Genshin Impact: Villain Life Sim

The moment Signora finished her words, Ningguang had already walked over to Lucas's side. She bent down, resting herself by his legs, while Lucas casually reached out and stroked her silky silver hair. "Ningguang, did you hear that? I'm a vile traitor who sold out my country. Hurry up and take control of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, dispatch the Millelith, and have me arrested. Make sure to tie me up tightly with rope."

"Master always loves to joke," Ningguang said, her gaze filled with admiration. "Last night, the ones who were tied up were me and little Yelan."

This scene left Signora so shocked that her jaw nearly dropped to the ground.

Though she wasn't particularly familiar with Ningguang, the Tianquan, she was well aware of her reputation as one of the wealthiest individuals in Liyue. Even among the Liyue Qixing, Ningguang's status was exceptionally high. Compared to herself in Snezhnaya, Ningguang's influence in Liyue was far greater.

Yet this high-and-mighty businesswoman, known for her iron will and calculating nature, now sat at Lucas's side, like a docile pet. The visual impact of this was overwhelming, so much so that Signora struggled to process it.

"I see now…" After a long pause, Signora finally muttered, "No wonder you dared to defy all reason and act so recklessly. Turns out, you've already infiltrated the Tianquan."

"Don't be ridiculous," Lucas said with a mischievous grin. "It's not infiltration—it's just penetration."

"Master, you're so mean…" Ningguang's cheeks flushed slightly, and she pouted. "Always teasing me."

"Enough! This is utterly disgusting!" Signora's expression twisted in anger, her brow tightly furrowed. "Just tell me—what do you want?"

Despite her anger, Signora's heart was relatively calm.

Lucas had killed Childe because of their personal vendetta—Childe had murdered Lucas's father.

As for herself, she bore no such grudge against Lucas. At most, she had treated him poorly in the past.

The fact that Lucas hadn't killed her yet could mean only two things: either he had his reasons for sparing her, or he wanted to negotiate something with her.

Besides, killing two Harbingers was already something that couldn't be concealed for long. Once the Fatui discovered the truth, there was no way they'd let Lucas, a traitor, off the hook.

"Lady Signora, you truly are a clever woman," Lucas said with a nod. "I simply want to make a deal with you."

"Ah, so the fox's tail finally shows," Signora sneered, a faint glimmer of hope appearing in her heart. "Speak. What do you want?"

"It's simple." Lucas gently patted Ningguang's head. "All I ask is that you, Lady Signora, also become my 'pet.' If you agree, I'll spare your life."

Signora froze for a moment before bursting into laughter. "You must be joking! I would rather die than submit to someone like you."

"Heh…" Lucas chuckled softly and turned to Ningguang. "Your initial attitude was almost exactly like hers."

"You're teasing me again, Master," Ningguang said, her voice filled with mock annoyance. "At the time… I just didn't know how wonderful it could be."

"I expected this response," Lucas said, unfazed by Signora's rejection. "That's why I propose a wager. If you lose, you'll willingly submit to me. If I lose, I'll let you go. I won't go back on my word. If you don't trust me, we can make a contract. Whoever breaks the pact will face the Punishment of Eating Stone."

The Punishment of Eating Stone.

Those four words sent a chill down Signora's spine. She had witnessed its horrors firsthand—Childe's fate, being consumed and transformed into stone, was an image seared into her memory.

"What's the wager?" Signora asked cautiously.

"Didn't you mention earlier that you're interested in Liyue's calligraphy?" Lucas took out a willow branch brush and said, "I'll recreate three pieces of calligraphy in front of you. If you can endure the entire process without uttering a single sound of amazement, you win."

It was well known that calligraphy was an art that united body and spirit. Enthusiasts often couldn't help but exclaim in admiration when witnessing masterful calligraphy. At moments of true brilliance, even experienced viewers might cry out involuntarily.

"Fine, I'll make a pact with you!" Signora thought to herself with delight. "Let's see how impressive your calligraphy really is. What pieces will you recreate?"

"These three works were found in your residence," Lucas replied with a smile. "I'll copy all of them: Drunken Beauty, Snowfall Grace, and Autumn Chrysanthemum."

Signora frowned slightly. "I have these three pieces? I don't recall anything like that."

Lucas chuckled. "Once I start copying them, you'll remember."

The first piece, Drunken Beauty, was written by an unknown calligrapher while intoxicated. Its strokes were twisted yet elegant, resembling the dance of a tipsy beauty. It was said that gazing at the piece for too long would leave viewers feeling entranced, as if they themselves were drunk.

To ensure Signora saw every detail, Lucas held the back of her head, pressing it closer to the table. Before she could react, he began copying the work with his willow brush. His strokes were bizarre yet carried an inexplicable rhythm.

At first, Signora felt her throat tighten, as if she couldn't catch her breath. Soon after, she grew dizzy and lightheaded. By the time Lucas finished Drunken Beauty, Signora couldn't hold it in any longer—she gagged, letting out a retching sound as foam spilled from her mouth. Her eyes were bloodshot, and she looked as though she were suffocating.

Seeing the usually composed and haughty Signora in such a sorry state, Lucas felt a wave of satisfaction.

"It seems your Drunken Beauty hasn't been fully studied yet," Lucas said, putting down the willow brush. He gestured for Ningguang to help clean up the spilled ink. "Feeling nauseous is a normal reaction."

"Are you an idiot?" Signora spat, wiping the foam from the corner of her mouth with a tissue. "In that condition, even if I wanted to exclaim, I couldn't!"

"True, I underestimated that," Lucas said lightly, unfazed. "But it's no problem. There are still two more pieces. That was just the appetizer. How does the taste suit you so far?"

"Ugh! It's revolting!" Signora snapped, spitting in disgust. "Just you wait. I'll endure the rest, and then I'll tear you limb from limb."

The second piece, Snowfall Grace, was a poem about a woman waiting for her lover in a heavy snowstorm.

For this piece, Lucas switched to a larger willow branch brush, preparing to write in one fluid motion. Yet, despite his readiness, he didn't begin right away.

Noticing his hesitation, Signora asked, "Why haven't you started yet?"

"What's the matter? Impatient already?" Lucas replied with a smirk. "No rush—the brush is too dry. Let me moisten it first, or it won't flow smoothly."

Lucas casually moistened his brush in front of Signora, using a musk oil applicator to gently dampen the bristles. His movements were meticulous, almost reverent.

Signora furrowed her brows. This man really is a master calligrapher. Even the way he moistens his brush is so precise.

"All right, it's ready. Let's begin," Lucas said after preparing the brush. Without wasting any time, he began to copy the second piece, his willow brush flowing effortlessly.

Beautiful. Absolutely beautiful.

Even though Signora loathed Lucas with every fiber of her being, she couldn't help but feel awed by his incredible skill. She almost gasped in admiration.

"Lady Signora, your Snowfall Grace…" Lucas commented while diligently working. "What a magnificent poem!"

"Shut up…" Signora bit her lip, forcing herself to endure. "Wait, why are the characters red?"

"Cinnabar," Lucas replied, his head still lowered as he concentrated on the strokes. His face was glistening with sweat. "I added cinnabar to reflect the first line of the poem: In snowfall, a stranger appears, a single red stain amidst the white. Do not speak too loudly, lest you disturb the one beyond the door."

On the white paper, the delicate red characters truly resembled a crimson mark in a field of snow.

The poet was brilliant. The calligraphy was breathtaking.

The refined pleasure of art lay in its simplicity: the beauty of a poem and its calligraphy.

When Lucas finally finished Snowfall Grace, he seemed a bit fatigued. He sat down, took a sip of tea, and let out a deep breath. Meanwhile, Ningguang stood behind him and began massaging his shoulders. "It's a good thing your body is so strong. Anyone else would've collapsed from exhaustion by now," she said with genuine concern.

"I didn't expect Lady Signora to endure even this. I must say, I'm impressed," Lucas said with a calm smile. "Could it be that my calligraphy isn't good enough?"

"It's… nothing special…" Signora replied through trembling lips. Her whole body was weak from the overwhelming artistry she had witnessed, but she stubbornly kept her mouth defiant. "Let's see what you can do with the third piece."

After finishing his tea, Lucas stood up and walked over to where the final piece lay. He removed the protective covering to reveal the snowy-white paper beneath. Written on it was a single large character: Chrysanthemum (菊). But upon closer inspection, the character was filled with intricate details. Every stroke and fold of the brush seemed to contain a vast world within, brimming with depth and life.

The character seemed almost alive. The fine textures and folds appeared to subtly ripple and shift, like flowers swaying in a breeze, evoking the image of a blooming chrysanthemum field.

"I'll give you one last chance," Lucas said calmly. "Admit defeat now, and it's not too late."

"What a joke!" Signora sneered. "Do your worst."

If one were to describe her demeanor, it was somewhat reminiscent of the Monkey King defiantly awaiting punishment after causing havoc in the heavens.

The difference, however, was that the stone monkey was unyielding, while Signora was already soft and trembling inside.

"Ningguang," Lucas extended a hand, "bring me my soft whip."

"Soft whip?" Signora's eyes widened. "What are you going to do with a whip?"

"This piece of calligraphy has been sealed for a long time. To awaken the fibers in the paper, it needs to be whipped lightly with a soft lash," Lucas explained as he took the whip. "Don't worry, despite its delicate appearance, the paper is quite durable. It won't tear. Of course, this is one of your treasures, Lady Signora, so I imagine this process must be painful for you."

As the whip fell onto the paper, faint marks appeared on the surface. Though the whipping didn't damage the paper, Signora still couldn't help but frown.

"Now…" Lucas said as he switched to his largest willow brush. "It's ready to begin."

"W-wait a second!" Signora exclaimed in alarm. "Aren't you going to moisten the brush first, like before?"

Even with Snowfall Grace, the process was already difficult to endure after the brush was prepared.

And now, Chrysanthemum was undoubtedly far more challenging.

If Snowfall Grace was like a narrow, muddy alley, Chrysanthemum was an impossibly tight, winding passage. The difficulty of copying it couldn't even be compared.

"No need. Copying this piece requires a single, unbroken momentum," Lucas replied, his demeanor no longer gentle. His movements became forceful and unrelenting. "Break through!"

As he spoke, Lucas's brush broke past the final barriers of complexity.

The countless folds and textures of the character seemed to come alive, pulsating and rippling in rhythm with Lucas's strokes.

Finally, Signora couldn't hold back her amazement any longer. She gasped aloud, overwhelmed by the sheer artistry.

"I… I admit defeat!" she cried, her voice trembling, tears welling up in her eyes. "Enough! Please stop!"

"I already gave you the chance to admit defeat earlier," Lucas replied, his brush still dancing over the paper. "It's too late now. Sit tight and let me finish!"

Half an hour later.

"Sniff… sniff…"

In Ningguang's bedroom, Signora lay facedown on the bed, quietly sobbing. Compared to the haughty and cold Eighth Harbinger she usually was, she now looked more like a little girl who had been thoroughly bullied.

"Enough now, stop crying," Ningguang said gently, handing her a warm towel. "He's like this—he doesn't know how to go easy on people."

Moments ago, Ningguang had been Lucas's accomplice, but now she was playing the role of a comforting sister.

Of course, in terms of age, Signora—or rather, Rosalyne—was undoubtedly the elder, being over five hundred years old.

"Why…" Signora muttered, her voice low. "Why would someone as high and mighty as the Tianquan willingly serve that man as his…"

Halfway through her sentence, Signora couldn't bring herself to finish.

"His pet, right?" Ningguang said cheerfully, showing no embarrassment. "Because that man has a certain… magic about him."

"He's nothing but a brute…" Signora said bitterly.

"He's only a brute to his enemies. But if you submit to him, he's the kindest and most generous master," Ningguang replied with a knowing smile. "You'll come to understand this soon enough."

Elsewhere, on the viewing deck of the Jade Chamber, Lucas stood gazing at Liyue Harbor below, a long smoking pipe in his hand.

"How are things progressing?" Yelan appeared behind him like a phantom, her voice playful. "I heard you gave that Harbinger quite the lesson."

"Ningguang's in there playing the good cop," Lucas replied nonchalantly. "What's the situation on the Fatui's side?"

"According to our informants within the Fatui, the disappearances of Childe and Signora haven't caused much of a stir," Yelan replied with a sly smile. "Thanks to their habit of coming and going unpredictably, no one's noticed anything unusual about them being gone for a while."

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Author's Note: I'm not going to lie... I don't get shit abt the painting and calligraphy parts... Is it like foodwars but for painting or what.... 

I suppose its too profound for my comprehension..

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