Today, The Villain Couple is Settling Scores Again

The autumn rain fell softly in the afternoon, droplets landing on the bluestone slabs of the alley, turning into tiny mirrors reflecting the hurried passersby.

Under the eaves sheltering from the rain, a few three- or four-year-old children raised their chubby little hands high, standing on tiptoe to toss small stones into the puddles that had formed.

With a *plop*, water splashed everywhere.

Jian Huan was like one of those stones, suddenly flung out.

Caught off guard, her body collided with the ground, pain radiating through her as if she had been shattered.

Jian Huan took a moment to react, sitting up in disbelief. Her watery eyes glared at the culprit, anger darkening her vision as she shouted, "Shen Jizhi!"

"...Sorry, I don’t feel like it right now."

Shen ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‍Jizhi’s hands gripped the edge of the bathtub, veins bulging on the back of his hands.

In his earlier haste, his lips had been cut by Jian Huan’s teeth, a few drops of blood staining them like red plum blossoms blooming in the snow.

His breathing was rapid, but his expression remained calm. "Jian Huan, go."

With those words, Shen Jizhi gave her a faint smile and slid down into the water.

The surface of the bathtub rippled violently, engulfing his limbs, neck, and face.

Shen Jizhi submerged himself completely, his long black hair floating like seaweed in the blood-tinged water.

Jian Huan’s gaze lingered on the water, on the crimson hue spreading within it.

She pressed her lips together, not blinking, staring at the bloody water.

After a long while, she quietly got up, said nothing, and left the room with an oil-paper umbrella in hand.

Her pink skirt brushed over the pebble path in the courtyard as she walked, the umbrella hanging unopened at her side, tapping against her soaked robe with each step.

Rain slid down her forehead, dampening her brows and lashes.

She wiped the water from her face and suddenly muttered to herself, "Idiot."

After a few more steps, Jian Huan stopped.

She tilted her head to look at the heavy gray clouds overhead, letting the raindrops fall on her face.

Jian Huan closed her eyes, feeling the autumn rain up close.

All around the garden, trees and flowers bent under the wind and rain.

The wind lifted her hair and clothes, making them dance in the air, whistling as it blew.n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

The rain was cold, but somehow it felt warm.

The wind was chilly, yet it carried a strange gentleness.

The corners of the girl’s tightly pursed lips suddenly curved upward, like a crescent moon.

Her heart softened completely.

Jian Huan whispered a complaint to the rainy sky, "Shen Jizhi is a big idiot."

For the next two days, Jian Huan was out early and returned late, busying herself at the Hundred Artifacts Sect, barely touching the ground.

Her excuse to Shen Jizhi that day had been just that—an excuse.

The Hundred Artifacts Sect hadn’t concealed the matter of the Bodhi Pagoda. In fact, as long as one stated their purpose and identity, the sect would assign a disciple to guide them through the ancient scrolls from that time.

However, the scrolls weren’t very detailed. The information recorded there was similar to what Jian Huan had heard in Jiuzhou City.

But the scrolls did include a list of disciples who had worked on the Bodhi Pagoda. Most of them had returned to dust over the centuries, but a few had become elders in the Hundred Artifacts Sect.

Over these two days, Jian Huan had been pestering these elders one by one, hoping to uncover more information.

She discovered that her identity as a disciple of the Jade Clarity Sect really carried weight in the cultivation world.

On top of that, since the founding ancestor of the Hundred Artifacts Sect was a disciple of the Jade Clarity Sect, Jian Huan found herself navigating the sect with ease.

The elders were particularly fond of hearing her stories about the misadventures of old Gu Shan and the romantic entanglements of the Jade Clarity Sect’s elders.

This was largely thanks to Jiang Mian, who was always on the frontlines of gossip and would promptly share updates with Jian Huan through the Xuantian Mirror.

"You’re quite the persistent little thing," said Elder Bai, her temples streaked with gray, as she watched Jian Huan pour tea for her. "I’ve already told you everything I know about the Bodhi Pagoda. What else do you want to know?"

Jian Huan pulled up a chair and sat near the elder, blinking innocently before cutting straight to the point. "Elder Bai, I want to know about Elder Yu."

She felt nervous, even prepared to be kicked out.

Elder Yu, who had overseen the Bodhi Pagoda project, had died over twenty years ago under mysterious circumstances. Among those who had perished due to lightning tribulations or perilous trials in secret realms, he was the only one whose cause of death remained unclear.

The Hundred Artifacts Sect had been tight-lipped about Elder Yu’s death.

Jian Huan had gotten along well with the other elders, but as soon as she brought up Elder Yu, their expressions would turn odd, and they’d excuse themselves, never meeting with her again.

Hearing the name "Elder Yu," Elder Bai paused, her hand holding the teacup stilling. She looked at Jian Huan with an inscrutable expression. "No wonder those old folks haven’t been dropping by these past couple of days. You’ve scared them off, haven’t you?"

Jian Huan smiled sweetly. "Perhaps."

"This tea is indeed a bit too hot," Elder Bai said, setting the cup down. She hesitated before adding softly, "They have their reasons for not speaking. Elder Yu’s matter—"

She paused, then continued, "It’s a stain on the Hundred Artifacts Sect. The sect leader has always discouraged us from discussing it."

Jian Huan leaned in closer, her tone concerned. "What exactly happened to Elder Yu back then?" She raised her hand solemnly. "Elder, you can rest assured. At most, I’ll mention it to my senior brother. He’s very discreet. Neither of us will tell a soul!"

"No need for that," Elder Bai chuckled, amused by Jian Huan’s earnestness. "These old stories are known to some extent by your Jade Clarity Sect’s leader and the elders of other sects."

"Elder Yu had a brilliant mind for artifact crafting. The Bodhi Pagoda was his idea," Elder Bai said, her gaze drifting to a half-bare ginkgo tree nearby. She sighed regretfully. "But he had a triple spiritual root, and his cultivation stagnated at the Golden Core stage for centuries. Watching his juniors surpass him, he developed a heart demon, became a demon, and was..."

Elder Bai didn’t finish, but Jian Huan understood.

Elder Bai stood, patting Jian Huan’s shoulder before walking away.

She hadn’t intended to say much, but seeing a young girl like Jian Huan reminded her of herself centuries ago, fresh and eager, so she had indulged in sharing a bit more.

Jian Huan stood as well, pushing her thoughts aside for now. She bowed to the departing elder and said gratefully, "Thank you, Elder Bai."