I’ll Definitely Play the Stand-in Villain

ShenYanzhouwokeuptofindhimselfinsidetheoriginalnovel—asthesubstitutefakeheir.Hisfosterfatherheldimmensepower,ambitiousandschemingtousurpthethrone.Hisfostermother,outwardlygentleandvirtuous,wasintruthcold,ruthless,andthemastermindpullingstringsfrombehindthescenes.Thetrueheirconcealedhisbrilliance,adragonlurkinginthedepths,waitingfortheperfectmomenttorevealhimselfandseizethestage.Surroundedonallsidesbyvillains,withsuchadisastrousbeginning—andlookingatthearrogant,detestablefaceofhisnewbody…ShenYanzhounoticedhisNegativeEmotionPanel:aslongasheprovokedothers’emotions,hegrewstronger.Atfirst,herejectedthisidentity.Butwhenhediscoveredthatsimplystandinginfrontofothersmadenegativeemotionspourinendlessly,helaughed:“Whosaidbeingthestand-invillainwasbad?Thisidentitywasamazing.”TheGreatQianDynastyhadlastedfor1,300years.Theemperorsoughtimmortality.Thecrownprinceactedasregent.Thenobleclansdominatedcourtaffairs.Theimperialcourtwasinchaos.Thewesternbarbariansrebelled,thesouthernfrontsufferedfromwavesofdemonicbeasts,andthenorthernYukingdomwatchedlikeahungrytiger.Itwasanageofchaos—yetalsothebestoftimes.ASwordGodborninpovertyhammeredbladesinasmithy.Apeachblossomdemon,capableofcaptivatingallbeings,chantedsutrasinafloatingtemple.Aland-boundMartialSaint,lifespanrunningdry,gambledeverythingforachancetoascend.Abenevolentimmortalmaidenhesitatedatacrossroads,unsurewhethertostepleftorright.Heroesweredestinedtorisewiththecomingstorm.ButShenYanzhou?Hehadnointerestinbeingahero.HeonlywantedtowatchSwordImmortalsfalltothemortaldust,watchanEmpresssinkintocorruption—andbecometheGreatDemonKingofthatworld.