Chosen One, how did I end up as the villain?

The man in black pondered for a moment after hearing this.

"But according to rumors in town, the missing person case was solved by the fake young master, and he also killed those two people. Why didn't the man in black attack him?"

"I don't know, but judging from the way the man in black robes does things, the fake young master is probably more useful than the two of them."

"Oh, that's interesting!"

The man in black smiled and said:

"I'm actually quite interested in him. How much do you know about him?"

"He always wore a black robe to cover his face, we never saw his face, and even his voice was fake. How could we understand him? We were just pawns he cultivated."

As he spoke, Du Ming became somewhat dejected. He had been very happy to be trained as a secret master at the beginning.

But as time went on, the feeling of being controlled as a pawn became very frustrating, yet one couldn't do anything against the other party's wishes.

Just like now, because my life is in someone else's hands.

"Didn't you find anything at all?"

The man in black's eyes were filled with coldness.

Du Ming felt a chill run down his spine and hurriedly tried to recall the past, with each scene flashing through his mind.

"If we're talking about distinctive features, there are some. His hands are very white, he always carries a faint sandalwood scent, and he likes people to call him 'Master'."

"That's all?" the man in black asked, raising an eyebrow.

Du Ming said with a bitter expression:

"That's all I really know. Please, please let me go. I've told you everything I know."

Upon hearing this, the man in black sized him up and said:

"Since you've been relatively honest, I'll let you off this time!"

After saying that, he raised his leg and kicked.

"ah"

Du Ming clutched his stomach and immediately let out a scream.

"You...you..." He glared at her instinctively.

"Hmph, you want to try again?"

Du Ming quickly put on a smiling face, "No, no!"

But the muscles in his cheeks were tense when he said this.

"Heh, you'd better keep your little schemes to yourself, or next time, I guarantee you'll be lying on the ground never to get up again!"

The man in black glared at him, then strode away and disappeared into the night.

Du Ming watched the disappearing figure and breathed a sigh of relief; at least he had survived.

Black-robed men, men in black, this old man has really fallen for the dark side. They're all so secretive. If you're so capable, show yourselves! What kind of skill is this, hiding yourselves like this?

Those born in the year of the rat tend to hide and do shady things.

wrong?

With his life no longer threatened, his thoughts became clearer. Why would the man in black ask about Xishan, and what about the real and fake young masters...?

Could it be...

Du Ming's eyes lit up, and he hurriedly ran out of the alley.

About half an hour

秦府

"Master Du, you're back." The servant at the door greeted the visitor.

Du Ming, panting, waved.

"Is the young master home?"

"Yes, young master will be back this afternoon."

Du Ming's old face was lined with wrinkles. "Young Master has returned and hasn't gone out since?"

"No," the servant replied.

Du Ming nodded upon hearing this, and then hurriedly headed towards the backyard.

"Didn't Master Du say he went to discuss business with Madam Xu? Why does he look so unwell?"

"What good things could they be doing so late at night? I guess the business deal fell through. Girls these days are too materialistic."

"Well, she's past her prime."

"Oh, so that's an older spinster, more realistic!"

"That makes sense!"

..........

backyard

Du Ming looked suspiciously at the candlelight shining through the window of the room in front of him. The light was dim and blurry, but it was very real.

"Isn't it him?"

He slowly approached the window, poked a hole in the paper window with his hand, and then looked inside.

On the left side of the room, behind a carved rosewood desk, Qin Huaiyu, dressed in a white silk robe, sat in a chair, holding a book in his hands and reading it carefully.

"The Records of Strange Things says that in the wilderness there is a monster with poisonous sores on its head, eyes like sharp stones, a large and red nose, lips like cicada wings, and four feet touching the ground. It is extremely ugly and this monster is called the Calamity Rat."

Good at spying, good at stealing, good at robbing!

It is a truly despicable monster; it must be beaten on sight.

"Uh, a treacherous rat, good at spying?"

Du Ming was taken aback, glanced at himself, and wondered, "What am I doing...?"

"The claim that *Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio* was written is pure fabrication!"

"Come in, what are you doing sneaking around outside?"

At that moment, a sound came from inside the room.

Upon hearing this, Du Ming was startled and nearly fell to the ground. He quickly grabbed the wall for support, then could only walk forward helplessly, push open the door, and enter the room.

He was caught red-handed as soon as he mentioned spying.

Even his weathered face couldn't hold its liquor, showing a slight redness.

No laughing, no laughing, I have manners!

Qin Huaiyu tried his best to put on a startled expression.

"Uh, Uncle Du, what are you doing outside my house so late at night?"

After listening, Du Ming's dark and unfathomable eyes flickered, and he said:

"It's getting cold, so this old servant came to ask if the young master would like some more bedding. I was just at the door when the young master called me."

After saying that, he glanced around the room.

The bed was clean and tidy, the bedding was neatly folded, the wardrobe door was tightly closed, the pull rings were not loose at all, and there was not much dust on the floor, just like usual.

Qin Huaiyu smiled as he looked at his thieving expression.

"Uncle Du is very kind, but we don't need it for now. Young man, you're full of passion."

"Young master is right!"

Du Mingming outwardly agreed, but secretly glanced at the book in Qin Huaiyu's hand.