The Villain System

Film and Television: A Villain's Life Begins in Joy of Life

Author: Slipping Through the Fingers

Synopsis:

Zhou Cheng unexpectedly acquired the Film and Television Villain System. From then on, he traveled through countless film and television worlds, embarking on a journey of abandoning all human decency.

Zhou Cheng: "I won't just torment the heroes. I'll torment the villains too!"

Note: He does not transmigrate into existing characters. The planned cycle is one historical world followed by two modern worlds.

Completed world: Joy of Life

Current world: Romance in the Alley

Joy of Life

Chapter 1: The Villain System

Blue Star, China, a certain second-tier city.

Zhou Cheng lay sprawled on the sofa, scrolling through his phone with one hand. The screen's light flickered across his greasy face.

The historical martial arts romance he had followed for over two weeks was reaching its final climax.

The background music swelled gradually, heavy and steady, its grandeur laden with oppressive force.

"Yes, yes, that's it!" he muttered, eyes wide. "So badass! Hurry up and beat all these lunatics into the ground!"

His delight lasted only a few seconds.

In the next shot, the music shifted, turning tragic yet stirring, as though something were quietly gathering strength.

"-You've got to be kidding."

A bad feeling crept over him.

Sure enough!

"Fuck!"

Zhou Cheng sprang off the sofa, his hand trembling around his phone.

"How fucking cliché can you get? That 'love knows no limits' crap again? Love saves the fucking world, again!"

"Screenwriter, fuck your ancestors! With a villain who's worked this hard, even if he can't win, would it kill you to let his moment of glory last a little longer?!"

Before he could finish venting, the music from his phone had already turned soft and warm. Amid the devastated ruins on the screen, only two figures remained, locked in a tight embrace.

The finale had arrived.

The music tugged at the heartstrings, and the scene was touching enough, but Zhou Cheng felt nothing. He was so furious his insides ached.

"The ending's always the same... A villain's fate is always set in stone...

No one saves him when he's the victim. Then, once he finally breaks, goes insane, and masters some ultimate technique, the protagonists jump out, yell a few slogans, and kill him... It's so hard! So fucking hard!"

He felt aggrieved on the villain's behalf.

From the beginning of the series, he had watched the villain suffer every kind of injustice and humiliation, discrimination and exploitation, until an earnest, idealistic boy with a heart full of justice was ground down into a ruthless, paranoid madman.

The protagonists had played an irreplaceable role in that process, too.

Yet this believable villain, someone worthy of sympathy and even empathy, still couldn't escape being finished off with a few slogans by two smug, hypocritical do-gooders-the so-called "protagonists," who had spent the entire show doing nothing but kissing and falling in love!

Even though he had long prepared himself for the villain's inevitable defeat, it had come as abruptly and carelessly as that run beneath the sunset that afternoon,

and that was more than he could take!

"What a waste of a subscription. I'd have been better off buying dog food and feeding a dog!"

Zhou Cheng gripped his phone, seething.

He paced back and forth, with nowhere to vent his frustration.

Just then, a series of cold, mechanical tones suddenly rang in his ears!

[Ding-]

[Intense "empathy for a villain" detected. Binding requirements met... Binding system...]

[Ding-Congratulations, host. You have acquired the Film and Television Villain System!]

[False villains: erratic behavior, broken logic, evil for evil's sake. True villains: clear goals, unwavering resolve, unbound by worldly conventions, capable of what others cannot accomplish!]

[This system is dedicated to cultivating the host into a "true villain" who travels through film and television worlds, defies predetermined fate, and creates a villainous legend! Complete system missions to receive generous rewards.]

[This system uses "negative emotions" as fuel to unlock various functional modules and support the host's growth.]

[Random trial world selection complete... Currently locked onto: Joy of Life]

[Congratulations, host. You have received a beginner support package!]

[Package opened: you may designate one item to bring into the film and television world.]

[Retrieve trial missions now? Yes/No]

The barrage of notifications left Zhou Cheng dizzy. He was just about to ask, "What's happening?"

when a translucent panel appeared before his eyes. As its text log refreshed, he jolted!

Was this...?

A system?

Zhou Cheng pinched his cheek, repeatedly making sure he hadn't become so angry that he was hallucinating.

As he stared at the faintly glowing panel before him, his hands began trembling uncontrollably!

He was nearly thirty and had accomplished nothing. Only recently had he managed to buy an unfinished apartment in this second-tier city, using his parents' half-lifetime of hard-earned savings.

The little money he had saved over several years of work had all gone toward plastering and painting the walls.

He had been figuring he could save another two months' wages to put in flooring. Instead, a system had arrived!

Taking a deep breath, Zhou Cheng tried touching it. That didn't work.

Then he tried communicating with his mind. That worked.

He hurriedly selected "Yes."

A new notification immediately appeared.

[Villain missions retrieved: a true villain must possess martial might that dominates the world, and, above all, the commanding presence to reign over it!]

[Mission one: attain the martial arts rank of Grandmaster before Fan Xian enters the capital.]

[Mission two: defeat Emperor Qing, seize the throne of Southern Qing, and reign supreme.]

[Begin the trial now? Begin/No]

After reading the notifications, Zhou Cheng's heart went from brimming with ambition one second to ice-cold the next!

He knew Joy of Life well. Not only had he watched both seasons multiple times, but he had also read the original novel several times.

And precisely because he knew it so well, he understood just how "holy fucking shit" these missions were!

Scratching his head, Zhou Cheng mulled it over before asking the system:

"These missions are way too hard. Um... If I fail, there won't be any punishment, will there?"

If failure meant being erased from existence or something, he wouldn't dare try.

[Mission failure: the system will unbind. Lifespan expended in the film and television world will be deducted proportionally from the host's real-world lifespan.]

"Hiss-"

Zhou Cheng sucked in a sharp breath.

That punishment was a little better than being erased, but apparently not by much!

He couldn't help saying:

"This... You're k-kidding, right?"

[Ding-Host confirmation received!]

[Ding-Second host confirmation complete! Opening the world of Joy of Life...]

"?"

Zhou Cheng's eyes went round.

"Wait! When did I ever conf-"

Before his startled cry could finish, dazzling white light appeared out of nowhere, swallowing everything in the room in an instant.

Mid-spring, year sixty-four of the Qing calendar.

Qixia Hall, the imperial palace of Qing.

Light filtered through the window lattice and fell across a gleaming full-length floor mirror.

Zhou Cheng stood motionless before it, a thoroughly childish face reflected in the glass.

His body was stiff as he let several older palace maids fuss over him, adjusting his clothes from head to toe.

Soon, a beautiful woman in palace attire appeared in the mirror as well, her features delicate and her bearing gentle and refined.

Seeing the child's vacant expression in the mirror, she smiled fondly.

She waved a hand lightly, dismissing the palace maids.

"Cheng, don't be nervous."

Her voice was soft as she walked behind him and gently straightened his collar.

"Today, the whole nation is observing the temple rites. Your imperial father is holding a banquet for his ministers, and he will also choose a tutor for you. It's a wonderful occasion."

Seeing the child in the mirror knit his brows even tighter, his little face practically scrunching into a ball, Noble Consort Li couldn't help laughing. She wrapped her arms around him from behind.

"At the banquet, attendants will guide you. When your imperial father speaks, you need only do as he says."