Today, The Villain Couple is Settling Scores Again

Early morning, the chirping of birds drifted in through the open window.

On the second floor of the Equipment Forging Hall, Shen Jizhi sat there, half of his focus on the hidden weapon he was crafting, and the other half on the events of the previous night.

He was now regretting his actions from last night.

At the crack of dawn, before the sun had even risen, he had come to the Equipment Forging Hall, fearing that Jian Huan, who had been drunk, would wake up and question him about what had happened.

He was afraid she might notice something.

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Now was not the right time; she couldn’t know yet.

Even when drunk, her thoughts revolved around money.

So, at least, until he repaid his debts, certain things and words had to wait.

In this world, what you fear most often comes to pass.

A colleague came up from the first floor and said to him, “Senior Brother Shen, Junior Sister Jian is waiting for you downstairs. She asked me to let you know.”

Shen Jizhi looked up, paused for a moment, then nodded. “Thank you.”

He pondered for a while, his hands still moving as he meticulously finished carving the half-completed pattern on the hidden weapon before finally getting up and heading downstairs.

Jian Huan was idly squatting under the shade of a tree outside the Equipment Forging Hall.

Her right elbow rested on her knee, partially covering her mouth as she yawned.

The spirit wine from the Gathering Spirit Pavilion, which was said to be able to intoxicate even a Nascent Soul cultivator, truly lived up to its reputation. It had knocked her out completely, and her head still felt heavy.

But she vaguely remembered some things and, fearing she might have said something inappropriate while drunk, she had hurried to the Equipment Forging Hall.

Shen Jizhi, dressed in white, walked out and stopped three steps away from her, looking down at her. “What do you need?”

Jian Huan patted her knees and stood up nimbly. “Why did it take you so long to come down?”

Shen Jizhi replied, “I was in the middle of carving a spirit tool. I had to finish it. Otherwise, going back to it later would disrupt the flow.”

“Oh, I see,” Jian Huan said, glancing around before leaning closer to him and whispering, “I vaguely remember that you were the one who brought me back last night?”

Hearing this, Shen Jizhi’s heart settled. He glanced at her and nodded. “No need to thank me.”

Jian Huan: “…”

She placed a hand on her chest, took a deep breath, and tried to remain calm as she looked at him. “I’m not here to thank you.”

Shen Jizhi raised an eyebrow. “Then what?”

Jian Huan: “I don’t remember exactly what we talked about, but I think it had something to do with you owing me 100,000 spirit stones?”

Shen Jizhi: “…So, the only thing you remember is about money?”

His tone sounded calm, but Jian Huan couldn’t help but feel a hint of sarcasm in it.

“It’s a miracle I even remember that much,” she said, rubbing her temples. She then lifted her chin and stated her purpose. “I came to tell you that whatever I said while drunk shouldn’t be taken seriously. If I said anything about not needing you to repay me, don’t take it to heart.”

Shen Jizhi’s mouth twitched, and he couldn’t help but let out a soft laugh. “I’m suddenly starting to regret something.”

Jian Huan: “Regret what?”

Shen Jizhi leaned slightly closer, his gaze fixed on her face as he said, word by word, “Last night, I should have just thrown you off the Snow Sword and been done with it.”

Jian Huan: “?”

Although the list of those who passed the entrance exam had not yet been announced, everyone already had a good idea of how they had performed.

Those who failed were dejected, and the atmosphere in the talisman hall that morning was heavy, with the scent of peach blossoms wafting in through the windows.

Jian Huan sat at her desk, lost in thought as she drew talismans.

For her, the real challenge was just beginning.

She still had to fight for that 100,000 spirit certificate.

Jiang Mian quietly slipped in through the back door and called out in a low voice, “Ah Huan!”

Jian Huan looked up and saw Jiang Mian’s beaming face. Curious, she asked, “What’s going on? You look so happy this early in the morning.”

Jiang Mian was visibly excited. “Elder Wei has been expelled from the Jade Clarity Sect!”

Jian Huan was surprised. “That fast?”

She had deliberately gathered 500,000 spirit stones and asked Senior Sister Wen Jiu to heavily promote the betting on the Xuantian Mirror, emphasizing that it was because of the feud between the first-year talisman and sword cultivators. Besides making a little money, her goal was to draw the attention of certain people within the sect.

Elder Yu Qing was kind, not just to the talisman disciples but to all the first-year students. When they had first joined the sect and hadn’t yet chosen their specialties, Elder Yu Qing had been their instructor. Elder Yu Qing didn’t want to push things too far, so he hadn’t pursued the matter of Liu Qi’s assault any further.

“Apparently, the matter reached the sect leader,” Jiang Mian said, taking out paper and pen from her Mustard Seed Pouch. “I heard that last night, before leaving the mountain, Elder Wei even went to the medical hall to demand Liu Qi return the 10,000 spirit stones!”

Hearing this, Jian Huan instinctively straightened up and touched the spot where her Mustard Seed Pouch was hidden. A small smile crept onto her face as she asked, “And then?”

Jiang Mian: “Liu Qi was still unconscious, so Elder Wei had no choice but to leave.”

Jian Huan was puzzled. “Liu Qi is still unconscious?” Her Golden Sea Talisman was certainly painful, but it shouldn’t have been that severe.

“Yeah, I heard he hasn’t woken up yet today. His injuries seem pretty serious,” Jiang Mian said, giving a thumbs-up. “Ah Huan, well done!”

Jian Huan: “…”

Whether it was related to this incident or not, four days later, Jian Huan was matched against a sound cultivator in the competition.

Her opponent was three levels below her, and after a brief exchange of moves, Jian Huan slid across the arena, her fingers instinctively brushing the ground.

Her opponent quickly stepped back and, without hesitation, jumped off the arena. “I concede!”

Everyone knew that four days ago, Jian Huan had done something similar, sliding around the arena and secretly setting up a Golden Talisman Array, which left Liu Qi’s mind still in a fog.

He didn’t want to end up like Liu Qi. The 100,000 spirit certificate wasn’t for him to win; he knew his limits.

Jian Huan: “…”

Jian Huan looked up at the sky.

She had really just casually brushed the ground, and who would use the same move twice?

But it was good that it ended early. Jian Huan didn’t dare waste any time and quickly jumped off the arena, heading toward the crowd gathering nearby.

The match currently underway was between Gong Feihong and Niu Zizhao.

Although Gong Feihong was the eldest son of the Gong family head, his strength was the weakest among his generation, which was why he had come all the way to the Jade Clarity Sect instead of joining the Beast Taming Sect—he was afraid of being mocked by his cousins.

But he was still quite wealthy. After successfully guiding his qi, he had taken various elixirs and was now a seventh-level Foundation Establishment cultivator.

With the addition of a powerful elk spirit beast, Gong Feihong’s strength wasn’t too shabby.

Even so, he couldn’t last ten moves against Niu Zizhao.

Niu Zizhao was the only first-year disciple, aside from those with single spiritual roots, to have reached the Golden Core Stage.

He was also Jian Huan’s strongest competitor for the 100,000 spirit certificate.

Against Liu Qi, she had dared to bet 500,000 on herself.

Against Niu Zizhao, she didn’t dare.

Jian Huan knew that her chances of winning weren’t great.

The gap between the Golden Core Stage and the Foundation Establishment Stage was like the difference between heaven and earth.

The sound cultivator who had conceded earlier turned to Jian Huan and said, “Brother Niu is as formidable as ever. Although this might sound harsh, if you end up facing him, you might want to follow my example. Live to fight another day.”

Even though there were elders overseeing the matches, sometimes if you didn’t call for a stop yourself, the elders couldn’t accurately judge whether you had a backup plan or if you could withstand the next move. In such cases, they would choose to wait and see.

If you truly couldn’t withstand the move, you might not survive long enough for the elder to intervene.

Such incidents happened in the Jade Clarity Sect every few years.

Jian Huan just smiled. “Thank you for your concern.”

This sound cultivator wasn’t the first to say this to her, nor would he be the last.

As the matches went on, peach blossoms fell with the wind.

Eventually, fewer and fewer people remained, until only Jian Huan and Niu Zizhao were left.

At nine in the morning the next day, the final battle would begin, deciding who would take home the 100,000 spirit certificate.

Jiang Mian, Gong Feihong, Yang Ye, and Elder Yu Qing all subtly reminded her not to fight to the death. If things got too tough, she should just concede.

Only Shen Jizhi didn’t say a single word to her.

In the evening, the sky suddenly turned gloomy, with dark clouds gathering on the horizon as if rain was imminent.

In a side hall of the main peak, Shen Jizhi bowed. “Disciple greets the sect leader.”

Dao Xuan was playing chess against himself and looked up with curiosity. “What brings you here?”

This personal disciple of Gu Shan had been in the Jade Clarity Sect for over a decade, but Dao Xuan felt that he was still somewhat detached from the sect.

Or perhaps, he was detached from the world itself, never truly integrating into it.

For so many years, Shen Jizhi had never voluntarily stepped into Dao Xuan's hall.

Most of the time, it was Dao Xuan who summoned him, or when he was younger, Gu Shan would send him over.

Shen Jizhi didn’t beat around the bush; he got straight to the point: “May I ask, Sect Leader, will you be present at the final match tomorrow?”

Dao Xuan placed a black piece on the chessboard and shook his head. “I have to visit the Buddhist sect early tomorrow morning. I won’t be there.”

For inner sect disciple matches, Dao Xuan didn’t always attend, let alone a match for first-year disciples.

Naturally, such matters were handled by the sect’s peak masters and elders.

Shen Jizhi bowed slightly. “This disciple dares to ask for the Sect Leader’s presence.”

“Oh?” Dao Xuan looked up, gently stroking the white jade-like piece between his fingers. “Why?”

“This disciple doesn’t want any accidents to happen during tomorrow’s match.” Shen Jizhi lowered his gaze, took out a Mustard Seed Pouch from his robe, stepped forward, and placed it in front of the chessboard, speaking neither humbly nor arrogantly. “I hope the Sect Leader can grant this request.”

Dao Xuan glanced at the pouch. With a slight sensing, he knew it contained ten thousand spirit stones. He smiled. “As I recall, your master’s debts are quite substantial, aren’t they?”

Shen Jizhi replied, “This disciple will naturally repay my master’s debts as soon as possible.”

Dao Xuan stared at him for a long moment before nodding. “Then I’ll delay my departure to the Buddhist sect until tomorrow afternoon.”

“Thank you, Sect Leader.” Without lingering further, Shen Jizhi left the main peak.

The night was deep.

In a small wooden hut, Jian Huan lay on the bed.

Outside, a gentle spring rain fell, droplets splashing on the eaves and the window, their rhythmic patter singing a nocturnal melody to the world.

Shen Jizhi wasn’t asleep. He sat on a cushion in the corner, meditating and cultivating.

The night’s darkness draped over him like a veil, obscuring his features, leaving only a faint silhouette visible.

Jian Huan had always loved rainy nights, even back in the modern world.

Whether it was reading or watching something by the sound of the rain, or simply lying there in thought, it always felt comforting.

Jian Huan rolled over, half-leaning on the edge of the bed.

Her left leg dangled in the air, swaying lightly now and then.

In the corner, Shen Jizhi opened his eyes and asked, “Are you worried about tomorrow’s match?”

Jian Huan propped her chin on her hands, looking up toward the window. “No, I won’t fight to the death. If I can do it, I’ll do it; if not, then not. There’s nothing to worry about.”

Because of the rain, the window was closed.

The hut was small, and if the window were open, the wind would surely blow the rain inside.

Though they wouldn’t catch a cold, Jian Huan had closed the window before lying down.

They were cultivators, but they still maintained the habits of ordinary people.

For example, sometimes when she returned from the Equipment Forging Hall, she didn’t feel like flying on her sword and would walk back instead.

The feeling of her feet on the ground gave her a unique sense of stability.

And now, she wanted to look outside.

But she was too lazy to open the window, and she didn’t want to use her spiritual energy to do it.

So she just stared at the paper covering the window.

Shen Jizhi asked, “Then why aren’t you asleep?”

Jian Huan didn’t answer. Instead, she tilted her head to look at him and asked curiously, “Shen Jizhi, I’m about to compete tomorrow. Why haven’t you said anything to me about it?”

Hearing this, Shen Jizhi stood up and slowly walked toward the window.

Jian Huan’s gaze followed his figure.

With a creak, the window opened, and the wind mixed with light rain poured in, bringing the outside scenery into view.

The mountains stretched endlessly, standing silently in the rainy night.

Outside, a first-grade spirit tree swayed in the wind, its branches rustling. On one of the branches, an Earth Fruit Spirit lay with its stick-like legs crossed, enjoying the rain.

Shen Jizhi leaned against the window frame, the wind tousling the hair on his forehead. He said, “Do whatever you want to do.”

His tone was cold, like the wind blowing in from outside.

But Jian Huan’s heart instantly felt at ease. She pulled the blanket over herself and rolled toward the inner side of the bed. “I like that. If I win the hundred thousand spirit vouchers, I might consider giving you…”

She paused, weighing her words, “half a spirit wood.”

Shen Jizhi was silent for a moment, then nodded. “Alright.”

He straightened up, closed the window, and lit a candle.

The candlelight dispelled the darkness in the room. Jian Huan sat up, clutching her blanket, confused. “Why did you suddenly light a candle?”

Shen Jizhi picked up the ledger, holding the candleholder as he walked to the bed. He knelt down, took the ledger, and replied, “I’ll just make a note of what you said.”

Jian Huan: “???”

Jian Huan widened her eyes in disbelief. “I said if I win tomorrow, I’ll give you half a spirit wood. That’s not a debt!”

“I know,” Shen Jizhi said, placing the candleholder aside and writing a small line on the last page of the ledger. As he wrote, he added, “But I’m afraid you’ll go back on your word later.”

Jian Huan: “…”