I am the Villain

Lashes & Lurking Shadows

Luo Zelin was on his knees, shoulders slouched but eyes blazing with defiance. "I'm telling you," he repeated for what must've been the twentieth time, "Shen Liang broke the rules too. I saw it. We both did. He was there! Outside the barrier!"

Behind him, the room was thick with whispers. The disciples lined the walls like gossiping crows, whispering behind sleeves. "That's Luo Zelin... what's wrong with him... he's always causing trouble..." "Shen Liang would never—" "But they say they saw them both—" "Why would Shen Liang do that?"

Luo sat upright, brows raised like a martyr ready for crucifixion. "If I go down, he goes with me." The room stirred, the elders on the platform looking unconvinced. But just as one of them raised a hand to pass judgment, Shen Liang knelt. Right beside Luo. Without a word. Without excuse. Head bowed.

Luo turned, stunned. The great Shen Liang. Stoic, noble Shen Liang. Perfect, pristine Shen Liang... Submitting. There was silence in the room as if someone had sucked the air out.

Then the elder's voice cut through like a blade. "Both of you. Ten lashes. Now."

Luo laughed through every single strike. He was shirtless, kneeling with his palms flat on the floor as the punishment was carried out. Thwack. Luo flinched, then grinned, teeth clenched. Thwack. He hissed in pain, but the sight beside him made it all worth it.

Because right next to him was Shen Liang, eyes shut, breathing measured, enduring it in absolute silence. But Luo saw it. The tension in his jaw. The way his fists were clenched too tightly. He was holding it in. And that made Luo laugh harder. It hurt like hell. Each lash felt like it was peeling skin from his spine.

But seeing Shen Liang get punished beside him? Priceless. By the end, they were both silent. Blood speckled their backs like red ink across pale parchment.

Later that evening, Luo limped down the temple path toward the springs. His robe hung loosely over one shoulder, sticky with half-dried blood. His back throbbed with every breath. The cool mist from the nearby trees was a small mercy. When he reached the edge of the healing springs, he paused.

Because Shen Liang was already there. Steam curled around his shoulders. His long dark hair was wet and stuck to his back, half-concealing the whip marks. Luo let out a small chuckle. "Oh, what are the odds?" Shen turned to glance at him but said nothing.

Luo undressed casually and slipped into the water with a sigh.

The healing warmth soaked into his sore muscles, easing the pain almost instantly. The cuts stung, then faded. Even the bruises on his ribs began to soften under the water's touch. "You know it hurt," Luo said, splashing some water over his chest. "You just don't want to admit it." Still, Shen said nothing. He stood and began walking to the edge of the pool. Luo frowned. "Hey. Where do you think you're going?"

Shen didn't stop. "Away from you." Luo reached out and grabbed his wrist. The tone in Shen's voice changed, low, irritated. "You're so annoying." That caught Luo's attention. Shen didn't say things like that. "You're reckless. Immature. I don't know what you want from me, but whatever it is, leave me out of it. I don't want to see your face right now."

Luo's expression shifted. The smirk dropped. His grip tightened slightly. His voice, for once, came out cold. Dark. "I'm not done with you yet."

Shen's eyes narrowed as he turned to look at him. Luo wasn't smiling. His eyes were sharp, calculated. There was a presence behind them, something coiled and dangerous. For a brief moment, the air between them tensed like a drawn bowstring. Then Shen yanked his arm back, hard, and broke free from the grip.

He climbed out of the springs, water sliding off him like light over porcelain, and said nothing more as he disappeared behind the stone partition. Luo was left behind, sitting in the steaming water alone. The steam curled up around his shoulders like ghosts. He stared at the surface, his expression unreadable.

Then... A low growl. It didn't come from inside the temple. It came from beyond the boundary wall. From the trees at the base of the mountain, deep in the forest where they weren't supposed to go. Luo slowly looked up. His eyes narrowed. It was a demon's voice. Twisted and guttural, like rotted meat grinding against stone. The other disciples might panic. Might run to the elders. Might ring the warning bells.

But Luo Zelin wasn't like the others. He smiled. He rose from the springs, water trailing from his limbs, and dressed slowly in his dry inner robes. Still barefoot, he stepped past the boundary stones and into the trees. Without a sound. Without fear. Because to Feng Wuxin... demons were never the threat. They were tools. And something had just crawled into his playground.