Genshin Impact: Villain Life Sim

Not only did it look more resilient, but faint traces of crimson seemed to emerge as well.

"Master Xue Bai's ink and paper both contain cinnabar," Lucas explained. "As the Entering the Boat unfolds and ages, this red hue becomes increasingly prominent. Look carefully—do you see the faint crimson radiance?"

Ningguang, a devoted calligraphy enthusiast, was too overwhelmed by this discovery to speak. She could only cover her mouth and nod repeatedly, her eyes wide with wonder.

Lucas continued to work on the Entering the Boat, and sure enough, the once snow-white paper gradually took on a faint red hue.

On the side, Yelan watched everything unfold with growing envy. She dearly wished to take Ningguang's place in this moment. However, she knew this process—Lucas using calligraphy to "tame" Ningguang—was essential. Yet, the passion for calligraphy on display began to infect her as well. Picking up a false willow-branch brush, Yelan started to practice on another Shao Stele.

As mentioned earlier, willow-branch brushes were invented to commemorate Master Shao, specifically crafted for replicating his Shao Stele. But authentic willow branches suitable for brushes were rare. Craftsmen created fake versions, which, despite being replicas, often surpassed the originals in quality and price. Naturally, any such brush in Ningguang's collection was exquisite and expensive.

While Yelan immersed herself in practice, Lucas and Ningguang had already moved on from Entering the Boat and were deeply engaged with Master Shao's Wild Script Shao Stele.

"Are we really going to start copying it?" Ningguang's voice carried a hint of nervousness. "This Shao Stele has never been reproduced before. You mustn't mess it up."

For many calligraphy enthusiasts, great works carried a soul. The first person to replicate such a piece bore a significant responsibility.

"To replicate the Shao Stele, you need only the finest Shao willow brushes." Lucas revealed a brush, much larger than typical ones. "I call this the Grand Shao Willow Branch. I crafted it over several years, and I'll use it to replicate the Wild Script Shao Stele."

"What an enormous brush!" Ningguang exclaimed. "Can such a tool even handle the stele?"

Considering the stele's relatively small size, even standard willow brushes posed challenges for copying it. A brush of this magnitude would demand extraordinary skill.

"As the old saying goes, 'A heavy blade needs no edge; true mastery comes from simplicity,'" Lucas explained. "Now, go grind the ink and prepare my brush—especially the tip. Use She Tou for an exquisite touch."

She Tou was a rare and luxurious musk oil, renowned for its penetrating fragrance, hence its name, musk that permeates the bones. It was a prized treasure, affordable only to the wealthiest.

Given the size of the Grand Shao Willow Branch, preparing it with She Tou took considerable time and effort. Ningguang worked meticulously for nearly fifteen minutes. Exhausted midway, she even enlisted Yelan's help. By the time they finished, Ningguang was drenched in sweat.

With the brush prepared, Lucas was brimming with excitement. He first practiced by replicating Ningguang's Entering the Boat twice, ensuring the brush was fully primed. Then, with bold confidence, he lifted the Grand Shao Willow Branch and began his replication of the Wild Script Shao Stele.

His movements were fluid yet fierce, the brush dancing across the page. Though the strokes appeared chaotic, every line was deliberate, breathing life into the masterpiece.

Ningguang, watching her treasured stele being replicated so flawlessly, felt a surge of emotion. Tears welled in her eyes, and she covered her mouth, overwhelmed with gratitude.

Lucas completed the first copy in one uninterrupted motion. Dissatisfied with minor imperfections, he immediately began a second attempt. In his fervor, he accidentally knocked over a nearby bookshelf, sending papers and scrolls tumbling to the floor.

Undeterred, Lucas allowed the fallen pages to intermingle with his work, seamlessly incorporating them into his creative frenzy. By the time he completed the second copy, he seemed eager to start a third.

"That's… enough!" Ningguang interjected, her voice tinged with urgency. "You can always replicate the stele again in the future. Why rush now?"

Realizing her point, Lucas relented. After carefully wiping excess ink from the Grand Shao Willow Branch, he turned to Ningguang. "This brush still has residual ink. Help me clean it properly."

"Ningguang has done enough," Yelan volunteered with a playful smile. "Let her rest. I'll take care of it."

Accustomed to such tasks, Yelan eagerly set to work, meticulously cleaning the brush. As she did, Ningguang—exhausted but observing—finally understood why such a formidable woman would willingly submit to Lucas.

Indeed, Lucas possessed extraordinary qualities. As the saying goes, one's writing reflects their character. Despite using a massive brush, Lucas's strokes were precise, balanced, and deeply expressive—a testament to his discipline and depth.

Moreover, Ningguang, a woman of immense strength and independence, couldn't help but feel drawn to his commanding aura. Beneath her façade of authority, she was still human, yearning for a worthy partner. For so long, no man had captured her attention—until now.

"Well, it's getting late," Lucas remarked, adjusting his attire. "Lingering here for too long might arouse suspicion."

"But aside from the Entering the Boat and Shao Stele, I have plenty of other treasures here," Ningguang said wistfully. "Aren't you interested in challenging those as well?"

"Ah?" Lucas raised an eyebrow with interest. "What other works do you have?"

"Oh, plenty," Ningguang listed off proudly. "Under the Night, Plucking Chrysanthemums, Fragrant Cherry Lips, Silken Socks Dusted with Elegance... Each one is a rare masterpiece."

"Just hearing the names makes me want to replicate them all," Lucas smiled. "One day, I'll take on every single one of them."

"I wouldn't mind at all," Ningguang replied with a subtle smirk. "But I wonder... would your virtuous wife, Huixin, have any objections?"

"Don't worry," Lucas chuckled. "I make sure she's satisfied every day. She might even welcome some help."

This was, of course, a casual remark. In truth, very few people knew Lucas's "true self." Aside from Yelan, Ningguang, and Chu Yi, not even the Fatui, who had molded him, knew the full extent of his hidden nature.

To the public, Lucas remained the selfless, compassionate Tianshu who served the people with unwavering devotion. Even to his wife Huixin, he was the loving husband who had inherited her father's ideals.

Lucas's secrets had to remain buried, hidden even from the closest person in his life.

[Mission Completed: Subjugate Ningguang]

[Skill Reward: Persuasion Arts]

Effect: Temporarily compels a target to obey you. Success rate depends on the target's mental resilience (usable once per day).

[Exiting Immersion Mode]

[Entering Text Mode]

[Age 31: Under your careful maneuvering, Ningguang finally submits to your control. Of course, simply holding leverage over such a powerful woman isn't enough to completely dominate her. To ensure her total submission, you make frequent visits to the Jade Chamber under the guise of discussing official matters, but in truth, these meetings are an excuse to exchange calligraphy insights.]

[Ningguang's treasured collections, once untouchable, are now regularly replicated and studied under your guidance. Like Yelan, Ningguang begins to fall deeper into your influence, unable to escape your grasp.]

[The grand Shao Willow Brush you possess—a singular artifact unmatched by any other—proves instrumental. No ordinary tool could be worthy of her cherished Shao Stele.]

[Before long, Ningguang remains the nominal owner of the Jade Chamber, but you are its de facto master. Far from turning it into a haven of debauchery as you once threatened, you transform it into your private domain. Even Ningguang, once so untouchable, now obeys your every command, docile as a loyal pet.]

[Age 32: Ningguang is one of the most formidable members of the Liyue Qixing. If you can conquer her, subduing the others is merely a matter of time. Everyone has a weakness; once uncovered, even the strongest can be brought to their knees.]

[Age 33: In just two years, you bring five of the seven Liyue Qixing under your control. Whether through complete subjugation or securing critical leverage, the members bow to your will.]

[Only Keqing, the Yuheng, remains untouched. She still believes you share her commitment to justice and selflessness, working together as equal and honorable Qixing.]

[Ningguang once asked why you hadn't moved against Keqing. With your abilities, it wouldn't be difficult to sway her as well.]

[Your reasoning was simple: If all the Qixing submitted to you, there would be no need to maintain a virtuous façade. Keqing's existence keeps you grounded, forcing you to preserve an image of decency.]

[And, on a personal level, the best delicacies are always saved for last.]

[Age 34: Despite your growing influence, you remain outwardly humble toward the Fatui. Even when dealing with low-ranking officials like Yusupov, you show the utmost respect.]

[Each month, Yusupov meets with you to assess your performance and assign new tasks. You flatter him with gifts and bribes, ensuring he speaks favorably of you to the Fatui higher-ups.]

[Your rise from the depths of misery to the Tianshu relied on enduring what others could not. And you continue to endure.]

[Yusupov, a middling Fatui agent in his forties, is easy to read. A heavy drinker and a coward, he has a wife and two children back in Snezhnaya. His limited competence keeps him stationed in Liyue without prospects of promotion.]

[He takes great pleasure in belittling you, a member of the Qixing, to soothe his own insecurities.]

["All thanks to you, sir," you bow your head. "How is the wine and roast chicken? To your liking?"]

["Risking eating your food, now that takes guts," Yusupov sneered, tearing a drumstick off the roast chicken. "After all, you had no problem poisoning your own mentor to claim his seat. That old fool's death must've been a relief, huh?"]

[Your lips twitch ever so slightly, but you nod. "Everything I've done is to repay the Fatui's kindness."]

["There's an old Snezhnayan saying," Yusupov said, chuckling as he tossed the half-eaten drumstick onto the table in front of you. "For a starving dog, one bone buys its loyalty for life. This roast chicken's good—try some yourself."]

[With a polite smile, you pick up the drumstick still clinging with bits of meat. Suddenly, your hand shoots forward, seizing Yusupov's jaw before he can react.]

---

Author's Note: Alright next extra chapter at 300 p.s

---

Read 50+ chapters ahead at Patreon.com/NiaXD