C9 I Am the Main Character

The atmosphere became somewhat tense. Xiao Zhan had initially stepped in, and all that was needed was to offer the First Elder a graceful exit, and the issue could have been resolved superficially.

But Chiang Xie stubbornly demolished that exit, clearly looking to stir up trouble.

As expected, the First Elder's rage flared up once more. Disregarding the clan leader's presence, he blurted out, "Who are you calling bald? Don't think that just because the clan leader is shielding you, I'm powerless against you!"

Xiao Yan and Xiao Xuner could only respond with wry smiles. Chiang Xie was certainly not one to shy away from escalating a situation.

Xiao Zhan was at a loss for words. If the First Elder were to lash out recklessly, and he had to defend Chiang Xie, it could spark a civil war within the family.

"Haha, you truly can't touch me. And I'm not afraid to tell you, the play I'm orchestrating could elevate the Xiao family to the top rank in Wutan City. Plus, if you kill me, there will be no one else who can stage this play."

As everyone assumed Chiang Xie was digging his own grave and beyond saving, he made this bold declaration.

Upon hearing this, both Xiao Zhan and the First Elder were taken aback. They had assumed Chiang Xie's play was a mere trifle, not anticipating his grand ambitions.

Naturally, they didn't believe Chiang Xie's claim. The idea that a simple play could catapult the Xiao family to the premier position in Wutan City seemed ludicrous.

The First Elder scoffed, "Utter nonsense! Since when can a family's standing be altered by a mere play?"

Xiao Zhan, however, harbored mixed feelings. Despite the Xiao family being among the top five in Wutan City, their status had been stagnant or even declining in recent years. As the patriarch, his concern was understandable.

Furthermore, Xiao Zhan had a hunch that there was more to the young man before him than met the eye. His instincts, honed over many years, were rarely mistaken.

"Whether you believe me or not is irrelevant. I've sworn a heart demon oath that if I don't elevate the Xiao family to the pinnacle of Wutan City within a month, then the Xiao family can deal with me as they see fit!"

Chiang Xie gathered from the memories of his current body that cultivators placed great importance on oaths sworn to their heart demons. Such oaths, if broken, would result in the heart demon devouring the oath-breaker, leaving them a broken shell of their former self.

But for someone like Chiang Xie, who leveled up through a system and did not practice cultivation, heart demons were of no consequence. Thus, making an oath held no weight for him.

His declaration left everyone stunned. He had actually sworn an oath to his heart demon. Did he truly have the confidence to fulfill it, or was it a calculated move to prevent the First Elder from intervening? But even so, he'd only bought himself an extra month of life. Wasn't death still inevitable after that time?

"Hey, Mr. Chiang, why would you make such an oath? With your father around, no one can lay a finger on you."

"Indeed, Mr. Chiang, you've acted too rashly."

Xiao Yan and Xiao Xuner expressed their concern in a flurry. The idea of elevating the Xiao family to the top rank in Wutan City within a month seemed far-fetched to them. How could such a feat be possible?

The First Elder's eyes sparkled with anticipation. This young man was digging his own grave. Whether he killed Chiang Xie publicly or in secret, it would tarnish his reputation.

But the situation was different now that Chiang Xie had made the oath himself. If Chiang Xie failed to fulfill it within a month, he could eliminate him in broad daylight and rightfully demand the Profound Level Artifact.

This thought eased his irritation considerably. After all, letting the young man live another month was harmless since his demise was inevitable.

"Very well! I shall await the day, a month from now, when you elevate the Xiao family to the preeminent position in Wutan City. Fail, and the entire Xiao family will hold you accountable!"

With that, the First Elder gave a respectful fist salute to Xiao Zhan, then turned and departed. He feared that if he stayed any longer, he might not have the patience to wait a month before killing Chiang Xie—such was his irritation with the young man.

Xiao Yan stepped forward, intending to intercede on Chiang Xie's behalf, but Xiao Zhan simply shook his head and communicated with Chiang Xie through a private message.

"Can I really take your words to heart? If this is just a stopgap, I'll arrange for someone to safely escort you out of the city tonight!"

"Absolutely, you can trust me, Mr. Xiao," Chiang Xie assured him confidently. He had been refining this plan in his mind for quite some time, and he was convinced it was flawless. He was eager to see the astonishment it would cause.

Xiao Zhan was taken aback, not expecting such self-assurance from Chiang Xie. Could he truly be that confident? The thought made him shiver with anticipation. If Chiang Xie was right, the Xiao family was on the brink of a remarkable resurgence!

Somehow, despite the plan's outrageous nature, Xiao Zhan found himself believing in it, even if just a little. He had this gut feeling that Chiang Xie might indeed be the catalyst for change within the Xiao family...

With a surge of excitement, he declared, "Very well, for the next month, you have free rein over the Xiao family's resources. Go ahead with your plans, and rest assured, I won't let anyone harm you while I'm around."

Chiang Xie expressed his gratitude to Xiao Zhan and concluded their conversation. Xiao Yan, who was nearby, mistakenly thought Xiao Zhan had abandoned Chiang Xie, and he felt a deep sense of remorse.

Chiang Xie had no choice but to repeat Xiao Zhan's words to Xiao Yan, which finally put him at ease.

"Mr. Chiang, could you come here for a second?" Xiao Xuner interjected suddenly.

Chiang Xie nodded and stepped aside with Xiao Xuner, who inquired, "What's up? Is there a problem?"

"Xiao Yan won't be leaving the family for a month, and he's staking the Xiao family's status on this play. Are you really sure about this, Mr. Chiang?" Xiao Xuner asked after a long pause.

"I am confident, but as the saying goes, 'Man proposes, God disposes.' We can only do our best. But rest assured, I won't let your brother Xiao Yan be dragged down by this."

"He's just here to play his part. If he succeeds, it'll change his destiny. If not, it won't really affect him; he'll simply return to where he started. I plan to be there to toast at your wedding, so how could I let anything happen to him?"

Having lived two lifetimes, Chiang Xie was well aware that Xiao Xuner's concerns lay solely with Xiao Yan's well-being, so he said this with a playful tone.

Upon hearing mention of her brother Xiao Yan and the upcoming wedding celebration, Xiao Xuner's cheeks immediately flushed a deep red, and she quickly retreated to her room.

"Mr. Chiang, what did you say to her? Why did Xuner leave so abruptly, her face all red?" Xiao Yan asked, his curiosity piqued by Xiao Xuner's sudden departure without even a word to him.

"Kid, give up on being the king of the harem and focus on being a good husband to a wonderful girl," Chiang Xie advised before departing.

Xiao Yan was left scratching his head in bewilderment. What was all that about? He couldn't make heads or tails of the conversation.

A month later...

Chiang Xie had been anything but idle over the past month. Each day, he lounged in his chair, munching on sunflower seeds and sipping fruit juice, the strain of directing a play wearing him out.

The bright spot was that both Chiang Xie and Xiao Xuner were thrilled when he suggested she play the lead role of Chang'e. Xiao Xuner agreed without hesitation, and the production went off without a hitch.

Chiang Xie then spoke with Xiao Zhan about creating some Earth-style flyers and distributing them throughout the city via his subordinates.

The campaign was a surprising success. Before long, it had created a buzz throughout Wutan City. With just three days left before the premiere of "Moonbound Chang'e," a major issue arose—a truly significant one!

In those final three days, the Xiao family received several distinguished guests, including a strikingly beautiful young woman named Nalan Yanran, who was none other than Xiao Yan's betrothed!

Chiang Xie was thrown for a loop. If things kept going this way, wouldn't they end up back at Xiao Yan's broken engagement, followed by his declaration of "do not despise the poor youth," leading him on the path to becoming the Flame Emperor?

Chiang Xie couldn't accept this. The mission was nearly complete; how could he let the story revert to its original course?

Determined, he resolved that Xiao Yan would not utter the phrase about the poor youth, nor would Nalan Yanran's engagement be broken. Only then could Chiang Xie's grand scheme continue. And as the Strongest Villain, how could he back down?

Chiang Xie was set on being the protagonist. If there were no scenes for him, he'd steal them. If there was no spotlight, he'd seize it. And he'd do it all just to spite the heavens! Such was the resolve of Chiang Xie.