**Chapter 22: Teammate? More Like Trade Bait**

*ROAR—!!*

A draconic bellow split the night, golden light erupting like a rave party in the forest.

*THUD!*

Qin Feng, the villainous protagonist with a knack for chaos, slammed his palm into the ground. The charging Razor-Toothed Tiger—a hulking, nine-foot-tall beast with a dental plan worse than a goblin's—somersaulted backward like a deflated beach ball. It crashed into a pile of leaves, twitched twice, and promptly died.

**Ding!** *Host has thwarted the Chosen One's attempt to look cool in front of the heroine! Reward: 500 Villain Points!*

"What… *was* that?!" Lin San, the Chosen One™, gaped like a goldfish. He'd thought Qin Feng's "Sky-Splitting Sword Draw" was OP, but this "Divine Dragon Smackdown" just broke the game. Even a *wounded* Razor-Toothed Tiger was still a level nine beast! How did this guy, a measly level two cultivator, one-shot it?!

"Qin Feng, you're amazing!" Zi Yuan, the doe-eyed heroine, clasped her hands, stars practically shooting from her eyes.

**Ding!** *Host has blocked the Chosen One's romance route! Reward: 500 Villain Points!*

"Phew… worth every drop of stamina," Qin Feng wheezed, collapsing dramatically. Using Divine Dragon Smackdown was like running a marathon after chugging ten energy drinks—his legs felt like overcooked noodles.

*Clap. Clap. Clap.*

A slow, sarcastic applause echoed. Emerging from the shadows was Scarface, leader of the Iron Tiger Gang, flanked by his band of discount bandits. Their outfits screamed "we raided a Halloween store."

"Impressive, kid," Scarface sneered, cracking his knuckles. "But you killed our boys. Unless you wanna donate your organs to science, *explain yourselves*."

"Explain?!" Qin Feng scoffed, throwing an arm around Lin San. "You're talking to *Lin San*—the future Sword God! You think he needs to explain squat? We do what we want!"

Lin San choked. *"We?!* Since when?!"

"Bro, I'm tapped out. Handle these scrubs for me, 'kay?" Qin Feng saluted Scarface with a middle finger, then grabbed Zi Yuan's hand. "C'mon, let's grab popcorn. This'll be hilarious."

Scarface's eye twitched. He'd planned to let them go after some light intimidation (*villain code: always leave an exit*), but Qin Feng just slapped his pride harder than a TikTok challenge.

"You… *insolent brat!*" Scarface roared, his aura exploding into a spectral tiger. "Kill the swordsman! Capture the girl! And bring me Qin Feng's *bones!*"

The gang charged. Lin San paled. "Wait! He's *Qin Feng!* The Qin Clan's runaway heir! You work for his family, remember?!"

The thugs froze.

"Qin Feng?!" Scarface's anger morphed into dollar signs. The Qin Clan had offered a *million spirit stones* for this brat's head—enough to retire and buy a private island.

Lin San blinked. *Why are they… drooling?*

Scarface lunged at Lin San. "You think I'm stupid?! If *he's* the mastermind, you're the muscle! Die!!"

*Clang—!*

Lin San blocked the strike, but his sword went flying. Scarface was level *fifteen*—a literal tiger dad.

"Dammit, Qin Fengrrrgh!!" Lin San's veins bulged. He'd have to use *that move*—the forbidden technique his master warned would "totally wreck his meridians, bro."

Meanwhile, Qin Feng and Zi Yuan were booking it through the woods.

"We can't just abandon him!" Zi Yuan protested.

"Relax! Plot armor's thicker than his ego," Qin Feng shrugged. "Besides, I left him a souvenir—"

***FWOOOSH!***

A sword beam lit up the forest like a laser light show. The shockwave sent the duo tumbling. Zi Yuan face-planted into a bush, knocked out cold.

Qin Feng sprawled on his back, wheezing. "Note to self… never underestimate anime protagonist rage."

The forest fell silent. Moonlight dappled the grass as woodland critters peeked out, sniffing the aftermath. By dawn, new flowers would bloom—nature's way of saying, *"Y'all need therapy."*

---

**System Alert:**

*Host successfully trolled the Chosen One! Villain Points +2000!*

Qin Feng grinned. *Worth it.*

---

**Author's Note:**

This chapter sponsored by "Divine Dragon Energy Drinks™—Because Even Villains Need a Boost!" (Side effects may include spontaneous dragon roars, inflated egos, and accidentally adopting a tsundere spirit beast.)