Villain: I transmigrated with Mind Control Powers

The air inside the cave was thick with the remnants of passion, the scent of sweat and lingering traces of Heaven's Desire Bloom intermingling with the cool dampness of the stone walls. A faint light filtered in from the entrance, casting long shadows across the uneven floor as dawn began to break.

Aric, still holding Zhen Yu close, felt her warmth against his chest as her breathing slowly evened out, a sign of her deep, exhausted sleep.

But even in this moment of tranquility, Aric's mind was sharp, alert. He could sense the presence of Ye Chen, the so-called protagonist, lurking just beyond the cave's entrance. A smirk played on Aric's lips as he detected the barely concealed aura of his rival.

Ye Chen's hesitation, his uncertainty, was palpable—he was caught between his growing suspicions and the heartache that gnawed at him with every passing moment.

Suddenly, a familiar sound echoed in Aric's mind, accompanied by a flash of light across his vision.

[Ding! New protagonist detected. Would you like to see his status?]

"Yes," Aric thought, his inner voice calm and collected.

Instantly, a translucent screen materialized before his eyes, displaying Ye Chen's status in meticulous detail:

[Name – Ye Chen]

[Age – 19]

[Cultivation Level – Foundation Establishment (8th Stage)]

[Strength – 29]

[Agility – 33]

[Intelligence – 36]

[Charm – 26]

[Physique – Heavenly Dragon Physique]

[Bloodline – Heavenly Dragon Bloodline]

[Cultivation Techniques – Heavenly Dragon Ascension Art, Azure Flame Sword Art, Dragon's Wrath Fist, Wind Shadow Steps, Soul-Soothing Melody]

[Skills – Swordsmanship (Advanced), Alchemy (Intermediate), Formation Arrays (Basic), Beast Taming (Intermediate)]

[Protagonist Halo – 103,000]

"A big fish indeed," Aric mused, his smirk widening as he took in the details. Despite Ye Chen's seemingly impressive stats and abilities, Aric felt no fear—only satisfaction. His strategy had worked flawlessly. Not only had he secured the Seraphic Lotus and Zhen Yu, but he had also struck a blow to Ye Chen's spirit that would take more than cultivation to heal.

He could sense Ye Chen's anguish from afar, the way his emotions churned and twisted inside him as he hid in the shadows, watching. Aric knew that Ye Chen's protagonist, halo, though strong, was no match for him because he knew Ye Chen very well. The thought of Ye Chen's pain brought a dark satisfaction to Aric's heart.

As Ye Chen began to retreat, clearly overwhelmed, Aric was content to let him go. After all, he had already achieved everything he came for. But before he let the protagonist slip away, Aric reached out to the system once more.

"System, show me all the rewards."

In response, the familiar chime echoed in his mind, and a series of notifications appeared before him:

[Ding! Congratulations, host! You have gained +4000 Villain Halo and +40,000 Villain Points for stealing the Seraphic Lotus from the protagonist Ye Chen.]

[Ding! Congratulations, host! You have gained +1000 Villain Halo and +10,000 Villain Points for angering the protagonist Ye Chen.]

[Ding! Congratulations, host! You have gained +10,000 Villain Halo and +100,000 Villain Points for stealing the Daughter of Destiny, Zhen Yu, from the protagonist Ye Chen.]

[Ding! Congratulations, host! You have gained the 'Favourability Panel' for capturing the heart of the Daughter of Destiny, Zhen Yu.]

[Ding! Congratulations, host! You have gained 'Dragon's Vitality' for conquering the Daughter of Destiny, Zhen Yu. The vitality has been assimilated into your body, enhancing your physical capabilities and vigour.]

[Ding! Congratulations, host! Due to successfully conquering the Daughter of Destiny, Zhen Yu, her status has changed to 'Villainess'.]

[Ding! Congratulations, host! You have gained +1000 Villain Halo and +10,000 Villain Points for affecting the mentality of the protagonist Ye Chen.]

Aric's eyes gleamed with satisfaction as he read through the list. "Such generous rewards," he murmured, his voice low and filled with dark pleasure. The system had outdone itself this time, providing him with not only points and halo but also tools that would prove invaluable in the future.

But one reward, in particular, caught his attention.

"System, what's this 'Favourability Panel'?" Aric inquired, intrigued by the new feature.

[Ding! Host, the Favourability Panel allows you to check your relationship status with other individuals. It ranges as follows:]

[0-5: Stranger]

[5-20: Acquaintance]

[20-40: Friend]

[40-60: Close Friend]

[60-80: Love Interest]

[80-90: Deep Love]

[90-100: Devotion (Until Death Do Us Part)]

[0 to -5]: Stranger

[-5 to -20]: Dislike

[-20 to -40]: Strong Dislike

[-40 to -60]: Enemy

[-60 to -80]: Bitter Rival

[-80 to -90]: Hatred

[-90 to -100]: Loathing (Mortal Enemy)

Aric chuckled, already imagining how useful this would be in manipulating the people around him. "A convenient tool," he said, "I can easily gauge where I stand with others. But system, what's the deal with this 'Villainess' title for Zhen Yu?"

[Ding! Host, since you have captured the heart of the Daughter of Destiny, the will of the world no longer allows her to remain as a heroine. She has now been transformed into a Villainess, and her fate is now intertwined with yours. This change has also made her more susceptible to your influence, allowing you to use mind control on her without resistance.]

"Interesting," Aric mused, his fingers gently brushing a strand of hair from Zhen Yu's face as she slept soundly in his arms. The transformation from heroine to villainess was not just a shift in title but in fate itself. "So, she's mine completely now."

He leaned down, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead, a gesture that held a mix of possessiveness and something resembling tenderness. "System, can I use my mind control skill on her now?"

[Ding! Host, you can easily use the mind control skill on Zhen Yu, given that she is now a Villainess and you are the stronger villain.]

"Perfect," Aric whispered, his voice barely audible as he tightened his hold on her. With Zhen Yu's transformation, his influence over her would be absolute, ensuring her loyalty to him and only him.

Outside the cave, Ye Chen crouched low, his heart pounding in his chest.

As Ye Chen turned to leave, his steps heavy and uncertain, Aric allowed himself a final, satisfied smile.

"Run along, little hero," Aric thought, his gaze fixed on the cave entrance as Ye Chen disappeared into the wilderness. "The story has only just begun, and it's no longer yours to tell."

Outside, Ye Chen stumbled through the dense underbrush, his mind a whirlwind of confusion and heartache.

The memory of Zhen Yu's soft words, her tender gaze towards Aric, played over and over in his mind. The raw pain of betrayal mingled with a burning hatred for the man who had taken everything from him.

Ye Chen couldn't understand why this was happening to him. Why was he feeling such intense anger towards the couple, when he was seeing them for the first time?

His chest tightened with frustration, and the more he thought about it, the angrier he became. This shouldn't be happening.

On the other hand, Inside the cave, Aric allowed his gaze to linger on Zhen Yu, and his eyes flickered as he examined her status. The new ability to see favorability allowed him to gauge her devotion.

[Name: Zhen Yu]

[Age: 19]

[Cultivation Level: Core Formation (1st Stage)]

[Strength: 19 ]

[Agility: 18 ]

[Intelligence: 15]

[Charm: 20 ]

[Physique: Radiant Jade Physique]

[Bloodline: Bloodline of the Divine Serpent]

[Cultivation Techniques: Serene Jade Art, Divine Serpent Cultivation]

[Skills: Serpent's Grace, Jade Serpent Strike, Coiling Dragon Technique, Celestial Serpent Barrier (Advanced)]

[Villan Halo: 30,000]

[Favorability: 82 (Deep Love)

"She's already so devoted."

A small, triumphant smirk tugged at the corners of Aric's lips. He gently took her hand, bringing it to his lips as he bit down on her finger, drawing a small drop of blood. With careful precision, he ensured her mouth was slightly open and let his blood drip onto her lips.

[Ding! A new target detected! Do you want to use the mind control skill?]

"Yes. Prevention is better than cure," Aric thought with cold precision. He activated his mind control skill, diving into her memories. He began to subtly alter them, weaving a new narrative into her consciousness.

He made sure she believed that he was the only man in her life, from childhood until now. Her memories of anyone else faded, replaced with an unshakable conviction that Aric was the most important person in her life. Her loyalty was no longer just strong—it was absolute.

Zhen Yu stirred, her eyes fluttering open as she gazed up at Aric.

Her eyes were filled with a profound tenderness, reflecting a love so deep that it bordered on worship. "Let's get out of here, dear," Aric said, his voice gentle.

Zhen Yu's cheeks flushed with shy affection as she responded, "Yes, Husband."

Aric's mind was already working on how to use this situation to his advantage. He glanced at Zhen Yu, who was walking beside him, her eyes filled with unwavering trust and devotion. His lips curled into a slight, knowing smile. The exit to the secret ruins was close now, and he could feel the cool air from outside seeping in, a welcome relief from the oppressive atmosphere within.

After hours of walking through narrow passageways and dodging hidden traps, they finally arrived at a secluded area within the wilderness. There was a narrow entrance like a tunnel. However, the entrance was filled with strange symbols.

"This must be it," Aric murmured, his voice barely a whisper as he studied the formation.

Zhen Yu, standing close by, watched him with admiration. "You're amazing, Aric. I would have never found this on my own."

Aric gave her a brief, confident smile, masking the intensity of his thoughts. He approached the door, his fingers tracing the symbols as he channeled his energy into them. The symbols responded to his touch, glowing brighter as the door began to rumble and shift. Moments later, it slid open, revealing a narrow, dimly lit tunnel that led upwards.

"Stay close," Aric instructed as they stepped into the tunnel.

The ascent was steep and winding, but with every step, the air grew fresher, and the dim light gradually gave way to the bright, blinding sunlight. After what felt like an eternity of climbing, they finally emerged from the ruins, stepping out into a dense forest where the sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting dappled shadows on the ground.

As they adjusted to the sudden change in brightness, they noticed a group of people gathered nearby. The remnants of both the Bai and Zhen families were waiting outside, their expressions a mix of relief and worry. Among them, Zhen Wei and Bai Ling stood at the forefront, their eyes lighting up as they saw Aric and Zhen Yu emerge.

"Aric! Zhen Yu!" Zhen Wei called out, rushing forward with a look of immense relief. Bai Ling followed closely, her eyes filled with concern.

"You're safe!" Bai Ling exclaimed, her voice trembling slightly as she hugged Zhen Yu. "We were so worried."

"We made it," Zhen Yu replied softly, her eyes meeting Aric's with a warm, reassuring smile.

However, the mood among the gathered families was anything but celebratory. The atmosphere was tense, overshadowed by the reality of their losses. The Tang family had suffered devastating casualties, their numbers greatly reduced after a brutal encounter with a beast wave deep within the ruins. Their faces were ashen, eyes filled with grief and anger.

The Feng family fared no better, their ranks thinned, and the survivors bore expressions of grim determination, barely masking their pain.

As Aric observed the scene, his mind raced. The losses suffered by these powerful families had created a void, a chasm of anger and despair that was ripe for exploitation. He could sense the tension, the unspoken blame that hung heavy in the air. It was the perfect opportunity to turn their suffering to his advantage.

A glimmer of a plan formed in Aric's mind, one that would further his ambitions and solidify his position while shifting the blame squarely onto Ye Chen. He knew that Ye Chen's presence in the ruins, coupled with the protagonist's halo, had already stirred the chaotic events that led to these losses.

It was a simple matter to manipulate the situation, to make it appear as if Ye Chen was directly responsible for the tragedies that had befallen the Tang and Feng families.

"I'm sorry for your losses," Aric began, his voice smooth and full of empathy as he addressed the grieving families. "I know how much everyone has suffered… But there is something you all need to know."