and full of desperation. "Mama, it hurts! It hurts, Mama!" Tears welled up in his big, red eyes, rolling down his face as he trembled under the pressure. The pitiful sound broke something in Xue Tuzi's resolve, and he hesitated, loosening his grip.

At that moment, Shudu, who had been frantically searching for his beloved Gu worm, heard Jiao Jiao's cries. Without a second thought, he burst through Xue Tuzi's door, his face livid as he took in the scene. Rage igniting, he ground his teeth, cradling the wounded Jiao Jiao in his arms. "Bastard!" he roared, then threw a vicious punch at Xue Tuzi's face. Blood spattered from Xue Tuzi's lip, knocking down the flower and staining it with drops of blood as he stumbled back, coughing in pain.

Enraged by the attack on his mama" Jiao Jiao let out a screech, his tiny mouth opening to reveal rows of sharp, menacing teeth. With a fierce snap, he bit down on Shudu's hand, sinking his fangs in deep. Shudu yelped, releasing Jiao Jiao and inspecting his bleeding, throbbing wound. 

Jiao Jiao immediately squirmed his way back to Xue Tuzi, spitting a thick, sticky goo onto his cheek. Xue Tuzi flinched, appalled, but as the goo settled, he realized with surprise that the pain in his face had begun to ease. Glancing down, he saw Jiao Jiao trembling, hiding shyly behind the edge of the bed sheets.

"Unbelievable," Shudu spat in disbelief, shaking his head as he looked at Jiao Jiao. "He treats you like scum, and yet you still go and heal him. What's wrong with you?" He picked up the tiny Gu worm, scolding him gently. "I already told you, I'll find you a better 'Mama'—someone who isn't a cold-hearted, ruthless villain." His gaze flicked to Xue Tuzi, who merely turned up his nose with a disdainful "hmph."

"Maybe you should keep that abomination on a leash," Xue Tuzi shot back, his voice dripping with scorn.

"Maybe I will!" Shudu retorted, his jaw tight with frustration as he turned to leave, Jiao Jiao stretched his little legs toward Xue Tuzi, still calling out with a hopeful, "Mama!"

Xue Tuzi narrowed his eyes, watching Shudu and Jiao Jiao disappear through the doorway. As their footsteps faded, an uneasy stillness settled over the room. His chest felt strangely tight, and he pressed a hand to his heart as if to still its irregular beat. A bitter smile twisted his lips as he muttered, almost as if trying to convince himself, "Don't tell me… I felt sorry for an insignificant bug."

His gaze dropped to the peach blossom that had fallen from his ear during Shudu's punch, now lying bruised and forgotten on the floor. The soft fragrance lingered in the air, oddly comforting, reminding him of the small gestures Jiao Jiao had made just to win his approval. A flicker of guilt threatened to break through his carefully guarded coldness.