Today, The Villain Couple is Settling Scores Again

After the long-hidden secret was exposed, Madam Gao had already adopted the attitude of a dead pig not fearing scalding water.

She half-curled up in the elegantly decorated carriage, her gaze sweeping past the lifted curtain, silently observing the deep autumn scenery outside.

Ordinary cultivator couples might have been deceived by the claims from the Jiang family in Yujiang City years ago, believing that consuming certain spiritual medicines could help them conceive a child with a specific spiritual root.

But Madam Gao and Elder Gao were no ordinary figures. Elder Gao, being the younger brother of the Sect Leader of Feng Yan Sect, surely knew that no such spiritual medicine existed in the Nine Provinces.

The dirty truth hidden behind Qi Wan was something both of them were well aware of.

Yet, they couldn't accept it!

Born from the same parents, why was Elder Gao's older brother, Sect Leader Gao, blessed with a single spiritual root of exceptional talent, while Elder Gao himself was stuck with a lesser dual spiritual root?

From childhood, Elder Gao's cultivation had always been a step behind his brother's, and as the years passed, the gap only widened, becoming an insurmountable chasm.

Madam Gao understood better than anyone how hard her husband had worked, how desperately he had strived.

But it was all in vain, utterly futile!

Some things were decided the moment one was born, and no amount of effort could change that.

Madam Gao watched the withered yellow leaves swept away by the autumn wind, a self-mocking smile tugging at her lips.

Ten years ago, Elder Gao had volunteered to guard the Nine Provinces' Treasure Hall, leaving Tian Yan Sect.

Day after day, year after year, while his brother, the Sect Leader, flourished, Elder Gao, confined to this place, grew increasingly violent and despondent, his heart demon taking root, like a diseased tree. The worms of jealousy and unfulfilled ambition gnawed at him day and night, distorting him beyond recognition.

Seeing this, Madam Gao had proposed having a child.

A child with a single spiritual root, to fulfill the unfulfilled dreams of their marriage.

But in the end, the plan was thwarted by the Harmony Union Sect. The Jiang residence was raided, and nothing came of it. Instead, they were reduced to this pitiful state.

Her husband's heart demon could no longer be concealed, and he would likely be sent to South Dust Immortal Island to be imprisoned as a test subject for medicinal experiments.

As for her? For hiding the truth and aiding in his misdeeds, she might spend a year or two in the dungeons of the Imperial Pacification Office, enduring the ridicule of her former peers.

Back when she married the Sect Leader's younger brother, it had been such a glorious affair. She had clearly seen the envy in their eyes.

What expressions would they wear now, scattered across the Nine Provinces, when they learned of her downfall? Mockery? Schadenfreude?

What would they say about her? How would they look at her?

Madam Gao clenched her teeth, her nails digging deep into her palms, drawing beads of crimson blood.

...

"Can we trust her words?" Yang Ye, holding a pig that had been running wild, walked over to the circle formed by Jian Huan, Wen Jiu, and Yin Yusheng. From a distance, he glanced at Madam Gao, who was lost in her own world, and asked, "Does the Gao family really have nothing to do with the Bodhi Pagoda incident?"

Yin Yusheng paced back and forth under the maple tree, the hem of his white disciple robe brushing against the fallen leaves, making a soft rustling sound. He stopped and looked at Jian Huan. "What do you think, Junior Sister?"

"Ah?" Caught off guard by the sudden question, Jian Huan, who had just pulled out her Xuantian Mirror, looked up and thought carefully. "It's hard to say."

In the original book, it was indeed the Gao family who had done it.

But now, she couldn't be so sure.

In the book, the events of Yujiang City had never happened.

Since they hadn't occurred, it was likely that Elder Gao and Madam Gao had succeeded over two years ago. Perhaps it was around that time that they had made contact with the demonic faction, leading them to steal the Bodhi Pagoda, which was of no use to them.

But now, the plot had been completely disrupted.

Shen Jizhi hadn't followed Jiang Qiaoqiao and Jing Chi on their expedition three years ago. Instead, he had joined her, charging recklessly into Yujiang City for the bounty.

Could it be that because of this, Elder Gao and Madam Gao had never made contact with the demonic faction, and now it was another group who had stolen the Bodhi Pagoda?

"Senior Brother Yin, but I still think the Gao family is the most likely suspect," a junior brother whom Jian Huan wasn't very familiar with interjected. "The Gao family knew about the Yujiang City incident back then. It's possible they've been in contact with the demonic faction all these years, acting as spies planted in our Nine Provinces continent! Madam Gao might very well be a diversion, and the Bodhi Pagoda could already have been taken out of Nine Provinces City by someone else!"

Yin Yusheng frowned, gazing at the mountains ahead, and after a moment of contemplation, said, "You make a good point, Junior Brother."

"In that case, let's continue investigating the Gao family," Yin Yusheng decided. "But we can't neglect the other elders either. I'll arrange for some people to look into them."

No one objected.

Wen Jiu asked softly, "Then, what about Madam Gao?"

Madam Gao was implicated in the Qi Wan incident, and according to the law, she should be sent to the Imperial Pacification Office.

But if the Gao family really had taken the Bodhi Pagoda, sending Madam Gao to the Imperial Pacification Office would be tantamount to handing over the information about the pagoda as well.

If the Imperial Pacification Office recovered the Bodhi Pagoda before they did, the one million spirit stone bounty would be lost.

That one million spirit stone reward came from the Imperial Pacification Office's treasury, directly affecting their salaries. They wouldn't be willing to let it slip away.

Everyone looked at Yin Yusheng.

Yin Yusheng smiled wryly, rubbing his temples, and finally said, "Let's send her to the Imperial Pacification Office. We mustn't lose sight of the bigger picture. If we delay the demon suppression mission, it will be our fault."

The matter was thus settled. Jian Huan, looking down at her Xuantian Mirror, thoughtfully replied with an "Okay," and said to her companions, "Senior Brothers and Sisters, please take care of delivering her to the Imperial Pacification Office. I won't be joining you."

The sun grew stronger, its midday rays casting a shimmering reflection on the river's surface.

The glare was dazzling. A young man, who had been sitting by the window in a daze for some time, closed his dark-circled eyes and came back to his senses.Nôv(el)B\\jnn

He rubbed his eyes, looked up at the sun, and after a moment, patted his stomach, realizing it was probably time for lunch.

The young man stood up and left the teahouse with unsteady steps.

The waiter hurried over, bowing and smiling broadly. "Young Master Fu, take care on your way!"

Fu Li paused, glanced at the waiter, and pulled out a pouch of spirit stones from his pocket, handing it over before drifting away like a ghost.

The waiter's grin nearly split his face.

Young Master Fu was as generous as ever! He walked over, bent down, and began clearing the table.

Look at this! The fine tea and pastries were barely touched!

The waiter glanced around, then quickly stuffed the pastries into his robe.

If only everyone were like Young Master Fu, and not like that pink-robed young man earlier who had spent a single spirit stone and even used his Xuantian Mirror.

Fu Li.

The only son of Elder Fu, he had a difficult birth. It was said that when he was born, he was almost purple, but fortunately, he was saved by high-quality spiritual medicines.

Sadly, while the medicines restored his health, they couldn't make him any smarter.

Fu Li had always been slow to react, appearing somewhat dull to outsiders.

But luckily, his parents were wealthy and doted on him, with more spirit stones than they could ever spend.

Over the years, Fu Li had consistently topped the list of favorite customers for merchants across Nine Provinces City.

Across the street corner, Jian Huan, listening to Shen Jizhi, peeked out and watched the young master being escorted out of the teahouse by several guards. She frowned, "If that's the case, isn't his behavior normal? What's the issue that made you call me here?"

Shen Jizhi glanced at her and uttered a few words, "The Puppetry Charm."

"The Puppetry Charm?" Having lived in this world for years, Jian Huan was no longer the clueless novice who needed Shen Jizhi to explain everything. She immediately understood and exclaimed, "Isn't that the specialty of the Harmony Union Sect disciples..."

The two exchanged a look, and Shen Jizhi nodded slightly. Jian Huan didn't continue.

The Puppetry Charm, a technique that ensnares the target with charm, turning them into a puppet that acts according to the caster's will, was indeed the Harmony Union Sect's signature skill.

Shen Jizhi watched the young man walking down the street and said, "While you were in seclusion, I took on some missions outside and saw others who had fallen victim to the Puppetry Charm. The technique leaves aftereffects—for about half a month, the victim remains dazed, reacts slowly, and has dark circles under their eyes."

Jian Huan tapped the stone wall lightly with her fingers. "Are you saying Fu Li has been affected by the Puppetry Charm?"

To her surprise, Shen Jizhi shook his head. "I'm not sure."

Jian Huan: "??"

Shen Jizhi looked at her. "I only suspect it."

He suspected that someone was using Fu Li's inherent condition to conceal something.

The most straightforward solution would be to capture Fu Li and interrogate him harshly about what had happened to him recently.

But Fu Li was not someone to be trifled with. If there was indeed something hidden behind him, acting rashly would only alert those behind the scenes.

Shen Jizhi was only skilled at capturing and interrogating people, but when it came to coaxing information out of someone without resorting to force, he was utterly helpless.

Jian Huan, however, excelled at it.

...

Unlike the somewhat flustered household of Elder Gao, Elder Fu's residence remained as calm and composed as ever.

This air of confidence was particularly evident in the demeanor of Elder Fu’s guards.

Elder Fu, the most powerful elder among the gatekeepers, was a Nascent Soul cultivator. His beloved wife was the daughter of a wealthy merchant from Jiuzhou City. After their marriage, the couple settled in Jiuzhou City, leading a peaceful and happy life.

Despite being a Nascent Soul cultivator, Elder Fu spent his days cheerfully guarding a treasure hall, living a contented life. He didn’t mind having a somewhat slow-witted son.

Due to the incident involving the missing Bodhi Pagoda, Elder Fu was currently detained in the Imperial Pacification Office, but Madam Fu wasn’t worried.

He would be released sooner or later. Seeing each other every day, a little separation was good for some peace and quiet!

With Madam Fu’s calm attitude, the servants felt at ease.

The Fu family guards strode proudly, protecting their young master like a mother hen shielding her chicks, as they walked through the bustling streets.

Suddenly, from a narrow alley ahead, a young maid with double buns emerged, supporting a man.

"Oh, I’m so sorry!" Before the guards could react, the maid apologized first, her bright smile instantly winning their favor. "My master is blind, and I was too focused on guiding him to notice you all..."

The guard frowned, his thick brows furrowing as he glanced at the man.

The man wore a green Daoist robe, his figure slender and elegant. His eyes were covered with a black silk band, and he sported a long, half-white beard, giving him the appearance of a refined middle-aged Daoist priest.

The Fu family had always been kind-hearted, so the guard didn’t make a fuss. He nodded and continued escorting the somewhat slow Fu Li toward the restaurant ahead.

The maid and the man stepped aside, and the man bent down, pretending to whisper something in the maid’s ear.

The maid nodded, slightly lifting her emerald-green skirt as she hurried after the Fu family group. "Wait, please wait!"

Jian Huan stretched out her arm, blocking their path. Her gaze fell on Fu Li as she smiled and said, "Young master, although my master cannot see, he can perceive things that ordinary people cannot. He just told me that you seem to be troubled by something. If you don’t mind, would you allow my master to divine a fortune for you and help resolve your worries? Don’t worry, we won’t charge you. Today, we happened to meet you all, and my master wishes to form a good connection..."

"Enough, enough!" The guard, holding his sword, looked like he had seen it all before. Over the years, he had encountered all sorts of scammers while accompanying the young master. "You say you won’t charge now, but you’ll find a way to take money later. Go away! If you don’t leave, don’t blame us for getting rough!"

"We’re really not scammers!" Jian Huan stomped her foot in frustration. "Just look at your young master. He’s clearly troubled, and his soul might even have been ensnared by some evil spirit..."

The guard snorted, unconvinced, and urged Fu Li to move forward.

But Fu Li stopped in his tracks, his hesitant gaze lingering on Jian Huan. After a moment of thought, he stammered, "Th-then, please, ask your master to help me."

The guards exchanged glances but ultimately said nothing.

The young master had money to spare. If he wanted to spend it to ward off misfortune, so be it.

.​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‍..

On the third floor, in a spacious private room, the window was half-closed.

The noise from downstairs drifted in, but instead of breaking the tranquility, it only made the room feel more serene.

The guards stood watch outside the door.

Inside, a table was laden with exquisite dishes, their aroma filling the air, but no one had touched them yet.

Jian Huan held a brightly glazed wine cup in both hands, speaking softly to Fu Li. "Young master, could you please share your birth date and time? My master needs it to divine your fortune."

Fu Li wasn’t particularly clever, but he could still think, albeit slowly and not always thoroughly.

After hearing Jian Huan’s request, he pondered for a while before shaking his head. "N-no, I don’t want to. I’ve already had my fortune told... more than ten times..."

Jian Huan blinked, quickly adapting. "Then what does the young master suggest?"

Fu Li looked at Shen Jizhi, who sat there with the air of a transcendent sage. Slowly, he said, "I... I want the master to divine... a fortune for me."

Jian Huan glanced at Shen Jizhi and replied on his behalf, "What would you like the master to divine for you?"

Fu Li lowered his head, touching his forehead as if embarrassed. "I... I want to know if I’ll ever see... someone again."

Jian Huan kept her expression neutral, but beneath the table, her hand tugged slightly at Shen Jizhi’s sleeve in excitement. Her voice, however, remained steady, and her smile was perfectly composed. "What a coincidence! Young master, you should know that my master’s divination is particularly effective when it comes to finding people or things!"

Seeing the young man’s eyes light up, Jian Huan added, "However, you’ll need to provide some details. Who are you looking for? Is it a man or a woman? How old are they? Where did you last see them?"

Fu Li’s expression dimmed again. He hesitated, shaking his head repeatedly, unable to articulate his thoughts.

A good scammer knows how to read their client. Jian Huan asked sympathetically, "Is it difficult for you to share this information?"

Fu Li nodded vigorously.

He had promised the person in question that he wouldn’t reveal anything. Though he wasn’t clever, he always kept his promises.

Jian Huan understood.

She pursed her lips, her eyes darting around until they landed on the black silk band tied around Shen Jizhi’s eyes. Suddenly, an idea struck her.

What a perfect coincidence.

The reason Shen Jizhi was pretending to be blind was that without the band, no matter how he disguised himself, he couldn’t pass for a middle-aged Daoist priest.

His pair of crystal-like eyes were simply too striking.

Now, it was as if the perfect solution had fallen into their laps.

Jian Huan smiled and asked, "Young master, can you draw?"

Fu Li was taken aback but nodded honestly.

As a child of a wealthy family, he had been tutored in the arts since childhood. Fu Li had learned painting from his mother.

Though his skills weren’t exceptional, he could indeed draw.

"Then that’s perfect!" Jian Huan clapped her hands together with a crisp sound. She walked over to the side of the room, where ink, brush, paper, and an inkstone were already prepared, and set them in front of Fu Li. "You can draw the person you’re looking for."

Fu Li blinked.

He wasn’t clever, he knew that.

But wasn’t drawing the person the same as describing them? He understood that much.

Jian Huan smiled and pointed at Shen Jizhi. "My master can’t see. After you finish drawing, he can feel the portrait with his hands and divine your fortune. I’ll wait outside, alright?"

...

The black silk band tied around Shen Jizhi’s eyes looked thick, but beneath it, only a thin layer covered his eyelids.

He lowered his gaze, peering through the faint layer of silk, and clearly saw the person Fu Li had drawn.

A woman.

He didn’t recognize her.

Shen Jizhi looked away, closing his eyes and pretending to feel the portrait with his hands.

Fu Li held his breath and whispered, "Master..."

Shen Jizhi spoke softly, "Hush."

Fu Li immediately covered his mouth, not daring to make another sound.

Shen Jizhi rested his elbow on the table, his long fingers slightly curled as he lightly pressed his thumb against his other fingers. After a moment, he put his hand down, folded the drawing, and returned it to Fu Li, coldly uttering two words: "No, you won’t."

Fu Li’s slightly dull eyes instantly dimmed.

He stared at Shen Jizhi in disbelief, as if a bucket of icy water had been poured over him.

Was it true? Would he never see her again?

Shen Jizhi raised his voice slightly, calling out to those outside the door, "We’re done."

Jian Huan pushed the door open with a smile, closed it behind her, and walked over. She glanced at the folded drawing and kindly said to Fu Li, "Young master, let me help you burn this."

Without peeking, she lit a match and reduced the drawing to a small pile of gray ash.

Fu Li, still in a daze, muttered, "Th-thank you."

Shen Jizhi extended an arm toward Jian Huan, who glanced at him before helping him to his feet.

The two prepared to take their leave.

Just as Jian Huan was about to escort Shen Jizhi out the door, Fu Li suddenly came to his senses and called out, "W-wait."

Jian Huan turned back, puzzled. "Is there something else, young master?"

Fu Li suppressed the ache in his heart and said gratefully, "Th-thank you... both... for helping me."

Deep down, he had known he would never see that person again, but he had still held onto hope.

Now, knowing for certain that he would never see her again, he could finally let go.

The gentleman truly was a gentleman, unlike anyone Fu Li had met before. Those others only spoke sweet words to him and always asked for money before leaving.

These two, however, didn’t even ask for a single coin.

Fu Li walked over and pulled out all the remaining spirit stones he had on him, handing them to Jian Huan. "I... I only have this much left..." He tilted his head up, calculating for a while, then lowered his head and said, "It’s probably around five thousand spirit stones. Please don’t... look down on it."

Jian Huan, holding a pile of spirit stone pouches, was utterly stunned by this sudden windfall.

Wait, this person was about to be sold off by them, and he was still giving them money?

The Daoist gentleman, who had been staring straight ahead without a glance to the side, also lowered his head ever so slightly.