Today, The Villain Couple is Settling Scores Again

On the stone steps of Linxian Bridge, Jian Huan sat lost in thought.

For some reason, though she had considered several possibilities, she had a vague answer in her heart.

What kind of person was Shen Jizhi?

When he killed the Xuan Wolf, he would deliberately stab from below its tail—striking the snake at its vital spot.

If he liked her and wanted to achieve his goal, he would undoubtedly choose the most reliable method.

To pursue her, there was no safer way than the assumption she had made.

Because she had guessed it, Jian Huan had retracted her foot just as she was about to leave Linxian City.

She didn’t know what she would do if she confronted him on the spot and he admitted it.

Her heart was in turmoil, as if a swarm of bees were buzzing in her mind.

The thousand-year-old ginkgo tree at the head of the bridge stood tall and lush, its golden leaves falling gently in the autumn breeze, landing on the young girl’s shoulders.

Jian Huan brushed the leaves away, closed her eyes, took several deep breaths, and pulled out the Profound Heaven Mirror from her robe. She sent a message to Jiang Mian: [Mianmian, can you do me a favor?]

...

Tomorrow evening was the Mid-Autumn Festival dinner she had agreed to with Jian Huan.

With the holiday break, Shen Jizhi was worried that Jian Huan might spend the day at home drawing talismans or soaking in a spiritual bath, so he made a special trip back a day early to ensure everything was in order.

He entered Jian Huan’s room, tapping and inspecting every corner.

Outside the window, the Earth Fruit Sprite hung from a branch, swaying gently. It exclaimed in surprise, “Human! You’ve filled it all up! When are you going to tell her?”

Shen Jizhi replied, “Tomorrow night.”

“I really don’t understand you humans,” the Earth Fruit Sprite muttered, waving its tiny hands. “This can’t be said, that can’t be revealed. Not like us fruits…”

Shen Jizhi ignored it, letting the words go in one ear and out the other. There was no point in arguing with a fruit.

Suddenly, the Earth Fruit Sprite stopped talking and warned, “Someone’s coming!”

Shen Jizhi paused, straightened up, and looked toward the door, frowning slightly.

“And it’s not Jian Huan,” the little green sprite added before swiftly retreating into the tree roots.

Shen Jizhi quickly restored Jian Huan’s room to its original state, closed the door, and walked toward the entrance, where he met Jiang Mian running up from the foot of the hill.

Jiang Mian stopped and greeted him respectfully, “Greetings, Senior Brother Shen.”

Shen Jizhi was slightly puzzled. “Did Jian Huan ask you to find me?” Otherwise, her friend wouldn’t have come to his home at this hour.

“Yes,” Jiang Mian replied, handing over the Profound Heaven Mirror she was holding. “Ah Huan said she has something to ask you.”

Shen Jizhi took the mirror, his gaze sweeping over the surface, a sense of foreboding creeping into his heart.

After a moment of hesitation, he replied: [Jian Huan, it’s me. What’s wrong?]

The response came quickly.

[Qian Duoduo Has Talismans: Shen Jizhi, I have a question for you.]

[Qian Duoduo Has Talismans: Back when I was in seclusion, you left me that note. When it was my turn, did you already have over 100,000 spirit stones on you? Did you delay repaying me to lure me to Ningzhang City, using the opportunity to spend time with me?]

His heart sank like a stone in a lake, and Shen Jizhi stiffened.

He looked up at Jiang Mian, his voice tense as he asked, “Where did Jian Huan go?”

Jiang Mian, unaware of what had transpired between the two, answered truthfully, “Ah Huan went to the Immortal Storage Tower this afternoon.”

The Immortal Storage Tower…

Shen Jizhi closed his eyes, running through various thoughts in his mind. After weighing his options, he replied: [Jian Huan, I’ll come to the Immortal Storage Tower to find you. We’ll talk face to face.]

[Qian Duoduo Has Talismans: I’m not at the Immortal Storage Tower. Stop beating around the bush. Do you dare to admit it or not? Yes or no?]

Shen Jizhi rubbed his temples, his lips pale as snow. He didn’t hide the truth: [Yes.]

Yes…

Jian Huan stared at the word on the mirror for a long time, her lips moving silently.

What was this?

How could Shen Jizhi be like this?

Why did he have to do it this way?

Was his way of liking her treating her like the Xuan Wolf?

It wasn’t sincere at all, and he even lied.

Jian Huan hugged her knees, her head tilted as she gazed at the water beneath the bridge, covered in ginkgo leaves.

She still remembered that summer night three years ago, sitting here munching on a flatbread, full of hope that she would go to the Jade Clarity Sect the next day to collect the 100,000 spirit stones from Shen Jizhi.

In the original book, this 100,000 spirit stones for breaking off the engagement had been her lifeline at the time.

It was because of this sum that she had traveled alone through mountains and forests, sleeping on piles of fallen leaves, crossing rivers and hills to find Shen Jizhi.

Without those 100,000 spirit stones, there would have been no story between them.

But he had turned that 100,000 into a bargaining chip.

Men were all pigs.

Jian Huan wiped her face with her hand, ignoring his messages asking where she was and offering explanations. She quickly sent three replies.

[Qian Duoduo Has Talismans: I’ll come for dinner tomorrow night to collect the 100,000 spirit stones and hear your explanation.]

[Qian Duoduo Has Talismans: But right now, I don’t want to see you.]

[Qian Duoduo Has Talismans: Go cool off somewhere, you jerk!]

Linxian City was a large city, bustling with cultivators coming and going.

Cultivators were still human, and humans had emotions—joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness. They all enjoyed a drink or two, so there were many taverns in the city serving spiritual wine.

Iron Hammer Seven was a team of seven hammer-wielding cultivators who had recently risen to fame, having returned triumphant from a secret realm with many treasures, which they exchanged for a large sum of spirit stones at the Immortal Storage Tower.

After resting at an inn, as night fell, the seven of them went to a nearby tavern to celebrate with drinks.

After several rounds of wine, the short, chubby one among them, half-drunk, stood up and walked around the noisy second floor. Spotting Jian Huan sitting by the window with flushed cheeks, his small, beady eyes lit up.

His gaze swept over Jian Huan’s face and figure, and he staggered back to his seat, nudging his companions and pointing with his thumb, “Look, that girl’s really pretty.”

The others turned to look, all grinning lecherously.

“She’s definitely not bad.”

“Drinking alone? She looks like she’s been wronged by someone.”

“Heh, Elder Iron, why don’t you go over and comfort her?” one of them teased. “Fine wine deserves a beauty, doesn’t it?”

“If Elder Iron doesn’t go, I will,” the short, chubby one said eagerly.

A beauty like this would never look at him when sober, but now that she was drunk, anything was possible.

He had once picked up a female cultivator like this. A night of fun, and he slipped away before she woke up. It felt even better than earning spirit stones!

“Sit down!” The leader of the group, whose cultivation was just a step away from the Golden Core stage, adjusted his cloak and scolded the chubby man with a laugh. He then picked up his wine and walked over to Jian Huan. “Miss, drinking alone?”

Jian Huan lifted her drunken eyes, glanced at the man, and then looked down again.

She carefully cradled the black porcelain wine bowl with white interior, her lips touching the rim as she sipped it delicately.

Between sips, she murmured softly, “I’m done for… I’m done for…”

Her fair skin tinged with pink, long lashes, and her graceful figure wrapped in her robes.

Her soft, trailing voice melted Elder Iron’s heart.

He sat down beside Jian Huan, his eyes wandering as he stared at her. “Why are you done for?”

Jian Huan’s muddled mind processed the question. She tilted her head to look at him, then turned away, ignoring him, and repeated, “I’m done for…”

“Miss, you’re not done for,” Elder Iron said, his gaze fixed on Jian Huan’s hands holding the wine bowl. He reached out, intending to touch her. “If you come with me, I’ll make sure no one dares to bully you…”

Jian Huan blinked, staring at the hand reaching toward her. Just as it was about to touch her, she kicked the man hard in the abdomen from under the table.

With a loud *bang*, a surge of spiritual energy sent the burly man flying through the air in a perfect arc. His body crashed onto the stairs, tumbling down and landing heavily on the first floor!

“Whoa, that scared me!”

“What happened? What’s going on?”

“Another fight broke out!”

Like a drop of water hitting hot oil, the tavern erupted into chaos.

The timid ones had already fled the scene, while the bolder ones stayed to watch the spectacle.

The waiter looked on the verge of tears.

Again?

Just a few days ago, drunken cultivators had caused a scene in the tavern, and now it was happening again.

The accountant, used to such incidents, calmly took out the Profound Heaven Mirror to summon the Imperial Pacification Office.

Jian Huan watched the man fly through the air, craning her neck to get a better look, and let out a soft “Wow.”

He flew so high.

She ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‍scratched her head, then returned to sipping her wine.

It wasn’t her fault, really.

Her mother had told her when she was little that she shouldn’t let strangers touch her. If a stranger tried to touch her, she should tell her family.

“Elder Iron!”

The other six members of Iron Hammer Seven abruptly stood up. One of them ran downstairs to check on Elder Iron's condition, while the remaining five exchanged glances and began to close in on Jian Huan, who stood by the window.

The short, stout man spoke with a trembling face, his breath heavy with the stench of alcohol: "You bitch, how dare you hurt my elder brother?!"

Hearing this, Jian Huan raised her eyes and slapped the table. The bamboo chopsticks in the chopstick holder shot out like arrows, flying straight toward the stout man.

The stout man swung his hammer, trying to knock the chopsticks away.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

But the chopsticks were infused with Golden Core energy, far beyond what a Foundation Establishment cultivator like him could withstand.

He was forced to stagger back several steps as the chopsticks shattered his defenses and plunged straight into his open mouth. In an instant, his mouth was drenched in blood.

"Ah—" The stout man's drunkenness vanished in an instant as pain overwhelmed him. Clutching his throat, his eyes bulged, and he let out a blood-curdling scream, "Ahhh—!"

Jian Huan, annoyed by the noise, covered one ear with her hand while casually lecturing the man: "Speak properly. Don't curse. Understand?"

No sooner had she finished speaking than four hammers came crashing toward her from all directions.

Jian Huan hastily downed the last of her wine and nimbly ducked under the table. Drawing her silver sword, she struck out as the table shattered, her sword intent forcefully repelling the four members of Iron Hammer Seven.

Jian Huan stood up, swaying slightly from the alcohol. She let out a hiccup and beckoned to the four men regrouping for another attack. "You started it. I'm just defending myself. Remember, you're fully responsible for this. I won't pay a single coin."

Meanwhile, a young man in white, Shen Jizhi, moved like a ghost through the streets of Linxian City, darting from one tavern to another on his sword.

At night, there were only so many places one could go.

Taverns were the most likely spots, but Linxian City was vast, with countless taverns big and small.

He still hadn't found her.

The deep autumn night was bitterly cold. Though cultivators were supposed to be immune to the chill, Shen Jizhi felt as if his blood had frozen, his heart sinking into an icy abyss.

Jian Huan was prone to getting drunk.

He was afraid something might happen to her.

Suddenly, a man in the uniform of the Imperial Pacification Office blocked Shen Jizhi's path, shouting sternly, "Don't you know flying on swords is prohibited in the city?!"

Shen Jizhi glanced at the man, his expression indifferent.

His hair, long since disheveled, hung over his forehead, dancing wildly in the wind. His glass-like eyes were icy cold.

The man paused, recognizing him. "I remember you. You and your junior sister caught the Shadowless Hand three years ago, didn't you? You're Shen... something, right?"

Though three years had passed, Shen Jizhi's striking appearance was hard to forget.

Shen Jizhi remained silent, nodding slightly before attempting to bypass the man and head to the next tavern.

The man hurriedly stopped him. "Hey, didn't I just say flying on swords isn't allowed?"

Shen Jizhi replied, "I'm looking for someone."

"Even if you're looking for someone, you can't just—"

"Brother!" A voice called out from below, interrupting. A man looked up from the ground and shouted, "Brother, there's a fight at Xiao'an Tavern! There's someone really strong there, and none of our men can handle her. You need to go check it out. If it's bad, we might have to call the boss!"

But it was late, and calling the boss at this hour would only earn them a scolding for being incompetent.

The Imperial Pacification Office man quickly replied, "Alright, alright, I'll head over right away."

He turned back to address Shen Jizhi, only to find that the young man had already vanished, heading straight for Xiao'an Tavern.

The man exclaimed, "What the—?!"

Xiao'an Tavern was in complete disarray, with shattered cups and plates scattered across the floor.

Fortunately, the building had been reinforced with special formations to prevent damage from brawls. While the interior was heavily damaged, the structure itself remained intact.

As Shen Jizhi arrived, before he could even step inside, a figure came flying toward him.

He sidestepped lightly, avoiding the collision.

The man slammed into the tavern's signboard, which bore the words "Xiao'an Tavern," and crashed heavily onto the ground.

Shen Jizhi didn't spare him a glance, swiftly entering the tavern.

When he saw the scene in the main hall, he let out a sigh of relief.

Several burly men lay unconscious on the floor, bloodied and battered.

Nearby, the men from the Imperial Pacification Office looked disheveled, scratching their heads as they stared at Jian Huan, unsure whether to approach her.

The man who had been thrown out earlier was one of theirs. The girl was drunk, and anyone who got too close ended up getting beaten.

Jian Huan, on the other hand, seemed perfectly at ease.

She sat high up on a beam, cradling a jug of wine. She would take a sip, glance down at the men below, smack her lips, take another sip, and then burst into laughter.

One of her legs dangled in the air, swinging back and forth.

As long as she was alright, that was all that mattered.

Shen Jizhi moved swiftly, leaping onto the beam and making his way toward Jian Huan.

The men from the Imperial Pacification Office shouted in warning, "Careful, young master! Don't get too close to her! She doesn't recognize anyone right now, and she'll—"

But before they could finish, Shen Jizhi had already reached Jian Huan without incident.

The men below exchanged puzzled looks.

Jian Huan was sitting unsteadily, swaying slightly.

Shen Jizhi steadied her, his eyes scanning her for injuries as he asked softly, "Jian Huan, are you alright?"

Jian Huan stared at the hand on her arm, tilting her head to look at him. Suddenly, she leaned in close, squinting at him.

The rich scent of wine filled the air as her drunken gaze roamed over his face. Her soft bangs brushed against his eyebrows and cheeks, sending a tickling sensation that made Shen Jizhi's lashes tremble.

He held his breath, not daring to move.

Jian Huan studied him for a moment, then suddenly leaned into him, giggling. "Shen Jizhi..."

Shen Jizhi caught her in his arms, momentarily stunned.

The hall below was noisy, with people shouting at them, but all he could hear clearly were those three words from her.

He looked down at the girl in his arms, her cheeks flushed from the wine. His fingers trembled as he lightly touched her face, his voice shaking. "You... know who I am?"

Jian Huan looked up at him, puzzled. "Of course I do. You're Shen Jizhi."

Shen Jizhi met her gaze, his expression suddenly hollow, as if a dark cloud had obscured the moon.

...He had been wrong.

He had thought of many things while searching for her, but none of it compared to the realization of just how wrong he had been.

No matter how elaborate his plans, they were all built on a foundation of deceit.

He didn't deserve this embrace, or the way she had called his name.

The light in his pale amber eyes shattered like glass.

Jian Huan studied him for a moment, then leaned in closer, curious.

His eyes looked like they were filled with tiny, glittering diamond shards.

Shen Jizhi turned his head away, avoiding her gaze.

He closed his eyes, pulling her tightly into his embrace. His face buried in her shoulder, his pale lips trembled as he murmured, "Jian Huan, I'm sorry..."

Jian Huan struggled slightly but couldn't break free.

His disheveled hair tickled her neck.

The wine jug was wedged between them, and she managed to free her hands, frustratedly gathering his loose hair and tying it into a messy bun on top of his head.