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

"Sizzle, sizzle"

The sound of footsteps scraping against the bluestone steps was unusually loud in the deathly silence.

None of the three spoke as they cautiously approached the mountain gate.

The vermilion gate looked particularly eerie at this moment. The Hidden Spirit Temple was quiet and silent, as if no one was there.

What's that old bald monk up to now?

Qin Huaiyu frowned. For safety's sake, he did not rush into anything and chose to use his divine sense to investigate first. However, he was surprised to find that the trick that had always worked was no longer effective.

It was as if the entire temple was protected by something, and when divine senses were probed out, it was like a mud ox sinking into the sea, with no response whatsoever.

"They're really well-prepared!"

He muttered to himself.

There is no effective way to investigate.

The three of them could only step into the mountain gate with full vigilance.

As soon as he entered, Qin Huaiyu felt the abundant evil energy, which was several times more concentrated than in ordinary places, making it an excellent place for cultivation.

But the more this was the case, the more uneasy I felt.

His gaze fell ahead, but even though he was mentally prepared, the scene before him still made him gasp in shock, a chill running through him.

No wonder the mouse was scared; it was just too unacceptable.

In the very center of the courtyard, dozens of naked people stood in strange postures, their backs hunched over and huddled together, forming a large platform.

The top was covered with incense ash, and three long incense sticks were stuck in it.

This is the incense burner...

The ever-burning lamps on both sides were even more horrifying. People, both men and women, knelt on the ground at intervals, their hands behind their backs, their heads tilted back, and a wick stuck in their mouths, slowly burning.

The dim light shone on their faces.

Those were faces contorted in pain, and their eyes were still moving...

Live!

Qin Huaiyu was extremely shocked. Upon closer inspection, he discovered two familiar faces on the right side: the Jiang father and son!

The two men were looking at him, their eyes filled with pleading, as if they were enduring immense pain.

Hidden Spirit Temple!

His forehead veins bulged instantly, his fists clenched tightly, and anger and fear spread in his heart. This was no Buddhist temple; it was a living hell, where everyone he saw was suffering.

How could those beasts do such a cruel and inhumane thing!

"Huaiyu, is there anything ahead?"

Shen Wan'er looked at the trembling body and asked, a bad feeling creeping into her heart.

Qin Huaiyu froze, then quickly tried his best to control his emotions.

"It's alright, let's go!"

He didn't want to cause panic among the two of them before the battle even started, since not everyone could accept the reality, especially a girl.

Upon hearing this, Shen Wan'er frowned but did not ask any further questions.

The three of them stepped onto the stone-paved path.

Qin Huaiyu deliberately walked to the right side, his gaze falling on the kneeling person. At such close range, he quickly noticed something amiss.

These people had many wounds all over their bodies, covering their joints, clearly indicating that their bones and tendons had been broken.

The mouth remained open because the jawbone was broken, and the tongue was also cut off at the root.

The wick burns the meat inside, and the fat seeps out as fuel. The residue gets stuck in the throat and is eaten as food.

This is the cycle that causes people to suffer endless pain, thus connecting with the world through emotions to generate evil forces.

"What a great design! No wonder it's called the 'Eternal Light'!"

Qin Huaiyu gritted his teeth, meeting those pleading eyes. He understood what they meant: they wanted to die and begged for a quick death.

Even so, he couldn't bring himself to do it. These were lives, and their lives and deaths should be decided by themselves, not by others.

He could only cruelly pretend he couldn't see it and keep moving forward.

Arriving before the Jiang father and son, and seeing their appearance, Qin Huaiyu no longer possessed his former high spirits; all he felt was self-reproach.

After all, it was a result that I indirectly caused.

If it had been more subtle and less direct, the two of them wouldn't have come here, let alone been turned into lamps!

Jiang Yan's face was so distorted that he was no longer human; his features were contorted with pain.

Jiang Cai's eyes were bloodshot, and a few drops of bloody tears slid down his cheeks.

Qin Huaiyu gently patted his shoulder, thinking to himself:

"This matter began with me, and it will end with me!"

He then turned his head and strode quickly toward the main hall with a chilling look in his eyes.

Feng Yunming followed closely behind. Unaware of what was happening, but feeling a chill, he asked:

"Nephew, why is the place so deserted? Where is he?"

Empty?

Qin Huaiyu shook his head. "There are probably already many people here!"

"What do you mean?" Feng Yunming was taken aback.

"It's nothing, we're almost there!"

As they spoke, the three of them saw the scene inside the main hall.

Master Kongzhi sat on a futon, holding prayer beads and facing the golden Buddha statue, meditating like a high monk, while Kukai stood beside him, staring intently at them.

At this moment, Qin Huaiyu's gaze fell upon the golden Buddha statue enshrined on the high platform.

The rows of living people were stacked like tarot cards in a triangle shape, connected by an iron rod that pierced their mouths and legs horizontally. The lifelike head was the head of the person at the very top, with red eyes and faint tears of blood.